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Exposure
The new novel from the author of UNTOUCHABLE, with her unique brand of unputdownable thriller and something a little extra...
Kitty Sweet is in prison, charged with double murder. She’s as damaged as she is charismatic, as dangerous as she is charming. And now she’s been invited to tell her story, to explain how on earth it came to this.
Hers is a story of heartbreak and desperation, of adulation and glamour. Of ruin. She’s descended to an underworld that most people can only imagine and she’s lived to tell the tale…
Meet Kitty.
Kitty Sweet is in prison, charged with double murder. She’s as damaged as she is charismatic, as dangerous as she is charming. And now she’s been invited to tell her story, to explain how on earth it came to this.
Hers is a story of heartbreak and desperation, of adulation and glamour. Of ruin. She’s descended to an underworld that most people can only imagine and she’s lived to tell the tale…
Meet Kitty.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2016
7 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Ava Marsh
3 books60 followersAva Marsh grew up in Margate, Kent. A former broadsheet journalist, she now works as a freelancer in the charity sector and writes novels.
Ava lives in Battersea, London. Her hobbies include running, kayaking and photography.
Ava lives in Battersea, London. Her hobbies include running, kayaking and photography.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 9, 2016
Ava Marsh's debut, Untouchable, was an unashamedly ballsy look at the world of high-class escorts, with a hugely captivating plot and the tension of a top-class thriller. It's success was built on combining a protagonist who readers vied for with an original element of risk, all set in the shadowy world where sex is debased to a financial transaction. Grabbing the reader from the off with a pithy look at the lead character compiling her tax return and deliberating on just what can be classed as legitimate expenses, it was effortlessly engaging. The risqué sex details were not gratuitous in the slightest and much of the sexual content was a necessary by-product of the territory. Needless to say, I had high expectations for Exposure...
Opening in 2016 amid the visitors room of HMP Brakehurst, it is a surly and bitter Leanne Jenkins that awaits a visit from childhood best friend, Maxine. Antagonistic and intimidating, sat with her legs astride, Leanne is the epitome of "damaged goods". Inside for a double murder with at least six years remaining before her first appearance in front of the parole board and nothing awaiting her on the outside, Leanne is a source of unrest amid the volatile environment on the wing. As Maxine delivers some shocking news to Leanne her frustration boils over and after kicking off and spending a week on basic, prison governor Harding offers her the chance to work with a new therapist, with some surprising results. Unravelling over a dual time frame, the novel is well constructed and sees Leanne working through the story of just what led up to her incarceration ten years previously and finally offering her side of the story and a chance, at last, to explain her actions.
2006 and Leanne's boyfriend has left her high and dry with their flat rent in arrears and an empty savings account and it is as a naive nineteen-year-old waitress who contacts Daryll Crocker about his advertisement, and finds herself drawn into the seedy world of the sex industry. Escalating from this first topless photo shoot right through to full on porn movies, private jobs, drugs and the more sadistic and hence lucrative side of the porn business, this is a story about the gradual erosion of the fine lines that mark a persons moral boundaries. As Leanne heads stateside to attend the Oscars of the porn world, events in her life climax to a watershed moment and mark the turning point in her story from which there is no return. Exposure is a very readable tale but disappointingly failed to provide much of a thriller element, with the mystery component slow to come to fruition and felt like an afterthought. There were plenty of twists along the way, but in my opinion they all were all wholly foreseeable and nothing that I saw as a surprise given the world that Leanne is sucked into. In her first porn film Leanne is cast as a last minute replacement for the Latvian star, Anya Viksna, whose dead body is later discovered on a landfill site and leaves her feeling a bizarre connection to the young woman. Rumours of others Eastern European girls meeting the same fate are rife on the grapevine, with the chief suspect the sadistic Gonzo filmmaker, Victor Gomez, who Leanne has had an all too memorable encounter with. It takes the discovery of a Hungarian porn star similarly dumped on a building site for Leanne to become intent on finding out the truth behind the headlines surrounding the London landfill killer targeting vice girls and to see if her worst fears about Gomez are confirmed.
If Untouchable was all about venturing into uncharted waters with a sexy thriller, Exposure marks a return to slightly more lowbrow entertainment purely aiming to shock, and resembled a cross between chick-lit with a dash of erotica mixed in. Much of the humour arose from how blasé those involved in the scene became after a few shoots, treating their job with a resigned weariness and a gradual erosion of morals. As Leanne's career ensued the boundaries between nude shots and private visits become blurred, and former girl next door Leanne Jenkins transforms to the jaded, cynical and emotionally blunted Kitty Sweet resident in HMP Brakehurst. As Marsh takes her readers on a blow by blow detailing the route from topless to double anal, only detouring for a foray into narcotics to "take the edge off" things, Exposure just became a little banal and failed to stimulate (no pun intended)!
Unlike with Untouchable, I didn't feel connected to the protagonist and I had little impetus to push on and discover the truth behind the myth of Kitty Sweet. Leanne's history of being economical with the truth left me questioning the reliability of her story, but with therapist, Yvonne Conway, delivering a surmise on the girl behind the "porn persona" in the closing pages I felt I had more questions than answers.
Sadly, Exposure failed to live up to the promise of Untouchable, which is a brilliantly sassy and original thriller. I wait to see in which direction Ava Marsh takes her writing, but if the emphasis is on graphic sex and purely provocative fare, I will give it a miss. However this is a solid story with well fleshed out cast of characters and a coherent progression, but sadly the thriller element just failed to excite and I struggled to care about the protagonist.
Opening in 2016 amid the visitors room of HMP Brakehurst, it is a surly and bitter Leanne Jenkins that awaits a visit from childhood best friend, Maxine. Antagonistic and intimidating, sat with her legs astride, Leanne is the epitome of "damaged goods". Inside for a double murder with at least six years remaining before her first appearance in front of the parole board and nothing awaiting her on the outside, Leanne is a source of unrest amid the volatile environment on the wing. As Maxine delivers some shocking news to Leanne her frustration boils over and after kicking off and spending a week on basic, prison governor Harding offers her the chance to work with a new therapist, with some surprising results. Unravelling over a dual time frame, the novel is well constructed and sees Leanne working through the story of just what led up to her incarceration ten years previously and finally offering her side of the story and a chance, at last, to explain her actions.
2006 and Leanne's boyfriend has left her high and dry with their flat rent in arrears and an empty savings account and it is as a naive nineteen-year-old waitress who contacts Daryll Crocker about his advertisement, and finds herself drawn into the seedy world of the sex industry. Escalating from this first topless photo shoot right through to full on porn movies, private jobs, drugs and the more sadistic and hence lucrative side of the porn business, this is a story about the gradual erosion of the fine lines that mark a persons moral boundaries. As Leanne heads stateside to attend the Oscars of the porn world, events in her life climax to a watershed moment and mark the turning point in her story from which there is no return. Exposure is a very readable tale but disappointingly failed to provide much of a thriller element, with the mystery component slow to come to fruition and felt like an afterthought. There were plenty of twists along the way, but in my opinion they all were all wholly foreseeable and nothing that I saw as a surprise given the world that Leanne is sucked into. In her first porn film Leanne is cast as a last minute replacement for the Latvian star, Anya Viksna, whose dead body is later discovered on a landfill site and leaves her feeling a bizarre connection to the young woman. Rumours of others Eastern European girls meeting the same fate are rife on the grapevine, with the chief suspect the sadistic Gonzo filmmaker, Victor Gomez, who Leanne has had an all too memorable encounter with. It takes the discovery of a Hungarian porn star similarly dumped on a building site for Leanne to become intent on finding out the truth behind the headlines surrounding the London landfill killer targeting vice girls and to see if her worst fears about Gomez are confirmed.
