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Strip: A Bargain with the Boss Romance

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Sage Cashman’s sister suffers from a terrible illness and Sage will do anything to help her, including dancing at a gentleman’s club to support the two of them. Every night, she puts on a show for the customers, and the naughtier and more flirtatious she acts, the better her tips. Sage is just going through the motions until she gets closer to the dark, silent Adonis who lurks in the shadows during her performances. When Ryker Madsen is in her orbit, she doesn’t have to pretend she’s a woman easily seduced.

Ryker Madsen turns out to be more than Sage’s boss—he’s the owner of the club. He’s also involved with the company producing the experimental drug that might be her sister’s only hope. Ryker is as arrogant as he is rich, and it’s no secret that he wants Sage and is determined to have her. He’s intrigued when Sage proposes a deal: companionship for connections. Preferring uncommitted and unemotional relationships, Ryker sees Sage’s proposal as the perfect way to get her out of his system. What Ryker doesn't know is that Sage, jaded from a string of betrayals, has many secrets. Including her identity.

The hotter their relationship gets, the closer the truth comes to the surface. When the skeletons in Sage’s family’s closet start tumbling out, they threaten both her plan to save her sister and her future with Ryker.

Paperback

Published September 27, 2022

27 people want to read

About the author

Elisabeth Caldwell

4 books8 followers

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5 stars
20 (42%)
4 stars
15 (31%)
3 stars
9 (19%)
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0 (0%)
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3 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Lingonberry.
118 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2022
I really wanted to like this one because it was a transactional sex story that developed into something more, but it just felt too unrealistic (which is saying a lot because I'm currently deep down the fantasy romance wormhole). Ryker is the owner of a pharmaceutical company and happens to buy a strip club where Sage works. Sage and Ryker have an immediate attraction to one another and agree to a sexual relationship where she gets connections and access to an experimental drug to possibly save her sick sister. It just all seems a little too implausible. The sex is hot though and there are some crazy additional storylines associated with Sage's past (stalking, mystery identities, murder, etc.) It was just a 3 star read for me.
Profile Image for Megan.
243 reviews
October 9, 2022
Don't let the cover and title fool you - this book has depth, emotional impact and the ability to suck you in and hold on until the end. The central characters, Sage and Ryker, both have a past. Faced with people who have caused emotional pain, situations out of their control testing them, family they feel the need to protect even at the cost of themselves, and loss, these two characters are perfect for each other. I loved watching them unfold, both together and separately. Side characters that we meet offer just the right amount of background and context. They are interesting in their own right, but also essential to understanding Ryker and Sage. This book made me cry in all right places and was just spicy enough without sacrificing plot and substance. With an ending I didn't expect, but now can't imagine any other way, I am so happy I picked up this book and gave it a shot. I don't know what it was that told me this would be exactly what I wanted, but it definitely was.
Profile Image for Katie.
104 reviews17 followers
July 7, 2024
I know everyone else is saying this but the cover and the title don’t exactly represent the book! It’s about love and healing with really complex and deep characters who are dealing with circumstances in a realistic ish way (but not too many characters or events to make it hard to follow). There’s mystery and suspense, and the spicy scenes are HOT.

This book really has it all. Would recommend to all who love a little depth in their romance novels !
Profile Image for Arabella Auberon.
387 reviews12 followers
October 19, 2022
I thought this would be a short little fun steamy story, and I was right… sort of… there is so much more to this story than the unfortunate name. The characters have depth and realism, the plot points are interesting and the storyline is exciting and well written. So much better than I thought it would be and I’m half way between wanting to keep it my secret, and wanting to tell the world… obviously, I’m telling the world!

5 ⭐️s= Perfect story, exciting, engrossing, well developed complex characters, solid plot with few to no holes, descriptive environments and place settings, great mystery elements, realistic dialogue, believable reactions and behaviors, loved this story so much I’d buy it.

4 ⭐️s= Great story, highly entertaining and enjoyable, exciting storyline, well developed characters and settings, a few discrepancies but nothing that can’t be overlooked. Believable actions and reactions, realistic dialogue, a book I would consider buying.

3 ⭐️s= Good but not great story, noticeable discrepancies, grammatical and or spelling errors, undeveloped characters or unbelievable behaviors but still readable. Nothing majorly wrong with the story, just not interesting enough for me to continue. Would not buy the book.

2 ⭐️s= Not offended by the story, but not interested enough to finish. Unbelievable characters, poor writing, many mistakes, big holes or discrepancies, many spelling or grammatical errors, characters not believable, unlikeable or TSTL.

