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Stripped Down
His best friend’s hot older sister.
Her younger brother’s annoying sidekick.
And one forbidden kiss in high school…
It was complicated back then. It’s even more so now.
Because former mean girl Sloane rolls back in town to find Rick stripping at a charity event like he was born with biceps.
And single dad Rick is her landlord.
And her brother will murder him if he has sex with her.
But sometimes you have to strip it all down to see what was there all along...
Her younger brother’s annoying sidekick.
And one forbidden kiss in high school…
It was complicated back then. It’s even more so now.
Because former mean girl Sloane rolls back in town to find Rick stripping at a charity event like he was born with biceps.
And single dad Rick is her landlord.
And her brother will murder him if he has sex with her.
But sometimes you have to strip it all down to see what was there all along...
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2018
654 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
About the author
Erin McCarthy
215 books4,826 followersUSA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 16, 2018
It's Christmas and I work retail so I can't summon the will to write a lengthy review. Bullet points will have to do!
The Good
- Sarcasm and wit.
- Neither of the characters being as 2D or stereotypical as the synopsis would make you imagine. No mean girl antics in adults here.
- The hero taking the time to reassure the heroine when she was anxious or behaving neurotically.
- The characters taking the piss out of each other's cheesy lines.
- The heroine describing her new, more adventurous sex life as him going "all Christopher Columbus in there".
- The idea that bottling a baby's laughter could bring world peace.
- The heroine's love for dogs.
- General clear-sightedness around emotions from the author.
- The hero's precocious little sister.
- The heroine's dad: "hot grandfather, bar owner, loves tats, whiskey and blondes."
- "squishy and weird"
- "you look at her like my father looks at my mom's lasagna." What a compliment!
The Bad
- The word 'buddy'. So juvenile.
- The need for proofreading due to rather a lot of typos and grammatical errors.
- There being no explanation for why the gay ex-husband would've chosen to marry a woman.
- Said ex-husband being labelled as gay for sleeping with a man, YET AGAIN AS IF BISEXUALS DON'T EXIST
- The whole scared/intrigued by penis size thing. Dare I say it, this has become a bit of a trope. Also, how can all romance novel heroes have larger than average penises? Surely that defies logic?
- The heroine describing the hero as a goofy little brother that she liked to pick on.
- The hero describing no strings sex as "the world's most perfect scenario"
- The constant kissing of the corners of mouths. Get some new moves bro.
- The general encouragement/expectation that the heroine be passive during sex and "let (him) do all the work. You just lay there like a goddess and take it." I have never EVER heard a man say they like that.
- Misuse of homophones.
- The chucking in of borderline personality disorder diagnosis for a character we never meet and who has no evident importance to the story. I mean, why? Where are you going with that? It's such a random addition that I can't tell whether this is problematic or not. It's certainly odd though.
The Good
- Sarcasm and wit.
- Neither of the characters being as 2D or stereotypical as the synopsis would make you imagine. No mean girl antics in adults here.
- The hero taking the time to reassure the heroine when she was anxious or behaving neurotically.
- The characters taking the piss out of each other's cheesy lines.
- The heroine describing her new, more adventurous sex life as him going "all Christopher Columbus in there".
- The idea that bottling a baby's laughter could bring world peace.
- The heroine's love for dogs.
- General clear-sightedness around emotions from the author.
- The hero's precocious little sister.
- The heroine's dad: "hot grandfather, bar owner, loves tats, whiskey and blondes."
- "squishy and weird"
- "you look at her like my father looks at my mom's lasagna." What a compliment!
The Bad
- The word 'buddy'. So juvenile.
- The need for proofreading due to rather a lot of typos and grammatical errors.
- There being no explanation for why the gay ex-husband would've chosen to marry a woman.
- Said ex-husband being labelled as gay for sleeping with a man, YET AGAIN AS IF BISEXUALS DON'T EXIST
- The whole scared/intrigued by penis size thing. Dare I say it, this has become a bit of a trope. Also, how can all romance novel heroes have larger than average penises? Surely that defies logic?
- The heroine describing the hero as a goofy little brother that she liked to pick on.
- The hero describing no strings sex as "the world's most perfect scenario"
- The constant kissing of the corners of mouths. Get some new moves bro.
- The general encouragement/expectation that the heroine be passive during sex and "let (him) do all the work. You just lay there like a goddess and take it." I have never EVER heard a man say they like that.
- Misuse of homophones.
- The chucking in of borderline personality disorder diagnosis for a character we never meet and who has no evident importance to the story. I mean, why? Where are you going with that? It's such a random addition that I can't tell whether this is problematic or not. It's certainly odd though.
November 1, 2018
First of all, I wanna say that Rick's child is his little sister and he is taking care of her because their father who is still alive can't. The kid is the only one who realizes what is truly going on in the lives of the main characters and offers some good feedback. I was not happy that she was exposed to some of Rick's "girlfriends" though. I don't think that's a nice image for someone who is not even a teenager yet. She is one of the best parts of the book though
My main issue with this book was Rick and Sloane. He needed to groove, but she kept taking him back without having him put some effort. I liked what he did with the dog, but it still felt like it wasn't enough. I am so disappointed in Sloane for that. She deserved better and never went for it. That's the reason I am going for 3 stars. Sloane was a disappointment and Rick was a douche in my min who got away with it too easily.
Sullivan and Lily's story is the one that sounds the most promising and I feel like they are going to be the last people who will get a book. I wanted to see more of the secondary characters and find out more about them and their personalities. I only think that Lily and Sullivan will end up together because there is a mention of her been in love with him in the first or second chapter. I guess we will see.
