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Exposed by Willow Aster is LIVE!!! FREE in KU!

“A royal story set in background of conspiracies, manipulations and deceptions, Exposed is a whirlpool of intense emotions. The characters are beautifully broken. Their feelings are raw, gritty and incredibly terrifying. The story sucked me in and left its permanent mark on my heart.” ~PP’s Bookshelf

It was never a question of love.

I knew I loved Elias Lancaster and that he loved me.

At least I always thought he did.

But for some reason, he always found an excuse not to be with me.

The pain I felt as my childhood love rejected me, again and again, after promising me the world when we were kids…

Well, it just wouldn’t go away.

No matter how hard I tried.

Desperate times called for desperate measures, and I never wanted to be considered desperate, but I knew if something didn’t change soon, I’d lose Elias for good and die of a broken heart.

No one told me how many times my heart could break in the process.

Start reading today!

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/Exposed-US

Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/Exposed-UK

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2SM6rd9

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/Exposed-AU

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/Exposed-GR

Catch up on the series with Downfall, book 1, and find out why readers are falling in love with this series!

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/Downfall-US

Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/Downfall-UK

Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/Downfall-CA

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/Downfall-AU

I lean in closer. “Be careful, your mask is slipping. You almost seem like the girl I grew up with right now.” I both love and hate seeing the real her. It’s driven me out of my mind that for years now, Mara has put on a mask around everyone but me. “Wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea and see that you’re actually a caring person.” I lower my voice. “I have nothing to say to you.”

The hurt flashes across her eyes but is gone within a blink. In my mind, I see her when she was ten, when she thought I was ignoring her for a week because my mother wouldn’t let me go play with the princess. She locked me in my room when I snuck out, not letting me out for so long I thought I’d die in that bedroom. Those were the dark days with my mother, the days I still try to stuff down inside. I’d give anything if I could erase them from my memory. The hurt on Mara’s face back then when I was able to go outside again but didn’t tell her where I’d been or what had happened…it’s the same look I saw just now.

It’s these snapshots of us in my mind that make me turn back to her, make me think maybe there is a way…maybe we could have a chance.

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Michel’s Review

Readers once again find themselves in the Kingdom of Niaps in  EXPOSED by Willow Aster. Princess Mara Catano is having an even harder time adjusting to the changes in the kingdom since her younger brother married and became king after her father was arrested for murder. Her mother has been banished from the palace, her father is awaiting trial, her new sister in law has taken her brother’s affection, and the kingdom has changed in a blink of an eye. The worst is the man she has loved since childhood no longer wants anything to do with her and has eyes for another. What is a spoiled princess to do but act out to get attention, make headlines for her bad behavior, and turn on her trusted brother due to her parents manipulation. Never a dull moment ins Niaps.

Mara has been in love with Elias since she was a young, neglected princess desperate for love and attention. She valued their friendship and fell deeply in love with the boy from her youth. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t royalty and filthy rich, he loved her for being Mara not Princess Mara. Now Elias is her brother’s advisor and has his own issues in life. He’s hiding things from both her and her brother.

Spiteful actions, immature decisions, and malicious intent keep them apart until they both finally see the truth. The lives are being manipulated. They are pawns in a wicked game of deceit and loyalty. Will they finally grow up, take control of their lives, and dictate their own destiny? Are they strong enough to weather the storm or will they blow away in the wicked windstorm created by the former king?

Although I liked the premise of this story and the theme of the series, I feel like the story that propels this cast of characters is falling apart.  The characters are hard to embrace and hard to believe. Their selfish actions and repetitive manipulations overtake the goodness the author wanted readers to embrace. I feel like there was not enough explanation of the political motivations to validate this world. I think this series could go much further with a bit more attention to details, a better development of characters, stronger world building passages, and a more mature plot line.

I am still very invested in this series and look forward to reading more. I think I had a hard time connecting with Mara and Elias. I loved the first book and hope the next will have that kind of vibe.

Overall I am glad I continued reading Exposed because I got to see the other side of a very mean, spoiled princess. I got to see Princess Mara evolve into a better woman rather than a spoiled royal brat.

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The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card on her author page. Stop by to enter!

https://www.facebook.com/willowasterauthor/

Willow Aster is a USA Today Bestselling author and host of Living in the Pages podcast. She lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband, kids, and rescue dog.

Website: www.willowaster.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/willowasterauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WillowAster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowaster1/

Listen to her Living in the Pages podcast:

iTunes: https://bit.ly/2DzM9ZU

Android: http://bit.ly/2Uj5JkZ

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2SJE7bI