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Fifth Avenue Trilogy #3
Spogliami
Voglio che tu ti perda... che tu perda la testa per me.
La giornalista televisiva Chelsea Maxwell, donna caparbia che mira a farsi spazio in un mondo dominato da uomini, ce l'ha fatta. Si è assicurata un'intervista TV in prima serata che sarà seguita da milioni di telespettatori. E dovrà essere più brava di sempre a non far trapelare al pubblico il suo torbido passato. Nessuno potrà toglierle la maschera di donna vincente e di successo. Nessuno tranne Alex Diaz, che col suo sguardo riesce a far sentire Chelsea nuda e impotente, privata di quella facciata così tanto ben costruita.
Alex ha creato un impero televisivo di portata mondiale da zero ed è un playboy in grado di "spogliare" una donna in pochi secondi. Lui vuole qualcosa dalla bellissima Chelsea. Desidera vendetta, ma soprattutto desidera lei.
La giornalista televisiva Chelsea Maxwell, donna caparbia che mira a farsi spazio in un mondo dominato da uomini, ce l'ha fatta. Si è assicurata un'intervista TV in prima serata che sarà seguita da milioni di telespettatori. E dovrà essere più brava di sempre a non far trapelare al pubblico il suo torbido passato. Nessuno potrà toglierle la maschera di donna vincente e di successo. Nessuno tranne Alex Diaz, che col suo sguardo riesce a far sentire Chelsea nuda e impotente, privata di quella facciata così tanto ben costruita.
Alex ha creato un impero televisivo di portata mondiale da zero ed è un playboy in grado di "spogliare" una donna in pochi secondi. Lui vuole qualcosa dalla bellissima Chelsea. Desidera vendetta, ma soprattutto desidera lei.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2014
31 people are currently reading
761 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hewitt
875 books1,685 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 15, 2017
★★★¾! Expose Me, book 3 of 3. Trilogy follows three friends in their quest to avenge the death of a friend!
Books in trilogy should be read in order:
Book 1: Avenge Me
Book 2: Scandalize Me
Book 3: Expose Me
I read this while on vacation and never got a chance to post a proper review:
Books in The Fifth Avenue trilogy are written by a different authors. Series follows three friends, Austin (book 1), Hunter (book 2) and Alex (book 3) in their quest for vengeance. Each book has a HEA with the hero and heroine carrying out their part in the revenge against the villain who appears in all three books.
Expose Me (book 3) is media mogul Alex Diaz’s story. With both of his friends in happy matrimony the last leg of the revenge against the villain, Jason Treffen is to be carried out by him. Alex has the perfect plan which includes seducing talk-show host Chelsea Maxwell.
But that proves more complicated when feelings enter the picture. The story goes on to follow them as Alex is juggling their budding romance and his mission of vengeance. It’s a story about making peace with one’s past and open the heart up to happiness.
***
Hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 3.5 stars
Plot rating: 4 stars
Dialogue rating: 3.5 stars
Storytelling rating: 4 stars
Story ending rating: 4 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A
************************************************
Overall rating: 3.75 stars
ARC provided to me by Harlequin via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2014
I had a few minor niggles but overall thought it was a great end to the trilogy. Really wanted an epilogue for sometime in the future, around 6 months or so giving us a glimpse of how the couples were getting on and the ramifications for Jason Treffen....Would really like the 3 authors to consider doing stories for some of the other characters we met, especially about Chelsea's sister Louise.
Full review to come closer to publication date.
ARC kindly supplied by Harlequin via Netgalley
Full review to come closer to publication date.
ARC kindly supplied by Harlequin via Netgalley
November 8, 2018
Well I finally bit the bullet and have gotten to the end of this edgier HPlandia mini series and boy was I disappointed.
The H is a one night stand kind of a guy who is hung up on the fact he was a selfish jerk who didn't listen to his friend because he was too busy being selfish and thinking only of himself to hear her cry for help and he now blames himself for a part of her death. Newsflash newsboy, you are a selfish jerk who clearly loves himself far too much despite your poor little scholarship me at prep school story.
The h freely admits that she slept her way into her first newsjob and does come across as very hard faced and a bit whorey to those she meets. Of course she has an equally bad back story in that she may have been abused as a child and the guy she slept her way into a job with was also abusive and badly assaulted and humiliated her. I know I'm supposed to feel empathy for her but again its the HPlandia double standard that if she walks the walk of an OW type character she should be vilified as such but as shes our h we have to forgive her poor life choices and move on to the HEA. Somehow we are far less forgiving of OW in books so I struggled to like either character here.
Finally, i just felt there were FAR too many loose ends. Was she abused as a child she never outright says. What actually went on with the H's mum? I want to know now and last but not least our Villain of this entire series WTH has happened to him at the end? Not a lot I feel there is no proper closure so I feel slightly robbed :(
The H is a one night stand kind of a guy who is hung up on the fact he was a selfish jerk who didn't listen to his friend because he was too busy being selfish and thinking only of himself to hear her cry for help and he now blames himself for a part of her death. Newsflash newsboy, you are a selfish jerk who clearly loves himself far too much despite your poor little scholarship me at prep school story.
The h freely admits that she slept her way into her first newsjob and does come across as very hard faced and a bit whorey to those she meets. Of course she has an equally bad back story in that she may have been abused as a child and the guy she slept her way into a job with was also abusive and badly assaulted and humiliated her. I know I'm supposed to feel empathy for her but again its the HPlandia double standard that if she walks the walk of an OW type character she should be vilified as such but as shes our h we have to forgive her poor life choices and move on to the HEA. Somehow we are far less forgiving of OW in books so I struggled to like either character here.
Finally, i just felt there were FAR too many loose ends. Was she abused as a child she never outright says. What actually went on with the H's mum? I want to know now and last but not least our Villain of this entire series WTH has happened to him at the end? Not a lot I feel there is no proper closure so I feel slightly robbed :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2023
☆☆☆☆☆
Trijų dalių istorija, kuri sujungė tris draugus vienam tikslui - atkeršyti už draugės Saros savižudybę. Rekomenduoju skaityti nuo pirmos dalies ir visas kartu, nes tik taip bus išpildyta visa istorija ir sudėliotos visos detalės, išlaikant intrigą, atveriant daug skaudžių patirčių, išgyvenimų ir kodėl juos visus sujungė vienas įvykis. Reiktų paminėti, kad knygos nėra kaip erotiniai romanai, bet kiekviena dalis pakaitina kraują ir karštų scenų netrūksta. O kai yra keršto troškimas, visada atsiranda ir meilė, bet kaip mokėti mylėti, kai pats savęs nemyli, kai esi sukuošintas praeities įvykių... kaip pasitikėti kitu, kai iki tol visi tik skaudino ir nuvylė... Skaudi, įtraukianti ir romantiška istorija per visas tris dalis 🩵
Trijų dalių istorija, kuri sujungė tris draugus vienam tikslui - atkeršyti už draugės Saros savižudybę. Rekomenduoju skaityti nuo pirmos dalies ir visas kartu, nes tik taip bus išpildyta visa istorija ir sudėliotos visos detalės, išlaikant intrigą, atveriant daug skaudžių patirčių, išgyvenimų ir kodėl juos visus sujungė vienas įvykis. Reiktų paminėti, kad knygos nėra kaip erotiniai romanai, bet kiekviena dalis pakaitina kraują ir karštų scenų netrūksta. O kai yra keršto troškimas, visada atsiranda ir meilė, bet kaip mokėti mylėti, kai pats savęs nemyli, kai esi sukuošintas praeities įvykių... kaip pasitikėti kitu, kai iki tol visi tik skaudino ir nuvylė... Skaudi, įtraukianti ir romantiška istorija per visas tris dalis 🩵
June 21, 2015
Hewitt develops the world surrounding her characters in exquisite detail. She does assume that readers have read the past instalments in the series but it is also a complete story in and of itself. When this series started it was fantastic, but now I’m finding it to be rather formulaic. Don’t get me wrong, this was an enjoyable read but very little new happens. I found that the overall plot of this series got lost in this novel. It did, however, reappear with a vengeance right at the end.
The main character is way too worried about what he wants while the female lead is obsessed with what she should and shouldn’t do. The male lead was rather aggravating at times. He seemed to think the world should just bend for him. Yes, he’s there for those that matter to him but sometimes he just made me want to ram my head into the wall. The secrecy is astounding.
As a whole this was a fluffy, enjoyable read with just enough to keep you on your toes. It did leave me wondering what happens to Treffen, but I’m sure we’ll find out eventually.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
The main character is way too worried about what he wants while the female lead is obsessed with what she should and shouldn’t do. The male lead was rather aggravating at times. He seemed to think the world should just bend for him. Yes, he’s there for those that matter to him but sometimes he just made me want to ram my head into the wall. The secrecy is astounding.
As a whole this was a fluffy, enjoyable read with just enough to keep you on your toes. It did leave me wondering what happens to Treffen, but I’m sure we’ll find out eventually.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2014
Received an ARC for review
Final installment in the downfall of Jason Treffen (and boy was it good). This was better than the second one but still not as good as the first. It sure did take a while for both Alex and Chelsea to come clean with each other.
And I want three more books: the boys other college roommate, Zair; Alex bff growing up, Jaiven; and Chelsea's sister, Louise. There are some great stories waiting there I know.
Final installment in the downfall of Jason Treffen (and boy was it good). This was better than the second one but still not as good as the first. It sure did take a while for both Alex and Chelsea to come clean with each other.
And I want three more books: the boys other college roommate, Zair; Alex bff growing up, Jaiven; and Chelsea's sister, Louise. There are some great stories waiting there I know.
July 22, 2014
Third and last in the Fifth Avenue Trilogy romance series revolving around a few friends seeking revenge against Jason Treffen. This story concludes the trilogy with the friend focus on Alex Diaz with Chelsea Maxwell as his romantic counterpart.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing this ARC for my reading pleasure…
My Take
…one which I enjoyed very much. A strong woman who is broken and struggling to rise above it up against a man who also fought his way up, both with an end goal they are determined to reach.
I love that they're both so attracted to each other and struggling so hard to ignore it. Chelsea has her issues, and she is determined to not give in to a man. Alex sees a woman who's used her body to get where she is. Both are so wrong about the other.
I love that they're both intelligent, both determined to use and leave the other wanting, both working toward an end goal that is important to them.
Hewitt does do a beautiful job of teasing us along, dropping bits and pieces about their lives, why Chelsea is so cold, the attack, what caused Sarah to commit suicide, about Treffen. She drops those hints, tugging us along the trail, making me more and more desperate to find out what happened and what will happen.
I had a few niggles about Alex's character. As we progress further into the story, I can better understand Alex's reaction in the car when Chelsea slipped and bumped her head, but any guy leaves me like that, I'm outta there. Then I gotta wonder about an intelligent man like him not considering how Chelsea would react. He claims he's done his research, but obviously not enough. I'd've liked to see Hewitt play up his angst getting in the way on that one.
For all that it's unreal in how these two people managed to claw their way up to the heights they currently embrace, there's a reality to the emotions in Expose Me. Alex keeping himself safe. Chelsea desperate to stay in control after events in Alabama. Louise with her clang of a confession. And it's a courtship that develops slowly, reluctantly. It too feels real.
Oh, that scene where Chelsea tells Alex that she "wants someone to think I'm worth it" will break your heart. Then the scene where she's interviewing Jason Treffen. I held my breath through some of it, my heart racing, my mind jumping up and down, cheering. It was beautiful!!
Now I want to read Avenge Me , 1, and Scandalize Me , 2. I want to wallow in how they make their plans.
The Story
Alex needs Chelsea Maxwell for the final nail in Jason Treffen's coffin — public exposure, and he's annoyed when she sees through his ploys. Considering who and what she is, he has every confidence she'll jump at the chance to work at Diaz News.
And he'll lie, cheat, or bed Chelsea to ensure Treffen is exposed for what he is.
Chelsea, on the other hand, intends for this interview with Treffen to be her springboard to serious television. There is no way she'll play games with her chance to be a serious, respected journalist.
The Characters
With the reputation for revealing a guest's innermost pain, Chelsea Maxwell, the former Aurora Jensen, is the host of the number one daytime talk show, Chats with Chelsea . Professor Louise Jensen is her long lost older sister. Their mother, Diane, had been obsessed with Chelsea and beauty contests when they were kids, a beautiful child mama's boyfriends lusted after.
Alex Diaz has worked hard to build his communications empire, and Diaz News is at the top in the nation. Now he and his friends, Hunter and Austin, are determined to seek justice for a friend. Sarah Michaels was a young law intern who committed suicide over sexual harassment. They were wrong. It was so much more. Eric is Alex's driver. Beatriz is Alex's mother. Aunt Patricia is his mother's sister.
