Book Review - Exposure by Ava Marsh - Back Catalogue Books

Back Catalogue Books is my new regular Saturday feature, focusing on books that are not the latest releases. There is going to be a mix of Q&As and also reviews, depending on what I have the space for. 

If you are an author wanting to take part in Back Catalogue Books then please do email on gilbster at gmail dot com and I'll whizz the questions over to you. 

I hope everyone enjoys this weekly look back at some of the slightly older books that are about but still great, going to aim to read books that have been out for at least 6 months, and that I eventually make a dent in my TBRs as a result of it! 

Amazon UK

Title:  Exposure

Author: Ava Marsh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld Digital 

Publication Date: 16th June 2016

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Kitty Sweet isn’t like anyone you’ve ever met before.

She’s an infamous porn star, imprisoned for double murder. As damaged as she is charismatic, as dangerous as she is charming. 

But once no different from you or I.

Kitty’s past is full of heartbreak and desperation, of adulation and glamour. Of ruin. She’s descended to an underworld most people can only imagine, and lived to tell the tale . . . 

This is her story.

'Not for the faint-hearted, Exposure is a riveting page-turner with a moral core that elevates it above most thrillers. I couldn’t put it down.' Mark Edwards, author of The Magpies

Enthralling story taking in the highs and lows of the adult film industry, and what its like to be a porn star. It has captured my imagination and any time I wasn't reading, I was thinking about Kitty Sweet and just what her life was like. 

For Kitty Sweet is telling us her story from the "comfort" of prison, as she was found guilty of murdering two people. She has been in for years at the point we meet her, and she is encouraged to talk to a psychiatrist, and to tell her side of the story. 

It follows that we see the way Kitty fell into the career she chose, the motivations behind it leading up to why she is in prison. Despite knowing the outcome as such, I found the story captivating and I really enjoyed reading it. 

There is a fair amount of sex, or sexual acts in the story, but its not gratuitous, more matter of fact, to highlight the glamour modelling and porn industries. There are some scenes that could be considered uncomfortable but a lot depends on your own sexual desires and openness, so really is subjective to each reader as to where their comfort line may lie. 

Exposure has been described by some as a thriller but I'm not convinced. It was gripping, unputdownable in places, but didn't feel particularly thrilling. It was interesting and I'm not really sure what genre I would call this but its not a non stop action packed thriller, but  more a story for friendship and just what lengths you will go to for love. 

I thoroughly enjoyed getting into Kitty's mind, and absolutely love both of the books that Ava Marsh has now written. I just hope we will see more from her as the seedy sexual underworld is great subject matter for these sorts of books. The writing entranced me and had me hooked and overall I just really enjoyed Exposure. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Transworld for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Untouchable by Ava Marsh

Amazon UK

Title: Untouchable

Author: Ava Marsh

Format reviewed: Ebook 

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Corgi

Publication Date: 13th August 2015 

Rating: 5 Stars

‘If you start feeling anything for a client – and it does happen – count the money. That always brings you back down to earth.’

Stella is an escort, immersed in a world of desire, betrayal and secrets. It’s exactly where she wants to be. Stella used to be someone else: respectable, loved, safe. But one mistake changed all that.

When a fellow call girl is murdered, Stella has a choice: forget what she’s seen, or risk everything to get justice for her friend. In her line of work, she’s never far from the edge, but pursuing the truth could take her past the point of no return.

Nothing is off limits. Not for her – and not for them.

But no one is truly untouchable.

If  I'd have had the time, I would have easily sat and read this in one sitting. It was enjoyable and addictive reading. Beware though if you are easily offended by a large variety of sex acts, you may need to either skip parts of this book, or not read it. The sex is described explicitly without flowery romantic language, due to the nature of Stella's work. 

Stella is an escort, or high class call girl, if you prefer the term. At the base of it she sells sex for money, but she has a website instead of standing on a street corner, and she and her fellow call girls take every precaution possible to keep themselves safe from their clients. 

For the first third of the book, we learn about Stella and her escort work, as well as get a small hint as to other work she does, and there are hints to her past, which made Stella decide to become a call girl. It is interesting, but what really gets the book going is when a fellow call girl that Stella has worked with recently is murdered. 

Stella just can't trust that the police will take it seriously so starts doing some digging of her own, at which point the whole story takes on a life of its own, and it becomes completely addictive. This is a fairly exciting thriller, with certain aspects I was definitely not expecting. 

There is a good amount of depth to the plot, even though I didn't feel an emotional connection to Stella in the way I do to some characters normally, I still loved her character and how she refused to give in to various situations. 

Although the sex is explicit, I felt it was very well written, and very accurate as to how the women must have been feeling at times. The "anything goes" party was eye opening. and featured at least one act that would be some peoples complete fantasy, and others will identify with Stella in it and possibly wince!

I loved this book a lot, and couldn't believe how easy it was to read, and how fast the pages seemed to go by, as I was enjoying it so much. From the prologue up until the ending I was hooked, and think this was fabulous debut thriller from Ava Marsh. I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for future releases. 

Thanks so much to Random House and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest review.