Customer Reviews

Expose

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Reporter Sally Harrington works for her small, hometown newspaper after returning to Castleford, Connecticut two years ago to care for her ill mother. When an assignment leads her to a nearby ghost town, Sally unexpectedly assists a man in medical crisis. It turns out that his wife Verity Rhodes is the glamorous editor of Expectations who subsequently offers Sally an opportunity of a lifetime. She's assigned to write an expose on Cassidy Cochran, president of the DBS network in New York. Soon Sally finds her professional life and personal life sharply split between the glitzy world of New York and the mundane world Castleford, which has drastically taken a turn a turn toward its own excitement.

Crazy Pete Sabatino, with his conspiracy theories, has long been the butt of jokes around town, but this time the truth may exist within the miasma of speculation and confusion. A fascinating character, Pete feeds his addiction to conspiracies and the new world order through a series of books, pamphlets, and videos ordered from post office boxes in Texas and California. Pete's enormous satellite dish and forty-foot short-wave radio tower also bring in an inordinate amount of information to feed his obsession. So when Pete claims that Sally's father's death twenty years ago wasn't an accident and is, in fact, linked to a recent mysterious death, she's not inclined to believe him.

A lead from Pete leads Sally into a murder investigation in Castleford even while she also writes the expose on Cassidy Cochran. Consequently, the work on both assignments sends her life hurtling out of control. Her "chance of a lifetime" assignment isn't what it seems, her love life endures unexpected upheaval, and her father's accidental death might have been murder.

The first person narrative allows the reader to participate in EXPOSE, enduring the turmoil and surprise right along with the heroine. Further, Sally's one of those wonderfully strong characters who still does stupid things and gets carried away by opportunity gone off kilter. Her believable foibles, wonderful enthusiasm, and powerful presence make her a remarkably memorable character. Further, the entire cast of characters, including the dogs and Crazy Pete, make for a fantastic reading experience. And the surprising conclusion is wonderful! Highly recommended.

LVW is always good at making believable heroines, and Sally is no exception. Maybe that's why I felt uneasy at the romance between her and Spencer. As Sally states, they both have to 'grow up', and their explosive passion is causing them to rush into an intense relationship. On the other hand, that LVW can have me worry about a ficitonal character says a lot for her writing ability. On the lighter side, I always enjoy reading about the DBS crowd. Although Cassy is a bit too perfect , Alexandra has shaped up well as news diva with nerves of steel. Favorite remains "Jury Duty".

You have to love Sally. I purchased all six of Laura van Wormer's Sally Harrington books. Fast, funny, interesting, just plain good. I would suggest that if you haven't read any of these books and are interested, while they can stand alone, are better read in order. These characters develop and increase book after book. I hope they are more in the series.

Laura Van Wormer's Expose is an excellent, hight quality read, well-written with an excellent plot. Van Wormer weaves two story lines around Sally Harrington, a thirty year old reporter living in her home town in Connecticut. Sally is dealing with a mysterious murder in her home town which may or may not have a connection to her father's accidental death some twenty years earlier and a high-paying assignment from a high profile magazine to do a story on a beautiful celebrity. She is torn between her old boyfriend and a new love she meets during the novel. The story lines work well together--and both involve events that have Sally questioning her beliefs and assumptions about the people in her life. I had a minor concern that Van Wormer was somehow going to neatly tie both story lines together in some sort of far fetched plot development, but she does not. Instead they both resolve naturally, but not independently. This is a well done romantic thriller and an excellent read. Enjoy.

Sally Harrington misses the glamorous way she lived as a Los Angeles reporter. Forced to return to her home town of Castleford, Connecticut due to family problems, Sally tediously works on the local paper. Her only excitement from the monotony is her interviews of the local lunatic, Crazy Pete who knows that Castleford is the center of eerie weirdness in the universe.

Sally gets a break when she helps business mogul Corbett Schroeder and his spouse Verity Rhodes, the editor of the Manhattan based Expectations. Verity hires Sally to write an EXPOSE on TV network president Cassy Cochran. As she travels to and from Connecticut and New York, Sally becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that Pete links to the accidental death of her father years ago.

EXPOSE lives up to its title as the story line provides readers an insider's glimpse at the printed media. The plotline is entertaining as the novel makes the perfect read just for the summer. Sally is an intriguing character whose desire to return to the glamourous side of her industry seems to overcome her common sense. It is Sally's flaws and obsession that make Laura Van Wormer's latest novel an enjoyable tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reporter Sally Harrington works for her small, hometown newspaper after returning to Castleford, Connecticut two years ago to care for her ill mother. When an assignment leads her to a nearby ghost town, Sally unexpectedly assists a man in medical crisis. It turns out that his wife Verity Rhodes is the glamorous editor of Expectations who subsequently offers Sally an opportunity of a lifetime. She's assigned to write an expose on Cassidy Cochran, president of the DBS network in New York. Soon Sally finds her professional life and personal life sharply split between the glitzy world of New York and the mundane world Castleford, which has drastically taken a turn a turn toward its own excitement.

Crazy Pete Sabatino, with his conspiracy theories, has long been the butt of jokes around town, but this time the truth may exist within the miasma of speculation and confusion. A fascinating character, Pete feeds his addiction to conspiracies and the new world order through a series of books, pamphlets, and videos ordered from post office boxes in Texas and California. Pete's enormous satellite dish and forty-foot short-wave radio tower also bring in an inordinate amount of information to feed his obsession. So when Pete claims that Sally's father's death twenty years ago wasn't an accident and is, in fact, linked to a recent mysterious death, she's not inclined to believe him.

