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Zero Day #1
Exploited
In this pulse-pounding novel from the bestselling author of Butterfly Dreams, a vigilante hacker plays a seductive game with the agent who’s chasing her online—and sharing her bed in real life.
At first glance, I’m nothing out of the ordinary. I am a daughter. A sister. A friend. When you look at me you won’t see anything that warrants suspicion. I don’t look like a criminal.
My name is Hannah Whalen, but most people know me as freed0mov3rdr1v3, or “Freedom Overdrive”—one of the world’s most prolific and notorious hacktivists. My goal—my purpose—is to shed light on the evil that lurks behind the corporate and government lies we have been force-fed for too long.
My story begins with the best possible intention. Devoting my life to exposing the corrupt. The dishonest. The unethical. For that, they label me a cyber-terrorist. Wanted by the FBI, I’ve always been one step ahead.
Until I fell in love.
Because I’m sleeping with the man who’s hunting me. And he has no idea that I am his prey. Now I have to decide what’s more my freedom or my heart.
Exploited ends on a cliffhanger. Hannah’s story continues in Aftermath.
At first glance, I’m nothing out of the ordinary. I am a daughter. A sister. A friend. When you look at me you won’t see anything that warrants suspicion. I don’t look like a criminal.
My name is Hannah Whalen, but most people know me as freed0mov3rdr1v3, or “Freedom Overdrive”—one of the world’s most prolific and notorious hacktivists. My goal—my purpose—is to shed light on the evil that lurks behind the corporate and government lies we have been force-fed for too long.
My story begins with the best possible intention. Devoting my life to exposing the corrupt. The dishonest. The unethical. For that, they label me a cyber-terrorist. Wanted by the FBI, I’ve always been one step ahead.
Until I fell in love.
Because I’m sleeping with the man who’s hunting me. And he has no idea that I am his prey. Now I have to decide what’s more my freedom or my heart.
Exploited ends on a cliffhanger. Hannah’s story continues in Aftermath.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2017
36 people are currently reading
1560 people want to read
About the author
A. Meredith Walters
37 books4,274 followersThe New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and New Adult romances including the Bad Rep, Find You in the Dark, Reclaiming the Sand, and Twisted Love series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
July 5, 2017
It’s inevitable, every reader's journey is lined with books they treasure, others they don’t and those that fall somewhere in-between. For me, that’s exactly where Exploited ended up—floating in the ether between love and disdain.
Let me start with the positives—this book had major potential. Case in point, the compelling preface the author employed to grab the reader’s attention and set somewhat of a suspenseful tone (romantic-suspense . . . my favorite!). The whole idea behind the story promised something exciting and fresh; it was simply the execution that left a bit much to be desired.
When we meet Hannah, she’s a woman on a mission in more ways than one. She’s gone out of her way to initiate a relationship with a guy, and not just any guy, but an FBI agent named Mason. Inserting herself in Mason’s daily routine and getting him to notice her proves to be quite easy—it isn’t long before he's eating out of her hand. Getting an inside look at her conniving ways made this aspect of the story quite enjoyable. You have to wonder though, why would she be so reckless to start a relationship with an FBI agent?
Hannah spends her nights hiding behind a computer screen and hacking her way to revenge. She has a burning desire to right the wrongs her family has faced and while it’s clouded her judgment somewhat, it's easy to sympathize with her. Launching cyber-attacks on corporations that hurt innocent people has garnered her quite a reputation in the hacking world, along with a new partner in crime, and subsequently a spot on the FBI’s wanted list.
What didn’t quite come across for me was why Hannah specifically targeted Mason. She initiates contact with him before he’s assigned as the agent charged with identifying the person behind the hacker’s elusive signature; so, what gives? Maybe this is something that will be explored further in the next book?
Interesting storyline or not, I had a serious contention with the lack of distinct voices. A. Meredith Walters tells the story by flip-flopping between Mason and Hannah’s perspective and in my opinion, without the character's name notated at the start of each chapter, it would have been easy to confuse the two. Mason is touted as being an alpha-male; so, stereotypical or not, you would expect him to be a tough-guy or a complete badass, right? Wrong. He's a walking contradiction instead—a man prone to blushing, tears after sex (the first time?!) and an overwhelming amount of emotional diarrhea spewing from his mouth. Which again, gender stereotype or not, his mindset and emotions more closely resembled a woman, rather than a man. With that said, it's probably not the easiest thing, being a writer and a woman, to capture the nuances of a man's perspective.
I can’t hide the fact that I was further disappointed with Mason when he failed to pick up on the obvious clues. I’m talking simple little things that a seasoned agent should have honed in on. He was supposed to be an FBI agent with a track record for cracking huge cases, so why did it take him so long to wise up to Hannah?
At the end of the day, I think this was a valiant effort on the author’s part and I applaud her for coming up with such a rousing idea, but for this reader, Hannah and Mason’s story ends here. The issues I’m clinging to simply outweigh any lingering intrigue the ginormous cliffhanger left me with.
*Thank you to Loveswept and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start with the positives—this book had major potential. Case in point, the compelling preface the author employed to grab the reader’s attention and set somewhat of a suspenseful tone (romantic-suspense . . . my favorite!). The whole idea behind the story promised something exciting and fresh; it was simply the execution that left a bit much to be desired.
When we meet Hannah, she’s a woman on a mission in more ways than one. She’s gone out of her way to initiate a relationship with a guy, and not just any guy, but an FBI agent named Mason. Inserting herself in Mason’s daily routine and getting him to notice her proves to be quite easy—it isn’t long before he's eating out of her hand. Getting an inside look at her conniving ways made this aspect of the story quite enjoyable. You have to wonder though, why would she be so reckless to start a relationship with an FBI agent?
Hannah spends her nights hiding behind a computer screen and hacking her way to revenge. She has a burning desire to right the wrongs her family has faced and while it’s clouded her judgment somewhat, it's easy to sympathize with her. Launching cyber-attacks on corporations that hurt innocent people has garnered her quite a reputation in the hacking world, along with a new partner in crime, and subsequently a spot on the FBI’s wanted list.
What didn’t quite come across for me was why Hannah specifically targeted Mason. She initiates contact with him before he’s assigned as the agent charged with identifying the person behind the hacker’s elusive signature; so, what gives? Maybe this is something that will be explored further in the next book?
Interesting storyline or not, I had a serious contention with the lack of distinct voices. A. Meredith Walters tells the story by flip-flopping between Mason and Hannah’s perspective and in my opinion, without the character's name notated at the start of each chapter, it would have been easy to confuse the two. Mason is touted as being an alpha-male; so, stereotypical or not, you would expect him to be a tough-guy or a complete badass, right? Wrong. He's a walking contradiction instead—a man prone to blushing, tears after sex (the first time?!) and an overwhelming amount of emotional diarrhea spewing from his mouth. Which again, gender stereotype or not, his mindset and emotions more closely resembled a woman, rather than a man. With that said, it's probably not the easiest thing, being a writer and a woman, to capture the nuances of a man's perspective.
I can’t hide the fact that I was further disappointed with Mason when he failed to pick up on the obvious clues. I’m talking simple little things that a seasoned agent should have honed in on. He was supposed to be an FBI agent with a track record for cracking huge cases, so why did it take him so long to wise up to Hannah?
At the end of the day, I think this was a valiant effort on the author’s part and I applaud her for coming up with such a rousing idea, but for this reader, Hannah and Mason’s story ends here. The issues I’m clinging to simply outweigh any lingering intrigue the ginormous cliffhanger left me with.
*Thank you to Loveswept and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2017
➦A woman hacker, people.
➦And an unsuspecting FBI agent is about to fall under her spell.
➦She has a hidden agenda and she will stop at nothing to get what she wants even if it means hurting the man she has fallen in love with.
➦I enjoyed this suspenseful story but I did find some parts to be drawn out. I didn't realize it was actually the first book in the duet. (so beware of the cliffy) My main problem was the style of writing where things were told to you from both POVs to the point of being repetitive. I knew what was going on and I was just waiting for her secret to come out. There was a bit of a twist at the end so I do still have some unanswered questions. If you enjoy reads with a bit of suspense and crime (internet crime, in this case) then check this one out.
July 22, 2017
Title: Exploited
Series: Zero Day #1
Author: A. Meredith Walters
Release date: July 25, 2017
Cliffhanger: Yes
HEA
To say I'm disappointed in this is a massive understatement. I know I'm being really blunt here, but I'm still riding the wave of rage that flooded me at 2 AM when I finished this book. Pounding my pillow, tossing and turning and unable to sleep. My mind turning over the many reasons in which I could not stand this heroine.
