If you stop to really examine her plan to escape her husband, it is completely ridiculous. There are better and easier ways to make that happen. He was a nightmare and terrifying. Darby and Jack were an interesting pair. I was intrigued by the story and had to keep reading until the end. I look forward to the rest of the series.

I'm enjoying the Finding Justice series from Rhonda Pollero.  In Exposed we meet Jack Kavanaugh and Darby Hayes.  Darby is smart, accomplished has her own means and yet still finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage.  She knows that her husband is capable of horrible crimes and won't let her go so she makes a drastic choice to save her newborn daughter.  When she stops in Jack's law office on a whim, she finds a man she instantly feels she can trust.  It takes time to bond in a way that has Jack fighting to save Darby from prison, helping her get away from her husband and getting her daughter back.

The book is full of sweet, tender personal moments between Darby and Jack, super intense moments with the despicable Sean, betrayals, and much more until Darby is finally free and among good people who care.  The book kept me interested, moved at a good pace and gave me all the reasons I needed to keep turning the pages.

reviewed by Jem

Poor Darby enters quickly into a marriage, and it turns out to be nightmare. When she finds out she is pregnant, she has to get away. But, Sean, her husband won't let go easily. Her ally in the battle for freedom in the attorney she hired, Jack.

I felt a little uncomfortable with the romance between Darby and Jack because, hello, she was embroiled in a hot mess of a marriage. I felt it was a bit rushed and made me think Darby is a bit naive. I also felt that her plan left something to be desired. I mean, there were some holes you could drive a truck through. Seriously, how did she and Jack not realize that? Again, I'm left thinking Darby is too naive to live.

The end felt a bit obvious to me. It was satisfying and everything is wrapped up in a nice little bow, but with a story like this, I didn't expect such a nice, neat ending. The story had such potential in the beginning, but it fell flat for me.

exposed is the kind of thriller where you know exactly who the bad guy is and all you are waiting for is for the heros to catch a break and finally outsmart him. darby hayes grisom is hanging on by a thread. after a whirlwind courtship and marriage the truth behind her husband's charming facade has become to apparent for her to ignore. when he attacks her after a dinner gone wrong she decides she wants out.

but he's one step ahead of her. he kills her parents. cuts her off at every turn. taunts her with the truth of what he's done but claims that she is responsible for all of it. the terror, the brutality of it is suffocating. darby trusts no one. how can she? and how can she raise her daughter in a home with a sociopath? so she concocts the craziest plan.

and if her husband weren't one step ahead of her all the time, it might work. but he is and everything falls apart. luckily before things go sideways she'd connected with jack kavanaugh. he's a lawyer who has a soft spot for abused women. and how can he resist darby?

he believes her. that simple fact means more to darby than he'll ever know. he believes her that her husband is crazy and will hurt her in any way possible and because he knows this he will help her. he will help her through this mess. and if she wants him to, he'll stick around to help her because even though the timing is terrible and wrong, he wants to. he wants her. and she wants him too.

the intensity of the plot lets you forgive how quickly darby and jack fall into a relationship. the fact that darby's husband is an actual monster pushes aside any squeamishness about adultery. it shouldn't work as a romance, but it does, and that is due to the pure chemistry between darby and jack.

Eh...this book was just okay for me.

It was difficult to relate to Darby given the elaborate plan she came up with after learning she was pregnant by her abusive husband. Even if I agreed with her plan, there were far too many holes in it almost from the get go. For someone who tried to plan and hide things, she left far too much in plain sight.

I thought the story kind of dragged on a little too long. And the end was just too simple and obvious.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer jerjen

When Darby met Sean, she thought that she had met Prince Charming. He was charming, funny, attractive and attentive. Until he wasn’t. Then he became mean, abusive, volatile and a real pyscho. He will do anything to keep Darby with him because he wants her money. When she becomes pregnant, the abuse did not stop, it escalated. When Darby has the baby, she knows that she has to get away from Sean, any way that she can. She comes up with an elaborate plan to do just that. But her plan does not work as well as she thought it would, and she turns to Jack, a lawyer that she picked randomly for help. Jack realizes that Darby is a woman in trouble and he is willing to help her any way that he can. The more time they spend together the more they find they are attracted to each other. But Darby has a lot of baggage and the threat of violence hanging over her head. Can they work together to take the threat to Darby and her baby away and have their happily ever after?