If Untouchable was all about venturing into uncharted waters with a sexy thriller, Exposure marks a return to slightly more lowbrow entertainment purely aiming to shock, and resembled a cross between chick-lit with a dash of erotica mixed in. Much of the humour arose from how blasé those involved in the scene became after a few shoots, treating their job with a resigned weariness and a gradual erosion of morals. As Leanne's career ensued the boundaries between nude shots and private visits become blurred, and former girl next door Leanne Jenkins transforms to the jaded, cynical and emotionally blunted Kitty Sweet resident in HMP Brakehurst. As Marsh takes her readers on a blow by blow detailing the route from topless to double anal, only detouring for a foray into narcotics to "take the edge off" things, Exposure just became a little banal and failed to stimulate (no pun intended)!
Unlike with Untouchable, I didn't feel connected to the protagonist and I had little impetus to push on and discover the truth behind the myth of Kitty Sweet. Leanne's history of being economical with the truth left me questioning the reliability of her story, but with therapist, Yvonne Conway, delivering a surmise on the girl behind the "porn persona" in the closing pages I felt I had more questions than answers.
Sadly, Exposure failed to live up to the promise of Untouchable, which is a brilliantly sassy and original thriller. I wait to see in which direction Ava Marsh takes her writing, but if the emphasis is on graphic sex and purely provocative fare, I will give it a miss. However this is a solid story with well fleshed out cast of characters and a coherent progression, but sadly the thriller element just failed to excite and I struggled to care about the protagonist.
June 9, 2016
Exposure is the second book from Ava Marsh. If you've read the first, Untouchable, you'll already have a feel for what to expect.
Our main character, Leanne, splits up with her boyfriend and is left with many debts to clear off. Finding herself in such a predicament she becomes desperate to find easy money and fast. Thus she is drawn into the world of the porn industry. Initially starting with just shots for various porn magazines she soon progresses into the world of porn films where she takes on the persona 'Kitty Sweet.'
Set in two timeframes we have the 'now' where we find where Leanne is at and the past as she retells her story. Gritty realism is what follows as we're taken into the underbelly of sex, drugs, alcoholism and an even darker, sinister side of snuff movies. Ms Marsh has brilliantly captured both what would appear to be the glamorous side and the reality of repercussions if this world is entered into. In fact I would say this book is a 'must read' for any girl contemplating entering the porn industry. It's not pretty, it's not without consequences and even had me thinking about intricacies and repercussions that I hadn't even thought of.
This is all wrapped up in a terrific page turner of a story with some lively vivid characters. Everyone from Kitty's best friends to slimy movie producers who never seem to give up to get what they want. Leanne and Kitty were painted in a likeable way. I loved how we saw the naivety of Kitty's earlier days making mistake after mistake and then cutting to the harder edged Leanne who had been there and done that. And even though this is gritty realism there are still moments to laugh and empathise. An insight into a world that most of us won't enter, wonder at the people who do and realise whilst reading this that they're just everyday people with everyday problems taking them down a path that is dark and sometimes deadly.
I loved this book from the first page to the last. It's a great story that moves along quickly, it's brilliantly engaging and as for that last chapter! Boy oh boy! Read for yourselves and see what you think!
Exposure is one heck of a sexy, sassy, seedy, scary read! And one I highly recommend!
Our main character, Leanne, splits up with her boyfriend and is left with many debts to clear off. Finding herself in such a predicament she becomes desperate to find easy money and fast. Thus she is drawn into the world of the porn industry. Initially starting with just shots for various porn magazines she soon progresses into the world of porn films where she takes on the persona 'Kitty Sweet.'
Set in two timeframes we have the 'now' where we find where Leanne is at and the past as she retells her story. Gritty realism is what follows as we're taken into the underbelly of sex, drugs, alcoholism and an even darker, sinister side of snuff movies. Ms Marsh has brilliantly captured both what would appear to be the glamorous side and the reality of repercussions if this world is entered into. In fact I would say this book is a 'must read' for any girl contemplating entering the porn industry. It's not pretty, it's not without consequences and even had me thinking about intricacies and repercussions that I hadn't even thought of.
This is all wrapped up in a terrific page turner of a story with some lively vivid characters. Everyone from Kitty's best friends to slimy movie producers who never seem to give up to get what they want. Leanne and Kitty were painted in a likeable way. I loved how we saw the naivety of Kitty's earlier days making mistake after mistake and then cutting to the harder edged Leanne who had been there and done that. And even though this is gritty realism there are still moments to laugh and empathise. An insight into a world that most of us won't enter, wonder at the people who do and realise whilst reading this that they're just everyday people with everyday problems taking them down a path that is dark and sometimes deadly.
I loved this book from the first page to the last. It's a great story that moves along quickly, it's brilliantly engaging and as for that last chapter! Boy oh boy! Read for yourselves and see what you think!
Exposure is one heck of a sexy, sassy, seedy, scary read! And one I highly recommend!
December 10, 2016
When this book is described as provocative it surely is, and if you're prudish about porn or sex then this book is definetly not for you. I personally wasn't offended by anything but realised just how shockingly naive I am! I read this in little over a day its that easy to read and follow and the characters are very believable. There's a great story in this book, it's written well and I'm pleased I had the chance to read this thriller as it's not something I probably would have picked up myself. Thank you to The Book Club on Facebook and the author for a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.
May 7, 2016
“Exposure” was a Saturday buddy read with my good friend Christine of Northern Crime her review HERE
Well what to say about Exposure…
Anyone who has read Untouchable, the previous book from Ava Marsh will already know about the sexy, sassy writing that drags you into a different world and holds you there utterly enthralled for the entire reading time, now she has done that again with Exposure. Both books are centred around intriguing and cleverly drawn female main protagonists and here we have Kitty – a girl you will never forget.
Kitty needs money. That is how it starts. A broken relationship, leading to a need to make a living, leading to an inexorable fall into a dark place – Exposure does exactly what it says on the tin, telling me more than I ever thought I’d know about the porn industry.
This is CLEVER sexy sassy writing – Ava Marsh leaves any sort of judgemental tone out of it and just tells a banging (often literally in this case) story about one girl and the life she leads. Kitty is at turns engaging and sympathetic, you will attach to her like a limpet and stick with her all the way as she sells her soul, attempts to retrieve it and ends up somewhere unexpected. This author is explicit and intuitive, the tale fairly rocks along, addictive, thrilling and endlessly fascinating, I couldn’t look away.
There are beautifully written layers to the storytelling – around Kitty a vibrant, instantly likeable (or not) cast of eclectic and utterly gripping characters who live a very different life to what might be considered normal and yet are for the most part very normal people. Kitty never looks forward, doesnt envision the consequences of this particular life choice yet over the course of the book comes to know it. By then there is no turning back, the inevitability of this modern world is shown here in all its wonderous and darkly devisive glory.
To write a thought provoking, authentic and credible piece of fiction set in this world and still manage to make it sexy as hell, although sometimes worthy of a slight cringe and an “aargh” followed by a nice cup of tea (yes yes I’m British I can’t help it) is a mean feat indeed and Ava Marsh has pulled it off with a flourish, Exposure is hard hitting and realistic with a side of mystery and a slice of psychological thriller, top notch storytelling first page to last.
Ava Marsh takes apart her characters and puts them back together, gives you a brilliantly gripping and provocative ending and leaves you there to consider the ramifications of this particular industry and what it can mean to the people inside of it. There are two sides to every coin, this writer looks at both, Exposure is an absolutely fantastic piece of fiction that could so easily be fact.
I loved it. Fantabulous.
Well what to say about Exposure…
Anyone who has read Untouchable, the previous book from Ava Marsh will already know about the sexy, sassy writing that drags you into a different world and holds you there utterly enthralled for the entire reading time, now she has done that again with Exposure. Both books are centred around intriguing and cleverly drawn female main protagonists and here we have Kitty – a girl you will never forget.
