Exposed

Captive #2

by Brighton Walsh

In this sexy, suspenseful New Adult novel, a young woman hiding from her criminal past is taken captive by her ex-boyfriend, the ultimate bad boy.

Evie is about to embark on the perfect life. Beautiful, poised, and engaged to a rising business star, she fits the part of trophy wife perfectly, except for one thing: her entire identity is a lie.

Five years ago she created a new identity for herself, but it all crashes back when something she witnessed years ago comes back to haunt her. Now she's in danger of losing more than her social status.

Determined to protect the careful life she's built for herself, Evie doesn't want anything to do with Riley, the criminal for hire who broke her heart years ago. But Riley has other ideas. He's never forgotten Evie, and to protect her, he steals her away. Hidden from the world, sparks begin to fly as old memories resurface and their passion reignites.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Second Chance Romance, Dark Romance

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2015

About the author

Award-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before taking her storytelling in a different direction and reconnecting with her first love: writing. When she’s not lost in her own made up worlds, she’s probably either reading or shopping—maybe even both at once. She lives in the Midwest with her real life hero of a husband, her two kids—both taller than her—and her dog who thinks she’s a queen. Her boy-filled house is the setting for dirty socks galore, frequent dance parties (okay, so it's mostly her, by herself, while her children look on in horror), and more laughter than she thought possible. Visit her online at brightonwalsh.com.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Better hold on tight Stars



Exposed is the second book in Brighton Walsh's Captive series, but can be read as a stand alone. I have not read the first book yet, but plan to now. I really enjoyed this suspense filled NA book. Brighton Walsh knows how to tell a story that grabs hold of the reader and leaves them wanting more.

Five years ago Evie faked her death in order to start her life over and keep those she loved safe when her boss found out she had incriminating evidence against him. Now, she is engaged to be married to a very successful lawyer and son of a congressman. She's been living a life of wealth and privilege for the last year, but it is all a lie. Unfortunately, a picture of her was put in a newspaper after attending a charity event with her fiancé and now her past is coming for her.

Riley followed his brother into a dangerous business of crime because it was the only way he knew how to get revenge for the death of the girl he loved. But five years after her death, he gets a call that tells him she's really not dead.



She's in danger now because the man who supposedly killed her knows she's alive and is going after her. Once the shock that Evie is still alive wears off, Riley takes her and hides her away in order to protect her.

While they are stuck in a little apartment, they can't deny the attraction they once had is still there. It never went away. So it's inevitable that they end up having sex. Lots of HOT sex. While the sex is good, it allows them to mourn the time they lost together, to remember how it used to be, and to reconnect and find each other again. Unfortunately, secrets emerge. These secrets could destroy their relationship if the mad man hunting them doesn't kill them first. Are they strong enough to survive? Will they get their second chance at love?



This story was both a second chance romance and told in alternating POVs, two things I absolutely love. Evie was a tough as nails heroine, but also very stubborn. She's had a rough life and has learned to fight her way through many things and she's not about to let anyone tell her what to do. Even Riley. Riley was so sweet. Even though he has every right to be angry for being lied to about Evie's death, he doesn't wallow in it for long. He can't help but to act on them.

For all of those who may be worried about a love triangle or cheating, don't. Neither of those take place. I need to go back now and read the first book in this series. If you don't mind a little suspense added to your romance stories, then pick this book up and give it a go.

ARC provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Captive was the first book that started my Brighton Walsh addiction. So when I finally got my hands on Exposed, the second book to the Captive Series, I was beyond excited and thrilled to read Riley's story. Exposed was just as captivating, raw, sexy, emotional, suspenseful and intriguing as the first book. Brighton Walsh is such a talented writer and author that she immediately grabs her reader's attention as she slowly unraveled and exposed each layer of suspense, mystery, and romance.



In Exposed, readers are introduced to Riley, the younger brother of Gage aka "Ghost." Riley's job entails some criminal activity so when his brother calls him to take captive of a woman, he didn't expect that he would have to protect his ex-girlfriend Evie, whom he thought was dead. With the past and future colliding, Riley was thrown into a whirlwind of emotions because Evie was the one. The one woman whom he loved and so it was shocking to learn the truth of why she had to create a new identity.

For five years, Evie had to create a new identity and fake her death in order to start fresh. In order to keep her loved ones safe, she had to become Genevieve and Genevieve is engaged to a son of a conservative congressman. So when her picture was taken at a social gathering, she suddenly has a target on her back when the people she was running from discovers that she is alive. And so it completely caught Evie off guard when Riley appears, igniting buried feelings.

"Even when he'd stripped me of my power and took it for himself, he did so without making me feel weak, without making me feel threatened. And I never wanted this to end, this feeling of completion I always seemed to have when I was with him. Never wanted to have to leave him again, not when he made me feel like this. Made me feel like everything would be okay. Made me feel safe. But I knew I didn't have a choice."

While Evie is in the care of Riley, the once intense feelings that they once shared begins to resurface igniting a strong sexual tension between the two. The past begins to get blurred and collide and soon these two begin a scorching romance. For five years, Evie tried to forget Riley but she couldn't because she never felt this intense emotions of love and passion for any other man including her fiance. But as Evie and Riley embark on this second chance romantic affair, secrets, lies and truths begins to get exposed. So will the unraveling of secrets destroy their second chance at love? And what danger awaits for the two?

I did find Exposed a lot more steamy than the previous book. Who am I kidding... this story was brimming with so much passion, intensity, and hot steamy scenes. Brighton definitely took the sexy and steamy level up several notches and I loved it. In this book, I felt the raw sexual and carnal desires between Riley and Evie worked into this story line because they had history that was intense, raw, passionate, palpable, and tangible. Weaving layers of raw emotions, second chances, romance and suspense, Ms. Walsh was able to grip her readers in this sexy suspense New Adult. As always the writing was phenomenal, gripping, and captivating!!! So if you are looking for a sexy romantic suspense, then I highly recommend Exposed!!!

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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Brighton Walsh

[Danielle (Love at First Page) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 stars

Brighton Walsh sort of came out of nowhere for me. I read Season of Second Chances and swooned like crazy, and when I later read her first full length book, Caged in Winter, that was it. I was a goner from then on for this author's romances and her writing and most especially her boys. Her books just click with me. Exposed (a companion to Captive) is not my favorite book of hers, but I once again fell hard for the leading man and was thoroughly entertained.

While Captive has two people meeting for the first time in a very intense, complicated situation, Evie and Riley are childhood sweethearts separated by a lie. He was told that his girlfriend died, when in reality she faked her death to survive and had to begin a whole new existence. Eventually she knew her past would catch up with her, and it's here that the story begins. Riley discovers she's alive and well, at the same time as those who would wish her harm, and to keep her safe they go into hiding together. Years have passed since they last saw each other, but all of the old feelings and burning chemistry are still very much there. Riley is understandably hurt, though, and if they are to have any future together Evie needs to let go of her past and let Riley in.

Honestly, it's Evie's character, especially in the first half, that I struggled with the most. I love a good second chance love story, seeing two people who are meant to be together finally get their happy ending, but the reason for Evie and Riley's separation didn't sit well with me. Evie never contacted him or told him the truth because she was trying to protect him, but I saw it as a very unfair and selfish move. I didn't think it was necessary to keep Riley in the dark - if she believed she could have stayed safe by running away, there was no reason why she couldn't have also done so with Riley. Instead, I felt like she was able to just move on without him, whereas he was gutted over her "death". Her lies diminish what was otherwise a truly sweet teenage love, and I felt so bad for Riley.

