Kristie J’s review of Stripped (Blue Heat, Book 1) by Tara Wyatt
Romantic Suspense published by Avon Impulse 15 May 18
Wowzers. When I start a review with this word, you know it’s a good book, because I’d never use it for a bad one. When I read the outline for this story, I was so on board with reading it. It was this line in the book description that sold it:
“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.”
I haven’t read Romantic Suspense for a while, so I was ripe for this one. Sawyer Matthews is our hero. He’s in a bad place. He has just lost his partner and good friend and he blames himself. He’s out drinking alone one night when he meets Brooke Simmons. She headed to the bar to get away from a bad scene at a wedding. Sparks fly between them, and I mean sparks FLY. I’m not normally a fan of the one-night stand, but it works for me in this case because the author establishes a connection between them right off the bat that seems deeper than a normal pickup.
They both figure that one night is it between them, not unlike two ships that pass in the night, but neither can forget the other. Imagine their shock then when it turns out that Brooke is Sawyer’s new partner. And he’s not having any of it, no, sir. He knows that she will be a distraction since the sparks haven’t even cooled to embers- they are still a full-blown fire.
Brooke has wanted to be a member of this special team for quite a while and is hurt and feels betrayed when Sawyer tries to get her off the team. But their boss isn’t having any of it and tells them to work it out. And wouldn’t you know, there is a tip to the bad guys that leads Sawyer to go undercover – as a male stripper. And Brooke is to be a super fan as a cover. There is a scene or two where he’s practicing his moves and, oh, mama, are they hot!
With the fire between them already raging, it’s not long before they are again caught up in its heat and are giving in. But it’s very frowned upon for partners to have any kind of sexual relationship, so they do their best to hide it while working on the case.
I love this book. Tara Wyatt is a new-to-me author, but you can bet your bottom dollar I will be reading more of her books. Stripped has everything I love in a book. It has good suspense, romance that makes the reader need a fan, main characters that are great, interesting secondary characters that, by the looks of it, might be next in the series, and darn good writing.
Sawyer is sexy beyond all belief. He’s a good guy suffering from ghosts from his past. Brooke is an equally well written and believable. She stands up for herself both against Sawyer and against the bad guys. And I love that there is a great deal of respect between them. The reason Sawyer wanted her off the team at first had nothing to do with her abilities as a cop. Nope, it’s himself he’s fighting with.
I had barely closed the book when I signed up for the author’s newsletter so I’ll know when the next book comes out. When I did, I got a free short story that was equally great. I love finding new, good authors with back lists.
Grade: A
Summary:
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.
No excerpt available.
