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City Lights #1
Stripped
Declan Murphy has just made his big career move, going from little-known European cinema to Hollywood blockbuster awards-bait in the blink of an eye. One actor’s highly public arrest for possession of narcotics is another actor’s lucky break, right? Declan’s eye is on the prize, and no one will keep him from proving to the producers that he’s a consummate industry professional.
No one, that is, except Fiona O’Brien. After a time in the spotlight that nearly destroyed her, Fiona wants nothing more than to fade into the background and do her job as part of the studio’s hair-and-makeup team. The last thing she needs is a hotshot actor with a panty-melting Irish accent and killer smile messing up her careful plans.
There’s nothing careful about the immediate attraction between Declan and Fiona, and soon that initial spark of lust is sizzling out of control. But when things get complicated behind the scenes, they’ll have to decide if their movie magic should stay on set…or if their love can survive away from the silver screen.
No one, that is, except Fiona O’Brien. After a time in the spotlight that nearly destroyed her, Fiona wants nothing more than to fade into the background and do her job as part of the studio’s hair-and-makeup team. The last thing she needs is a hotshot actor with a panty-melting Irish accent and killer smile messing up her careful plans.
There’s nothing careful about the immediate attraction between Declan and Fiona, and soon that initial spark of lust is sizzling out of control. But when things get complicated behind the scenes, they’ll have to decide if their movie magic should stay on set…or if their love can survive away from the silver screen.
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First published September 15, 2013
3 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Edie Harris
26 books100 followersEdie Harris is a Chicago-based author whose novels have been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and USA Today. Visit her website for backlist titles, contact information, and regular updates on upcoming projects. www.edieharris.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 26, 2013
So listen up. Not too long ago I read Wild Burn, a western by Edie Harris that I really enjoyed. Then she came out with The Corrupt Comte, an erotic historical that I gobbled up and made everyone read. Not long after she sent me Stripped, a contemporary book about an actor and a make-up artist. I thought, geez, will I like this? I’m not always super keen on actor-heroes and she keeps writing books in such different genres. Well it turns out I really enjoyed it and I shall not question it again!
I knew I would like it from the very beginning – “For a movie star, he looked an awful lot like a hungover lumberjack.”
Hello lumberjack! And boys and girls, he is from Ireland. Yes, yes – go swoon for a minute. Unfortunately, our heroine shaves his beard off right away but it’s okay. He needs to be clean cut for his new movie role in a film called, Vendetta. Declan gets called to star in the movie at the last second, after the original actor set to play ends up in rehab. Declan is a super fun hero, really sexy and flirty. He is attracted to Fiona, the make-up artist on set from the moment she starts to shave him. He is relentless but not pushy or annoying.
Fiona was once a great dancer, who got a little lost in life, ended up in Vegas dancing Burlesque. One night after dancing, she walks outside and meets a drunken group of men. She ends up in the middle of a fight, and gets cut very badly near her abdomen. She spends a month in the hospital and now carries scars that make her feel less pretty. She is attracted to Declan, but also tries to be somewhat professional. But he wears her down, and she must find the confidence to show her his scars and to let this sexy Irishman into her life.
Edie Harris has a way with words. She makes her books so sexy and filled with fun banter. Declan decides he wants Fiona and doesn’t stop until she says yes. While there are some really cute moments between them, there is also some really great sexual tension.
Declan scrubbed a hand over his mouth and stared. He was being rude – worse, he was being obvious, but he couldn’t help it. Her body called to him, stirring recognition at a gut-deep level and whispering, I’ll fit. Against you, atop you, beneath you. The itch in his fingertips was in no way relieved as they scraped over his bristled jaw. “I like how you move, darlin’.”
She plucked at the gauzy fabric of her top. “Most men do.”
His eyes met hers, the translucent gray piercing even in the alley’s lengthening shadows. “You weren’t dancing in there for most men.” He stepped forward until his knees brushed her leg, angled out from the wall. “You did that for me.”
“Wrong, I did that for me.” But her hands reached out to fist in the thin cotton of his tee shirt. Her knuckles brushed over his abdomen, and he sucked in a breath. “You’ll know it when I dance for you, Mr.
Murphy.”
Their biggest conflict once Fiona overcomes her scars is that she wants to put roots down in Hollywood, and Declan has to fly all over the world for his job. I like how things play out with this.
Overall a very fun, sexy contemporary. I read it in one sitting and I can’t wait for whatever Edie Harris puts out next.
Rating: B+
I knew I would like it from the very beginning – “For a movie star, he looked an awful lot like a hungover lumberjack.”