Stripped down was a mediocre beginning for a series. I will keep an eye for book 2 and then decide if I will continue with the rest of the books. I haven't read many of the author's works so I am not familiar with her writing style and I cannot say if this book is above or below the average quality of her works.
My main issue with this book was Rick and Sloane. He needed to groove, but she kept taking him back without having him put some effort. I liked what he did with the dog, but it still felt like it wasn't enough. I am so disappointed in Sloane for that. She deserved better and never went for it. That's the reason I am going for 3 stars. Sloane was a disappointment and Rick was a douche in my min who got away with it too easily.
Sullivan and Lily's story is the one that sounds the most promising and I feel like they are going to be the last people who will get a book. I wanted to see more of the secondary characters and find out more about them and their personalities. I only think that Lily and Sullivan will end up together because there is a mention of her been in love with him in the first or second chapter. I guess we will see.
Stripped down was a mediocre beginning for a series. I will keep an eye for book 2 and then decide if I will continue with the rest of the books. I haven't read many of the author's works so I am not familiar with her writing style and I cannot say if this book is above or below the average quality of her works.
January 21, 2020
It was ok. A bit simple and sometimes too much.
April 30, 2023
This reverse age gap, best friend's older sister, dual POV, small town romance was spicy AF and had great emotional depth!! New to me author Erin McCarthy blew me away with this story about Sloan, a newly divorced 30 year old who returns home after her ex came out of the closet.
Her first night back she runs into her little brother's best friend, Rick performing a strip tease at the local bar for charity and then literally runs into his bike. The two have instant chemistry and Rick helps Sloan with a sexual reawakening.
Mechanic Rick has his own problems though, acting as guardian for his nine year old little sister who isn't able to live with their hoarder father. Great on audio and highly recommended, especially if you enjoy role playing, hot motorcycle sex and relatable three-dimensional characters.
Her first night back she runs into her little brother's best friend, Rick performing a strip tease at the local bar for charity and then literally runs into his bike. The two have instant chemistry and Rick helps Sloan with a sexual reawakening.
Mechanic Rick has his own problems though, acting as guardian for his nine year old little sister who isn't able to live with their hoarder father. Great on audio and highly recommended, especially if you enjoy role playing, hot motorcycle sex and relatable three-dimensional characters.
October 26, 2018
It happens to the best of us. No more hiding behind snarky comments, over-inflated egos and childhood fantasy. Eventually we have to grow up. McCarthy reminds us that life has a tendency to get in the way, but it also pushes us through the heartache. Stripped Down is brash humor with a ton of heart and a dash of wisdom. The mean girl finally gets a long overdue reality check. Sloane is used to putting her best foot forward, but this time she has to do the work. It takes a less than stellar homecoming and a blast from her not so distant past to show her the error of her ways. Sloane, Rick and their slew of busybody friends are an irresistible bundle of heartwarming fun.
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November 4, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (11/4/2018)! 💝
Blurb:
His best friend’s hot older sister.
Her younger brother’s annoying sidekick.
And one forbidden kiss in high school…
It was complicated back then. It’s even more so now.
Because former mean girl Sloane rolls back in town to find Rick stripping at a charity event like he was born with biceps.
And single dad Rick is her landlord.
And her brother will murder him if he has sex with her.
But sometimes you have to strip it all down to see what was there all along...
Blurb:
His best friend’s hot older sister.
Her younger brother’s annoying sidekick.
And one forbidden kiss in high school…
It was complicated back then. It’s even more so now.
Because former mean girl Sloane rolls back in town to find Rick stripping at a charity event like he was born with biceps.
And single dad Rick is her landlord.
And her brother will murder him if he has sex with her.
But sometimes you have to strip it all down to see what was there all along...
May 9, 2020
e mezzo.
October 29, 2018
Rick and Sloane have a history. Sloane was a former mean girl who shared an earth-shattering kiss with her younger brother’s best friend. Rick was that friend and he has changed in the years since that kiss. Sloane is not looking to start a relationship. Hurt by a bitter divorce, all she wants is to be left alone. But that doesn’t happen. After seeing Rick stripping for a charity auction, Sloane needs to see if Rick lives up to the promise in his boxers. Rick wants to know if kissing Sloane now was as good as kissing her back then. Determined to keep each other in the friends with benefits zone, they both start to fall for each other. But can it last? Can Rick and Sloane keep it at sex? Or will it blow up in their faces?
I wasn’t too sure if I liked Rick and Sloane as a couple. I got rebound relationship vibes from them. Sloane was fresh from a divorce. Her ex-husband cheated on her and that made her feel like she wasn’t attractive. So, I wasn’t surprised when she ended up sleeping with Rick.
I thought it was hilarious that such a big deal was made about Rick’s package. I giggled through Sloane’s reaction to seeing it. I giggled through people saying that “he grew into it“. Seeing that I was in bed, I got some dirty looks from my SO because well, it was 11pm and I was laughing my fool butt off.
I liked that Rich thought himself to be a smooth operator. His confidence was awesome. His determination to sleep with Sloane was amazing, considering at his bestie threatened to rearrange his face. His one-liners to her were hilarious. But I also liked seeing his other side. His mature and responsible side. His devotion to his 9-year-old sister was amazing. I was saddened by the fact that he had to become her legal guardian at such a young age. But I was also saddened over the situation that led to it. His truth bomb on his father was something that needed to be said. It saddened me to see that he grew up like that but still. He was the complete package.
I felt bad for Sloane. I couldn’t imagine how she felt when her husband told her that he was cheating on her. Betrayed was the closest thing that I could come up with as a feeling. I didn’t blame her when she moved back to her hometown. I was a little surprised when she decided to hook up with Rick and then keep hooking up with him. I was also surprised when she started having feelings for him.
