Title: Exposure
Author: Aly Hayden
Publisher: Self-published
Cover Artist: Aria from Resplendent Media
Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance
Length: 61,000 words/150 pages approx.
It is the first book in the Drawn Together series.
Each book follows a different couple, so there’s a HEA and no cliffhanger.
Blurb
Sam Hayward’s parents think he has a boyfriend. And he does… in his dreams. But when they insist Sam bring his partner to the annual Labor Day family reunion, his options are to either admit it was all a lie or find a stand-in in a hurry. The trouble is that his lies have all been based on one very real man.
Ben Matheny has been hurt before. When he’s bribed into playing a part by his friends, he fleshes out Sam’s dreams, but it’s like flying too close to the sun. He’s always had a crush on Sam, and now they’re going to the Hamptons to spend a week pretending they’re lovers, everything is getting harder.
When Ben uncovers another lie Sam has told – that Ben is every bit as rich as Sam is – things begin to unravel. If Sam isn’t happy with who Ben is, Ben can’t stick around to get burned again.
With their hearts on the line, the two must fight for their dreams as the pressure mounts. It would be so easy to admit that it was all a sham, but some dreams are worth the risk.
Excerpt
“Guess we have the hot tub all to ourselves,” Ben said with a smile.
He didn’t know whether he meant the words to be flirtatious or not. It was one thing to flirt when there were other people present. That was just what he did, how he interacted with people. Deliberately flirting with Sam was different. Dangerous.
“Guess we do.”
Sam’s voice was lower than usual. Almost seductive. There was no one around that would make Sam feel like he had to play the part of the boyfriend, which meant only one thing: Sam was actually into him. The signs were all there, if Ben was reading them correctly—the way Sam had taken to holding his hand, the morning wood after cuddling all night long, the look Sam had given him when he’d seen Ben in the shorts. And then there was that thing he had started to say right before they had gotten on the boat.
Much as Ben wanted to believe that Sam might have feelings for him too, there was still a part of him that wasn’t sure. There was certainly one way for him to find out, though. The hot tub was big enough for about six people, so naturally they had taken corners along the same wall. Slowly, Ben moved closer and closer to Sam, until they were sitting side by side. He took a deep breath, steeling his nerves, and let his leg brush against Sam’s.
“What are you doing?” Sam’s voice was low and husky, and when Ben looked up, he found Sam’s pupils so large that only a sliver of hazel showed around the edges.
He swallowed hard. “Getting closer to you.”
His heart beat so fast that his chest ached as he waited for Sam to do something. Say something. Have any reaction at all. It had been so easy when it was just flirting, but this…this was terrifying.
Seconds passed, though, and Sam didn’t move away. Instead, he leaned back against the side of the hot tub and slid his hand into Ben’s, underneath the water.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said softly.
Encouraged by the reaction, Ben shifted down a bit and let his head rest on Sam’s shoulder. “Me too.” They sat in silence for a few seconds. Ben didn’t want to ruin the moment, but he knew that if he didn’t say anything, he would regret it. “Before, when we were about to get on the boat. What were you going to say?”
“I um…” Sam scratched at the back of his neck. “I was going to say, what if—”
“Sammy, Benny!”
Ben whipped around to see Karrigan. Someone had escaped from nap time. He fought to suppress a groan. Looked like this conversation would have to wait.
Review
Exposure by Aly Hayden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Exposed was graciously provided to me by Gay Book Promotions for an honest review.
“You’re Nose will Grow, Pinocchio..”
I think it’s pretty safe to assume that every child, at one time or another, was told something of the ill affects of lying. Whether it be a complete or little white one, they weren’t recommended. Despite these recommendations, some have still felt the need to slip in a lie for one reason or another. As in the case of one of the mc’s from the most recent book I have read. Exposed, which does have a very unique double entendre, is a story, at first glance, about the after affects of one such lie. Well..it does..to an extent. I found that much of this extremely slow-paced storyline to actually be about two young men, Sam and Ben, and how they tip toed around one another, due to various reasons, while debating whether or not each should approach the other. As feelings of self-doubt, second-guessing, wonderment, and denial, were prevalent throughout much of the story, a lie was then formed.
I liked the hidden inner concept of this book, that, regardless of one’s upbringing, follow one’s heart. I’ve seen this in other books as well, and, have consistently felt the same thing. And, I doubt that will ever change. As the men, from Exposed, by Aly Hayden, continued with their budding friendship, many friends and family members, some more polite than others, questioned its existence. As it was absolutely exhausting for even this reader to have to read about these kinds of trying interactions, I was not surprised that for the two mc’s, as a result of the intermingling of others, the relationship had indeed developed along with the aforementioned lie, but, as almost like a tag-along with its repercussions in the end. I enjoyed reading about Sam and Ben and their welcomed times together, especially when out in nature as well as with a certain sweet youngster. And, I was also glad Sam and Ben had ultimately found one another, however..found it difficult to make that strong connection, as a whole, even though there were many teary-eyed as well as hot and sexy moments. And, I really wanted that strong, melting kind of connection, but, for some reason(s) it wasn’t found.
As this particular book is a part of the, Drawn Together series, even though the plot, was unclear at times, and seemed to be buried amongst the excessive and often repetitive, inner dialogue, and, I had wished there was more character background as well as more of a development with their families, as well as another run through the editing process, when the mc’s finally got together, and actually started talking about their feelings, while at times a tad unrealistic, I really was happy for them. 🙂
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Meet the Author
Aly Hayden has loved writing ever since she learned to pick up a pencil. As a child, she used to write short stories, then progressed to novels of various genres, none of which were ever published – for good reason. She started writing fanfiction in 2011, publishing on Archive of Our Own. After finding M/M romance in 2012, she fell in love and made it her mission to write one of her own one day. When Aly isn’t writing, she can be found playing with her lovable Yorkie and watching old reruns of House Hunters.
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