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Exposed
Before you can heal, you must accept that you've been broken... When an accident leaves her with severe burns, Captain Eden Archer has one goal - to get back to full fitness and her duties at her United Nations job. Eden is not a joiner, but the Ruby Challenge - a four-day hike across Nevada's Ruby Mountains - seems like a great way to boost her rehabilitation, and to prove herself ready and able to move on. She just has to get through the pre-challenge medical. As a doctor in Accident and Emergency, Dan Barbour is used to dealing with people in pain, people in denial, and people who don't much like doctors, but the prickly servicewoman who dismisses his medical skills awakens an interest that has long been dormant. The Ruby Mountain hike is as much about the emotional challenge as the physical, and as Eden and Dan find themselves getting closer and closer, they both face enormous obstacles. Eden protects her heart with distance and reserve; Dan keeps everyone at bay by being wholly unavailable. But if they stay true to their old course, they will lose the one chance at a real connection, the one chance to really find someone to love. A broken-hearted doctor and a reluctant patient should be a match made in heaven, but are Eden and Dan strong enough to find courage outside of their respective battlefields and expose their hearts?
- GenresContemporary
262 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2017
25 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Harroway
176 books65 followersLifelong romance addict J.C. Harroway lives in New Zealand. Writing feeds her very real obsession with happy endings and the endorphin rush they create. You can follow her at www.jcharroway.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 26, 2017
I was supposed to review this book a month ago, but life happened. Better late then never, so here I go *dons her bitchy glasses*;
If this wasn't an ARC, I'd DNF the shite out of it at %29. And if I kept reading for some wacky mood shifty reason, then definetely at %32. Because I can take only so much of woe is me, no one wants me because I'm broken and ugly bohhuuu thingie. And, as if the scarred and cuntish on the outside, but a marshmallow on the inside heroine is not enough, we get the lonely but horny mr. goody two shoes as hero, whose only role in the book, is to be the verbal punching bag of the heroine. He is her bitch. He even apologises to her and thinks about how right she was, everytime she lashes at him and spews her moronic spiels. No, thank you.
Let's not forget the never ending "She is so broken but not broken. So fragile but strong. Weak sometimes, but a badarse on the clock. Angel. Beautiful but only to those with taste" going on. I like contradictions. But, this here was like a hitch in some wanker's delusions.
That is to say, it wasn't a horrible book, despite of how my bitchy review sounds. Writing was okay. Though, not my cuppa of tea. Or coffee. Or any kind of beverage.
If this wasn't an ARC, I'd DNF the shite out of it at %29. And if I kept reading for some wacky mood shifty reason, then definetely at %32. Because I can take only so much of woe is me, no one wants me because I'm broken and ugly bohhuuu thingie. And, as if the scarred and cuntish on the outside, but a marshmallow on the inside heroine is not enough, we get the lonely but horny mr. goody two shoes as hero, whose only role in the book, is to be the verbal punching bag of the heroine. He is her bitch. He even apologises to her and thinks about how right she was, everytime she lashes at him and spews her moronic spiels. No, thank you.
Let's not forget the never ending "She is so broken but not broken. So fragile but strong. Weak sometimes, but a badarse on the clock. Angel. Beautiful but only to those with taste" going on. I like contradictions. But, this here was like a hitch in some wanker's delusions.
That is to say, it wasn't a horrible book, despite of how my bitchy review sounds. Writing was okay. Though, not my cuppa of tea. Or coffee. Or any kind of beverage.
October 7, 2017
I absolutely loved everything about this book. He's a doctor, she's a war veteran. Scarred and terrified by her ordeal. I really felt for Eden. She has to come to terms with returning, looking very different to how she was before her last tour.
Dan has also suffered, his beloved wife died just two years ago. He is still in a very dark place. He hasn't really lived, merely existing and working himself to the bone to try to fill the void Megan's death has left. Dan blames himself for not realising sooner she was ill.
He meets 'Archer' ( she likes to go by her surname) and is immediately smitten. It's the first time since his wife's death he has felt anything for another woman. She has to overcome her issues with her burns and he must loose his feelings of guilt. He cannot let go of his marriage despite Meagan being gone for two years.