Katy Michaels is Sarah's sister, and she's helped Austin Treffen expose his father to his family (see Avenge Me , 1). Hunter Grant is working on getting him out of the law firm (see Scandalize Me , 2) with the help of Zoe Brook, the PR queen of New York.
AMI Television
Michael Agnello is Chelsea's boss and said to be her lover. Paul Bates is AMI's leading news anchorman and a total jerk. José is one of the security people at the studio. Miles is her producer. Sonya is her makeup artist.
Jaiven Rodriguez is a friend of Alex's from the old neighborhood who slugged his way up and out of his childhood.
Publicly Jason Treffen has a reputation for protecting women's rights; privately… Eric is his lawyer.
Brian Taylor was the domineering jerk from the local news station in Huntsville, Alabama, where Chelsea learned to never let a man in.
The Cover
The cover is a pale gray background with a casual looking Alex in a loosened tie, button-down shirt, slacks, and a black leather jacket, looking intently out at us. He's determined.
The title is about revealing inner secrets, inner shames, things a casual lover doesn't want to hear, and in the end, it will Expose Me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing this ARC for my reading pleasure…
My Take
…one which I enjoyed very much. A strong woman who is broken and struggling to rise above it up against a man who also fought his way up, both with an end goal they are determined to reach.
"She never denied anything. Denying rumors put you on the defensive, and ended up just stoking the fires of gossip higher. "
I love that they're both so attracted to each other and struggling so hard to ignore it. Chelsea has her issues, and she is determined to not give in to a man. Alex sees a woman who's used her body to get where she is. Both are so wrong about the other.
I love that they're both intelligent, both determined to use and leave the other wanting, both working toward an end goal that is important to them.
Hewitt does do a beautiful job of teasing us along, dropping bits and pieces about their lives, why Chelsea is so cold, the attack, what caused Sarah to commit suicide, about Treffen. She drops those hints, tugging us along the trail, making me more and more desperate to find out what happened and what will happen.
I had a few niggles about Alex's character. As we progress further into the story, I can better understand Alex's reaction in the car when Chelsea slipped and bumped her head, but any guy leaves me like that, I'm outta there. Then I gotta wonder about an intelligent man like him not considering how Chelsea would react. He claims he's done his research, but obviously not enough. I'd've liked to see Hewitt play up his angst getting in the way on that one.
For all that it's unreal in how these two people managed to claw their way up to the heights they currently embrace, there's a reality to the emotions in Expose Me. Alex keeping himself safe. Chelsea desperate to stay in control after events in Alabama. Louise with her clang of a confession. And it's a courtship that develops slowly, reluctantly. It too feels real.
Oh, that scene where Chelsea tells Alex that she "wants someone to think I'm worth it" will break your heart. Then the scene where she's interviewing Jason Treffen. I held my breath through some of it, my heart racing, my mind jumping up and down, cheering. It was beautiful!!
Now I want to read Avenge Me , 1, and Scandalize Me , 2. I want to wallow in how they make their plans.
The Story
Alex needs Chelsea Maxwell for the final nail in Jason Treffen's coffin — public exposure, and he's annoyed when she sees through his ploys. Considering who and what she is, he has every confidence she'll jump at the chance to work at Diaz News.
And he'll lie, cheat, or bed Chelsea to ensure Treffen is exposed for what he is.
Chelsea, on the other hand, intends for this interview with Treffen to be her springboard to serious television. There is no way she'll play games with her chance to be a serious, respected journalist.
The Characters
With the reputation for revealing a guest's innermost pain, Chelsea Maxwell, the former Aurora Jensen, is the host of the number one daytime talk show, Chats with Chelsea . Professor Louise Jensen is her long lost older sister. Their mother, Diane, had been obsessed with Chelsea and beauty contests when they were kids, a beautiful child mama's boyfriends lusted after.
Alex Diaz has worked hard to build his communications empire, and Diaz News is at the top in the nation. Now he and his friends, Hunter and Austin, are determined to seek justice for a friend. Sarah Michaels was a young law intern who committed suicide over sexual harassment. They were wrong. It was so much more. Eric is Alex's driver. Beatriz is Alex's mother. Aunt Patricia is his mother's sister.
Katy Michaels is Sarah's sister, and she's helped Austin Treffen expose his father to his family (see Avenge Me , 1). Hunter Grant is working on getting him out of the law firm (see Scandalize Me , 2) with the help of Zoe Brook, the PR queen of New York.
AMI Television
Michael Agnello is Chelsea's boss and said to be her lover. Paul Bates is AMI's leading news anchorman and a total jerk. José is one of the security people at the studio. Miles is her producer. Sonya is her makeup artist.
Jaiven Rodriguez is a friend of Alex's from the old neighborhood who slugged his way up and out of his childhood.
Publicly Jason Treffen has a reputation for protecting women's rights; privately… Eric is his lawyer.
Brian Taylor was the domineering jerk from the local news station in Huntsville, Alabama, where Chelsea learned to never let a man in.
The Cover
The cover is a pale gray background with a casual looking Alex in a loosened tie, button-down shirt, slacks, and a black leather jacket, looking intently out at us. He's determined.
The title is about revealing inner secrets, inner shames, things a casual lover doesn't want to hear, and in the end, it will Expose Me.
Read
January 12, 2016Miniseries: Fifth Avenue
August 8, 2014
3.75 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 2014
The third and final step to revenge in the fifth avenue trilogy. Alex has the power…
TEN YEARS AGO ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR AUSTIN, HUNTER AND ALEX. NOW THEY MUST EACH PLAY THEIR PART IN THE REVENGE AGAINST THE ONE MAN WHO RUINED IT ALL.
With ruthless determination, Alex Diaz has risen up from his deprived roots to become the head of a global media empire. But he has one last thing to achieve…avenge his friend by destroying the man responsible for her death, Jason Treffen. With stunning talk-show host Chelsea Maxwell about to interview Treffen live on TV, this is Alex’s chance.
He’ll use her show to exact a very public revenge—and seducing Chelsea, if needed, would certainly be no hardship. But he underestimates Chelsea and the attraction between them, and as their relationship deepens, Alex realizes that to annihilate Treffen could also shatter the life that Chelsea has built to protect herself….
~~~~~~
REVIEW: 3.75 stars- EXPOSE ME is the third and final instalment in the Fifth Avenue contemporary, erotic trilogy. Each of the three instalments has been written by a different author focusing on a new couple whose connection to the storyline is personal and heartbreaking. Expose Me is Alex Diaz and Chelsea Maxwell’s story- written by Kate Hewitt.
As our trio of friends-Austin Treffen, Hunter Grant and Alex Diaz make the final preparations to destroy billionaire lawyer and philanthropist Justin Treffen, Alex goes in search of the perfect person to complete the final stage of Jason’s personal and public demise.
Chelsea Maxwell is a popular daytime TV talk show host whose reputation for getting her interviewees to talk will place her on the direct path to bring all of the players together. Alex Diaz knows that Chelsea is the only person who has the ability to bring Jason to his knees but in doing so Alex will lose his heart to a woman whose past is secreted away behind physical and emotional scars. If Chelsea agrees to play along, she knows Jason Treffen will ruin her career and expose the truth about her own past.
AVENGE ME (Book 1) saw Austin Treffen (Jason’s son) and Katy Michaels begin the take down of a man whose family had to come to the realization that the man they called husband and father had lied to them his entire life.
SCANDALIZE ME (Book 2) brought together PR consultant Zoe Brook-a survivor of Jason’s sordid life; and Hunter Grant –a man whose connections to Jason’s past have destroyed his own life and his career. We watch as Hunter’s world is shattered once again when Zoe reveals that she knows they whys and what fors as it pertains to Hunter’s self-sabotage and how she wants to be play a role in the destruction of Jason Treffen.
EXPOSE ME is the culmination of three connecting storylines where each instalment will see the slow destruction of a once powerful and sadistic man. Jason Treffen is a man who has ruined countless lives; shattered many dreams; and stands poised to have his well ordered life crumble and fall. Chelsea Maxwell will take Jason to the mat but in doing so will destroy her own career in the process.
The Fifth Avenue Trilogy is a series that looks at the destructive nature of too much power and too much control; the shattered lives of everyone it has touched; and how three men found love with women who had been touched by the control and abuse.
Again, my only complaint is the slow build up of each of the storylines. The premise focused on the growing relationships between each of our couples and the destruction of Jason Treffen took a back seat until the final chapters of each instalment.
There is a wealth of information not imparted to the reader-Jason Treffen’s sins and illegal activities were revealed on a need to know basis only and focused on the devastated life of Sarah Michaels. Each of our heroines is a strong, independent and broken woman while our heroes have suffered silently for a decade with the knowledge that they were unable to save someone they loved then lost.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
Merged review:
3.75 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 2014
The third and final step to revenge in the fifth avenue trilogy. Alex has the power…
TEN YEARS AGO ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR AUSTIN, HUNTER AND ALEX. NOW THEY MUST EACH PLAY THEIR PART IN THE REVENGE AGAINST THE ONE MAN WHO RUINED IT ALL.
With ruthless determination, Alex Diaz has risen up from his deprived roots to become the head of a global media empire. But he has one last thing to achieve…avenge his friend by destroying the man responsible for her death, Jason Treffen. With stunning talk-show host Chelsea Maxwell about to interview Treffen live on TV, this is Alex’s chance.
He’ll use her show to exact a very public revenge—and seducing Chelsea, if needed, would certainly be no hardship. But he underestimates Chelsea and the attraction between them, and as their relationship deepens, Alex realizes that to annihilate Treffen could also shatter the life that Chelsea has built to protect herself….
REVIEW: EXPOSE ME is the third and final instalment in the Fifth Avenue contemporary, erotic trilogy. Each of the three instalments has been written by a different author focusing on a new couple whose connection to the storyline is personal and heartbreaking. Expose Me is Alex Diaz and Chelsea Maxwell’s story- written by Kate Hewitt.
As our trio of friends-Austin Treffen, Hunter Grant and Alex Diaz make the final preparations to destroy billionaire lawyer and philanthropist Justin Treffen, Alex goes in search of the perfect person to complete the final stage of Jason’s personal and public demise.
Chelsea Maxwell is a popular daytime TV talk show host whose reputation for getting her interviewees to talk will place her on the direct path to bring all of the players together. Alex Diaz knows that Chelsea is the only person who has the ability to bring Jason to his knees but in doing so Alex will lose his heart to a woman whose past is secreted away behind physical and emotional scars. If Chelsea agrees to play along, she knows Jason Treffen will ruin her career and expose the truth about her own past.
AVENGE ME (Book 1) saw Austin Treffen (Jason’s son) and Katy Michaels begin the take down of a man whose family had to come to the realization that the man they called husband and father had lied to them his entire life.
SCANDALIZE ME (Book 2) brought together PR consultant Zoe Brook-a survivor of Jason’s sordid life; and Hunter Grant –a man whose connections to Jason’s past have destroyed his own life and his career. We watch as Hunter’s world is shattered once again when Zoe reveals that she knows they whys and what fors as it pertains to Hunter’s self-sabotage and how she wants to be play a role in the destruction of Jason Treffen.
EXPOSE ME is the culmination of three connecting storylines where each instalment will see the slow destruction of a once powerful and sadistic man. Jason Treffen is a man who has ruined countless lives; shattered many dreams; and stands poised to have his well ordered life crumble and fall. Chelsea Maxwell will take Jason to the mat but in doing so will destroy her own career in the process.
The Fifth Avenue Trilogy is a series that looks at the destructive nature of too much power and too much control; the shattered lives of everyone it has touched; and how three men found love with women who had been touched by the control and abuse.
Again, my only complaint is the slow build up of each of the storylines. The premise focused on the growing relationships between each of our couples and the destruction of Jason Treffen took a back seat until the final chapters of each instalment.
There is a wealth of information not imparted to the reader-Jason Treffen’s sins and illegal activities were revealed on a need to know basis only and focused on the devastated life of Sarah Michaels. Each of our heroines is a strong, independent and broken woman while our heroes have suffered silently for a decade with the knowledge that they were unable to save someone they loved then lost.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 2014
The third and final step to revenge in the fifth avenue trilogy. Alex has the power…
TEN YEARS AGO ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR AUSTIN, HUNTER AND ALEX. NOW THEY MUST EACH PLAY THEIR PART IN THE REVENGE AGAINST THE ONE MAN WHO RUINED IT ALL.
