Full Exposure

by Jerry Cole

Scott Carter’s world is small. His social circle consists of exactly one person—himself. His work keeps Scott all but glued to his computer. The long-past loss of his first love makes him hesitant to open up to anyone new. However, with the arrival of a package on his doorstep, Scott finds himself caught up in a search for a man missing for over five years.

Evan Aldridge is many things—brother, best friend, photographer and heir to a fortune. When Scott finally finds him, he turns out to be the last thing Scott had expected. With Scott only just relearning to come out of his shell and Evan still hesitant to come out of hiding, they find themselves an unexpected pair.

Can Scott learn to finally let go of the pains of the past and embrace a future filled with love? Or is destined to spent his life in a lonely cocoon. Will Evan continue to run away from things that are too good for him? Or will he finally stop running and build a life with Scott?

Please Note: This book contains adult language and steamy adult activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novel, approximately 62,000 words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger." Themes include: Second chances, photographers, city romance, seaside romance, friends to lovers, travel, foreign romance, rich boy.

Genres: M M Romance

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2019

About the author

Jerry Cole is a gay author who lives in California & enjoys writing love stories. Jerry has been writing fiction since he was a child. As a young adult, he worked as a freelance writer in the evenings & on weekends. Jerry started writing gay romance stories several years ago, but initially just for his own entertainment & occasionally sharing stories with his friends. In the summer of 2015 he published his first gay romance short story on Amazon. Overwhelmed by the positive response he decided to quit his “day job” & took up writing gay romance full time. When he’s not writing steamy M/M romance he enjoys globetrotting, watching movies with family and friends, working out, & being dragged down the road by his two Great Danes.

Reviews

[Denise H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two unique men find true love !

Two men, each convinced they will never be truly loved. This story feels airy, ethereal, lilting, and so light, but it is deeply meaningful. Scott is a secluded man, working at home with his computer, pining still from the death of his fiancé, April, even now, 5 years later.
Then, he finds a suspicious package containing a photo album. Scott gets help from two women at the cafe. Soon, Scott drives up the coast to Evan’s seaside cottage.

We have Scott’s thoughts of missing out on his and April’s planned life. His friend Gabriel keeps him grounded. British heir to his father’s fortune, Evan, a Photographer, is struggling with his father’s complete denouncement of him for being gay, and we see his sister, Frances and friend, Mitchell.

Scott begins to be attracted to mysterious, captivating, Evan. They get acquainted through stories shared, and each man opens up the other’s small worlds. This is a super slow burn, lots of anticipation, some heartaches, beginning happiness, and finally, realizations. Of course, then we get some hot, sexy loving, first time M/M loving for Scott.

The story is very different, quite intensely mysterious, and then heartwarming.
Enjoy !

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[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Five Novembers, five cold and heartless Novembers’

California author Jerry Cole’s publications are now in the range of 90! And as Jerry’s repertoire grows his dramatic ability increases. Keeping in the queue of fine novels FULL EXPOSURE is another Cole winner!

For those who follow Jerry’s many books, his ability to paint a scene we wish to explore is expected. And in this new book he lives up to that expectation – ‘It isn’t the clock blinking 2:24 AM in the bottom right corner of his computer that gets Scott to lean back in his cheap swivel chair. In the end, it’s the fact that when he goes to set down his glasses and rub at his tired eyes, there’s no space on his overflowing desk amid the mass of empty water bottles and stacked dirty dishes. Groaning, he tucks the glasses carefully over the collar of his t-shirt, pinching the bridge of his nose in a futile attempt to clear the headache building behind his eyes. He can’t remember how long he had been perched at his computer, tapping out lines of code until the letters and numbers began to blur together. With a sigh that fills the empty space of his apartment, he stands up, letting out an undignified noise of relief when his back pops back into place, and begins to gather up the army of water bottles surrounding his computer monitor. This late at night it’s quiet in the weird, oppressive way that he hates. Somewhere in the ten to fifteen hours he’d been stuck behind his desk, the busy hum of the city outside his window had dulled to nothingness, and even the family living upstairs had gone to bed. He half missed the pounding of feet that shook his ceiling during the day, if only for the reminder that other people exist around him.…’

With that subtle opener, this story begins, and is summarized well by the synopsis: ‘Scott Carter’s world is small. His social circle consists of exactly one person— himself. His work keeps Scott all but glued to his computer. The long-past loss of his first love makes him hesitant to open up to anyone new. However, with the arrival of a package on his doorstep, Scott finds himself caught up in a search for a man missing for over five years. Evan Aldridge is many things—brother, best friend, photographer and heir to a fortune. When Scott finally finds him, he turns out to be the last thing Scott had expected. With Scott only just relearning to come out of his shell and Evan still hesitant to come out of hiding, they find themselves an unexpected pair. Can Scott learn to finally let go of the pains of the past and embrace a future filled with love? Or is he destined to spend his life in a lonely cocoon. Will Evan continue to run away from things that are too good for him? Or will he finally stop running and build a life with Scott?’