They both have a lot to deal with a despite a few bumps in the road I was rooting for them both. Eden is very prickly, she is bitchy and on edge and often her verbal assaults were a defence mechanism. Eden hides behind her sharp tongue but Dan thankfully sees past this and gradually their friendship blossoms.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dan has also suffered, his beloved wife died just two years ago. He is still in a very dark place. He hasn't really lived, merely existing and working himself to the bone to try to fill the void Megan's death has left. Dan blames himself for not realising sooner she was ill.
He meets 'Archer' ( she likes to go by her surname) and is immediately smitten. It's the first time since his wife's death he has felt anything for another woman. She has to overcome her issues with her burns and he must loose his feelings of guilt. He cannot let go of his marriage despite Meagan being gone for two years.
They both have a lot to deal with a despite a few bumps in the road I was rooting for them both. Eden is very prickly, she is bitchy and on edge and often her verbal assaults were a defence mechanism. Eden hides behind her sharp tongue but Dan thankfully sees past this and gradually their friendship blossoms.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2017
*** ARC provided by the author for an honest review ***
A soldier wounded in action meets a lost man in need of purpose in Exposed by JC Harroway's latest standalone novel. An experience you won't forget while reading the push and pull magnitude between the characters that delivered increased amounts of angst, drama, banter and eventually, hope and peace.
Eden received severe burns from an accident while in the service of her country. She has been scarred from the burns and is unsure of where her life will lead. She wants to go back to serving her country, but is unsure of whether or not her injuries will allow for her to do so. She just can’t find any happiness in life right now, knowing only the military way.
Dan has lost his wife and cannot overcome the loss. He blames himself because, as a doctor, he was not able to see what was wrong with her and therefore couldn't help her. He dedicates his time to his work and volunteer service which has him crossing paths with Eden. His life will never be the same!
When the Ruby Challenge comes to Eden, she is ready to show that she can do anything that she sets her mind to. She wants to work on her rehabilitation and the four day hike is just what she needs to prove herself. However, she has to get approval, from Dan in order to do so. Eden is fighting for her life, and in so doing, she is fighting Dan to show that she can accomplish this task. Eden and Dan go head to head, both struggling to overcome their physical and mental obstacles. Can they come together and see different perspectives to their issues or are they stuck in their ways?
An emotionally unique novel that was a delight to read. The emotional tail spin that both characters have gone through was an awesome fight to the finish. Each character brought different qualities to the story that livened up the plot. The courageous behavior from Eden was remarkable and the passionate, caring ways of Dan was likeable from the beginning. 4 Brave Stars all around!
A soldier wounded in action meets a lost man in need of purpose in Exposed by JC Harroway's latest standalone novel. An experience you won't forget while reading the push and pull magnitude between the characters that delivered increased amounts of angst, drama, banter and eventually, hope and peace.
Eden received severe burns from an accident while in the service of her country. She has been scarred from the burns and is unsure of where her life will lead. She wants to go back to serving her country, but is unsure of whether or not her injuries will allow for her to do so. She just can’t find any happiness in life right now, knowing only the military way.
Dan has lost his wife and cannot overcome the loss. He blames himself because, as a doctor, he was not able to see what was wrong with her and therefore couldn't help her. He dedicates his time to his work and volunteer service which has him crossing paths with Eden. His life will never be the same!
When the Ruby Challenge comes to Eden, she is ready to show that she can do anything that she sets her mind to. She wants to work on her rehabilitation and the four day hike is just what she needs to prove herself. However, she has to get approval, from Dan in order to do so. Eden is fighting for her life, and in so doing, she is fighting Dan to show that she can accomplish this task. Eden and Dan go head to head, both struggling to overcome their physical and mental obstacles. Can they come together and see different perspectives to their issues or are they stuck in their ways?
An emotionally unique novel that was a delight to read. The emotional tail spin that both characters have gone through was an awesome fight to the finish. Each character brought different qualities to the story that livened up the plot. The courageous behavior from Eden was remarkable and the passionate, caring ways of Dan was likeable from the beginning. 4 Brave Stars all around!
September 14, 2017
This was a cute, emotional read about two people who are struggling to come to terms with the hands they've been dealt. Eden was severely burned while serving her country and is left permanently scared and possibly facing the end of her career as she knows it. Dan is trying to deal with the loss of his wife and the guilt he feels for not seeing what was wrong with her. Her death was not recent, but he hasn't dealt with it; instead choosing to throw himself into his work and several volunteer efforts.
Dan and Eden meet when they go on a hiking trip together, one geared at helping others overcome their challenges. Dan is there as the team doctor and Eden volunteers to help the others. They come together slowly; going from nearly hating each other to developing a friendship.
Dan and Eden meet when they go on a hiking trip together, one geared at helping others overcome their challenges. Dan is there as the team doctor and Eden volunteers to help the others. They come together slowly; going from nearly hating each other to developing a friendship.
September 30, 2017
I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. What a roller coaster this one is. That's not necessarily a good thing, but also not necessarily all bad.
This story is definitely for fans of angst. It has every emotion, every look, every touch ramped up way past 11. Hearts are pierced, crushed, burning, trampled -- there's nary a quiet moment or calm reflection to be found. You name it, and it's been done here with max drama.
Just one small example -- all that's happening in this scene is that Dan, Our Hero (a widower) has returned home to what he thinks is an empty house, but he finds Eden, Our Heroine, asleep on his sofa:
The problem with such overdramatization is that when *everything* is so dramatic, a reader easily gets burned out and ceases to care. There's no sense of proportion, no recognition that some things really aren't the end of the world. EVERYTHING is a sign of Armageddon, EVERYTHING is emotional life or death. And that gets really, really tiring.
That's not to say that this is a bad book. I was attracted to the setup from the start: grieving widower meets scarred burn survivor. Hurt/comfort galore, right up my alley. And Dan is an angel -- kind, patient, dedicated. I just wanted to cuddle up to him and take him home with me. So far, so good. Then we have Eden -- British Army, had an assignment with the UN until she was seriously burned. As a result she is scarred, withdrawn, and extremely defensive.
For a while, I enjoyed their interactions: Eden kept pushing Dan away, and Dan kept coming back for more. Very appealing trait in a guy -- he wouldn't give up just because she was being an ass. But it became more and more clear that Eden really WAS an ass -- she was consistently self-pitying, self-centered, and oblivious to the needs of everyone around her. And though Dan never really lost his patience with her, I certainly did. I thought Dan deserved a lot better than her, and I seriously wanted to smack some sense into her.
I also wished that we could see more of the real effects of Edens' scarring. She does have an operation to release some contractures in her burned hand, but I might have had more sympathy for her if we had seen more of her limitations: skin care for her extensive scarred areas, flexibility issues, strength issues, and so on. We mostly only see her "Oh I'm so ugly" reactions -- and even those nearly vanish after one night of good sex. The failure to include more was a wasted opportunity.
Over all, I'm going to give this one around 2 1/2 stars -- rounding up.
Wow. What a roller coaster this one is. That's not necessarily a good thing, but also not necessarily all bad.
This story is definitely for fans of angst. It has every emotion, every look, every touch ramped up way past 11. Hearts are pierced, crushed, burning, trampled -- there's nary a quiet moment or calm reflection to be found. You name it, and it's been done here with max drama.
Just one small example -- all that's happening in this scene is that Dan, Our Hero (a widower) has returned home to what he thinks is an empty house, but he finds Eden, Our Heroine, asleep on his sofa:
"Eyes round in the gloom, she stared. With each second that passed, his heart fought its way out of his chest until the pounding lump choked him. He'd returned home to an empty house hundreds of times. No one to share a difficult day with. No one to simply be with.
And now she was here. An angel with a broken wing.
His blood pounded with renewed vigour, rendering his fatigue redundant. She'd stayed."
The problem with such overdramatization is that when *everything* is so dramatic, a reader easily gets burned out and ceases to care. There's no sense of proportion, no recognition that some things really aren't the end of the world. EVERYTHING is a sign of Armageddon, EVERYTHING is emotional life or death. And that gets really, really tiring.
That's not to say that this is a bad book. I was attracted to the setup from the start: grieving widower meets scarred burn survivor. Hurt/comfort galore, right up my alley. And Dan is an angel -- kind, patient, dedicated. I just wanted to cuddle up to him and take him home with me. So far, so good. Then we have Eden -- British Army, had an assignment with the UN until she was seriously burned. As a result she is scarred, withdrawn, and extremely defensive.