With ruthless determination, Alex Diaz has risen up from his deprived roots to become the head of a global media empire. But he has one last thing to achieve…avenge his friend by destroying the man responsible for her death, Jason Treffen. With stunning talk-show host Chelsea Maxwell about to interview Treffen live on TV, this is Alex’s chance.
He’ll use her show to exact a very public revenge—and seducing Chelsea, if needed, would certainly be no hardship. But he underestimates Chelsea and the attraction between them, and as their relationship deepens, Alex realizes that to annihilate Treffen could also shatter the life that Chelsea has built to protect herself….
~~~~~~
REVIEW: 3.75 stars- EXPOSE ME is the third and final instalment in the Fifth Avenue contemporary, erotic trilogy. Each of the three instalments has been written by a different author focusing on a new couple whose connection to the storyline is personal and heartbreaking. Expose Me is Alex Diaz and Chelsea Maxwell’s story- written by Kate Hewitt.
As our trio of friends-Austin Treffen, Hunter Grant and Alex Diaz make the final preparations to destroy billionaire lawyer and philanthropist Justin Treffen, Alex goes in search of the perfect person to complete the final stage of Jason’s personal and public demise.
Chelsea Maxwell is a popular daytime TV talk show host whose reputation for getting her interviewees to talk will place her on the direct path to bring all of the players together. Alex Diaz knows that Chelsea is the only person who has the ability to bring Jason to his knees but in doing so Alex will lose his heart to a woman whose past is secreted away behind physical and emotional scars. If Chelsea agrees to play along, she knows Jason Treffen will ruin her career and expose the truth about her own past.
AVENGE ME (Book 1) saw Austin Treffen (Jason’s son) and Katy Michaels begin the take down of a man whose family had to come to the realization that the man they called husband and father had lied to them his entire life.
SCANDALIZE ME (Book 2) brought together PR consultant Zoe Brook-a survivor of Jason’s sordid life; and Hunter Grant –a man whose connections to Jason’s past have destroyed his own life and his career. We watch as Hunter’s world is shattered once again when Zoe reveals that she knows they whys and what fors as it pertains to Hunter’s self-sabotage and how she wants to be play a role in the destruction of Jason Treffen.
EXPOSE ME is the culmination of three connecting storylines where each instalment will see the slow destruction of a once powerful and sadistic man. Jason Treffen is a man who has ruined countless lives; shattered many dreams; and stands poised to have his well ordered life crumble and fall. Chelsea Maxwell will take Jason to the mat but in doing so will destroy her own career in the process.
The Fifth Avenue Trilogy is a series that looks at the destructive nature of too much power and too much control; the shattered lives of everyone it has touched; and how three men found love with women who had been touched by the control and abuse.
Again, my only complaint is the slow build up of each of the storylines. The premise focused on the growing relationships between each of our couples and the destruction of Jason Treffen took a back seat until the final chapters of each instalment.
There is a wealth of information not imparted to the reader-Jason Treffen’s sins and illegal activities were revealed on a need to know basis only and focused on the devastated life of Sarah Michaels. Each of our heroines is a strong, independent and broken woman while our heroes have suffered silently for a decade with the knowledge that they were unable to save someone they loved then lost.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
Merged review:
3.75 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 2014
The third and final step to revenge in the fifth avenue trilogy. Alex has the power…
TEN YEARS AGO ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR AUSTIN, HUNTER AND ALEX. NOW THEY MUST EACH PLAY THEIR PART IN THE REVENGE AGAINST THE ONE MAN WHO RUINED IT ALL.
With ruthless determination, Alex Diaz has risen up from his deprived roots to become the head of a global media empire. But he has one last thing to achieve…avenge his friend by destroying the man responsible for her death, Jason Treffen. With stunning talk-show host Chelsea Maxwell about to interview Treffen live on TV, this is Alex’s chance.
He’ll use her show to exact a very public revenge—and seducing Chelsea, if needed, would certainly be no hardship. But he underestimates Chelsea and the attraction between them, and as their relationship deepens, Alex realizes that to annihilate Treffen could also shatter the life that Chelsea has built to protect herself….
REVIEW: EXPOSE ME is the third and final instalment in the Fifth Avenue contemporary, erotic trilogy. Each of the three instalments has been written by a different author focusing on a new couple whose connection to the storyline is personal and heartbreaking. Expose Me is Alex Diaz and Chelsea Maxwell’s story- written by Kate Hewitt.
As our trio of friends-Austin Treffen, Hunter Grant and Alex Diaz make the final preparations to destroy billionaire lawyer and philanthropist Justin Treffen, Alex goes in search of the perfect person to complete the final stage of Jason’s personal and public demise.
Chelsea Maxwell is a popular daytime TV talk show host whose reputation for getting her interviewees to talk will place her on the direct path to bring all of the players together. Alex Diaz knows that Chelsea is the only person who has the ability to bring Jason to his knees but in doing so Alex will lose his heart to a woman whose past is secreted away behind physical and emotional scars. If Chelsea agrees to play along, she knows Jason Treffen will ruin her career and expose the truth about her own past.
AVENGE ME (Book 1) saw Austin Treffen (Jason’s son) and Katy Michaels begin the take down of a man whose family had to come to the realization that the man they called husband and father had lied to them his entire life.
SCANDALIZE ME (Book 2) brought together PR consultant Zoe Brook-a survivor of Jason’s sordid life; and Hunter Grant –a man whose connections to Jason’s past have destroyed his own life and his career. We watch as Hunter’s world is shattered once again when Zoe reveals that she knows they whys and what fors as it pertains to Hunter’s self-sabotage and how she wants to be play a role in the destruction of Jason Treffen.
EXPOSE ME is the culmination of three connecting storylines where each instalment will see the slow destruction of a once powerful and sadistic man. Jason Treffen is a man who has ruined countless lives; shattered many dreams; and stands poised to have his well ordered life crumble and fall. Chelsea Maxwell will take Jason to the mat but in doing so will destroy her own career in the process.
The Fifth Avenue Trilogy is a series that looks at the destructive nature of too much power and too much control; the shattered lives of everyone it has touched; and how three men found love with women who had been touched by the control and abuse.
Again, my only complaint is the slow build up of each of the storylines. The premise focused on the growing relationships between each of our couples and the destruction of Jason Treffen took a back seat until the final chapters of each instalment.
There is a wealth of information not imparted to the reader-Jason Treffen’s sins and illegal activities were revealed on a need to know basis only and focused on the devastated life of Sarah Michaels. Each of our heroines is a strong, independent and broken woman while our heroes have suffered silently for a decade with the knowledge that they were unable to save someone they loved then lost.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
www.thereadingcafe.com
September 6, 2018
3.5 stars rated up - Loved the entire trilogy but the ending for this trilogy was quite spectacular. The first few chapters didn't hook me. But the reason I continued reading was because the trilogy had hooked me. But then the whole book picked up pace and the chemistry and the characterization of h and H was revealed. Then I realized there was a reason for the first few chapters being so stilted. If they hadn't been repressed caricatures of themselves how could they evolve into it as they did. They had been selfish and blind to any need but their own need to survive and their emotional distrust. Loved the way the h/H come together and most importantly loved the final showdown on the chat show. I wish there could have been an epilogue though. It seriously left me wanting to more about these couples.
June 29, 2025
Un applauso a Kate, che è una spanna sopra alle colleghe della trilogia. L’inizio del romanzo mi ha intrigato fino al punto da concluderlo. È stato un piacevole ribaltamento dei ruoli. Poi tutto è proseguito alla vaniglia come sempre, anche se l’ho terminato, quindi che sia un testo malvagio non direi.
February 21, 2018
Pretty good! I loved this couple
May 26, 2020
Ir turtuoliai verkia.. Na kulminacija puiki. Trečioji knyga nenuvylė. Gan žiauri, bet viskas labai labai gražiai išaiškėjo. Rekomenduočiau
December 17, 2023
This trilogy was so good. but it still needs finality.
July 4, 2014
My favorite in the series. It was much darker than the other two previous books in the series. I really like how the author developed the heroine's character in this one--she was much more fascinating than the hero. Full review to come.
Full Review (originally posted on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks):
Like I said in my review of Avenge Me (book 1) and my review of Scandalize Me (book 2), I really like the concept of the Fifth Avenue series: three friends come together to bring about the downfall of Jason Treffen, a wealthy, successful New York City lawyer and well-known women's advocate. But beneath his glittering public image lies a manipulative, evil man who runs a prostitution ring by blackmailing young women under his employ and was responsible for the suicide of their friend Sarah Michaels. Each book will be written by a different author, which kind of adds a unique spin on the series, and I'm curious to see how the continuity of the books will work out.
In Expose Me it was Alex Diaz's turn to bring down Jason Treffen. Alex felt a special kinship to Sarah because they both grew up poor and, like Austin and Hunter in the previous books, Alex felt tremendous guilt over Sarah's suicide because he failed to see the signs that she was in trouble before she jumped to her death. Alex's revenge was to expose Treffen's evil to the world via national television. Treffen was set to appear on popular talk show host Chelsea Maxwell's show for an interview and Alex planned to use Chelsea to achieve the final step to bring Treffen down. But Chelsea did not make it easy for Alex.
Like everyone else, Chelsea thought very highly of Treffen and the interview with him could propel Chelsea's career to the next level. She was not willing to jeopardize the career she had worked so hard for and just take Alex at his word without solid proof. But Alex was not sure he could trust Chelsea despite the growing spark between them.
Both Alex and Chelsea had dark secrets, but we've kinda of seen Alex's character before in the previous heroes in the series. His guilt, his feeling that he failed Sarah was nothing new. The character that really stuck out for me in Expose Me was Chelsea. She was a fascinating character to get to know. She had a lot of secrets, issues to work through and was very broken beneath her facade of a glamorous talk show host known for getting celebrities to spill their guts and literally break down on her pink couch.
If I had to pick a favorite book in this series as a whole, it'd be Scandalize Me but if I had to pick a favorite character it'd be Chelsea Maxwell. As we learned about her past and what she did and what she went through to get to where she was--there were parts where I cringed. I don't want to reveal too much about Chelsea because it may spoil the book for you but I really like how the author developed Chelsea's character and how she grew in the novel. The development of Chelsea and Alex's relationship and the romance was still a big part of course, with the revenge a running vein in their conversation. But unlike the previous novels, I felt like Chelsea's character growth took precedence over the romance in this one and I really liked that.
However, while Chelsea and Alex's romance was not as intense Zoe and Hunter's there was a lot chemistry between them. Their happily ever after did not happen overnight and they needed each other to bring them out of their past and find absolution. It was all so very, very good and, surprisingly, dark at times--something I did not expect to find in a Harlequin Presents novel.
Like in the previous books, the whole revenge thing was a running conversation between the characters but we don't really get to see them act on it until the last twenty or so pages. We didn't really see Jason Treffen's true ruin--it was more like the revenge seed germinated and, with the events in Expose Me, pushed out the soil but we don't see it sprout leaves and grow tall. I know I mentioned in my previous reviews that I'd like to actually see Treffen's actual downfall with the public shunning him and him rotting in jail but didn't really mind at this point. It was easy to imagine all of that happening after Expose Me, with Treffen's entire life falling like dominoes.
Looking at the series as a whole, I think the first book was the weakest of the three because I couldn't really connect with Austin and Katy's characters and they lacked chemistry but once you get past the first book it's all good. This series surprised me in a very good way, especially with Scandalize Me and Expose Me, because when I saw the covers I was expecting fluffy, easy breezy reads but instead I got meaty stories with interesting, well-developed characters and romance. I highly recommend this series.
Full Review (originally posted on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks):
Like I said in my review of Avenge Me (book 1) and my review of Scandalize Me (book 2), I really like the concept of the Fifth Avenue series: three friends come together to bring about the downfall of Jason Treffen, a wealthy, successful New York City lawyer and well-known women's advocate. But beneath his glittering public image lies a manipulative, evil man who runs a prostitution ring by blackmailing young women under his employ and was responsible for the suicide of their friend Sarah Michaels. Each book will be written by a different author, which kind of adds a unique spin on the series, and I'm curious to see how the continuity of the books will work out.
In Expose Me it was Alex Diaz's turn to bring down Jason Treffen. Alex felt a special kinship to Sarah because they both grew up poor and, like Austin and Hunter in the previous books, Alex felt tremendous guilt over Sarah's suicide because he failed to see the signs that she was in trouble before she jumped to her death. Alex's revenge was to expose Treffen's evil to the world via national television. Treffen was set to appear on popular talk show host Chelsea Maxwell's show for an interview and Alex planned to use Chelsea to achieve the final step to bring Treffen down. But Chelsea did not make it easy for Alex.
