A review by beckymmoe
Stripped Down by Lorelei James

4.0

Somehow there always seems to be way more to a [a:Lorelei James|541293|Lorelei James|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1391020452p2/541293.jpg] book than I'm expecting--you'd think I'd learn, but she constantly impresses me with how much she manages to pack into her novels and novellas. They're so much more than just an erotic story--there's a whole lot of substance behind the sexyfuntimes. Even though this is a novella, it packs quite an emotional wallop and is a whole lot of fun to read besides.

It all starts with some heavy duty sexual banter at his brother/her BFF's wedding. Both Mel and Wyn have quite the reputation, which they make no excuses for. Before long they're calling each other Super Man-Slut and Amazing Slut-Girl, which is way cuter than it sounds; you're going to have to trust me on that. This early exchange from the wedding...
"Come on, Melissa. Let's see what kinda dirty, dastardly deeds we can get away with."

"Deal. But call me Mel."

"Mel? Nope. Sorry. No can do."

"Why not?"

"Mel is the name of a line cook. 'Suck harder, Mel,' or 'Bend over, Mel,' brings totally different images to my mind than 'I'm gonna f*ck you through the wall, Melissa."
...made me laugh out loud. I'm so glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read that scene; it might not have been an attractive thing to witness otherwise. ;)

Mel and Wyn go from the wedding, which has a whole lot of sexy banter and innuendo going on and an incident in a deserted ready room, to some pretty major Grant family drama. Next thing you know, Mel has been volunteered to help out at Wyn and Cres's (Grant brother #3, who had better get his own novella soon!) ranch and is staying in Wyn's guest room.

Not to mention having a whole lot of dirty, dirty sex with her new roomie in the meantime.

Both Wyn and Mel are falling fast and hard before they even realize it, but Mel's got a pretty major secret that she hasn't even told her BFF yet. It could mean the end of everything, and almost does.

I loved Wyn's reaction to finding out her secret, and where he goes from there. So sweet. Even though yes, the time frame here was fairly short, Ms. James had me completely believing in their HEA.

Stripped Down reads fine as a standalone, even though it's #6.7 in the Blacktop Cowboys series and the second book in the series with a Grant brothers hero. Sutton's book [b:1001 Dark Nights: Roped In|19461036|1001 Dark Nights Roped In (Blacktop Cowboys, #6.5)|Lorelei James|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387029194s/19461036.jpg|27547745] #6.5, comes before it, and has already been added to my TBR. Gotta see how Sutton and London got to the wedding that led to Wyn and Mel meeting at last, after all...

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.