Senator Kipp Kensington has been in politics for twenty years. He knows how even a whiff of scandal can ruin a politician’s career overnight. That is why he entered into a marriage of convenience over nine years ago. But, lately things have changed. Kipp has begun to question the cost of hiding who he is, and his bitter, harridan of a wife isn’t making his already stressful life any easier.
Then he meets Robin Grant, a twenty five year old Adonis, who makes his heart pound and causes him to forget himself and engage in an affair. When the affair becomes one of love rather than sexual fulfillment Kipp has some tough decisions to make. Faced with blackmailers, the cost to his career, and the possible wrath of the public what choice will Kipp make?
I love how G.A. Hauser can take something that would ordinarily make me close a book in disgust and make it seem reasonable, nay, acceptable. I’m not a huge fan of adultery, and usually I dislike the characters that perpetrate the act. But, I love both Kipp and Robin. The intensity of their relationship defies all boundaries and had me rooting for them from the start. At times I felt sorry for Kipp’s wife, Louise, but the overall pervasive feeling was that she brought it all upon herself. I also felt that Ms. Hauser has written a scathingly accurate look into the workings of our government and the skeletons that politicians keep in their closets. Being a work of fiction I felt that there were a few liberties taken with the reactions to events, but that is part and parcel when dealing with a love story. I’ve come to realize that while I certainly enjoy the erotic scenes between Ms. Hauser’s characters, that isn’t the main draw for me. I could happily read one of her books and the characters not have sex. She writes characters with such depth and feeling that they make the book. It doesn’t hurt that her plots are always well conceived and fluidly written as well. But, I believe that the reason I eagerly anticipate each one of her works is for the great characters I know I will meet inside. I highly recommend Exposure to anyone who wants a great story!
