Book Review for Got Mine by Nicole Loufas

When his precocious daughter is accepted into a hipster private school - Theodore Sway sacrifices his ego, his morals, and his body hair so Lulu isn’t damned to a life of ramen noodles and broken dreams.

Theo takes a job at Trance; the city’s only women’s club, and soon becomes its star attraction. That still isn’t enough to pay his daughter's tuition and the ever-rising cost of his San Francisco neighborhood. With the help of Rico, a fellow entertainer and part-time pimp; Theo earns extra cash through a series of hilarious side jobs.

Soon, Theo’s sexy stage persona becomes a liability and threatens his role as the world's okayest dad.

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Readers will find themselves quickly falling for the world's best dad in this sexy and charming tale set in the world of male stripping.  Issues of parental custody are balanced with moral issues over the lines one won't cross when piles of money become a temptation.  These issues are dealt with head-on in an unblinking way that will leave readers questioning their own limits.  By the turn of the final page though, and courtesy of some far too easily resolved complications, readers will be left smiling and cheering the lengths a dad went to for his daughter in this immensely satisfying story.

Theo never thought he'd be taking the stage as a male stripper, but fate hasn't been kind to him ever since he became the sole caregiver to his sweet little daughter after her mother left her behind to deploy overseas.  Theo's background is one of highs and lows as he was once a star baseball player until an injury left him adrift.  His family life was equally as painful as both parents were absent.  Because of these disappointments he wants better for his daughter, much better, as being a father is the most important role for him in life.  Part of that better involves an elite education.  His daughter's smart and he wants those smarts to give her every opportunity which means paying tuition to a private school.  After numerous low-paying jobs that barely made ends meet Theo decides to heed his friend Giovanni's advice and join him as a dancer at Trance.  What follows is a journey of self-discovery for Theo, one where he finds love and a good dose of self-esteem which makes life better for him and his family in a heartwarming conclusion.  Theo's clearly the star of this story and it's refreshing having a romance told from a male POV.  Theo's sweet and self-deprecating, bruised by the past of being left behind to pick up the pieces.  While he's torn by his decision to become a stripper he's focused on his daughter's future which has him embracing his role of "Sway" in many humorous yet sexy scenes.  Theo's interactions with other characters in the book are entertaining and give readers unique insight into his personality.  With his daughter Lulu he's patient and supportive, loving and willing to sacrifice himself for her future.  His interactions with former friend-with-benefits Sylvie are complicated as she still stirs feelings in him, whether they're romantic feelings or feelings of comfort, that he struggles to define in a connection that he clearly comes to count on as he learns to survive in the world of stripping.  Adding to his struggles of dealing with the advances of paying women is the return of Leeyan, the mother of his child who's desperate to become a part of her daughter's life and whose antics go over-the-top and become melodramatic.  Her return dampened my joy a bit, and the hints of romance with another has me wondering how Ms. Loufas will redeem this less-than-admirable character in the future.  While the life of a stripper may seem glamorous to some the insight readers get in this book shows a life that is sometimes degrading, sometimes humorous, but always highly sexualized. Theo enters a brotherhood when he comes to Trance and as Sway he becomes just one of the guys who learns tips on grooming and the kinds of side-jobs that earn extra money.  It's a memorable group of guys readers are introduced to, sexy yet endearing, and each one deserves a story of their own. From Giovanni who wants the best things in life, to Dain who lost a brother and who cares for his nephew, to Thor who has no rhythm and who's getting pushed out by the younger guys, they're a compelling cast who had me gobbling up every glimpse of them. From the first page to the last this was a charming read that fully immersed me in every bump and grind.  With its delightful blend of humor and drama it all added up to a decadently delightful read that was almost perfect.  It's an entertaining first book in the Men of Trance series, a bit too perfectly wrapped up, but despite its small flaws I'm still excitedly counting down the days until the next sexy stripper takes Center Stage.

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from Netgalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.