Blog Tour and Giveaway: Stripped: Jasinda Wilder
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Expected Release date August 16, 2013
So how did I get myself into this situation, you ask? Simple: desperation. When you're faced with being homeless and hungry or taking off your clothes for money, the choice is easier than you'd imagine. That doesn't make it easy, though. Oh no. I hate it, in fact. There's nothing I'd like more than to quit and never go into another bar again, never hear the techno beat pulsing in my ears again, never feel the lecherous gazes of horny men again.
Then, one day, I meet a man. He's in my club, front and center. He watches me do my routine, and his gaze is full of hunger. Not the kind of desire I'm used to though. It's something different. Something hotter, deeper, and more possessive. I know who he is; of course I do. Everyone knows who Dawson Kellor is. He's People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive. He's the hottest actor in Hollywood. He's the man hand-picked for the role of Rhett Butler in the long-awaited remake of Gone With the Wind.
Then, one day, I meet a man. He's in my club, front and center. He watches me do my routine, and his gaze is full of hunger. Not the kind of desire I'm used to though. It's something different. Something hotter, deeper, and more possessive. I know who he is; of course I do. Everyone knows who Dawson Kellor is. He's People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive. He's the hottest actor in Hollywood. He's the man hand-picked for the role of Rhett Butler in the long-awaited remake of Gone With the Wind.
He's the kind of man who can have any woman in the entire world with a mere crook of his finger. So what's he doing looking at me like he has to have me? And how do I resist him when he looks at me with those intoxicating, changeable, quicksilver eyes?
I'm a virgin, and he's an American icon of male sexuality. I'm a stripper, and he's a man used to getting anything and everything he wants. And he wants me. I know I should say no, I know he's the worst kind of player…but what my mind knows, my body and my heart may not.
And then things get complicated.
4 to 4.5 stars
Grey has grown up sheltered and controlled by her pastor Daddy and sweet Mom who tries to be a buffer between their strong personalities. She loves to dance, she loves film, and she loves school. When a tragedy happens and everything falls apart, it is the deciding factor on Grey leaving home and following her dreams of going to college in California and getting into the film industry.
Life in L.A. is good for awhile. Grey is a smart girl and has scholarships and she does not have high maintenance needs, but circumstances change and eventually she is forced to find a job...and the only one she can find is probably the most unlikely place for an innocent Preacher's daughter from Georgia with little life experience. She has another opportunity in her chosen field that could give her a start, but she still needs the big paying stripper job she hates.
Dawson Kellor, one of Hollywood's hottest stars and bad boys ends up smack dab in the middle of her complicated life. And he just makes it even more complicated.
He seduces without trying. He's an accidental incubus. His quicksilver eyes draw you in...His body seduces, too...His lithe and lethal grace is hypnotic, too, in the way he moves like a leopard in the African grass.
Dawson...I totally adored him! Swoon-worthy for sure! He was hot, bossy, pushy, sexy, and completely protective. His reaction to her was strong, fast, and almost irrational. He swooped in as her hero even as she fought him tooth and nail. He had a lonely childhood and checkered past, but when he found something to care about, he went all in. He had never really had strong feelings about anyone or felt loved due to his upbringing, so his attachment to Grey was very different for him. And he did not take that for granted.
"You don't give me a damned thing, and that's maddening But that's a feeling, too. Wanting you, needing you, being confused, being mad, frustrated needing a release I can't find, wanting to even hold your hand like some f***ing sappy teenager...it's all feeling. And that...it makes me feel alive in a why I've never known before."
Grey...I know she had reasons to be emotional, sad, heartbroken and scared. She had a hard time coming to terms with her upbringing, beliefs, and her present situation. She was smart and capable, but felt unworthy and was her own worst critic. But with all that being said, her constant crying, insecurities, and running drove me nuts! I swear she cried over half the book...anytime when she was sad, angry, scared, emotional, or happy. I know this just illustrated the fact that she had very strong feelings, but still it made it hard to warm up to her. It was like her emotions were too much for her to handle. I have to admit that sometimes I just wanted to smack her. But I also understand what made her the way she was, and she did improve as the book went on.
I'm not an actress or someone sexy and confident and sure of who I am. I'm a mess. A confused, embarrassed, shameful mess.
Together, they were initially a confusing disaster. I felt so bad for Dawson. He wanted to help. She was resistant and stubborn. It was fight or flight, push and pull, and stop and go. But Dawson is one determined guy when he sets his mind to something. I liked that once he started to figure her out, he really understood her and could deal with her issues and behavior. It showed how much he really cared for her. And she wanted him too, but was so bogged down in her own insecurities and fears that it almost crippled her at times.
"I want to kiss you whenever I feel like it. I want to tell you when you're being ridiculous. I want to make love to you. I want to f*** you. I want to hold you. I want to be yours. I don't know you, like, at all, but I want all this. It's total craziness...F***, I should have my man-card revoked for being all emotional and girly and telling you my feelings. But...I'm nothing if not honest...
This was not just a book about Grey learning about relationships, sex, and love. It was also about her coming to terms with her her family issues, her past upbringing and narrow views. It was difficult and emotional growth process of finding her own sense of self worth, forgiveness, learning to trust, and reconciling her past and present. Towards the end, I did begin to soften towards her and saw the good in their relationship.
All of Jasinda Wilder's books are unique and this is no exception. I will admit that it took me a bit to get into it in the beginning as we learned a lot about her past home life, but I understand that it was necessary to truly understand where Grey came from and her feelings. Maybe I was just really impatient to meet Dawson. And once he appeared on the scene, I definitely become more intrigued and interested. Jasinda writes in an engaging style, develops her characters fully, and creates deep, meaningful connections and serious chemistry. Stripped had pain, drama, emotion, sexiness, and sweetness. Dawson was a swoony hero and I adored his charm, bossiness, and deep feelings. I was glad that this was a complete story with a resolved ending. And I left the book with a smile on my face.
Thanks to Jasinda Wilder for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. When she’s not writing, she’s probably shopping, baking, or reading.
Some of her favorite authors include Nora Roberts, JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Liliana Hart and Bella Andre.
She loves to travel and some of her favorite vacations spots are Las Vegas, New York City and Toledo, Ohio.
You can often find Jasinda drinking sweet red wine with frozen berries and eating a cupcake.
Jasinda is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
Tour hosted by Shhmomsreading
Tour hosted by Shhmomsreading
Giveaway day one of tour!
11 comments
I love Big Girls Do It Better, the whole series really. Thanks for the chance to win Stripped, very excited for this release! I entered on Tammy and Kim Reviews.
ReplyDeleteI loved wounded. Thank you for giveaway
ReplyDeleteI love Falling Into You. It was a emotional and very sweet story. Now, I am excited to read STRIPPED. The teasers are really good. :) Saw the giveaway at Tammy & Kim Reviews. :)
ReplyDeleteI entered living in a fiction world
ReplyDeleteI've never read any of her books but I'm adding them to my TBR list. I entered on Tammy and Kim Reviews.
ReplyDeleteEntered at Tammy and Kim Reviews..... and Falling Into You I as my favorite but Big Girls is awesome too
ReplyDeleteI love the Big Girls do.... (better, pregnant etc etc) series! And I swung by Tammy and Kim Reviews to enter!
ReplyDeleteHave not read a book yet but on my TBR list
ReplyDeletehttp://tammyandkimreviews.blogspot.com/
DeleteFalling Into You. Http://tammyandkimreviews.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the review! <3
ReplyDelete