*BLOG TOUR* "Stripped" by Brenda Rothert

Stripped

by Brenda Rothert

Release Date: 05/27/13

New Adult Contemporary Romance

262 pages

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Abby Gillis is used to being called a promiscuous, uneducated whore. It’s all in a day’s work when you’re a stripper. Since her job allows her to support her siblings, 24-year-old Abby takes it all off in stride. She’s never had trouble keeping men at arm’s length – until she meets ER physician Chris Reneau, who is sexy, sweet and interested in more than what’s beneath her clothes. As their relationship unfolds, Abby becomes increasingly aware of the desire building in her for the first time, and of her yearning to be wanted by the one man who truly sees all of her.

Commitment-averse Chris finds himself in uncharted territory. He wants Abby, that’s clear, but he can’t accept not having all of her. As the distance between them erodes, he tries to convince Abby to give up stripping for a chance at something real.

As the two of them get closer, Abby realizes that truly baring it all has nothing to do with her body. Chris makes her feel more exposed than she ever has, and she has to grapple with what’s left when her notions about herself and those around her are stripped away, leaving only the naked truth.

AMAZON

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MY THOUGHTS

Stripped is definitely a good time read, mixed with a bunch of heaviness. And it works, ooooh it works so well! Abby is a strong independent woman with the weight of her entirely family on her shoulders. Chris is a successful doctor, who is immediately drawn to Abby. 

However, Abby, is a stripper. Yet, in some ways, she isn't your typical stripper-in-a-book, she has a day job, and a family that is counting on her. She also has ZERO interest in meeting a guy.. until Chris comes barging into her life unexpectedly. 

"She was an angel in devil's shoes."

Chris, is about as anti-relationship as Abby is, so when they decide to form a friendship and nothing else, both of them are thrilled. That is until feelings start getting thrown into the mix, and they both end up in over their heads with each other. 

"Usually, when he went out with a woman, the conversation pretense centered on getting them into bed. But he genuinely liked listening to Abby talk about her sisters, her love for dancing, and her distain for peanut butter."

But, Chris and Abby both have things they need to get past, in order to move on with someone else. Oh, and there's also the fact that she is a stripper, and that doesn't exactly fly with Chris.

The chemistry between Abby and Chris had me screaming at the book "Just give in already!!". But, at the same time, it was a ton of fun watching the two of them try to fight their feelings. There are definitely some unexpected curveballs, some that I definitely didn't see coming, and it added so much to their story. Yet again, Brenda Rothert has delivered a great book that keeps you turning page after page!

Favorite Quote:

"You have stars in your eyes, Abby, I didn't think that was possible."

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brenda Rothert lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three sons. She was a daily print journalist for nine years, during which time she enjoyed writing a wide range of stories.

These days Brenda writes New Adult Romance in the Contemporary and Dystopian genres.

Author Links:

http://www.brendarothert.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7010859.Brenda_Rothert

https://twitter.com/BrendaRothert

https://www.facebook.com/brenda.hastyrothert/about

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"Stripped" by H. M. Ward Review

Blurb:

By New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journalbestselling New Adult author H.M. Ward.

The V Card. Virgin. Most of us want to punch that sucker ASAP, and hide the fact until then, but not Cassie Hale. Three years ago she frickin' covered hers in glitter and laminated the thing, proudly telling me that she's waiting for the perfect guy. 

So when I see her half naked, tangled together, rolling around on the floor with another stripper, I'm kind of shocked. Okay, that's an understatement. I'm enthralled. I have to know what cracked her picture perfect world and landed her here, and I hope it's something horrible-an event that broke her the way she broke me. Because, that's who Cassie Hale is--the woman who stole my heart and crushed it in her hand.

My Thoughts:

Ohhh.. how I love the Ferro brothers!! This is Jonathan's story. We met him briefly in the "Damaged" Series.

Jonathan, is a notorious player. Once again, banished from his family for a while, he is sent to live with his Uncle in a teeny town where no one will find him, until his latest screw up blows over. But when his friend tries to set him up with her cousin, Cassie, his entire world is about to get thrown.. along with maybe a little bit of his ginourmous ego.

"She's lucky to have me. I'm a Ferro. No one tells me no anyway, not for anything. I expect to get there and have this chick falling all over me."

Little did he realize, she's a virgin, who wants nothing to do with him, or any guy like him for that matter. She is holding out for her perfect man, and plans on saving her virginity until her wedding night. Of course Jonathan thinks this is insane. Either way, she wants absolutely nothing to do with Jonathan from the second he opens his mouth.

" 'That's why you called me down here? To hang out with the virgin?' He looks horrified.

I hate him. It's hate at first sight. I sneer at him. 'I have a name, you know.' "

Jonathan, in his typical player way, followers her in her attempt to escape him, trying to push her buttons, and convince her to give it a shot with him. The more she says no, the more he wants it. Soon they fall into more of a playful banter, and he realizes that maybe he actually wants her. Jonathan quickly inserts himself into Cassie's summer life, and they fall into an easy friendship.

"Jonathan seems to enjoy my company just as much as I'm enjoying his. Although there's this easy way about him, I know theres a wall between us. Secrets, failures, and insecurities erected it, and it towers over us."

They are both hiding something, and as secrets come out, Jonathan ends up believing Cassie betrayed his trust, and their friendship quickly ends. It is not until three years later, Jonathan runs into little virginal Cassie again. While hiring strippers for his brothers bachelor party, he unknowingly hired Cassie.

"Then, I hear it - that voice. It floats through the air like a familiar old song. Oh God, someone shoot me. I can't do this."

So here they are, after years apart, about to finally face everything that ended their one amazing summer together.. 

I absolutely loved Damaged, where we first meet Jonathan, so I was thrilled with the fact that he was getting his own book. It completely lived up to everything I hoped it would be. I knew there had to be a different side of Jonathan that we weren't seeing. We were left wanting so much more of his story, and we got it. He and Cassie, being polar opposites, manage to form this amazing bond over the course of a summer, that some people don't form in a lifetime. I was screaming in my head "NO!! Something's not right!! Tell me that didn't actually happen!!", when their relationship fell out. There are quite a few things in this book that I didn't see coming, and that's just another reason why I like H. M. Ward's writing so much.

Stripped doesn't end at a cliffhanger, per say, but it is definitely unfinished. Stripped 2, is anticipated to be out sometime in early 2014. I will post more as I know. I already can't wait to see how everything else unfolds!!

Favorite Quote:

"The man standing before me is a carcass of what he was, an illusion covered in pretty smiles and smooth words. Even though we haven't know each other that long, I see through him."

Buy Links:

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