Like everyone else, Chelsea thought very highly of Treffen and the interview with him could propel Chelsea's career to the next level. She was not willing to jeopardize the career she had worked so hard for and just take Alex at his word without solid proof. But Alex was not sure he could trust Chelsea despite the growing spark between them.
Both Alex and Chelsea had dark secrets, but we've kinda of seen Alex's character before in the previous heroes in the series. His guilt, his feeling that he failed Sarah was nothing new. The character that really stuck out for me in Expose Me was Chelsea. She was a fascinating character to get to know. She had a lot of secrets, issues to work through and was very broken beneath her facade of a glamorous talk show host known for getting celebrities to spill their guts and literally break down on her pink couch.
If I had to pick a favorite book in this series as a whole, it'd be Scandalize Me but if I had to pick a favorite character it'd be Chelsea Maxwell. As we learned about her past and what she did and what she went through to get to where she was--there were parts where I cringed. I don't want to reveal too much about Chelsea because it may spoil the book for you but I really like how the author developed Chelsea's character and how she grew in the novel. The development of Chelsea and Alex's relationship and the romance was still a big part of course, with the revenge a running vein in their conversation. But unlike the previous novels, I felt like Chelsea's character growth took precedence over the romance in this one and I really liked that.
However, while Chelsea and Alex's romance was not as intense Zoe and Hunter's there was a lot chemistry between them. Their happily ever after did not happen overnight and they needed each other to bring them out of their past and find absolution. It was all so very, very good and, surprisingly, dark at times--something I did not expect to find in a Harlequin Presents novel.
Like in the previous books, the whole revenge thing was a running conversation between the characters but we don't really get to see them act on it until the last twenty or so pages. We didn't really see Jason Treffen's true ruin--it was more like the revenge seed germinated and, with the events in Expose Me, pushed out the soil but we don't see it sprout leaves and grow tall. I know I mentioned in my previous reviews that I'd like to actually see Treffen's actual downfall with the public shunning him and him rotting in jail but didn't really mind at this point. It was easy to imagine all of that happening after Expose Me, with Treffen's entire life falling like dominoes.
Looking at the series as a whole, I think the first book was the weakest of the three because I couldn't really connect with Austin and Katy's characters and they lacked chemistry but once you get past the first book it's all good. This series surprised me in a very good way, especially with Scandalize Me and Expose Me, because when I saw the covers I was expecting fluffy, easy breezy reads but instead I got meaty stories with interesting, well-developed characters and romance. I highly recommend this series.
March 11, 2015
Originally Reviewed on The Bewitching Bibliophile
So I went to the bookstore and they said it wasn't due out until July 29th and I almost cried, but I understood. I went home and just hung my head for like three days, then went back and it was out and I freaked, snatched the book ran to the register and went home, I finished it that same night. (funny aside as soon as I finished reading it, I get an email from NetGalley saying Harlequin approved me for the title, well played Harlequin well played). Now onto the review..
This story is just as emotional as the others. Even more so, because they hide so much from themselves and from each other. In this one both of the characters are so deeply wounded and damaged it makes them guarded and afraid to meet someone without outing up barriers. Alex's suspicions about his past really make him very guarded and I can totally understand why, that's gotta hurt.
Alec is blown away by Chelsea when he realizes that the rumors don't do her justice nor do they disclose the clever and sharp mind hiding beneath the beautiful and cool smile.m Chelsea is a complex and wounded character who at first appears one way but as the story unfolds we learn more about her hidden depths, her fears, and her reasons for having her walls. Her past is brutal but she rose above the fray and excelled in a way no one thought she would.
As we learn more and are introduced to more characters I wanted to learn more about them, and their journeys that brought them here. Her sister appears to be a complex and nuanced character that I wish we had gotten more of because she also helped to make Chelsea who she was. I wanted to know who she had become, where she had been and what put the ghosts in her eyes. Zair was mentioned in all three books and now I want more from him.
As the book progressed I laughed, teared up a bit, got furious with things that were happening and wanted so much more. On page 209 I laughed because Kate's Britishness peaked through when she called the bandages "sticking plaster" Then of course when Chelsea meets Alex's mom and she cuts right to the heart of the situation I was floored, Holy Crap, I love her!!
I love that they are both in unknown teritory and that's it's not just the girl wanting this to work that the are both vested and emotional. I loved how they learnt to both trust and use each other, that the plan hinged on Chelsea being willing to accept the truth, that she be willing to not just stand up for self but also for a young woman too wounded to fight anymore. I loved watching the unfurling of Chelsea as a woman, and as a survivor, instead of hiding she embraced herself once again and lived!!!
The book is extremely well written, especially because it didn't give a perfect happy ending. There is still more to be done, But it gave us the full story we had been working towards. Those last few moments as they worked towards that justice were pretty freaking tense, I was speed reading trying to get to the end so I could see how it went down and it was epic!! Man I really felt like I was there in the room when it happened. Ain't no spinning this story now jackass (yes I'm talking to the villain). I loved that even though it appeared like it was the men who were bringing the revenge that each story hinged on the courage of the women they met and their decision to seek justice, to stand up, and to speak for all the women who couldn't.
The saddest part about these books of course is knowing that there are women in these situations. That they are actually women who are living with this horror daily. They don't have someone like Chelsea/Alex or Katy/Austin or Zoe/Hunter to avenge them and that's the worse part.
★★★★★
While I would have loved an epilogue, I get that there wouldn't have been a way to end it that would satisfy everyone. In reality these things sometimes take years especially if the villain has money to hide behind. But I can imagine the justice I want and that's an even better ending!! I highly recommend the series. Have you read them?? What do you think of the subject matter? I must say I'm happy that romance novels are finally talking about more than just them meeting and falling in love, even though I love those kinds of stories too. Leave it in the comments!!
So I went to the bookstore and they said it wasn't due out until July 29th and I almost cried, but I understood. I went home and just hung my head for like three days, then went back and it was out and I freaked, snatched the book ran to the register and went home, I finished it that same night. (funny aside as soon as I finished reading it, I get an email from NetGalley saying Harlequin approved me for the title, well played Harlequin well played). Now onto the review..
This story is just as emotional as the others. Even more so, because they hide so much from themselves and from each other. In this one both of the characters are so deeply wounded and damaged it makes them guarded and afraid to meet someone without outing up barriers. Alex's suspicions about his past really make him very guarded and I can totally understand why, that's gotta hurt.
Alec is blown away by Chelsea when he realizes that the rumors don't do her justice nor do they disclose the clever and sharp mind hiding beneath the beautiful and cool smile.m Chelsea is a complex and wounded character who at first appears one way but as the story unfolds we learn more about her hidden depths, her fears, and her reasons for having her walls. Her past is brutal but she rose above the fray and excelled in a way no one thought she would.
As we learn more and are introduced to more characters I wanted to learn more about them, and their journeys that brought them here. Her sister appears to be a complex and nuanced character that I wish we had gotten more of because she also helped to make Chelsea who she was. I wanted to know who she had become, where she had been and what put the ghosts in her eyes. Zair was mentioned in all three books and now I want more from him.
As the book progressed I laughed, teared up a bit, got furious with things that were happening and wanted so much more. On page 209 I laughed because Kate's Britishness peaked through when she called the bandages "sticking plaster" Then of course when Chelsea meets Alex's mom and she cuts right to the heart of the situation I was floored, Holy Crap, I love her!!
I love that they are both in unknown teritory and that's it's not just the girl wanting this to work that the are both vested and emotional. I loved how they learnt to both trust and use each other, that the plan hinged on Chelsea being willing to accept the truth, that she be willing to not just stand up for self but also for a young woman too wounded to fight anymore. I loved watching the unfurling of Chelsea as a woman, and as a survivor, instead of hiding she embraced herself once again and lived!!!
The book is extremely well written, especially because it didn't give a perfect happy ending. There is still more to be done, But it gave us the full story we had been working towards. Those last few moments as they worked towards that justice were pretty freaking tense, I was speed reading trying to get to the end so I could see how it went down and it was epic!! Man I really felt like I was there in the room when it happened. Ain't no spinning this story now jackass (yes I'm talking to the villain). I loved that even though it appeared like it was the men who were bringing the revenge that each story hinged on the courage of the women they met and their decision to seek justice, to stand up, and to speak for all the women who couldn't.
The saddest part about these books of course is knowing that there are women in these situations. That they are actually women who are living with this horror daily. They don't have someone like Chelsea/Alex or Katy/Austin or Zoe/Hunter to avenge them and that's the worse part.
★★★★★
While I would have loved an epilogue, I get that there wouldn't have been a way to end it that would satisfy everyone. In reality these things sometimes take years especially if the villain has money to hide behind. But I can imagine the justice I want and that's an even better ending!! I highly recommend the series. Have you read them?? What do you think of the subject matter? I must say I'm happy that romance novels are finally talking about more than just them meeting and falling in love, even though I love those kinds of stories too. Leave it in the comments!!
October 17, 2014
I've decided to do this review as a full series review because the individual books did not give me so much problems as the series as a whole.
My biggest problem with the trilogy (but not really a trilogy is it, because there are 4 books to the whole story) is that it was SO anti-climatic by the end, I was almost sorry I spent the better part of a week invested in it. These books have an underlining theme ... to avenge the death of their friend. And each individual book, the hero takes a part in this 'take-down'. But when you finish with book four, you don't get to LIVE any of what happens to the man responsible for their friend's death. You have to assume that he is 'destroyed' and I have a very hard time with that. Why you ask....because this man is a gazillionare with connections so powerful that even I had trouble believing he would really pay for Sarah's (friend in question) death! As a matter a fact, the next to last paragraph on the Expose Me (book #4) actually states "They were both talking about Treffen and what would happen next ...." (Treffen being the psycho gazillionare responsible for Sarah's death) and i'm all like .... WAIT WAIT WAIT, I don't get to know? Are you kidding me?!?!
The other problem I had with the series as a whole was that Sydney and Travis (from Take Me) were dropped from the stories as soon as their short story ended. Sydney was Sarah's best friend and Travis was the one that got 'the letter' first with the suspicions and accusations about Treffen. Yet not one single appearance by them in any of the 'trilogy'. That was odd to me.
Now on to what was good :)
Take Me (book .5): very good set up for the 'suspense' of the trilogy. it was short, yes, but because sydney and travis had been friends since childhood, there really was no need for relationship development. the story was perfect as it was.
Avenge Me (book 1): Austin (Treffen's son and good friend of Sarah's) is our hero and Katy (Sarah's sister) is our heroine. Neither knows about the who the other is and when they meet, the chemistry is explosive. Austin has been estranged from his father for the last 10 years (since Sarah's death) not because he knew of his father's involvement, but more because he had suspicions and it made him sick. Katy (after a long struggle to get her life in order), has been trying to get dirt on Treffen for a while. After the two meet and put their suspicions together, Austin decides his role in the take down of his father will be to help his mother divorce his father and take him for all he's got. That is the gist of book one. But there is a whole lot of story in between that I am obviously not sharing because them why buy the book, right?! :)
Scandalize Me (book 2): Hunter (Sarah's ex boyfriend and good friend) is our hero and Zoe (another of Treffen's victims) is our heroine. Zoe is a PR agent and Hunter is a washed out ex-football player and gazillionare himself. Zoe seeks out Hunter as a client because she knows of his past relationship with Sarah and wants to use him to take down Treffen. Little do they BOTH know that they have that common goal even before they meet. And so as they build their very explosive relationship (scorching hot) they plot together...Aaaaand that's enough detail from me lol If you want more, read the book....it's worth it!
Expose Me (book 3): Alex (Sarah's good friend and head of a global media empire) is our hero and Chelsea (famous talk-show host) is our heroine. Chelsea host a very popular daytime TV talk-show and has Treffen on her schedule to be interviewed live on her show. When Alex's finds out, he seeks her out in order to convince her to use her interview as the last nail in Treffen's coffin and out him on live television. These two have even more explosive chemistry than any other couple in this series! Good Lord, I was glued to every page! Chelsea's back story was SO heart-wrenching and poor Alex's reactions were just so typical for a man, you just can't help but feel sorry for him! This was by far my favorite book of the trilogy, with Scandalize Me coming a very close second!
Even tho I had a HUGE problem with how the take-down of Jason Treffen ended, all these books rate very high in their individual romantic stories!