I also struggled with the fact that Evie is engaged. All is not what it seems there, but even knowing the twist I didn't like that part of the plot at all. Quite a few times she thought about how she was engaged and shouldn't be having the sort of thoughts and feelings she was having again for Riley, when in reality it made no difference. It's hard to say more without spoilers, but I was really bothered by her thought processes and felt it was there for twist-value only.

Now that that's out of the way, I did enjoy the rest of the story and romance. Once Riley and Evie are on the same page, and Evie opens up to Riley not only about what caused her to escape her death but also some terrible things that happened during her childhood, I was much more in tune with their relationship. Riley is an amazing guy - protective, sexy, forgiving, and understanding. He never wants to overbear Evie, but he does push to bring out the best in her. It's incredibly freeing for Evie, to find her voice and to find the strength she had thought she'd lost forever. Because of this, the physical scenes between them are potent, a mix of raw vulnerability and intense passion. The chemistry is no surprise, since this is Brighton Walsh we're talking about.

It's in the second half when the crime/thriller/mystery portion of the book picks up, too. It was really entertaining, and I liked the way everything came together at the end. I was very happy that there wasn't the requisite break up, which is certainly not needed in a story like this. I'm not sure if there are any more books following this one, but I can think of one character I'd like to see get his own story. I think the potential is definitely there, and it'd be interesting to get more of an inside perspective of the gang Riley and Ghost were once criminals-for-hire for.

Brighton's books are compulsively readable to me, and Exposed is no exception. I had some issues with it, but by the end I would have gladly kept on reading. Pick up this companion duology(?) if you're looking for more edgy New Adult!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for approving my request in exchange for an honest review!

This review can also be found at Love at First Page.

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A beautifully intense second-chance-romance blended with a dangerous and intriguing crime story, this is an emotional and suspenseful story that kept me invested from start to finish.

This book follows on from Captive, this time featuring Riley, younger brother of Gage from the first book. Riley works for the same criminal organisation that employed his brother, but he’s in it for one reason – vengeance for the death of the girl he loved.

Evie is living a privileged life – wealthy, with a big house and engaged to a handsome and successful lawyer who is the son of a congressman. But her life is a lie. 5 years ago she faked her death to escape a dangerous situation, and when a random picture of her is published in the media, her secret life is suddenly not so secret, and she has bad guys gunning for her.

Riley receives a phone call giving him the heads up about what is about to go down, and it is then that he learns that his girl is still alive. Devastated by her betrayal but overjoyed that she is still alive, he races to her side and whisks her away to safety.

“Tomorrow isn’t a guarantee. Anything can happen from one day to the next.”
“Anything can happen, except when you’re with me. No one is getting to you when I’m here. No one is getting through me. I’d have to be dead first.”

The two of them take refuge together while the hunt for Evie goes on in the outside world, and she reveals why she’s a target in the first place, and explains why she ran the way she did.

It doesn’t take long for the passion between them to reignite, and OMG, it’s intense! Riley and Evie have never stopped loving each other, and they still want each other desperately, and it is translated beautifully onto the page.

The fire between us sparked so brightly because we both knew how it was without the other. We knew exactly how much we both had to lose.

This book is steamy hot! Riley and Evie are absolutely sizzling together. But more than just sex, these two have a soul-deep connection, and watching them rediscover that was absolutely gorgeous. And if you’re worried about the cheating/love triangle aspect, don’t be, it’s resolved easily and without drama Evie’s fiancé is actually gay, and the two of them are in a relationship of convenience – this is revealed very early on.

While they’re rediscovering each other, Evie is struggling with a devastating secret from her past that continues to haunt her. It's hinted at throughout the book but when the full truth comes out, it's tragic! I really like Evie, she's a badass who has been so strong for so long, and this is the final hurdle for her to her reclaim her life - watching her struggle with it and finally open up to Riley, letting him in in a way that could finally allow her to heal, was beautifully done.

And while all of this is happening, the two of them are working together with Riley’s brother and an insider in the organisation to find a way to take down the bad guy before he comes for them.

I preferred this book to the first one and would definitely recommend it if you like a bit of suspense and action with your romance. It’s a short book, so it’s all fairly fast-paced and exciting, and the different layers to the story mesh together well. There is a small glimpse of Gage and Madison together, and Gage takes a role in the unfolding action, but you could easily read this as a standalone.

I really enjoyed it – 3.5 stars.


An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 years ago, Evie had to leave her life behind, moving and taking a new identity. Riley, the man she loved, thought she had died and he devoted his life to seeking vengeance for her. 5 years later, a photo appears in the paper of Evie with her fiance at a party. The danger that she was running from is now catching up with her.

This was a suspenseful romance that kept me turning the pages. Along with the suspense, this book was really HOT! I really liked this story. My only complaint about this book is that I wanted a few more answers with the resolution to the story. Overall, this was a sexy, suspenseful romance and I can't wait to read more by this author.



**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

[Erin Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I found out that Brighton Walsh was going to be writing a book about Ghost’s brother Riley I have to admit, I was so excited. We got a small glimpse of him in Captive but in Exposed, Walsh gives us so much more!

This book picks up shortly after Captive ends and I loved that we still get bits with Ghost and Madison. I always love seeing where characters are after the story ends. With that said, this book is about Riley and the one person he has yet to get over, even though she has been gone for 5 years, Evie. And when I say gone, I mean, he has thought she was dead.

In a desperate attempt to get away from the man who tried to kill her (their boss), Evie works with Ghost and another member of their crew to create a new identity and say goodbye to everything she has ever known…including the boy she loves, Riley. When her cover is blown, Evie is pulled back into a world where she is fighting to not only protect herself, but also the only people she has ever really trusted and loved.

As Riley finds out the truth, he doesn’t stop to think. He just gets on his bike and goes to get Evie because he knows she needs him. I loved seeing that side of him but as he realizes that Ghost was in on the secret, the betrayal he feels is overwhelming. Unfortunately for all, Max is again after Evie and in order to protect her until they can come up with a plan, Evie and Riley have to hole up in a friend’s apartment.

There are a number of layers to this story. The first being the thing that Evie knows that put her on Max’s radar to begin with. I won’t say what it is but all you need to know is that in order to get out of the trouble she is in, she has to find out more and come up with some leverage.

There is an aspect of this story that won’t be for everyone but I thought Walsh did a wonderful job of conveying the impact it had on the character’s story without making it the focal point. The past plays a huge role in this story and Evie has something in her past that makes it not only difficult for her to trust, but also difficult to give up control. This is something that creates some challenges in the relationship that Riley and Evie have. That wasn’t always the case but Riley is a different person than he was 5 years ago and that is an adjustment for them both.

A good portion of the story takes place with these two in a confined space and I loved seeing them get to know each other again as well as realize that they are still very much in love with each other, regardless of what they have been up to for the time they have been separated. As secrets are revealed and things begin to come to a head with Max and the crew, Riley, Evie, and Ghost have to come up with a way to survive.

Overall I thought this story had a great mix of suspense, action, and romance. Walsh always does a wonderful job of developing characters and mixing in the sexy times with a great story. If you are looking for a story with all of this, definitely check it out. If you haven’t read Captive, don’t worry. I read both and while there is overlap on the characters, the stories are separate. With that said, you should definitely read it, and everything else Walsh writes, when you can.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Brighton Walsh's writing in Captive earlier this year and I was excited about reading the companion to the series, Exposed. Riley certainly impressed me in the first book, and I knew that if he was related to Ghost (MAJOR SWOON) from Captive, I was about to meet yet another book boyfriend.