Sloane and Rick did have some unbelievable chemistry. From the minute their eyes met, it radiated from them. So I wasn’t too surprised that the sex was hot. I did think that Sloane was going to have a problem walking because Rick was so big (haha). The scene on the motorcycle was insane. I will never look at a motorcycle the same again.
The end of the book was a big “Eh” for me. I did think that Sullivan’s reaction after the Ferris Wheel scene was a bit much. Also, what is with everyone ditching the baby with Axl? Other than that, I liked the end of the book. It was sweet. Sloane deserved it.
I gave Stripped Down a 3.5-star rating. This was a fast read with memorable characters. There were some elements that I didn’t like. The ending didn’t resonate with me as much as I wanted it to. Also, I didn’t think that Rick and Sloane made a believable couple. Other than that, I enjoyed reading the book and look forward to book 2.
I would give Stripped Down an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is language. There is mild violence. There are some triggers in this book. They would be cheating and animal neglect/abuse. I would suggest that no one under the age of 21 read this book. Same goes if you are triggered too.
I would reread Stripped Down. I would also recommend this book to family and friends. I would include a warning about the triggers.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Stripped Down.
All opinions stated in this review of Stripped Down are mine.
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
I wasn’t too sure if I liked Rick and Sloane as a couple. I got rebound relationship vibes from them. Sloane was fresh from a divorce. Her ex-husband cheated on her and that made her feel like she wasn’t attractive. So, I wasn’t surprised when she ended up sleeping with Rick.
I thought it was hilarious that such a big deal was made about Rick’s package. I giggled through Sloane’s reaction to seeing it. I giggled through people saying that “he grew into it“. Seeing that I was in bed, I got some dirty looks from my SO because well, it was 11pm and I was laughing my fool butt off.
I liked that Rich thought himself to be a smooth operator. His confidence was awesome. His determination to sleep with Sloane was amazing, considering at his bestie threatened to rearrange his face. His one-liners to her were hilarious. But I also liked seeing his other side. His mature and responsible side. His devotion to his 9-year-old sister was amazing. I was saddened by the fact that he had to become her legal guardian at such a young age. But I was also saddened over the situation that led to it. His truth bomb on his father was something that needed to be said. It saddened me to see that he grew up like that but still. He was the complete package.
I felt bad for Sloane. I couldn’t imagine how she felt when her husband told her that he was cheating on her. Betrayed was the closest thing that I could come up with as a feeling. I didn’t blame her when she moved back to her hometown. I was a little surprised when she decided to hook up with Rick and then keep hooking up with him. I was also surprised when she started having feelings for him.
Sloane and Rick did have some unbelievable chemistry. From the minute their eyes met, it radiated from them. So I wasn’t too surprised that the sex was hot. I did think that Sloane was going to have a problem walking because Rick was so big (haha). The scene on the motorcycle was insane. I will never look at a motorcycle the same again.
The end of the book was a big “Eh” for me. I did think that Sullivan’s reaction after the Ferris Wheel scene was a bit much. Also, what is with everyone ditching the baby with Axl? Other than that, I liked the end of the book. It was sweet. Sloane deserved it.
I gave Stripped Down a 3.5-star rating. This was a fast read with memorable characters. There were some elements that I didn’t like. The ending didn’t resonate with me as much as I wanted it to. Also, I didn’t think that Rick and Sloane made a believable couple. Other than that, I enjoyed reading the book and look forward to book 2.
I would give Stripped Down an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is language. There is mild violence. There are some triggers in this book. They would be cheating and animal neglect/abuse. I would suggest that no one under the age of 21 read this book. Same goes if you are triggered too.
I would reread Stripped Down. I would also recommend this book to family and friends. I would include a warning about the triggers.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Stripped Down.
All opinions stated in this review of Stripped Down are mine.
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
June 9, 2020
Assistere a uno spogliarello? Fatto.
Fare sesso con un uomo più giovane? Fatto.
Complicarsi la vita? Decisamente, fatto.
Ammetto che iniziando questa lettura non sapevo bene cosa aspettarmi, anche perché ultimamente non sono molto attirata da romanzi troppo passionali, dove si privilegia l'aspetto erotico rispetto alla storia. In realtà il primo episodio della serie #TapThat si è rivelato tutto il contrario e mi è piaciuto parecchio: non solo c'è una storia, ma ci sono più piani narrativi, alcuni sviluppati sin da subito, altri appena abbozzati, ma che già incuriosiscono.
Lo stile immediato e semplice ha il merito di riuscire a coinvolgere il lettore, trascinandolo nell'ambiente di questa cittadina di provincia, dove un gruppo di amici, ragazzi e ragazze (verso i trenta come età), alcuni ex-compagni di scuola, continua ancora a frequentarsi nel bar degli O’Toole (dove pure il padre cinquantenne risplende).
Ciascuno dei ragazzi ha una professione, ha già vissuto parte della vita, ha ricevuto una certa dose di legnate, ma anche di piccoli attimi di felicità.
Da subito conosciamo i due fratelli O'Toole: Sullivan, che ha perduto da un anno la moglie che adorava e ha un figlioletto da crescere, e la sorella maggiore Sloane, appena tornata in città, dopo un divorzio doloroso.
Entrambi vivono a modo loro l'infelicità, lui gettandosi in storie senza legami, lei ancora timorosa di non ricadere di nuovo in grossi sbagli.
Tra loro s'inserisce Rick, miglior amico di Sullivan, da sempre innamorato dell'ex-reginetta della scuola Sloane. E anche Rick, dietro la facciata da meccanico sexy e donnaiolo, nasconde vari grattacapi familiari, tra cui un'adorabile sorellina furba e simpatica.