It's one thing for a character to be flawed, then learn and experience growth into a better human being. That's expected. WELCOME! But no, she pulled off the exact opposite in my opinion. I wasn't her biggest fan from the beginning, she was cold and very abrasive. But rather than redeeming herself, she destroyed any hope of me ever liking her.
She's the poster child for narcissism. I mean come on, she called herself an evil Mata Hari, a sexualized spy working for Germany in WWI. She referred to herself in the third person. Don't do that...just don't. You're not omnipotent.
Feelings were involved now.
Freedom Overdrive demanded I end this now.
And I felt like total shit.
Freedom Overdrive is her hacktivist alter ego. She's an untouchable code cracker. Invulnerable to the authorities because of her genius. Willing to crush lesser mortals and destroy an innocent man to make the world a better place. I'm all about revenge plots, but hers was misguided and self-serving. A boost to her ego in order to enforce how powerful she was. From minute one, when she sidled up to Mason and sank her claws into him, not one word or action towards him was genuine. And with every bit of poison she injected into the trust he gave her, she never had more than a moment's hesitation before she continued her assault.
I gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to think about Mason. If I did, I’d feel like crap all over again. My heart hurt at pushing him away, but it was necessary. I didn’t have a choice. Not when my very existence was threatened.
He was hurting. I hated myself for it. But it was necessary. This had gone on too long. Gone too far. I had gotten from him what I needed. Information. Feelings were involved now.
“I need this to be safe. You and me.” I had made him so many promises. I planned to break every single one of them. And that made me the worst type of person. I couldn’t go there. Not now. Not when I was so close.
And my FAVORITES:
I will destroy him.
The thought hurt.
And it thrilled me.
I wished that I hadn’t used machinations to make him so vulnerable to me. I longed for something real.
None of it, not their first date, first kiss, first time in bed, bringing him with her to visit her sister was real. How are you forgiven for deceiving someone, ruining their career and shattering their heart with your lies? You can long for real all you want, but there's no coming back from what you did.
The hero was a really good guy. If you could put aside the fact that he's an FBI agent with ten years of experience, and didn't have the faintest inkling that Freedom Overdrive was his girlfriend. After not just one, not two, but countless times he was handed clues that pointed to her. Everything but a neon sign was shoved in his face and yet he never connected the dots. Never. Mason's character was not believable, not as a skilled and perceptive agent.
Just one of the following would make the average person sit back and pause.
1) Catching her snooping inside his briefcase in his bedroom. (After he caught her, he brought his briefcase home AGAIN. And she snooped AGAIN.)
2) Discovering when he went to send her flowers at work like a good boyfriend does that she lied about where she worked. After confronting her, she claimed that she was fired. And of course he didn't bother to confirm it.
3) Being told that she was rooting around in the back of his computer in his office (while putting in a device to steal his information.)
Finding out from her family that:
A) She was "into" computers. She hid that from him. The job she works at is a tech company that she clearly didn't want him to know about.
B) She lied to him about a pointless detail regarding her sister.
C) Her family was screwed over by Ryan Law and Stanford Pharmaceuticals. Two places targeted by Freedom Overdrive.
D) Her sister Charlotte's birthdate makes up part of Freedom Overdrive's code name...as well as her father and sister's initials.
Charlotte Ann Whelan. Abraham Lee Whelan. Without conscious thought, I filed away the names. Though I wasn’t sure why.
For the love of God, what else does he need to investigate her?? Love is blind, but not that blind.
The romance was non-existent and I couldn't care less about their "HEA". The repetitious internal dialogue, two main characters who fell flat, and a plot that had me pulling my hair were just pieces of the larger scale of my frustration. I honestly had no love for either one of them. I felt a shade sorry for the hero and how easily susceptible he was to her deceit. But that's as far as it went. As for being interested in continuing with the next book to find out who her mysterious partner was, and how she would get Mason to forgive her? Sorry. That DAY has a ZERO percent chance of happening with me.
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July 28, 2017LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS |
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Book 1 of 2.
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Blurb:
At first glance, I’m nothing out of the ordinary. I am a daughter. A sister. A friend. When you look at me you won’t see anything that warrants suspicion. I don’t look like a criminal.
My name is Hannah Whalen, but most people know me as freed0mov3rdr1v3, or “Freedom Overdrive”—one of the world’s most prolific and notorious hacktivists. My goal—my purpose—is to shed light on the evil that lurks behind the corporate and government lies we have been force-fed for too long.
My story begins with the best possible intention. Devoting my life to exposing the corrupt. The dishonest. The unethical. For that, they label me a cyber-terrorist. Wanted by the FBI, I’ve always been one step ahead.
Until I fell in love.
Because I’m sleeping with the man who’s hunting me. And he has no idea that I am his prey. Now I have to decide what’s more important: my freedom or my heart.
Books in Zero Day duet should be read in order:
Book 1: Exploit
Book 2: Aftermath
BURNING A HOLE ON MY KINDLE!
Book 1 of 2.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS |
Blurb:
At first glance, I’m nothing out of the ordinary. I am a daughter. A sister. A friend. When you look at me you won’t see anything that warrants suspicion. I don’t look like a criminal.
My name is Hannah Whalen, but most people know me as freed0mov3rdr1v3, or “Freedom Overdrive”—one of the world’s most prolific and notorious hacktivists. My goal—my purpose—is to shed light on the evil that lurks behind the corporate and government lies we have been force-fed for too long.
My story begins with the best possible intention. Devoting my life to exposing the corrupt. The dishonest. The unethical. For that, they label me a cyber-terrorist. Wanted by the FBI, I’ve always been one step ahead.
Until I fell in love.
Because I’m sleeping with the man who’s hunting me. And he has no idea that I am his prey. Now I have to decide what’s more important: my freedom or my heart.
Books in Zero Day duet should be read in order:
Book 1: Exploit
Book 2: Aftermath
July 7, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Type: Book 1 of 2 from Zero day series
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Hannah Whelan wanted justice. As a cyber vigilante known as Freedom Overdrive, she used her skills to stand up for the wronged by bringing down corrupted corporations. Her exploits not only attracted the population but also FBI's attention.
Mason Kohler thought the move to a different city would do wonders to his real life and career. As an FBI agent specializing in cyber crime, he had a glowing track record in solving cases, until he met a distraction that could make or break his future.
I think cyber related stories are interesting due to the character's life in two different worlds. I was intrigued by this duality and excited to dive into this one.
Mason started as an amusing arrogant ass but he quickly showed his soft spot. I like how he had to deal with dilemma at work which became his motivation. However, for an experienced agent, there were several instances that he acted like a naive rookie.
I like how Hannah stayed true to herself. She was passionate in what she believed in and refused to stray from her goals. But while she was ruthless, she still used her heart as well.
I find both of them to be very likable individually and as a couple. The story started a little slow at first, but as the characters' background were revealed, it got more interesting.
I like how when the questions started to arise, there were several possible answers to speculate from. However, I feel like in the end it was too predictable/straightforward. The big answer was already there, it made me wonder how much mystery/suspense will be left for the next book. I hope I'm wrong and the author will turn it around in the conclusion.
Exploited is a story of a woman's journey in righting the wrongs. It would appeal to readers looking for a tech themed romantic suspense.
Books in the series:
🗝 💾 🗝 . . . (F)BR With Loyda . . . 🗝 💾 🗝
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Book 1 of 2 from Zero day series
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Hannah Whelan wanted justice. As a cyber vigilante known as Freedom Overdrive, she used her skills to stand up for the wronged by bringing down corrupted corporations. Her exploits not only attracted the population but also FBI's attention.
Mason Kohler thought the move to a different city would do wonders to his real life and career. As an FBI agent specializing in cyber crime, he had a glowing track record in solving cases, until he met a distraction that could make or break his future.
I think cyber related stories are interesting due to the character's life in two different worlds. I was intrigued by this duality and excited to dive into this one.
This was the man I should have been terrified of. But I wasn’t. And my lack of fear was concerning.
Mason started as an amusing arrogant ass but he quickly showed his soft spot. I like how he had to deal with dilemma at work which became his motivation. However, for an experienced agent, there were several instances that he acted like a naive rookie.
I was feeling untouchable. The high I got from an exploit was unlike anything I could describe.
