Trashy

Take It Off #10

by Cambria Hebert

She’s trying to move on, but the past won’t let her go.
I fell in love once.
It was a big mistake, but the biggest mistake of all was staying with him.
He pushed me around. He cheated and treated me like trash.
I don’t feel sorry for myself, because I let him.
But no more.
I moved out. I'm saving my stripper's salary for an education that will get me somewhere better.
But breaking the chains of a shitty past isn’t easy. He says I owe him. He says we aren’t done. I don’t care what he says anymore.
I do care about Adam.
But my history tells me I’m not the best judge of men. And the fact Adam’s been married four times tells me he probably isn’t a safe choice.
I need safe. I need better. I need out.
If the past is any indication of my future, getting out isn’t going to be easy.
 

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Abuse, Contemporary, Suspense, Adult

ebook

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than fifty titles. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.
Besides writing, Cambria loves a pumpkin spice latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching K drama until her eyes won’t stay open. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chihuahuas (the real bosses of the house).
Cambria has written in many genres, including new adult, sports romance, male/male romance, sci-fi, thriller, suspense, contemporary romance, and young adult. Many of her titles have been translated into foreign languages and have been the recipients of multiple awards.

Awards Cambria has received include:

Author of the Year 2016 (UtopiaCon2016)
The Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Series of 2015 (UtopiaCon 2015)
#Nerd: Best Contemporary Book Cover of 2015 (UtopiaCon 2015)
Romeo from the Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Lead (UtopiaCon 2015)
#Nerd: Top 50 Summer Reads (Buzzfeed.com 2015)
The Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Series of 2016 (UtopiaCon 2016)
#NERD Book Trailer: Best Book Trailer of 2016 (UtopiaCon 2016)
#Nerd Book Trailer: Top 50 Most Cinematic Book Trailers of All Time (film-14.com)
#Nerd: Book Most Wanted to be Adapted to Screen: (2018)
Amnesia: Mystery Book of the Year (2018)

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.
You can find out more about Cambria and her titles by visiting her website:
http://www.cambriahebert.com

Email: cambriahebert@rocketmail.com
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Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay adult contemporary romance novel.

I felt quite sorry for Roxie during this book, she had had to deal with a lot of crap from her ex-boyfriend Craig, and the things he was demanding of her were just wrong.

The storyline in this was okay, but I didn’t love it. The story once again seemed quite formulaic of this series, where the girl has someone who’s trying to kill her and the man steps in and saves the day. The sex scenes were also very reminiscent of the other sex scenes in the series too.

The ending to this had a bit of action, and I was glad that Craig finally got what was coming to him.
6 out of 10

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roxie was an okay character, and I felt really sorry for her quite a few times throughout this.
Adam was an okay character too, but I didn't love him.

This one wasn't awful, but I didn't enjoy it all that much.

I'm glad I'm finished with the series now.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is an amazing book!!! By far one of the best Roxie has been through hell and back. She was never the pretty girl in school and kept her head in the books so she can make a life for herself. She fell in love with Craig at a young age. They moved away together and started a life. He began to change and began to be abusive. She got away but he keeps coming back to torturer her. She started stripping at the Mad Hatter to help pay the bill and save money for college. Her boss Adam is very protective of her. He's attracted to her and wants to explore what's between them. He notices that Roxie is acting strange and confronts her. He sees the red face and he knows Craig is back. Adam takes her to his house where she bares her soul. Every deep dark secret she had has now been told. He offers her the manager position at the club. He shows her the ropes. Everything is going smooth until an incident takes place at the club. Will Roxie pull through and realize her she's in love or will she keep hiding in the past and never live for the future?

[rj · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

I honestly wasn't going to read this because I wasn't really interested in Adam and his four ex-wives. But I'm glad that his past marriages weren't the focus of the story and that aspect was drama free. And Adam was a really great guy, though.

One thing I didn't really get was how Roxie had been working for him for years and he even got married a couple more times after meeting her and just now all of a sudden he gets super possessive of her and doesn't want her dancing for other men anymore and is so attracted to her that he could barely stand straight.

Roxie also frustrated me with her inability to just talk about what the hell is going on. She wouldn't just come out and tell Adam what her ex has been saying/doing to her. Just tell him!

[Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not that big of a fan of stripper romances these days but these two were cute. I didn’t connect that much with them but I did enjoy the suspense plotline.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked parts of this book and parts were so predictable. I wasn't able to connect with the characters.

[Red Cheeks Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Take It Off series by Cambria Hebert. Each book is a complete standalone and each one I read I seem to love than the last. Trashy was no different! I loved this unique and sexy story. Trashy revolves around Roxie a stripper who only ever really wanted to get out of her small town, Craig her crazy asshole ex-boyfriend and Adam the sexy alpha owner of the strip club.