I was right. I loved Riley's character so much. Perhaps not as much as Ghost, because Ghost is always going to be my favorite Brighton Walsh boy, but Riley was definitely a character who was as swoon-worthy as his brother. His protective, alpha male personality had me fanning myself. He was also really mysterious and tended not to be the most vocal (until he got into the bedroom with his lady ;) ), and if you know me at all, you know how drawn I am to super mysterious love interests. Despite him being very protective, I never felt like he held behind Evie, which was great. Evie wasn't a character I instantly bonded with. From the beginning we knew that she was running away from something terrible, which forced her to leave behind Riley. While I wasn't completely okay with how she left things with Riley, I eventually grew to understand where she was coming from. I thought Evie was really brave for facing everything that she did without saying a word. Did I appreciate the secrets she kept from her ex-fiance whose life could have been in danger because of her? No. But still, I understood her state of mind. She was very much a broken character, but she did not act like the one scarring events of her childhood completely defined her life. I liked that she actually stood up on her two feet and made her own decisions.

Speaking of the scarring events, that was one part that I could have done without in Exposed. While I think that discussions about rape and incest are important in books, I have found that the rough past storyline has become a pet peeve of mine. Still, I thought Brighton Walsh handled it all with a lot of tact by not making Evie a weak character. I also liked that Evie did not need a romance to help her overcome her issues. Romance is something that Brighton Walsh excels at, so I had no doubt that she would make me super jealous of the couple she wrote in Exposed too. Once again, Brighton Walsh's couples had steaming chemistry that had the potential to burn up my Nook and this author certainly knows how to write sexy scenes that turn readers like myself into giggling school girls. Exposed also had one of my favorite romance tropes of all-time, the second chance romance. I would have loved to see a lot more of Evie and Riley in the past, but obviously that's me being selfish since I loved them together. I've said this before, but Brighton Walsh's writing is phenomenal. In Exposed, it was no different. She makes you feel like you're actually part of the story, sensing all the emotions that the characters go through, which isn't a quality that many authors possess.

While Captive remains my favorite in the series because no one can top Ghost and Maddie, Exposed was still a successful companion for me. If my review does not make it clear, if you have not read a Brighton Walsh fan and are a fan of contemporary romances, seriously, stop reading this and go to your online bookstore and one-click purchase all of her books, because they are a romance reader's version of drugs.

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just solidifies the fact that Brighton can make any subject -- no matter how horrible -- readable.

I was pretty excited to get Riley's story and getting a glimpse at some of the work he used to do was intriguing. Evie is a feisty thing and I really enjoyed their sparring. Both physically and verbally. Oh and their chemistry is off the charts. The glimpse of Madison and Gage together was satisfying. Obviously, I would have liked more, but it was enough at the same time.

There pretty horrid backstory, one that hits a facet of my very hard limit in books, movies, and pretty much life in general. And yet, in Brighton's hands, it wasn't as harsh as it could have been.

All in all, it was quick read with a satisfying ending. I can't wait to see what Brighton gives us next.

**Huge thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

[Talltree]

Zzzzz.

DNF. Want less suspense plot more romance.

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

My first introduction to the amazing writing talent that is Brighton Walsh was when I read Captive in April. I was floored. I don’t very often find books that have my attention to the point that I’m unable to put it down. It was intense, suspenseful, gripping… it was simply amazing. And I knew that I HAD to read more of Brighton Walsh’s books.

Evie and Riley are childhood sweethearts that separated years ago due to a unforeseen circumstance. Riley was told Evie had died, and spent many years grieving her death. He now finds out that she is, in fact, alive, and that her death was a lie. The two are brought back together when Riley discovers Evie’s life is now in danger again due to the risky business they are both associated with.

Evie’s character in general wasn’t a favorite of mine. I struggled to understand her motives, and even to like and respect her. Even after finding out the reasons for her actions and thought pattern, I still wasn’t a fan. I don’t want to talk much about her and her current situation because of spoilers, but I just didn’t connect with her as I did with Maggie in Captive. This didn’t make me like the story less, however. I was connecting to the story, despite not really liking Evie’s character.

Riley, who is Ghost’s brother, came off very different than I thought he would as well. We only get a little glimpse of him in Captive, but here he was much more angry and bitter than I had expected. And I shouldn’t be surprised… he had been lied to regarding the love of his life’s death, taking it extremely hard and grieving for a very long time. I think I’d be pretty mad myself. But the anger he had in his heart seemed to go a lot further than just Evie and the lie. He definitely is holding in quite a bit of frustration and contempt from his younger years. He was also entirely too controlling and bossy. Yes, he was protective, but protective shouldn’t reach to that level of control that he was showing.

Aside from my personal opinions on both characters, I did really enjoy the romance between the two. I was honestly surprised by the amount of romance this book contained and the lack of extreme suspense or drama that was present in the first book. Due to the intensity of Captive, I was sure this book would be similar. And honestly, it was entirely different. I’m surprised these two books are considered in the same series, except for the obvious family connection between the characters.

As you can tell, I can’t help but compare Exposed to Captive. Maybe that’s not the best idea, and not entirely fair when rating Exposed on its own, but since they are in the same series I just can’t help myself. It is next to impossible to meet my love level for Maddie and Ghost. I fell hard for them and their story in Captive. I’ve tried my best to rate this book based solely on its story and characters, not compared to Captive. Honestly, I do think if I hadn’t read Captive, I may have enjoyed this one a bit more. I went into this story with such high expectations, and I ended up just a bit disappointed. Yes, I really enjoyed this story. It was really great. Just not what I had expected entirely.

I will stop this rambling now. :)

Another book from Brighton that I’m happy to recommend to others. It was hot, sexy and filled to the top with steamy scenes and sexual tension. This is a series worth looking into for sure. I was also lucky enough to receive a copy of Caged in Winter off my wishlist last week for my birthday… so yay! I’m definitely looking forward to starting that one soon. A new fantastic author to add to my favorite authors list.

(Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for the review copy!)

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I want to be safe.” Above anything, I always, always wanted to be safe, and I hadn’t truly been safe for so, so long. “I don’t want to have to look over my shoulder anymore. I want to be free to be Evie, not Genevieve. I want to be able to go into whatever kind of career I want, instead of one I hate simply because it will keep me under the radar. And I want to feel content and comfortable, be able to afford the nice life–not anything lavish, like I have now. That’s so much more than I ever needed, but I want to be comfortable.”

Exposed is the second book in the Captive series but can totally be read as a stand-alone. Exposed follows the story of Evie. For the last five years, Evie has been on the run, always looking over her shoulder in fear that her past will catch up with her. Evie appears to be the perfect fiancee, but her new life couldn’t be further from the truth. The past always has a way of catching up and now Evie’s time is up….

Exposed was a exciting read for me and was told from alternating points of view. I was pulled in from the first page and intrigued by the plot. I had so many questions. I knew something wasn’t right. I needed to know what happened to Evie; how she found herself in this situation. When the past finally caught up with Evie, I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how everything would unfold.

I really enjoyed Captive. I loved the mystery and intrigue. I loved that Captive is not only a great suspenseful romance, but also a second chance romance.Captive checked all my boxes for a good read. It was perfectly balanced. I will warn you that Captive does deal with some difficult subject matter, that may be a little hard for readers. But, I was pleased with the way that the author handled it.

Captive is my first book by this author. I was hooked from the very beginning and loved that there was never a dull moment. The characters were intriguing and I couldn’t wait to learn more about them. Overall, I thought this book was great. I’m excited to go back and read the first book and am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit I found the characters too jaded for my tastes (twenty-three going on forty-three). I think that there could have been more opportunities to establish emotional connection to the characters in lieu of some of the focus on erotic sex. Readers who like New Adult themes may enjoy this more than I did. I'm not fond of the idea that very young people would act with these kinds of attitudes and destructive lifestyles.

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My original review for this title can be found here on The Book Hookup.

**Disclaimer:** An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for this blog tour. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.

♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4.5 stars! Exposed was everything its title portrayed it to be: raw, gritty, emotional, suspenseful, and ridiculously hot. When I finished this novel, I felt wrung out emotionally, but stupid-giddy happy that these two lost kids with loads of baggage on their back were able to grow up, find themselves, and managed to fall harder in love while dodging the huge target on their backs.

♥ The Lowdown: Genevieve Meyer is a fake. She's a young woman with polished nails, a huge engagement ring on her finger, and fancy dresses who lives in a mansion and attends social events with her big-shot fiancé. She's a carefully crafted façade, a bodysuit and mask, that Evie Masterson slipped on five years ago when she went on the run, leaving everything and the only boy she's ever loved behind, because her very life depended on it. No matter how cautious she was, she knew her dangerous past would catch up with her and that her days were numbered. She just didn't know that when it did, the only boy that had ever managed to capture her heart that she had to walked away from would be the one to come for her in the dark.

After twenty-two years, I'd come to the realization that people only saw what you let them see. Or, more apt, what they wanted to see. Generally the pretty, skin-deep things that didn't make them uncomfortable. They didn't look for the messy, ugly parts ... the dark, twisted secrets hidden away. The skeletons inevitably buried in everyone's closets.

They definitely didn't see the bones I had concealed in mine, buried under years of dirty secrets and lies and the hundreds of miles separating me from the truth.
~quote taken from the opening paragraphs of Exposed

♥ Review: Oh man, I really don't even know exactly where to start with this review to be honest. I feel like I could climb on a mountain top and profess my love for it, easily. I think this companion series, and this novel in particular won't be for everyone simply because it touches on taboo topics and has a little bite behind its pretty words, but Brighton's writing makes me wish that people would set those ideals aside and give it a shot. Her characters always find a way of working themselves beneath my skin where they settle easily inside my heart. I connect with them. I root for them. I fall in love with them falling in love. And, Riley and Evie weren't an exception. They even had the added bonus of being one of my favorite tropes: second chance romances. I loved seeing bits of them from their teenage years and I loved watching them navigate their crazy-hot chemistry to fall in love/fall harder in love all over again. As individuals, I definitely saw more growth from Evie, but I also know that she had a lot more baggage strapped on her back to work through than Riley did. Together, with heated stares and scathing snark, these two easily burn up the pages, and let's get real, if Brighton Walsh excels at anything, to be perfectly blunt, it's the sex. She's not afraid to let her characters get a little dirty and mouthy, and well, to be frank, she knows how to make her readers squirm and get flush-faced. As for the plot of the story, I think readers would probably be expecting something like the major twist that came in Captive, but it's relatively straight-forward, and I feel like that might make readers feel like it's a little anti-climatic. As for myself, I was pretty pleased with how everything worked out plot-wise and felt like it suited the tone of the story nicely, especially because of all the other story strings being pulled in the background. Lastly, one of my other favorite things that Brighton does is give us an epilogue. I enjoyed getting that little awwwww! moment with these two who came so far in such a small number of pages.

Possible soapbox/spoiler warning: I'll have to admit, I may be a bit partial to Brighton Walsh and her books because I know her as a friend and I see her books at every stage, even when they're nothing more than thoughts in her head that we discuss over multiple chats. This book wasn't any different, and it's because I know a lot of the behind-the-scenes things that I'm especially protective of it: the writing, the characters, the plot, and maybe more than all those others, Evie's backstory. I really hope that people don't look at it and think it's just another one of those New Adult books, ones where abuse is there to explain why the hero/heroine is "messed up", but doesn't take the time to give the matter the time and attention it deserves. I know how much Brighton agonized over having Evie's past take this particular route, I know the work/research/time/energy/conversations she put in to make Evie's story feel authentic and truly a part of her as a person, not just dumping it on her to make her storyline "juicy" or "dramatic." And, again, I might be biased, but I thought she did an exceptional job of tackling such a sensitive subject. She didn't make Evie weak or broken by it. Yes, it beat her down at times, as it does in real life when it happens to real people, but it also made Evie see her strength and bravery when she decided--not because of love/romance/relationships-- to face her battle head on. It's a story close to my own heart, and I hope people don't belittle what happened to Evie just because it tends to be a prevalent crutch for characters in other books of this genre.

♥ Rec it? Yes! Aside from the fact that I consider Brighton a friend, great writing and good books are just that: great writing and good books. Her characters are flawed and real, their chemistry is undeniable and downright, light-your-hands-on-fire hot, the dialogue is smooth and effortless, and the plot will keep you turning the pages until the book is done. It's as simple as that, really. It's a book you'll pick up, fall in love with, and probably pick up again and again over time long after your first read-through.

♥ A very special thank to St. Martin's Griffin, NetGalley, and Brighton Walsh for allowing me to participate in this blog tour and for providing me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Did I like this book?

Sadly, for a good long chunk of this book, I was bored. We know early on that the two main characters had a relationship in their teens and have been separated for five years. Circumstances bring them back together, and they quickly find that despite the five years apart, their feelings for each other haven't changed. We also know that something big happened to Evie when she was young, something that changed her life forever and something she hasn't shared with anyone, not even Riley. We learn all these things in the beginning, but then these same facts are reiterated over and over until almost three quarters of the way through the book. I felt like the plot was completely stalled! Sure, Riley and Evie have some steamy times, but other than that, it was the same thing repeated ad nauseum.

I liked both main characters to some extent, but I feel like something was missing between them. Usually I love second chance romances, but in this case, there wasn't enough of a build up in the tension between the MC's. I knew they loved each other once, and I knew they would love each other again, so it felt like I was just sitting around waiting for something to happen. This coincides perfectly with the plot, or lack thereof: Evie and Riley sit around and wait for something to happen, and. It's. Boring.

It's unfortunate, because this book had so much potential! Maybe somebody rushed its publication? "Exposed" was sitting at a solid 3 stars until I read the ending: sooooo many questions and holes! Everything was rushed and didn't make a lot of sense. One of the main issues that Evie and Riley were dealing with was not resolved with the gravity I felt it deserved - the secret was foreshadowed and hinted at and built up until when the truth finally surfaced, I wasn't shocked at all. Then, the problem just kind of went away. Really? I felt like screaming at the characters, "What are you going to do about this?" Hopefully, since I was reading an advanced copy, somebody caught these mistakes. But still, I couldn't help but be disappointed.

Then there was this: Last chapters: Riley takes a bullet meant for Evie, but then everything is chaos. In the next chapter, we find out that Max and Frankie are dead - really? How did they die? Who killed them?

Then the epilogue: Evie has a lawyer and goes to court. Why? Is it something to do with her father? I assume so, but the author doesn't say. Is she charging him? Does she want him to go to jail? Does she fear that he will do the same to others, or does she just want to make him pay for what he did to her? Even one sentence to clarify this would suffice.

Will you like this book?

I'm almost tempted to say that if you liked "Captive", leave it at that and skip "Exposed" altogether. "Captive" was just so much better! But, you might want to give this one a try for yourself. Be forewarned, though, that if you're looking for more info about the underground criminal world and "crew" that Riley and his brother Ghost are involved in, you won't be getting it here.

Will I read more by this author?

In a word, yes. Even though I hoped for more from this particular title, I still think the premise of the series is unique enough for me to give the next book a try.

My rating: 2.5 stars

[Kristy /Obsessed with Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love second chance romances and Brighton Walsh books so this was a win/win for me. Not to mention I thought Captive was a great book and I was looking forward to Riley's story. Once again the clandestine world of Ghost and Riley is phenomenally well crafted. One of the hardest things for an author to pull off is a believable criminal underworld where the plot makes sense and doesn't have major holes. Brighton does this to perfection and watching the story unfold is a wonderful crazy ride in this book.