My biggest problem with the trilogy (but not really a trilogy is it, because there are 4 books to the whole story) is that it was SO anti-climatic by the end, I was almost sorry I spent the better part of a week invested in it. These books have an underlining theme ... to avenge the death of their friend. And each individual book, the hero takes a part in this 'take-down'. But when you finish with book four, you don't get to LIVE any of what happens to the man responsible for their friend's death. You have to assume that he is 'destroyed' and I have a very hard time with that. Why you ask....because this man is a gazillionare with connections so powerful that even I had trouble believing he would really pay for Sarah's (friend in question) death! As a matter a fact, the next to last paragraph on the Expose Me (book #4) actually states "They were both talking about Treffen and what would happen next ...." (Treffen being the psycho gazillionare responsible for Sarah's death) and i'm all like .... WAIT WAIT WAIT, I don't get to know? Are you kidding me?!?!
The other problem I had with the series as a whole was that Sydney and Travis (from Take Me) were dropped from the stories as soon as their short story ended. Sydney was Sarah's best friend and Travis was the one that got 'the letter' first with the suspicions and accusations about Treffen. Yet not one single appearance by them in any of the 'trilogy'. That was odd to me.
Now on to what was good :)
Take Me (book .5): very good set up for the 'suspense' of the trilogy. it was short, yes, but because sydney and travis had been friends since childhood, there really was no need for relationship development. the story was perfect as it was.
Avenge Me (book 1): Austin (Treffen's son and good friend of Sarah's) is our hero and Katy (Sarah's sister) is our heroine. Neither knows about the who the other is and when they meet, the chemistry is explosive. Austin has been estranged from his father for the last 10 years (since Sarah's death) not because he knew of his father's involvement, but more because he had suspicions and it made him sick. Katy (after a long struggle to get her life in order), has been trying to get dirt on Treffen for a while. After the two meet and put their suspicions together, Austin decides his role in the take down of his father will be to help his mother divorce his father and take him for all he's got. That is the gist of book one. But there is a whole lot of story in between that I am obviously not sharing because them why buy the book, right?! :)
Scandalize Me (book 2): Hunter (Sarah's ex boyfriend and good friend) is our hero and Zoe (another of Treffen's victims) is our heroine. Zoe is a PR agent and Hunter is a washed out ex-football player and gazillionare himself. Zoe seeks out Hunter as a client because she knows of his past relationship with Sarah and wants to use him to take down Treffen. Little do they BOTH know that they have that common goal even before they meet. And so as they build their very explosive relationship (scorching hot) they plot together...Aaaaand that's enough detail from me lol If you want more, read the book....it's worth it!
Expose Me (book 3): Alex (Sarah's good friend and head of a global media empire) is our hero and Chelsea (famous talk-show host) is our heroine. Chelsea host a very popular daytime TV talk-show and has Treffen on her schedule to be interviewed live on her show. When Alex's finds out, he seeks her out in order to convince her to use her interview as the last nail in Treffen's coffin and out him on live television. These two have even more explosive chemistry than any other couple in this series! Good Lord, I was glued to every page! Chelsea's back story was SO heart-wrenching and poor Alex's reactions were just so typical for a man, you just can't help but feel sorry for him! This was by far my favorite book of the trilogy, with Scandalize Me coming a very close second!
Even tho I had a HUGE problem with how the take-down of Jason Treffen ended, all these books rate very high in their individual romantic stories!
July 30, 2014
Hold on to your hats ladies the third and final part of the brilliant beyond words Fifth Avenue series is here and it's a humdinger!
This time we meet Alex Diaz, ruthlessly determined on each and ever level of life. He has risen up from his deprived roots to become the head of a global medial empire. He has one last piece to achieve , he needs to avenge his friend by destroying the man responsible for her death and it 's no one other than our bad guy from the previous two books Mr I destroy lives Jason Treffen.
And he has the perfect plan to bring Jason down, talk show host Chelsea Maxwell is about to interview Jason on life TV! He''s use the chance to extract a very public revenge and seducing Chelsea , if it 's needed, would be no hardship, the woman is after all sending his hormones into orbit like no other before.
But Alex soon learns that he has underestimated the attraction between them, and as their relationship deepens Alex starts to realize that to annihilate Jason could also shatter the life Chelsea has worked so hard to build in order to protect herself. Will Alex choose revenge over the woman he's come to love or will he stand by and watch he life crumble when Jason meets his end?
I am huge, huge HUGE Kate Hewitt fan and I have always loved her books, so of course I was totally over the moon when I first heard about this series and saw that her name was under the authors contributing.
She has a unique special way of taking two characters and bringing them to life so vidvly it completley blows me away each and every time, and afterwards I have to find a way to come back down to earth.
In this the final part of the Fifth Avenue series she did so once again and unlike the first two books in this series , which I will tell you were both brilliant, Kate Hewitt brought me to tears. I felt sad for some of the other characters in the impervious two books but with the character of Alex and Chelsea I was so sad about their past I bawled my eyes out, which is always a sign that a book is super awesome!
Alex is just like Hunter and Austin from book one and two , wants revenge but unlike Austin and Hunter's who's part in the revenge against Jason Treffen went more smoothly, Alex has it so much harder and because his past was a terrible one it makes him the hero from this series I most wanted to just hold and tell him it will all be okay.
Chelsea was also a character that had me wanting to say " Hang on girlfriend, let me try to help you" because once you know her secrets you will understand that even if you had never met this woman you would want to help her within only a few minutes of knowing her past. And I will add the author had me on a rollercoaster of emotions because our darling heroine keeps her secrets to herself right up till almost the very end.
The ending of this book was WOW just WOW! It slotted in perfectly with the previous two books with such perfection it had me gasping for air. The sexual heat level was a little less than that of the previous two books but this was not a bad thing at all, Alex and Chelsea 's level of attraction is in a whole other realm , almost softer and more about understanding each other.
I would have expected Alex to be more aggressive than Hunter and more of a erotic master than Austin because his life has been so much harder yet Kate Hewitt created a harsh sounding man with depths of softness I did not see coming, and it could not have been more perfect!
I highly recommend this book for everyone who as myself is simply addicted to Kate Hewitt's books. She has once again shown just why she is one of the world's best selling authors.
An added note, the book is not to be read before you have read the first two, not because the story of Alex and Chelsea is not remarkable as a stand alone on it's own for it truly is, but if you really want to understand the entire mystery and secrets that bring these people together to fight for justice then do so from the very start, you'll thank me for it!
5/5 star review
" Exposing the truth get's more complicated then ever before"
This time we meet Alex Diaz, ruthlessly determined on each and ever level of life. He has risen up from his deprived roots to become the head of a global medial empire. He has one last piece to achieve , he needs to avenge his friend by destroying the man responsible for her death and it 's no one other than our bad guy from the previous two books Mr I destroy lives Jason Treffen.
And he has the perfect plan to bring Jason down, talk show host Chelsea Maxwell is about to interview Jason on life TV! He''s use the chance to extract a very public revenge and seducing Chelsea , if it 's needed, would be no hardship, the woman is after all sending his hormones into orbit like no other before.
But Alex soon learns that he has underestimated the attraction between them, and as their relationship deepens Alex starts to realize that to annihilate Jason could also shatter the life Chelsea has worked so hard to build in order to protect herself. Will Alex choose revenge over the woman he's come to love or will he stand by and watch he life crumble when Jason meets his end?
I am huge, huge HUGE Kate Hewitt fan and I have always loved her books, so of course I was totally over the moon when I first heard about this series and saw that her name was under the authors contributing.
She has a unique special way of taking two characters and bringing them to life so vidvly it completley blows me away each and every time, and afterwards I have to find a way to come back down to earth.
In this the final part of the Fifth Avenue series she did so once again and unlike the first two books in this series , which I will tell you were both brilliant, Kate Hewitt brought me to tears. I felt sad for some of the other characters in the impervious two books but with the character of Alex and Chelsea I was so sad about their past I bawled my eyes out, which is always a sign that a book is super awesome!
Alex is just like Hunter and Austin from book one and two , wants revenge but unlike Austin and Hunter's who's part in the revenge against Jason Treffen went more smoothly, Alex has it so much harder and because his past was a terrible one it makes him the hero from this series I most wanted to just hold and tell him it will all be okay.
Chelsea was also a character that had me wanting to say " Hang on girlfriend, let me try to help you" because once you know her secrets you will understand that even if you had never met this woman you would want to help her within only a few minutes of knowing her past. And I will add the author had me on a rollercoaster of emotions because our darling heroine keeps her secrets to herself right up till almost the very end.
The ending of this book was WOW just WOW! It slotted in perfectly with the previous two books with such perfection it had me gasping for air. The sexual heat level was a little less than that of the previous two books but this was not a bad thing at all, Alex and Chelsea 's level of attraction is in a whole other realm , almost softer and more about understanding each other.
I would have expected Alex to be more aggressive than Hunter and more of a erotic master than Austin because his life has been so much harder yet Kate Hewitt created a harsh sounding man with depths of softness I did not see coming, and it could not have been more perfect!
I highly recommend this book for everyone who as myself is simply addicted to Kate Hewitt's books. She has once again shown just why she is one of the world's best selling authors.
An added note, the book is not to be read before you have read the first two, not because the story of Alex and Chelsea is not remarkable as a stand alone on it's own for it truly is, but if you really want to understand the entire mystery and secrets that bring these people together to fight for justice then do so from the very start, you'll thank me for it!
5/5 star review
" Exposing the truth get's more complicated then ever before"
August 25, 2016
This is a review of all 3 books in the series - I don't think there are spoilers but be forewarned...
PJV Quickie: The Fifth Avenue Trilogy is an interesting concept in storytelling: 3 books, 3 authors, 1 story arc spanning the length of the 3 books. I liked how each book had a different "feel" to it, not just a different couple as main characters.
Review: This trilogy is the story of 3 friends, Austin, Hunter, and Alex, who want to avenge the death of their good friend, Sarah, who committed suicide 10 years ago. Each book is told from the POV of one of the men, and they are told in a (mostly) continuous timeline, with each main character accomplishing one part of the plot to bring down the man responsible for Sarah's suicide.
I had a hard time getting into the first book, Avenge Me, mostly because I didn't feel like the main characters, Austin and Katy, had any chemistry. I don't know if this is because Ms. Yates had the burden of setting up the back-story, or if I just truly didn't like the characters. I felt like some of Austin's actions were almost the same as his father's actions, arranging things so that she had no choice but to move in with him; it didn't sit well with me and I don't think the end justified the means. I will say that Ms. Yates set up Austin's father, Jason, as a truly skeevy, detestable villain.
The second book, Scandalize Me, I think is my favorite of the three books. Hunter is an ex-football star who used to date Sarah and feels responsible for not seeing what was happening to her before she killed herself. Zoe was one of Jason's victims, but she was able to buy her freedom, such as it is. She's planning revenge and Hunter is part of her plan. I really liked Zoe and Hunter; they were both so broken from the events in their past and their growth together was sad at times but also hopeful. By the time I got to the end I was waiting almost gleefully for Jason Treffen's comeuppance.
Expose Me, the last book in the trilogy, provided a solid ending to the story. I liked Alex and Chelsea: their romance was not pretty - it was fearful and hesitant but ultimately, strong enough to overcome all the obstacles they each had put in place to avoid being hurt. I knew how things were going to play out with Chelsea and Jason Treffen, but it was so satisfying to read it happen. My only complaint is that there wasn't an epilogue to tell us what happened long-term.
Ultimately, even though it got off to a slow start for me, I thought the Fifth Avenue Trilogy was an engaging read and I'm hoping Harlequin will do another series using this 3-book/3-author set up.
Recommendations: Each couple in this series is so different, I think the series will appear to many readers. They do all have this in common though: if you like your heroes alpha, your heroines tough, and a romance-focused story, I'd recommend picking these up.
PJV Quickie: The Fifth Avenue Trilogy is an interesting concept in storytelling: 3 books, 3 authors, 1 story arc spanning the length of the 3 books. I liked how each book had a different "feel" to it, not just a different couple as main characters.
Review: This trilogy is the story of 3 friends, Austin, Hunter, and Alex, who want to avenge the death of their good friend, Sarah, who committed suicide 10 years ago. Each book is told from the POV of one of the men, and they are told in a (mostly) continuous timeline, with each main character accomplishing one part of the plot to bring down the man responsible for Sarah's suicide.
I had a hard time getting into the first book, Avenge Me, mostly because I didn't feel like the main characters, Austin and Katy, had any chemistry. I don't know if this is because Ms. Yates had the burden of setting up the back-story, or if I just truly didn't like the characters. I felt like some of Austin's actions were almost the same as his father's actions, arranging things so that she had no choice but to move in with him; it didn't sit well with me and I don't think the end justified the means. I will say that Ms. Yates set up Austin's father, Jason, as a truly skeevy, detestable villain.
