Harvey and Alma are the perfect "ex-couple". They still have the sexual tension, and you can see the love that they have for each other, but there is also the obstacles that they need to forgive before life will get better.
I love that the mystery of the Tiffany windows play such a huge spot in this story. It gives substance to both Harvey and Alma, each wanting something from the discovery. She wants to preserve the history as a antiquities appraiser. He wants to get rid of them as they are standing in the way of construction.
Now I want to read Conchita's story. PLEASE

Absolutely loved this book
5 stars

This is the first time I’ve read Aria Hawthorne’s work but it definitely won’t be the last - I adored this book from start to finish.

Alma was such a ‘normal’ girl that I would love to have her as a friend but could also see a lot of myself in her. I rooted for her from the first moment. Harvey, however, stole my heart from the moment he showed his vulnerability and how much he was still in love with Alma. On his own he was the arrogant, business-like and somewhat tortured hero but with Alma, his playful side came out. He was hilarious and my God, I could see why Alma was by turns ridiculously irritated by him and couldn’t help her feelings for him. They had such chemistry that I honestly couldn’t put this book down.

Throughout the whole book, my stomach would get butterflies in anticipation of what was to come and of the interactions between Harvey and Alma. The sex scenes were deliciously hot but also had an all-consuming slow burn which was obvious throughout the novel. The sexual tension was there in spades.

The sexting affair was a really unusual twist and it really added something extra to the story. Why don’t men ever text me naughty things? I also really enjoyed the details of the Tiffany windows that Alma wanted to save. Either Ms Hawthorne is an expert herself or she’s just a damn good writer because Alma’s passion for her work shone through in detail. The story’s back-drop of Chicago was wonderful, too, and I honestly would love to visit there and see all the historic sites described in the book. A subtle tourism advert for the city.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of second chance romance novels and this one just blew me away. There aren’t many books that come along that have me so engrossed but this story and its characters hooked me from start to finish. If you love a sexy and sultry romance about soulmates who are a little too stubborn to admit what they really want, then I would highly recommend this book to you. 5 stars.

I enjoyed this story and I loved all the art history about Tiffany and specifically his stained glass windows. The author certainly inspired me with a desire to one day visit Chicago. The story is one of second chances or beginnings; of a couple who have divorced because they have grown apart over the years but still have a strong connection. It lost a star for me due to editing issues and inconsistencies (eg. voice recognition, security in gem filled rooms). I am also not keen on kinky sex with strangers but I suppose it was a fantasy but somehow it didn't seem to mesh with her personality.
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for a voluntary review.

I wanted to like this book - but something was off for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between them. I don't think they needed to split up.

4 1/2 Stars! This is the 1st book that I have read from this author, and I quite enjoyed it. Alma divorced Harvey a year ago because he wasn't the same man she married. He used to love going on antique hunts with her and help her to preserve the past, but he has become a real estate developer and now wants to build the tallest buildings in the world ... tearing down the past. Alma is still in love with the "old" Harvey.

Then one night Alma gets a text from a stranger and they begin a sexting affair. When this stranger wants to meet in person, she is torn between the 2 men. She wants to move on, but all of a sudden Harvey keeps showing up in her life. Alma is a Chicago's leading expert in historic stained glass and the building Harvey plans to bulldoze down apparently has more than a dozen stained glass windows and Alma is sent to evaluate them. I found the banter between the exes quite entertaining ... and Alma's sister is just hilarious (she needs her own book, because there is definitely a story there). That's pretty much all I can say without spoiling the book for others ... because this is a MUST read!

I received an ARC copy from the French Kiss Press through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

To be honest – under normal circumstances I avoid each and every book with the word billionaire in it´s title. Of course – books are not always about reality and we want to be swept away with the idea of a fairy tale – but I don´t like the inflation of billionaires. So this book would not be my pick of the day.

But – it was called Exes – and I am a big fan of second chances. I like it if two people are growing up and finding a new and hopefully better way together.

So I gave „Exes - A Second Chance Billionaire Romance Novel” a try. It is the first book I read of Aria Hawthorne.
It is the story of Alma, an antique appraiser and her Ex-husband Harvey, a real estate tycoon. When they first married, they both finished college yet. But then he was successful in real estate and she was not able to understand the choices he made. In her eyes he became greedy and hard and he was no longer the man she wanted to live with. So she decided to file divorce. The book began one year later – both of them wants to start a new life, dating new people.
Both started a text affair – not knowing (of course) their significant other is their former husband/wife.
Nice plot.
Unfortunately we came to a point where I was not able to believe … first – they started phonecalls - and sorry – but I cannot believe that you are married for five years to someone and don´t recognize his or here voice via telephone. And – he gave her a very very precious gift. Without knowing her identity. And there are some other occurrences (I do not want to spoiler) like this.
No – this was a part of the book I really really didn´t like – because it was so contrary to common sense I struggled to finish the book.
But I wanted to know how these two people find their way back into a relationship – so I continued and the autor was able to catch my attention again – and it was getting better and I finally enjoyed the last third of the book until the (no surprise) HEA.
All things considered it was an easy read with some flaws, but I was captures with this couple – so I think I will read the other books where the second characters will get their “leading role”.

I very seriously disliked this book.

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for a voluntary review.

Summary: I would recommend this book to others, 5 stars.

Exes is the story of Harvey and Alma. Harvey is a billionaire real estate developer, who in the process of getting rich lost his soul. Lost, particularly the desire to fight for historic preservation. Alma is an expert in one facet of historic preservation, old glass. Set in Chicago, rich with architectural history including glass windows. Alma’s also Harvey’s ex-wife. She divorced him because they grew apart, her interest in preservation no longer matching with his.

This is the story of how they get back together. And what a story it is.

They are set up, but they don’t realize it’s each other. Then they do, and they also begin a journey together to discover an old piece of art.

This is a wonderful book. The story is rich and detailed. I’d not read anything by this author before, and this will absolutely make me read more. Its quite long, but that’s because in addition to being a steamy romance, and it is in parts, there’s lots of plot and lots of character development. If you prefer more sex and less plot/romance, then this is probably not the book for you. But if you enjoy a plot and miss characters when they are gone this is almost certainly the book for you.

Its written in the third person. Normally that annoys me, I much prefer the characters in first person. In part because it’s easier to hear them in my head and also because the danger with the third person is that the author can bounce around between the different characters giving us background. That tends to get me confused, which character is being focused on. Especially when you have more than two.

That said, this was brilliantly executed. Its the best third person story I’ve read in a long while, and its because the author does a good job of staying with the main characters and giving each one the space needed to be developed.

Finally, for anyone whose lived in Chicago (waves hand) this is a little trip down memory lane. Love the setting.

Definitely a unique romance read. I really enjoyed all the unique twists in this book. A modern courtship with historical influence and a second chance at love set in the beautiful city of chicago.

Money and greed are what tore Harvey and Alma apart, but the fairy tale and a Tiffany window bring them back together. Throw in a little sexting with a stranger who happens to be your ex, and you have yourself a great read and an emotional rollercoaster. You want to route for the couple not only to get back together but to find the diamond in the rough.

copy received through Netgalley for honest review
I was torn on what to write for this review. I was expecting not to like the hero but actually I loved Harvey. I was torn with my feelings for Alma. She put to blame for the marriage breakup solely on Harvey's shoulders. Yes, he had changed and they kind of lost each other,but she concentrated too much on the bad. During one of their conversations, it seemed like he went out of his way to do cute things for her. She kind saw everything in black and white, If they had communicated better it would have saved them a lot of heartache. It was hard to reconcile the Harvey from page one and Alma's description with the Harvey that we saw. I loved the silly, clueless jokester, He really loved Alma. It was funny how he became his own competition. The reconciliation was a little rushed toward the end. the story had some fun dialogue and silly fun characters. I really enjoyed reading it.

Kindle Copy for Review

It’s been a year since their divorce which took real estate tycoon Harvey Zale by surprise since he still love his wife Alma Castillo an antique expert who specialized in stained glass windows. Their paths crosses once again when they find themselves sexting each other not knowing who they were messaging until they set up a meeting and he realizes who she is but fails to tell her.

Meanwhile Harvey is planning on demolishing a site he owns, so he can raise capital to build the tallest building in the world but Alma shows up claiming there is priceless Tiffany stained glass windows on the site and that the area should be preserved historically. She is willing to do anything to preserve it.

They cannot resist each other despite their history as they spend time together. She fears that he will never be the same idealistic man she fell in love with and all he sees is money. Will they be able be together or will Alma never forgive him? A fiery couple who are enjoyable.