Ok, forse non accadono chissà che grandi cose, però la storia si dipana tra contrattempi quotidiani, serate, baruffe, e persino un salvataggio con tanto di eroi... in bicicletta.
Mi è pure scappata qualche risata ogni tanto, persino nelle scene di sesso, perché sì, c'è la passione, Rick è un maschione notevole, ma tutto è raccontato con ironia.
Lui e lei non si prendono sul serio, non nascondono la loro fragilità, quindi l'amore, quando arriva, non è torrido, ma dolcissimo.
Più che un erotico, un romanzo d'amore con qualche (bella) scena hot.
PS. Continuerò certamente la serie!
Fare sesso con un uomo più giovane? Fatto.
Complicarsi la vita? Decisamente, fatto.
Ammetto che iniziando questa lettura non sapevo bene cosa aspettarmi, anche perché ultimamente non sono molto attirata da romanzi troppo passionali, dove si privilegia l'aspetto erotico rispetto alla storia. In realtà il primo episodio della serie #TapThat si è rivelato tutto il contrario e mi è piaciuto parecchio: non solo c'è una storia, ma ci sono più piani narrativi, alcuni sviluppati sin da subito, altri appena abbozzati, ma che già incuriosiscono.
Lo stile immediato e semplice ha il merito di riuscire a coinvolgere il lettore, trascinandolo nell'ambiente di questa cittadina di provincia, dove un gruppo di amici, ragazzi e ragazze (verso i trenta come età), alcuni ex-compagni di scuola, continua ancora a frequentarsi nel bar degli O’Toole (dove pure il padre cinquantenne risplende).
Ciascuno dei ragazzi ha una professione, ha già vissuto parte della vita, ha ricevuto una certa dose di legnate, ma anche di piccoli attimi di felicità.
Da subito conosciamo i due fratelli O'Toole: Sullivan, che ha perduto da un anno la moglie che adorava e ha un figlioletto da crescere, e la sorella maggiore Sloane, appena tornata in città, dopo un divorzio doloroso.
Entrambi vivono a modo loro l'infelicità, lui gettandosi in storie senza legami, lei ancora timorosa di non ricadere di nuovo in grossi sbagli.
Tra loro s'inserisce Rick, miglior amico di Sullivan, da sempre innamorato dell'ex-reginetta della scuola Sloane. E anche Rick, dietro la facciata da meccanico sexy e donnaiolo, nasconde vari grattacapi familiari, tra cui un'adorabile sorellina furba e simpatica.
Ok, forse non accadono chissà che grandi cose, però la storia si dipana tra contrattempi quotidiani, serate, baruffe, e persino un salvataggio con tanto di eroi... in bicicletta.
Mi è pure scappata qualche risata ogni tanto, persino nelle scene di sesso, perché sì, c'è la passione, Rick è un maschione notevole, ma tutto è raccontato con ironia.
Lui e lei non si prendono sul serio, non nascondono la loro fragilità, quindi l'amore, quando arriva, non è torrido, ma dolcissimo.
Più che un erotico, un romanzo d'amore con qualche (bella) scena hot.
PS. Continuerò certamente la serie!
October 31, 2018
“I think you should all strip …”
Anyone who has ever read my reviews knows that I I have a number of “go to” authors, but my first and foremost is always Erin McCarthy. I have yet to read a book by Erin and think to myself, well that was disappointing—never! I love a good series, and Erin has several. But, even a die-hard fan like myself has her favorites-“True Believers, and “Nashville Nights” were amazing; “Sexy in NYC” holds a special place because my favorite book of all by Erin is still “The Pregnancy Test,” which is in that series; and “Fast Track” and “Blurred Lines” are phenomenal. So, while I love Erin’s books and, especially her ability to create a worthy series, I am always hoping for another True Believer or Fast Track. A series that will draw me in and make me want to read the same book or books more than once. A series where I cannot wait for the next book to come out because I want to know which friend she is going to write about next…because in that first book she sets the tone and the storyline, and you know that you are going to have to wait until the very end for that one character (or two) to finally have their story told. I believe that her new series “Tap That” may just be that series!
“Stripped Down” is the first book in Erin’s newest series, “Tap That.” In “Stripped Down,” we meet a group of long-time friends, including Lilly, Sullivan, Rick, Axl and a few other guys. Lilly suggests that the guys do a charity strip event to raise money for breast cancer research, in honor of their friend and Sullivan’s wife, Kendra’s, death. The guys all agree, except Sullivan. During the event, Rick and Sullivan’s sister, Sloane, reconnect. Best friends and family do not always mix well, especially if they already have a sorted history. This is the story about how people can change, and how complicated relationships can be…until they are not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It made me laugh out loud, took me back through, and sometimes wince at, my own high school memories, and made me wonder what is next?
I voluntarily reviewed this book for free in exchange for a honest review. However, since I thoroughly enjoyed the book and wanted to get the next book in the series, “Strip Search,” anyway—which is already available—I bought both “Stripped Down” and “Strip Search.”
Anyone who has ever read my reviews knows that I I have a number of “go to” authors, but my first and foremost is always Erin McCarthy. I have yet to read a book by Erin and think to myself, well that was disappointing—never! I love a good series, and Erin has several. But, even a die-hard fan like myself has her favorites-“True Believers, and “Nashville Nights” were amazing; “Sexy in NYC” holds a special place because my favorite book of all by Erin is still “The Pregnancy Test,” which is in that series; and “Fast Track” and “Blurred Lines” are phenomenal. So, while I love Erin’s books and, especially her ability to create a worthy series, I am always hoping for another True Believer or Fast Track. A series that will draw me in and make me want to read the same book or books more than once. A series where I cannot wait for the next book to come out because I want to know which friend she is going to write about next…because in that first book she sets the tone and the storyline, and you know that you are going to have to wait until the very end for that one character (or two) to finally have their story told. I believe that her new series “Tap That” may just be that series!
