I had long been waiting for one of this author's books to please me again as much as some of her initials had done and finally this one has succeeded.

Two wonderful protagonists have also been joined by an interesting story, well developed, without stridency and with the right point of drama that has even been welcomed.

Skyler and Carolyn are two journalists dedicated to the world of television, in front of the camera, although they are in very different parts of their career. Skyler is just starting out as a reporter and Carolyn is the host of primetime newscasts. Skyler is hired by the television network where Carolyn works and when they meet it can be assumed that Carolyn will see a competitor in Skyler, being a new and young face when she is not so young anymore.

But history is not about that. Since the two of them met, a bond was formed between them beyond the professional and that has been really exciting while full of emotions of all kinds.

I admit that I shed a few tears during the reading and that although some parts may be considered excessively cheesy, the overall result of the book seemed perfect to me this time. Five star perfect.

*Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Once again, Melissa Brayden puts out an excellent book. I will say that this one isn't in my top 5 favorite books of hers, but I still enjoyed the story.

The story is told from the POV of Skyler Ruiz, an up and coming news reporter who gets her break on a large news network in San Diego. It just so happens that her idol and crush works at this station as an anchor. Sadly, Skyler quickly learns that Caroline isn't the most friendly coworker, Eventually, Skyler breaks down Caroline's walls and they grow close (*cue the cut-throat news world drama!*).

First, what I loved about this book was the chemistry between the characters. This is where Melissa Brayden always excels in my opinion. However, what I didn't love was that the initial frostiness from Caroline cools way too quickly. I love the ice-queen trope, but this was short lived. I don't think this was ever meant to be an ice queen book, but from the initial summary I had a different expectation. There were some instances were I was annoyed by Skyler's character and had a hard time connecting to their struggle. With that being said, I highly recommend this book!

This may be my favorite Melissa Brayden book! San Diego, news anchors, hot older women - what's not to love... I do wish Carrie's character had been a bit more developed, but overall this book does not disappoint. The heat between Carrie and Skyler is palpable, her relationship with her family is fun and interesting, and the backdrop of the newsroom gives a "Morning Show" vibe.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher (Bold Strokes Books) in exchange for a honest review'

**'Most good writers are sensitive to cliches and should endeavor to avoid them..Now repeat this mantra: Writing is when I make the words and editing is when I make them not shitty..'

Average read!
This is my very short perspective because I do not and would not sway any other interested readers from reading this book --- I've enjoyed a few of Ms.Brayden's other books but sometimes I feel that good writers do challenge themselves a lot and so this push do cause a slide in their storytelling with certain books and maybe 'EXCLUSIVE' has that.
As to the storyline at about 77% until the ending, that's when i started liking it and that's also when I felt they had little chemistry. The epilogue was a nice conclusion also.
Recommended!

I loved this book! I stayed up way too late to finish it, which is the mark of a good one. I have been loving Brayden's stand alones after a few of her series wrapped up, and this was no exception. I like the diversity of her protagonists lately, the last book had a biracial Black and white character and this one has a Latina lead and it's just nice to mix it up a bit, as a brown reader in a largely white genre. I also liked peripherially revisiting some old characters from one of the author's earlier books, it wasn't too heavy handed but it added some depth to this story. The leads had great, believable chemistry and steamy scenes and the banter was great, all hallmarks of Melissa Brayden's writing. Thanks so much for the advanced copy. I always look forward to her books!

In Exclusive Skylar Ruiz has landed a job reporting for a television station where her long time crush Carolyn McNamara works. Things aren't going as Skylar planned in her attempt to get closer to Carolyn but she isn't going to stop trying. Skylar is trying to break a big story but finds out that the cutthroat competition at the station is no joke and Carolyn does give her some encouragement.

We'll root for Skylar and her ability to deliver stories no one else wants and that Carolyn finally gives her a chance. There will be some very tough obstacles along the way that cause them both heartache including Carolyn's chance at a new station, in another city but will this break them?

You'll enjoy this tender heart=warming story of patience and love.

Thank you #Boldstrokesbooks #NetGalley #Exclusive for this ARC

I was rather excited when I read the synopsis because I thought something major was gonna happen. I always get these "pre" emotions about a book, for example, how I feel or wish the book is going to make me feel in the end.


I have read Melissa's work so I feel like I know what "usually" happens. Though something about this book, just left me undecided about my own emotions. I wasn't sad but I wasn't happy either. I was just.


Caroline and Skyler: This will probably sound weird but the connection between them wasn't so deeply painted, the chemistry between them is good, but their connection. The whole job/replacement/moving - made it less interesting. Esp when Caroline made her decision and Skyler was, I dunno, felt kinda hypocritical. I am a sucker for angst, but the angst here come at wrong time. Given the importance of Skyler's character, it would have made more ANGST-worthy if it was built more on Sky's choice than Caroline's departure.


It was an easy read though. It reminded me of the first book from Seven Shores.

Skylar is a reporter in a small town what she reports isn’t exactly news worthy but she gets a chance to shine when she gets a job with San Diego tv station KTMW. Caroline isn’t happy about working with Skylar but she surprised when she lets her guard down around her.

Skylar learns that sometimes love and news can be messy but if you fight for what you want. I enjoy both MCs the chemistry and dialogue was there I like side characters Grace and Ty they help the story along. I loved that it’s was a age-gap because sometimes the older one always think there more wise because their older but be surprised when younger one is wiser.





I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Skyler Ruiz gets a new job which she finally sees as her big break… little does she know just how much is about to break. She ends up working with the lovable and iconic, Caroline McNamara, her tv crush who she finds out isn’t so unattainable as she thought.

Honestly I struggled to finish this book, but I’m glad I did.

