From the author of the unforgettable Because You Are Mine...

Losing control is just the beginning…

“What would you do if the sexiest man in the world was bent on bringing you unbearable pleasure again and again? Joy Hightower wasn’t sure she could survive the experience…or live without it."

It’s not often you’re hired to paint a body tattoo—and what a body—on a total stranger at a Hollywood film set. A reserved and careful art teacher, Joy would never forget it. In a rare fit of raw desire she gave herself completely, knowing she’d never see him again, or ever repeat such a shameless, naked impulse.

Little did she know, the man with whom she shared that lightning bolt of lust was star Everett Hughes. For Everett, women and sex came as easily as fame. But how could he hope to convince the guarded Joy that beneath the hard body and sexy façade of celebrity was a real man who wanted only one, real woman?

In the heat of an intoxicating affair, Everett endeavors to break down her barriers, gain her trust, and expose himself as the real deal. But can Joy do the same, and reveal to him the vulnerable woman who longs to be loved, wanted, and desired forever?  

Read the incredibly hot “Exposed to You excerpt“.  In the excerpt, Joy, reeling from a cancer diagnosis, is asked to apply special effects body makeup on Everett, an actor. The chemistry and tension that builds between them as she works on his tattoo leads to an intense sexual encounter that’s contrary to Joy’s typically cautious nature.

After reading this combustible opening (the excerpt is taken from the first chapter of the book) I was really curious to see how the author could build Joy and Everett’s relationship beyond their obvious physical attraction into something deeper and more lasting. The rest of the book takes place over a year after their first encounter–and after her cancer treatment, and while they are still drawn to each other, Joy especially, has changed greatly in the interim.

Through both blisteringly raw and intimate encounters, and time spent outside of the bedroom, Joy and Everett get to know each other. They reveal their vulnerabilities and their history. I really like that time was spent on developing their relationship through many levels of sharing, and that they each found qualities in the other worth exploring. Joy sees Everett’s grace and confidence. He is so comfortable in his own skin, and she is just wowed by that. Everett loves that Joy is unimpressed with his celebrity, seeing him as a whole person, not just the guy on the supermarket tabloid.

However, Everett also finds Joy a bit of an enigma. Her sexual connection with him is so open. She responds to his dominance with a willing acceptance, allowing herself to be incredibly vulnerable to him. Yet, Joy also keeps a part of herself closed to him in the aftermath of their sexual encounters. She pushes him away, and he can’t figure out why.

And, this is where I have some issues with Joy. I really got how she would pull away from Everett some times, protecting herself from anticipated future hurt. His reputation and all the baggage that comes from being a celebrity sometimes gets in the way of letting her believe that Everett’s feelings were genuine and lasting.

But, I had a harder time understanding her insistence on secrecy around having had cancer. It becomes an elephant in the room that Everett can sense, but not identify.  I felt so frustrated for him at times. I really worried that the author wouldn’t be able to resolve this issue in a way that felt true to the character and story, and allowed for a believable HEA.

However, I shouldn’t have worried. Beth Kery’s ability to convey deeply emotional issues really allowed me to see Joy’s growth, and believe in their HEA.

When I read Exposed to You, I didn’t realize until about halfway through the book that is was the second book in the One Night of Passion series. It stood alone well, and now I’m really excited to read the first book, Addicted to You (written by Beth Kery as Bethany Kane) and 2 related novellas.

4 out of 5

The Series: (including novella’s 1.5 & 1.6)

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.