Riley is perfection, absolute sheer male perfection. I could not have loved or felt for him more. Having followed Ghost into a shady, violent business, he excels at providing intimidation and protection, all the while getting revenge for the love he lost as a teen. But his protective nature and loyalty are swoon worthy and when his world gets turned upside down he rises to the occasion beautifully.

Evie is awesome. She's tough as nails in all ways and proficient at living a life under the radar, hiding from a past that is determined to track her down. She's hiding more than one secret and has never had a reason to trust anyone...except Riley, the only man that ever made her feel safe. But now that she's back in his life and in hiding with him she's afraid to let him in to her life and her heart...especially since her past is putting them both in danger. It's wonderful to see a character that can be so tough and strong while still being vulnerable and insecure. Oh...did I mention stubborn? Yep she's stubborn as hell.

The first 80% of this book was absolute perfection to me. I cried, I was shocked, I fell in love with the characters, I loved it. This was firmly a 5 star read for me until the last 20%. Don't get me wrong, it's a great book and the end is very well done. For me, however, there were two or three small points at the end that missed the mark for me a little bit, minor things but just enough to move it down to a solid 4 star read.

An ARC was provide in exchange for an honest review.

[caren]

I'll admit that I didn't love the first book in this series as much as other stories Brighton has shared with the world. Which I hate saying, because as you've seen me say before, I'll read anything she writes. She's never done me wrong when it comes to hot boys. And let me tell you that while Ghost was hot, he never really did it for me. But Riley? Riley can come over and whisk me away to safety any freakin’ time he pleases. Because damn. Swoons galore. GALORE.

I’m getting ahead of myself, though. We’ll come back to Riley later.

If you’ve read Captive, you’ll remember that Riley is Ghost’s younger brother. And in this companion novel, the story focuses all on him and a girl—the girl—from his past. Evie. The one who got away…kind of.

I am a total sucker and a half for once-lovers stories, and these two just about killed me dead. I won’t go into the details because spoilers, but I’ll say that the story unfolded so well, and the sensitive topics were treated with the respect they deserved. Evie’s story felt real because it was. She wasn’t just your everyday cliché’d character with a bad past. She had reasons for what she did that went beyond the “I was abused so I’m fucked up” trope that’s so often seen in New Adult novels. I was so very happy with the way everything turned out, and I’ll say that I thought the blurb on the jacket didn’t do the book justice at all. There was so much more inside these pages than I expected.

Can we move back to Riley now? Okay. He was so very unexpected. I’ve been reading Brighton’s words for a long time, and she’s made me swoon before, but it’s been a while since I’ve swooned like this. He did everything right. Even when he did that one thing that broke my heart but made me swoon like crazy anyway. And his mouth. The sparring. The sweetness. The… all of it. All. Of. It.

Don’t wait to pick this one up when it hits the shelves, for real. Just get it and read because you won't be sorry.

[Once · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’all if you haven’t read anything by Brighton Walsh you are sorely missing out. Exposed is the second in the Captive series, following Riley (Ghost’s brother) and Evie, a girl whose layered story keeps you invested the entire time. Don’t get me wrong Riley’s story had me invested, though his story revolves around Evie’s, but Evie’s got a few secrets that are haunting her everyday life and we slowly uncover them and slowly grow from them.

So like I stated earlier, if you haven’t read anything by Walsh I feel sorry for you, she’s officially on my auto buy list and I haven’t been disappointed yet, honestly each story I fall in love more. Exposed made me want to reach through the pages and hug our characters, their past, their secrets, everything they both have gone through and overcome together and separately gave me a heavy heart. We find out in the beginning that Evie has ran off and consumed a new identity, her ex-boyfriend Riley believes she’s dead, along with everyone else in her life, except for the one person that helped her run, Ghost. So once a picture of her surfaces in the media her old life comes back to haunt her and she enlists in the help of the only person that was able to get away. So since we have Ghost on the case it’s time to reveal the truth to Riley, that is ex-girlfriend, love of his life, is indeed alive and healthy. All sorts of worlds are rocked since that picture of Evie surfaced.

I loved Captive, and I definitely going to state I loved Exposed so much more. Evie’s story, her past, her secrets, everything about her made me intrigued from page one. I wanted to be there for her and by reading her story, I was. So please, if you haven’t read anything by Walsh yet, pick this up. She’s exactly what I love in the New Adult world.

http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2015...

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved everything I have ever read from this author and this one is no different.

Riley and Evie's stories story was different than I expected. It has a tough issue in it and though I figured out Evie's secret, it was still hard to watch her deal with it. I admired her for her strength. I was so glad when she finally shared it with Riley. That man loves her hard. He would do anything for her. He would never doubt her. He would only want to protect her and care for her.

You might notice that I love Riley hard. This is a second chance story unlike most. The reason for them parting five years ago wasn't anything that normally tears couples apart. And Riley used that departure to be the reason for decisions in his life he may not have made otherwise. I loved how passionate he was about Evie and the effect she had on his life. He never stopped loving her. And he would die to protect her.

Evie was a little harder for me to love. She made a decision that hurt Riley and I'm not sure I got over it. I get it. And I even respect it. She was protecting him just like he has always done for her. She needed control in her life and I get that too. It was just hard. Hard for everyone.

I like Eric. I'm so glad about the character growth he has in this story. We don't see a lot of him but he's impacted by this story a lot.

A great follow-up to Captive, though I loved that one more. Still, fans of the series and the author will want to read this one. It can be read standalone as well. It has lots of sexy and lots of secrets. And it's a fast read.

[Teresa Mary Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

I have yet to read a book from Brighton Walsh that I didn’t enjoy and Exposed was no exception. While I didn’t enjoy Exposed as much as Captive, I still liked Riley and Evie’s story.

I adore second chance romances, so I really loved that aspect of this story. The chemistry between Riley and Evie is strong and it is clear that even though five years have gone by, they both still have strong feelings for one another. It was nice to watch these two find each other again and see how much they have changed over the years. But despite all of those changes, they still fit together perfectly. I do wish they had communicated a bit better, because they did have a tendency to use sex as avoidance, but they both come around. The backstory in this one made my heart hurt and I admired Evie for her strength.

I also enjoyed the suspense element. It wasn’t overly prominent, but it was a nice addition to the story. I was able to guess one of the twists, but I found it didn’t take away from the impact it had on the story. Brighton did a good job of blending the mystery, suspense, and romance to make an enjoyable read.

All in all, Exposed was a good read and I expected nothing less from Brighton. If you haven’t read anything from this author yet, you should change that.

[BookHookup · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original review for this title can be found here on The Book Hookup.

Christina's Review:

**Disclaimer:** An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for this blog tour. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.

♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4.5 stars! Exposed was everything its title portrayed it to be: raw, gritty, emotional, suspenseful, and ridiculously hot. When I finished this novel, I felt wrung out emotionally, but stupid-giddy happy that these two lost kids with loads of baggage on their back were able to grow up, find themselves, and managed to fall harder in love while dodging the huge target on their backs.

♥ The Lowdown: Genevieve Meyer is a fake. She's a young woman with polished nails, a huge engagement ring on her finger, and fancy dresses who lives in a mansion and attends social events with her big-shot fiancé. She's a carefully crafted façade, a bodysuit and mask, that Evie Masterson slipped on five years ago when she went on the run, leaving everything and the only boy she's ever loved behind, because her very life depended on it. No matter how cautious she was, she knew her dangerous past would catch up with her and that her days were numbered. She just didn't know that when it did, the only boy that had ever managed to capture her heart that she had to walked away from would be the one to come for her in the dark.