Hello lumberjack! And boys and girls, he is from Ireland. Yes, yes – go swoon for a minute. Unfortunately, our heroine shaves his beard off right away but it’s okay. He needs to be clean cut for his new movie role in a film called, Vendetta. Declan gets called to star in the movie at the last second, after the original actor set to play ends up in rehab. Declan is a super fun hero, really sexy and flirty. He is attracted to Fiona, the make-up artist on set from the moment she starts to shave him. He is relentless but not pushy or annoying.
Fiona was once a great dancer, who got a little lost in life, ended up in Vegas dancing Burlesque. One night after dancing, she walks outside and meets a drunken group of men. She ends up in the middle of a fight, and gets cut very badly near her abdomen. She spends a month in the hospital and now carries scars that make her feel less pretty. She is attracted to Declan, but also tries to be somewhat professional. But he wears her down, and she must find the confidence to show her his scars and to let this sexy Irishman into her life.
Edie Harris has a way with words. She makes her books so sexy and filled with fun banter. Declan decides he wants Fiona and doesn’t stop until she says yes. While there are some really cute moments between them, there is also some really great sexual tension.
Declan scrubbed a hand over his mouth and stared. He was being rude – worse, he was being obvious, but he couldn’t help it. Her body called to him, stirring recognition at a gut-deep level and whispering, I’ll fit. Against you, atop you, beneath you. The itch in his fingertips was in no way relieved as they scraped over his bristled jaw. “I like how you move, darlin’.”
She plucked at the gauzy fabric of her top. “Most men do.”
His eyes met hers, the translucent gray piercing even in the alley’s lengthening shadows. “You weren’t dancing in there for most men.” He stepped forward until his knees brushed her leg, angled out from the wall. “You did that for me.”
“Wrong, I did that for me.” But her hands reached out to fist in the thin cotton of his tee shirt. Her knuckles brushed over his abdomen, and he sucked in a breath. “You’ll know it when I dance for you, Mr.
Murphy.”
Their biggest conflict once Fiona overcomes her scars is that she wants to put roots down in Hollywood, and Declan has to fly all over the world for his job. I like how things play out with this.
Overall a very fun, sexy contemporary. I read it in one sitting and I can’t wait for whatever Edie Harris puts out next.
Rating: B+
November 16, 2013
I liked this! Tragic heroine backstory (that was admittedly overly complicated), but that history didn't involve sexual assault, so I am counting it as a major win. I liked the hollywood stuff and the hero being a good dude. And I kind of really want to see that movie.
October 8, 2013
Stripper Review Declan Murphy has just made his big career move, going from little-known European cinema to Hollywood blockbuster awards-bait in the blink of an eye. One actor’s highly public arrest for possession of narcotics is another actor’s lucky break, right? Declan’s eye is on the prize, and no one will keep him from proving to the producers that he’s a consummate industry professional.No one, that is, except Fiona O’Brien. After a time in the spotlight that nearly destroyed her, Fiona wants nothing more than to fade into the background and do her job as part of the studio’s hair-and-makeup team. The last thing she needs is a hotshot actor with a panty-melting Irish accent and killer smile messing up her careful plans.There’s nothing careful about the immediate attraction between Declan and Fiona, and soon that initial spark of lust is sizzling out of control. But when things get complicated behind the scenes, they’ll have to decide if their movie magic should stay on set…or if their love can survive away from the silver screen.
Review
I just loved the opening of this book. It made me happy. We open with the hero's Irish lilt. He is a great hero. He is kind, steadfast, and thinks. Our heroine has issues. She is a pain in the ass. She makes the same errors over and over. To be fair, most people do. However, we need more time with the better parts of her than we get and couple time not spent in bed or if we are in bed (or against a window--whatever) we need these scene to be more revealing of character. The first time they have sex is good but the rest of the time we really don't get much of that.
I could have come to like her more if this book had simply done more with all the good tools it had in its hands. We have a great on set setting, two really interesting jobs, two interesting backstories, and conflict of long distance to deal with.
However, we are more told the characters develop than see and feel that they do so.
I like Declan a lot. I enjoyed reading this book but it won't be very memorable.
Review
I just loved the opening of this book. It made me happy. We open with the hero's Irish lilt. He is a great hero. He is kind, steadfast, and thinks. Our heroine has issues. She is a pain in the ass. She makes the same errors over and over. To be fair, most people do. However, we need more time with the better parts of her than we get and couple time not spent in bed or if we are in bed (or against a window--whatever) we need these scene to be more revealing of character. The first time they have sex is good but the rest of the time we really don't get much of that.
I could have come to like her more if this book had simply done more with all the good tools it had in its hands. We have a great on set setting, two really interesting jobs, two interesting backstories, and conflict of long distance to deal with.