The book starts out on a cute note, Skyler is an immediately likable character and so is literally everyone else in this book. There’s a bit of everything in this book, angst, humor, romance, drama, overall a good read.

I feel like Caroline definitely could’ve used a bit more character especially at the beginning. She seemed really superficial and just didn’t seem engaging.

As I said, I struggled to finish this book. My ARC’s were piling up and I had time so I decided to finish it in one sitting since it’s short and I didn’t regret it.

If it’s one thing Melissa Brayden never fails at, it’s those make it or break it moments. The way she piles up the drama and creates a setting where it’s not too overwhelming yet convincing and realistic is something that I’ll always admire. Especially the make it moments. The dialogue and everything that ties it together is enough for me to have enjoyed this book. She truly depicts what it means to have that epic love that the characters always denote their feelings as. A lot of authors struggle with creating a setting to back up their characters emotions but in my opinion, Brayden never does. In this book, specifically at that make it or break it moment I previously mentioned, you truly feel just how stuck and suffocated Skyler feels without depending on her just having to outright say it to feel it.

So yeah, I felt a bit stuck for a large part of the book. But for me, I enjoyed the ending. I would say it’s my favorite part of this book.

I do recommend, as I do every book by this author lol

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publishers in exchanged for a honest review.

Melissa Brayden never misses. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the main characters. I didn’t even realize this, maybe it’s from watching that tv show Morning Show or something but I’m vibing with this news anchor plot line thing. The dialogue on point and the story was great. A little rushed at the conflict portion of the book but was definitely a good read overall.

𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

One of my favourite authors writing one of my favourite tropes. Brayden writes chemistry so well and this one is no exception. Carolyn or Carrie for short, is Skyler's celebrity crush and when Skyler joins the news station, I love how their relationship develops from just that to colleagues to something more. I love them together, their chemistry is so good and the scenes are really hot. There were also surprises at several turns that I didn't see coming too.

But the book is written in a single, first person POV and although I usually have no issues with this, I felt a gap in the story. I feel like I know very little about Carrie, she never spoke of her family nor her past relationships. There were times when I couldn't tell how interested she was in Skyler until she articulated those feelings and when she did so, I sometimes found myself surprised by the depth of her affections. And while I was prepared for the black moment that always happens in Brayden's books, I'm not sure I liked the resolution and thought Carrie took on more blame than she should have.

I love this book and the characters for sure, even though I feel slightly unfulfilled by the one-sidedness. I also thought it's a bonus that we got to meet the characters from Brayden's other book, Heart Block, here again.

When a synopsis not only captures your interest and it’s also a book from the Queen of Drama, choosing the book was easy.

Skylar, a 30 year old small towns reporter covers games, crops and news that are simply put, mundane and uneventful. When she landed a 6 months stint with San Diego tv station KTMW, she is out to prove that she belongs in the league; even if her long time crush, achorwoman Caroline seems to think otherwise.

Told from the point of view of Skylar, the book delved into the precarious and ruthless nature of a cut throat industry that made Skylar’s success a double edged sword. This is an age gap romance that has its moments of sweetness and glory but also anguish and grief when reality got in the way. I especially loved the last few chapters because, love. That’s all it’s about, why we crave the angst to a story.

Fans of Melissa’s book - Heart Block will be pleased to see Emory and Sarah’s (Skylar’s cousin) lives together 8 years in the future.

I just reviewed Exclusive by Melissa Brayden. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

Melissa Brayden is one of the best writers you will ever find. This story will get you in the feel goods but at times fave you in tears. Absolutely can't say enough about this book.

Exclusive by Melissa Brayden features Skyler a young up and coming news reporter who’s managed to score a position at a more reputed news station and Caroline, an experienced and well regarded news anchor who’s facing pressure from management to improve ratings to keep her job.

At the start I’m not sure I quite liked the characters, Skylar sounded a lot younger (flighty) than thirty and I didn’t get a good sense of Caroline since the POV is mostly from Skylar. However as Brayden progressed the narrative, I started getting invested and really enjoying it. The side characters Ty and Grace added some nice light moments and kept the story bouncing along.

I’ll be honest, the setup of a TV station and two MCs older vs younger having similar career goals always makes me anxious, because you know something is going to happen. As soon as I relaxed, I should have known Brayden would strike a dagger somewhere, and oooff it caught me by surprise and it hurt.
But I think the angsty portion of this book was probably the best part (and that’s kind of unusual for me). There’s a lot of emotion, feelings, backstory that drives character behavior which is really good. Brayden is quite merciless as she inflicts a few more jabs before the end (gosh this review got unintentionally violent!) but the reconciliation and HEA is more powerful because of it. A fun enjoyable read. 4🌟s
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now, if there's anything that Melissa Brayden delivers masterfully, it's the dialogue. Not many authors are able to write it so flawlessly, to create such a lovely interaction between the characters. I always enjoy her books and I have to say this one goes to my top 5 of her books. It's more "physical" than the previous ones, but the scenes are very tastefully written, and there's characters included from one of her previous novels, which I always like.

I absolutely needed and loved this book, This was a Melissa Brayden winner for me and so glad to have the opportunity to review it. Sometimes you want a plot that continues to put a smile on your face and this was it. So happy to have read it and as always I look forward to Melissa’s next book.

A new Melissa Brayden book? Can the news get any better? Read the book and find out. Skyler is a small town news reporter but the news is mostly softball games and vegetable growing competitions. When she gets her chance of working at a respectable news station in San Diego, not only that she gets the change she was dreaming of but she gets to work with her crush, Caroline. After a bumpy start, both professionally and personally with Carrie, Skyler starts living the dream by being a respected journalists and dating her dream girl. The book checks all the boxes, lust, chemistry, angst, sacrifice, laughter, loss and all the smiles for the happy ending.