An undercover cop goes beyond the call of duty to avenge his partner by taking to the stage as a stripper trying to get info on a dangerous drug cartel while falling for his new partner in this sexy and suspenseful tale. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Stripped by Tara Wyatt, along with my impressions of it, then add this first installment in the Blue HEAT series to your bookshelf!
The first in a sexy new series from Tara Wyatt!
Detective Sawyer Matthews isn’t just having a bad day—he’s having the worst day. His hunt for the criminal who killed his team member has stalled and now… he’s got to play nice with his new, totally unwanted partner. It’s not that she isn’t qualified, or that he doesn’t like her—it’s because he knows what she looks like naked. So very, very naked.
Brooke Simmons finally landed her dream job working for H.E.A.T, an elite undercover detective squad, and she’s not giving up simply because she had a one-night-stand with her sullen—but undeniably sexy—new partner. They’ll just have to keep it professional. Easier said than done, considering their first case requires Sawyer to infiltrate a drug cartel operating out of a male strip show. Watching him do his best Magic Mike impression every night isn’t just hot—it’s torture.
Sawyer doesn’t need any distractions, yet his attraction to Brooke is explosive and he can’t resist going for round two. Or three. Or four. But as their investigation progresses and danger mounts, they’ll have to put their jobs, hearts, and lives on the line to fight… for each other, for survival, and for justice.
EXCERPT:
The elevator doors slid closed and Sawyer tugged Brooke against him, wanting to drown in her mouth, in her body. To feel something good. To forget about the near constant ache in his chest, just for a few hours. Drinking, punishing workouts, burying himself in cases, nothing worked. So it was time for a new plan. He was going to fuck this woman’s brains out and make her lose her damn mind in the hopes of shutting his off. A night of distraction and relief. Exactly what he’d been hoping to find. After the night she’d had, he was confident that she needed this—wanted this, deserved this—just as much as he did.
As he crushed his mouth to hers again, she moaned, her tongue stroking against his, sending more blood rushing to his already hard cock. He trailed his hands down her back and to her ass, giving her cheeks a firm squeeze. With a soft chime, the elevator doors opened onto her floor, and she broke the kiss. Threading her long, slender fingers through his, she led him down the hall. Her blond hair fell in styled waves around her shoulders, and when she glanced back at him over her shoulder, her warm brown eyes sparkled at him as she smiled. God, she was pretty. High cheekbones, delicate features, killer smile. She was tall, at least five-foot-ten, with slender arms and long, toned legs. Clearly fit, she moved with an athletic grace that he’d found appealing the second he’d laid eyes on her. Small, perky breasts, and what had felt like an equally perky ass, but he wouldn’t know for sure until he got her out of that dress.
As far as distractions went, he could’ve done far, far worse. She’d come across as funny and confident despite her horrible night. She’d exuded a warmth that he’d found immensely appealing. He’d tried so hard to stay numb in the weeks since his best friend’s death, but she’d melted that hard knot in his chest so easily, reminding him of what it was like to feel good.
The ripped strap of her dress slid down her shoulder, and he reached forward, pushing it back into place, letting his fingers linger on her soft, warm skin. She turned suddenly and fisted her hands in his shirt, pulling his mouth back to hers, kissing him hungrily, catching him off guard. A low, gruff moan rumbled from somewhere deep in his chest and he slid his arms around her, pulling her tight against him. Her body fit perfectly against his and a surge of something hot and sweet curled through him, and he knew he’d made the right decision to try to pick her up. Vaguely, he wondered where she was from, what her last name was, what she did for a living, but none of that mattered for tonight. This wasn’t a date. This was sex.
Not that he dated, in the traditional sense. Hadn’t since the divorce. No, it was always just sex, and he liked it that way. Simple. Easy. Painless.
He deepened the kiss, claiming her mouth as images flashed through his mind. Everything he wanted to do with Brooke. To her. Have her do to him. Given the deliciously greedy way she was kissing him, she seemed to be up for what he liked, what he needed, but he had to be sure. Something was coiling tight inside him, and he knew it was only a matter of time—minutes, probably, with how damn good her mouth felt—before it snapped free and he gave in to the hot oblivion that came with hard, dirty fucking. He broke the kiss and spoke low, urgent words against her throat. “Tell me if I get too rough with you.”
Heat flared in her eyes and she rocked her hips against him, letting out a shuddery breath when his erection slid against her hip. She bit at his bottom lip, tugging and then releasing him with a slow smile. “I like rough.”