I like how Hannah stayed true to herself. She was passionate in what she believed in and refused to stray from her goals. But while she was ruthless, she still used her heart as well.
There was something about sharing grief and pain with someone who understood the suffering. It made you feel less alone.
I find both of them to be very likable individually and as a couple. The story started a little slow at first, but as the characters' background were revealed, it got more interesting.
I like how when the questions started to arise, there were several possible answers to speculate from. However, I feel like in the end it was too predictable/straightforward. The big answer was already there, it made me wonder how much mystery/suspense will be left for the next book. I hope I'm wrong and the author will turn it around in the conclusion.
Being dishonest wasn’t hard. I had lived a double life for a long time.
Exploited is a story of a woman's journey in righting the wrongs. It would appeal to readers looking for a tech themed romantic suspense.
Books in the series:
🗝 💾 🗝 . . . (F)BR With Loyda . . . 🗝 💾 🗝
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
July 21, 2017
3.5 stars.
A hacker seeking revenge, an FBI Agent hunting said hacker, romance and suspense? Exploited had my name written all over it.
"He was chasing a phantom. I was the ghost who evaded him."
A. Meredith Walters is another author I've never read for no other reason that you can't read everyone out there. Admittedly, the story begins a little steady, and it wasn't flawless but, as it unfolds, it quickly begins to grab and I did find myself tuning out everything going on around me.
On the whole how the characters are portrayed worked well for me: frustrating and flawed individuals who are determined and experienced in their chosen fields, but who also have fears and insecurities. FBI Agent, Mason Kohler isn't particularly alpha, although I think it's lurking in his depths, and is gentle, honest and fairly open with his feelings and emotions. Hannah Whelan is a technology genius who is smart and passionate, yet quietly calculating: she knows what she wants and with her talent, she can manipulate things to her benefit.
"This was not how it was supposed to be. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything."
In terms of the romance, it is slower burn and at times I did sit questioning Hannah and Mason's chemistry, but all this is essential to the story (remembering this is half) and whilst that aspect is building momentum, the secrets, suspense and questions keep everything ticking over quite nicely.
"I knew I was dealing with a celebrated FBI agent. Intelligent. Talented. Dangerous."
Now for the grumble: Mason's naïvety. Intelligent, yes. Talented, potentially. Dangerous, not so much. Here we have an FBI agent, specialising in cybercrime, missing pretty obvious leads and yes, part of me was looking at it from a love is blind perspective, but deep down I was rolling my eyes a little as considering his professional experience, he should've pieced together certain things much quicker.
"...please stop looking for the worst in me. I’m terrified that you’ll find it..."
Exploited is a read that keeps you on your toes though because how can there possibly be a happy ending for the hunter and the hunted? I went into this knowing there was a cliffhanger ending, in all honesty the outcome wasn't actually a huge surprise, but that didn't stop me emitting a groan when I flicked the final page and, with so many threads left loose, there's no question in whether I'll be reading Aftermath.
Copy received courtesy of Loveswept via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
A hacker seeking revenge, an FBI Agent hunting said hacker, romance and suspense? Exploited had my name written all over it.
"He was chasing a phantom. I was the ghost who evaded him."
A. Meredith Walters is another author I've never read for no other reason that you can't read everyone out there. Admittedly, the story begins a little steady, and it wasn't flawless but, as it unfolds, it quickly begins to grab and I did find myself tuning out everything going on around me.
On the whole how the characters are portrayed worked well for me: frustrating and flawed individuals who are determined and experienced in their chosen fields, but who also have fears and insecurities. FBI Agent, Mason Kohler isn't particularly alpha, although I think it's lurking in his depths, and is gentle, honest and fairly open with his feelings and emotions. Hannah Whelan is a technology genius who is smart and passionate, yet quietly calculating: she knows what she wants and with her talent, she can manipulate things to her benefit.
"This was not how it was supposed to be. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything."
In terms of the romance, it is slower burn and at times I did sit questioning Hannah and Mason's chemistry, but all this is essential to the story (remembering this is half) and whilst that aspect is building momentum, the secrets, suspense and questions keep everything ticking over quite nicely.
"I knew I was dealing with a celebrated FBI agent. Intelligent. Talented. Dangerous."
Now for the grumble: Mason's naïvety. Intelligent, yes. Talented, potentially. Dangerous, not so much. Here we have an FBI agent, specialising in cybercrime, missing pretty obvious leads and yes, part of me was looking at it from a love is blind perspective, but deep down I was rolling my eyes a little as considering his professional experience, he should've pieced together certain things much quicker.
"...please stop looking for the worst in me. I’m terrified that you’ll find it..."
Exploited is a read that keeps you on your toes though because how can there possibly be a happy ending for the hunter and the hunted? I went into this knowing there was a cliffhanger ending, in all honesty the outcome wasn't actually a huge surprise, but that didn't stop me emitting a groan when I flicked the final page and, with so many threads left loose, there's no question in whether I'll be reading Aftermath.
Copy received courtesy of Loveswept via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
July 15, 2017
Fueled by her need to avenge her family and to protect others, Hannah Whelan is an IT specialist by day and a hacktivist by night. With her revered cyber reputation as Freedom Overdrive, Hannah must ensure her identity remains anonymous, so when another hacker warns her about the FBI cracking her case, she decides to do her own reconnaissance.
“The angel on my shoulder was officially silenced. I hated the preachy bitch anyway.”
Mason Kohler is an esteemed FBI agent in the computer crimes unit who recently relocated to a new office. After unintentionally creating some discord among his peers, he’s assigned the impossible case file of Freedom Overdrive. In addition to his career being on the line, Mason has his own recent loss he’s trying to reconcile, so focusing on work offers some reprieve until he meets an awkward but kind stranger.
“Sometimes it just takes a little patience to get to the heart of a person.”
For Hannah, playing the alluring type is a bit out of her wheelhouse but being with Mason is much easier than she ever imagined. Guarding any clues about her alter ego, Hannah continues to play a certain role in order to gain access to Mason’s files but she soon realizes that being herself has never been easier. As for Mason, Hannah turns out to have the right combination of shyness and coyness while he discovers they have much more in common than he could have expected.
“She gave me jus enough to draw me in. And at this point I’d have gladly jumped off a cliff to find what she was hiding at the bottom.”
Knowing what is at stake emotionally, Hannah’s sense of self-preservation is great but her heart is starting to ache knowing how she feels about Mason. Despite Mason’s innate sense and FBI training to question everything, he doesn’t second guess Hannah until he can no longer ignore facts that are presented to him. Once Hannah’s motives become clear, Mason knows what he must do.
“This wasn’t all an act, was it, Hannah?”
For some time, I’ve been wanting to try this author’s work and Exploited seemed like it would be a happy medium with its focus on romance suspense. Told in dual POV, getting the voice of Mason and Hannah adds dimension and also tension because Hannah’s plan is known from the beginning and I didn’t want to see Mason get hurt. While Mason should have questioned things a little sooner, I can understand why he chose otherwise.
Likewise, I empathized with Hannah’s conflict until she starts to make some rookie mistakes. As for the buildup and theories about Toxic Wrath’s identity, I have a couple of theories and hope the obvious one is a distraction and there’s actually a twisty reveal in the conclusion.
I would recommend Exploited to those who enjoy romantic suspense with characters that have vulnerabilities and conflicts that need to be resolved.
Zero Day series:
*A copy was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
July 15, 2017
Haunted by events from her past Hannah Whalen has become freed0mov3rdr1v3 or “Freedom Overdrive” a cyber hacker wanted by the FBI that's main mission has been to shed light on the corporate and government lies. Hannah has managed to keep her online identity a secret as she has gone about her mission so far but now an FBI agent named Mason has walked into her life.
Mason has made it his mission to track down Freedom Overdrive and he feels he's been getting closer. That is when he meets Hannah and there is something about her that draws Mason in. Hannah sees getting close to Mason as an opportunity to find out how close he's getting to her secret identity but what she didn't count on was him getting into her heart.
Exploited is the first book of a new series, Zero Day, by A. Meredith Walters. I really wanted to love this story when I picked it up and began reading but in the end I'm giving this one 2.5 stars. The biggest problem is probably something I should have expected but Mason just came across as completely clueless instead of a hot shot FBI agent. I couldn't see a real agent not being suspicious and careful so the whole story seemed a bit off.
