Baltimore Detectives Dee Quarter and Connie Wilks spring into action when a woman is strangled to death. The investigation immediately leads to Dee’s ex, Grayson, who still wants her. As if Grayson isn’t enough to deal with, the case brings Dee to Jonathan Wild, the leader of a cult called The Circle.
The charismatic Jonathan is unlike any man Dee’s ever met and his interest in the feisty cop goes beyond the case, threatening Dee’s romance with Winston Lewis.
Dee loves Winston with all her heart and despite curiosity for Jonathan, she refuses to get sucked in, but Dee doesn’t know Jonathan plans to make her a member of The Circle whether she likes it or not.
While juggling her love for Winston and intrigue toward Jonathan, Dee fights to solve the case, but will she lose herself in the process?
Stacy-Deanne (pronounced Dee-Anne) is an award-winning and bestselling novelist of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women's fiction novels.
Her work includes Everlasting, Melody, Bruised, and Captivated. Stacy is a 2011 and 2012 African-American Literary Award nominee.
Stripped (The Stripped Series Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne is book 1 in the stripped series and also my first read by this author and i was not disappointed. I Really enjoyed reading about the characters in this book. I Really Enjoyed Detectives Dee Quarter. When Detective Dee runs into her ex Grayson Paul ohhh boy. I really like the connection dee has with Winston they are my favorite. I look forward to reading more books by Stacy-Deanne. Thank you for the wonderful read It really kept me wanting more.
This is the first book I have read from this author and she now has a new fan. I usually don’t read murder mystery but this author has me hooked to this series. This is the first book of the Stripped series and I could not get enough. This author drew me into these characters right from the start and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
Detective Dee Quarter just got assigned to a murder mystery. She and her partner have to find out who strangled this very beautiful woman. Dee is shocked when her case finds that her ex boyfriend might be involved. She also has another possible lead to a Cult leader Jonathan. Dee is very intrigued by Jonathan but she has a guy that loves her dearly. She is there to solve a case but Dee is curious about this new life she has seen. Will Dee solve and find the killer or will they find her first?
Something about the cover did not appeal to me. However the fact that it was written by Stacy Deanne did. I am glad that I read this book. It has mystery, intrigue, plot twists, sex and interesting characters. It's an HEAFN -Happily Ever After For Now. I've already pre-ordered book 2
What is there to say? Stripped(Stripped Series book 1) by Stacy-Deanne was interestingly captivating, a story about a murder with a forbidden fruit sub-plot. We meet Dee, a Baltimore homicide detective, who just recently partnered with her least favorite person in the precinct Connie. Unfortunately for Dee, the case Connie and her responded to involves her ex Grayson Paul as a prime suspect. Grayson Paul being in her life once again puts a strain on her current relationship with Winston. Dee dealing with that strain finds herself drawn to the next suspect on the list, Jonathan Wild. When Dee and Connie go to visit his compound, Jonathan makes it his mission to get Dee to join The Circle aka his family. Once Jonathan is able to get Dee alone she struggles with her attraction to his life and world. Jonathan being a forbidden fruit she knows is completely wrong for her but can’t stay away. A page turner in its own right, you want to know what Dee will do next. Will she fight for her relationship with Winston? Will she give into Jonathan’s advances and manipulation? Will she be able to see clearly enough, to break the case Connie and herself are working? Is Grayson responsible for Autumn’s demise? Did her past involvement with Jonathan become her undoing? All that and so many more questions will have you unwilling to put the book down till you have your answers. Trust me when I say you will get sucked in till the very end, as if Jonathan himself is manipulating you to see the story through. It will not disappoint!