“Stripped Down” is the first book in Erin’s newest series, “Tap That.” In “Stripped Down,” we meet a group of long-time friends, including Lilly, Sullivan, Rick, Axl and a few other guys. Lilly suggests that the guys do a charity strip event to raise money for breast cancer research, in honor of their friend and Sullivan’s wife, Kendra’s, death. The guys all agree, except Sullivan. During the event, Rick and Sullivan’s sister, Sloane, reconnect. Best friends and family do not always mix well, especially if they already have a sorted history. This is the story about how people can change, and how complicated relationships can be…until they are not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It made me laugh out loud, took me back through, and sometimes wince at, my own high school memories, and made me wonder what is next?
I voluntarily reviewed this book for free in exchange for a honest review. However, since I thoroughly enjoyed the book and wanted to get the next book in the series, “Strip Search,” anyway—which is already available—I bought both “Stripped Down” and “Strip Search.”
October 31, 2018
I loved this book!! It was so sweet!
Sloan was the popular perfect cheerleader and she seemed to have it all but one night in the bathroom at a party she had the best kiss of her life and when the lights came on she knew it wasn’t her boy friend but her little brother’s best friend Rick known as Little Dickey. After humiliating him to save herself she went off to college and become a trophy wife of an older doctor.
Life wasn’t what it seemed and she was getting divorced and moving back home. Little Dicky wasn’t so little any more and he wanted revenge in the way of sex.
Rick worked hard on his body and growth spurt helped him he became super sexy and everyone knew it he has a record of love them and leave them. Will Sloan be another one night stand?
Sloan has lost herself and her confidence after a messy divorce moving home to start over and be with family was very important to her. Will a sexy mechanic with a score to settle turn into more than just one night?
This book was so good I love how Erin writes and how her stores just suck you in this is the first in a new series and I’m so excited to see everyone’s stories!!
Sloan was the popular perfect cheerleader and she seemed to have it all but one night in the bathroom at a party she had the best kiss of her life and when the lights came on she knew it wasn’t her boy friend but her little brother’s best friend Rick known as Little Dickey. After humiliating him to save herself she went off to college and become a trophy wife of an older doctor.
Life wasn’t what it seemed and she was getting divorced and moving back home. Little Dicky wasn’t so little any more and he wanted revenge in the way of sex.
Rick worked hard on his body and growth spurt helped him he became super sexy and everyone knew it he has a record of love them and leave them. Will Sloan be another one night stand?
Sloan has lost herself and her confidence after a messy divorce moving home to start over and be with family was very important to her. Will a sexy mechanic with a score to settle turn into more than just one night?
This book was so good I love how Erin writes and how her stores just suck you in this is the first in a new series and I’m so excited to see everyone’s stories!!
dnf
February 15, 2022
Stripped Down
Tap That, Book 1
I Picked Up This Book Because: Cleaning up my book backlist/have liked the authors works in the past.
Media Type: eBook
Source: Apple iBooks
Dates Read: 1/25/22 - 2/11/22
Stars: DNF - no rating
The Characters:
Rick Ryder:
Sloan O’Toole:
Lilly Ferguson, Sullivan O’Toole (Sloan’s brother and Rick’s best friend), Axl, several other friends and family
The Story:
A lot of things in this book should have worked for me. Best friend's sister, small town, second chance (ish) but in the 28% of the book I read neither of the main characters managed to snare my interest and if I don’t love the characters I’m not investing my time. That’s just the way it is. Fortunately I do like this writer and I have a lot more books of hers to explore. #CantWinEmAll
The Random Thoughts:
Tap That, Book 1
I Picked Up This Book Because: Cleaning up my book backlist/have liked the authors works in the past.
Media Type: eBook
Source: Apple iBooks
Dates Read: 1/25/22 - 2/11/22
Stars: DNF - no rating
The Characters:
Rick Ryder:
Sloan O’Toole:
Lilly Ferguson, Sullivan O’Toole (Sloan’s brother and Rick’s best friend), Axl, several other friends and family
The Story:
A lot of things in this book should have worked for me. Best friend's sister, small town, second chance (ish) but in the 28% of the book I read neither of the main characters managed to snare my interest and if I don’t love the characters I’m not investing my time. That’s just the way it is. Fortunately I do like this writer and I have a lot more books of hers to explore. #CantWinEmAll
The Random Thoughts:
dnf
March 22, 2024dnf @ 2% - bad vibes
September 5, 2023
Stripping interest
Erin McCarthy's characters are clear and relatable, the situations realitistic. Will definetely search more of her books in the future.
Erin McCarthy's characters are clear and relatable, the situations realitistic. Will definetely search more of her books in the future.
December 10, 2018
Who among us does not know what it was like in High School if you were the one not quite in with the popular crowd but not quite an outcast either?
Well in this story we have a 28-year-old named Rick who was to say the least not one of the more sought after boys when he was a teen but who is now a man with more dates then not. The short guy from High School is now a ripped hunk at 6 ft maybe more as his growth spurt caused his body to finally meet it's full potential.
Former Head Cheerleader Sloane O'Toole was Rick's crush. One memorable kiss has sustained the flame for over a decade plus and now that the grown-up and divorced Sloane has come back to town the two have finally connected at last.
Perhaps fate has stepped in but on the night in question Birthday girl Sloane is treated to the full charm of a man she did not expect and Rick rings in her 30th with a bang she has needed for years.
Watching the two fall in lust was easy, watching them fall in love was even better.
