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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
It’s been a while since I read a romance that doesn’t have some dramatic confrontation with a violent ex, psycho killer, or demonic vampire prince overlord or whatever. So, what a joy it was to read Stripped Down by Mae Harden, a “stripped down” romance with tons of heat and humor. The chemistry between Olive, a badass baker, and Brooks, the dirty-talking contractor who’s building an addition to her bakery, is sweet and steamy as hell. And the scene where they meet had me laughing out loud.
The side characters are delightful as well, and I can already tell it’s going to be a good time reading about Olive’s siblings finding love (and lust) in the other Sonoma books. Stripped Down is a fun, sexy read I gladly recommend.
The side characters are delightful as well, and I can already tell it’s going to be a good time reading about Olive’s siblings finding love (and lust) in the other Sonoma books. Stripped Down is a fun, sexy read I gladly recommend.
Everyone needs to read this!!
This book is hands down one of the best I've read this year. Olive & Brooks are just incredible tomorrow, the fire between them!!! Mae is also an amazing author & I love her writing!
This book is hands down one of the best I've read this year. Olive & Brooks are just incredible tomorrow, the fire between them!!! Mae is also an amazing author & I love her writing!
4 Stars! Such a sweet and sexy debut novel!
Olive - one of five siblings who got abandoned by their father after their mum died, she's now grown and trying to put that heartbreak behind her by focusing on growing her bakery. Taking a rare night off to enjoy her friend's bachelorette party, the last thing she expected was to end the night with a kiss from the stripper! She's even more surprised when she sees him the next day as the contractor due to work on the bakery's extension! Can she open her heart for more? Or will her past fear of rejection cause her to push him away for good?
Brooks - he only intended to go round to the noisy bachelorette party next door to tell them to turn it down a bit, it definitely wasn't to end up stripping for a green-eyed goddess he now can't get off his mind. When he sees her the next day these feelings only grow stronger, unfortunately she seems determined to keep him at arms length. Even after the mind-blowing kisses they've shared, does she not feel the same way? All he knows is he's all in, he just needs to help Olive lower her walls and let him love her the way she deserves to be loved.
You can't help but love Brooks. He ticks all the book boyfriend boxes...he has a heart of gold, the body of a God, and the dirty mouth of a sinner! Slightly full-on at times, but when the alpha knows what he wants, he just has to have it. Plus Olive has had so much heartache in her life, it's her time to be cherished.
If you're looking for a short heart-warming, low drama yet sky-high heat read, then this is the book for you! I only knocked off a star because I wish there was a bit more drama/conflict, but it was still a lovely book to read. Can't wait to read Lilah's book to find out what happens with the sexy Texan next door!
No cheating. No cliff-hanger. HEA guaranteed.
Olive - one of five siblings who got abandoned by their father after their mum died, she's now grown and trying to put that heartbreak behind her by focusing on growing her bakery. Taking a rare night off to enjoy her friend's bachelorette party, the last thing she expected was to end the night with a kiss from the stripper! She's even more surprised when she sees him the next day as the contractor due to work on the bakery's extension! Can she open her heart for more? Or will her past fear of rejection cause her to push him away for good?
Brooks - he only intended to go round to the noisy bachelorette party next door to tell them to turn it down a bit, it definitely wasn't to end up stripping for a green-eyed goddess he now can't get off his mind. When he sees her the next day these feelings only grow stronger, unfortunately she seems determined to keep him at arms length. Even after the mind-blowing kisses they've shared, does she not feel the same way? All he knows is he's all in, he just needs to help Olive lower her walls and let him love her the way she deserves to be loved.
You can't help but love Brooks. He ticks all the book boyfriend boxes...he has a heart of gold, the body of a God, and the dirty mouth of a sinner! Slightly full-on at times, but when the alpha knows what he wants, he just has to have it. Plus Olive has had so much heartache in her life, it's her time to be cherished.
If you're looking for a short heart-warming, low drama yet sky-high heat read, then this is the book for you! I only knocked off a star because I wish there was a bit more drama/conflict, but it was still a lovely book to read. Can't wait to read Lilah's book to find out what happens with the sexy Texan next door!
No cheating. No cliff-hanger. HEA guaranteed.
Great short quick read. Main characters were enjoyable.
Cute fun quick story and kept my interest.