Halle-fucking-lujah.
She scraped her nails down his chest, just enough to sting even through the cotton of his T-shirt, and he smiled. For the first time in weeks, luck was on his side, because he had a feeling that this woman was exactly what he needed tonight. He kissed her again, deep and bruising and she sighed against his mouth. Blood rushed through his veins, and his cock throbbed against his zipper. The temptation to back her up against the wall and fuck her in the hallway was strong, despite the likely indecent exposure charge they’d both get when caught. Something was building between them, an explosive need, each kiss, every touch fueling the fire. He needed this woman with an intensity that ripped through him like nothing he’d ever felt before.
With a growl, he broke the kiss. “Which room?”
Her hands trembled a little as she fumbled for her key card in her bag, and a sense of pure, masculine satisfaction cascaded over him. He’d done that to her, with his mouth, his hands, the few words he’d said. And he couldn’t wait to do more. She led him two doors down from where they’d stopped and slipped the card into the slot. The lock released with a click, the little green light flashing.
Green light. Go.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
There’s a cloud of grief hanging over the men and women of the Blue H.E.A.T. team as they’re still trying to recover from the loss of one of their own, swearing revenge against the Baracoa drug cartel. With their revenge driving them this story soon becomes a sexy and suspenseful thrill ride featuring a clandestine romance and heart-pounding action. Along with keeping readers on the edge of their seats, readers will find themselves blushing as they watch work partners put their lives and hearts on the line in a romance teeming with sensuality.
With the death of his friend and partner Ryan, Detective Sawyer Matthews is still struggling with his guilt and anger. Nothing seems to satisfy him and nothing brings him happiness as he’s just going through the motions while focusing solely on revenge. A lone moment of feeling in a haze of grief though comes courtesy of a mystery woman he can’t seem to forget. When that woman turns out to be the newest member of the Blue H.E.A.T. team, and his new partner, things become complicated as both of them go undercover with their lives and futures put in jeopardy. Sawyer’s an immensely likable hero clearly hurting when readers first meet him. He’s so focused on revenge that he‘s given up on living for himself. It’s not until he meets Brooke that his eyes are opened up and he decides to go after what he wants. Though his heart has been bruised by his ex-wife he’s the first to admit his feelings, and to try to get a HEA with Brooke, which made me like him all the more. His undercover work also added an extra layer of sensuality to this romance and gave tantalizing insight into the world of stripping. The interactions with his fellow dancers were entertaining, with playful banter, and I would love to see this part of the story break off into its own series. These scenes were vividly depicted and had me feeling like a part of the audience as jealousy finally pushed Brooke into action. Though Sawyer is a bit standoffish at the start he quickly showed a softer, more caring side, that had him wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Brooke Simmons is virtually alone in the world with only her elderly grandma left to care for her. She’s experienced a lot of losses in life and it’s hardened her heart. When it comes to romance she has a long list of bad relationships with bad men that are a result of her not wanting to be hurt. If she doesn’t care about anyone then she can’t be hurt by their leaving. It’s a sad state that she’s in when she first meets Sawyer and their unforgettable night sets them on a rocky road to romance that kept me glued to the pages. All Brooke’s ever wanted to be was a detective so she’s determined to succeed as the newest member of the Blue H.E.A.T. team despite Sawyer’s initial resistance. On the job she’s strong-willed and self-assured, a badass with a gun, but off the clock she’s scared and uncertain when it comes to matters of the heart. In some ways she’s still a little girl and it saddened me to see her so uncertain when it came to love. Her and Sawyer are a crackling couple who are a formidable team on the job and off, brought together at a low point for both of them. When they need each other the most, in both subtle and blatant ways, they end up riding to the rescue in scenes that had me cheering.
From the first page to the last this is an exhilarating tale teeming with sensuality and suspense. Though there are elements that have been done before I still found myself captivated by the action and romance here. It’s a fairly straight forward story that lays the groundwork for the next installments in this series as a drug cartel continues to wreak havoc with heroes and villains not always clear. Sawyer’s stripping was an entertaining entry into the cartel too and I felt that those scenes blended well with the rest of the story, though I wish there was more of a conclusion to his time there. Sawyer and Brooke are an appealing couple who have a lot in common, their dedication to the job a strong bond between them. They’re a fun and flirty couple with their forbidden romance sweet yet erotically-charged which had me rooting for them every step of the way. Alongside this likable main couple comes a cast of intriguing secondary characters. The glimpses readers got of Sawyer’s fellow detectives has me counting down the days until the next series installment. These detectives are hurting too, especially Amelia, who also lost a piece of her heart when Ryan died and who’s clearly still in mourning. She’s a tough cookie though, snarky and quite capable of being one of the guys. Rich boy Jack is a player who became a detective to snub his nose at his rich roots. He’s fun-loving and loyal to his coworkers, but shows no sign of wanting to settle down. These characters made the story richer and I look forward to their future roles in bringing down the Baracoa drug cartel. Though the ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly, with a few too many strings left hanging, I still recommend this series starter that made my heart race while pulling at my heartstrings.