I found this second chance at love as frenemies with benefits slowly found themselves finding out that sometimes what we were not looking for is right in front of us all along, even though it took years to find it.
Filled with family, heart, heat and lots of good old fashioned small town vibes this was a great start to a contemporary romance series by this author.
Well in this story we have a 28-year-old named Rick who was to say the least not one of the more sought after boys when he was a teen but who is now a man with more dates then not. The short guy from High School is now a ripped hunk at 6 ft maybe more as his growth spurt caused his body to finally meet it's full potential.
Former Head Cheerleader Sloane O'Toole was Rick's crush. One memorable kiss has sustained the flame for over a decade plus and now that the grown-up and divorced Sloane has come back to town the two have finally connected at last.
Perhaps fate has stepped in but on the night in question Birthday girl Sloane is treated to the full charm of a man she did not expect and Rick rings in her 30th with a bang she has needed for years.
Watching the two fall in lust was easy, watching them fall in love was even better.
I found this second chance at love as frenemies with benefits slowly found themselves finding out that sometimes what we were not looking for is right in front of us all along, even though it took years to find it.
Filled with family, heart, heat and lots of good old fashioned small town vibes this was a great start to a contemporary romance series by this author.
April 13, 2020
Loaded with hotness and sass!
I enjoyed reading this story, i was LOL as i go through every page. So cute, hot and full of sass! If theres anything i take on this one, its re-evaluating your life and realizing what matters most. Good job Erin!
I enjoyed reading this story, i was LOL as i go through every page. So cute, hot and full of sass! If theres anything i take on this one, its re-evaluating your life and realizing what matters most. Good job Erin!
July 20, 2023
I wasn't expecting to have such a good time! I loved how this story interpreted the brother's best friend/older heroine/second chance from high school trope!
January 29, 2019
This is a new to me author. I’ve never read anything by her before. So I was pretty excited to read this book. So, I was all in... up until I got to the first sex scene. Thats in the beginning of the books.
Now... up until this point I was feeling this book. But, one of my pet peeves in books is when the author can’t remember what the main characters is wearing. I mean... how can you forget? So, Rick is wearing his work overalls for the charity stripper show. He takes Sloane home. He’s still wearing the overalls. And he’s still wearing them once he gets into her room.
-Rick was unzipping his work uniform down to the waist.-
Still wearing that work overalls!!
-Just seeing him moving toward her, his chest bare,-
Now... this is where I was like huh.. did I miss something?!
I had to stop and think... did I miss something?! He wasn’t wearing a shirt a couple of sentence ago!
-He did pause to take his shirt off and Sloane eagerly ran her hands over all that hardness.-
Then the pants!!
-because instead of shedding his jeans-
What... now he’s wearing jeans?!
-Rick shoved his pants down to his ankles and kicked them off with an urgency he’d never known. He grabbed them and patted the pocket for his wallet. “Time to try for the extra point,”-
That just killed it for me. Because I just couldn’t overlook the whole clothes thing.
Then... we have the whole condom thing! He put his used condom on the nightstand! Instead of getting up and throwing it away. Or just putting it on the floor. He put it in the nightstand. Ewww!
-He removed the condom and set it on the nightstand-
I don’t know. I just found that to be weird.
Anyway. As I read on. I could tell I was half into this book. I just think the whole thing in the beginning set the tone of this book for me.
It wasn’t bad. Just not for me.
Now... up until this point I was feeling this book. But, one of my pet peeves in books is when the author can’t remember what the main characters is wearing. I mean... how can you forget? So, Rick is wearing his work overalls for the charity stripper show. He takes Sloane home. He’s still wearing the overalls. And he’s still wearing them once he gets into her room.
-Rick was unzipping his work uniform down to the waist.-
Still wearing that work overalls!!
-Just seeing him moving toward her, his chest bare,-
Now... this is where I was like huh.. did I miss something?!
I had to stop and think... did I miss something?! He wasn’t wearing a shirt a couple of sentence ago!
-He did pause to take his shirt off and Sloane eagerly ran her hands over all that hardness.-
Then the pants!!
-because instead of shedding his jeans-
What... now he’s wearing jeans?!
-Rick shoved his pants down to his ankles and kicked them off with an urgency he’d never known. He grabbed them and patted the pocket for his wallet. “Time to try for the extra point,”-
That just killed it for me. Because I just couldn’t overlook the whole clothes thing.
Then... we have the whole condom thing! He put his used condom on the nightstand! Instead of getting up and throwing it away. Or just putting it on the floor. He put it in the nightstand. Ewww!
-He removed the condom and set it on the nightstand-
I don’t know. I just found that to be weird.
Anyway. As I read on. I could tell I was half into this book. I just think the whole thing in the beginning set the tone of this book for me.
It wasn’t bad. Just not for me.
October 30, 2018
In this sexually charged romance Sloane has returned to her home town having divorced her husband who she learned was cheating on her with another man. Having lost a bit of her confidence with this shocking reveal she hopes to regroup as well as be there for her brother who lost his wife and is raising their son, her nephew. She makes it back to town in time for her thirtieth birthday and is surprised by the male strip show going on at her family's bar. Rick is having a great time stripping for a good cause, he spent years being the little guy and likes the attention he gets now that he has grown into his body. For years he was the runt to all his high school friends and hates the way he was treated. When their eyes meet there is an instant electricity that passes between the two. Who is that well sculpted man Sloane wonders and how do I get a taste of him? She is shocked when she learns its the boy she thought of as a little brother and sometime irritant from her past. When Rick sees Sloane all he can think of is that time she embarrassed him without a thought to how it would make him feel. Seeing Rick makes Sloane feel things that she has never felt before and when the two come together she can't get enough. Follow along as these two push and pull themselves from a one night stand into a relationship. Can they make it work or will it all blow up in their faces? This was a hot read that had me for more. The cast of characters were well developed and I look forward to seeing what happens with them next!