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Darby is a smart tough woman and even though she made a mistake marry her husband, she will do anything to correct that mistake. Jack is a sweet caring man who does not like seeing wrongs done to anyone. And Sean is a vile disgusting person who deserves whatever evil he gets. They were all strong characters and people you could either care about or despise.

The author is very talented in creating suspense with the written word. Through most of the book I was afraid to keep swiping the pages. Afraid because I did not know what would happen next. But I had to keep swiping the page because I had to know what would happen next. I thought about this book even when I was not reading it, wondering and worrying about what would happen to Darby and her baby. I think that is a sign of a really good author when the reader cannot stop thinking about their book.

The author took a very serious social problem and wrote about it in a realistic way. I think that is why this book stuck with me so long after I read it, it was realistic and it could happen in real life (and does happen in real life). Some portions of the book (like Darby’s plan to free herself from Sean) were farfetched but most of the book was true to life.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted romantic suspense. This is the first book in this series and I am looking forward to reading the next book when it is published.

This is a little bit different from the typical romantic suspense, if you are expecting to be the whole knight in shining armour and woman needs help . Take a step back. Pollero writes strong characters and in Exposed we certain get that . It takes a strong person to admit things ad Darby has admitted that.

She thought she fell in love with her dream man and it was all wonderful. Until the true colours came true and Sean revealed what he was truly like . Her dreams are in tatters and the only thing keep her together is their baby. She knows that the ultimate prize for him as this means they arer tied together.

This very it gets interesting, Derby knows that she can’t stick to the role she playing. She may of hold back because she thought she could handle things. However the author creates a scenario for her where things are taken to a place that it becomes the last straw and send things spiralling.

Darby grows up to realise what she needs to do and the power is crazy. Darby may be battered but she smart and calculated in a good way. She have to be given coming against Sean who is cool and calculated in his own ways. It makes for a darkish read as the things that happen border the line good verse bad. It blurs lines and reality as watch the story unfold.

It almost insane but it works, as the author weaves a believable story by putting the elements into place. As a mother would do anything for her child . One of those elements is the hero Jack Kavanaguh who understand the situations and agrees to help Darby with a simple problem never expecting it to blow. However he has his hunches and it soon gets way more complicated with him in the picture.

He wants what best for all but Darby is determined and stubborn to do things her way. It makes for interesting pair as Jack is determined to do things by the law for most of the book whilst Darby is treading the fine line wanting to embrace things yet she can’t. It not your run of mill romantic suspense as a result despite appearances

It got the elements you expect but Darby taking charge and give it a dark feel changed the tone and the writing a lot. Darby had a huge influence on the author it seems as the way it centre and plotted seems to reflect it. Adding in Jack who almost straight laced until the woman of his dream walks in and offers something he wants only helped drive the story. It is an intrigued different sort of book and I enjoyed the storytelling. It makes the book unique and stand out even more given the norm for the this genre. Exposured fit the bill of finding justice and I can’t wait to see what this talented creative author does with the next book

received in exchange for a honest review.

Rhonda Pollero blew me away with the very real scenario and the emotions that come out in Exposed. She shows us just how women in Darby’s situation feel about themselves, their situation and the hopelessness they are dealing with as they fall further down the rabbit hole. For Darby she did the unthinkable to protect what she held dear to her heart. She sacrificed herself and freedom. Her love for someone superseded fear and brought her to a drastic decision. ONe that Jack was able to help her out with

Jack is the hero in the story. He is smart and kind. when he first meets Darby he sees what she is going through and wants to help but not push. His past shows him that pushing a frightened and caged person can be fatal. So he lets her take the lead and this in some ways leads to some very train wrecky decisions but also him being there when no one else could be. He helps her navigate the rough waters of abuse and what she did to protect her child. He helps her find her way to freedom and a life. He also shows her patience, guidance and love.

the attraction between the two is through the roof. and the hesitation is so real. He because of her fear and her because of her situation. She was humiliated and embarrassed by her decisions that led to where she is now. Scared of her money grubbing husband who kept so much from her. He oozed slime from his pores but charmed like a snakewielder. he was possessive and violent. he tricked her into a world that caged her and gave her fear for herself and child. So she turned to desperate measures and ended up going down a dark path that Jack helped her climb out of. so many secrets and dangers in this twisty and very real tale of abuse and desperation this book has.

the writing is amazing. You can feel her fear and desperation. See Jack in your mind as he wants to help and be there for Darby. See the anger of her husband and his horridness. See him change before your eyes and become the danger that he was. Your drawn into the story by the emotion and actions of Darby and Jack. Kept in the moment with the decisions of Darby and how Jack is there to help her when no one else was or what she perceived was no one when really there were more people to support her than she thought. A gripping tale that is real in situation and feeling and just grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. I hope the next is of Jack’s brother for I would love to see him find someone and his protective side come out for more than just his brother.