After twenty-two years, I'd come to the realization that people only saw what you let them see. Or, more apt, what they wanted to see. Generally the pretty, skin-deep things that didn't make them uncomfortable. They didn't look for the messy, ugly parts ... the dark, twisted secrets hidden away. The skeletons inevitably buried in everyone's closets.

They definitely didn't see the bones I had concealed in mine, buried under years of dirty secrets and lies and the hundreds of miles separating me from the truth.
~quote taken from the opening paragraphs of Exposed

♥ Review: Oh man, I really don't even know exactly where to start with this review to be honest. I feel like I could climb on a mountain top and profess my love for it, easily. I think this companion series, and this novel in particular won't be for everyone simply because it touches on taboo topics and has a little bite behind its pretty words, but Brighton's writing makes me wish that people would set those ideals aside and give it a shot. Her characters always find a way of working themselves beneath my skin where they settle easily inside my heart. I connect with them. I root for them. I fall in love with them falling in love. And, Riley and Evie weren't an exception. They even had the added bonus of being one of my favorite tropes: second chance romances. I loved seeing bits of them from their teenage years and I loved watching them navigate their crazy-hot chemistry to fall in love/fall harder in love all over again. As individuals, I definitely saw more growth from Evie, but I also know that she had a lot more baggage strapped on her back to work through than Riley did. Together, with heated stares and scathing snark, these two easily burn up the pages, and let's get real, if Brighton Walsh excels at anything, to be perfectly blunt, it's the sex. She's not afraid to let her characters get a little dirty and mouthy, and well, to be frank, she knows how to make her readers squirm and get flush-faced. As for the plot of the story, I think readers would probably be expecting something like the major twist that came in Captive, but it's relatively straight-forward, and I feel like that might make readers feel like it's a little anti-climatic. As for myself, I was pretty pleased with how everything worked out plot-wise and felt like it suited the tone of the story nicely, especially because of all the other story strings being pulled in the background. Lastly, one of my other favorite things that Brighton does is give us an epilogue. I enjoyed getting that little awwwww! moment with these two who came so far in such a small number of pages.

Possible soapbox/spoiler warning: I'll have to admit, I may be a bit partial to Brighton Walsh and her books because I know her as a friend and I see her books at every stage, even when they're nothing more than thoughts in her head that we discuss over multiple chats. This book wasn't any different, and it's because I know a lot of the behind-the-scenes things that I'm especially protective of it: the writing, the characters, the plot, and maybe more than all those others, Evie's backstory. I really hope that people don't look at it and think it's just another one of those New Adult books, ones where abuse is there to explain why the hero/heroine is "messed up", but doesn't take the time to give the matter the time and attention it deserves. I know how much Brighton agonized over having Evie's past take this particular route, I know the work/research/time/energy/conversations she put in to make Evie's story feel authentic and truly a part of her as a person, not just dumping it on her to make her storyline "juicy" or "dramatic." And, again, I might be biased, but I thought she did an exceptional job of tackling such a sensitive subject. She didn't make Evie weak or broken by it. Yes, it beat her down at times, as it does in real life when it happens to real people, but it also made Evie see her strength and bravery when she decided--not because of love/romance/relationships-- to face her battle head on. It's a story close to my own heart, and I hope people don't belittle what happened to Evie just because it tends to be a prevalent crutch for characters in other books of this genre.

♥ Rec it? Yes! Aside from the fact that I consider Brighton a friend, great writing and good books are just that: great writing and good books. Her characters are flawed and real, their chemistry is undeniable and downright, light-your-hands-on-fire hot, the dialogue is smooth and effortless, and the plot will keep you turning the pages until the book is done. It's as simple as that, really. It's a book you'll pick up, fall in love with, and probably pick up again and again over time long after your first read-through.

♥ A very special thank to St. Martin's Griffin, NetGalley, and Brighton Walsh for allowing me to participate in this blog tour and for providing me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.75

I have come to the conclusion that I just love Brighton Walsh's writing. I loved this book, it was so enticing. I loved every moment, not as much as the first book in the series but still loved. The characters were awesome and really developed or showed themselves little by little. I loved Evie, the most.

The plot twist, I saw coming but I appreciated the way that it was done. I think it was done in a way that wasn't forced and was realistic in the emotions it generated.

The sex parts were more than I would have wanted, but that is my preference. I still enjoyed them, they were done very tastefully.

[Sandy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 21, 2015

In this sexy, suspenseful New Adult novel, a young woman hiding from her criminal past is taken captive by her ex-boyfriend, the ultimate bad boy.

Evie is about to embark on the perfect life. Beautiful, poised, and engaged to a rising business star, she fits the part of trophy wife perfectly, except for one thing: her entire identity is a lie.

Five years ago she created a new identity for herself, but it all crashes back when something she witnessed years ago comes back to haunt her. Now she's in danger of losing more than her social status.

Determined to protect the careful life she's built for herself, Evie doesn't want anything to do with Riley, the criminal for hire who broke her heart years ago. But Riley has other ideas. He's never forgotten Evie, and to protect her, he steals her away. Hidden from the world, sparks begin to fly as old memories resurface and their passion reignites.

REVIEW: 3.5 stars--EXPOSED is the second installment in Brighton Walsh’s new adult, contemporary CAPTIVE romantic, suspense series. This is Evie and Riley’s storyline-a second chance for two people ripped apart by someone else’s greed and anger. EXPOSED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Riley is Gage’s (Ghost) younger brother, first introduced to us in CAPTIVE (book one). Any necessary information from the previous storyline is imparted where necessary.

Told from dual first person points of view (Riley and Evie) the storyline follows the rekindling of a relationship once thought dead and gone. Five years earlier Evie was presumed dead, and in the ensuing time Riley has placed all of his anger and grief into the mercenary lifestyle as part of a crew hired to enforce an illegal set of rules for anyone disobeying those in control. But Evie has been on the run; in hiding with a new name and identity, and a fiancé who knows very little about Evie’s previous life. When her picture is spotted in a social column, Evie’s life on the run begins anew, but this time Riley is the first one on the scene, to ensure Evie remains alive and a part of his future.

The relationship between Evie and Riley has already been established-high school sweethearts whose love for one another grew through their mutual connection to the ‘crew’- but the truth about Evie’s presumed death was kept secret from Riley-Evie had uncovered some information that had placed her life in danger, and to protect everyone she loved, Evie remained ‘dead’ and missing for close to five years. Riley’s anger begins to overshadow his love for Evie but when the truth is revealed, Riley becomes Evie’s number one protector and guardian. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive; Brighton Walsh has upped the erotic factor with the release of book two. Evie tends to use $ex as a distraction both for herself and Riley, and Riley is never one to refuse what is being offered.

The secondary and supporting characters include Gage and Madison from CAPTIVE book one, as well as a number of former and current members of the ‘crew’. Frankie returns as part of the requisite evil on the hunt for Evie; and Aaron sides with Gage and Riley as they endeavor to protect Evie from Max-the man who has ordered Evie’s capture.

The world building continues to follow the members of the crew-a group of mercenary –style thugs and enforcers who are hired for any number of illegal reasons and threats. Although Gage is no longer a part of the crew, his involvement remains to try and protect his brother and the woman that he loves. Evie and Riley spend most of their time (and the story) together, stuck in an apartment where the walls begin to close in around them, and in this, the suffocation factor bled into my enjoyment of the storyline.