November 9, 2018
4 stars for great relax with good book!
Stripped Down by Erin Mcarthy for me is next book from this author. I enjoyed it as much as the previous ones. I really liked how Erin written this story. Plot, history betweem main characktets was great. For sure Stripped Down is this kind of book which You don't want to put down.
In Stripped Down we meet Sloane and Rick.
Sloane is young, but life wasn't too good for her. She had some hard moments behind her, when I meet her I felt sorry for her. I really hoped that Erin will give her quckly another chance to find her happines. Because life could be very spuprising.... Sloane started to look at Rick in more warm than friendly way. Rick is real man so he want to take a risk with conquering Sloane's heart. Of course their history won't be full of roses... as good story it had to be also drama behind. Erin knows very good how to keep tension and chemistry between this couple and readers heart.
I enjoy very much Rick's and Sloane story, for sure this book is for everyone who likes great romance and steamy moments to read, when relax is needed.
Stripped Down by Erin Mcarthy for me is next book from this author. I enjoyed it as much as the previous ones. I really liked how Erin written this story. Plot, history betweem main characktets was great. For sure Stripped Down is this kind of book which You don't want to put down.
In Stripped Down we meet Sloane and Rick.
Sloane is young, but life wasn't too good for her. She had some hard moments behind her, when I meet her I felt sorry for her. I really hoped that Erin will give her quckly another chance to find her happines. Because life could be very spuprising.... Sloane started to look at Rick in more warm than friendly way. Rick is real man so he want to take a risk with conquering Sloane's heart. Of course their history won't be full of roses... as good story it had to be also drama behind. Erin knows very good how to keep tension and chemistry between this couple and readers heart.
I enjoy very much Rick's and Sloane story, for sure this book is for everyone who likes great romance and steamy moments to read, when relax is needed.
October 29, 2018
When his friends float the idea of a strip tease dance at the local bar, Rick is all for it. So what if his high school crush and mean girl extraordinaire is in the crowd? He's shed the insecurity of his teen years, plus it's for a worthy charitable cause.
Divorced before her thirtieth birthday, Sloane has been taking stock of her life. Known in high school as the girl who got whatever she wanted, she's trying to channel that energy in more positive ways. When a sexy stripper catches her eye on her birthday, she thinks things might be looking up until she realises that he's one of her younger brother's best friends.
What follows is a funny, insightful, sexy and sweet look at life when it doesn't quite turn out the way you originally planned. A quick, light read, Stripped Down introduces us to a group of childhood friends that look out for each other. The secondary characters are a fun bunch (I loved River!) that I can't wait to meet in future installments in the series.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.
Divorced before her thirtieth birthday, Sloane has been taking stock of her life. Known in high school as the girl who got whatever she wanted, she's trying to channel that energy in more positive ways. When a sexy stripper catches her eye on her birthday, she thinks things might be looking up until she realises that he's one of her younger brother's best friends.
What follows is a funny, insightful, sexy and sweet look at life when it doesn't quite turn out the way you originally planned. A quick, light read, Stripped Down introduces us to a group of childhood friends that look out for each other. The secondary characters are a fun bunch (I loved River!) that I can't wait to meet in future installments in the series.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.
December 5, 2018
Stripped Down is a story of loyalty, friendship, absent mothers, and a second chance at love. The author takes the common theme of "in love with your friend's sibling" and adds a twist, as Rick is in love with with his best friend's older sister. It turns out a younger brother can be just as protected for his older sister, as for a younger sister. Rick (Little Dickie) never thought he would have a chance with his high school crush, Sloan--the older, sexy high school cheerleader. "Little Dickey" is long gone, and the hunk that is now on stage stripping for Charity, is a respected business owner and the guardian of his little sister. The one thing that hasn't changed for Rick, he is still crushing on Sloan. Sloan's unloving marriage, isolation from her family, and her recent divorce has matured this former high school "mean girl". At age 30 Sloan finds true love and hot sex with Rick, her little brother's best friend. This book contains steaming scenes involving a motorcycle and a tight fitting cheerleader's uniform. Rating 3.75 Stars
November 8, 2018
3.5 Stars
Stripped Down was a decent start to a new series by Erin McCarthy. This is a new-to-me author, so I'm not too familiar with her writing style or tone. What I read of Stripped Down was entertaining enough, but I didn't fall in love with Sloane and Rick. I liked the little brother's best friend aspect to their story and that she was a reformed bad girl back home after a nasty divorce, licking her wounds. But I felt like some of Rick's behavior was a bit immature and he came off as a jerk. And reformed mean girl or not, I didn't think that Sloane deserved that kind of treatment.
Despite that, I still very much enjoyed this story. The secondary characters were very likable, which is a good thing since I presume that they will be getting their own stories in this series.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Stripped Down was a decent start to a new series by Erin McCarthy. This is a new-to-me author, so I'm not too familiar with her writing style or tone. What I read of Stripped Down was entertaining enough, but I didn't fall in love with Sloane and Rick. I liked the little brother's best friend aspect to their story and that she was a reformed bad girl back home after a nasty divorce, licking her wounds. But I felt like some of Rick's behavior was a bit immature and he came off as a jerk. And reformed mean girl or not, I didn't think that Sloane deserved that kind of treatment.