Detective Dee Quarter doesn't seem to have many things going for her at the moment. She has recently lost her father, am ex-boyfriend that wants her back, and she has recently been partnered with the one person on the department she can't stand. When a case comes across her desk she and her new partner have the pleasure of interviewing a local author, Grayson Paul, who also happens to be Detective Quarters pesky ex. She may still have some feelings for him, but she is seeing Winston Lewis and doesn't want to throw away what they have. Grayson gives up the name of a man that runs a group known as The Circle. A meeting is set up for them to meet the man behind the so called cult, Jonathan Wild, but he is busy when they arrive. Who is this mysterious man? Detective Quarter is intrigued by the man from what she has seen on the internet, but what doesn't realize is that he has taken a special interest in her. He wants her to become part of his private community no matter what it takes. Out of the many people that are potential suspects will she be able to find the culprit? Will she be able to keep herself from being sucked in by Jonathan Wild?
This was an interesting and quick read. I have seen somewhere that this us a spin-off of another series and I am now curious to check it out so I can find out more about some of these characters. The author did a good job drawing me in and keeping my attention.
Stripped is the first book in the Stripped series by Stacy Deanne. This is the first book by Stacy Deanne that I have read, so I was curious by what I might find. The blurb intrigued me- and I love all things romantic suspense, so I happily snapped up a copy and jumped right in. This is an interesting story full of intrigue, suspense, a cult, a creepy factor, murder, drama, spice, and plenty of mystery. I discovered that this is a spin-off from a previous series, and I really wished I had known that before diving into this book. Even though this could be read as a standalone, I am left wondering if reading the other series first before starting on this one would have enhanced my reading experience of this book and help to fill in some of the background and a few questions I had. I will be going back to explore the other series to find out what happens there and to see if it makes a difference here. The story was quite gripping and intense at times, with a great ‘mystery’ to unravel- but I do feel that the story lost momentum and the flow lagged at times, but thankfully that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. I am looking forward to Book Two, but in the meantime, I am off to check out the Bruised series and compare notes.
I have always been a big fan of murder mystery novels, but this one truly hooked me, seriously. The writing itself was so well done, I have words to simply put how good this novel was to read and basically get lost in. This most defiantly will not be my last by this author, but it is my first. I am so happy I got a hold of this book and lost myself in the story. It was indeed a well worth read for sure!
One of the main characters, Dee, was a strong and someone really commendable. She was also a detective. Quite frankly, I will say she was very good at her job. She knew how to do it and do it well. She was strong in the mind and body and had great intuition as well. As the story starts to take off, there's a murder case with her partner whom is named Connie. A person named Autumn has been murdered. Ok easy work for our Dee right? With all that said, what happens when she gets a murder case and the main suspect just happens to be her ex she thought she was over, but strength of her own heart speaks other wise?
As well as the whole thing of dealing with Grayson, she had Winston. Someone good for her I felt upon reading. You could tell he cared greatly and was a safe pick. Question of the matter though wash e too safe? Yes, there was a big love triangle and it goes deep into your soul more than I ever thought...I at this point never expected the triangle to go the way it did..to say it went crazy is a understatement, it went down a path I never saw coming. Honestly it made me love this book so much more!
Grayson was a suspect. Dee had trouble coming to terms that he would commit this murder. Herself and her partner Connie, decide to go forth and see what the next prime suspect Johnathan can give them for answers. Johnathan was a character to say the least. He was everything Dee shouldn't want, but truly did with all of her mind, soul, and most defiantly her mind. He ran sex group, more like group of people having lots of sex. It was extremely unpredicted on my part and very twisted. And this made me dive in deeper to the story and the characters itself.
She was going through a lot. She had a history with her ex whom was a prime suspect. Winston who treated her good and loved her very much. A well as Johnathan who was a dark and twisted in the sense of what he could bring, but yet she wanted him so bad, but could allowing herself to be with Johnathan basically be the end of herself to what she knew? Perhaps what he shows her is so desirable that in every right aspect of her mind, she wanted basically what she knew she should never dare to consider?
I read on, and the story just got better and better. When Connie and Dee finished the case for the strangling of dear Autumn everything made sense in the end. I was a bit off with the sum up of the investigation, but it was what got me to the end of the book with twists as the dark creepy sense with the cult as well as the steamy moments it gave even when the characters did not need to touch each other to scream hot sexiness'.