Oh, my goodness! The emotions behind Exposed were on point. I loved how raw and, well, exposed it was. Rhonda didn't sugar coat any aspect of this book. She pushed the envelope and went there. It was difficult for me to read certain scenes, mostly because it was just heartbreaking. While Darby is tenacious and intelligent, her plans don't quite make a whole lot of sense. I can't put myself in her shoes, but there had to have been something else she could have done. On the other hand, I didn't feel as strong of a connection to Jack like I did with Darby. There were glimpses into his thoughts, but I felt as if there were some pieces weren't fully explained (and I hope they will be in future books). I did really like the two of them together. Understandably, their romance takes a bit of a backseat to the suspense (which makes sense considering Darby's marriage) and I appreciate the slow burn. It felt as if less was more since they do fight their initial attraction towards each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed Exposed. It was my first book of the author's so I can't comment on how it compares to her previous books. I loved her voice and writing style. I appreciated her willingness to approach a potentially trigger subject, one that can be very difficult to read. There was one element of Exposed that made it a little bit confusing to read. There were a handful of times where the point-of-view switched characters when I wasn't quite expecting it. Exposed is written in alternating 3rd person and each perspective switch was marked with a new chapter or a different section within one chapter. There were a couple times when it switched with no warning and I had to backtrack a bit to figure out who's perspective it was in. Other than that, I truly did enjoy Exposed. It was a raw, emotional romantic suspense that kept me on edge from start to finish. I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series.

Exposed took me by surprise, what I was expecting from the blurb I was expecting something more like Sleeping with the Enemy but it was so much more it a couple of nice "what a twist moments" but was also predictable in other parts. It was an enjoyable diversion from the typical. It was a good story it kept me up all night reading it. Darby is trying to get out of the situation by any means possible and she thinks she has the best solution, but she really didn't think it through with all possible outcomes and she did not expect her husband to be complete sociopath. This was a very complicated plan on Darby's part and she was willing to risk everything but the life of her baby to execute it. The story was well written and the characters were easy to connect to and easy to like.

Darby had a whirlwind romance with Sean and she thought it was ideal up to the time he first hit her, it wasn't until she was eight months pregnant that she had enough. But Sean quite literally is watching every move she makes so Darby concocts a plan she feels is the only way she can successfully keep the baby away from Sean's abusiveness. Her plans require a lawyer one who has no ties to her, Sean, or her family, Jack Kavanaugh. At first Jack wants nothing to do with the privileged Darby, but he knows she's lying to him and that she is in desperate need of help. Everything goes according to plans up until the point Sean does something she never expected and now she needs Jack's help to get out of this and safe not only herself but that of her daughter.

Overall, this really was a good read. I look forward to reading more by Rhonda Pollero.

It's great to see that Rhonda Pollero is trying on women's suspense rather than her romantic comedy series and while this story concept is good, the book needs a great editor and a little more polish. I hope the next one sparkles.

I was drawn to this book by the book cover first and the summary second. Now, this is how you start off a new series. This book was so easy to read. It was smooth. A bonus as I was reading this book on my computer. I found myself not wanting to step away and keep reading.

Darby is my kind of woman. A strong, intelligent woman. Oh, who just happens to be a sharp shooter. So don't mess with her. The author did a great job of making sure that Darby was not painted as a victim but a fighter. While, I did appreciate the romance between Darby and Jack; I kind of wished that there was no romance. Darby was coming out of a violent relationship only to fall into Jack's arms (predicable). Yet, the few intimate scenes in the story were very brief like PG. I look forward to checking out the next book in this series.

Everything that glitters is not necessarily gold and in this story, a seemingly idyllic marriage is not what it seems. Darby Hayes has paid the price for her naivety. She married in haste after only six weeks.
Unfortunately, she was deceived and her life with her obsessive, controlling and abusive husband is nothing but pure hell. Sean Grimson is a cold, emotionless psychopath and married her for her money. Bruised and battered, she feels trapped. When she ends up pregnant, she can’t risk the baby’s safety and devises a plan to protect her child. But she is unaware of the lengths her husband will go to hurt her.

