The Trouble with Love and Exposure

by Harriet Ashford, Gabriel Michael (Narrator), Marie Mitchell (Narrator)

Margo Thatcher is supposed to be at work, not Feather Festival. So, she does what any red-blooded American birder would do—plays hooky. Unfortunately, her excuse doesn’t hold when a photographer from the magazine, Exposure, snaps her picture, landing her on the cover.

As a nature photographer, Trevor Hansen knew getting attacked by wildlife was a possibility. However, his greatest threat currently stems from a birder who is ready to bludgeon him with her binoculars. She might have a motive, considering his photograph did get her in trouble.

As a peace offering, Trevor offers her a job as his birding guide. Margo reluctantly accepts, and their journey travels over the wilds of a remote island and under crystal chandeliers at a lavish gala. As their animosity towards each other turns to shared secrets and overheard conspiracies, one thing becomes abundantly clear: Nothing ruins quite as thoroughly as love and exposure.

Audiobook

Published May 12, 2026

About the author

Harriet Ashford has been addicted to writing since the fourth grade and has become increasingly serious about it. Her other passion is reading romance and catching that second-hand falling-in-love feeling.

She lives in Houston with her husband, two boys, and a rambunctious blue
heeler. When she’s not reading, writing, or herding the boys, you can find
her embroidering semi-inappropriate messages onto her latest cross-stitch project.

Reviews

[Harriet Ashford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know. It's super tacky for an author to review her own book, but listen. I'm not here to comment on the plot or the writing. I am here to talk about that performance. And what a performance it was.

Marie Mitchell is (and always will be) the queen of romcom. She has that voice that is somehow both calming and will also knock you on your a** when you least expect it because she can really hit hard with those emotional beats. Like, I don't think it's fair that she should make me unexpectedly cry, especially at scenes that I had sort of swept under the rug. She truly brought Margo to life and did such a great job portraying this hardened black cat who happens to be a softie for conservation and blond men who wear backward caps and carry their dachshund in their backpacks like a baby on a hiking trip.

Then we get to Gabriel Michael. Yes. That one. The one who plays Xaden Riorson in the Empyrean series, Stark Therion in Dire Bound, Lucien in ACOTAR, and Samkiel in Book of Azrael. How did I convince him to narrate my adorable romcom and play a golden retriever of a character? Well, a virgin was sacrificed under a blood moon. Anything for my readers. No, but in all seriousness, he did such a great job as Trevor. He was playful and sweet when he needed to be, he was growly the few times it was required and then we got to the intense scenes and holy sh*t if I didn't have my hand slapped over my mouth for an entire scene like I wasn't the one who put that character in that situation because when Trevor is hurting in this book, Gabriel makes you believe it, and you almost feel it with him. That and how the villains were portrayed. WOW. Gave me all the goosebumps.

Not to mention their scenes together. The back-and-forth of the banter and the arguments is so zingy. And don't even get me started on the romantic parts. They make it so intimate that it almost feels like you are interrupting something by listening in.

Also, shout out to our engineer/publisher Jonny Tompkins! Engineers don't get enough love, but he had to stitch this together, keep us all organized, and then work his magic to make it sound like the narrators were in the same room. What he does is black magic, and you'll never convince me otherwise.

So please, if you enjoy romcoms with a little bit of spice, a lot of banter, some suspense, and audiobooks that are straight up cinematic (this is duet, btw), then check out this title.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book, and loved the audiobook just as much if not more. Marie and Gabriel are AMAZING narrators and capture the characters so well.

I LOVE Harriet, and I’m so honored to have been a beta reader for her once again. This is her third novel - spoiler alert, they’re all amazing. While you *can* read each as a standalone, this one included, you should absolutely read them all (and you get glimpses into past characters in this book).

Trevor (a nature photographer) and Margo (a bird expert) were so lovely together. The banter and snark were top notch, the care and compassion shown to each other was beautiful, and seeing them work together both on their work trips and with Trevor’s work conspiracy was heartstopping. (Side note: I am seated for Harriet’s foray into suspense!)

We love a hero who loves dogs (and volunteers his time to get them adopted). SWOON. I am so happy Johnson made his appearance again (IYKYK). We also love Prickly Margo, and those who love her (especially Bea). The vulnerability Margo showed lead to deeper love and growth, and I was totally here for it. There was great vulnerability on BOTH sides, and I couldn’t love Trevor and Margo more if I tried.

🐦 Romantic suspense and overheard conspiracies
📷 Golden retriever v black cat
🐦 Forced proximity
📷 Hurt/comfort
🐦 One bed
📷 Slow burn
🐦 Chemistry/banter (Harriet does banter best!)
📷 Birding and adventures
🐦 He falls first

Obviously ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Harriet for sharing your work! It was an honor to beta read, and somehow even better reading the final version!