The author was amazing with their writing skill. They made a story that was different from anything I have read. I loved it with a passion ! Maybe it was a curiosity that I had that wanted more, and when I got a bit of it, I still wanted more. I had such a good experience reading it. I will be reading more by this author and this was a rare treat that I can not recommend enough. Read this and you will have no regrets. Again to say simply, the book was amazing and writing blew be away. Loved it!
Stripped (The Stripped Series Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne is a romantic suspense book
When a lady is strangled to death, Baltimore Detectives Dee Quarter and Connie Wilks get into action. The inquiry quickly leads to Dee's ex-boyfriend Grayson, who is still after her. As if dealing with Grayson wasn't enough, the investigation leads Dee to Jonathan Wild, the head of a group known as The Circle. Jonathan is unlike any guy Dee has ever encountered, and his attraction to the fiery policeman extends beyond the case, endangering Dee's relationship with Winston Lewis. Dee adores Winston and, despite her curiosity about Jonathan, she refuses to be drawn in. However, Dee is unaware that Jonathan intends to make her a member of The Circle, whether she likes it or not. Dee strives to solve the case while managing her love for Winston and her curiosity about Jonathan, but will she lose herself in the process?
I loved this story and the concept of it as well. I loved every page of it. Every chapter was exciting. This is the first book that I have read from this author, I cant wait to read more.
Detective Dee Quarter is not thrilled to work with her new partner Connie Wilks. The two don’t have much time to debate the issue when they arrive at the home of a woman who was murdered. The woman was strangled to death.
Their deceased victim was in a relationship with Dee’s former ex which complicates their investigation and Dee’s relationship with her current boyfriend. In the course of the investigation, the detectives have to look into a cult to which their deceased victim belonged. The cult leader, Jonathan, is the charismatic leader of The Circle. His charming nature is difficult to resist, but the most difficult part is his piqued interest in Dee.
Complications seem to follow them at every turn, and Dee struggles to resist Jonathan’s pursuit. Working hard to maintain her professionalism, Dee is so focused on the case that she doesn’t realize the depth of Jonathan’s interest in wanting her to become a part of The Circle. Will his possessiveness threaten Dee’s life? Will Dee and Connie be able to solve the murder even with all the complications they encounter?
This is more like a short story. Detectives Dee Quarter and Connie Wilks are assigned to find who killed Autumn. It's apparent that the main characters in this novella appeared together in another book. There's a little background but only enough to make you curious. In solving the murder, they encounter an ex-lover of Dee, Grayson Paul and Jonathan Wild who is the leader of a sex cult, the Circle. Dee is attracted to Jonathan who tried to draw her into the Circle while Grayson claims he still loves her. Dee's current lover is Detective Winston Lewis who was once attracted to Dee's best friend. After several "red herrings", Dee and Connie solve the murder which was predictable. There's so much interaction with the characters of all races, it's clear that this is part of a series. This is a standalone but the other books need to be read to round out the story. Not interested enough to purchase any other books.
So, I missed several books before this one, because I read the first one, and noticed I missed some information while reading this one. I still was able to understand this book. Dee is a Baltimore detective, along with her new partner, Connie are called upon to investigate a murder. This puts her in the path of an ex, Grayson, as well as Jonathan, a new age guru, where the women who follow him live in a secluded compound. She also has to contend with her significant other, Detective Winston Lewis. She has some conflicting feeling between Jonathan and Winston that has her a little baffled.
This happened to be an interesting story that was pretty enjoyable. Truthfully, I did not like Jonathan's character. He seemed very manipulative to me. Most of the other characters I liked, and I enjoyed the story.