EXPOSED uses some memories, flashbacks, and nightmares to expose the reader to Evie’s life-the reasons she is on the run, and why she is reluctant to have any contact with her family. This particular portion of the storyline is a major factor in the character’s personality growth and background, as well as an issue that the author was hoping to bring attention to, but the development is somewhat incomplete.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Cézanne Hayden-Dilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read Captive earlier this year I fell for Ghost and Maddie's story and we were also introduced to Riley, Ghost's younger brother. There was something I instantly liked about his characters so I was excited to read his story. This was a different kind of story than Captive. This novel was darker, sexier, but still filled with the same perfect balance of action and romance.

Five years ago Evie walked away from everything she knew and everyone she loved in order to save her life. Ghost, Riley, and Evie, had all been a part of Max's crew. Evie's job was the one to gather information from Max's enemies. When Evie found out too much, it left her in danger and she had no the choice but to disappear.

"I knew I couldn’t run forever, that at some point, someone would find me. I just didn’t know which bad guy I’d left behind would be the one breathing down my neck."

Now, Twenty two year old Evie who's now known as Genevieve is quite different from the girl she used to be. Gone is wild girl she used to be and now she’s sophisticated, polished, and engaged to an up and coming lawyer. She’s also been living in fear. When the past she's tried to leave behind is comes back for her it brings Riley back into her life.

"I knew that voice. I recognized it as sure as I’d recognize my own face. Because it was a voice I’d heard in my dreams too many times to count. When my dreams were dreams and not the nightmares that so frequently plagued me, it was his face I saw. His voice I heard. His body I felt. It was him. It was always him."

For the last five years Riley thought that Evie was dead and he was devastated when he lost her. Even though they were only teenagers the connection that had back then was intense. They were in tune with each other's feelings and emotions and the bond they had been unshakable. Losing her crushed him and Riley he became even more involved the crew. Now finding out that she was not only alive but running for danger, Riley had so many questions but so few answers. Whatever the circumstances Riley wanted to protect her.

“If you’re gonna gamble, at least gamble with me. You know I’m not going to hurt you. You know you’re safe with me.”

The chemistry between Riley and Evie was absolutely scorching. With every look and touch between them you felt their spark. With Riley, Evie could be herself again. She still had the same smart mouth and intensity that she had before but in some ways she was even harder, tougher than she once was. Having the chance to be together again was everything that Riley could have wanted and I loved seeing the two of them together. When the truth behind her disappearance is revealed you also find out that there is a much more painful secret that Evie is hiding from.

"I looked up into her eyes, seeing the undeniable connection we had reflected back, and I wanted to stay like this forever. Because when she was here like this, I knew she was safe. And I would do anything to make sure she always was."

I have to say Brighton Walsh had me wrapped up in this story. I also liked the fact that Ms. Walsh made this book a bit darker than her previous novels. There was something about these two characters that just held my attention. Their connection, the intensity of their time together, and the action just all came together for a wonderful story. Even though Evie’s stubbornness irked me at times, I still enjoyed her personality and strength. Riley made my heart swoon! His words and actions with Evie were just *sigh* perfect. He was a nice balance of sweet, sexy, and alpha. I truly could not get enough of these two.

[Georgana ~ Valentine PR & Literary Managment · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exposed was definitely a book I was really looking forward to getting my hands on. After reading Captive by Brighton Walsh, I became a true fangirl of her writing and I loved the suspense and mystery that she included so well in book one. And true to form, Exposed had the same elements that I loved in Captive…that who done it, that sexy heat, that hiding out from the bad guy characteristics. Brighton really did a great job with Exposed and I was thrilled to finally be able to read Riley’s story.

Riley is Gage’s brother….we met him a bit in Captive, but in Exposed he is the shining star. Where I thought he was a bit thuggish in book one, in Exposed, we really got to know the inner Riley and I must admit I adored him. Five years ago when he lost the love of his live Evie to a shootout, his whole world changed for him. Where before he was only a little bit in the crew, when Evie died he submersed himself in the world of bad guys. Fast forwarding to present time, Riley finds out his whole world as he has known it was a lie. He finds out the only girl he has ever loved is really not dead, but living in another town, engaged to an extremely prominent man. When Riley finally comes face to face with his first love and all the trappings that they had to deal with, I truly felt a bit of sadness for him. When he finds out that other people knew about this and withheld this information, I really felt for the guy. I might be in the minority, but I totally understood why Evie and Gage didn’t tell Riley. I get that he would have never stopped looking for her. I also totally get why she ran and hid. Did it bother me that Evie moved on? Not one bit. She made choices to get out of the crew for reasons you will need to read, but I also think it was not wrong of her to continue to live her life.

As the story progresses, we find out the reasoning behind Evie’s escape and we also find out more about what makes Evie tick. Brighton took a chance on introducing some very sensitive subject manner and I felt she handled it in a very delicate and gentle way. When Evie finally comes clean with Riley, I too felt that weight lifted off her shoulders. The heat between these two was scorching hot, and if you like a dirty talker, then Riley is definitely your man.

I loved the way Exposed wrapped up and seeing everyone get put in their place was the icing on the cake. The mystery and suspense really held my attention well and learning the truth behind all that happened in the past was a great plot twist. I have really enjoyed this series and I look forward to reading more from Brighton in the future! Enjoy!

I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Red Cheeks Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I didn’t want to jeopardize everything I’d worked for. I didn’t want to risk everything I’d lied for. Above all else, I didn’t want to ever go back.”

Exposed is the follow up novel to Captive and features Riley, Gage’s brother, and Evie the girl he loved and lost. Evie disappeared five years ago and Riley had finally thought he had moved on with his life and then suddenly when she reappears in the news with a new name, style and fiance she is trust back into the dangerous life she had once escaped. Riley must grab her before the guys who are after her get there and keep her safe. But can he move past the hurt and feelings he has not to mention the lust that still resides and keep her safe and happy?

“I had this ring on my finger and a fiancé in London, and I wasn’t allowed to stare at my ex-boyfriend like I wanted to drag him to the floor and ride him until neither of us could see straight.”

Riley and Evie’s story was supremely sexy and suspenseful filled with longing and desire and a dash of anger over the lies and deceit that fell between them. Riley, as a book boyfriend, was extremely sexy and protective, at times I felt he was too forgiving but overall his everlasting love for Evie was apparent and had my heart squeezing. Evie has tried to move forward in her life but when you spend most of your time looking over your shoulder seeing if anyone is after you it is hard to ever really be happy.

Now, Evie is engaged and I know people will be weary as to if this is a cheater book but I want to warn you that not everything is ever as it seems and please go into this with an open mind. As always if you have spoiler related questions you are more than welcome to message me on Goodreads, Facebook or shoot me an email.

“I’d stand by her, protect her till my last breath if that was what it took.”

Brighton Walsh is a great writer and it was very easy to get sucked into this story and watch these two character reconnect and fall in love all over again. I am a sucker for a second chance romance and Exposed fit the bill just right. My only note is that I would have loved more dialogue between the two characters. Their power struggles between them were both HOT and fun and having more of that would have been even better. Fans of the first book, Capture, will be happy to know you get glimpses of life with Gage and Madison and I loved visiting with them again.

Exposed is a standalone novel in the Captive series. Told in alternating POVs in first person we get insight into both Riley and Evie’s heads as well as see the plot devolve all around. Fans of panty melting sex scenes and second chance romances will not want to miss this suspenseful New Adult book!

~miranda

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspense. Mystery. Heart-break. And a healthy dose of romance and steam. Plus, Riley. Oh Riley, for you alone I'd recommend this book, despite my having some misgivings...

For years, Evie has been on the run, living a lie, trying to escape the past and her mistakes. Except now her perfectly constructed life is about to come crumbling down.

Under threat from those seeking her out, Evie escapes with her ex-boyfriend, Riley. The man she once loved, the man she left behind.

Despite all the years that have passed, Riley's never forgotten the girl that stole his heart, and keeping her safe is paramount. He didn't protect her the first time around; will he be able to this time?