Hannah is a pretty good character on the other side of things. She's been through a lot in her life and has come out of it stronger and out to right what she feels are the wrongs in the world. To be honest the hacking/cyber side goes over my head since I'm the type to be lucky to log in to things on the internet so I can't tell if that is realistic or not but her hacker side seemed a lot better than Mason as an FBI agent. Couldn't help but think he was thinking with the wrong "head" too much of the story.
Overall, I may have liked this more if Mason had been more realistic but that threw me off for the read. It was a decent suspenseful plot to follow along with that readers may enjoy but I wouldn't warn that the book just leaves the reader hanging with a cliffhanger to lead into the next book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
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Mason has made it his mission to track down Freedom Overdrive and he feels he's been getting closer. That is when he meets Hannah and there is something about her that draws Mason in. Hannah sees getting close to Mason as an opportunity to find out how close he's getting to her secret identity but what she didn't count on was him getting into her heart.
Exploited is the first book of a new series, Zero Day, by A. Meredith Walters. I really wanted to love this story when I picked it up and began reading but in the end I'm giving this one 2.5 stars. The biggest problem is probably something I should have expected but Mason just came across as completely clueless instead of a hot shot FBI agent. I couldn't see a real agent not being suspicious and careful so the whole story seemed a bit off.
Hannah is a pretty good character on the other side of things. She's been through a lot in her life and has come out of it stronger and out to right what she feels are the wrongs in the world. To be honest the hacking/cyber side goes over my head since I'm the type to be lucky to log in to things on the internet so I can't tell if that is realistic or not but her hacker side seemed a lot better than Mason as an FBI agent. Couldn't help but think he was thinking with the wrong "head" too much of the story.
Overall, I may have liked this more if Mason had been more realistic but that threw me off for the read. It was a decent suspenseful plot to follow along with that readers may enjoy but I wouldn't warn that the book just leaves the reader hanging with a cliffhanger to lead into the next book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
August 28, 2017
A crusader on a mission. A woman whose grief pushed her to become a hacker set to avenge the injustice done to her family and to expose the corrupt. A cyber-vigilante who is being hunted by the FBI because no matter how bad the people her alter ego freed0mov3rdr1ve is taking down are, her methods are criminal.
Under the Freedom Overdrive code name, Hannah has been revealing corporate and government lies for years without being caught, but the agent assigned to track her down is closing in and she intends to do whatever it takes to evade Mason and the FBI. Until she decides to meet him in order to see just how close they are to catching her. She never expected to fall in love with him.
The book’s uncommon premise made it irresistible and I’m looking forward to finding out who the bad guy is. I have a couple of guesses but who knows, I’ve learned it’s not goo to miscalculate a writer’s imagination. I’m also curious to see how Miss Walters backs out of the cliffhanger where the book left off. The situation is dire and I can’t visualize how the she’ll maneuver her way out of it.
I really liked Hannah’s bada$$ery and understood her conflict regarding Mason as the lines were blurring and she was falling in love with him. I did have trouble connecting with Mason though. It was really sweet that he was so taken by Hannah that he completely ignored his training and instincts when it came to her. But it is also contradictory with the tough, smart, sharp alpha-male FBI persona that is being touted and it made him look bit like a sap that was easily distracted. I also had a small issue with the time frame regarding Hannah and Mason’s first meeting.
Being an IT person myself, I’ve always had trouble with books that include more technical details regarding this area. Interestingly enough though, I had no problems with it in this book. So I applaud the author and her adviser who added enough techieness to make the plot work, but not so much that it weighed it down or made it confusing to readers.
Exploited is the first book in Zero Day duet by A. Meredith Walters. It is a full length romantic suspense that ends on a cliffhanger. Told from both points of view.
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts taken are from that copy. *
Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2wgKtBS
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Under the Freedom Overdrive code name, Hannah has been revealing corporate and government lies for years without being caught, but the agent assigned to track her down is closing in and she intends to do whatever it takes to evade Mason and the FBI. Until she decides to meet him in order to see just how close they are to catching her. She never expected to fall in love with him.
The book’s uncommon premise made it irresistible and I’m looking forward to finding out who the bad guy is. I have a couple of guesses but who knows, I’ve learned it’s not goo to miscalculate a writer’s imagination. I’m also curious to see how Miss Walters backs out of the cliffhanger where the book left off. The situation is dire and I can’t visualize how the she’ll maneuver her way out of it.
I really liked Hannah’s bada$$ery and understood her conflict regarding Mason as the lines were blurring and she was falling in love with him. I did have trouble connecting with Mason though. It was really sweet that he was so taken by Hannah that he completely ignored his training and instincts when it came to her. But it is also contradictory with the tough, smart, sharp alpha-male FBI persona that is being touted and it made him look bit like a sap that was easily distracted. I also had a small issue with the time frame regarding Hannah and Mason’s first meeting.
Being an IT person myself, I’ve always had trouble with books that include more technical details regarding this area. Interestingly enough though, I had no problems with it in this book. So I applaud the author and her adviser who added enough techieness to make the plot work, but not so much that it weighed it down or made it confusing to readers.
Exploited is the first book in Zero Day duet by A. Meredith Walters. It is a full length romantic suspense that ends on a cliffhanger. Told from both points of view.
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts taken are from that copy. *
Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2wgKtBS
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
July 10, 2017
4★★★★ stars
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Type: Book 1 of 2 from Zero day duet
POV: First Person – Dual
"Trauma alters a person. Makes her reevaluate what was important. And what wasn't."
Hannah Whelan had a great life until a tragedy happened and she lost her father and her sister basically is now unable to care for herself. All Hannah has ever wanted after this was justice. A roommate in school thought her how to get her justice by becoming a cyber vigilante. It took Hannah time but she finally accepted this new freedom and easily became well known as Freedom Overdrive. I liked that she used her skills to bring down the corrupted corporations.
"It was amazing how easy it was to hide in plain sight."
Mason Kohler wanted a new fresh start. The loss of his brother left him needing to work harder to prove to himself that his work was important. Mason was an FBI agent; he was great looking and super smart. Sometimes he was overly confident and in thinking he was better than anyone he got stuck in a assignment he preferred not to have at his new job. He was in charge of bringing down the hacker well knows as Freedom Overdrive. Their cyber crime has been followed crossly by the FBI and they needed a brake to take them down.
I don't think I've read a story like this before so I found myself enjoying every minute of it. Mason's and Hannah were interesting characters; both strong characters but with internal battles. They both seemed lost in their own with so much sorrow and I was so curious to see how everything will turn out for them.
"It was insanity. She was the perfect combination of coy and shy that had always attracted me. She gave off the right amount of interest without being desperate."
In the beginning I wasn't sure how I was going to like Mason; he came across cocky and arrogant but I am really glad his nice side came out. It made him vulnerable and more likable person. Hannah was smart and even though her heart started winning a little when she started developing feelings for someone she just couldn't have; she still stayed strong to what she believed. She knew what she wanted and what she had to do to get it even if that meant having a broken heart.
I really loved it when Mason and Hannah were both vulnerable with each other. Hannah was conflicted between lies and what she was actually feeling. Mason was desperately in love with Hannah and the lies he was finding were making him insecure but they say love blinds us.
"Don't fucking lie to me ever again, Hannah," I snarled, lifting one of her legs and dropping it over my hip...I groaned just a I pushed inside her...I trust into her, going as deep as I possibly could. My anger and fear ignited something inside of me. Something primal and unfettered. I wanted to fuck the truth out of her."
Overall, I enjoyed this story very much. The plot was great; I like the chemistry and the connection between the characters. I liked the fact that the author kept me guessing for most of the story. I am curious to see how the conclusion of this duet will end. This book will be appealing to readers who enjoy romantic suspense reads.
Books in the series:
💾. . . This was a (F)BR With War . . . 💾
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August 8, 2017
Thank you Loveswept for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 56%
Reading this book is a struggle and it saddens me to not finish this book because it's by A. Meredith Walters. I love her writing style and based on the books I've read so far from her didn't disappoint me. Exploited has a potential but for a romantic suspense, I find the story progress too slow to the point I lost my interest. Hannah Whelan is a professional hacker who wants justice from the government. It's illegal and reckless. She could have been caught by the police and to make it more reckless, she's dating Mason Kohler, a FBI Agent. What she didn't know, he's handling her case.
For an agent, Mason isn't alert and observant. Like, he could have been suspicious or wary towards Hannah. Especially when she told him about her college years learning about computers. That rings a bell to me and the lack of furniture in her home as if she can runaway easily. Yet, Mason was blinded to these clues in the earlier chapters. I tried my best to finish this but I just can't.