This author is new to me. On impulse, I picked this book to read based on the blurb.
I love 2nd chance romances. I wasn't so sure about the billionaire trope. I received this ARC from NetGalley-but I would have bought it or borrowed through KU.
I was immediately sucked into this story of Harvey (the billionaire real estate tycoon) and Alma, his ex-wife (antiques expert- specifically Louis Comfort Tiffany glass art works).
Harvey has started sexting a mysterious sexy stranger he calls "Contessa". His marriage with Alma broke up when she couldn't handle his (in her view) total focus on money money and making more money.
I'm not giving away too much to reveal that Alma and Harvey are texting each other without knowing the real identity of the other.
The POV is 3rd person.
Alma's sister Conchita is the instigator in the texting. She somehow gets her sister & ex-brother-in law to communicate on a very intimate level. There's some great intimate scenes that are off the charts- smoking hot.
In person, Alma wants nothing to do with Harvey. She left him a year ago when she felt ignored and they had grown apart. She thought at Harvey changed from the many she fell in love with.
Harvey was stunned when Alma divorced him. He let's her know that he wants to get back together. They clash over his latest real estate flipping deal. Alma's convinced that there's several valuable Tiffany glass pieces.
Alma successfully delays the bulldozing of the property while she researches their authenticity. Sparks fly. Alma continues to push Harvey away.
The sexting continues, but it eventually takes a back burner to Alma and Harvey's real life relationship. The early part of the book reminded me of the movie "You've Got Mail". Alma even wears overalls- like Meg Ryan's frumpy clothes. Alma does have her sexy side too and Harvey appreciates it all.
Harvey seems to have gotten a bad rap. I know that billionaires get NO respect. Boo hoo.
In this case, Harvey doesn't seem to flaunt it. He makes light of it when she throws it in his face. These too seemed so opposite. The hipster art restorer and the mega rich hunky business man. And yet, their love for each other is obvious.
The support characters were really well done: Conchita- the spit- fire free- spirit little sister (she's the instigator); and Alma's dad, Enrique. Harvey and Enrique have remained friends and go to White Sox games together. *I would love a book about Conchita (please?)
I really love the author's writing. There was a little slow middle. There's a lot of detail about Alma's business and especially her quest to find genuine Louis Comfort stained glass.
I thought that Harvey's grovel (if he needed one) was genuine. He seemed to realize that he'd neglected Alma while building their business. Alma made him work REALLY hard to get her back.
There's no ow. There's funny, sweet and quite a few sexy moments.
There's an HEA, but not too far in the future.
I really really liked this author's original take on this familiar trope.
4.95 stars- deducting a little for a little too stubborn Alma. I LOVED Harvey ALL the way through-even as the ambitious billionaire. I wouldn't kick him out ;)

Interesting read, I will have a review posted on ibooks on release week!

The Exes is a fun read with a good story and intensely hot bedroom, bathroom lift etc etc scenes.
Alma and Harvey have been divorced for a year, Harvey has started texting a number he was given and started a new relationship with an unknown woman...purely by text, neither realising they are texting each other, this is fine but when they speak on the phone it's seems a little beyond belief they don't recognise each other's voice, there are another couple of scenes that are also a little bit difficult to swallow. I can't say more or it would contain spoilers. There are also some laugh out loud moments that are really good
An enjoyable romantic read with a ending that will leave you smiling.
Thank you net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book

I am going to start out by highlighting the couple little things., I did not like about the book - starting with the ending. While it was sort of a closing, it was not exactly a direct answer to his question, and I am going to leave it at that because I don't want to spoil the book. A different ending would have been more satisfying.

What I also did not like was that Alma Castillo was too hard on her ex, Harvey Zale. Okay, I do not like books that showcase women who jump right into a relationship or the physical, but she could have given him a little bit more of a break. It seemed a little one sided to me - yes both of them needed to work on whatever went wrong in their relationship, but while he grew up, for the most part, it seemed that she did not need to do any growing up - which in my opinion was wrong. It would have been more believable if she would have learned a few lessons along the way too.

What I did like about the book was, that the story was well plotted, and very detailed in her quest. I never thought this much about stain glass windows before, but I can understand Alma's fascination with the subject matter. I believed her passion for this art form, just as much as I believed his passion for making money.

Should these two characters receive a second chance? Absolutely. Despite their issues, unresolved or not, they are a fit, and Aria Hawthorne did a real good job conveying that. I also loved the side characters, especially Alma's father who is absolutely a man of integrity. Well developed, and nicely done.

Very entertaining. It was difficult to read in the portions of the book spent looking for the stained glass. However, I Loved Harvey (especially, in the last half of the book). He was a totally different person with HER. The hat and the sock part was hilarious!

Absolute trash! I would never read anything as illerate as this!It's filth!

overall good read.

This was a great book a fun sexy read i really enjoyed it.A super second chance romance,love that you get a hea but shows you the struggles to get there very well written.Im looking forward to trying more by this author a super book would recommend