A lead from Pete leads Sally into a murder investigation in Castleford even while she also writes the expose on Cassidy Cochran. Consequently, the work on both assignments sends her life hurtling out of control. Her "chance of a lifetime" assignment isn't what it seems, her love life endures unexpected upheaval, and her father's accidental death might have been murder.

The first person narrative allows the reader to participate in EXPOSE, enduring the turmoil and surprise right along with the heroine. Further, Sally's one of those wonderfully strong characters who still does stupid things and gets carried away by opportunity gone off kilter. Her believable foibles, wonderful enthusiasm, and powerful presence make her a remarkably memorable character. Further, the entire cast of characters, including the dogs and Crazy Pete, make for a fantastic reading experience. And the surprising conclusion is wonderful! Highly recommended.

I recently attended a Professional Writer's Conference, where at a workshop on creating clever plots, I was given this book. I'll be honest, I don't usually read books from this genre. I am an historical fiction and romance writer and reader, but I am always open to learning new things about my craft. So, 36 hours ago I began reading Expose, paying close attention to the plot line. I have to tell you, I really enjoyed this book (I have even already ordered the sequel). I think Ms. Van Wormer is a talented writer, with a knack for characterization and multi-dimensional plots. If I had to point out a negative, it would be about the heroine, Sally Harrington. She was supposed to be a talented reporter, and yet, she irriated the hell out of me. Granted, my career in newspaper and magazine journalism only extends back 13 years now, and is not nearly as impressive and glamourous as writing for a fanscy-schmancy LA glam mag, but Sally really had me gritting my teeth in a few places. For instance, when she goes into her big-time "career making/breaking" interview and starts sobbing over some idiot she had casual and dangerous sex with (in New York City for God's sake). Later, she casually drops in on her subject at home (how rude and unprosfessional is that?). At the end of the novel she receives a job as an investigative reporter and yet throughout the novel she has been too blind and stupid to figure out the casual sex guy was a set-up and philanderer? Come on! That being said, I admired Sally's tireless energy and her sense of humor. She also possessed two qualities lacking in many journalism professionals - compassion and decency. All in all, a very great read.

Leah Marie Brown, Author of Willing Captive www.leahmariebrown.com

I love Laura Van Wormer! Expose has characters from her previous books that I loved. She has the ability to bring any story to life. This one was fast moving and very funny. I could not put it down. If you enjoyed her other books you'll love this one.

Harking back to the publishing world she so vividly depicted in Talk (1998), the always entertaining, although sometimes formula prone, Van Wormer again mixes some romance with murder for a heady, fast-paced concoction.

Quick-witted and savvy, Sally Harrington leaves her job as an L.A. magazine writer to return to her childhood home in Connecticut and care for her ill mother. After her mother recovers, Sally begins to feel the constraints of small town life where she has begun dating an old flame and working for the local paper.

A chance to pen a lead story for a glossy New York mag - a profile of Cassy Cochran, a top-notch TV exec, is irresistible. Sally soon finds herself torn between the rather benign world of Connecticut and the intoxicating perks of the Big Apple, where she begins a tumultuous affair with book editor Spencer Hawkes.

Plots bubbling in the background include a murder investigation that may reveal information about Sally's father who died in an auto accident years ago, and the ever perplexing question of a celebrity's right to privacy and the public's right to know.

Reporter Sally Harrington works for her small, hometown newspaper after returning to Castleford, Connecticut two years ago to care for her ill mother. When an assignment leads her to a nearby ghost town, Sally unexpectedly assists a man in medical crisis. It turns out that his wife Verity Rhodes is the glamorous editor of Expectations who subsequently offers Sally an opportunity of a lifetime. She's assigned to write an expose on Cassidy Cochran, president of the DBS network in New York. Soon Sally finds her professional life and personal life sharply split between the glitzy world of New York and the mundane world Castleford, which has drastically taken a turn a turn toward its own excitement.

Crazy Pete Sabatino, with his conspiracy theories, has long been the butt of jokes around town, but this time the truth may exist within the miasma of speculation and confusion. A fascinating character, Pete feeds his addiction to conspiracies and the new world order through a series of books, pamphlets, and videos ordered from post office boxes in Texas and California. Pete's enormous satellite dish and forty-foot short-wave radio tower also bring in an inordinate amount of information to feed his obsession. So when Pete claims that Sally's father's death twenty years ago wasn't an accident and is, in fact, linked to a recent mysterious death, she's not inclined to believe him.

A lead from Pete leads Sally into a murder investigation in Castleford even while she also writes the expose on Cassidy Cochran. Consequently, the work on both assignments sends her life hurtling out of control. Her "chance of a lifetime" assignment isn't what it seems, her love life endures unexpected upheaval, and her father's accidental death might have been murder.

The first person narrative allows the reader to participate in EXPOSE, enduring the turmoil and surprise right along with the heroine. Further, Sally's one of those wonderfully strong characters who still does stupid things and gets carried away by opportunity gone off kilter. Her believable foibles, wonderful enthusiasm, and powerful presence make her a remarkably memorable character. Further, the entire cast of characters, including the dogs and Crazy Pete, make for a fantastic reading experience. And the surprising conclusion is wonderful! Highly recommended.