DNF @ 56%
Reading this book is a struggle and it saddens me to not finish this book because it's by A. Meredith Walters. I love her writing style and based on the books I've read so far from her didn't disappoint me. Exploited has a potential but for a romantic suspense, I find the story progress too slow to the point I lost my interest. Hannah Whelan is a professional hacker who wants justice from the government. It's illegal and reckless. She could have been caught by the police and to make it more reckless, she's dating Mason Kohler, a FBI Agent. What she didn't know, he's handling her case.
For an agent, Mason isn't alert and observant. Like, he could have been suspicious or wary towards Hannah. Especially when she told him about her college years learning about computers. That rings a bell to me and the lack of furniture in her home as if she can runaway easily. Yet, Mason was blinded to these clues in the earlier chapters. I tried my best to finish this but I just can't.
January 17, 2020
4.5 "cyberstalking" stars.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Aargh!!! Cliffhanger alert.
Not only is this an intense story full of secrets and lies but it is very much like a cat and mouse game with an ending that leaves the reader hanging and wanting more.
I literally cannot wait for the second part to this story. The first part was so full of deceipt and treachery but it also had an honesty and integrity to the storyline that was coupled with a touch of melancholy and rawness at times. I loved the writing very much, it definitely contributed a lot of intensity and suspense that fueled the passion of the storyline.
Blurb:
A vigilante hacker plays a seductive game with the agent who’s chasing her online—and sharing her bed in real life.
At first glance, I’m nothing out of the ordinary. I am a daughter. A sister. A friend. When you look at me you won’t see anything that warrants suspicion. I don’t look like a criminal.
My name is Hannah Whalen, but most people know me as freed0mov3rdr1v3, or “Freedom Overdrive”—one of the world’s most prolific and notorious hacktivists. My goal—my purpose—is to shed light on the evil that lurks behind the corporate and government lies we have been force-fed for too long.
My story begins with the best possible intention. Devoting my life to exposing the corrupt. The dishonest. The unethical. For that, they label me a cyber-terrorist. Wanted by the FBI, I’ve always been one step ahead.
Until I fell in love.
Because I’m sleeping with the man who’s hunting me. And he has no idea that I am his prey. Now I have to decide what’s more important: my freedom or my heart...…..
11/01/2018
FYI :
IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND SADLY I THINK THE AUTHOR MAY HAVE ABANDONED THE IDEA OF PUBLISHING A SEQUEL TO THIS BOOK .
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Aargh!!! Cliffhanger alert.
Not only is this an intense story full of secrets and lies but it is very much like a cat and mouse game with an ending that leaves the reader hanging and wanting more.
I literally cannot wait for the second part to this story. The first part was so full of deceipt and treachery but it also had an honesty and integrity to the storyline that was coupled with a touch of melancholy and rawness at times. I loved the writing very much, it definitely contributed a lot of intensity and suspense that fueled the passion of the storyline.
Blurb:
A vigilante hacker plays a seductive game with the agent who’s chasing her online—and sharing her bed in real life.
At first glance, I’m nothing out of the ordinary. I am a daughter. A sister. A friend. When you look at me you won’t see anything that warrants suspicion. I don’t look like a criminal.
My name is Hannah Whalen, but most people know me as freed0mov3rdr1v3, or “Freedom Overdrive”—one of the world’s most prolific and notorious hacktivists. My goal—my purpose—is to shed light on the evil that lurks behind the corporate and government lies we have been force-fed for too long.
My story begins with the best possible intention. Devoting my life to exposing the corrupt. The dishonest. The unethical. For that, they label me a cyber-terrorist. Wanted by the FBI, I’ve always been one step ahead.
Until I fell in love.
Because I’m sleeping with the man who’s hunting me. And he has no idea that I am his prey. Now I have to decide what’s more important: my freedom or my heart...…..
11/01/2018
FYI :
IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND SADLY I THINK THE AUTHOR MAY HAVE ABANDONED THE IDEA OF PUBLISHING A SEQUEL TO THIS BOOK .
Read
July 22, 2017This is a dnf for me. My expectations of this book didn't quite match to the reality. I usually jump at the chance to read hacker books because I've enjoyed so many of them. I'm a fan of the nerdy characters. While Hannah was a hacker she didn't quite fit the bill of nerd. I can adjust, but there were just a few things in the story that wasn't believable to me and really made it hard for me to connect to it. The book is well written, but not a great storyline.
Read
July 1, 2017 DNF
First, let me say I LOVE A. Meredith Walters' books! I love her storytelling and her characters. She creates deliciously angsty books, as well as suspenseful, romantic goodness. So it pains me to say that this book did not work for me. While I loved the premise, it was the execution that fell short. I was not connecting with the story nor characters. The plot was too slow building with flashbacks to the past that were too brief to develop an understanding of the characters. Mason came across as weak and unassured, which was completely at odds with his career. Hannah was at times, wishy-washy as she tried to decide which direction she wanted her life to go.
As you can see, the issues I had with this book are purely a result of personal taste. Don't let this review dissuade you from giving 'Exploited' a try.
**I received an Advanced Reader Copy. This did not influence my opinion of the book, nor my review.**
First, let me say I LOVE A. Meredith Walters' books! I love her storytelling and her characters. She creates deliciously angsty books, as well as suspenseful, romantic goodness. So it pains me to say that this book did not work for me. While I loved the premise, it was the execution that fell short. I was not connecting with the story nor characters. The plot was too slow building with flashbacks to the past that were too brief to develop an understanding of the characters. Mason came across as weak and unassured, which was completely at odds with his career. Hannah was at times, wishy-washy as she tried to decide which direction she wanted her life to go.
As you can see, the issues I had with this book are purely a result of personal taste. Don't let this review dissuade you from giving 'Exploited' a try.
**I received an Advanced Reader Copy. This did not influence my opinion of the book, nor my review.**
July 4, 2017
I got very excited when I first came across this novel and even more excited when I was approved for an ARC and I had been itching to read it. I finally managed to squeeze it into my reading schedule last weekend and it was so worth the wait.
Occasionally, I come across books that I feel were written specifically for me and Exploited is one of those books. Man, where do I start? I loved the perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, and romance. I loved the tech/hacker backdrop that had just enough detail to add substance without bogging the plot down in unnecessary or boring passages. I ADORED Mason, the hot, rugged, FBI agent who was ignoring his gut instincts and falling for a girl who was deceiving him. I thought I would struggle to connect to Hannah but I didn't. Don't get me wrong - I hated that she was betraying him in the worst way but her heart was in the right place and her initial motivations were pure.
I was suspicious of Toxicwrath from the get go and couldn't understand how Hannah aka Freedom Overdrive was so trusting. I knew it was all going to end badly. I love books that keep me guessing over the villain's identity like Exploited did. The end seems to be implicating a certain person from her past but I think that's too obvious. My money's on Kyle or Madison or maybe they're working together. Either way, I can't wait to read Aftermath to find out.
The romance was great between our couple and it was a nice build up with a fair amount of toing and froing which I love. Hannah was really battling her feelings but in the end, she caved. I was so rooting for Mason and Hannah but I don't know how the author is going to pull back from that cliffy ending (LOVED it! Pure torture of the best kind!) All I know is I can't wait to find out!
I've read books by this author before and her writing is as sublime as I remembered it.
If you enjoy well written romantic suspense with swoon-worthy romance and complex characters and a mysterious, intriguing plot then you MUST check this one out. Highly recommended, and one of my top reads for 2017 so far.
Thanks to the publisher for supplying an ARC which I have voluntarily reviewed.
Occasionally, I come across books that I feel were written specifically for me and Exploited is one of those books. Man, where do I start? I loved the perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, and romance. I loved the tech/hacker backdrop that had just enough detail to add substance without bogging the plot down in unnecessary or boring passages. I ADORED Mason, the hot, rugged, FBI agent who was ignoring his gut instincts and falling for a girl who was deceiving him. I thought I would struggle to connect to Hannah but I didn't. Don't get me wrong - I hated that she was betraying him in the worst way but her heart was in the right place and her initial motivations were pure.
I was suspicious of Toxicwrath from the get go and couldn't understand how Hannah aka Freedom Overdrive was so trusting. I knew it was all going to end badly. I love books that keep me guessing over the villain's identity like Exploited did. The end seems to be implicating a certain person from her past but I think that's too obvious. My money's on Kyle or Madison or maybe they're working together. Either way, I can't wait to read Aftermath to find out.