Kitty needs money. That is how it starts. A broken relationship, leading to a need to make a living, leading to an inexorable fall into a dark place – Exposure does exactly what it says on the tin, telling me more than I ever thought I’d know about the porn industry.
This is CLEVER sexy sassy writing – Ava Marsh leaves any sort of judgemental tone out of it and just tells a banging (often literally in this case) story about one girl and the life she leads. Kitty is at turns engaging and sympathetic, you will attach to her like a limpet and stick with her all the way as she sells her soul, attempts to retrieve it and ends up somewhere unexpected. This author is explicit and intuitive, the tale fairly rocks along, addictive, thrilling and endlessly fascinating, I couldn’t look away.
There are beautifully written layers to the storytelling – around Kitty a vibrant, instantly likeable (or not) cast of eclectic and utterly gripping characters who live a very different life to what might be considered normal and yet are for the most part very normal people. Kitty never looks forward, doesnt envision the consequences of this particular life choice yet over the course of the book comes to know it. By then there is no turning back, the inevitability of this modern world is shown here in all its wonderous and darkly devisive glory.
To write a thought provoking, authentic and credible piece of fiction set in this world and still manage to make it sexy as hell, although sometimes worthy of a slight cringe and an “aargh” followed by a nice cup of tea (yes yes I’m British I can’t help it) is a mean feat indeed and Ava Marsh has pulled it off with a flourish, Exposure is hard hitting and realistic with a side of mystery and a slice of psychological thriller, top notch storytelling first page to last.
Ava Marsh takes apart her characters and puts them back together, gives you a brilliantly gripping and provocative ending and leaves you there to consider the ramifications of this particular industry and what it can mean to the people inside of it. There are two sides to every coin, this writer looks at both, Exposure is an absolutely fantastic piece of fiction that could so easily be fact.
I loved it. Fantabulous.
June 16, 2016
Untouchable, the first novel by Ava Marsh, was in my top 10 reads of 2015. I just loved the way the author took the seedy side of high class prostitution and gave it a sympathetic spin with an unlikely but likeable heroine. So when I heard she had another novel coming out, I was elbowing my way to the front of the queue to get my early copy! With a slight trepidation I started reading, hoping that this wouldn't suffer from the dreaded "second novel syndrome" but I'm pleased to say that it didn't!
I will start with a bit of a warning though, this book is set within the porn industry so naturally it contains A LOT of sexual content! I would really hate to see what sort of research Ava Marsh had to do for this book and her browsing history must have been.....interesting to say the least! There were a couple of things that I had never heard of but I was way too scared to Google them for fear of what would come up!! Kitty Sweet is an ex porn star who is now in prison having been convicted of a double murder. She starts to see a therapist after she has a violent outburst and is encouraged to write down her story. Describing the journey to her ultimate downfall, the book then details what happens to Kitty with clues along the way as to who she has been convicted of murdering. Her introduction to the world of pornography is shocking, graphic and sometimes violent but never gratuitous.
Once again Ava Marsh has created a fabulously flawed character in the form of Kitty Sweet who is the alter ego of Leanne, who falls into pornography as a way of paying the bills after a relationship fails. At first I wasn't sure about her but as the books progresses and I started to find out more about her relationships, I began to feel such an affection for her. I'd like to think that if she had been my daughter I would have been a mother somewhere between Sally and Yolanda (you'll see when you read it!) but maybe I was just another victim falling for the charms of Kitty Sweet??!!
I loved this look at the dark and grubby side of the porn industry and how ultimately no one comes out of it unscathed. Ava Marsh has written another winner here, I just love her style of writing and the way it draws you into a different world and takes you out of your comfort zone. I did feel rather grubby at the end of it though, like I needed a hot shower to wash away all the seedy shenanigans!
Highly recommended by me.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
I will start with a bit of a warning though, this book is set within the porn industry so naturally it contains A LOT of sexual content! I would really hate to see what sort of research Ava Marsh had to do for this book and her browsing history must have been.....interesting to say the least! There were a couple of things that I had never heard of but I was way too scared to Google them for fear of what would come up!! Kitty Sweet is an ex porn star who is now in prison having been convicted of a double murder. She starts to see a therapist after she has a violent outburst and is encouraged to write down her story. Describing the journey to her ultimate downfall, the book then details what happens to Kitty with clues along the way as to who she has been convicted of murdering. Her introduction to the world of pornography is shocking, graphic and sometimes violent but never gratuitous.
Once again Ava Marsh has created a fabulously flawed character in the form of Kitty Sweet who is the alter ego of Leanne, who falls into pornography as a way of paying the bills after a relationship fails. At first I wasn't sure about her but as the books progresses and I started to find out more about her relationships, I began to feel such an affection for her. I'd like to think that if she had been my daughter I would have been a mother somewhere between Sally and Yolanda (you'll see when you read it!) but maybe I was just another victim falling for the charms of Kitty Sweet??!!
I loved this look at the dark and grubby side of the porn industry and how ultimately no one comes out of it unscathed. Ava Marsh has written another winner here, I just love her style of writing and the way it draws you into a different world and takes you out of your comfort zone. I did feel rather grubby at the end of it though, like I needed a hot shower to wash away all the seedy shenanigans!
Highly recommended by me.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
August 20, 2016
Ava Marsh is one of the most exciting authors that I have read in recent times, Untouchable and Exposure being two of my most memorable reads of the past year. Exposure is a thought-provoking and truly compelling read that I had read in less than a day because I couldn't wait to see how everything was going to end.
I became a teenager just as the internet was becoming mainstream, when it was something that most people I went to school with had either in their living rooms, or for those lucky few, their bedrooms. Pornography was soon a hot topic amongst those looking to alleviate the boredom of the classroom. Even before that I remember porn being everywhere, with magazines and videos being swapped around (yes, actual video cassettes) and then discussed later in the week. It was only when I was an older teenager that I bought Jenna Jameson's autobiography and that completely opened my eyes up to the porn industry and the absolutely eventful life that Jenna had led. It would be unfair to say that men view porn in just one way, just as I think it would be unfair to say that most women in porn are forced into it or don't want to do it, or have damaged pasts, but that's a discussion for another day and I think for the most part it probably is an industry that has a lot of unhappy people who couldn't see any other way to make a real living for themselves and that industry is completely laid bare here.
Kitty Sweet is a person who found herself in the industry when she became somewhat disaffected with her everyday life. I love how Exposure was written because we start the book with Kitty in prison for double murder, and she soon starts to relay to the reader and her therapist what led to her being there as we go back and forth between the past and the present day. This is why I found the book to be so addictive as some chapters would often end on a mini-cliffhanger, or with a hint of the fate of one or more of the characters that we meet along the way and I couldn't read quick enough to discover that fate. Leanne (Kitty's real name) is not a damaged character as the book begins, but she is lost in the sense that she doesn't really know who she is or what she wants from life. A couple of bad decisions find her turning to modelling, which in turn leads to something that should just be easy money, a nude shoot. This then leads to porn and overnight, her life is changed forever. Ava Marsh is a talented writer, and she doesn't hold back at all with the detail that she goes into. Never in a gratuitous way but, on the whole, in a very believable way and you know that this story is extremely well-researched and authentic.