However, we are more told the characters develop than see and feel that they do so.
I like Declan a lot. I enjoyed reading this book but it won't be very memorable.
April 19, 2015
Declans und Fiona erste Begegnung ist lustig. Sie, als Make Up Artist, wartet auf den Star des bevorstehenden Films und in den Wohnwagen tritt stattdessen ein irischer Holzfäller. Vollbart und schulterlanges Haar inklusive. Beides wird leider recht bald gestutzt :) Declan ist ein toller Charakter – witzig, sexy. Er findet Fiona vom ersten Augenblick an anziehend. Beim Flirten ist er zwar unnachgiebig, aber nicht aufdringlich. Die Dialoge zwischen den beiden sind daher recht amüsant.
Fiona war früher Ballerina, bis jemand, der ihr wichtig war, ihr Selbstbewusstsein untergrub und sie aus ihrem alten Leben floh, um in Las Vegas als Burlesque-Tänzerin zu arbeiten. Ein dramatisches Ereignis brachte sie verunsichert und mit Narben nach Los Angeles zurück. Sie ist von Declan zwar ebenfalls angetan, versucht jedoch die professionelle Distanz zu wahren, was sie jedoch nicht lange schafft.
Ihr Zusammensein gelingt solange, bis Fionas Unsicherheiten zurückkehren und ihr klar wird, dass sie beide unterschiedliche Zukunftswege haben. Immerhin ist Declan ein gefragter Schauspieler. Aber was wäre eine romantische Geschichte ohne ein entsprechendes Ende *seufz*. Wie es sich für eine Liebesgeschichte gehört ist es ein wenig kitschig aber einfach schön.
Dies ist meine erste Geschichte von Edie Harris, die sonst historische Romane schreibt, ich hoffe aber, dass sie auch diesem Genre treu bleiben wird. Eine sichere Leserin hat sie mit „Stripped“ auf jeden Fall schon mal gewonnen.
Fiona war früher Ballerina, bis jemand, der ihr wichtig war, ihr Selbstbewusstsein untergrub und sie aus ihrem alten Leben floh, um in Las Vegas als Burlesque-Tänzerin zu arbeiten. Ein dramatisches Ereignis brachte sie verunsichert und mit Narben nach Los Angeles zurück. Sie ist von Declan zwar ebenfalls angetan, versucht jedoch die professionelle Distanz zu wahren, was sie jedoch nicht lange schafft.
Ihr Zusammensein gelingt solange, bis Fionas Unsicherheiten zurückkehren und ihr klar wird, dass sie beide unterschiedliche Zukunftswege haben. Immerhin ist Declan ein gefragter Schauspieler. Aber was wäre eine romantische Geschichte ohne ein entsprechendes Ende *seufz*. Wie es sich für eine Liebesgeschichte gehört ist es ein wenig kitschig aber einfach schön.
Dies ist meine erste Geschichte von Edie Harris, die sonst historische Romane schreibt, ich hoffe aber, dass sie auch diesem Genre treu bleiben wird. Eine sichere Leserin hat sie mit „Stripped“ auf jeden Fall schon mal gewonnen.
September 19, 2013
And Edie Harris wins me over again! Though this is quite different than the first book I read by her, The Corrupt Comte, it was still a pleasure to read.
Edie tweeted that while her hero in STRIPPED, Declan, didn't have angst, her heroine, Fiona, did. And oh yes, she had angst enough for the both of them. But it was a good angst that provided depth for the story. I really enjoyed this.
The two of them together was an absolute pleasure to read, and their relationship as it grew was beautiful. The title was so apt; the characters, especially Fiona, were stripped down to their core as they gave each other their hearts and love. I had read it all in one sitting.
Side note: I really, really want to read the real steampunk story of Vendetta. It sounds right up my alley.
Edie tweeted that while her hero in STRIPPED, Declan, didn't have angst, her heroine, Fiona, did. And oh yes, she had angst enough for the both of them. But it was a good angst that provided depth for the story. I really enjoyed this.
The two of them together was an absolute pleasure to read, and their relationship as it grew was beautiful. The title was so apt; the characters, especially Fiona, were stripped down to their core as they gave each other their hearts and love. I had read it all in one sitting.
Side note: I really, really want to read the real steampunk story of Vendetta. It sounds right up my alley.
October 30, 2013
Randomly stumbling upon a giveaway on twitter is honestly one of my favorite things to do. And that is exactly what happened a couple of weeks ago when I saw someone retweeted a tweet from author Edie Harris where she was giving away copies of her new e-book Stripped to a select few who replied with the hashtag #stripme. After reading the blurb that she had provided in another tweet, I decided to take a chance and see if I could be one of the ones to receive a copy. Luckily, I was one of the people chosen to receive a copy, and I quickly found myself diving in to see what exactly Stripped was all about.