Despite that, I still very much enjoyed this story. The secondary characters were very likable, which is a good thing since I presume that they will be getting their own stories in this series.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
January 7, 2019
This is a fun, flirty and sexy best friend’s older sister romance. The story is well written with well-defined and engaging characters, including one Brainiac nine year old who’s going on fifty! Rick has crushed on his best friend’s sister since the tenth grade. Sloane was the popular cheerleader in high school and so not in his league – especially as he was slightly chubby and shorter than her at the time. When Sloane returns to town to get her life back on track how will she react when she encounters the grown-up Rick, who now has muscles on his muscles? Who has the crush now? There’s plenty of humour and several very steamy encounters along with some drama and angst. I look forward to reading more stories about the Tap That Dancers!
January 11, 2019
Hot story with a memorable cast!
Sloane remembers her younger brother's best friend as "Little Dickie" and that he'd always had a crush on her. Now that she's back in her hometown after a disastrous divorce, she's having a hard time reconciling the deliciously sexy grown-up Rick with the young boy she remembers. Rick, on the other hand, has no trouble welcoming Sloane back, on her birthday to boot, and making sure she knows what she missed out on.
Add in a sexy yet crumpled motorcycle, a group of friends that stick together through everything, a young genius who is wise beyond her years, and a steaming-mad younger brother, and you've got a thoroughly enjoyable rom-com that will keep you glued to your Kindle (when you're not reaching for a cold drink and a fan).
Sloane remembers her younger brother's best friend as "Little Dickie" and that he'd always had a crush on her. Now that she's back in her hometown after a disastrous divorce, she's having a hard time reconciling the deliciously sexy grown-up Rick with the young boy she remembers. Rick, on the other hand, has no trouble welcoming Sloane back, on her birthday to boot, and making sure she knows what she missed out on.
Add in a sexy yet crumpled motorcycle, a group of friends that stick together through everything, a young genius who is wise beyond her years, and a steaming-mad younger brother, and you've got a thoroughly enjoyable rom-com that will keep you glued to your Kindle (when you're not reaching for a cold drink and a fan).
June 19, 2023
Loved this book!
Love books that make my emotions come out and laughter is certainly the most fun. This was soooo good! Between love birds, Rick and Sloane and wiz kid, River there was plenty of laughter. Rick, Sloane's brother and group of guys all grew up together but Rick always had a crush on Sloane. She was two years older than the boys. She eventually fell in love, got married and moved away until her husband cheated and divorced her. Rick grew up, in more ways than you can imagine, and Sloane definitely noticed when she moved back home. You'll understand if you read the book. You'll love the group of friends, the town, and the things that go on around them. Going onto the next book now. Written by Cindy :)
Love books that make my emotions come out and laughter is certainly the most fun. This was soooo good! Between love birds, Rick and Sloane and wiz kid, River there was plenty of laughter. Rick, Sloane's brother and group of guys all grew up together but Rick always had a crush on Sloane. She was two years older than the boys. She eventually fell in love, got married and moved away until her husband cheated and divorced her. Rick grew up, in more ways than you can imagine, and Sloane definitely noticed when she moved back home. You'll understand if you read the book. You'll love the group of friends, the town, and the things that go on around them. Going onto the next book now. Written by Cindy :)
October 28, 2018
Stripped Down est le 1er tome de la saga Tap That et dès le début nous faisons connaissance avec un groupe d'amis dont nous découvrirons la vie , les troubles et les bons moments. Ce tome se focalise sur Sloane O'Toole et Rick Ryder.
j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture mais j'aurais aimé en avoir un peu plus et approfondir la psychologie des personnages qui apparaissent de prime abord creux alors qu'ils ne le sont pas. Stripped down est une sympathique comédie romantique qui laissera place à des tomes sur chaque membre de ce groupe d'amis
Chronique complète : https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...
j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture mais j'aurais aimé en avoir un peu plus et approfondir la psychologie des personnages qui apparaissent de prime abord creux alors qu'ils ne le sont pas. Stripped down est une sympathique comédie romantique qui laissera place à des tomes sur chaque membre de ce groupe d'amis
Chronique complète : https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...
October 29, 2018
If you love brothers best friend reads then you will love this one. When Sloane returns home she is in for one heck of a surprise when she sees her brothers best friend Rick all grown up. I love Sloane and Rick. They are hot together. Nothing like past attractions coming roaring back after years of growing up. Rick is sweet, hot and is raising his younger sister. Sloane is trying to make it on her own after a divorce. I love how once everything is stripped down you get a love story that is sweet and hot. I couldn't put this one down. I for one can't wait to watch the rest of the men fall like Rick did.
November 1, 2018
Stripped Down is the first book in Erin McCarthy's new series Tap That and if you like romantic comedies this is perfect for you. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books in this wonderful series.
Sloane has moved back home after a difficult divorce and to be there for her brother and nephew, but Rick Ryder her brother's best friend who has had a crush on her for years has decided that she needs to cut loose and have some fun. Fun with him! Can the once mean girl open up and share her feelings to those who should matter the most?
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
Sloane has moved back home after a difficult divorce and to be there for her brother and nephew, but Rick Ryder her brother's best friend who has had a crush on her for years has decided that she needs to cut loose and have some fun. Fun with him! Can the once mean girl open up and share her feelings to those who should matter the most?
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
November 7, 2018
Sexy, hot, and oh so swoon worthy! I was sucked in to this story, and the drama of the characters that went with it. This book was amazing. The chemistry between Rick and Sloane was off the charts, even when they tried to play it off as a fling. I loved seeing Rick get the woman of his dreams, and what he would do to make her happy. Sloane has been through hell, but it doesn’t seem to knock her down too much, and she is the type of heroine I can definitely see myself being besties with. The secondary characters were phenomenal, and I can’t WAIT for their stories!!! A fantastic read that I would definitely recommend!
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