For a while, I enjoyed their interactions: Eden kept pushing Dan away, and Dan kept coming back for more. Very appealing trait in a guy -- he wouldn't give up just because she was being an ass. But it became more and more clear that Eden really WAS an ass -- she was consistently self-pitying, self-centered, and oblivious to the needs of everyone around her. And though Dan never really lost his patience with her, I certainly did. I thought Dan deserved a lot better than her, and I seriously wanted to smack some sense into her.
I also wished that we could see more of the real effects of Edens' scarring. She does have an operation to release some contractures in her burned hand, but I might have had more sympathy for her if we had seen more of her limitations: skin care for her extensive scarred areas, flexibility issues, strength issues, and so on. We mostly only see her "Oh I'm so ugly" reactions -- and even those nearly vanish after one night of good sex. The failure to include more was a wasted opportunity.
Over all, I'm going to give this one around 2 1/2 stars -- rounding up.
September 20, 2017
On the outside , this is a book about Eden Archer and Dr Dan Barbour. Eden, is an Army captain who is dealing with not only disfiguring physical injuries, but also PTSD and lack of self-image. Dan’s injuries are emotional and of the heart. He is still mourning the death of his wife and feels he could have done something to prevent it.
But it’s really much more than a story about them. The effects of serving their country and the loss of a love one , will follow individuals forever. It is how they deal with it, and what kind of support they get that will make a difference.
These two emotionally fragile individuals are drawn to each other, but they have to climb huge mountains of self-doubt, of being exposed to each other and the world, and of really, forgiving themselves in order to move forward.
A rollercoaster of emotions will be felt while reading this story. Will they dig themselves deeper in their sorrow, or will they be able to reach the light at the end of the tunnel with each other’s love and support?
I was gifted this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
But it’s really much more than a story about them. The effects of serving their country and the loss of a love one , will follow individuals forever. It is how they deal with it, and what kind of support they get that will make a difference.
These two emotionally fragile individuals are drawn to each other, but they have to climb huge mountains of self-doubt, of being exposed to each other and the world, and of really, forgiving themselves in order to move forward.
A rollercoaster of emotions will be felt while reading this story. Will they dig themselves deeper in their sorrow, or will they be able to reach the light at the end of the tunnel with each other’s love and support?
I was gifted this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
August 26, 2017
This book was emotional from the very beginning. The struggles that both Eden and Dan went through was hard to read about but unfortunately it is very real. This book was full of such amazing people and the way that the author made such a connection was beautiful. Thank you NetGalley and JC Harroway for allowing me to read and review this book.
August 24, 2017
This is the first book I've read by HC Harroway but look forward to reading more of her work.
This story was really unique and well plotted. I found Eden and Dan very believable with will human frailties. There were moments I wanted to cry for each of them. It was very satisfying to see them grow and emerge from their pain to find a loving satisfying relationship and life. Highly recommended.
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This story was really unique and well plotted. I found Eden and Dan very believable with will human frailties. There were moments I wanted to cry for each of them. It was very satisfying to see them grow and emerge from their pain to find a loving satisfying relationship and life. Highly recommended.
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
October 22, 2017
First book I've read by the author, an emotional rollercoaster that deals with real issues such as PTSD.
I loved Dr. Dan, such a personable and giving character. He took to Eden right away although she took quite awhile to thaw even though the physical attraction was there. Her insecurities due to the injuries threatened their HEA throughout and the story can get angsty at times due to this. Sometimes, your own fears are your worst enemy.
With the author's background, the medical parts of the story flowed smoothly and weaved into the emotional ones seamlessly. I also enjoyed the premise that the heroine is the one with the military background instead of the hero.
Four and one-half stars.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Dr. Dan, such a personable and giving character. He took to Eden right away although she took quite awhile to thaw even though the physical attraction was there. Her insecurities due to the injuries threatened their HEA throughout and the story can get angsty at times due to this. Sometimes, your own fears are your worst enemy.
With the author's background, the medical parts of the story flowed smoothly and weaved into the emotional ones seamlessly. I also enjoyed the premise that the heroine is the one with the military background instead of the hero.
Four and one-half stars.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2019
I really enjoyed reading Dan & Eden's story.Both were struggling to deal with very different aspects of their lives & doing the Ruby Challenge was their way of finally realising that there was more life to live.Very well done J.C. Halloway on this book:) Will definitely be reading more from this author:)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews