New Release Review! STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James (A 1001 Dark Nights / Blacktop Cowboys novella)

We are so excited to bring you the Review & Excerpt Tour for Lorelei James’ STRIPPED DOWN! STRIPPED DOWN is a Blacktop Cowboys Series Novella brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. It was released on September 1, 2015! Grab your copy today!
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About STRIPPED DOWN: A Blacktop Cowboys Novella:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lorelei James, a new steamy story of the Blacktop Cowboys…

Never challenge a cowboy to a little naughty competition…

A flirty game of sexual truth or dare between best man, Wynton Grant, and maid of honor, Melissa Lockhart during their BFF’s wedding reception results in a steamy hookup.

But their plans for a one and done change when a family crisis leaves Wyn shorthanded at the Grant Ranch. Experienced horsewoman Mel volunteers to help out and gets way more than she bargained for living under the same roof as the sexy rancher. Playing house has never appealed to Wyn…until now.

But the feisty redhead is keeping secrets and Wyn’s not above stripping her bare—body and soul—to get to the bottom of it…

Excerpt:

The next morning, Wyn hauled his ass out of bed at first light. He and Cres did chores without saying much besides mumbling every once in a while. They stopped by their folks’ place to see how Dad was faring. He was tired—and annoyed by the “no ranch work” edict—so for the first time in years, they talked about other things over lunch. Wyn didn’t leave in a rush because he was dodging his mom’s questions about his relationship with Melissa, he was just anxious to hang out with her the rest of the day.

Once he got back to his house, he felt stupid, coming home early, expecting she’d drop everything and want to spend time with him. She was here as a favor to them to do ranch work. Since her help wasn’t needed yet, he had no right to assume she’d want to spend her free time with him.

She sat cross-legged on his couch with her laptop and looked up, beaming a smile at him. “Hey. You done already?”

“For now. Why?”

“Because I want you to take me for a joy ride across the ranch in your truck, cowboy.”

His heart simultaneously stopped and exploded with hope. “For real?”

“Unless you want to ride horses to show me the sights?”

“Nope. Let’s go.” Wyn would drag this afternoon out. Show her every nook and cranny, every field and stream, every rocky ridge and meadow of this place he loved.

Melissa proved to be an excellent gate opener, and she was properly awed by the ranch. That earned her brownie points when he parked in his favorite secluded spot and undressed her.

The times they’d been intimate had been fast and intense. For this go around, Wyn wanted slow. Maybe a little sweet.

His new roomie proved herself to be excellent at slow and sweet, with lazy kisses and lingering caresses.

Afterward, when they were both sweaty and spent on the seat of his truck, he kissed her chest as they spiraled down from the orgasmic high together.

“We’re going to wear each other out,” she murmured in his hair.

Wyn didn’t see a problem with that. “Is that a challenge?”

She groaned. “Not today. I wouldn’t mind going back. I need to make a phone call and then I want to exercise Plato.”

“Okay. But, baby you gotta move off my lap and let go of my hair so I can drive.”

“Oh. Right.”

He loved that dazed look in her eyes, knowing he’d put it there.

Review:

Somehow there always seems to be way more to a Lorelei Jamesbook 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 1001 Dark Nights: Roped In #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.

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About Lorelei James:

Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary erotic western romances set in the modern day Wild West and also contemporary erotic romances.

Lorelei’s books have been nominated for and won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s choice Award, as well as the CAPA Award. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota with her family…and a whole closet full of cow girl boots.

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