The second book, Scandalize Me, I think is my favorite of the three books. Hunter is an ex-football star who used to date Sarah and feels responsible for not seeing what was happening to her before she killed herself. Zoe was one of Jason's victims, but she was able to buy her freedom, such as it is. She's planning revenge and Hunter is part of her plan. I really liked Zoe and Hunter; they were both so broken from the events in their past and their growth together was sad at times but also hopeful. By the time I got to the end I was waiting almost gleefully for Jason Treffen's comeuppance.
Expose Me, the last book in the trilogy, provided a solid ending to the story. I liked Alex and Chelsea: their romance was not pretty - it was fearful and hesitant but ultimately, strong enough to overcome all the obstacles they each had put in place to avoid being hurt. I knew how things were going to play out with Chelsea and Jason Treffen, but it was so satisfying to read it happen. My only complaint is that there wasn't an epilogue to tell us what happened long-term.
Ultimately, even though it got off to a slow start for me, I thought the Fifth Avenue Trilogy was an engaging read and I'm hoping Harlequin will do another series using this 3-book/3-author set up.
Recommendations: Each couple in this series is so different, I think the series will appear to many readers. They do all have this in common though: if you like your heroes alpha, your heroines tough, and a romance-focused story, I'd recommend picking these up.
July 24, 2014
Originally reviewed for Tea and Book.
In the exciting confusion of the Fifth Avenue Trilogy, all three men have found their footing and have begun revenge. Finally, justice will be served. In book three the final steps are left to Alex Diaz, the third friend. While Austin (book 1, Avenge Me) was the son who was betrayed by an evil father and Katy was the sister of the women destroyed 10 years ago and Hunter (book 2, Scandalize Me) the lost and lonely former boyfriend and Caitlin a fellow woman betrayed. Have all done their parts, now it's time for Alex to step up. He wasn't the deserted boyfriend or the betrayed heir. Nope in some ways it was worse, he was the true friend and yet he too missed Sarah's anguish.
Chelsea Maxwell has left her past behind and become a talk show host. A brilliant mind and a stunning body Chelsea lets others think she has slept her way to the top but in reality, she worked hard and when feeling lost, alone or afraid, she worked harder. Refusing to believe that actions taken while still in her teens had any way of defining her. But Chelsea's choices leave her alone more often than note. And when Alex Diaz, a news mogul himself, contacts her she has her suspicions as to why... and wonders just what she might be willing to do to keep him.
Alex Diaz lost a lot that night that Sarah hurdled to her death. He lost his three best friends. While Sarah was lost to him for good he has finally reconnected with Hunter and Austin with the desire to bring down Austin's father once and for all. All he needs to do is find a way to be part of the live interview that has been scheduled, the one that showcases his many charitable contributions and ascendance to sainthood, Entertainment style. He had no problem tempting Chelsea on to their side using whatever bait he could. What he never saw coming was his instant and deep attraction to her.
Expose me runs parallel with Scandalize me and often gets confusing because Alex isn't sure what is going on with Hunter and his plans. While we all do. Other than that, it's an exciting conclusion to the Fifth Avenue Trilogy.
Chelsea is not really part of the inner circle and yet adds depth to the desire to right the wrongs that have been going on over the past decade. She stands firm to her employment integrity and doesn't just drink the Koolaide.. which makes her a formidable presence. She isn't a vulnerable character but she can be vulnerable with Alex and finding a balance between the two takes work. Kate Hewitt does an excellent job making this book more than just the ending to a trilogy.
I definitely don't suggest that this be read as a stand alone, the story needs the first two books.. but it is worth the time to read all three.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Expose Me, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on August 1, 2014
In the exciting confusion of the Fifth Avenue Trilogy, all three men have found their footing and have begun revenge. Finally, justice will be served. In book three the final steps are left to Alex Diaz, the third friend. While Austin (book 1, Avenge Me) was the son who was betrayed by an evil father and Katy was the sister of the women destroyed 10 years ago and Hunter (book 2, Scandalize Me) the lost and lonely former boyfriend and Caitlin a fellow woman betrayed. Have all done their parts, now it's time for Alex to step up. He wasn't the deserted boyfriend or the betrayed heir. Nope in some ways it was worse, he was the true friend and yet he too missed Sarah's anguish.
Chelsea Maxwell has left her past behind and become a talk show host. A brilliant mind and a stunning body Chelsea lets others think she has slept her way to the top but in reality, she worked hard and when feeling lost, alone or afraid, she worked harder. Refusing to believe that actions taken while still in her teens had any way of defining her. But Chelsea's choices leave her alone more often than note. And when Alex Diaz, a news mogul himself, contacts her she has her suspicions as to why... and wonders just what she might be willing to do to keep him.
Alex Diaz lost a lot that night that Sarah hurdled to her death. He lost his three best friends. While Sarah was lost to him for good he has finally reconnected with Hunter and Austin with the desire to bring down Austin's father once and for all. All he needs to do is find a way to be part of the live interview that has been scheduled, the one that showcases his many charitable contributions and ascendance to sainthood, Entertainment style. He had no problem tempting Chelsea on to their side using whatever bait he could. What he never saw coming was his instant and deep attraction to her.
Expose me runs parallel with Scandalize me and often gets confusing because Alex isn't sure what is going on with Hunter and his plans. While we all do. Other than that, it's an exciting conclusion to the Fifth Avenue Trilogy.
Chelsea is not really part of the inner circle and yet adds depth to the desire to right the wrongs that have been going on over the past decade. She stands firm to her employment integrity and doesn't just drink the Koolaide.. which makes her a formidable presence. She isn't a vulnerable character but she can be vulnerable with Alex and finding a balance between the two takes work. Kate Hewitt does an excellent job making this book more than just the ending to a trilogy.
I definitely don't suggest that this be read as a stand alone, the story needs the first two books.. but it is worth the time to read all three.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Expose Me, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on August 1, 2014
July 25, 2014
Of the three books in the trilogy, I felt Expose Me was the weakest. In the beginning, the connection between Alex and Chelsea felt forced and not vibrating with the sexual tension I'd felt in the previous two books.
Individually, I liked Alex and Chelsea. Both used to being, and needing to be, in control. Both afraid of letting their masks crack and allowing their soft sides to show. They're from similar backgrounds, though how they chose to move past them couldn't be more different. Together, though, I had a hard time believing their connection was as deep and surprising as the words on the page said it was.
When it came to Alex's part in bringing down Treffen, I thought this was better played out than Hunter's in Scandalize Me. Chelsea's reluctance to take Alex's claims at face value rang true, and her need for evidence before she went around accusing Treffen of heinous things was spot on. If she's going to prove herself as a serious journalist, she can't afford to go off half-cocked.
The ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked. It was definitely more a happily for now than a happily ever after, and given the endings of the previous two books, I was disappointed.
Not quite as good as I'd hoped for, but an overall satisfying end to the trilogy.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for review.
Merged review:
Of the three books in the trilogy, I felt Expose Me was the weakest. In the beginning, the connection between Alex and Chelsea felt forced and not vibrating with the sexual tension I'd felt in the previous two books.
Individually, I liked Alex and Chelsea. Both used to being, and needing to be, in control. Both afraid of letting their masks crack and allowing their soft sides to show. They're from similar backgrounds, though how they chose to move past them couldn't be more different. Together, though, I had a hard time believing their connection was as deep and surprising as the words on the page said it was.
When it came to Alex's part in bringing down Treffen, I thought this was better played out than Hunter's in Scandalize Me. Chelsea's reluctance to take Alex's claims at face value rang true, and her need for evidence before she went around accusing Treffen of heinous things was spot on. If she's going to prove herself as a serious journalist, she can't afford to go off half-cocked.
The ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked. It was definitely more a happily for now than a happily ever after, and given the endings of the previous two books, I was disappointed.
Not quite as good as I'd hoped for, but an overall satisfying end to the trilogy.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for review.
Individually, I liked Alex and Chelsea. Both used to being, and needing to be, in control. Both afraid of letting their masks crack and allowing their soft sides to show. They're from similar backgrounds, though how they chose to move past them couldn't be more different. Together, though, I had a hard time believing their connection was as deep and surprising as the words on the page said it was.
When it came to Alex's part in bringing down Treffen, I thought this was better played out than Hunter's in Scandalize Me. Chelsea's reluctance to take Alex's claims at face value rang true, and her need for evidence before she went around accusing Treffen of heinous things was spot on. If she's going to prove herself as a serious journalist, she can't afford to go off half-cocked.
The ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked. It was definitely more a happily for now than a happily ever after, and given the endings of the previous two books, I was disappointed.
Not quite as good as I'd hoped for, but an overall satisfying end to the trilogy.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for review.
Merged review:
Of the three books in the trilogy, I felt Expose Me was the weakest. In the beginning, the connection between Alex and Chelsea felt forced and not vibrating with the sexual tension I'd felt in the previous two books.
Individually, I liked Alex and Chelsea. Both used to being, and needing to be, in control. Both afraid of letting their masks crack and allowing their soft sides to show. They're from similar backgrounds, though how they chose to move past them couldn't be more different. Together, though, I had a hard time believing their connection was as deep and surprising as the words on the page said it was.
When it came to Alex's part in bringing down Treffen, I thought this was better played out than Hunter's in Scandalize Me. Chelsea's reluctance to take Alex's claims at face value rang true, and her need for evidence before she went around accusing Treffen of heinous things was spot on. If she's going to prove herself as a serious journalist, she can't afford to go off half-cocked.
The ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked. It was definitely more a happily for now than a happily ever after, and given the endings of the previous two books, I was disappointed.
Not quite as good as I'd hoped for, but an overall satisfying end to the trilogy.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for review.
August 18, 2014
This is final installment in the Fifth Avenue, what an ending to a wonderful series. I have totally enjoy this series of bring down Jason Treffen. It seems they all have secrets that they do not want out even Chelsea but she is willing to let hers out if it means to bring down Jason and show the world who he really is.
To the world Jason is a man who takes women who wouldn’t have a chance in the world under his wing and gives them jobs. He is well known for his charities and helping not only abused women but low income women get ahead. The side he shows the world isn’t his true side, as you saw in the last book he has lost just about everything, his business, and his family. Most people would think that was enough but for Hunter, Austin and Alex it wasn’t enough, they want him to pay with his life for what he did to their friend Sarah. Sarah was pulled into Jason world of prostitution and blackmail, she couldn’t live with herself and what she had become. She saw no way out but to take her own life, which she did at one of Jason’s parties. She jumped of his office building and fell to her death, as time went on the three men couldn’t forgive themselves for not reaching out to her. They found out just want Jason really was, his own son turned against him and together they spent their years bring him down one stone at a time.
Chelsea is a talk show host, Alex knows she is doing a interview with Jason. He sees this as a means to finally break Jason in a way that he can never hurt another women. This show is live and will be shown to millions of people, there is no taking back once it is said and done. Alex must talk Chelsea into doing the show and bring Jason down. Chelsea has her own secrets that she has hidden, can Alex bring her not only the freedom to live again but put Jason in his place.
This was a wonderful story of Chelsea and Alex finding their way, while they bring down a blackmailer and break up a prostitution ring. It is also about Chelsea coming out and getting over a very hurtful past, letting people back into her life and world. Learning to trust and love again. For Alex is about finally forgiving himself for not being there for Sarah and letting love back in. It is a very touching story of lost, love, and learning to live again.
The author tells a very powerful story with a wonderful plot and story line. I would have loved to have seen Jason go to jail and see him get what he deserved. This series is a wonderful story of how friends bring down a very bad man and find true love along the way. They learn to forgive themselves for letting a very special down. If you haven’t read the Fifth Avenue Trilogy you should pick it up and give it a read, it is well worth the time and a really wonderful read.
To the world Jason is a man who takes women who wouldn’t have a chance in the world under his wing and gives them jobs. He is well known for his charities and helping not only abused women but low income women get ahead. The side he shows the world isn’t his true side, as you saw in the last book he has lost just about everything, his business, and his family. Most people would think that was enough but for Hunter, Austin and Alex it wasn’t enough, they want him to pay with his life for what he did to their friend Sarah. Sarah was pulled into Jason world of prostitution and blackmail, she couldn’t live with herself and what she had become. She saw no way out but to take her own life, which she did at one of Jason’s parties. She jumped of his office building and fell to her death, as time went on the three men couldn’t forgive themselves for not reaching out to her. They found out just want Jason really was, his own son turned against him and together they spent their years bring him down one stone at a time.