With the death of his friend and partner Ryan, Detective Sawyer Matthews is still struggling with his guilt and anger. Nothing seems to satisfy him and nothing brings him happiness as he’s just going through the motions while focusing solely on revenge. A lone moment of feeling in a haze of grief though comes courtesy of a mystery woman he can’t seem to forget. When that woman turns out to be the newest member of the Blue H.E.A.T. team, and his new partner, things become complicated as both of them go undercover with their lives and futures put in jeopardy. Sawyer’s an immensely likable hero clearly hurting when readers first meet him. He’s so focused on revenge that he‘s given up on living for himself. It’s not until he meets Brooke that his eyes are opened up and he decides to go after what he wants. Though his heart has been bruised by his ex-wife he’s the first to admit his feelings, and to try to get a HEA with Brooke, which made me like him all the more. His undercover work also added an extra layer of sensuality to this romance and gave tantalizing insight into the world of stripping. The interactions with his fellow dancers were entertaining, with playful banter, and I would love to see this part of the story break off into its own series. These scenes were vividly depicted and had me feeling like a part of the audience as jealousy finally pushed Brooke into action. Though Sawyer is a bit standoffish at the start he quickly showed a softer, more caring side, that had him wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Brooke Simmons is virtually alone in the world with only her elderly grandma left to care for her. She’s experienced a lot of losses in life and it’s hardened her heart. When it comes to romance she has a long list of bad relationships with bad men that are a result of her not wanting to be hurt. If she doesn’t care about anyone then she can’t be hurt by their leaving. It’s a sad state that she’s in when she first meets Sawyer and their unforgettable night sets them on a rocky road to romance that kept me glued to the pages. All Brooke’s ever wanted to be was a detective so she’s determined to succeed as the newest member of the Blue H.E.A.T. team despite Sawyer’s initial resistance. On the job she’s strong-willed and self-assured, a badass with a gun, but off the clock she’s scared and uncertain when it comes to matters of the heart. In some ways she’s still a little girl and it saddened me to see her so uncertain when it came to love. Her and Sawyer are a crackling couple who are a formidable team on the job and off, brought together at a low point for both of them. When they need each other the most, in both subtle and blatant ways, they end up riding to the rescue in scenes that had me cheering.
From the first page to the last this is an exhilarating tale teeming with sensuality and suspense. Though there are elements that have been done before I still found myself captivated by the action and romance here. It’s a fairly straight forward story that lays the groundwork for the next installments in this series as a drug cartel continues to wreak havoc with heroes and villains not always clear. Sawyer’s stripping was an entertaining entry into the cartel too and I felt that those scenes blended well with the rest of the story, though I wish there was more of a conclusion to his time there. Sawyer and Brooke are an appealing couple who have a lot in common, their dedication to the job a strong bond between them. They’re a fun and flirty couple with their forbidden romance sweet yet erotically-charged which had me rooting for them every step of the way. Alongside this likable main couple comes a cast of intriguing secondary characters. The glimpses readers got of Sawyer’s fellow detectives has me counting down the days until the next series installment. These detectives are hurting too, especially Amelia, who also lost a piece of her heart when Ryan died and who’s clearly still in mourning. She’s a tough cookie though, snarky and quite capable of being one of the guys. Rich boy Jack is a player who became a detective to snub his nose at his rich roots. He’s fun-loving and loyal to his coworkers, but shows no sign of wanting to settle down. These characters made the story richer and I look forward to their future roles in bringing down the Baracoa drug cartel. Though the ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly, with a few too many strings left hanging, I still recommend this series starter that made my heart race while pulling at my heartstrings.
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from Edelweiss for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Tara Wyatt is an award-winning romantic suspense and contemporary romance author known for her fast-paced writing, humor, and sexy love scenes. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario with the cutest dog in the world and a husband who makes all of her heroes look like chumps.
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