Friday, August 5, 2016

Review - - Exposed

Exposed
Edgars Family Novels - Book 5
By Suzanne Ferrell
Publisher: Suzanne Ferrell Productions
Release Date: June 14, 2016





Fashion photographer Sydney Peele is on her way out of town on assignment when her globe-trotting-photographer brother shows up at her home asking to stay for a few days. Reluctantly agreeing, she hopes he doesn't leave it trashed like last time. Ian is not the most considerate of people but with both of their parents gone, he's the only family she has left. Flying home from her assignment, she grabs a cab at the airport and races straight to her friends' wedding, which she has agreed to photograph. The first person she runs into - literally - is a big, gorgeous man who apparently never learned how to smile. And while she's immediately attracted to him, it's clear he wants nothing to do with her...even if his eyes do follow her everywhere during the wedding and reception to follow. 

U.S. Deputy Marshal Frank Castello doesn't want to be attracted to the cute, sassy photographer at his friends' wedding. Frank doesn't like photographers, doesn't respect them, and certainly doesn't trust them, but while he wants to give her the cold shoulder, there's something about Sydney Peele that has him intrigued. He offers to give her a ride home so his friends can get their tired kids tucked into bed...because that's the kind of good guy Frank is. When they arrive, Sydney's street is blocked by fire trucks and her home is in flames. And then it explodes...

Frank is a natural protector and, as a U.S. Marshal overseeing people in witness protection, has the skill set and resources to keep people safe. Everything about the situation at Sydney's home has his "spidey sense" tingling and when Sydney, in an obvious state of shock, whispers "Oh, Ian, what have you done?" Frank goes into action and sweeps her off to his highly secured home to keep her safe until he can figure out what's going on. He has no idea that one tiny, sassy, spitfire and the situation she's about to find herself in the middle of will turn his life upside down, his heart inside out, and put both of them in the crosshairs of an international assassin. 

I always enjoy Suzanne Ferrell's romantic suspense novels. Full of heart, action, and tightly-crafted suspense, they never fail to engage my interest and hold it from beginning to end. Exposed is no exception. Frank and Sydney are terrific together. I love how big, gruff, and tough Frank takes care of Sydney following the fire - tucking her in and cooking her breakfast the next morning - and how she disrupts his borderline OCD life. I admire Sydney's ability to not dwell on what she's lost but dig deep to find the courage and strength to meet a difficult situation head-on. And the Edgars family. What can I say about them? If I ever found myself in trouble, they're certainly the people I'd want on my side. It would be hard for Frank or Sydney to ever find a better family-of-the-heart. 

The rich supporting cast - both good and bad - add an extra dimension that brings the story, with all its twists and turns, to vivid life. Because of their pasts, Sydney and Frank are both independent people. They've learned to stand on their own which makes watching them learn to lean on one another and allow themselves to be vulnerable to each other, so satisfying. Their love story is sexy and heartwarming and amplified by their fight to stay alive while solving the mystery surrounding Sydney and, hopefully, bringing the villains to justice. 

As a fan of the Edgars Family novels, I've been waiting for Frank to meet his match. Sydney - and their journey - are all I could have hoped for. If Exposed is your introduction to this family, don't fret. It works well on its own and you won't feel like you've missed anything by not having read the other books first. However, after seeing other family members in action in this book, there's a good chance you'll be so intrigued by them that you'll immediately buy all the other Edgars Family books to read their stories too!

~PJ
   

7 comments:

  1. I've enjoyed her books - sounds good.

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  2. Thanks so much for the wonderful review, PJ! I'm so glad Frank and his story met your expectations. I had a blast writing about him and Sydney.

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  3. I found a new author to try!! Thanks for the good review I will have to look for her other books. Do they need to be read in order?

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    1. They're all connected but, no, you don't have to read them in order.

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  4. I know I will want to start at the beginning. Added 2,3,4 & 5 to my wish list. Book 1 is free on Amazon.

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  5. This sounds really, really good! I'm off to one-click.

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