Read Full Review Here
Read Full Review Here
March 20, 2014
I have mixed feelings on this one:
On one hand, I love the whole makeup artist/actor pairing. The author does a fab job of painting the whole behind the scenes picture. Declan was a great NICE hero - cheeky, patient & thoughtful. I liked the side characters, especially Fiona's dad, Rick, as well.
On the other hand, Fiona was a bit of a problem. There wasn't enough story provided for her to become a sympathetic character. Instead, she comes off as cold and standoffish and the credibility of the relationship suffers.
While I had some issues, I really did enjoy the author's writing style and look forward to trying some of her other works.
October 24, 2014
This was sitting in my TBR pile for many months and I finally got that itch to read it. What a pleasant surprise! The writing style was smart and sassy (must be that English degree the author has?) The characters came to life and had a believable struggle to their HEA.
It did go pretty heavy on the sexy times, which honestly I sometimes skimmed over, but my teenage self would have loved them much more. Despite their explicit nature, they didn't make me squeemish (sp?) or go over the top.
I recommend this to those who'd like a few snort laughs, a bit of melodrama, a sexy Irish actor guy and a really fun epilogue at the Oscars.
It did go pretty heavy on the sexy times, which honestly I sometimes skimmed over, but my teenage self would have loved them much more. Despite their explicit nature, they didn't make me squeemish (sp?) or go over the top.
I recommend this to those who'd like a few snort laughs, a bit of melodrama, a sexy Irish actor guy and a really fun epilogue at the Oscars.
September 20, 2013
Harris' foray into contemporary romance will not disappoint those who love her historicals! Her penchant for wit, flawed and broken characters, and deep emotion makes the jump to the modern era seamlessly! Stripped is a good read, fun and sexy and entertaining. If there's any weakness, it's that just a little more editing could've smoothed out a few rough patches. It's no deal-breaker, though. The only thing breaking will be your heart...and Harris makes sure to mend it quickly!
October 15, 2013
I liked the chemistry and the sizzle between Fiona and Declan. Declan is trying to be the next big Hollywood actor and Fiona is his make up artist. Declan fell for Fiona realy fast and had to convince her to give him a try. I liked the sexual tension, it fizzled toward the end but I still loved the characters. Fiona is haunted by past mistakes and she's scared to take a chance on Declan. Declan is attentive, sweet and so patient. A great romance.
October 6, 2013
3.5
I have no idea what relevance this title has to the actual book, but sure.
I enjoyed this, it was a really fast light read. I think I would have liked it better if Fiona didn't have all the baggage that she had - an actor dating a makeup artist as a plot has more than enough drama and relationship issues without anything else.
I have no idea what relevance this title has to the actual book, but sure.
I enjoyed this, it was a really fast light read. I think I would have liked it better if Fiona didn't have all the baggage that she had - an actor dating a makeup artist as a plot has more than enough drama and relationship issues without anything else.
October 2, 2013
This was an enjoyable read. Rising movie star Declan falls for the lovely make up artist Fiona. There is lots of sexual tension and Fiona is fighting her feelings and has a few secrets.. I loved Declan!
December 29, 2013
I have been struggling to read Stripped. The premise was intriguing, but the actual story and characters haven’t been able to maintain my interest. I finally decided to stop reading the book.
June 10, 2015
I enjoyed this story about a makeup artist heroine and movie star hero. It was idealistic - he was perfect, with barely any flaws, fell in love with her easily and quickly - and I fell half in love with Declan myself. The chemistry between them was combustible and sexy.
Bought from kobo.
Bought from kobo.
September 24, 2013
A sweet and sexy romance between a charming irish actor and a make up artist whose past won't let her go forward. Humor, angst, and quite a bit of romance.
September 29, 2013
The first half was slow in going but the second half picked up nicely. This is a good romantic beach read with likable characters.
September 28, 2013
I won this book in a Twitter contest hosted by the author. How wonderful is that?
Highly enjoyable story and I adored Declan and Fiona.
Highly enjoyable story and I adored Declan and Fiona.
January 20, 2014
I had a lot of fun reading this one. I always like the movie star falls for normal girl or, in this case, girl behind the scenes. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 27, 2014
It didn't hold my attention all that well, and I struggled with connecting to both the hero, the heroine, and the romance.
March 13, 2014
3.5 stars
April 3, 2016
Lovely lovely lovely! What a gem. Why it's gotten such a measly rating and low readership is a mystery to me. I loved it! =]
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews