Exposed

A Kent Street Tale #1

by Alex Bowman, Kelex

Kent Street is the new up and coming open community. After years of decline, LGBT-friendly businesses are starting to open their doors along the retail ghost town, welcoming open minded and proud patrons to shop the newly renovated shops and eateries. What they didn’t expect was by bringing a bunch of hot men closer together, it would prove to be fiery, to say the least.

Ian Donovan is on the Kent Street Commission and the owner of the only business which lasted through the economic downshift. His theater has been in family hands for a century and he’s gung-ho to get people coming back to the failing retail district.

When photographer Aiden Marks calls with an interesting proposition for an ad campaign for the new chocolatier, Ian knows he’ll do anything for Kent Street. In truth, he really just wants to get naked for the cute photog, just to gauge the man’s reaction.

Once naked and covered in chocolate, Ian is shocked by his body’s reaction to Aiden—and Aiden does nothing to hide his own lust, either. They succumb to their desires and spend a steamy afternoon together.

But can one hot, hot ride turn into a happily ever after, especially when an old rival tries to tear them apart?

Genres: M M Romance, Gay, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Contemporary, BDSM

67 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2013

Reviews

[Ula'ndi Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall book rating: 3
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.5

Seriously read this for a nice little in-between mindless fun. It has chocolate and HOT guys and it gets captured on film. It's very fast pace and kinda ridiculous but just in the right amount.
I will read the next one for the hell of it.

[Moraa (vacation hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

RTC

[Didi]

I'm disappointed with this book. It started quite promising - the mutual stolen look and hidden attractions, the shy younger man and someone about oh, ten years older. I was still okay when fluff turned into series of gymnastic activities whenever these two met. But then came the big bad villain who nudged one of the MC to easily MADE WRONG ASSUMPTION without so much as by your leave. How the problems solved just made me disliking the MCs more.

And so the rating taking a nose dive to... NONE???

Yeah, well, that's how upset I am.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when it first came out, but it's been so long that I only vaguely remembered what had happened, so I enjoyed this one! Fun, sexy, a bit fast paced, but enjoyable! Love this author!

[Jenny (Nyxie) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This is mostly just a setup for the next book in the series. I was hoping for more.

[DC · Rating 2 out of 5]

I has higher hopes as I began reading this but it just turned into one big dissapointment. As far as a storyline goes, it was pretty good. However, it was poorly executed. The characters are not well developed and with the possible exceptions of Aiden and Tate, they’re not really likeable. Ian, the other MC to Aiden, seemed more like an overbearing jerk. If he was supposedly this wonderful guy in a gorgeous package, it didn’t come across that way. And the way he treated Aiden over the picture scandal just cemented my opinion.
The whole opening scene with the chocolate, while arguably hot, was also ridiculous. If Aiden was so worried about Ian’s naughty bits, then why didn’t he do what any decent professional photographer would have done; have Ian wear briefs! And then the first sex scene (as well as the others that followed) made me cringe. Mr. Wonderful is in such a hurry to fck Aiden that he does so without any preparation; just line up and push. Even if you’re into a bit of pain, zero prep usually means a whole lot more pain than pleasure.
And then the whole bit with Mike. Yes, he’s a slimeball, but they have evidence that he is sexually harassing, or assaulting, one of his employees, a possible minor, and they’re just worried about blackmailing a blackmailer?
If this is the launch of a series, it did nothing to draw me in and want to read on. In addition to being riddled with spelling and grammar errors, as well as mixed up names, it ends in, not so much as a cliffhanger, but a you-need-to-keep-reading-if-you-want-to-know-what-happens! Sorry, but these characters didn’t interest me enough to really care.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought this was sweet, sexy, charming , smoking hot

[Penumbra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exposed is the first book in the ‘A Kent Street Tale’ series. It stars Aiden Marks, a photographer, Ian Donovan, owner of a theater, and Tate, executive chef and Aiden’s roommate. The story is told in third person from Aiden, Ian, and Tate’s povs.

1.5 Stars



I’m not quite sure how to write this review. I want to be honest, but I also don’t want to contribute to stomping on the author’s confidence. I believe honesty wins over dumbing down the problems with this story. I do want to mention that this book looks like it was published in 2013, which is almost ten years ago. The author’s writing has most likely improved since then, so I’m reviewing a writing style that may have been at the beginning of the author’s career.

The first thing I wondered about, was whether or not the author had anyone beta/edit this story? Not only were there numerous grammar errors, but there were inconsistencies and too many unbelievable behaviors by the characters. I actually thought I was reading a story written by a young teenager who just wrote down whatever sort of fantasy they found titillating without basing it on the real world. I’ll mention a few, but will probably miss some.

