To survive, Charlene must accept that her whole life was a lie.
For twenty years, Charlene Bailey has been living by the same mantra: pay in cash, keep only what you can carry, trust no one and always be ready to run. That is until her father is brutally murdered in New Orleans by a woman screaming a language Charlene doesn’t understand. When police reveal the man she’d known all her life was … life was not her biological father, Charlene is swept up in a riptide of dark secrets and deadly crimes.
The key to her true identity lies in a dangerous Cuban compound run by a lethal kingpin, but Charlene can’t reach it alone. After a life of relying on herself, she’ll have to trust Marshall Crow, a tough-as-nails ex-Navy man, to smuggle her into Havana.
The answers to Charlene’s past are as dark as the waters she and Marshall must navigate, but a killer in the shadows will stop at nothing to drown the truth.
Zero Escape is a heart-pounding action-adventure novel with a dash of romance that crosses from New Orleans to the back streets of Havana, Cuba. It’s a full-length, stand-alone Maximum Exposure novel, previously published as Out of Luck.
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Another heart-pounding adventure!
This is the third book in the Maximum Exposure Series but each one is a standalone story featuring different main characters so you don’t have to start with the first book – enjoy them in any order. In all honesty, if you appreciate romantic suspense and adventure, you will want to get them all. In this book, when Charlene Bailey learns that everything she thought she knew about her life is a lie, she needs answers. The search for those answers leads her to Marshall Crow and to Cuba. Her life will never be the same. Action, adventure, mystery, danger, suspense, and romance are all waiting in the pages of this book. Don’t think you’ll just read a few pages before going to bed. This story will not let you go – I was up reading until the early morning hours. It’s that good. Totally worth losing out on a little sleep.
I was provided with a free copy of this book for which I thank the author. My review, however, is completely voluntary and represents my honest and unbiased opinion.
Zero Escape – a review by Rosemary Kenny
Charlene and the man known as Peter – and as her father – for 22 of her 28 years are living a semi-hobo life, in Kendall Talbot’s A Maximum Exposure Novel #3, Zero Escape…until he’s inexplicably, brutally murdered in front of her, as they dine together in a New Orleans restaurant.
Alone and inconsolable, Charlene’s world is then turned upside-down by the revelations uncovered by police.
Who is Marshall Crow and why does Charlene hire him for a moonlit charter-boat trip?
What is the connection between Charlene and a celebrity with a damaged finger?
Kendall Talbot has a genius that makes each and every one of her great books absolutely unputdownable…spot-on engaging characters in interesting and varied locations with lots of action, twists, revelations, a gradually developing romance and the hardships and dangers the MCs must face, while both are determined to bring a monster to justice and before there can be any chance of an HEA…the excitement and tension both ramp up exponentially with each page, to the very last.
Make sure you get copies of all three Maximum Exposure novels to enjoy the full extent of Charlene and Marshall’s romance in Zero Escape, plus its backstory in Books 1 and 2… outstanding!
From New Orleans to Havana, Zero Escape formerly titled Out of Luck is a top notched romantic suspense by Kendall Talbot. This is the third book in the Maximum Exposure Series. Each is well-written with more unexpected twists than you can shake a stick at. Also with surprises that you didn’t expect but afterwards you wondered why you didn’t see it coming.
What begins as seemingly unrelated incidents and insights in characters’ lives it may feel disconnected to some. For me I kept reading to see how it all fit together like a completed puzzle by the conclusion. Which it really does perfectly. With multifaceted, fully fleshed characters especially Charlene’s late father, Charlene and Marshall, the story reeled me like the Blackfin tuna caught in the first glimpse of Marshall and his boat. I was hooked until the very last page.
Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres especially ones that are high on the suspense and danger, that has a genuine romantic relationship between the hero and heroine. Kendall Talbot delivers in all three books, no instant love or sacrificing the plot to add extra steamy scenes. This is a gem of a writer with Zero Escape being a true shining jewel of a story. She is quickly moving up the list of my favorite authors.
An ARC of the book was given to me which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What an absolute beauty of a read!!
I don’t know about you but for me there is nothing better when you get the chance to take some time out from the real world and just simply soak yourself into a novel. It’s the best feeling ever, and an experience that I personally love. So when Zero Escape landed in my kindle I couldn’t wait to start it, and I mean I COULDN’T WAIT!
But what I never anticipated was this suspense filled, fast paced, heartbreaking read that captured my attention so badly that I read it in one sitting….Yep you guessed it guys, one sitting because I literally couldn’t put it down.
Charlene and her father moved around the country for years, never staying in the same place twice, always paying cash so they were untraceable. Charlene never really understood her father’s motivation behind it, but it really didn’t matter to her because her father always made sure she had everything a young girl could ask for. A loving and doting parent and always being taken care of.
But tragedy changed the course and left Charlene alone in the world with no-one. No other family, no friends, nothing. The vision of watching her father slowly pass at the hands of a woman changed everything for Charlene.
So you can only imagine the sheer emptiness and fear that a police investigation into her father’s death would lead to questions that Charlene had no answers for. Questions that raised suspicions about her past and who her father really was.
But the ultimate life changer for Charlene was having it lead all to one place.
Cuba.
And leading her to one man.
Marshall.
So began the search with a complete stranger to find the truth about Charlene, her father and her past.
But you see what is uncovered nearly destroys Charlene. The secrets that had been hidden for so long resurface and the damage it causes is monumental.
But what could they be?
What could possibly change everything that Charlene once thought?
Who can she trust?
How does Marshall fit into all of it?
And who is Claudia?
Zero escape is a phenomenal read that had me on the edge on my sit from beginning to end. Every turn of a page unraveled a secret, a new truth and not once was it predictable. It was like my mind was blown after every single page read. There were even moments that I had to re-read it because I couldn’t believe what was happening. So many twists and turns, full of suspense and overwhelming fear it took my breath away. I loved everything about this novel.
I honestly can’t rate it high enough.
An exceptional read.
A huge 5 stars
Zero Escape is the third book in the Maximum Exposure series and is a terrific addition to the series.
This story takes you on a wild ride from New Orleans to Havana as Charlene tries to uncover the truth of her past. This book is well written and has action, emotion, danger, suspense, intrigue, and romance. Any fan of romantic suspense will appreciate this series and this book.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
This book was recently gifted to me. I enjoyed this book beginning to end. There was suspense. Romance. Wonder. Bravery. Action. This book was an engaging journey including settings in the US and Cuba. Charlene’s journey to find the truth was definitely a journey.
Exciting Action Adventure That Searches for Truth
This is a page-turner! I did not want to put it down once I started to read it. There is quite a bit of sex, but it fits the story. It is an exciting story that catches the reader by surprise at every turn. There are many questions, but the answers are difficult to hear. The characters are exciting and realistic. The plot keeps the reader more than involved. The action is non-stop. This book is part of a series of action adventures, but they can be read in any order. I highly recommend all of them.
This is the 3rd book in the maximum exposure series. This is a stand alone that is full of mystery secrets danger and suspense if you love action and romance then this is the author for you. I voluntarily reviewed this ARC.