The romance was great between our couple and it was a nice build up with a fair amount of toing and froing which I love. Hannah was really battling her feelings but in the end, she caved. I was so rooting for Mason and Hannah but I don't know how the author is going to pull back from that cliffy ending (LOVED it! Pure torture of the best kind!) All I know is I can't wait to find out!
I've read books by this author before and her writing is as sublime as I remembered it.
If you enjoy well written romantic suspense with swoon-worthy romance and complex characters and a mysterious, intriguing plot then you MUST check this one out. Highly recommended, and one of my top reads for 2017 so far.
Thanks to the publisher for supplying an ARC which I have voluntarily reviewed.
July 17, 2017
I absolutely love A Meredith Walters as an author and the synopsis of her latest book "Exploited" definitely had me intrigued. The plot sounded unique and I was excited to see where this story of cat and mouse would go. Unfortunately it guts me to say that the execution of this one was a little hit and miss for me.
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It was easier to lie when you didn't care. And that was the problem."Exploited" was a slow burner of a story, too slow at times and I did find my attention waning. I do think that (in part) this is why I felt very little for the characters. I didn't dislike them but equally, I didn't love them either. I was hoping things would pick up when Hannah and Mason got together but unfortunately, as a couple they didn't excite me at all, despite the secrets, lies and motives. Even the ever thickening plot wasn't enough to keep me captivated. I wanted more. I needed more.
Truth is a liar's plaything. Those closest to us are the biggest deceivers.Fear not peeps, I finally got more. Things definitely picked up pace in the second half of the book and by the end, "Exploited" was unputdownable. Holy moly, I couldn't read fast enough and was desperate to see how things would unravel. This really was quite the ending and one that I couldn't have predicted in a million years. Will I read the next instalment in hannah and Mason's story? Hell yes. There is so much I need to know and so many questions I need answering.
I was building a false fairy tale on a bed of lies. And it was beautiful.All in all, "Exploited" was a book of two halves and gets ❤️❤️❤️.5
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July 2, 2017
"Those closest to us are the biggest deceivers."
It pains me to say I didn't love it. I have read other books by A. Meredith Walters and I have enjoyed them far more.
Why didn't I love it?
Mainly because I didn't like the portrayal of Mason Kohler, the male love interest.
What I did like was the idea of the plot.
Hannah Whalen is a young woman seeking revenge on the people who hurt her family. She was in college when tragedy strikes. During those dark times, she was angry and lost until her roommate gave her another choice, to get even with those who were involved in causing her pain. This is how Hannah begins her hacking life. Years later, she is a well-known hacker who goes by the name of Freedom Overdrive. She uses her hacking skills to destroyed corporations who are dishonest or do illegal things. She's considered a cyber-terrorist and is wanted by the FBI.
"My whole life is a web of lies."
Mason Kohler is an FBI agent. He recently relocated to the city but things at work are not great for him. He made the mistake of sleeping with another agent who now is furious with him and his boss seems to hate his guts. He's also assigned a partner that is not very smart. Since his boss hates him, his new assignment is a lost cause. He's to uncover the identity of Freedom Overload and bring him to justice. No one has been able to track him down. Mason believes this could make his career as an FBI agent - very short.
Mason and Hannah meet. Hannah with the purpose of infiltrating Mason's work and protecting herself. Mason because he feels a pull towards her. She's different and interesting.
"I was making out with the man who hunted me."
So you see, a great plot but this is where my problems begin. Mason didn't feel like an alpha to me. He blushes, he permits his family to abuse him, he's not smart enough to piece everything together despite his instincts screaming he CAN'T trust her. He has no sense of protecting his work at home. Really! An FBI agent should know better.
"Don't trust the person who has broken faith once."
Hannah, on the other hand, was smart, sassy and crafty. She was able to manipulate Mason over and over. I felt bad for her. She thought she was doing it all for her family and to help people who were taken advantage of by companies or the government. She was a crusader in her own mind. She was still in a lot of pain and she really didn't have any friends that could help her see how much trouble this could bring her.
Overall, Exploited does have a good suspense in the way that we don't know who's trying to hurt Hannah. Does she have a stalker? Who hates her and why? I thought I knew the answer to my questions but sadly this book ends in a cliffhanger.
Cliffhanger: Yes
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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July 6, 2017
The romance ‘verse of hacking is a relatively unexplored one and diving into ‘Exploited’ was an absolute treat as I’ve always wanted a story that really dug into black hats, the mentality under which they operate and the scrutiny they face.
That said, I do like A. Meredith Walters’s take on vigilante justice and the shadowy line that hackers often cross. Unlike the books that delve into them, ‘Exploited’ is a raw, honest take about the power trips that hackers take they dodge the law and the huge amount of pandering to ego that we see, as much as for Hannah as it is for Mason. But ultimately, put a law enforcement officer on the tail of the hacker (and vice versa) and Walters has a cat-and-mouse game going that you already know can’t end terribly well.
The thing about ‘Expoited’ is that there’s this bleak, eerie melancholy that I can’t seem to shake off somehow. The first-person narrative here isn’t one that only brings you closer and into the characters’ heads; it suffocates you just as Mason and Hannah live their suffocating lives, twisted and burdened by tragedy and circumstances not of their own making. Anger and the burning need for revenge has driven Hannah to her double life as a hacker who doles our her own brand of criminal justice by being one herself; Mason’s own dysfunctional family has brought him down a road where he’s hemmed in both at home and in the office.
In an odd way, I found myself wholly invested in the intrigue and the characters by extension, though Mason and Hannah were a pairing that I could neither get into nor like. Mason and Hannah weren’t protagonists I could root for—the callous way they treated others around them for one—and the games they played felt more like they belonged in an erotic thriller like ‘Basic Instinct’ that has deceit underscoring the action both at work and in the bedroom. I couldn’t quite get Hannah’s connection with Mason, at least because the depth of her manipulation makes her a difficult protagonist to like, but I found myself fascinated with how she was going to twist her way out of her whole setup thanks to her mysterious hacking partner, whose motivations are equally suspect. Mason’s dalliance with a work colleague and that constant comparison to Hannah (his ability to jump between women so quickly) grated on me and that gullibility that he had with Hannah was sort of laughable.
In short, this felt more of a parody of a romance than a proper one, yet that was in itself, a fascinating layer to the suspense that kept the pages turning for me. I found that I could objectively look at two people on the opposite sides of the law playing each other and not quite have an affinity for one or the other while enjoying the tightening of the noose on Hannah’s neck. The pace-perfect cliffhanger ending is predictable though unsatisfactory and more than anything, I want to see how a HEA is even possible in the sequel to this book.
*ARC by netgalley
(very grateful, mind)
That said, I do like A. Meredith Walters’s take on vigilante justice and the shadowy line that hackers often cross. Unlike the books that delve into them, ‘Exploited’ is a raw, honest take about the power trips that hackers take they dodge the law and the huge amount of pandering to ego that we see, as much as for Hannah as it is for Mason. But ultimately, put a law enforcement officer on the tail of the hacker (and vice versa) and Walters has a cat-and-mouse game going that you already know can’t end terribly well.
The thing about ‘Expoited’ is that there’s this bleak, eerie melancholy that I can’t seem to shake off somehow. The first-person narrative here isn’t one that only brings you closer and into the characters’ heads; it suffocates you just as Mason and Hannah live their suffocating lives, twisted and burdened by tragedy and circumstances not of their own making. Anger and the burning need for revenge has driven Hannah to her double life as a hacker who doles our her own brand of criminal justice by being one herself; Mason’s own dysfunctional family has brought him down a road where he’s hemmed in both at home and in the office.
In an odd way, I found myself wholly invested in the intrigue and the characters by extension, though Mason and Hannah were a pairing that I could neither get into nor like. Mason and Hannah weren’t protagonists I could root for—the callous way they treated others around them for one—and the games they played felt more like they belonged in an erotic thriller like ‘Basic Instinct’ that has deceit underscoring the action both at work and in the bedroom. I couldn’t quite get Hannah’s connection with Mason, at least because the depth of her manipulation makes her a difficult protagonist to like, but I found myself fascinated with how she was going to twist her way out of her whole setup thanks to her mysterious hacking partner, whose motivations are equally suspect. Mason’s dalliance with a work colleague and that constant comparison to Hannah (his ability to jump between women so quickly) grated on me and that gullibility that he had with Hannah was sort of laughable.