Leanne is a likeable character and as the book progresses it's easy to see why she became so caught up in the world that she found herself in. She felt wanted, liked, and she soon had more money than she knew what to do with. Ava does portray the glamorous side of this world very well, but that dark, seedy side is what is portrayed the best and the read soon takes a couple of dangerous twists and turns that had my heart in my mouth. It also focuses on the reactions of Leanne's family members to her being a porn star, which in turn is partly responsible for some of the bad decisions that she makes. I soon found myself feeling a whole rollercoaster of emotions, and as the book neared its conclusion I had no idea how it was going to end. The last third or so of this book is where Ava's writing talent is really showcased and it had probably one of my favourite endings in a book because it's something that really leaves the reader thinking and really made me question absolutely everything that I had just read and thought I knew about the characters. A brilliant read from an author I cannot wait to read more from. If you are yet to read either Untouchable or Exposure, then you need to do so right away. I can't wait to see what Ava Marsh writes next.
I became a teenager just as the internet was becoming mainstream, when it was something that most people I went to school with had either in their living rooms, or for those lucky few, their bedrooms. Pornography was soon a hot topic amongst those looking to alleviate the boredom of the classroom. Even before that I remember porn being everywhere, with magazines and videos being swapped around (yes, actual video cassettes) and then discussed later in the week. It was only when I was an older teenager that I bought Jenna Jameson's autobiography and that completely opened my eyes up to the porn industry and the absolutely eventful life that Jenna had led. It would be unfair to say that men view porn in just one way, just as I think it would be unfair to say that most women in porn are forced into it or don't want to do it, or have damaged pasts, but that's a discussion for another day and I think for the most part it probably is an industry that has a lot of unhappy people who couldn't see any other way to make a real living for themselves and that industry is completely laid bare here.
Kitty Sweet is a person who found herself in the industry when she became somewhat disaffected with her everyday life. I love how Exposure was written because we start the book with Kitty in prison for double murder, and she soon starts to relay to the reader and her therapist what led to her being there as we go back and forth between the past and the present day. This is why I found the book to be so addictive as some chapters would often end on a mini-cliffhanger, or with a hint of the fate of one or more of the characters that we meet along the way and I couldn't read quick enough to discover that fate. Leanne (Kitty's real name) is not a damaged character as the book begins, but she is lost in the sense that she doesn't really know who she is or what she wants from life. A couple of bad decisions find her turning to modelling, which in turn leads to something that should just be easy money, a nude shoot. This then leads to porn and overnight, her life is changed forever. Ava Marsh is a talented writer, and she doesn't hold back at all with the detail that she goes into. Never in a gratuitous way but, on the whole, in a very believable way and you know that this story is extremely well-researched and authentic.
Leanne is a likeable character and as the book progresses it's easy to see why she became so caught up in the world that she found herself in. She felt wanted, liked, and she soon had more money than she knew what to do with. Ava does portray the glamorous side of this world very well, but that dark, seedy side is what is portrayed the best and the read soon takes a couple of dangerous twists and turns that had my heart in my mouth. It also focuses on the reactions of Leanne's family members to her being a porn star, which in turn is partly responsible for some of the bad decisions that she makes. I soon found myself feeling a whole rollercoaster of emotions, and as the book neared its conclusion I had no idea how it was going to end. The last third or so of this book is where Ava's writing talent is really showcased and it had probably one of my favourite endings in a book because it's something that really leaves the reader thinking and really made me question absolutely everything that I had just read and thought I knew about the characters. A brilliant read from an author I cannot wait to read more from. If you are yet to read either Untouchable or Exposure, then you need to do so right away. I can't wait to see what Ava Marsh writes next.
April 22, 2017
4.5 Stars
Enthralling story taking in the highs and lows of the adult film industry, and what its like to be a porn star. It has captured my imagination and any time I wasn't reading, I was thinking about Kitty Sweet and just what her life was like.
For Kitty Sweet is telling us her story from the "comfort" of prison, as she was found guilty of murdering two people. She has been in for years at the point we meet her, and she is encouraged to talk to a psychiatrist, and to tell her side of the story.
It follows that we see the way Kitty fell into the career she chose, the motivations behind it leading up to why she is in prison. Despite knowing the outcome as such, I found the story captivating and I really enjoyed reading it.
There is a fair amount of sex, or sexual acts in the story, but its not gratuitous, more matter of fact, to highlight the glamour modelling and porn industries. There are some scenes that could be considered uncomfortable but a lot depends on your own sexual desires and openness, so really is subjective to each reader as to where their comfort line may lie.
Exposure has been described by some as a thriller but I'm not convinced. It was gripping, unputdownable in places, but didn't feel particularly thrilling. It was interesting and I'm not really sure what genre I would call this but its not a non stop action packed thriller, but more a story for friendship and just what lengths you will go to for love.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting into Kitty's mind, and absolutely love both of the books that Ava Marsh has now written. I just hope we will see more from her as the seedy sexual underworld is great subject matter for these sorts of books. The writing entranced me and had me hooked and overall I just really enjoyed Exposure.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Transworld for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Enthralling story taking in the highs and lows of the adult film industry, and what its like to be a porn star. It has captured my imagination and any time I wasn't reading, I was thinking about Kitty Sweet and just what her life was like.
For Kitty Sweet is telling us her story from the "comfort" of prison, as she was found guilty of murdering two people. She has been in for years at the point we meet her, and she is encouraged to talk to a psychiatrist, and to tell her side of the story.
It follows that we see the way Kitty fell into the career she chose, the motivations behind it leading up to why she is in prison. Despite knowing the outcome as such, I found the story captivating and I really enjoyed reading it.
There is a fair amount of sex, or sexual acts in the story, but its not gratuitous, more matter of fact, to highlight the glamour modelling and porn industries. There are some scenes that could be considered uncomfortable but a lot depends on your own sexual desires and openness, so really is subjective to each reader as to where their comfort line may lie.
Exposure has been described by some as a thriller but I'm not convinced. It was gripping, unputdownable in places, but didn't feel particularly thrilling. It was interesting and I'm not really sure what genre I would call this but its not a non stop action packed thriller, but more a story for friendship and just what lengths you will go to for love.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting into Kitty's mind, and absolutely love both of the books that Ava Marsh has now written. I just hope we will see more from her as the seedy sexual underworld is great subject matter for these sorts of books. The writing entranced me and had me hooked and overall I just really enjoyed Exposure.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Transworld for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
May 23, 2016
Edgy and addictive with a brilliantly tricksy ending
I loved Marsh's Untouchable from last year and this cements her status as a 'must read' author for me. Leanne/Kitty is another complex, multi-faceted character like Stella/Grace in the first book and another sex-worker, this time a porn star rather than an elite prostitute. When the book opens Leanne is in prison for murder: but who has she killed and why?
This is, again, not for the faint-hearted: there's no coyness here about what it means to work in the contemporary porn industry and we see it all, from the corporate 'high end' to the sleazy one-man-and-a-camera and the truly terrifying stuff on the margins.
Marsh writes superbly, creating real characters with nuance and depth. She also manages to work a brilliantly vivid plot that develops logically rather than feeling imposed on the book - that old maxim of 'character is plot' is brought to life here.
And oh, that tricksy ending! There were one or two tiny blips in the story that I'd noted but by the end I could see how perfectly placed they were to create exactly that tiny little shiver of unease in the reader. The end, when it comes, is both audacious and yet also logical, and made me want to go straight back to the beginning...
So another masterful performance from Marsh which has the pace and grip of a thriller with an underpinning of intelligence, and none of that silliness in plot which so often mars these types of books - I loved this!
I loved Marsh's Untouchable from last year and this cements her status as a 'must read' author for me. Leanne/Kitty is another complex, multi-faceted character like Stella/Grace in the first book and another sex-worker, this time a porn star rather than an elite prostitute. When the book opens Leanne is in prison for murder: but who has she killed and why?
This is, again, not for the faint-hearted: there's no coyness here about what it means to work in the contemporary porn industry and we see it all, from the corporate 'high end' to the sleazy one-man-and-a-camera and the truly terrifying stuff on the margins.
Marsh writes superbly, creating real characters with nuance and depth. She also manages to work a brilliantly vivid plot that develops logically rather than feeling imposed on the book - that old maxim of 'character is plot' is brought to life here.
And oh, that tricksy ending! There were one or two tiny blips in the story that I'd noted but by the end I could see how perfectly placed they were to create exactly that tiny little shiver of unease in the reader. The end, when it comes, is both audacious and yet also logical, and made me want to go straight back to the beginning...
So another masterful performance from Marsh which has the pace and grip of a thriller with an underpinning of intelligence, and none of that silliness in plot which so often mars these types of books - I loved this!
July 7, 2016
ooooh! If you are prudish then don't read this book however if like me you love a bit of explicit raunch then I would highly recommend Ava Marsh latest novel. Porn star Kitty Sweet is in prison for double murder and this story takes us back to how Kitty started out in the porn industry. It's very rude and very naughty but it's also a gripping and fast paced thriller. 4.5 stars from me.
May 9, 2016
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK (Transworld Publishers, Corgi) and Ava Marsh for providing an advanced review copy of 'Exposure' in exchange for an honest review.
Kitty Sweet isn’t like anyone you’ve ever met before. She’s an infamous porn star, imprisoned for double murder. As damaged as she is charismatic, as dangerous as she is charming.
But once no different from you or I. Kitty’s past is full of heartbreak and desperation, of adulation and glamour. Of ruin. She’s descended to an underworld most people can only imagine, and lived to tell the tale . . .
This is her story.
Wow. What a story. I literally could not put this book down. From the opening chapter, I was gripped, so completely sucked in to the gritty and dark world of Kitty Sweet.
The book kicks off in the 'now' - Kitty is in prison. She's been there a while and she's likely to be there a lot longer, but having been offered the chance of therapy after a particularly violent incident involving a fellow inmate, Kitty starts to tell her story. So the book goes back to the start of the story, long before Kitty wound up in prison. And what a story it is. Whether it was the author's narrative and style of writing, the darkly disturbing but voyeuristically addictive subject matter or a combination of both that made this book such an emotionally charged and gripping read, I'm not sure. I think it was a combination of both. It was wonderfully written, perfectly structured and I don't think I've been so emotionally involved in a book for a long time as I was with 'Exposure'.
I loved the mix of characters. I was very fond of Kitty Sweet - a 'tart with a heart' - and irrespective of how she earned her money, I had admiration and respect for this woman. She knew what she wanted, she knew how to get it and she had such an inner strength about her. She just wanted to be loved and without revealing any spoilers, I don't think she ever managed to get what she ultimately wanted from life.
Ava Marsh must have had some eyebrow raising, eye popping experiences whilst researching this novel, as the one thing that is blatant from the very start, is that the author has researched her subject matter extensively. This went a long way in adding such authenticity to this story. A brilliant 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, I would recommend 'Exposure' to everyone. A truly memorable read that's heading straight for my 'favourites shelf'.
Kitty Sweet isn’t like anyone you’ve ever met before. She’s an infamous porn star, imprisoned for double murder. As damaged as she is charismatic, as dangerous as she is charming.
But once no different from you or I. Kitty’s past is full of heartbreak and desperation, of adulation and glamour. Of ruin. She’s descended to an underworld most people can only imagine, and lived to tell the tale . . .
This is her story.
Wow. What a story. I literally could not put this book down. From the opening chapter, I was gripped, so completely sucked in to the gritty and dark world of Kitty Sweet.
The book kicks off in the 'now' - Kitty is in prison. She's been there a while and she's likely to be there a lot longer, but having been offered the chance of therapy after a particularly violent incident involving a fellow inmate, Kitty starts to tell her story. So the book goes back to the start of the story, long before Kitty wound up in prison. And what a story it is. Whether it was the author's narrative and style of writing, the darkly disturbing but voyeuristically addictive subject matter or a combination of both that made this book such an emotionally charged and gripping read, I'm not sure. I think it was a combination of both. It was wonderfully written, perfectly structured and I don't think I've been so emotionally involved in a book for a long time as I was with 'Exposure'.
I loved the mix of characters. I was very fond of Kitty Sweet - a 'tart with a heart' - and irrespective of how she earned her money, I had admiration and respect for this woman. She knew what she wanted, she knew how to get it and she had such an inner strength about her. She just wanted to be loved and without revealing any spoilers, I don't think she ever managed to get what she ultimately wanted from life.
Ava Marsh must have had some eyebrow raising, eye popping experiences whilst researching this novel, as the one thing that is blatant from the very start, is that the author has researched her subject matter extensively. This went a long way in adding such authenticity to this story. A brilliant 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, I would recommend 'Exposure' to everyone. A truly memorable read that's heading straight for my 'favourites shelf'.
May 19, 2016
Wow, this really is an amazing book. When I first started reading this I thought the story was about a porn star that ends up in jail. However, it’s much more complex and entertaining than that. Firstly, I like to say what a wonderful writing style Ava Marsh has. This is the first book of read of hers and I’m certainly now a fan. There were parts to this story where I sat mesmerised, I was so drawn into the story. Leanne starts out with a bit of nude photography to help pay off some of her debts, and when this dries up she progresses into the porn industry. It’s interesting how many times Leanne tells herself she should just walk away from it all. However, the money she is making, her love for Jo, and the friends she is making prevent her from pulling herself away from it. This really is a fascinating story, and an insight into a world most of us couldn’t imagine. I like a story that keeps me guessing, even after I’ve finished the last page. Do yourself a favour and read this book, it really is that good.
July 17, 2016
An indulgent and gritty thriller. The main character, Kitty, turns to the porn industry to clear debts left by her Ex. Swapping between two time frames, the story develops with Kitty getting herself far more involved in the darker side of the industry. This results in a thrilling encounter of intrigue, greed and eventually revenge.
It certainly is a no-holds-barred encounter. Although it can be very graphic at points, this is a cracking read, which keeps the pages turning.
This may not be as jaw-dropping as Untouchable, Ava's debut book, but it's tantalizing nevertheless and a compelling piece of thriller writing.
Highly recommended and looking forward to more from this author.
Solid 4*
It certainly is a no-holds-barred encounter. Although it can be very graphic at points, this is a cracking read, which keeps the pages turning.
This may not be as jaw-dropping as Untouchable, Ava's debut book, but it's tantalizing nevertheless and a compelling piece of thriller writing.
Highly recommended and looking forward to more from this author.
Solid 4*
June 10, 2016
I absolutely loved this author's debut book, Untouchable, when I read it last year and so I had high expectations for this new offering, although I was always a little scared as usual that it wouldn't live up to these expectations and that I had set the bar too high!
I really shouldn't have worried as I also absolutely loved this book too. Read start to finish in only a couple of days with only sleep and work getting in the way.
We meet Leanne - AKA Kitty Sweet - in prison. After a particularly uncomfortable visit from an old friend, she takes up the offer of some talking therapy and it is during these sessions that we learn of the events leading up to the situation that lead to Leanne being incarcerated. These are mostly in the form of episodic stories written to someone called Joe. We learn what happened to take her from Leanne - daughter and sister, to Kitty - major award nominated Porn star. We learn an awful lot about the Porn industry, some of which is quite graphic and explicit and definitely not for the faint-hearted but always in keeping with the storyline rather than included just for sensationalism. We see that things for Leanne/Kitty escalate out of control as she spirals down into a world of drugs and violence, where glamour and glitz become seedy and sordid and, like watching a car crash, become powerless to stop it all.
I really loved this book. For many of the same reasons I loved Untouchable. A strong lead character with a past which we are drip fed in flashback slowly being introduced in a perfectly paced manner. We have the introduction to the Porn industry which, I have to say, opened my eyes a tad and, whether I wanted to or not, I have learned a thing or two! The characters were also brilliant. I loved the complexity of Leanne/Kitty - I do love books with identity themes - and her relationship with Esme especially. The characters all came across as totally real to me and I was easily able to emote with enough of them to ensure a good reading experience. I loved how the action was mostly high octane in flashback and then tamed a little for the therapy session dialogue which gave me, as a reader, a bit of respite.
Most of the way through I was wondering how the book could possibly end (I must stop doing this, it's not a good habit) and as we approached the final chapters of Leanne's writing I have to admit that parts of this kind of shocked me a little as it really wasn't where I expected to be. And then the epilogue. Well, all I can say about that is - "yes, perfect".
All in all, a brilliant researched and presented book - an excellent second book - and we know how hard they are to pull off sometimes. I really can't wait to see what Ms Marsh has in store for her readers next time.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I really shouldn't have worried as I also absolutely loved this book too. Read start to finish in only a couple of days with only sleep and work getting in the way.
We meet Leanne - AKA Kitty Sweet - in prison. After a particularly uncomfortable visit from an old friend, she takes up the offer of some talking therapy and it is during these sessions that we learn of the events leading up to the situation that lead to Leanne being incarcerated. These are mostly in the form of episodic stories written to someone called Joe. We learn what happened to take her from Leanne - daughter and sister, to Kitty - major award nominated Porn star. We learn an awful lot about the Porn industry, some of which is quite graphic and explicit and definitely not for the faint-hearted but always in keeping with the storyline rather than included just for sensationalism. We see that things for Leanne/Kitty escalate out of control as she spirals down into a world of drugs and violence, where glamour and glitz become seedy and sordid and, like watching a car crash, become powerless to stop it all.
I really loved this book. For many of the same reasons I loved Untouchable. A strong lead character with a past which we are drip fed in flashback slowly being introduced in a perfectly paced manner. We have the introduction to the Porn industry which, I have to say, opened my eyes a tad and, whether I wanted to or not, I have learned a thing or two! The characters were also brilliant. I loved the complexity of Leanne/Kitty - I do love books with identity themes - and her relationship with Esme especially. The characters all came across as totally real to me and I was easily able to emote with enough of them to ensure a good reading experience. I loved how the action was mostly high octane in flashback and then tamed a little for the therapy session dialogue which gave me, as a reader, a bit of respite.
Most of the way through I was wondering how the book could possibly end (I must stop doing this, it's not a good habit) and as we approached the final chapters of Leanne's writing I have to admit that parts of this kind of shocked me a little as it really wasn't where I expected to be. And then the epilogue. Well, all I can say about that is - "yes, perfect".
All in all, a brilliant researched and presented book - an excellent second book - and we know how hard they are to pull off sometimes. I really can't wait to see what Ms Marsh has in store for her readers next time.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 30, 2016
This novel opens in 2016, with Leanne (Kitty Sweet) in prison serving her sentence for double murder. The writing is gritty, making the reader very aware of the brutal world of prison with its favours, game playing and the need to be constantly alert and wary of every other inmate. Leanne knows she must never give anyone leverage over her despite how tempting it is to confide in someone you think could be a friend. The language is brutal, coarse, offensive and harsh but used by Marsh to create authentic and believable characters. She ensures that the right atmosphere and setting for her hard hitting story is established. By the end of the first page it is clear this novel is not for the faint hearted!
We then move back to 2004 when Leanne was only 19 years old, returning right to the beginning in order to find out just how she has ended up in prison for murder. Finding herself in serious financial difficulty thanks to her ex-boyfriend, Leanne starts to earn extra money by posing nude. The lure of the thick wad of notes becomes too enticing and too "soothing for the soul" and before she really can stop herself, she has entered the world of porn movies and begins to earn a significant income this way. She doesn't walk into this lightheartedly; there is plenty of dilemma and conflict surrounding her decision which she is never fully comfortable with but she is young and this is "easy" money. It is not until the work becomes more pornographic that she realises there is no going back. The passages describing her work and the seedy world of the porn industry are incredibly explicit and graphic. Again, they are not for the faint hearted or prudish. They are eye opening and hard hitting.
Leanne is a character you can care about. She is naive from the outset and the truth of her situation - of the effect it will have on her and how it will shape her- only dawns on her later. Marsh has written a book which "exposes" the porn industry and explores the effect it has on the people within it. From the outset the reader is pulled in and pulled down in to a dark, violent, exploitative and uncomfortable world. She doesn't hesitate to include shocking detail and language, but manages to create a story in which she is not passing judgement or making moral comment.
The chapters are short. The novel is well paced with a good build up of tension. It is full of action and colour. The language is explicit and there is a lot of erotic and sexual content which at times is quite overwhelming. However, there are lots of reviewers who are captivated by Kitty Sweet and compelled to find out her full story. This could be the next "Fifty Shades of Grey", albeit a much more gritty version.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for a fair review.
We then move back to 2004 when Leanne was only 19 years old, returning right to the beginning in order to find out just how she has ended up in prison for murder. Finding herself in serious financial difficulty thanks to her ex-boyfriend, Leanne starts to earn extra money by posing nude. The lure of the thick wad of notes becomes too enticing and too "soothing for the soul" and before she really can stop herself, she has entered the world of porn movies and begins to earn a significant income this way. She doesn't walk into this lightheartedly; there is plenty of dilemma and conflict surrounding her decision which she is never fully comfortable with but she is young and this is "easy" money. It is not until the work becomes more pornographic that she realises there is no going back. The passages describing her work and the seedy world of the porn industry are incredibly explicit and graphic. Again, they are not for the faint hearted or prudish. They are eye opening and hard hitting.
Leanne is a character you can care about. She is naive from the outset and the truth of her situation - of the effect it will have on her and how it will shape her- only dawns on her later. Marsh has written a book which "exposes" the porn industry and explores the effect it has on the people within it. From the outset the reader is pulled in and pulled down in to a dark, violent, exploitative and uncomfortable world. She doesn't hesitate to include shocking detail and language, but manages to create a story in which she is not passing judgement or making moral comment.
The chapters are short. The novel is well paced with a good build up of tension. It is full of action and colour. The language is explicit and there is a lot of erotic and sexual content which at times is quite overwhelming. However, there are lots of reviewers who are captivated by Kitty Sweet and compelled to find out her full story. This could be the next "Fifty Shades of Grey", albeit a much more gritty version.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for a fair review.
June 27, 2016
Thanks to Sophie Christopher, Transworld and Ava Marsh for a copy of Exposure in exchange for an honest review........
We meet Leanne in HMP Brakehurst Prison, she's been charged with a double murder. She’s as damaged as she is charismatic, as dangerous as she is charming. And now she’s been invited to tell her story, to explain how on earth it came to this. This story is told in dual time in the present day and back as far as when Leanne became her alter ego AKA Kitty Sweet. It tells us the story of how she fell on hard times and has to make money to clear off the many bills and debts that have accumulated thanks to her boyfriend whom she's broken up with. Needing to make a fast buck she falls into the adult entertainment world, starting off with nude photographs for various porn magazines but which quickly spirals into the world of pornography films.
This is a story of heartbreak and desperation, of adulation and glamour and the gritty realism of what goes on in the porn industry, from the sex, to drugs and even alcoholism, Leanne descended to an underworld that most people can only imagine and she’s lived to tell the tale…...
This is the second book by Ava Marsh and I didn't just like it, I LOVED it and it definitely didn't disappoint. This novel is like a rollercoaster ride through the seedy world of pornography and I was hooked from the first few pages. I would state that due to mature content, I would recommend this for readers aged 18+. It is pretty gritty book in parts and there are alot of graphic scenes to do with the porn industry and sex and this might not be to everyone's cup of tea but I thought that it was tastefully written. This was a very extensive and well researched subject and very well written with certain things and their explicit descriptions that will shock you as you read it so this is definitely not for the fainthearted. I am really looking forward to reading more from Ava Marsh as she's definitely an author to watch and I would highly recommend this so don't say I never told you.
We meet Leanne in HMP Brakehurst Prison, she's been charged with a double murder. She’s as damaged as she is charismatic, as dangerous as she is charming. And now she’s been invited to tell her story, to explain how on earth it came to this. This story is told in dual time in the present day and back as far as when Leanne became her alter ego AKA Kitty Sweet. It tells us the story of how she fell on hard times and has to make money to clear off the many bills and debts that have accumulated thanks to her boyfriend whom she's broken up with. Needing to make a fast buck she falls into the adult entertainment world, starting off with nude photographs for various porn magazines but which quickly spirals into the world of pornography films.
This is a story of heartbreak and desperation, of adulation and glamour and the gritty realism of what goes on in the porn industry, from the sex, to drugs and even alcoholism, Leanne descended to an underworld that most people can only imagine and she’s lived to tell the tale…...
This is the second book by Ava Marsh and I didn't just like it, I LOVED it and it definitely didn't disappoint. This novel is like a rollercoaster ride through the seedy world of pornography and I was hooked from the first few pages. I would state that due to mature content, I would recommend this for readers aged 18+. It is pretty gritty book in parts and there are alot of graphic scenes to do with the porn industry and sex and this might not be to everyone's cup of tea but I thought that it was tastefully written. This was a very extensive and well researched subject and very well written with certain things and their explicit descriptions that will shock you as you read it so this is definitely not for the fainthearted. I am really looking forward to reading more from Ava Marsh as she's definitely an author to watch and I would highly recommend this so don't say I never told you.
December 15, 2016
Blimey O'Riley. Where to start? Bizarrely, prior to starting this book, I'd only the day before finished a Santa Montefiore novel. Exposure let me tell you, is as far removed from Ms Montefiore as Bing Crosby is from Kanye West. Nowhere in Exposure will you find a leading man with a tanned chiseled jaw, cologne sodden, with eyes the colour of the Aegean and teeth whiter than Santa's beard - that's the big guy in red by the way, - I'm not suggesting Ms Montefiore has a facial hair problem. To get to the nitty gritty, the men in this story have a penchant for pierced parts and serpent tattoos from their necks to their nethers and an insatiable greed for sleazy animalistic sex with compliant nubile girls desperate to earn a few quid. Let's just say if this book was televised, it'd be sponsored by Gillette Blue 11. I'll leave that with you... It packs a punch alright - talking Muhammed Ali circa early 70's kinda punch too, and yet, I found myself sucked in and totally absorbed in the seedy world of porn despite kicking and screaming against the squalid goings on this story revolves around. It was grim yet captivating leaving me feeling grubby and guilty for liking it. Reckon that means you, Ms Marsh, has a rare talent. You've heard of car crash TV? - well ladies and gents, I give you car crash reading! If you like a story that leads you by the hand through fields of cornflowers, then wines and dine
June 21, 2016
Exposure
Wow!!!!! What a storyline! Having read and loved Untouchable, I was really looking forward to reading Marsh's new book; I wasn't disappointed!
Kitty Sweet is an infamous porn star who is in prison and charged with double murder. She's been invited to tell her story, and how she has come to be where she is.
There's something endearing about Kitty, she kind of fell into the porn industry and is swept along at an alarmingly rapid rate. There were times when I just wanted to pluck her out of the situations she found herself in. The characters were totally believable and I could picture each one in my head.
This book is not erotica but does contain a lot of sexual content, as you would expect for a book set in the porn industry. It's gritty, raw and downright uncomfortable reading in places but that just made me sympathise with Kitty more. This book is definitely not for everyone but it is highly recommended!
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow!!!!! What a storyline! Having read and loved Untouchable, I was really looking forward to reading Marsh's new book; I wasn't disappointed!
Kitty Sweet is an infamous porn star who is in prison and charged with double murder. She's been invited to tell her story, and how she has come to be where she is.
There's something endearing about Kitty, she kind of fell into the porn industry and is swept along at an alarmingly rapid rate. There were times when I just wanted to pluck her out of the situations she found herself in. The characters were totally believable and I could picture each one in my head.
This book is not erotica but does contain a lot of sexual content, as you would expect for a book set in the porn industry. It's gritty, raw and downright uncomfortable reading in places but that just made me sympathise with Kitty more. This book is definitely not for everyone but it is highly recommended!
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2016
My favourite book by Ava Marsh was untouchable. But I really did enjoy every page of reading Exposure. This story is about Leanne Jenkins who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Leanne was sent to prison for the murder of her lover. She did porn to earn money to clear up the debut her ex left her with. But what drove Leanne to carry on after she had paid off all of her debuts ? As Leanne sees in prison Yvonne Conway a therapist, Yvonne asks Leanne to write down what brought her to prison. This is without question a story that may take you out of your comfort zone, but you will be glad that you have read it.
November 17, 2017
Wow, strap in for a wild ride! This is a brilliantly-written, bold and sexy book that is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Ava Marsh's writing is confident and assured; she has constructed a great plot, with depth, complexity, cold-hard reality and a dash of black humour. Kitty is a sympathetic and compulsively readable character and the supporting cast is well-developed.
The structure is great, the pace is perfect and the ending is a revelation. I cannot recommend this highly enough - to those who can handle it! ;)
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Ava Marsh for a copy of Exposure.
The structure is great, the pace is perfect and the ending is a revelation. I cannot recommend this highly enough - to those who can handle it! ;)
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Ava Marsh for a copy of Exposure.
July 1, 2017
A very dark, seedy gritty thriller.
The story is based on Kitty Sweet who is in prison for double murder. As she talks to her psychiatrist we learn how she entered in to the world of adult entertainment and how her life has come to this. The characterisation was very good with some intriguing personalities but this book certainly is not for the easily shocked and prudish!.
A very different, shocking but enjoyable read.
My thanks go to the publisher, author and Netgalley for this arc in return for an honest review.
The story is based on Kitty Sweet who is in prison for double murder. As she talks to her psychiatrist we learn how she entered in to the world of adult entertainment and how her life has come to this. The characterisation was very good with some intriguing personalities but this book certainly is not for the easily shocked and prudish!.
A very different, shocking but enjoyable read.
My thanks go to the publisher, author and Netgalley for this arc in return for an honest review.
June 22, 2016
Ava Marsh wrote my favourite book of last year: Untouchable. It was dark, tense, frequently very graphic and provided insightful overview into the lives of high class escorts. It was brilliant.
I am extremely fortunate to have had the chance to read Exposure, Ava’s new novel, which is released today. It pleases me greatly to be able to say Exposure was another cracking read – I am going to spend another 12 months telling people they should be reading Ava Marsh’s books.
In Exposure we meet Kitty Sweet (or Leanne to use her real name). Kitty/Leanne is in prison for double murder. Having shunned all publicity at the time of her trial she agrees to write about her life as part of a therapy process. We get to discover her story, in her own words, as she talks about her introduction to the world of glamour modelling and then a move into porn.
If you read Untouchable then you will know that Ava Marsh does not sugar-coat life for her characters. Kitty learns the hard way that there is nothing glamourous about the life of a pornstar. Setting boundaries never lasts, there is always a demand for more and when you want to quit – well all I can say is that Kitty’s attempt to establish a “normal” life brought home the true extent of the life she had embraced. Powerful scenes and wonderfully handled by the author.
