Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Watergate, Schmatergate, get a load of this: a dead infant, a sleazy president, a manic-depressive first lady, an aide that makes G. Gordon Liddy look like a wuss, murder, adultery, a thousand skeletons peeping from a thousand closets. Exclusive moves so quickly because somebody is always doing something bad. TV journalist Barrie Travis interviews the first lady, a Southern belle still mourning the death of her infant. With a mixture of horror and self-interest, Travis perceives the slightest hint that the first infant didn’t merely die, but was murdered. But by who, and why? As you can imagine, that’s when it gets messy. The book might capsize under the sheer weight of seamy scandals and sleazy characters were it not for the almost-supernaturally spunky Travis and her somewhat reluctant love-object, craggy ex-Marine Gray Bondurant. Bondurant left the White House under a cloud. Was he the first lady’s lover? Travis and Bondurant come together to solve the mystery, of course. If you read fast, you might just keep up.
Review
PRAISE FOR SANDRA BROWN
“A masterful storyteller, carefully crafting tales that keep readers on the edge of their seats.”―USA Today
“Author Sandra Brown proves herself top-notch.”―Associated Press
“Sandra Brown has continued to grow with every novel.”―Dallas Morning News
“A novelist who can’t write them fast enough.”―San Antonio Express-News
“Brown has few to envy among living authors.”―Kirkus Reviews
From the Back Cover
Barrie Travis is not famous: she’s just a damn good reporter stuck at a low-budget television station. Then the First Lady calls her…and offers her the story of a lifetime. The president’s wife, stunned by grief after the loss of her infant son, hints that her child may have been murdered. Blind to everything but finding the truth, Barrie’s fight for an exclusive story will test her ethics, her patriotism, and her courage. Then, with the help of Gray Bondurant, a mysterious former presidential aide, she unearths White House secrets that, if exposed, could topple the presidency. Now, even as she falls in love, Barrie must fight powerful forces that want nothing more than to see the scandalous past — and a certain young reporter — dead and buried.
About the Author
Sandra Brown is the author of seventy-two New York Times bestsellers. There are over eighty million copies of her books in print worldwide, and her work has been translated into thirty-four languages. She lives in Texas. For more information you can visit www.SandraBrown.net.
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Enzo –
Into the story right away, kept me interested every chapter and great twits you didn’t see coming!
TUCSON ROBERT –
EXCLUSIVE by Sandra Brown. The story takes place in Washington D.C. and centers at the highest levels of our federal government. Berrie Travis , a gorgeous, warmhearted and at times naïve investigative reporter for a small local TV station receives a call from the first lady. Travis is doing a report on SIDS and the president’s wife who recently lost a 3-month old son to SIDS wants to talk with her. The meeting does not go as Berrie would have liked, but her interests are piqued, something is not right, something is troubling her. From this meeting the plot spirals, sometimes aimlessly through one catastrophe to another involving a sleazy, narcissistic and dishonest president as well as several corrupt members of his White House staff. Brown does a superb job of developing her characters. After a few pages you are thinking right with them and can often guess their next move. The plot often veers off in strange and unrealistic directions; but, hey—this is fiction—and Brown makes the digressions seem almost real for the reader. Brown, being a romance novelist in her early career can’t pass up an opportunity to slip in several obligatory love scenes for good measure. This is not a deep or complicated novel; it is a light, quick and enjoyable read. I recommend the book and rate it a strong 4.
Kindle Customer –
I have never ever been disappointed by any of Sandra Brown’s work. This was fast paced, had so many twists and turns! The ending just floored me…completely.
Echo Charlie –
I don’t read books twice – there are too many adventures out there to ride down the same road again. Lately, I’ve settled for okay stories, written okay. I know certain authors are fabulous in weaving a story, and even then – either you’ve read everything an author has written, or their books become repetitive; so lately – I’ve settled for just something to read and have been disappointed.I’ve read so many books, and desperate for a good story and really good writing – I went back to books I’ve read. I’ll look at the title and all recall is that was really good. I’ll finish a 20 something book series and I want more. So this one I read again and it is beyond fabulous. I want more of Gray.I want more of Harry (Harry Bosch series). Emilie Richards wrote about an Irishman’s story shoveling ore from the belly of ships in Early America in one of the northern states – it starts and ends with letters of a priest – Patrick, I think. Five People You Meet in Heaven. Rainwater. Look for these books. You won’t be disappointed.I always wanted to be a writer or journalist – I knew that would never happen because there are so many more talented people out there spitting out stories much more successfully than I could produce once. Thank you Sandra Brown, and Michael Connelly, and those of you out there who can write a book. A really good book. It’s like magic.