In short, this felt more of a parody of a romance than a proper one, yet that was in itself, a fascinating layer to the suspense that kept the pages turning for me. I found that I could objectively look at two people on the opposite sides of the law playing each other and not quite have an affinity for one or the other while enjoying the tightening of the noose on Hannah’s neck. The pace-perfect cliffhanger ending is predictable though unsatisfactory and more than anything, I want to see how a HEA is even possible in the sequel to this book.
*ARC by netgalley
(very grateful, mind)
July 27, 2017
I was really intrigued by the premise of this book because of the hacking angle. I've read this author before but not in this genre and I liked her style. I was expecting a somewhat emotional read as well because of that. While I enjoyed EXPLOITED ok, it definitely wasn't the wow book I was expecting.The heroine in this story is the hacker. She's sort of a "good" hacker, meaning she's not going around stealing money from people etc. She starts working with a new hacker as a team in this one and going after someone that wronged her family. The hero? The cop looking to take down the hacker (aka her) who has no clue that the girl he's attracted to is the criminal he's been looking for.
I really liked the "hacking" bits of this story. It felt like the author did a good amount of research to include in the book and it felt like it could really be going down like that (not that I know anything about it). But I found that aspect entertaining and engaging. The romance on the other hand was a bit flat for me. Too close too fast. How was he able to just trust her so easily? A lot of that didn't make sense to me. Also the main characters didn't stand out for me.
While this ends in sort of a cliffhanger because obviously the story continues in book two, I'm not dying to get to it and that lack of anticipation for what's going to happen next has me debating whether I'll pick it up or not.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
June 21, 2017
I just recently read my first A. Meredith Walters book and loved it. I read the synopsis for this book, and it sounded interesting. I wasn't sure how a story set around hacking would be, but my skepticism did not last long. Exploited is fascinating, entrancing, and so well written!
Hannah Whelan is such a surprise. I mean she's quiet and unassuming, so she's easily overlooked. I admired her desire to make things right for those she loved even if her means were often on the other side of legally and morally correct. I can't condemn her for her choices, because chances are if I was in her shoes and had the same methods at my disposal, I'd take them. I completely understood her anguish though too. Not just at what she was doing, but what she was losing out on, and who she was hurting. I often try to think out all possible outcomes of a situation, and it's surprising the results I completely miss out on.
Mason Kohler is a surprise too. Not just because he's this super smart guy, but at how much he wants Hannah to be who she says she is. I loved how he tried to make things right at work, when everyone was setting him up to fail. I also loved how he stood up for his co-worker who everyone looked down on. Most of all I loved his thirst for justice and love for his family. When you look at both Hannah and Mason, part of what makes them great characters is that they're flawed. And those flaws make them so much more relate-able. The two of them together help soften edges and fill in wounds that have been left in the past.
Another thing about this book I really loved was how the story slowly came together and then picked up speed. I was interested from the get-go, but it wasn't long until I couldn't put the book down. And the plot was so much more intricate and exciting than I thought. There are so many surprises and people involved, it's hard to tell who is a "good-guy" and who is a "bad-guy". I am really excited about Aftermath because I have so many questions and suspicions I'd love to have the answers to. Unfortunately I'm going to have to wait until next year. I will say this though, A. Meredith Walters did a phenomenal job and I can't wait to read more from her!
Hannah Whelan is such a surprise. I mean she's quiet and unassuming, so she's easily overlooked. I admired her desire to make things right for those she loved even if her means were often on the other side of legally and morally correct. I can't condemn her for her choices, because chances are if I was in her shoes and had the same methods at my disposal, I'd take them. I completely understood her anguish though too. Not just at what she was doing, but what she was losing out on, and who she was hurting. I often try to think out all possible outcomes of a situation, and it's surprising the results I completely miss out on.
Mason Kohler is a surprise too. Not just because he's this super smart guy, but at how much he wants Hannah to be who she says she is. I loved how he tried to make things right at work, when everyone was setting him up to fail. I also loved how he stood up for his co-worker who everyone looked down on. Most of all I loved his thirst for justice and love for his family. When you look at both Hannah and Mason, part of what makes them great characters is that they're flawed. And those flaws make them so much more relate-able. The two of them together help soften edges and fill in wounds that have been left in the past.
Another thing about this book I really loved was how the story slowly came together and then picked up speed. I was interested from the get-go, but it wasn't long until I couldn't put the book down. And the plot was so much more intricate and exciting than I thought. There are so many surprises and people involved, it's hard to tell who is a "good-guy" and who is a "bad-guy". I am really excited about Aftermath because I have so many questions and suspicions I'd love to have the answers to. Unfortunately I'm going to have to wait until next year. I will say this though, A. Meredith Walters did a phenomenal job and I can't wait to read more from her!
August 5, 2017
Rating: 2 out of 5.
A book with so much premise, but it was poorly written and made no sense. I mean, what was the point of the heroine pursuing the hero and then introducing him to her family. What was the point of all the lies, that were so easily detectable. I mean, it would be very easy for the hero to find out how long the heroine had been working for Holt IT. And the whole sister being a gymnast. God such poorly thought out story.
Both characters were also really bad at what they did. The hero missed obvious clues. Shouldn't have been an FBI agent. The heroine was just a bad hacker. Leaving clues, left right and centre.
A book with so much premise, but it was poorly written and made no sense. I mean, what was the point of the heroine pursuing the hero and then introducing him to her family. What was the point of all the lies, that were so easily detectable. I mean, it would be very easy for the hero to find out how long the heroine had been working for Holt IT. And the whole sister being a gymnast. God such poorly thought out story.
Both characters were also really bad at what they did. The hero missed obvious clues. Shouldn't have been an FBI agent. The heroine was just a bad hacker. Leaving clues, left right and centre.
Read
July 26, 2017DNF 30%
I've been on a suspense trip lately, so was excited to see this one. I've read books by this author in the past, and loved them. So not really sure what it was with Exploited. Kept my interest for a bit, but then I just became kind of bored. It very well may be a me not you type of thing, especially since I just came off an intense read.
When book two releases I may pick this up again and give it another go. No guarantees though.
I've been on a suspense trip lately, so was excited to see this one. I've read books by this author in the past, and loved them. So not really sure what it was with Exploited. Kept my interest for a bit, but then I just became kind of bored. It very well may be a me not you type of thing, especially since I just came off an intense read.
When book two releases I may pick this up again and give it another go. No guarantees though.
June 10, 2017
Nice story, but it ends on a cliffhanger.
This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 28, 2017
Doesn’t that blurb sound fucking amazing??? I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this beauty either hence the ARC. *inserts vigorous grabby hands gif here*
This book contains an ordinary girl by day but notorious hacker by night who develops a relationship with a swoon-worthy FBI agent whilst he is assigned to her case to bring her down. I fuck with this concept. I adore these type of plots. However, I did not connect with this book the way I thought I would. I know. I was pretty devastated too.
Overall, Exploited was a interesting, sexy read but it was inconsistent at times with the small details. There were things that should have been explained more, for example how did Hannah know to target Mason in the first place?? I needed that information and more to be verified in order for me to understand some parts of the book better. Also, I couldn't connect with the characters properly. Mason came across weak and not the alpha male I thought he was suppose to be. I was led to believe he was this amazing, skilled FBI agent when in reality, he was dumb and prone to mediocre manipulation. As well as that, Mason's and Hannah's point of views felt very similar in the way they spoke which put me off quite a bit. I'm so frustrated this wasn't executed better because it could have truly been a wonderful read. But having said that, I will definitely be reading the second book after that cliffhanger! I'm interested to find out what happens next!
I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
This book contains an ordinary girl by day but notorious hacker by night who develops a relationship with a swoon-worthy FBI agent whilst he is assigned to her case to bring her down. I fuck with this concept. I adore these type of plots. However, I did not connect with this book the way I thought I would. I know. I was pretty devastated too.
Overall, Exploited was a interesting, sexy read but it was inconsistent at times with the small details. There were things that should have been explained more, for example how did Hannah know to target Mason in the first place?? I needed that information and more to be verified in order for me to understand some parts of the book better. Also, I couldn't connect with the characters properly. Mason came across weak and not the alpha male I thought he was suppose to be. I was led to believe he was this amazing, skilled FBI agent when in reality, he was dumb and prone to mediocre manipulation. As well as that, Mason's and Hannah's point of views felt very similar in the way they spoke which put me off quite a bit. I'm so frustrated this wasn't executed better because it could have truly been a wonderful read. But having said that, I will definitely be reading the second book after that cliffhanger! I'm interested to find out what happens next!
