Love the Way You Lie (Stripped #1)

I’m one of the least judgmental rock chicks out there and I read 5-6 books a week. All different sorts of romance book (except historical) I can deal with the dark, the gritty, the taboo but I found this book was just sleazy. SPOILER: All the men in this book were sexual deviants. The Owner of the strip club, the bouncer, the ex fianc (his “foot” soldiers), the father, and the hero/foe.

Another problem of mine, Honor was too forgiving. After everything her fianc and father put her through, to just forgive someone so easily for debasing you, YOUR repeating the same cycle over again. Make him work for it a little. I just want to smack her in her head and say stop being a door mat. His reasons were too wishy washy for me. I just couldn’t get over that when usually I’m so forgiving in books.

Maybe I really am turning into a book snob. Will I read the next? Nope.
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For what looked to be a promising, dark, erotic story, it was really underdeveloped and convoluted, as well as slow and at times boring and just plain depressing. What was supposed to be maybe two whole “sex” scenes in the book (outside of some sexual tension) was barely a couple of paragraphs and lacked any real detail or eroticism and actual sex.

Also, given that I’ve read Candy and Ivan’s story, I thought their introductions to the story, as well as Blue’s character could’ve been a lot better. Both Ivan and Blue come across as just plain predatory sleazeballs who bully women and manage a run-down depressing strip club instead of tough, dark, dominant/alpha bad asses. Ivan also seems to serve no purpose in the story and it’s completely unclear as to what his purpose and business is with Honey other than to be antagonistic and predatory, and couldn’t he take some of the money I’m sure he makes to put some of it into fixing up the place so it’s not such a hell hole?? There’s nothing sexy or appealing about either Ivan or Blue in this introductory story. Blue especially comes across an idiotic pitbull who sniffs around all the women and bullies them cuz he can’t get a woman any other way….nothing appealing about that, and I have no interest in reading further about his character in the next installment.

I wish the story itself would’ve been better developed and less slow and convoluted, less depressing, and that Kip’s character was more tough and badass given how they build him up to be one, and that he had more purpose. I also wish there was a lot more sex, and that they were much more developed and detailed and erotic and that not everything has take place in some run-down, depressing, dirty situation.

Love the Way you lie by Skye Warren (Stripped Book1)
After reading the prequel Tough Love, I thought this would be Clara and Gio story. Unfortunately it was not. It was Honor and Kip story. Dont get me wrong, it was still good I was just hoping to find out more of Clara. Honor has run with her sister Clara. She has kept Clara in a motel while Honor becomes Honey at a shady strip club that offers more than just stripping. While there, she notices Kip and he requests a private booth. He is very mysterious. Honor is drawn to him but she cannot figure out why? He is a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, once moment he is degrading towards Honey and the next he is a true gentleman. Yet something in lurking, you know he is hiding something and there are many hints from fellow strippers. Honey seems to stick her head in the sand and not ask questions. The first half of the book is pretty slow and then all the drama starts to unfold. True identities are revealed and those that have been searching for Honor, seem to be getting closer. Can she survive and more importantly can she protect Clara. Overall this was a good read.
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I read the first story in this series in a free anthology, and I enjoyed so much I sought out this book. (Side note: I would love for someone to explain why the events in the novella that starts this series actually take place after this book, but thats neither here nor there for this review.) This is the story of Honor and Kip. Honor is a stripper, and Kip is a customer with secrets in his eyes. She is drawn to him despite herself, because she knows she has to be careful and she understands exactly whats at stake. Shes been on the run protecting herself and her little sister ever since they escaped from their mafioso father.

Theres a lot thats easy to see coming. Of course you know that Honor, or Honey as she is known at the club, and Kip are connected. You know his secrets concern her past. And you know there is going to be something between them. But holy cannoli, there was so much I didnt expect. You know there are lies between them. I mean, cmon, its right there in the title. But there were so many things that popped up at the end that genuinely surprised me. After the reveals, I could point back to clues that had been foreshadowing these surprises all along, and I love that! It makes for a much more satisfying read, because I felt like the author wasnt just writing things down spontaneously or letting the characters tell the story or whatever. Instead I felt the author had carefully planned and crafted an intricately plotted story, and that is definitely my jam.

This is also a reach-out-and-grab-you-in-the-gut kind of book. You cant help but feel for Honor. She has struggled not just to survive but to protect and care for her sister, and she is just broken. Sometimes I wanted to kick Kip in the shin for the way he was treating her, but then he would turn around and do something that was so kind or loving or protective that it almost hurt her because she didnt know how to deal. I didnt understand what was driving him, and neither did she. But in the end he proved himself. No couple ever deserved an HEA more than these two.

This author is also exceptionally well written. Her word choices, her sentence structure, her lyrical writing styleI really do believe she is a master of her craft. Highly recommend.

Brilliant first book of the stripped series , we had a taster in the prequel and in this story we find out what happened to Honor & Clara after they ran away from the mansion . More secrets were revealed , there was talk that Honor’s father is not the father of Clara and in this book we learn the truth . We also learn who Kip is and how he fits into the story, thankfully Byron gets his comeuppance and Honors father does try to do the right thing to put things right between Honor and himself after all the drama the ending is perfect .

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