1) Both Aiden and Ian were completely unprofessional. I didn't like either one of their personalities.
2) Aiden had Ian model nude. Aiden mentioned he planned on photoshopping certain areas out. If he’s capable of doing that, then why wasn’t Ian wearing either a tiny bikini or thong?
3) Once the photoshoot is over Ian starts to stroke himself to entice Aiden. Ian should’ve gotten dressed and asked Aiden out if he wanted to get to know him, instead they had sex in the shop.
4) In the candy shop on the floor, and they’re covered in chocolate, so how can Ian get a good grip on Aiden’s skin anyhow if the chocolate is slippery and Ian is all slippery?
5) The owner leaves them alone to have sex, and Aiden and Ian clean up the mess after. Isn’t that against some sort of health code to have sex in a shop that sells and makes food?
6) Aiden is so dumb; he doesn’t lock his computer with a code.
7) Then Aiden gets blackmail photos of Michael. Which means Aiden is a peeping Tom around Michael’s townhome, which means he likely has broken some law. And he’s a professional photographer?
8) Michael doesn’t close his drapes when he’s with the young busboy.
9) The young busboy is now drawn into the blackmail photos and he had nothing to do with anything going on between Aiden, Ian and Michael.
10) There are three povs, including from Tate’s pov which I don’t understand why except to be a cliffhanger promo for the next book. And Henri’s reaction at the end of the book was totally unbelievable. None of it made sense.
11) And finally, the book is all telling, no showing. Meaning the sex scenes were boring.

Those are just a few of the easily spotted unbelievable happenings the author wrote into the plot. This book is slightly over eighty pages long, but the plot and characters were crazy. I thought about DNFing it, instead, I started reading another book and came back to read this one five minutes at a time since it was short.

I highly DO NOT recommend reading this book. Since I can’t give half stars, I rate Exposed, 2 Stars, and that’s generous.

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kent Street is undergoing a revival as a new gay friendly retail and residential area thanks, in part, to the efforts of Ian Donovan. Ian's family owned theatre was the only business to survive the hard economic times and as part of the Kent Street Commission he'll do just about anything to see the revitalization succeed. When photographer, Aiden Marks, calls asking him to appear as a model for the local chocolatier he quickly agrees, even when he'll be naked and drenched in chocolate. Ian not only wants what's best for business he also wants Aiden, but will a quickie be enough for either of them? A very engaging read.

[Ken Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun romance

Covered in chocolate, the plot's primary line ramps up the beginning of a relationship between the driving force for the Kent Street renewal, the theater owner and photographer. The roommate chef's designs on a colleague hint at another book in the series. MCs have hot hot action, but display maturity too. At about an hour plus, a fun and clever read.

[Clara Deoliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was well written, I loved the characters.
The chocolate scene was HOT.

I just wished the end was different.

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. The characters weren't well developed and the plot jumped around.

[Annemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story of Aiden and Ian! The chocolate just made it sexier. Wish the ending was better. Just dropped them and went into an intro to Tate and Henri. I wanted to see them nail Michael.

[Josh Reichert-Seigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book what a great read wish they had wrote more than two books

[Tammy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blog Post: http://lovebytesreviews.com/2017/02/1...

Kent Street has been in decline for years and the people are just not interested in coming there anymore. Ian Donovan is the owner of the only business that has survived the economic downturn. The problem is that even his theater isn’t going to make it for much longer if something isn’t done and soon! Ian is on the Kent Street Commission who have decided to start a revamping campaign, specifically targeting the LGBTQ community to make it a very gay – friendly place, as such they are successfully bringing life back to the area.
Things are going remarkably well with the project when local photographer Aiden Marks contacts Ian about him doing a bit of modelling for his shoot for the new chocolatier in town, much to Aiden’s shock Ian says yes. Ever since Aiden met Ian at a party several months ago, he has had many hot and steamy fantasies about Ian and when he says yes to modelling for Aiden he’s so excited!
The chocolate shoot goes exceedingly well, so well in fact that it ends in some very hot and heavy sex! After that when they were together Aiden and Ian can’t keep their hands off each other. Things are proceeding as planned when there is a hitch in their plans, the restaurateur who has opened a place on Kent Street has been after Ian for years it doesn’t seem to matter how many times Ian says no, Mike refuses to listen. When Ian and Aiden arrive at Mike’s grand opening together Mike starts to make trouble for them by telling lies.
There are misunderstandings, fights, smokin’ hot sex, all-in-all Exposed is a very enjoyable way to start a new series!! Don’t hesitate to get your own copy, A Kent Street Tale is going to be an awesome series!!

[Wax · Rating 3 out of 5]

It appears that this is a revised and expanded version of Modeling Chocolate, for those who have read the original.

I thought it started off well and was pretty hot and steamy off the bat. Then it started to fizzle. Not the heat, but just the writing (missing or misspelled words) and the story. I appreciated that they talked out the big misunderstanding, but the way in which the "villain" did things just does not jibe with what most people usually have (passwords on their digital devices). Also, several pages of an already short story were spent setting up the second story in the series, so the short length worked against it.

Re-read 7/12/17: Same thoughts as before.

[Manuela]

***2016 has been a very unstable year. Not only have I lost favourite role models in droves, I have been into dark places more times than I could count. Yes, I experienced highlights as well but the darkness has had a big impact this year and the only way to keep it at bay was reading, mass reading, back to back books with no stopping and no reviewing. I do appologize to all the writers that I won’t be able to review their books yet but I will get to it. Promise!***

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the start to this and the chemistry between the 2 MCs, but I wasn't really a fan of the conflict and how if they just communicated, it wouldn't have been an issue. I'm so over the whole big misunderstanding/won't talk to each other type of conflict.

Still, I'm now in love with this author and I look forward to the next book in this series!

[My Dichotomy Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and can't wait for the next in the series which is going to be Spun Sugar..

[cmbookdiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet hot read.

[Shaly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and fast paced. Ends on a slight cliffhanger.

[PurpleBunny♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reader of this author and series. Liked the characters but missing the confrontation with Michael about the stolen pictures. Looking forward to reading more in the series. 👍😊💖