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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Method: ebook
Rating: 3/5 stars
Hero rating: 4/5 - Brooks
Heroine rating: 4/5 - Olive
Drama: 4/5
Trope(s): contemporary
Thoughts: really liked this one, will add to review later.
First book of 2024! Mae Harden is a new-to-me author (that's gotta be a pen name, right?) and I had this on my Kindle probably from the last time I did that whole Stuff Your Kindle thing. I will definitely be checking out some of her other work, because Stripped Down was THE perfect combo of sweet and smutty.
The only reasons this wasn't a complete 5 stars for me are two-fold, and both completely personal preferences: 1) even in romance, which gets away with a lot, I don't love it when the hero is overly possessive; and 2) the tiny-baby-woman (even if she's described as curvy) and giant-hulking-man thing. (See also: Ali Hazelwood.)
The only reasons this wasn't a complete 5 stars for me are two-fold, and both completely personal preferences: 1) even in romance, which gets away with a lot, I don't love it when the hero is overly possessive; and 2) the tiny-baby-woman (even if she's described as curvy) and giant-hulking-man thing. (See also: Ali Hazelwood.)
After a wild night at a bachelorette party and a chance encounter, Brooks and Olive officially meet the following day when he's introduced as the contractor on the business expansion on her bakery. The two fight the attraction until they can't. The spice is great, the chemistry is lovely, and I enjoyed that they were adults through the whole thing rather than miscommunicating with or ignoring one another.
3.5⭐️
f: Olive
m: Brooks
(Dual POVs)
The introduction between Olive and Brooks was quite hilarious and unique! The fierce connection these two had was evident from the start and I was quickly engrossed in the intense interactions between them! Even though this was a shorter than average read, I truly appreciated how things didn’t go from 0-60 just because they had an instant attraction to one another.
Overall, this book provided me with a few laughs and the steam was quite sensual! I enjoyed this quick and easy read that didn’t cause too much heartache and I’m definitely going to be continuing this series! I can’t finish this review without mentioning the cover! Holy Hotcakes, that's one smexy cover!
Favorite Quotes:
I’m going to halt that train of thought before it can leave the station. -Brooks
I’m drawn to her like she’s my own personal black hole. I can’t escape her and I don’t want to. -Brooks
”Oh Sugar. There’s no ambiguity here. I’m going to be greedy with you for as long as you’ll let me.” -Brooks
f: Olive
m: Brooks
(Dual POVs)
The introduction between Olive and Brooks was quite hilarious and unique! The fierce connection these two had was evident from the start and I was quickly engrossed in the intense interactions between them! Even though this was a shorter than average read, I truly appreciated how things didn’t go from 0-60 just because they had an instant attraction to one another.
Overall, this book provided me with a few laughs and the steam was quite sensual! I enjoyed this quick and easy read that didn’t cause too much heartache and I’m definitely going to be continuing this series! I can’t finish this review without mentioning the cover! Holy Hotcakes, that's one smexy cover!
Favorite Quotes:
I’m going to halt that train of thought before it can leave the station. -Brooks
I’m drawn to her like she’s my own personal black hole. I can’t escape her and I don’t want to. -Brooks
”Oh Sugar. There’s no ambiguity here. I’m going to be greedy with you for as long as you’ll let me.” -Brooks
3.8 stars.
I really enjoy her writing style, and the way the characters in this book evolved and developed throughout.
Pretty much all of the conflict is in the first third of the book so that kind of threw me when most romances have that third act drama theme, but I was rewarded with increasingly hotter and hotter sex for sticking with it.
I absolutely love these characters. Brooks is so sweet, and understanding, and absolutely filled to brim with alpha male sexiness.
And Olive is an independent, sassy brat, with daddy issues, and, honey, I can relate.
I’m definitely checking out Lilah’s book next.
I really enjoy her writing style, and the way the characters in this book evolved and developed throughout.
Pretty much all of the conflict is in the first third of the book so that kind of threw me when most romances have that third act drama theme, but I was rewarded with increasingly hotter and hotter sex for sticking with it.
I absolutely love these characters. Brooks is so sweet, and understanding, and absolutely filled to brim with alpha male sexiness.
And Olive is an independent, sassy brat, with daddy issues, and, honey, I can relate.
I’m definitely checking out Lilah’s book next.