Chris S. –
After writing a slew of strictly romance novels, Sandra Brown in recent years has devised a compromise–she’s focused more on suspense in later novels, but still throws in the obligatory romantic entanglements. EXCLUSIVE stands as her best attempt to marriage the two, thanks to some strong central characters and one of her more interesting plotlines in recent memory. The book revolves around Washington reporter Barrie Travis, who gets no respect from her peers, television viewers, or anyone else who might have some importance. Then she receives a call from the First Lady of the United States, and the ensuing coversation–the President and his wife just lost their child to SIDS–piques the reporter’s interest. Suffice it to say, there’s foul play at hand, literally from every corner of the plot. Barrie gets help along the way from an old colleague, as well as one of the President’s former officials(and the obligatory lover interest). This being fiction, some of the plotlines border on ludicrous(here, the President is a cruel, manipulative [man] out to destroy not only his wife, but anyone else in his way), but Brown throws in just enough twists to make it interesting.And she saves the biggest twist for the very last page–it will definately surprise some. Overall, of the Brown books that I’ve read, this remains the best.
Tom Jefferson –
enjoyable
Tantegloryglo –
I think this was the best Sandra Brown book I have read. The plot was beyond intricate. Barrie Travis ( a news reporter with a slightly tarnished rep),interviews the first lady of the USA who tells her a story that could be the greatest story of her career or a disaster. The first lady intimates that the recent death of her infant son may not be due to SIDS as reported but rather murder.Barrie tries to find out the truth. She is aided by Gary Bondurant(former marine and secret service agent) who may have romantic ties to the first lady. One of the prime suspects is the President himself David Merritt. Needless to say there is a lot of cover up and political intrigue involved not to mention a blossoming relationship between Barrie and Gary. The denouement was a mind blowing. Well worth the read.
Connie Lord –
It was a great story with lots of twists and turns. if she had left out the pages and pages of unnecessary sex scenes, i would have rated it higher. She is a good writer and does not need to trash up her books. I almost quit reading the book but skipped over the sex filled pages and read on. It is a shame she thinks her readers need a sexual romp to enjoy her books. She is much better writer then that.
Doris Jenkins –
excellent book
As usual with her books, I loved it.
Susan D –
WOW! What a rollercoaster!
A sizzling, engrossing story. So many twists and turns – nothing is predictable. I enjoyed the development of Barrie and Gray’s initial physical attraction, and (even though there are only three sex scenes in the whole book) Sandra Brown is able to convey the sensual and steamy development of their relationship without detracting from the thrilling action around the rest of the story, which keeps the reader enthralled.Barrie’s friendship with Daily and connection with other characters in the book is believable. The secondary individuals are well rounded and psychologically convincing.Gray is stern aloof and honourable – Barrie is strong, brave and persistent. They work well as a team while uncovering the sordid and shocking events that have occurred in the lives of David and Vanessa Merritt and Senator Armbruster.Sandra Brown has long been a favourite writer of mine. I have always enjoyed her books (even the older ones, which I have as paperbacks). Her stories are always exhilarating, exciting and suspenseful, her characters are always well conceived and her sensual descriptions are tasteful and never overdone.
MAE –
What an ending!
I read this over two days, totally intrigued! Characters were interesting, especially given recent history. I thought it was neatly and somewhat predictably wrapped up…then the epilogue surprised me! In retrospect the clues were there and I missed them, so I won’t spoil it for new readers. Great read!
Amazon Customer –
Five Stars
Sandra Brown very rarely disappoints.
Miriam Bronstein –
good
Keeps you turning pages until the end. Good writing and agile. Like all of Sandra Brown’s books. It is a guarantee