Another very fine relationship analysis – and a hot little novel to boot. Jerry Cole seemingly has endless stories to share. Recommended.

[Kwaj]

Honestly cannot rate or review this book because I simply could not get into it and after slogging my way through the first four chapters just gave up. If an author and a storyline can't capture my attention by that point and there isn't at least something to make me want to keep going then I bail; and for me there just wasn't anything.

[Patdbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet again JC brings us a glorious read of two me hiding and not willing to let their hearts bond with another. 160 pages of addictive reading. Got this book as a freebie in exchange for an honest review. Read it all of you. You will not be disappointed.

[Karic · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Full Exposure” is the story of learning to live again after grief and loss has taken over. Scott and Evan are two men with two different types of loss who are still in a state of grief when they meet each other. Scott, who’s still getting over the death of a loved one, finds a photo album on his doorstep that doesn’t belong to him but eventually leads him to Evan. Evan having spent years in seclusion running away from his own problems is taken aback as Scott brings him out of isolation.

I noticed while I was reading that after every chapter or page flip I thought to myself, “quit being awkward and just kiss each other you gorgeous bastards!” The romance was a little slow in this story but as you continue reading, you find out why. We get to actually delve into what it’s like for people trying to take their lives back after spending so much time suffering from grief that they don’t know how to do it. Both Scott and Evan have spent years drowning in their sorrow that they literally haven’t a clue how to take that final step into each other’s arms. But when they do, it’s absolutely beautiful. I spent the time putting a hand over my chest and smiling like an idiot when they finally plummet and sink into their love.

It’s a nice change from other erotic stories. We get to see the complete turmoil and war that the characters are battling inside because their fear is keeping them from moving away from their past. There’s a process we get to see the characters go through before they finally decide for themselves that they want to live again. I think quite a few of us have gone through this in our lifetimes. I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Queen Plamo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all I didn't expect it to be, and even a little more!
I must say, it started slowly and I was more than little impatient to see where this is going, and I kind of wanted to stop reading after the 20th page. And what a mistake I could've done! I had my fair share of MM romance books, and the stories that really warm up to me are not much by now. But that one, oh boy...!
Scott is still mourning his dead fiancee, while getting a package he wasn't ready for and turns up for a little adventure of searching for someone...and something. And he finds both - handsome Evan, living all by himself and his (flourishing) feelings for him. The romance between them is slow build, burning Scott's mind. It is a journey of two sad and lonely men, finding HOME in each other. It is a beautifully written novel, the words expressing everything between the characters so well they make you "see" what they feel. It is very sweet story, and a very real one. And a story I really, truly enjoyed reading, and then falling in love with.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is angst and grief ladened. From the very beginning we are taken on a journey with Scott as he continues to grieve for his dead girlfriend. He works extraordinarily long hours at his computer, forgets to eat or clean his house or contact his best friend. A misaddressed package changes his life. He finds new friends, Frances and mitchell and finds a man who has disappeared for five years leaving the two girls behind. Evan is hiding and Scott is gradually overcoming his grief...however he doesn't give up easily. We are taken through several holidays, three seasons and evolving friendship that drags Scott out of himself and into his future. Will he be strong enough to let go of his grief and grab onto happiness and will Even be able to come out of hiding? An excellent story with a subtle darkness to it that clings to each word before the light comes through for the sweet HEA. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott’s isolated life is disrupted by a package which takes him down a different path than he would have imagined. Evan is loathe to come out of hiding so when they meet they are an unlikely pair that have to find a way to move forward.

This book takes you on an emotional ride filled with sadness and happiness to make a beautifully written love story. The characters come to life and I couldn’t put the book down.

I highly recommend this book, once you start reading, you will want to read Scott and Evan’s story to see how their outcome.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about Evan and Scott and how, through loss and subsequent isolation, they find each other under strange circumstances. Each book is so different, I don’t know how Jerry does it to write about totally different characters and their experience in finally finding the HEA. This book is so full of deep feelings and doubts and love, which Jerry managed to describe perfectly. If you are looking for a good book, here it is.

I read a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Xochitl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story by Jerry Cole. I'm amazed how he kept creating characters so emotionally deep that you can feel their struggles, doubts and fears, but also how they slowly fell in love with each other. While reading the book you can witness how Evan and Scott opened themselves to their forever together, each one of them after doubting for different reasons. Great characters, great reading. Loved it!!
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story.. good writing.. good characters.. i liked this one.. interesting and sexy and short and fun.