“Maybe he’s the one you’ve been waiting for. my heart whispered. I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Craig isn’t just a jerk of an ex he is scary and stalkery. Lordy this poor girl for being a stripper she really is so innocent, having only ever been with Craig. Input possessive and protective alpha man Adam and let the sexy times just roll in. After dealing with Craig she really deserved someone like Adam who can love her in the right way with all his being. That being said this is not an easy love story between Roxie and Adam.

Just like with all the other Cambria books I have read this book was a great love story with tons of steam but also full of mystery, drama and angst. It was a riveting read that really left me excited to read more from her. If you read tease (book 2) you will recognize these characters and setting but in no way do you need to read it in order to read this book. All fans of sexy romance books who love a bit of a mystery should definitely give this a try!

~miranda

[Kim Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It felt like old times going back to the Mad Hatter in Myrtle Beach. I love when stories are interconnected and you feel like you know the area, the surroundings that the characters are in. You definitely have that with this story, its like coming home.

Trashy was a great 5 star read from Cambria Hebert. I really enjoyed the connection and the chemistry between Adam and Roxie.
Roxie is a stripper, who left behind a troubled relationship in search of something more, something that would make her, well, her own person. Working at the Mad Hatter is a stepping stone to her dream for higher education.

Adam is the club owner who deeply cares for Roxie. He wants to protect her, to love her, to try and build a life with her, but there are things that stand in the way that certainly can make that difficult. Roxie’s past can’t stay there and it’s dangerous enough to hurt them both.

The TIO series is such a great series to read and this tenth story was worth the wait. Ms. Hebert is great at writing romantic suspense and this is definitely one of my new favorites. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Hebert releases in the future with the TIO series as well as her other works in progress.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abuse is something that no one should live through but needs to be educated on! Cambria Herbert wrote Adam and Roxie's story with passion and fire. Truths and secrets are shared while their friendship turns to romance. Can Adam protect her? Will Roxie ever be able to come out of her nightmare and embrace love? Such a fantastic book.

[CC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series, but this one was just ok for me.

[Closet Romance Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this was my favorite!! Trashy was book 10 in the series but I read it in the box set and was the third book. I am sure that was done because Roxie and Adam were in Tease. It made it easy to follow and flowed together really well. Roxie and Adam were explosive together! Trashy was fun, sexy and sweet.

Roxie was trying to get her life back on track. Her ex was crazy; he was a cheat, an abuser and now a stalker. Would Roxie ever be able to get completely away from him?

Adam had been admiring Roxie from afar from quite some time. She was one of his dancers and that was a line he did not cross, plus he was married to wife number four. When he found out Roxie was in trouble he sprang into action and vowed to protect her. Would he be able to keep that promise or would her past consume them?

I really liked Adam and Roxie together. I think they brought out the best in each other! So far all the books in this series have been really fun, fast reads. Romances with a twist of mystery!

[Jeananna w/The Book Reading Gals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent romantic suspense! Made my heart race!

IMO This story shines a realistic light on the conflicting and shameful feelings that can come from a victim of a toxic/abusive first love. This story shows that it’s normal to have and keep the good memories from a bad relationship, surviving the bad moments from your past show strength and bravery and help make you the person you are today. I really appreciate Cambria handled the topic this way.

Fave Quote from book: HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED. A FAST AND FURIOUS KISS MIGHT HAVE PUSHED THE MEMORIES BACK INTO THE SHADOWS OF MY BODY, WHERE THEY WOULD LIE AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE. BUT THIS SOFT, TENDER... ALMOST LOVING MEETING OF FLESH MADE ME UNAFRAID OF THE MEMORIES. IT TOOK AWAY THEIR POWER. YES, THEY MIGHT ALWAYS BE INSIDE ME, BUT SHADOWS WEREN'T SO SCARY WHEN ONE WAS FILLED WITH LIGHT.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxie and Adam’s story

I enjoyed reading this story. This is the story of Roxie and Adam. Set in and around Mad Hatters club. The strip club in a previous book. Roxie has been stripping for a few years. She’s trying to move on with her life after being in a horrible, abusive relationship since she was a teenager. Adam in the owner of Mad Hatters, he’s about to be divorced for the fourth time and has his sights firmly set on Roxie. This a a slow burn of sorts. Filled with drama, some violent scenes, scenes of abuse and sexual assault. This is a hard book to read but the love that Adam has for Roxie makes it worth it.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drama

Absolutely enjoyed the characters and the way it started out as I read the Harlow and Can storyline is was easy to forget to be honest but you understand where they are coming from dealing with issues out of your control and finding the one that sets you free. Recommended reading 📚 loved all 10 books so far

[Sherry Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This story can be any woman’s life. Being young and finding a guy of your dreams and then it all changes and you believe all you are being told because he loves you. This isn’t your usual love story. This is about Roxie realizing her worth and being strong and maybe finally being able to believe in better things and in love again.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty well written book with just enough suspense to mix with the sexy times. Adam and Roxie from Tease finally get their story even if Craig tries his best to ruin it. I don't like how there is never any explanation of how a 24 year old can have 4 failed marriages and own 2 businesses but overall very good book.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites in the series! Roxie is vulnerable yet strong. Adam is all alpha male with a tender side. Love the chemistry between the two. Good plot, action and romance. Not a deep book, but for the type of reading it is, it's captivating and easy to read.

[Shirley Rentzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

This book was really just ok. It seemed very long with some very boring parts. I did like the characters but I definitely won't be reading anymore in this series. I say, just pass on this book. Shirley

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite of the series

Rosie is such a strong, determined woman! I loved her character! Adam was such a knight in shining armor for her and I loved their chemistry!!

[Lori Rousseau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series. Got a little repeative with the story line from the other books.

[PIONEER]

DNF 28%

[Autumn Breier · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 Stars

Trashy is book 10 in the Take It Off Series. I enjoyed Trashy and can't wait to continue with the series. I love Roxie and Adam.

[Chloe Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing series. Sexy, steamy and suspenseful! Each 'T' book has an amazing story and well developed characters. I wish this series would never end.

[Gigi Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read on Radish. Loved Roxie previously so excited to read her story and this one doesn’t disappoint. Her ex is a POS but I was glad to read Adam’s involvement. Great story!

[Trude · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
Oh, how much Roxie went through! She’s had such a hard few years, and she came out so strong because of it. And Adam was perfect for her. They were wonderful together.

[Alexa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was desperate to read this one and it was just freaking disappointing.

[Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cambria Hebert has added another fantastic book to the new adult romantic suspense Take It Off series. Each book in this series can be read as a stand alone book and does not have to be read in order. Each book features a different couple, different circumstances, suspenseful plots, and red hot romance. The Take It Off series is one of my favorite series. I am always one clicking Cambria’s books the moment they go live. Cambria always delivers a fantastic book.

We met the main characters from Trashy in the previous book Tease (book 2 in Take It Off Series). They were such strong secondary characters. They demanded their own book. Now eight books later, Roxie and Adam have their story told.

Roxie is the star stripper in Adam’s club. He has been fascinated with Roxie since she began to work for him a few years earlier. Unfortunately he was always in a relationship or married . He has a rule, never date his dancers, never mix business with pleasure, and he never cheats. He runs a clean business and keeps his girls safe. He shows them the respect they deserve. He is a fair and giving boss. He wants to give Roxie more but circumstances never allowed him to act upon it. When an incident happens and Roxie is attacked in her apartment ( Tease-book 2) it comes to light that Roxie had been living in an abusive relationship. Her ex is a dangerous man and has hurt her before. This incident makes Adam realize that he has to take some steps forward and make Roxie his. He proceeds forward with a divorce from his fourth wife, plans to open a new club, and promote Roxie to manager so she no longer has to dance. He is going to make her his no matter what.

Roxie may seem wordly because she is a stripper. That is the exact opposite of the woman she really is. She has only been with one man and that relationship proved to be life threatening. It took her years to free herself from the abusive relationship. She is finally free and living with her friend and fellow worker Harlow. After she is attacked in their apartment, it makes her realize that she will always have to look over her shoulder. Her ex has made it clear that he is not finished with her. Adam wants to protect her. Adam wants to love her. Adam wants her to have a better life. She wants the same things. She is fearful that her past is going to ruin her future. She is clearly right.

Adam and Roxie will face life threatening danger. Together they will stay strong. Hopefully they will be able to put the past where it belongs and move forward in life together.

I loved Trashy. It had a strong message about domestic abuse. Domestic abuse can begin a young age, when love looks pure and beautiful. As teenagers they don’t often recognize it as abuse. They are more in tune with their personal insecurities and ideas of perfect love. To a teen the control can look like unconditional love. Many women get into abusive relationships this way. When they finally want to get out it’s not easy. They’ve never experienced what a mature,strong, united, and giving relationship is. They’ve lost their own self worth. Roxie was that girl. She was strong enough to recognize the destruction in her life. She was smart enough to get out. She was brave enough to let Adam love her. She was strong enough to become the woman she was meant to be.

I highly recommend Trashy. Although the subject matter is heavy, Cambria wrote an entertaining story filled with passion, romance, compassion, and bravery.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Terrific Story in the TIO Series!

Roxie and Adam were secondary characters in Tease and now I'm glad to see them get their own book. While fraught with drama and some serious (but necessary) violence, their love story unfolds sweetly. I look forward to the next TIO book!

[Kendall {Book Crazy} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always excited to read the next book in this series, but I was just a little bit more excited to read this one! It focused on characters that appeared in the second book in this series, but this book was their story, and I couldn't wait to read it! This book was amazing! It's definitely one of my favourites from the series (Is it even possible to pick favourites from this series?)! I loved everything about it and the plot went at the perfect pace and had me hooked from the first page! The plot also had plenty of sexy scenes in it, which I loved because the sexy scenes were so freaking hot! The overall plot was full of sexual tension too, but there was a bit of danger in the plot too! There was also a really big scene near the end that I actually found hard to read at times! It was really brutal! I didn't expect the scene to get to such a brutal stage, but I have so much respect for the author for showing the scene in its entirety, even though it was really brutal! The plot really did just blow me away and I loved everything about it! The characters were just as amazing as they were in the second book! Roxie was the main female character and I just loved her! She had been through a lot, relationship wise, and Roxie learned in this book that not all guys are the same! I could understand why she stayed with her ex-boyfriend, even though he treated her horribly too! Roxie was funny, determined and came a long way in this book though! My heart also went out to her for what she endured in this book! It was such a horrific experience! Roxie managed to sort of move on from it though and develop her relationship even further with her love interest, which made me really happy! Adam was the main male character and love interest of Roxie! Adam was so freaking hot! I didn't really get a chance to really get to know Adam in the other book he appears in, but I got to know a lot about him in this book! I found out that he was a really caring guy who had also been through a lot, relationship wise! I just loved Adam! I loved how protective he was of Roxie and he did some big things in this book to make sure that she was protected and didn't have to worry about being in danger! This showed how deep his feelings for her were! I seriously need a guy like Adam! I really enjoyed this book being written from both Roxie and Adam's point of views! It really helped me connect more with both characters and I also loved that the main characters from the second book in this series, Harlow and Cam, made appearances in this book too! It was amazing to see how their relationship had developed! I can't wait to read the next book in this series! I know it's not going to focus on Roxie and Adam, but I know it's going to be just as amazing as the other books in the series! The cover for this book is stunning! It definitely suits the book and I love how well it suits the other covers in the series too! Big thank you to Cambria for an ARC of Trashy and to Enticing Journey Book Promotions for having me on the Blog Tour!

[The Truth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaymee's Review

***Arc Provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***

4 Stars


Trashy is a novel in the Take It Off series by Cambria Hebert, I haven't read any of the other novels and this one can be read as a stand alone with no confusion! I'm gong to start this review by saying that I really don't understand why this book is titled Trashy, there is nothing trashy about the story or Roxie. I suppose it's because her ex thought of her as trash but really its a great love story. The plot of this novel is pretty simple, Roxie is working as a stripper trying to get her life back together after breaking up with a scumbag ex boyfriend. She has a crush on her boss Adam who just might feel the same way but how far will her ex go to keep them apart? Just how evil can one man be? So while the plot might not be that out of this world it was very well done, the characters are interesting and relate-able and the story has enough detail and twists to keep the reader entertained. I would probably put a trigger warning on this book since there are some episodes of domestic violence and that bothers some people more than others.


Roxie was an awesome character, she was young and naive when she got caught up in the trap of a relationship with Craig. He sweet talked her, manipulated her and by the time she realized how bad things were she was so in love she didn't know how to get out. I totally understood her character and really respected the fact that she did gather the strength to walk away from the abusive jerk. She'd lived in a nightmare for a long time but she didn't let it break her, she still had her dreams and was going to do whatever it took to reach them. Her interactions with Adam as they began their relationship broke my heart, he wasn't do anything extraordinary but it meant everything to her because she'd never been shown simple kindness before! Adam is they very definition of an alpha male, he's possessive in a good way, protective, and sweet. He takes care of his woman whether he is holding her while she cries or fixing her car, he does whatever he can for her. I really liked that this wasn't an "insta love" situation, these two actually knew each other for a while and were friends and coworkers before anything happened.


Overall this was a sweet love story with some drama and a few crazy twists to keep the story moving along and to keep the reader engrossed in the book. The psycho ex really makes this story totally addictive, you just don't know what he is going to do next. There was one point where I actually desperately wanted to commit murder, you'll see when you get there! I really enjoyed this story and plan on reading some of the other novels in the series to see what they're about.


Storyline: simple but good
Female Character: innocent, strong
Male Character: Sweet Alpha
Author's Writing Style: well developed
Plot Twists: enough to keep you hooked
Laugh Factor: none
Cry Factor: some sad parts but no tears from me
Steam Factor: pretty sexy!
Violence: Some, including domestic