A fun, sweet, romantic and very witty ride. Morgan and Jenn have created memorable characters you'll remember long after you've finished (and then read the book again). A longer review is forthcoming, but for now...go, read!
**Full review***
In the entertainment world, a lot of people move and act like sharks. Every so often, it’s nice to see someone get speared like the great white beast in “Jaws,” especially when you’ve been waiting a while for that to happen.
That’s an especially apt analogy for EXPOSURE, Jennifer and Morgan Locklear’s new novel about love, hate and revenge in the world known informally as Hollywood. The best part: it’s a comedy, and you get plenty of laughs throughout the story. And the character whose career gets gutted like a flounder? He deserves it.
That would be Kyle Peterson, a popular film actor whose star doesn’t shine nearly as bright as he thinks it does. In fact, “bright” isn’t a word anyone would associate with him, unless it has to do with his lovely and talented actress wife, Michelle. The book opens with a passionate scene between the two of them, but what Michelle doesn’t know is that Kyle intends it to be their last one.
They’ll be working on a new film together, and already Michelle is worried about how their disintegrating relationship will affect their performances. She’s a professional, and a very gifted actress whose skills have often been overshadowed by Kyle’s ego. Finally, with this movie, her talent shines brightly, and it’s no coincidence that this happens as her soon-to-be-ex husband’s career is flaming out.
Among Kyle’s blinds spots: he’s completely unaware of how many times his ass has been saved by Michelle and their PR consultant, Shaunna Noble. A child of the industry whose father is a powerful producer, Shaunna knows the ropes. She’s savvy, ethical, honest and lovely, and has pulled Kyle from the brink of destruction more than once, even though he’d never admit it.
But even Shaunna has her limits. When Kyle’s toddler-like tantrums and misbehavior push her too far, she strikes back in a way that’s completely uncharacteristic of her. Shaunna’s actions set in motion a series of events that at first give Kyle the upper hand, but then provide a way for Michelle to gain some excellent leverage in her divorce from the increasingly desperate Kyle. All the while, Shaunna protects and nurtures her growing relationship with an up-and-coming young actor named David Quinn, who also happens to be Michelle and Kyle’s co-star.
Shaunna’s lovely romance with the enormously appealing David provides the counterpoint to the sour and dissipating relationship between Michelle and Kyle. But the Locklears keep the humor in the acting couples’ difficulties; they inspire the reader to laugh at Kyle’s egotistical foibles while cheering on Michelle, Shaunna, David, and anyone else who has the clear good sense to see Kyle for who he is.
The reader is among those. The Locklears have drawn strong, well-defined characters who are far above the caricatures often associated with any satire relate to the entertainment industry. You may not like Kyle very much but you won’t entirely dislike him; you’ll feel sorry for him by the end, especially once you see what the Locklears have in store for him through their plot. Let’s just say that he loses a lot.
David is a wonderful character; kind, smart and funny without being so overdrawn as to make him unbelievable. He’s a perfect match for Shaunna, and that’s sayin’ somethin’, because by the time you’ve read through half of EXPOSURE, you’ll be convinced that she only deserves the best.
There’s so much to like about EXPOSURE: the plot, the great characters, the humor that constantly infuses the story; and the Locklears’ writing style. But I think my very favorite aspect of the book is the strong female characters. Bad things happen to them, but they are never victims; they figure things out, they move ahead, they do what has to be done in order to get out from under whatever is holding them down. And that’s a real joy to read.
Don’t miss out on the fun. EXPOSURE is a great ride, a hilarious adventure, a warm and witty character study of the egos and eccentrics who make the movies and television shows we love to watch. I’d swear I was looking behind the scenes if I didn’t know that Morgan and Jennifer Locklear wrote this as fiction. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.