It’s been years since her child’s father dumped her, and since then investigative reporter Kara McMillan has kept men at bay—although every day she aches more for a lover’s touch. But to get that, the hard-boiled journalist must become vulnerable—a feeling she vowed never to have again.
With his dangerous good looks, charm, and power, Senator Reece Sheridan could have just about any woman he sets his piercing eyes on. But he’s intrigued by only one. This Kara, this gutsy investigative reporter, has a sensuality that arouses him to no end. If she’s a firebrand in print, he guesses, she must be just as fiery in bed…
But this is no fling. A sudden political scandal—and attempts on Kara’s life—could very well drive them apart. Or maybe, just maybe, adversity could draw them into a bond even more intense than their steamy sexual embraces. —Berkley, 2005
Book Review:
Extreme Exposure is a great 90’s nostalgia trip. Not because of the answering machines or Monica Lewinski and OJ Simpson references but because of it’s investigative journalism. In a time of Fox News and Trump tweets, the importance Kara puts on reporting facts will make you pine for the times when the truth mattered—not being the first to print or the most sensational. It’s Kara’s dedication to finding out the truth behind an industrial plant—a la Erin Brockovich—that puts her in the crosshairs of some powerful players who threaten her life.
Kara’s relatable struggle as a single parent with a demanding career makes her often question if she is a good parent. She’s not a bad parent because she’s late picking up her kid from daycare, but she is for not considering her kid’s safety. Kara’s radical feminist mindset pushes away Reece’s protection and any other precautions to protect herself because she refuses to “be bullied,” risking either orphaning her son or getting him killed.
Reece is an idealized version of a man. Despite his good looks and political position, he is not pompous or arrogant. He knows just what you need when you need it and asks nothing for himself. And the way he beats Kara’s box will have you volunteering at the poles in hopes of getting some political action of your own. It’ll also make you wonder why a guy as great as Reece bothers with Kara, who annoying pulls him in only to push him away.
If Kara isn’t pushing Reece away out of fear of getting hurt by another man, someone is trying to kill her. Making you question if the two would even make a good couple. Would there be anything left between them after the danger wore off since their entire relationship is built on strife and adrenaline?
Despite questioning the feasibility of Kara and Reece’s relationship, Extreme Exposure’s equal balance of investigative journalism, political intrigue, workplace drama, steamy sex, and Die Hard-esque action make for a thrilling read. –Buy it
H.A. Worthington & Cat