I received a copy of the book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Stripped (Stripped Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne. This is my first book by this author but for sure won't be my last. Its the story of Dee Quarter and Connie Wilks who are Baltimore Detectives and new partners. Dee is brought back around to her ex Grayson who is still very much interested in her when she and Connie are called to work on a murder case. She is very happy with Winston her now boyfriend and she doesn't want to do anything to mess that up but when she is forced to meet Johnathan who is the leader of a Cult called The Circle she ends up getting mixed feelings between Johnathan and Winston. The Circle is a group of women that live and look up to Johnathan. Johnathan is determined to bring Dee on board of the circle. Will Dee lose to Johnathan and end up being a victim and will she lose the love of her life Winston because of this crazy cult. This is a great read about a "Sex" cult and the detective that is determined to shut them down.
This is the first book from this author that I have read. I was surprised to learn that she has written over 100 top bestsellers and wondered how I had missed out on her books. I can say that I look forward to reading those others as I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it to be very interesting and full of intrigue and suspense. There was also plenty of romance as well and I love that she didn’t go overboard with the romantic details to take away from the suspense. I couldn’t put this book down once I read the first chapter. My only regret is that I did realize it was a spinoff from another series written by the author that I hadn’t read, and I do think that would have benefitted me and given me more knowledge going into this story. So, I highly suggest that you read that before starting this one. In fact, I am going to go back and read those and then re-read this one again. Great book!
This is the first book in the Stripped Series and wow what a start. I loved it and read the whole thing in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.
It's a story about murder with a romance and psychological twist to it. I love how strong our leading lady Dee is. But with all the mind games even she isn't immune to the thought of a perfect carefree life. When Dee and Connie are tasked to solve the murder of a young woman called Amber it takes them on a wild ride leading them into the arms of a cult. The story has so many twists and turns that I never knew who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end of the book. The book also leaves the opening for the second book. And I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of our mind game playing cult leader Johnathan. I have a feeling he's not finished with Dee just yet.
5 Stars Stripped (Stripped Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne
Stripped is the first book in the Stripped Series by Stacy-Deanne. This is a suspense with a bit of romance. I was drawn in from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down. It was a fast paced story with twists and turns that had me turning the pages trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This is a new to me author but I’m definitely going to check out what other books she has. This is a story about Dee and her Partner Connie who is put on a murder case of a woman who had been strangled to death. She’s shocked when the case leads her to her ex boyfriend who might be involved. Better yet she gets a lead to a leader of a sex cult. Will they solve the case and find who murdered Autumn? Find out what happens next in this must read. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
Stacy-Deanne introduces us to Detectives Dee Quarter and Connie Wilks in " Stripped" which is the first in the series. This is a shorter story and is perfect for commute or while waiting for appointments. The story is quick to develop and makes a wonderful addition to a summer holiday. Quarter and Wilks are assigned the murder case of a female named Autumn. The detectives discover clues to a sex-ring cult. The story also introduces the former flames of Dee and some interaction with other characters. The interaction of characters in the plot is an interesting writing maneuver Stacy-Deanne employs to develop the storyline. While this book can be read alone, it is likely best enjoyed as part of the series for clarity and to fully appreciate the characters.
Stripped is the first book that I have read by this author and overall, I really enjoyed it. The story was really interesting and I enjoyed getting to know that characters. The synopsis sounded exciting when I first read it and there were parts of the story that definitely lived up to my expectations. There was a good amount of suspense running through the story and some romance thrown in as well. I think Dee is one of those characters you either love or hate and it did take me some time to warm up to her I have to admit but by the end I was enjoying reading about her. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series and more from this author again in the future.
This is a new author for me and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. This is a suspenseful story with a twist of romance. This is a well written story about Dee and her partner Connie. They are put on a murder case where a woman is strangled to death. This is where the story takes an action turn and is hard to put down. Not only are they looking for a murderer but they also life plays havoc on romance. This is an engaging story that pulled me in from the start. The characters are not only relatable but they kept the story engaging. They brought the story to life with their twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Stripped is the first book in the Stripped series by Stacy Deanne. This is my first book by this author and it will not be my last. The story has a suspenseful romantic feel to it. The characters are fully developed and complicated. This story is about Dee and Connie, two detectives in Baltimore who were put on a case of a strangled woman. The suspect in the murder is Dee’s ex, Grayson. As Dee was investigating the murder she was introduced to Jonathan. This is where the story gets interesting. Will Dee find the murderer? Will Dee start a relationship with Jonathan? I highly recommend reading this book to find the answers to these questions and more.
This is the 1st book in The Stripped series. This is a Romantic Suspense novel and is 398 pages in length. This story follows Dee, a detective in Baltimore, as she tries to solve a murder. The trail leads to Grayson, her ex, but also to Jonathan, who is the leader of a cult. Both men want her, but she is currently in a relationship with Winston, who she loves dearly. But she is intrigued with Jonathan, who also wants to make her part of his cult. This one has just enough action and romance to suck you in and next thing you know you have finished the book and it is in the wee hours of the morning!
Stripped (Stripped Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne is my first read by this author and I was definitely not disappointed. This mystery/ romance had so much to offer including intrigue, plot twists, fantastic characters, and more. Ms. Deanne had me hooked from the very beginning and after finishing this book I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see what happens to her terrific characters. The authors writing really seemed to just flow right off the page, her characters and plot were both just terrific and really made me love her story even that much more. Personally I can’t wait for book two, to see what happens next.
I haven’t read a good suspense book in a while, but this book was absolutely thrilling! I have a bad habit of guessing who was the killer and most of the time I’m able to figure it out way in advance of the big reveal. The red herrings in this were so well done that I couldn't even get close to figuring it out. I loved it! This book has it all, a badass female protagonist, thrills for days, sexy people, cults, intrigue I mean you name it and it was there. I read this book in one session and am eager to read more. I really love an unpredictable ending, and a suspense book that keeps me guessing. I can’t wait to read the other released books in this series. Definitely a must read!
I never read a book about detectives on a case before. I’ve only ever watched TV shows and movies. But reading in a book is just as enticing, if not more. The author does a great way of describing the places and making each suspect give off a particular aura that keeps you guessing. Stripped is about Dee, a detective who is assigned a new partner, Connie, who she dislikes greatly. They are put on a homicide case that is turning up at many odd angles with many rich and successful people involved. If you like books with an air of mystery around them that keeps you guessing until the very end, this is the book for you.
Stripped (The Stripped Series Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne is a romantic suspense story. It is full of intrigue, murder, and mayhem. I had trouble fully connecting to some of the characters. Being a spin off series I really should have started with the original series Bruised first. It would have rounded the characters out more and would have given me a better in sight to them. Some things were a little predictable but overall, it was an interesting and enjoyable read.
Though the story did take a little bit to get into - as I hadn't read the other books leading up to it - once I got going it was an intense and entralling book! It really sucks you in with the various characters and how they overlap and interact. I am very interested in how this story progresses through the series. Despite being a bit difficult to get started, the book was engaging and the characters humorous while still being relatable. Time and time I kept finding myself thinking of how I would be reacting in that situation, which I find is the sign of a well written story!
First of all, if you haven’t read The Bruised Series first, then STOP and start at the VERY BEGINNING of it all. The chemistry between Dee and Winston are so realistic and they’re an amazing couple with their own issues.and I’m sooo looking forward to seeing the next episode.
Any opinions expressed within this review are solely and uniquely made by me and I am happily leaving this review.
The story line grabs your interest and holds it, keeping you turning the pages. The characters are well developed, easy to get to know and enjoyable. Suspense and intrigue will make it hard to stop reading once you start.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Connie’s , Dee working on a case Autumn death. She shocked to find an ex maybe involved with this murder. She has a great way of getting twist and turns into the story that never knew who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end of the book it gave me a shock. The time to cult shocked me but was well thought out and written in the correct Manor.