She is caught up in a twisting spiral of lies and manipulation. Her husband’s savage determination to make her pay for trying to get away was chilling. The pressure of the story builds up as her husband pieces together the details of her scheme. Darby is brave and resilient, but deeply hurt. She is forgiving, though, frankly a bit too much in my opinion. In this nightmare, she has one precious ally, Jack Kavanaugh, a young attorney she has hired. He is the only person she can trust, her knight in shining armor. Jack admires her strength through adversity and they fall for each other.

I was captivated by this thrilling and fast-paced romantic suspense. The author’s writing is strong, her characters are well-developed and intriguing. The suspense was breathtaking and kept me guessing until the end, although I have to admit that some plot twists were somewhat contrived. But this didn’t deter me from thoroughly enjoying this book. The romance between Darby and Jack was sweet and created a balance with the chilling elements of the story. This book is the first in a new series, and I can’t wait to read the next book, featuring Jack’s brother, Conner Kavanaugh.

Darby Hayes Grisom thought she had found the man of dreams, he swept her off her feet, charmed his way into her heart and had her walking down the aisle in a matter of weeks after their first date. But her dreams of happily ever after came to a screeching halt soon after the ink was dry on their marriage license, her prince charming turned out to be a dark, dangerous, abusive man that was only looking for a payday. Darby soon finds herself pregnant, alone and stuck in a situation that is sure to end badly...

The minute Darby Grisom walks into Jack Kavanaugh's law office he senses she is in need of saving, and his instincts to be her personal hero kick into overdrive, and he is soon rearranging his life to see to it that she is kept safe from her abusive husband. But before long his desire to protect her on a professional level switches to a personal level and things between them start to heat up, and he finds himself falling hard for the damsel in distress...

This was my first time reading a book by this author and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was refreshing to read something a little out of the norm. I liked the premise of the story and thought the characters we were well written and had a very realistic feel to them. Definitely left a good first impression!! If your looking for a spine-tingling read with a little sultry romance mixed in here and there then I highly suggest you check this one out!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

SPOILERS IN REVIEW
Darby comes from a wealthy family and has a huge trust fund. Despite this, she became a vet and runs a successful clinic. She married Sean after a 6 week whirlwind courtship. Now, less than 2 years later and 8 months pregnant, she is living a nightmare. Sean is moody, volatile, demeaning, demanding, and physically and mentally abusive. Being pregnant has not spared her his physical abuse and she fears for both her and the baby’s life. She devises an extreme plan to escape his wrath. I struggled with this plan. She is a very wealthy woman. Granted, Sean had slowly removed her support system over time and secluded her as much as he could, which is normal for this type of abuse. I just can’t believe there weren’t better options.

Jack Kavanaugh is an attorney Darby stumbles across. He is just beginning his practice. He went to law school to try to free his brother. Jack and his siblings grew up in an abusive home, so he understands Darby better than she realizes. He is quick to see through her ruse.
Darby and Jack are attracted from their first meeting. I had a few issues with their relationship. First, she is in no position to take on another relationship, which he agrees with AFTER he has sex with her. Second, no condom use, no discussion of birth control or sexual histories. She knows Sean has been cheating on her and he has not been using condoms when he forces himself on her. Jack admits he is definitely no choir boy. What kind of guy would take advantage of a vulnerable woman, even if she is the aggressor, as he says? And, bottom line, she’s still married, horrible situation or not.

This book describes domestic violence episodes in detail. If this is trigger for you, do not read it.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

an ok read. I liked both Darby and Jack

I grabbed this book because I love Rhonda Pollero's Finley Anderson Tanner Mysteries. Completely different than that series, but just as entertaining. Exposed covers the more serious matter of spousal abuse and the lengths someone will go to get out of the situation. Well written and filled with action, drama, and romance. I'm looking forward to meeting more of the Kavanaugh family!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Darby and Jack meet one day when Darby is desperately trying to find someone that she can trust to keep her daughter safe after finding out what her husband did after they had a fight and she told her parents everything that's been going on in the last 2 yrs. What she wasnt expecting was 1 how thought out planned her soon to be ex was and 2 falling for the lawyer she only met while being 8 months pregnant. This book is full of action and surprises. Enjoyed this book to the very last word.

To be honest, I expected something quite different. More of a mystery-like book as it is Pollero I guess.

Darby is married to a very volatile man and seven months pregnant. To escape she devices an elaborate plan to escape her husband and save her child. I just could just not believe a woman of this wealth, with a vet practice and such, could not think of another way to get out of her situation. It was a bit too much out there for me.
It is however written very well. A scary thriller.