Blog Tour: Stripped Down - Emma Hart

 

What do you get when you mix a bottle of tequila, a single mom moonlighting as a stripper, and her sinfully sexy boss with an impulsive side?

Married. You get married.

Rich. Demanding. Hot. Crazy.

That was Beckett Cruz in a nutshell.

Not to mention wild, determined, dangerous, and forbidden.

He was my boss—and, after a drunken moment of insanity, my new husband.

An annulment was impossible... so was keeping him.

I was taking my daughter and leaving, determined to give her a quieter life.

But Beckett Cruz had never taken no for an answer.

And he wasn't about to take mine.

What happens in Vegas... might just keep you there.

   

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REVIEW

While I have a plethora of Emma Hart books sitting in my TBR pile growing dust, I have to admit this is the first book that I’ve actually gotten a chance to read.  And I am so glad that I finally sat my butt down and read something of hers.  Stripped Down was the perfect mixture of spicy heat, humor and sugar sweetness that I just love.  I devoured it within a few hours and then kept looking for more.

Cassie is a single mom that lets nothing and no one stand in her way of taking care of her daughter, including her own pride.  When bad news causes her to have an off night, she tries to be strong and carry on but her boss takes notice.  Beckett is her hot as hell boss that has all the ladies drooling and he has the notches in his bedpost to prove it.  But as he tries to take her mind off her troubles with tequila shots, Cassie can’t help but be attracted to him.  Things turn into a blur and then next thing she knows, she wakes up naked and married…to her boss.

Too often single moms are written as damsels in distress that need or want someone to rescue them.  I loved that Cassie wasn’t afraid to do what she had to in order to take care of her daughter and that she didn’t immediately see her marriage to Beckett as the answer to all her prayers.  I loved the playful and fun banter between Beckett and Cassie.  And their chemistry is off the charts.  There was enough sexual tension in this book to fill a gym.  And when they give in?  Kapow!  Explosions of hot, sweaty and sinful sex.  Then I’d see Beckett with CiCi and my heartstrings would get tugged.

I can’t wait to finally delve into some of those Emma Hart books awaiting me in my TBR pile and to see what else she has in store for us next.  She just gained a reader in me.  -Peace and Love, Buxom J

Emma Hart has been a name that has been passed around in our circle a lot but I have never had the time to actually read one of her books. Whenever I read the blurb I just knew I would want to read this book. Something about going through life’s big milestones appeals to me. Probably has something to do with the fact that I did the same thing with my husband.

Cassie and CiCi have always been on their own. Mother and daughter. No one has ever stepped in and played the role as a father figure to CiCi and Cassie is okay with doing both jobs. Her pride doesn’t let her ask for help. She may take her clothes off for money but she keeps her walls up pretty tight whenever it comes to her and her heart. On an off night due to some bad news about her dad, Cassie can’t help but to let those emotions shows. It just so happens that the person who takes notice is her sexy as sin boss, Beckett. Beckett convinces Cassie to take the night off and cut loose. Neither one of them knew that that would include a couple of rings and marriage to annul in the morning.

I truly enjoyed reading Stripped Down. It has all of the major components I look for in a good book. It was funny, witty, and downright sexy. If Emma Hart wasn’t pulling on my heart strings with sweet side of CiCi or the loving side of Beckett then she was causing my ribs to hurt with all the laughter from the outrageous things this six year old would say or the sass that came out of Cassie’s mouth. I fell for this book and it’s characters. I fell hard. - Daddy L

EXCERPT

“Beck?” I managed to get his name out just before he opened the front door.

“Yeah?” He spun back to face me, his dark eyes unreadable.

I turned my face to the side so I could see him fully. “You don't have to go,” I said softly. “You can stay. Only if you want to though.”

He rubbed his hand down his face, his eyes never leaving mine, then walked back into the kitchen toward me. I stood up away from the fridge as he stopped right next to me.

Slowly, he touched his hand to my face, his fingertips teasing my hairline. His dark gaze searched mine, and my heart jumped into my throat as the usual tingles his touch sparked danced down my neck. Then, he slid his hand into my hair, allowing the blonde strands to fall away from his fingertips.

“Do I want to go home to my big-ass house with its cold emptiness?” he asked in a low voice. “Or go to the club where half the girls there still see me as a mountain to be conquered? Not particularly, Blondie. I'd rather stay here. Even if there will be a demand for movies and water and foot rubs from a tiny, sick person.”

“You can.” My voice was quiet, like his. Even if my internal screams from self-preservation and vulnerability were deafeningly loud as they told me I was a fool, that he had to go, that this would never be enough for him.

“Do you want me to?” His question was... honest.

Raw.

Hesitant.

Like he didn't want me to answer.

“Do I want you to stay here in my tiny house so my daughter can fall more in love with you than she already is? Not really. But...” Don't be a fool, Cassie. Don't admit you want him to stay. He's just going to hurt you. “I don't exactly want you to go either.”

“For her, or for you?”

“I don't want to answer that question.”

“If I kissed you right now, would you ram your knee into my cock?”

“I'd briefly consider it, but I probably wouldn't do it.”

His lips twitched to the side. “You just answered the question.”

Then, of course, he cupped the back of my head, and he kissed me. It was slow, sweet, gentle. And I didn't consider kneeing him in the balls for a single second.

Beck pulled back and trailed his hand down my arm before he finally let me go. “I'm going home to get changed and then come back. Do you need anything while I'm gone? For CiCi? You?”

“I don't...” I sighed and chewed back my pride. “I meant to go to the store today after work to get some stuff like bread, milk... important stuff. But now I can't.”

“I can get it. Just tell me what you need.”

I bit the inside of my lip, then nodded. “Okay. Let me write it down.” I walked through into the front room with him hot on my heels and grabbed the notebook and pen from under the coffee table. A few things were already scrawled down, so I added a couple more things, including more medicine. I tore the sheet off the notebook, stood, then gave it to Beck. “Let me get my wallet.”

He grabbed my wrist, stopping me. “I'm not taking your money.”

I lifted my gaze to his. “You can't pay for my groceries.”

“I can and I will.”

“You can't and you won't.”

“I can and I will.”

“You can't and you won't.”

“I can do this all day, baby. I'm stubborn as fuck.” His eyes told me he wasn't lying. “And we all know I'm a brat about the word no. So, I can, I will, and I'm going to. If I can't help you by buying a measly eight items, I'm an asshole who shouldn't be allowed around other people.”

“You can't buy my groceries,” I repeated. It was a lame argument. I was going to lose, but I'd fight until I went down."

Beck's eyes twinkled as he leaned in. “Don't worry. If you really want to pay me back, I'll take a blow job. I imagine your lips around my cock will be a pretty good thank you.”

My jaw dropped as he backed off with a wink.

“Mouth open already, Cassie? Enthusiasm. I like that.”

I snapped my jaw shut and glared at him. “You're a dirty pig.”

“I know. But I've got fifty bucks that says you'll be sucking my dick by bedtime. If you don't agree...” 

He shrugged one shoulder, his lips curved in that dangerous smirk.

“If you're lucky, I'll bite it.”

“I'll take that as I'm in for a good time.”

One more wink, complete with expanding grin, and he was gone.

Motherfucking asshole.

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies - usually wine - and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

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