Review: Exposure by Annie Jocoby

10 November of 2015 by Jean

Reviewer's Rating: 4

4.0Overall score

One homebound paparazzi photographer + an altruistic billionaire … truly scorching

Exposure By Annie Jocoby

Erotic Romantic Suspense

Released January 16, 2015

Tobann Publications

Series: Exposure, Book 1

Reviewed by Jean

Photographer CJ Parker is a woman who has literally not gone outside for the past six months. She’s been hiding from the world, and from life, ever since an unimaginable tragedy forced her into seclusion.

On the one day where she decides to finally venture outside, she meets the mysterious billionaire, Asher Sloane. Dark-headed, magnetic, and gorgeous, Asher drips sex and animal magnetism.

Their attraction to one another is undeniable, immediate, consuming, and scorching hot.

He draws CJ out of her shell and into the world, while showing her things that she never knew existed.

But what CJ doesn’t know is that Asher has a dangerous past. Behind his beautiful blue eyes and confident demeanor lies dark secrets that, if they are brought to light, could mean the end of CJ and Asher’s relationship.

Will the exposure of Asher’s past destroy them?

One homebound paparazzi photographer + an altruistic billionaire … truly scorching

I find myself wanting to slap my own hands as I type this review. Can you say a touch of writer’s block mixed with the temptation to blurt out spoilers? Guess that is why Annie is the author and I’m the reviewer. She did an excellent job at teasing out the reasons for CJ’s bout of agoraphobia. While at times I wanted to say “come on tell me what’s’ going on already,” the reality is that CJ couldn’t emotionally and mentally deal with the tragedy and cause of her mental illness. Ms. Jocoby showed that in her pacing and sporadic forays into CJ’s past.

Slowly, but surely you get to the root of the problem and CJ is left to deal with things and learn to move on. Lest you think CJ might be weak willed or weak minded, put your mind at ease. Nothing could be further from the truth. Tragedy hits us all very differently and for some hiding or denial is a defense mechanism that is quite uncontrollable. For CJ it wasn’t a case of wanting to give up totally and hide away, but rather not knowing how to move forward. Being stuck at home puts the agoraphobic in rather a catch 22. You need help, but how do you get out and get help when the problem you are dealing with is the ability to leave in the first place? Thank heaven for a hot and steamy billionaire that comes to the rescue in CJ’s case. With an endless stream of money, the right therapists and health insurance things can work out, at least on the therapy end of things. The relationship, on the other hand, is another matter altogether.

Asher Sloane is a high-powered billionaire in the arena of providing alternative energy sources around the globe. From all outward appearances, he is a very altruistic individual, something CJ admires greatly. Asher also has a dilemma… what to do with a stalker ex. His solution is to hire CJ to pose as his fiance, a potential win-win for both of them. The problem? As hot as these two tear up the sheets in their every interaction, Asher expects their relationship to be a ruse only… no emotions, no room for love. While one moment you are praising Asher for the help he is giving CJ and his awesomeness as a lover, the next you are cursing him for the very unfeeling approach he wants to take towards their relationship. It’s also pretty apparent this man has a past he’s hiding. For a photographer with a journalism background, that seems just a bit too much temptation.

And here is where I will stop so as not to give away all the goodies. Suffice it to say, the sex is scorching. The story is very compelling and you really feel for CJ. Asher obviously comes to the conclusion that he’s in love with her but is it enough when his past comes to light? I will say that this one does not end on an HEA or an HFN. You are left with a bit of a cliffhanger and where you may have thought things were over, you can rest assured they aren’t. The series contains four books of which three are full length. The final in the series is a novella. I haven’t quite decided yet if I’ll pick up the next in the series. The writing is great. The erotic elements are awesome. The story is compelling. I find myself curious to see what has happened with CJ and if the two can get past Asher’s past. I’m honestly not sure what is causing my hesitance to pick up the next in the series. If I have to hazard a guess I would say it is the cliffhanger combined with my propensity to read PNR, SyFy, and the likes. When it comes down to it Exposure is a great erotic romance that promises to have plenty of suspense in the next book.

Review copy provided via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.