I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Want to read
May 17, 2017
July 18, 2017
From a Hacker to a Cracker and everything in between! This story will take you on an incredible journey into an underground world unbeknownst to most.
As soon as I saw that this book involved a hacker and a female one at that, I knew this story was going to suck me in. There’s something inherently fascinating about the power of the computer, especially when it's in the hands of an expert as we’re lucky in this story to meet a whole host of different hacking and cracking characters.
From FBI Agent and cybercrime investigator, Mason Kohler, to his nemesis, Freedom Overdrive or Freed0m0v3rdr1v3 aka Hannah Whelan, readers are taken on a thrilling journey as Hannah tries to bring down those involved in the accident which left her sister a paraplegic and killed her father. No-one is safe from Freed0m0v3rdr1v3.
After being shown how to hack computers back in college, Hannah has developed a serious talent but despite being on the FBI radar, she only does what she does for the greater good, that is until she partners up with Toxicwrath (T0x1cwrath) and before long, her involvement becomes dangerously close to criminal. Knowing Mason is onto her, Hannah sets herself up to meet him in order to get close to him and his case files on her. What Hannah didn’t expect was to fall for Mason. Mason needs trust and honesty from Hannah but that’s something that she can’t give him and it breaks her heart. Despite having a solid plan in place, Hannah starts to slip up with her lies and soon Mason starts to question his relationship with Hannah and as a result, he starts to dig deeper into her and also his investigation of Freed0m0v3rdr1v3.
Despite her own enhanced security protection, Hannah’s identity starts to unravel as someone, unknown to her starts to leak her name online. Not knowing who to trust, Hannah finds herself questioning her partner, the school friend who taught her everything she knows, and also those she works closely with. With danger around every corner, Hannah finds herself becoming buried deeper under her web of lies and cracking activities. When things suddenly become real, she is left wondering just who she can trust, and sadly for her, she can’t turn to Mason for help and support.
The story ends on a cliffhanger and readers are left with many unanswered questions and with a delicious need to savour the next instalment as soon as possible. With the story’s conclusion due in the Autumn, it’s fortunately not too long to wait to find out what happens to Hannah and Mason.
I really connected with Mason and Hannah and loved their personalities and skill sets. Despite both working against each other, they find a way towards healing each other from their painful pasts. Mason quickly falls for Hannah and despite her best intentions, Hannah falls equally as hard for Mason. This story is a romantic suspense with so many complex layers to it that you can’t help but become engrossed by the storyline and its many characters. The author did a brilliant job with this story and I can’t wait to read on.
This ebook was kindly provided by the author, publisher and Netgalley prior to release date in return for an honest and unbiased review.
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July 27, 2017
If you get a chance to read my reviews, you'll know that I never slam authors. I keep my attention solely focused on the plot and the story and write it accordingly.
NEVER SAY NEVER.
Exploited has me raging for the following reasons:
1) The story-line is mediocre. You will not find anything new or exciting. It's the same old, same old. A story told to us so many times. Even romance readers like me are not dumb as sh*t to chews anything that writer try to feed us. Sorry, that I was rude, but I can't help myself.
2) The author has clearly misunderstood what angst is. The stretch between Mason and Hanna's relationship is downright boring. NO CHEMISTRY, NO FIREWORKS. Only panting and groaning. Give us something new already.
3) Every feeling is TOLD. TOLD and TOLD SOME MORE. The feelings are not 'shown' and if you want to read a book of characters having long, repetitive rants, like having the same conversations again and again and even repeating their motives again and again; then, Exploited is for you.
4) The novel is written perspective of both the protagonists. However, there is no tone change or even verbal cues in writing to differentiate the characters except for the pronouns. You shall find no two people writing or talking in the same way like Mason and Hanna did.
5) The monologues droned on and on. This book needed chunks of paragraphs removed and organized.
6) Also, who writes 'Our lips met and I could still taste the pizza on her tongue.' Ewww....gross. Give me a feeling, not the taste of her tongue.
7) Last but not the least: A prestigious publishing house supporting this kind of crap is why I love reading books from Indie authors.
Waste of time.
NEVER SAY NEVER.
Exploited has me raging for the following reasons:
1) The story-line is mediocre. You will not find anything new or exciting. It's the same old, same old. A story told to us so many times. Even romance readers like me are not dumb as sh*t to chews anything that writer try to feed us. Sorry, that I was rude, but I can't help myself.
2) The author has clearly misunderstood what angst is. The stretch between Mason and Hanna's relationship is downright boring. NO CHEMISTRY, NO FIREWORKS. Only panting and groaning. Give us something new already.
3) Every feeling is TOLD. TOLD and TOLD SOME MORE. The feelings are not 'shown' and if you want to read a book of characters having long, repetitive rants, like having the same conversations again and again and even repeating their motives again and again; then, Exploited is for you.
4) The novel is written perspective of both the protagonists. However, there is no tone change or even verbal cues in writing to differentiate the characters except for the pronouns. You shall find no two people writing or talking in the same way like Mason and Hanna did.
5) The monologues droned on and on. This book needed chunks of paragraphs removed and organized.
6) Also, who writes 'Our lips met and I could still taste the pizza on her tongue.' Ewww....gross. Give me a feeling, not the taste of her tongue.
7) Last but not the least: A prestigious publishing house supporting this kind of crap is why I love reading books from Indie authors.
Waste of time.
July 25, 2017
This story had so much potential and I'll admit, when I read the preface, I was all kinds of excited about it. That small introduction pulled me in and I was ready to be wowed. It is very well written and Walters has a great writing style. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the story to fizzle after the preface.
The book is rather lengthy, which isn't a problem for me as long as the story keeps a good pace and holds my interest. While the book does have a steady pace for the most part, it's almost agonizingly slow and even a bit repetitive at times, to the point that I found my interest waning.
The story is suspenseful and Hannah's crimes were intriguing, but it would've benefited from a faster pace. I did expect more of a romantic element, but honestly, I didn't feel the romance with this one. Hannah comes across as cold and calculating through much of the story and while we're told on the page that she's falling for Mason, I didn't feel that.
Mason could've been a truly great character, but he has to be the most gullible agent in the history of fictional FBI agents. Not only does he accept Hannah's excuses for her lies, but he justifies them in his head. There were so many red flags waved in his face that it became eye-rollingly frustrating.
The cliffy at the end was a big one, but between Hannah's coldness and Mason's gullibility, I wasn't left with enough curiosity to read to the conclusion to this tale.
The author is talented and I would read other books by her, but this one just wasn't for me.
The book is rather lengthy, which isn't a problem for me as long as the story keeps a good pace and holds my interest. While the book does have a steady pace for the most part, it's almost agonizingly slow and even a bit repetitive at times, to the point that I found my interest waning.
The story is suspenseful and Hannah's crimes were intriguing, but it would've benefited from a faster pace. I did expect more of a romantic element, but honestly, I didn't feel the romance with this one. Hannah comes across as cold and calculating through much of the story and while we're told on the page that she's falling for Mason, I didn't feel that.
Mason could've been a truly great character, but he has to be the most gullible agent in the history of fictional FBI agents. Not only does he accept Hannah's excuses for her lies, but he justifies them in his head. There were so many red flags waved in his face that it became eye-rollingly frustrating.
The cliffy at the end was a big one, but between Hannah's coldness and Mason's gullibility, I wasn't left with enough curiosity to read to the conclusion to this tale.
The author is talented and I would read other books by her, but this one just wasn't for me.
June 19, 2017
The chase between cat and mouse has just begun!
Enter the world wide web full of lies and deceit with Exploited by A. Meredith Walters! Hannah is a hacker on a mission for revenge, redemption, and justification. Taking down the evils of our world behind a computer screen. Mason is on a mission to track and bring Hannah in for her illegal crimes. This is a story that will keep you on your toes, secrets are revealed one after another. No one is safe, but it's one hell of a ride. My hands are extra grabby where Exploited ended. I must know what happens next!
Enter the world wide web full of lies and deceit with Exploited by A. Meredith Walters! Hannah is a hacker on a mission for revenge, redemption, and justification. Taking down the evils of our world behind a computer screen. Mason is on a mission to track and bring Hannah in for her illegal crimes. This is a story that will keep you on your toes, secrets are revealed one after another. No one is safe, but it's one hell of a ride. My hands are extra grabby where Exploited ended. I must know what happens next!
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