Cute fun quick story and kept my interest.
funny
lighthearted
“ I’m dead. She sucked the soul right out of my body through my dick. Holy hell, what a way to go.“
I am attending a book signing event this weekend and Mae is listed as one of the authors so my plan was to try and read several books from authors that will be there this week.
This is Mae’s debut novel and overall really well done. It is a cute insta love romance that has quite a few lol moments.
I plan to read more from the series after I finish I read from a few more authors that will be there. I think that it has a lot of potential. The only reason I only gave 4 stars is mainly because instalust/ instalove is one of my least favorite tropes. No hate to the author, just not my cup of tea.
I am attending a book signing event this weekend and Mae is listed as one of the authors so my plan was to try and read several books from authors that will be there this week.
This is Mae’s debut novel and overall really well done. It is a cute insta love romance that has quite a few lol moments.
I plan to read more from the series after I finish I read from a few more authors that will be there. I think that it has a lot of potential. The only reason I only gave 4 stars is mainly because instalust/ instalove is one of my least favorite tropes. No hate to the author, just not my cup of tea.
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.75 stars
I liked the “I’m not your stripper but I’ll take my clothes off anyway if you will please quiet down” meet cute, but not a fan of the slightly drawn out miscommunication/misunderstanding trope which was the main source of conflict. Really enjoyed it once the main couple got their act together though, and I always love reading about a couple who are just really into each other. As a bonus, there was a lot more dirty talk and spice than I expected for what started off as a cute and sweet romance.
I liked the “I’m not your stripper but I’ll take my clothes off anyway if you will please quiet down” meet cute, but not a fan of the slightly drawn out miscommunication/misunderstanding trope which was the main source of conflict. Really enjoyed it once the main couple got their act together though, and I always love reading about a couple who are just really into each other. As a bonus, there was a lot more dirty talk and spice than I expected for what started off as a cute and sweet romance.
Olive and Brooks meet during a bachelorette party where Brooks is mistaken as a stripper. His only goal was to get the girls in the hotel room next door to grow quiet but he ends up taking off his shirt and kissing the gorgeous woman.
It was supposed to be a one-time thing but when they meet again, now as the owner of a bakery and the contractor doing the addition to it, things go south because Brooks puts his foot in his mouth, indicating that the kiss was a mistake (when in reality, he's been thinking of ways how to contact the mysterious woman again). It doesn't start well for their professional relationship. But slowly, hopefully, Brooks can change her mind.
The book is a surprisingly slow burn, despite the explosive beginning. I actually enjoyed that aspect a lot, seeing the two of them build on their relationship while slowly revealing things to one another. I could understand Olive's hesitations because of her past and I'm glad Brooks stuck around long enough to not only understand them himself and do what needed to be done to strip down her walls. The secondary cast was fun also and I'm happy that Olive has her bakery people and siblings by her side!
The one thing that was a huge highlight for me in the book was Brooks and his dirty talk. Whoa, that was really something! The man knows how to use words and makes it his mission to reduce Olive (and the reader) into a mess with them. Omg. I had to pause at one point because I loved it so so much. He also knows exactly what he wants and that's Olive, though it takes him a moment (and nudging from Olive's sister) to really understand how to get there. That flip getting switched was amazing.
It was supposed to be a one-time thing but when they meet again, now as the owner of a bakery and the contractor doing the addition to it, things go south because Brooks puts his foot in his mouth, indicating that the kiss was a mistake (when in reality, he's been thinking of ways how to contact the mysterious woman again). It doesn't start well for their professional relationship. But slowly, hopefully, Brooks can change her mind.
The book is a surprisingly slow burn, despite the explosive beginning. I actually enjoyed that aspect a lot, seeing the two of them build on their relationship while slowly revealing things to one another. I could understand Olive's hesitations because of her past and I'm glad Brooks stuck around long enough to not only understand them himself and do what needed to be done to strip down her walls. The secondary cast was fun also and I'm happy that Olive has her bakery people and siblings by her side!
The one thing that was a huge highlight for me in the book was Brooks and his dirty talk. Whoa, that was really something! The man knows how to use words and makes it his mission to reduce Olive (and the reader) into a mess with them. Omg. I had to pause at one point because I loved it so so much. He also knows exactly what he wants and that's Olive, though it takes him a moment (and nudging from Olive's sister) to really understand how to get there. That flip getting switched was amazing.
