Nudes by Sarah Robinson
Series: Exposed, #1
Contemporary Romance
May 22, 2017
Self Published

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “She’d earned every moment of her career, and if she was going down, she was going down fighting.”

Movie executive Ben Lawson almost lost it all in his high-profile divorce but he’s being given second chance and nothing or nobody is going to stand in his way.

Then his leading lady walks on the set.

Actress Aria Rose may not be a household name in Hollywood just yet but her latest role could land her an Oscar if she keeps her nose clean.

Then she meets the head of the movie studio.

He doesn’t want to fall for her.

She can’t afford to fall for him.

But fall they do and soon they learn that in order to rise from the ashes…someone will have to burn.

Nudes by Sarah Robinson is a contemporary romance that starts off with a bang as we are dropped right into the beginning of a scandal then taken back into the past so that we can see how it all started.

She was everywhere. Her breasts, her body, her love life on full display for the world to see.

[…] A sob stuck in her throat. Did he do this?

We are introduced to Aria Rose and Ben Lawson in short bursts-starting with an after party and again two weeks later at the studio where they all work. Ben is taking over the management of the studio where Aria just completed her first big film-Scarlett Letters. A movie that promises to be a huge money maker. Robinson uses these two short meet greets to establish their intense attraction and chemistry. They decide on a weekend only love affair, agreeing that neither wants anything long term nor do they want any gossip before the movie goes to the theaters.

“This may not be able to go past Sunday night, but we can enjoy it now.”

Robinson uses  Ben and Aria’s history as the shovel to dig behind the glitz and glamor of Hollywood into its darker side; focusing on the double standards between actors and actresses and the sex as currency atmosphere it fosters. Presented in dual narrative, Robinson tells the story of two people whose love affair sets off a chain of events neither could have seen coming.  An interesting premise and solid base offer much potential though I was disappointed to see Robinson chooses not to take any real risk in here and stays remarkably low key in terms of angst and conflict.

Ben and Aria are engaging protagonists who fit together rather easily in their attraction, creating an insta lust/love connection that offers readers a sexually primed romance that is heavy on the sex but weak in chemistry and emotional fulfillment. We are told they are head over heels for one another-soul mates-but Robinson never fully convinces me of that. I enjoyed the forbidden vibe surrounding their affair and the comfortable nature of their interactions but I really wanted to experience their getting to know one another and falling in love. Instead, it’s forced on us at a rapid rate of speed as Robinson sets up for the main conflict.

The ending picks up right back where we began. The scandal plays out and we learn the consequences for all involved. I commend Robinson for choosing this particular theme. We see this type of behavior everywhere, not just in Hollywood, and the more light we shine on it, the more we can show people that this is NOT acceptable and we will fight back. Robinson leaves us with a small epilogue that assures us this couple gets their HEA.

There were some things that didn’t work for me in here. Obviously, the insta love aspect was one.  Robinson spends too much time in telling us rather than showing us. That creates a lack of depth and blocks connections. At times the story felt rushed and at others it dragged. I also had issues how certain scenes played out. Aria and Ben constantly call for secrecy yet apparently all anyone has to do is look at them and they know. There is one scene where Aria’s ex finds out and rather than lie, he is simply told to keep it a secret. Huh? She’s an actress. She’s literally trained to lie on cue and she knows he is angry she dumped him.

Nudes was a fast read that evokes some strong emotions over its theme.  Though it is listed as part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Grade: C-

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MEET THE AUTHOR

Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in clinical and forensic psychology. She is married to a wonderful man who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiast as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescues, as well as volunteering and fostering for multiple animal shelters.

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