2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
4.5 blue ribbons from Romance Junkies, January 21, 2009
This review is from: Maximum Exposure (Sg-5 Series) (Paperback)
Finn McLain has had his fair share of bizarre assignments but this one has taken on a strange twist that is definitely well worth standing up and taking notice. Finn's agreed to investigate Miami boutique manager Roland Green for a `lovesick client' but it's the boutique owner who's captured his attention and her proposition isn't one he's taking lightly.
Boutique owner Olivia Hammond is a bright sassy woman who's well aware of her own appeal and has no qualms with using her body to achieve her goals. As she's told Finn she has a friend who owns an art gallery and is interested in showcasing pictures of her and she would like to hire him to take pictures of her in all her exhibitionist glory.
Finn isn't quite sure how he managed to find himself in such a strange situation but Olivia's proposition is certainly appealing. She's a beautiful woman with a sensual nature and he's very interested in learning all her secrets and taking pictures of her won't be a hardship either. Of course there's still the matter of finding out all there is to know about Roland but that should be much easier now that he has an `in' with Olivia. Finn and Olivia's relationship quickly heats up and she's forced to decide if she's willing to let him get to know the real her, or just the woman she presents to the world. As if the situation with Olivia isn't complicated enough, Finn's investigation of Roland has some unexpected and stunning twists that add a dangerous element that he hadn't anticipated.
Alison Kent unquestionably is a master at blending suspense and sexual tension so that readers are drawn into the storylines and held captive throughout the entire book. Olivia's sensual nature is quite a lure for Finn and I couldn't help but find great humor in how she uses her body to her advantage. She's an intelligent woman with a naughty side and it's oddly stimulating. Finn is straight-laced and fairly conservative which makes his pairing up with Olivia so delightfully wicked. Their relationship is fascinating all by itself but throw in Finn's investigation and any conceptions you may have about this story being tame for even a moment will quickly fall by the wayside.
MAXIMUM EXPOSURE is the ninth story in the SG-5 series. It's a whole series about a group of spies who give their all in any mission - professionally and personally.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Maximum Exposure, December 1, 2008
This review is from: Maximum Exposure (Sg-5 Series) (Paperback)
**Note: this review is spoiler-free, so read on without fear**
Private Investigator Finn McLain has handled his share of odd assignments, so when lovesick gallery owner Dustin Parks hires him to go to Miami and dig up information on Roland Green, the manager of a small boutique, Finn thinks nothing of it. But this assignment turns out to be more complicated than Finn could have imagined when he meets the boutique's sexy owner, Olivia Hammond.
From the moment they meet, Olivia knocks Finn's socks off with an unusual business proposal. She needs a photographer to take pictures of her for an erotic art exhibit, and she thinks Finn's just the man for the job. Finn can't help but be intrigued by the proposal, nor by the stunning woman who claims she likes to "let people look."
Finn knows there's far more to Olivia than she's letting on and he takes her up on the offer, eager to discover what mysteries lie beneath Olivia's exhibitionist façade. With each photograph, each erotic encounter, Olivia and Finn get closer and closer, the pull between them undeniable. But even as desire burns hot between the lovers, Finn's simple investigation assignment uncovers dangerous information people are willing to kill to keep hidden.
The clock is ticking, and both Finn and Olivia have to decide if it's worth taking a chance and revealing all their secrets for a love more wild and passionate then either could ever have dreamed.
Better have those oven mitts ready because Maximum Exposure is hot enough to burn! Alison Kent has penned an explosively hot romance filled with, action, intrigue, and sizzling sensuality.
Finn is a hero who just comes alive on the page. He has that slightly rumpled sexiness that hits strong and hard because you don't expect if from such a seemingly laid-back male. Olivia, for her part, was an interesting heroine. She's completely open and comfortable with her sexuality, which I admire, but she also uses exhibitionism as armor. As Finn starts to get under her skin, there are chinks in that armor, and the vulnerability hidden beneath and the reasons for it are heartbreaking, serving only to make her a more endearing character. Ms. Kent made me care about Finn and Olivia's romance, not just for the story's sake, but because I cared about the two of them and wanted nothing more than for them to find happiness with one another.
In addition to Olivia and Finn's story, there's a strong subplot involving Roland Green, who is actually undercover DEA agent Roman Greyle. Without giving away plot spoilers, I will say that Roman has an equally steamy romance with Jodi Fontaine whose boss, Dustin, is in love with the supposedly gay "Roland." Roman and Jodi's storyline was every bit as engaging as Finn and Olivia's and I enjoyed seeing how the two plots converged.
Maximum Exposure is the first book I've read by Ms. Kent and it definitely won't be my last. A captivating blend of sex and danger, Maximum Exposure is not to be missed!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stellar!, November 25, 2008
This review is from: Maximum Exposure (Sg-5 Series) (Paperback)
Finn McLain is in Miami on a private investigation stint when he is approached by a breathtaking woman. When she offers to hire Finn to take some erotic photos of her for a friend's gallery, he is instantly intrigued. Olivia Hammond is the owner of a trendy boutique and it turns out that one of her managers, Roland Green, is the subject of Finn's investigation. It's apparent to Finn early on that both have secrets, and while a portion of Roland's secrets were easily figured out, it's the ones that Olivia is keeping that have Finn wanting to stick around. She is deliberately brazen about flaunting her body and equally deliberate in attempting to hide the pain that is shadowed in her eyes. Their photo shoot is especially revealing as Olivia's sultry passion and the hidden pain from her past make for stunningly candid shots. The two soon become intimate and their hearts are quickly, although somewhat reluctantly, involved but when Finn's investigation of Roland takes an unexpected twist, neither is prepared for the consequences.
With each and every new Alison Kent release, I feel certain that it is her most intriguing and sharpest release to date. MAXIMUM EXPOSURE is no exception. This book has teeth. Finn and Olivia don't simply become romantically involved, there's a connection of hearts and souls; their emotions are meticulously written. There's no fluffy sweetness or unnecessary filler in this book, just the rich goodness you would expect from Alison Kent. There is a secondary romance involving Roland Green that is a bonus of sorts, possibly a tad more erotic than that of Finn and Olivia, and very satisfying. MAXIMUM EXPOSURE comes with my absolute highest recommendation.
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