Chelsea is a talk show host, Alex knows she is doing a interview with Jason. He sees this as a means to finally break Jason in a way that he can never hurt another women. This show is live and will be shown to millions of people, there is no taking back once it is said and done. Alex must talk Chelsea into doing the show and bring Jason down. Chelsea has her own secrets that she has hidden, can Alex bring her not only the freedom to live again but put Jason in his place.
This was a wonderful story of Chelsea and Alex finding their way, while they bring down a blackmailer and break up a prostitution ring. It is also about Chelsea coming out and getting over a very hurtful past, letting people back into her life and world. Learning to trust and love again. For Alex is about finally forgiving himself for not being there for Sarah and letting love back in. It is a very touching story of lost, love, and learning to live again.
The author tells a very powerful story with a wonderful plot and story line. I would have loved to have seen Jason go to jail and see him get what he deserved. This series is a wonderful story of how friends bring down a very bad man and find true love along the way. They learn to forgive themselves for letting a very special down. If you haven’t read the Fifth Avenue Trilogy you should pick it up and give it a read, it is well worth the time and a really wonderful read.
June 20, 2014
My Thoughts:
In the final segment of the 5th Avenue Trilogy, Expose Me, we get Alex and Chelsea's story. Alex, a professional reporter, made a pact with his friends, Austin, and Hunter, that they would each do their part to bring down the corrupt Jason Treffan. Austin has seen his part of the plan through, Hunter has his part underway, and now it's time for Alex to see his part through. Alex was good friends with Sarah in college. He was the last person that she tried to talk to before she committed suicide. He ignored her, and has been carrying the heavy burden of guilt for ten years. He plans to avenge Sarah's death, and he doesn't care who it may hurt in the process.
Jason Treffan doesn't do live interviews, but Chelsea has gotten him to agree to participate in a live interview on her talkshow during primetime. Alex plans on telling Chelsea about the kind of person Jason is, and wants her to destroy his reputation with the public. However, Chelsea cannot believe that a man with such a stellar reputation for championing woman's causes could be such a monster. She demands solid proof of Jason's actions, and knows that if she goes against Mr. Teffan's pre- approved interview questions, that she agreed to in the form of a written and binding lawyer drawn contract, she will lose her job, and be brought to court. As Alex works on his plan of getting Chelsea to do his bidding, he never plans on falling in love for the first time.
Expose Me, by Kate Hewitt, was a great conclusion to the 5th Avenue Trilogy. Alex and Chelsea were both very interesting characters that came from broken homes and poverty, yet found a way to pull themselves out of their situations, and become professionals. Chelsea had a secretive and traumatic passed. I felt so badly for her, and saw why she had the need to always be in control, and portray a facade. I've been dying to see Mr. Treffan get justice for his evil actions. There was a lot of suspense in this segment, because both Alex and Chelsea were so closed off that I wanted to see if they would ever reveal all of their secrets to each other, and take a chance on love. I loved how Katy, Zoe, Austin, and Hunter were all in this final story!
My Rating:
I give, Expose Me, by Kate Hewitt, 3.5 Secrets Revealed, and Deep Healing Through Love Filled Stars! If you're looking for a series on revenge, passion, love, and healing, check out the 5th Avenue Trilogy!
~To Read More Book Reviews, Visit http://www.abookishescape.com
In the final segment of the 5th Avenue Trilogy, Expose Me, we get Alex and Chelsea's story. Alex, a professional reporter, made a pact with his friends, Austin, and Hunter, that they would each do their part to bring down the corrupt Jason Treffan. Austin has seen his part of the plan through, Hunter has his part underway, and now it's time for Alex to see his part through. Alex was good friends with Sarah in college. He was the last person that she tried to talk to before she committed suicide. He ignored her, and has been carrying the heavy burden of guilt for ten years. He plans to avenge Sarah's death, and he doesn't care who it may hurt in the process.
Jason Treffan doesn't do live interviews, but Chelsea has gotten him to agree to participate in a live interview on her talkshow during primetime. Alex plans on telling Chelsea about the kind of person Jason is, and wants her to destroy his reputation with the public. However, Chelsea cannot believe that a man with such a stellar reputation for championing woman's causes could be such a monster. She demands solid proof of Jason's actions, and knows that if she goes against Mr. Teffan's pre- approved interview questions, that she agreed to in the form of a written and binding lawyer drawn contract, she will lose her job, and be brought to court. As Alex works on his plan of getting Chelsea to do his bidding, he never plans on falling in love for the first time.
Expose Me, by Kate Hewitt, was a great conclusion to the 5th Avenue Trilogy. Alex and Chelsea were both very interesting characters that came from broken homes and poverty, yet found a way to pull themselves out of their situations, and become professionals. Chelsea had a secretive and traumatic passed. I felt so badly for her, and saw why she had the need to always be in control, and portray a facade. I've been dying to see Mr. Treffan get justice for his evil actions. There was a lot of suspense in this segment, because both Alex and Chelsea were so closed off that I wanted to see if they would ever reveal all of their secrets to each other, and take a chance on love. I loved how Katy, Zoe, Austin, and Hunter were all in this final story!
My Rating:
I give, Expose Me, by Kate Hewitt, 3.5 Secrets Revealed, and Deep Healing Through Love Filled Stars! If you're looking for a series on revenge, passion, love, and healing, check out the 5th Avenue Trilogy!
~To Read More Book Reviews, Visit http://www.abookishescape.com
August 7, 2014
Expose Me by Kate Hewitt (Harlequin Presents, 2014; 272 pgs)
Opening Sentence: Alex Diaz leaned forward in his seat as the limo pulled to the curb of Seventy-Second Street and West End Avenue.
In the third and final novel of the Fifth Avenue Trilogy, it is Alex Diaz's turn to put the final nail in Jason Treffen's coffin. Austin, Jason's son, has done his part, and Hunter is in the process of carrying out his at the start of Expose Me. Alex wants to make Jason's humiliation as public as possible, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. Jason Treffen has a rare television interview coming up with the beautiful and competent Chelsea Maxwell. If Alex can convince Chelsea of just how corrupt and vile Jason Treffen truly is and get her to confront him on her show, he, Austin and Hunter can have their ultimate revenge on the man who destroyed Alex's best friend, Sarah Michaels. Sarah had taken her own life as a result of Jason's actions.
Chelsea long ago cultivated her image and has put everything into her work as a talk show host. She had a rough life, one she wishes she could forget completely and yet it still haunts her. When Alex first approaches her about Jason Treffen, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Alex.
Both Chelsea and Alex have serious commitment issues as a result of their pasts. In addition, both take pride in their love for control of all things in their lives. Neither one comes from money and have risen to the top on their own. Alex, who owns his own news network, feels confident he and Chelsea can give into their attraction to each other with no strings. And Chelsea agrees. Only it doesn't work out quite like they hoped--and it scares them in different ways.
Like in the two previous books, Expose Me takes on the serious issues of prostitution and sexual assault and adds in child abuse and domestic violence. I wish the author had given us a more full picture of the evening he and Chelsea spent with his family, but what did come out of it was revealing in its own way.
Chelsea is another strong female character who had to overcome great odds to get to where she is today. She showed a lot of growth over the course of the novel, and while Alex played a part in that, he was more of a catalyst than a cause. There is one line in particular that made me heart sing for Chelsea in the second half of the book that speaks volumes for how much she'd grown. I won't share it here for risk of spoiling anything.
Source: Book provided by publisher for review.
Opening Sentence: Alex Diaz leaned forward in his seat as the limo pulled to the curb of Seventy-Second Street and West End Avenue.
In the third and final novel of the Fifth Avenue Trilogy, it is Alex Diaz's turn to put the final nail in Jason Treffen's coffin. Austin, Jason's son, has done his part, and Hunter is in the process of carrying out his at the start of Expose Me. Alex wants to make Jason's humiliation as public as possible, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. Jason Treffen has a rare television interview coming up with the beautiful and competent Chelsea Maxwell. If Alex can convince Chelsea of just how corrupt and vile Jason Treffen truly is and get her to confront him on her show, he, Austin and Hunter can have their ultimate revenge on the man who destroyed Alex's best friend, Sarah Michaels. Sarah had taken her own life as a result of Jason's actions.
Chelsea long ago cultivated her image and has put everything into her work as a talk show host. She had a rough life, one she wishes she could forget completely and yet it still haunts her. When Alex first approaches her about Jason Treffen, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Alex.
Both Chelsea and Alex have serious commitment issues as a result of their pasts. In addition, both take pride in their love for control of all things in their lives. Neither one comes from money and have risen to the top on their own. Alex, who owns his own news network, feels confident he and Chelsea can give into their attraction to each other with no strings. And Chelsea agrees. Only it doesn't work out quite like they hoped--and it scares them in different ways.
Like in the two previous books, Expose Me takes on the serious issues of prostitution and sexual assault and adds in child abuse and domestic violence. I wish the author had given us a more full picture of the evening he and Chelsea spent with his family, but what did come out of it was revealing in its own way.
Chelsea is another strong female character who had to overcome great odds to get to where she is today. She showed a lot of growth over the course of the novel, and while Alex played a part in that, he was more of a catalyst than a cause. There is one line in particular that made me heart sing for Chelsea in the second half of the book that speaks volumes for how much she'd grown. I won't share it here for risk of spoiling anything.
Source: Book provided by publisher for review.
April 27, 2015
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So part of the reason why this series appealed to me is that I love the idea of three different authors writing in the same world but writing about different characters in the world. I was looking forward to reading this book, because frankly I have spent three books waiting for Jason to get what he deserved, yes he got some small slices of justice in the first book, but he is in serious need of a legitimate take down, and it has all been building up to this book.
So my first issue with this book is that I think time wise, it starts before the second finished, so if you have read the second one you already know somethings, about certain interviews and such, and I think that kind of took away from this book a little. Yes it added to the second book, but it took away some of the suspense in this one. Which bummed me out a little.
I liked Chelsea, but part of what I liked about her is that she didn't have a direct connection to Jason the way the other women characters in the first book did. I mean she has a more objective approach to the situation, but because of her own past she is able to empathize with the situation and by the time she is fully let in on everything, its easy to see why she would want someone like Jason to get the justice he deserves. I liked that Chelsea is such a strong woman, yes she has some things she has to work through, but as the book goes on you can see her really starting to work through them, and it's so great to see.
Alex was a good guy, he and Chelsea both like to play control games with each other. I think Alex actually ended up having more growing to do in this book than Chelsea. Truth be told though, I didn't connect to him nearly as much as I had with the other guys in this series, even though I really wanted to. I just think he could have had a stronger presence or something to make me really attach to him.
In the end, I was actually a little disappointed how quick it all ended. The whole series builds up to Jason getting justice, and it's like someone was standing by with the closing curtain the second it was over, I would have really appreciated a good epilogue or something. Overall, I did enjoy the series, and I don't think you can read the first two books without reading this one for sure. Chelsea really makes this book, so read it for her.
So part of the reason why this series appealed to me is that I love the idea of three different authors writing in the same world but writing about different characters in the world. I was looking forward to reading this book, because frankly I have spent three books waiting for Jason to get what he deserved, yes he got some small slices of justice in the first book, but he is in serious need of a legitimate take down, and it has all been building up to this book.
So my first issue with this book is that I think time wise, it starts before the second finished, so if you have read the second one you already know somethings, about certain interviews and such, and I think that kind of took away from this book a little. Yes it added to the second book, but it took away some of the suspense in this one. Which bummed me out a little.
I liked Chelsea, but part of what I liked about her is that she didn't have a direct connection to Jason the way the other women characters in the first book did. I mean she has a more objective approach to the situation, but because of her own past she is able to empathize with the situation and by the time she is fully let in on everything, its easy to see why she would want someone like Jason to get the justice he deserves. I liked that Chelsea is such a strong woman, yes she has some things she has to work through, but as the book goes on you can see her really starting to work through them, and it's so great to see.
Alex was a good guy, he and Chelsea both like to play control games with each other. I think Alex actually ended up having more growing to do in this book than Chelsea. Truth be told though, I didn't connect to him nearly as much as I had with the other guys in this series, even though I really wanted to. I just think he could have had a stronger presence or something to make me really attach to him.
In the end, I was actually a little disappointed how quick it all ended. The whole series builds up to Jason getting justice, and it's like someone was standing by with the closing curtain the second it was over, I would have really appreciated a good epilogue or something. Overall, I did enjoy the series, and I don't think you can read the first two books without reading this one for sure. Chelsea really makes this book, so read it for her.
June 30, 2014
I read the final book of this trilogy within a weekend! I was eager to read Alex and Chelsea story but mostly, to learn what would finally happen to Jason Treffen!
It's sad that I was a bit more eager about Treffen' affair than Alex and Chelsea because their story/relation was cute, calm, slow and beautiful. It was built around thrust which either didn't have but need so badly. The sex wasn't as dominating as Austin and Katy and wasn't as intense as Hunter and Zoe, but they share something that look like a real life relationship.
The plot for revenge in this novel is simplified; Alex needs Chelsea for her TV show. He didn't thought he would fall for the tall beauty. Chelsea wants to be famous and leave her past behind. Now with Jason Treffen who wants to go live on her show she can put her career on higher ground. Until the mysterious and sexy Alex came to her one night and asks her to wreck her show and throw Jason Treffen's reputation and life up.
Alex wasn't the type of man that attracts me. I loved that he was able to take control and he know what he wants but nothing was special about him, if I compare to Austin or Hunter. Alex was a little bit too normal for me. Chelsea on the other hand, was the most interesting card in this play.
The thing that stood out in this final book was Chelsea; she wasn't related to Jason Treffen's ring of prostitution and she wasn't involved in this case through a victim either. Plus, her past and true identity was kind of chocking and adds a lot of sense and deepness to Alex and Chelsea personal story. Kate Hewitt, the author, had the burden to take down Jason Treffen in her book. She succeeded in keeping me alert and attracted to the main plot with the final characters Alex and Chelsea.
Overall, this title was great because the reader has the final word about Jason Treffen and the loop is looped! But I wish I could have an epilogue and read what happen to Jason Treffen after Expose Me. Legal procedure, a sentence, and prison? It wasn't necessary, but maybe something that Alex would have read in the newspaper... But it's from my personal POV!
I recommend this title to readers who have read the first two books and want to learn how this trilogy ended! I recommend this trilogy to every romance lover who wants to read something a bit more sexy and crazy than usual!
It's sad that I was a bit more eager about Treffen' affair than Alex and Chelsea because their story/relation was cute, calm, slow and beautiful. It was built around thrust which either didn't have but need so badly. The sex wasn't as dominating as Austin and Katy and wasn't as intense as Hunter and Zoe, but they share something that look like a real life relationship.
The plot for revenge in this novel is simplified; Alex needs Chelsea for her TV show. He didn't thought he would fall for the tall beauty. Chelsea wants to be famous and leave her past behind. Now with Jason Treffen who wants to go live on her show she can put her career on higher ground. Until the mysterious and sexy Alex came to her one night and asks her to wreck her show and throw Jason Treffen's reputation and life up.
Alex wasn't the type of man that attracts me. I loved that he was able to take control and he know what he wants but nothing was special about him, if I compare to Austin or Hunter. Alex was a little bit too normal for me. Chelsea on the other hand, was the most interesting card in this play.
The thing that stood out in this final book was Chelsea; she wasn't related to Jason Treffen's ring of prostitution and she wasn't involved in this case through a victim either. Plus, her past and true identity was kind of chocking and adds a lot of sense and deepness to Alex and Chelsea personal story. Kate Hewitt, the author, had the burden to take down Jason Treffen in her book. She succeeded in keeping me alert and attracted to the main plot with the final characters Alex and Chelsea.
Overall, this title was great because the reader has the final word about Jason Treffen and the loop is looped! But I wish I could have an epilogue and read what happen to Jason Treffen after Expose Me. Legal procedure, a sentence, and prison? It wasn't necessary, but maybe something that Alex would have read in the newspaper... But it's from my personal POV!
I recommend this title to readers who have read the first two books and want to learn how this trilogy ended! I recommend this trilogy to every romance lover who wants to read something a bit more sexy and crazy than usual!
August 5, 2014
In the final book of the Fifth Avenue Trilogy we get to get into the head of Alex, a news mogul who is the last line in this trio’s attempt to take down Jason Treffen and out him to the world for what and who he truly is. In order to exact his revenge Alex needs to use Chelsea because she has an upcoming interview with Jason and he’ll do anything he can to convince her to take the man down…regardless of it possibly destroying her career in the process.
I found parts of this book to be really well done, specifically the connection between Alex and Chelsea. I loved how he “saw” her for who she was and realized his initial thoughts of her were totally wrong. The walls she hid behind were transparent to Alex after a while and their emotional response to each other grew as this happened. Even though he was a jerk a few times throughout, overall I found him to be an even keel character/hero who wasn’t surprising in any way. I did have one problem with Alex’s character towards the end of the book (I won’t spoil it). I wanted him to react a bit more to a huge occurrence and instead he’s easily subdued by his friend. I wished that would have been a bigger issue for him.
I think what has bogged down this series for me is that when I read a romance that has a central theme of revenge I want something grittier, darker, more raw…and I didn’t get that, especially with the last two books. Everything was glossed over. The trauma of the characters felt unfinished. If this would have been more pronounced I would’ve become more invested in their plight. Even the big ending, the taking down of the big bad Jason Treffen felt, blah. I kept thinking “that’s it”? After three books it’s over that fast? That easily?
The mark gets missed with this series in my opinion. After book one, I just lost the connection I had with the story line. If you want something easy and light to read this might work for you. Had the revenge plot been left out I think I could have enjoyed it so much more.
I give Expose Me by Kate Hewitt 2.75 stars
I found parts of this book to be really well done, specifically the connection between Alex and Chelsea. I loved how he “saw” her for who she was and realized his initial thoughts of her were totally wrong. The walls she hid behind were transparent to Alex after a while and their emotional response to each other grew as this happened. Even though he was a jerk a few times throughout, overall I found him to be an even keel character/hero who wasn’t surprising in any way. I did have one problem with Alex’s character towards the end of the book (I won’t spoil it). I wanted him to react a bit more to a huge occurrence and instead he’s easily subdued by his friend. I wished that would have been a bigger issue for him.
I think what has bogged down this series for me is that when I read a romance that has a central theme of revenge I want something grittier, darker, more raw…and I didn’t get that, especially with the last two books. Everything was glossed over. The trauma of the characters felt unfinished. If this would have been more pronounced I would’ve become more invested in their plight. Even the big ending, the taking down of the big bad Jason Treffen felt, blah. I kept thinking “that’s it”? After three books it’s over that fast? That easily?
The mark gets missed with this series in my opinion. After book one, I just lost the connection I had with the story line. If you want something easy and light to read this might work for you. Had the revenge plot been left out I think I could have enjoyed it so much more.
I give Expose Me by Kate Hewitt 2.75 stars
August 11, 2014
This is the last book in a trilogy of books written by three different authors. Having read all three i don't feel like it's something that you can tell by the writing. Each author for me has successfully picked up the story and went with it seemlessly. Each book in the trilogy is about one of three best friends who are dealing with guilt and regret of the death of a woman who was their friend as well and they feel they let down to detriment of her life. Now years later they are working at avenging her. This book in the culmination of that and hopefully forgiveness for themselves. In Expose Me Alex Diaz needs to get Chelsea Maxwell on board with the plan to destroy Jason Treffen. Chelsea is a talk show host that gets has been stars to break down and tell all their secrets but she dreams of being a serious newswoman and Jason Treffen is her chance. She has scored a exclusive interview with him. Alex needs her to expose him. He doesn't want to tell her details of what that entails until she agrees. It doesn't take Alex long to find out Chelsea is tougher that he thinks. They constantly are butting heads but in between all that Alex starts to see the slight cracks in Chelsea and just maybe there is a reason she is so ice cold on the outside. Alex has his own issues and if Chelsea has to share he's going to have to as well. Great ending to the series but for me it came kind of quickly at the end. It left me feeling like there should've been just a little bit more. Maybe a epilogue 6 months later or something. This is a very dramatic and emotional series with a serious topic but you can feel the love that is brought out in the character's by learning how to trust in themselves and in each other. I wasn't sure how i would like this trilogy written by three separate authors with a continuing story but having now finished i would say they knocked it out of the park. Well done.
April 13, 2017
Review written: June 27, 2016
Star Rating: ★★★½☆
Heat Rating: ☀☀☀☼☼
An Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book was received free via Netgalley for an honest review.
This is the exciting conclusion to the Fifth Avenue trilogy, a horror story masquerading as a romantic suspense series. In the first book, Avenge Me, we learn the basics of the horror. A prominent lawyer and very rich man who is well-known for his advocacy for women, especially women who have suffered abuse is actually a monster. I read and reviewed that book. I haven't read the second book, but the events here allude to it and it seems every bit as dark and twisted as the first book.
Expose Me thankfully had some light and sweet moments that broke up the hard and painful realities of this book. Alex is struggling with his hatred and his guilt for his part in not protecting Sarah. Chelsea is just struggling. While she is not a victim of Treffen, she has her own story to tell, a horrific one at that. Alex needs Chelsea so that the revenge on Treffen is complete. Chelsea doesn't need Alex, or at least she would like to believe that.
With both so hurt and unwilling to trust, it's a slow slog for them. Sexual chemistry is all they have for a while, but slowly Alex begins to trust Chelsea, tell her things he has never told others. His tentative trust allows her to reciprocate, but at great cost to both of them. The dialogue is difficult sometimes, but strong and witty at times too.
I prefer this to Expose Me as it has some lighter moments and because I could see Alex and Chelsea growing together and learning to trust each other with their painful pasts. They fulfill needs in each other that have nothing to do with Treffen and the needed revenge. Expose Me is a solid book, if still horridly dark.
This review is ©June 2016 by Monique N. and has been posted to Netgalley.
Star Rating: ★★★½☆
Heat Rating: ☀☀☀☼☼
An Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book was received free via Netgalley for an honest review.
This is the exciting conclusion to the Fifth Avenue trilogy, a horror story masquerading as a romantic suspense series. In the first book, Avenge Me, we learn the basics of the horror. A prominent lawyer and very rich man who is well-known for his advocacy for women, especially women who have suffered abuse is actually a monster. I read and reviewed that book. I haven't read the second book, but the events here allude to it and it seems every bit as dark and twisted as the first book.
Expose Me thankfully had some light and sweet moments that broke up the hard and painful realities of this book. Alex is struggling with his hatred and his guilt for his part in not protecting Sarah. Chelsea is just struggling. While she is not a victim of Treffen, she has her own story to tell, a horrific one at that. Alex needs Chelsea so that the revenge on Treffen is complete. Chelsea doesn't need Alex, or at least she would like to believe that.
With both so hurt and unwilling to trust, it's a slow slog for them. Sexual chemistry is all they have for a while, but slowly Alex begins to trust Chelsea, tell her things he has never told others. His tentative trust allows her to reciprocate, but at great cost to both of them. The dialogue is difficult sometimes, but strong and witty at times too.
I prefer this to Expose Me as it has some lighter moments and because I could see Alex and Chelsea growing together and learning to trust each other with their painful pasts. They fulfill needs in each other that have nothing to do with Treffen and the needed revenge. Expose Me is a solid book, if still horridly dark.
This review is ©June 2016 by Monique N. and has been posted to Netgalley.
July 24, 2014
Less sexually charged than Avenge Me, and with more emotional depth than Scandalize Me, the final installment in The Fifth Avenue Trilogy-Expose Me-brings the story to a satisfying conclusion. The main characters in Expose Me-Alex Diaz and Chelsea Maxwell are both titans of the media world-he as the owner of Diaz News, she as the host of the popular daytime show Chat With Chelsea. Even though Alex and Chelsea are the embodiment of "the lifestyles of the rich and famous," they are the most genuine and down to earth couple in the series. Chelsea has the vulnerability of Katy Michaels-heroine of Avenge Me, and whose determination to see the man she believes was responsible for her sister's death brought to justice sets the plot in motion- and the steely ambition of Zoe Brook from Scandalize Me. Alex and Chelsea's relationship is also the most realistic of the three-while Austin and Katy and Hunter and Zoe had instant and intense sexual chemistry, their quick declarations of love at times seemed forced. Alex and Chelsea are much more "world weary" in their approach to love and sex-neither thought their getting together would be much more than a fling-and the best part of Expose Me is watching their relationship grow from tentative and awkward to tender and touching. Expose Me also brings the final downfall of Jason Treffen-Austin's father and a high-powered lawyer whose charming and benevolent personality hides truly evil intentions. There is no real surprise in how the novel ends-the "good guys" find their happily ever after and Jason is exposed for the master manipulator he really is, but the story feels incomplete. A fourth book that follows the progress of all of the relationships-perhaps as a collaboration among the three authors from the series-would give the characters-and their readers-the ending they deserve.
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