I really loved Brighton Walsh's Tessa Ever After, which was my first foray into her writing, so I was keen to give this one a try. (Apparently, I like to start her series' at book two!) I wish I could say I loved Exposed as much as I did the excellent Tessa Ever After, but sadly, I did not.

Oh, don't get me wrong. There is PLENTY to adore about this book. Ms. Walsh writes beautifully, weaves a mysterious and suspenseful tale that is both engaging and heart-wrenching. And she gives us Riley, who is strong, caring, forgiving and so damn sexy and hot, I just about passed out from heat exhaustion. Ms. Walsh turned up the steam factor in Exposed, and it's fantastic. But for me, it wasn't quite enough to overlook my concerns with Evie's character.

I absolutely felt for what Evie's been through. It's not that. In fact, that part of the story was handled with heart and sensitivity. But her decision-making didn't strike me as brave or strong or smart. For me, she came across as selfish and a little hypocritical. She was desperate for control, to the point where she would (and did) strip it from others without thought. And it bothered me. To the point I had to set this one aside for some time, and immersed myself in housework just to get a break.

I understand her choices propel this book, and her conflict is what makes this story possible, it's simply a case of wishing I was able to connect more with the character. She was so remote and, to a certain extent, undeserving of forgiveness for the secrets she kept and the lies she told, that I couldn't bring myself to like her, let alone love her.

Having said all that, I am happy to have read this book. Like I said, there's a lot to love about this one and Ms. Walsh is clearly a gifted writer. I'm left intrigued about what will become of this series and still keen to try more of her work. Especially if there's more characters like Riley. ~ Beth, 3.5 stars

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was super excited to hear that we were getting Riley's story because after briefly meeting him in Captive, I definitely wanted more of him! I was not disappointed either! That man completely captured my heart and would not let it go!

The book starts off by hitting the ground running with the danger, intrigue, and suspense and I really liked that. We don't really know why Evie is in trouble, just that she is and her ex-boyfriend, who thought she was dead, is the one to go and help her. This definitely made for some tension as Riley is pretty pissed that no one clued him in that she didn't die 5 years ago. Their tension is pretty intense, even despite the fact that Evie is engaged to another man. It's a bit of a special situation though, so if you are concerned about cheating in books, don't be worried. Their scenes together are really steamy (I would expect nothing less seeing as it's Brighton) and I did like seeing how desperate they are for one another, even though Evie knows she shouldn't be going down that road with Riley again. Evie was a bit hot and cold with Riley in the beginning, but her reasons make sense as she has had some really devastating things happen to her in the past and she still lives with those demons everyday.

I did enjoy Exposed, but there were a few things I wished had been a bit different. I really wanted there to be more of an emphasis on the suspense storyline and while it was always in the background, it all resolved and wrapped up pretty quickly and easily. I love second chance romances, but I struggled to feel that reconnection between the characters. I didn't doubt that they cared for one another, but I just needed a bit more.

I loved that we got to briefly check in with Ghost and Maddie and I am happy to see these two still going strong. Their book is a favorite of mine and I was definitely a bit sad I didn't love this one like I did the previous one.

Brighton is definitely one of my go-to authors and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what she does next!

*Received a copy of this book via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is a companion novel, which can be read alone, or part of the series.

Brighton Walsh captivated me with the first installment of this series. It was so raw, and unexpected, that I couldn't help but fall under its spell. I opened this novel with extremely high expectations, which weren't entirely lived up to. While the writing was smooth, and the story was intriguing, it wasn't as enthralling as Captive.

In outline form, the story is very appealing, but when put together, it was rather slow and somewhat predictable. A vast majority of the book is spent waiting, and that time period felt extremely long. While I enjoyed the navigation of their relationship, I wished the pacing would pick up a tad, making it flow more smoothly.

I really enjoyed Riley and Evie together. They had a great dynamic, creating compelling conversations, and steamy situations. I couldn't help but root for them, since they clicked together so perfectly. I wish that there was more of their relationship in present time, verses the consistent details of their relationship from the past.

I adored Riley, and bonded easily with him. Evie on the other hand was a little more difficult. I really wanted to like Evie, but sometimes she grated my nerves. The framework was there to make her a likable, relatable character, but I sometimes grew annoyed with her antics.

Throughout the novel it seemed that conversations were sometimes redundant, and the whole story seemed little farfetched. Looking back, it feels like there was a lot more telling than showing. I was told about their past, and all that they've been through rather than experiencing it firsthand.

Exposed was different than I was expecting. It wasn't as earth shattering, and poignant as the first novel in the series, but still heart wrenching nonetheless. Although I had some minor issues with the story, Brighton Walsh still managed to grip my emotions, and make me care for these fictitious characters.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was generously provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

2 Couldn't get into it stars


I really hate giving less than stellar reviews. I really do. I know each book is a labor of love, and can't imagine all that goes into writing a book. However, Exposed was just meh for me.

Exposed is the second book in a series. The first was Captive. Exposed can be read without reading Captive, however I am glad I read captive first because I got to see those characters again in this book.

Exposed is the story of Riley and Evie. Evie is running from her past, part out of necessity, part because she wants to forget it. Evie has been reinvented. She has a new name, a new history, a new identity and is engaged to a prominent lawyer and political hopeful. From the outside it looks like she could have everything she could ever want. However, she is lonely, and she misses the simplicity of her old life. That is until her carefully constructed house of cards comes tumbling down. She is on the run again and her life depends on trusting her ex boyfriend.

Riley thought the love of his life died five years ago. His involvement in crime and the crew the last five years has been nothing more than his was to avenge the death of his love. One night Riley gets the shock of a lifetime when he finds out Evie is still alive. Time has done nothing to change the way he feels about her, their chemistry, and their passion. The question is, if they both survive, will there be a future for them?

The premise of this book is good. It has all the makings of a great story. There just wasn't enough story. I felt like the story was nothing more than a filler for the sex. Don't get me wrong, I love the steamy moments in a book as much as the next person, but I want it to be secondary to the story line. There were so many times I did not even want to finish. I just could not keep my interest in this. I felt like this could have been shorter (even though its not that long of a book) and accomplished the same thing.

[Janina · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

4 Stars

Review of Exposed by Brighton Walsh

Exposed is about Riley a member of the Crew and Ghost´s brother and Evie his not-so-dead (Ex-) Girlfriend. Evie disappeared five years ago after she gathered information about Max, the boss of the crew that she was not supposed to find. She left everything behind. Riley had no idea that Evie is still alive and living a new life with a new name until Ghost has to tell him that Evie is in danger and that she needs their help to keep her safe.

I devoured Exposed. It is one of the best books I have read this year.
Riley is sexy and dangerous but at the same time so sweet and caring. And his filthy mouth…

“Made my hands twitch at my sides to reach out, pull the strap from her shoulder, yank down the front of the tank top, and put my mouth to those perfect little tits, suck her nipples into my mouth, and see if I still knew how to make her moan. See if, this time around, I could make her scream.”

I adore Riley for being tough but not afraid to show feelings, for always saying the right things at the right time and for always being there for Evie.

I am in love with Evie. She is fierce, strong, loyal and vulnerable after everything that has happened to her and she is still standing. She did not let life pull her down. She is not broken. She is beautiful inside and out.

“You’ve always been gorgeous to me,” I said, my voice rough with my need. “Since that very first day I saw you. But now…” I shook my head and let my eyes get their fill of her. I swallowed down my anger, my sadness at her past, and continued, “Knowing what you’ve gone through and that you’re still standing? That you didn’t let any of it destroy you? It only makes you more beautiful. You came out on the other side. Strong and resilient and fucking perfect.”