I loved this book and the Donovan family! Olive is determined and sassy but she has her fair share of self doubt when it comes to men. However, Brooks is the slightly older confident man who knows exactly what he wants, and what he wants is Olive.
The author has some emotional foreplay between the characters and it takes some mis-communication before finally getting to the steamy parts, but it is totally worth the wait. Olive and Brooks have enough chemistry to jump out from the page and burn you!
I have to say along with the sexy is also an amazing and comical family. The Donovan family is great and I couldn't wait to read saucy Lilah's story. I immediately read Mowed Over right after I finished this book.
I can't wait to read more from the Donovan family and see all of their HEA unfold.
The author has some emotional foreplay between the characters and it takes some mis-communication before finally getting to the steamy parts, but it is totally worth the wait. Olive and Brooks have enough chemistry to jump out from the page and burn you!
I have to say along with the sexy is also an amazing and comical family. The Donovan family is great and I couldn't wait to read saucy Lilah's story. I immediately read Mowed Over right after I finished this book.
I can't wait to read more from the Donovan family and see all of their HEA unfold.
So glad I found her!
This was my first read by this author and I absolutely LOVED this book! I laughed SO hard I couldn't see! It was a refreshing read after so many dark reads lately, it was a great reminder that I love all the romance genres at heart. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
This was my first read by this author and I absolutely LOVED this book! I laughed SO hard I couldn't see! It was a refreshing read after so many dark reads lately, it was a great reminder that I love all the romance genres at heart. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Blushing cute and stripped down love
I've been meaning to dive into this series for a bit now. The 4th book of 5 released today... I'm catching up.
Can I just say the things that come out of Brooks' mouth are just hawt!! I think we all want a good guy whose a bit possessive and knows just what to say to make us melt!!!
Olive is someone I think we can all identify with. She's a little bit shy, insecure and has her bold moments.
The meet-cute in this book is just laugh-out-loud funny. Watching them navigate the small miscommunications in life, makes their journey sweet and worth it. I have a feeling I'm going to love getting to know these siblings.
I've been meaning to dive into this series for a bit now. The 4th book of 5 released today... I'm catching up.
Can I just say the things that come out of Brooks' mouth are just hawt!! I think we all want a good guy whose a bit possessive and knows just what to say to make us melt!!!
Olive is someone I think we can all identify with. She's a little bit shy, insecure and has her bold moments.
The meet-cute in this book is just laugh-out-loud funny. Watching them navigate the small miscommunications in life, makes their journey sweet and worth it. I have a feeling I'm going to love getting to know these siblings.
5- dirty- talking- alpha-stars!
I absolutely LOVED this book!
I was sent this book to review and give my honest opinion on it.
Sassy bakery owner, Olive, is partying it up for her best friends bachlorette party when she meets sexy alpha contractor, Brooks. He has had enough of their loud asses next door to his hotel room he is stay at and interrupts their fun. It is instant chemistry for these two! going their seperate ways, both of them regret not getting each others names or numbers. fate is on their side though when they run into each other again.
READ THIS BOOK. Please read it! Its everything I didn't know I needed.
I loved every single character we met in this book. I especially loved the relationship that was built between Olive and Brooks. The banter between these two was everything! The sexy scenes were TOP NOTCH! Man oh MAN... can Mae write a sex scene. if you love dirty talk? There is grade-a dirty talk.
Give this book a shot! I cant wait for Lilah's story
I absolutely LOVED this book!
I was sent this book to review and give my honest opinion on it.
Sassy bakery owner, Olive, is partying it up for her best friends bachlorette party when she meets sexy alpha contractor, Brooks. He has had enough of their loud asses next door to his hotel room he is stay at and interrupts their fun. It is instant chemistry for these two! going their seperate ways, both of them regret not getting each others names or numbers. fate is on their side though when they run into each other again.
READ THIS BOOK. Please read it! Its everything I didn't know I needed.
I loved every single character we met in this book. I especially loved the relationship that was built between Olive and Brooks. The banter between these two was everything! The sexy scenes were TOP NOTCH! Man oh MAN... can Mae write a sex scene. if you love dirty talk? There is grade-a dirty talk.
Give this book a shot! I cant wait for Lilah's story
This is straight sm*t. Do with that knowledge what you will.