I loved Exposure. It’s not going to be for everyone as there are frank and graphic descriptions of porn shoots. But if you go into the story knowing it tackles real life issues and avoids sensationalising porn or making it seem that Kitty is living a 24/7 glamourous existence then you will get the best of Exposure.
This is a “must read” book. A murder mystery, the story of a life with a constant undercurrent of tragedy, the story of a fighter or of a girl lost. And just at the end one final twist which really challenged how I had originally viewed the story. So good…
I am extremely fortunate to have had the chance to read Exposure, Ava’s new novel, which is released today. It pleases me greatly to be able to say Exposure was another cracking read – I am going to spend another 12 months telling people they should be reading Ava Marsh’s books.
In Exposure we meet Kitty Sweet (or Leanne to use her real name). Kitty/Leanne is in prison for double murder. Having shunned all publicity at the time of her trial she agrees to write about her life as part of a therapy process. We get to discover her story, in her own words, as she talks about her introduction to the world of glamour modelling and then a move into porn.
If you read Untouchable then you will know that Ava Marsh does not sugar-coat life for her characters. Kitty learns the hard way that there is nothing glamourous about the life of a pornstar. Setting boundaries never lasts, there is always a demand for more and when you want to quit – well all I can say is that Kitty’s attempt to establish a “normal” life brought home the true extent of the life she had embraced. Powerful scenes and wonderfully handled by the author.
I loved Exposure. It’s not going to be for everyone as there are frank and graphic descriptions of porn shoots. But if you go into the story knowing it tackles real life issues and avoids sensationalising porn or making it seem that Kitty is living a 24/7 glamourous existence then you will get the best of Exposure.
This is a “must read” book. A murder mystery, the story of a life with a constant undercurrent of tragedy, the story of a fighter or of a girl lost. And just at the end one final twist which really challenged how I had originally viewed the story. So good…
June 25, 2016
Sex, drugs and murder... The latest thriller from one of my favourite thriller author's is a pacy lie filled ranch-fest that brings to light the untold dangers that lurk beneath the porn industry. I must admit I got a little annoyed half-way through thinking that I'd guessed how it would all pan out- I was very wrong.
Told in the present while Leanne (Kitty Sweet) is in prison with snapshots to her past where she's in love with Joe and details her descent to murder there were many ways this story could have panned out, but the way it was portrayed was both believable and satisfying. It seems that most of the characters are lying which increases the suspense as you have no idea which ones are telling the truth.
I highly recommend you break into this novel gently (there are graphic descriptions of sexual violence) by reading Ava Marsh's first romp fest, Untouchable.
Told in the present while Leanne (Kitty Sweet) is in prison with snapshots to her past where she's in love with Joe and details her descent to murder there were many ways this story could have panned out, but the way it was portrayed was both believable and satisfying. It seems that most of the characters are lying which increases the suspense as you have no idea which ones are telling the truth.
I highly recommend you break into this novel gently (there are graphic descriptions of sexual violence) by reading Ava Marsh's first romp fest, Untouchable.
May 15, 2016
I received a copy of Exposure from NetGalley and Random House UK (Transworld Publishers, Corgi) in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by this book and as I've not read the author's previous book I was unsure what to expect.
The book begins with Kitty Sweet in prison and then the chapters go between present day and earlier in Kitty's lifetime as she begins to tell her story.
This book is well written and has a good mix of characters. It was a very easy read and you found yourself compelled to keep reading. All in all I enjoyed this book and would give it a good 4 stars.
I was intrigued by this book and as I've not read the author's previous book I was unsure what to expect.
The book begins with Kitty Sweet in prison and then the chapters go between present day and earlier in Kitty's lifetime as she begins to tell her story.
This book is well written and has a good mix of characters. It was a very easy read and you found yourself compelled to keep reading. All in all I enjoyed this book and would give it a good 4 stars.
May 18, 2016
A great read. Dark and gritty taking you into a murky but fascinating world. A story of how a normal girl gets mixed up in this seedy industry. Aside from the exceptionally detailed stories of the sex industry there is a great thriller going on too. Why is Kitty in prison and how did she get this low in life. Great characters and story with a gripping storyline with glamour, porn, love, violence and friendships. Highly recommended. Thanks to publisher for advanced review copy for an honest review.
December 30, 2016
Firstly I would like to thank Ava Marsh, Corgi publishers and #TBC for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Exposure is certainly not for you if your prudish. In keeping with the subject matter, Kitty Sweet in prison for double murder and is a porn star, it's contains lots of sexual references. But they are in keeping with the storyline and give this book the sexy/dark edge that makes it such a great read.
The heroine is sexy, damaged but vulnerable. The story is fast paced and gritty. It's all very believable and gripping to read.
Exposure is certainly not for you if your prudish. In keeping with the subject matter, Kitty Sweet in prison for double murder and is a porn star, it's contains lots of sexual references. But they are in keeping with the storyline and give this book the sexy/dark edge that makes it such a great read.
The heroine is sexy, damaged but vulnerable. The story is fast paced and gritty. It's all very believable and gripping to read.
January 3, 2017
'Exposure' definitely exposed the porn industry and introduced Kitty Sweet aka Leanne Jenkins, who tells her story while incarcerated in a prison cell. Not for those easily offended, 'Exposure' is a thriller with sex, murder, revenge, and shows the downside of being a porn star. Kitty is a believable character and her story was addictive, and not what I expected. A fabulous read and I have already recommended this to my friends who love a great narrative thriller.
June 26, 2016
This is the first book ive read from this author . I found it a little slow in the beginning but soon got into the story which is told from the view point of Leanne who is a convicted murderer and an ex porn star . Easy enjoyable read . Thanks to netgalley and the publish for my arc
July 18, 2016
The gritty, seedy world of the porn industry is laid bare in this cracking novel by Ava Marsh. Sex, crime and enough thrills and spills to keep you hooked from start to finish. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
October 2, 2016
I kind of got bored with the same porn filming stuff, and wanted to get to the edginess of the thriller writing. It was predictable, and I couldn't feel empathy with any of the characters. I have tried and am not wholly convinced with this author.
February 7, 2018
There is so much shame around porn as a whole in this book that it ruined a lot of the story for me. I would have liked to see the character own her life, but even when she states she does, she doesn't - it's clear that there's a lot of fantasy in her head that she uses to escape what she's done or not done - she uses her fantasy life to define herself. She represents herself as a poor, stunned girl who has nothing to do with her circumstances or actions. I don't need to like her, I just need to feel that she accepts her choices and makes them part of herself, whether she's doing nasty gonzo porn, topless still photos, or hurting people emotionally or physically. I started off intrigued, became disgusted with the amount of judgment the author spreads over the story, and thought the end was kind of stupid. I liked two parts of this book: one was during a porn actress's funeral, when the industry people dress up and show up with 'f*ck you' attitudes because they belong at the funeral as much as, or more so, than the family that didn't accept the actress for who she is; the other is when Kitty lays into someone for pranking her about her porn career - unfortunately she then goes on to accept being shamed by everyone else. I understand that porn is complicated and not always something to be proud of, but I didn't like that there seemed to be only one way to see porn in this book and that characters never changed their opinions. It's possible that this is only Kitty's interpretation of things so that she can feel sorry for herself but...
Aside from content, I didn't really like the way the first person writing style was used - every time Kitty says 'you' I got thrown out of the story. I believe this is being marketed as a thriller, it's really not much of one; it feels like someone set out to write a damnation of the porn world, with a side of mild mystery mixed with your standard unreliable narrator.
Aside from content, I didn't really like the way the first person writing style was used - every time Kitty says 'you' I got thrown out of the story. I believe this is being marketed as a thriller, it's really not much of one; it feels like someone set out to write a damnation of the porn world, with a side of mild mystery mixed with your standard unreliable narrator.
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