1 ⭐️= Offensive, extremely poor writing, horrible characters, victimization, gaslighting, blatant abuse, unnecessary violence, child endangerment, or any other highly objectionable behaviors by Main characters. Would never buy this book, and do not recommend it to anyone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Dee.
5,106 reviews58 followers
October 12, 2022
This is the first book in the Spice Up The Night series Sage is intelligent, loves her sister very much but her sister suffers from an illness that requires Sage to do things she doesn’t really want to do and so stripping at the gentlemen’s club just to make the money needed to care for her sister. Learning the naughtier, the more she flirts with the men the larger her tips are, so she does what needs to be done with detachment. Ryker sexy as all get out owner of the club, her boss arrogant, a little on the grumpy side works with the company that has the experimental meds her sister needs and from the moment Sage walked through his doors he knew she was who he wanted and make no mistake he usually gets who he wants. The attraction between them was intense and the magnetic pull grows stronger with every dance she performs so when she approaches with a proposition, she will provide him with companionship if he will help her with her sisters situation but everything must remain commit and emotion free between allowing them to walk away when wanted. Sage won’t allow herself to trust due to being betrayed add to that her past and both Ryker and Sage are in for a wild ride but will her past throw a monkey wrench into her plans, will her sister get the meds she needs, will Ryker stick around, what happens when something was suppose to stay emotionless turns real and will they get the happiness they both deserve?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,419 reviews140 followers
October 7, 2022
Strip: A Bargain with the Boss Romance by Elisabeth Caldwell.
Spice Up the Night, #1.
Sage Cashman’s sister suffers from a terrible illness and Sage will do anything to help her, including dancing at a gentleman’s club to support the two of them. Every night, she puts on a show for the customers, and the naughtier and more flirtatious she acts, the better her tips. Sage is just going through the motions until she gets closer to the dark, silent Adonis who lurks in the shadows during her performances. When Ryker Madsen is in her orbit, she doesn’t have to pretend she’s a woman easily seduced. Ryker Madsen turns out to be more than Sage’s boss—he’s the owner of the club. He’s also involved with the company producing the experimental drug that might be her sister’s only hope. Ryker is as arrogant as he is rich, and it’s no secret that he wants Sage and is determined to have her. He’s intrigued when Sage proposes a deal: companionship for connections. Preferring uncommitted and unemotional relationships, Ryker sees Sage’s proposal as the perfect way to get her out of his system. What Ryker doesn't know is that Sage, jaded from a string of betrayals, has many secrets. Including her identity. The hotter their relationship gets, the closer the truth comes to the surface. When the skeletons in Sage’s family’s closet start tumbling out, they threaten both her plan to save her sister and her future with Ryker.
A brilliant read. What a start to a series. Steamy. I loved Ryker and Sage. I can’t wait for the next book. 5*.
Profile Image for Kirsty (BookBlogger).
2,089 reviews64 followers
October 27, 2022
Strip by Elisabeth Caldwell

Blurb

Sage Cashman’s sister suffers from a terrible illness and Sage will do anything to help her, including dancing at a gentleman’s club to support the two of them. Every night, she puts on a show for the customers, and the naughtier and more flirtatious she acts, the better her tips. Sage is just going through the motions until she gets closer to the dark, silent Adonis who lurks in the shadows during her performances. When Ryker Madsen is in her orbit, she doesn’t have to pretend she’s a woman easily seduced.

Ryker Madsen turns out to be more than Sage’s boss—he’s the owner of the club. He’s also involved with the company producing the experimental drug that might be her sister’s only hope. Ryker is as arrogant as he is rich, and it’s no secret that he wants Sage and is determined to have her. He’s intrigued when Sage proposes a deal: companionship for connections. Preferring uncommitted and unemotional relationships, Ryker sees Sage’s proposal as the perfect way to get her out of his system. What Ryker doesn't know is that Sage, jaded from a string of betrayals, has many secrets. Including her identity.

My Opinion

I wanted to like this book but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. An intriguing premise that had so much potential but I just couldn't connect with the book. There was a bit of suspense and mystery but overall for me the book was very forgettable.

Rating 3/5
Profile Image for Downward dog.
1,947 reviews12 followers
October 26, 2022
This passionate, emotional story about Ryker and Sage had me hooked from the first page. The plot is riveting and the characters are engaging and easy to relate to.

I found it easy to like Sage and I admired her courage and determination. She is willing to do anything to help her sister and that is how she ends up working in the strip club that Ryker owns. Sage is playing a game pretending to be a seductress when she is really innocent.

What I liked the most about this story was the strong connection and sizzling chemistry between Sage and Ryker. Ryker is a successful businessman and is completely taken with Sage from the moment he meets her. He is a self made man who is ruthless and honorable, with a soft spot in his heart for Sage.

I loved reading Ryker and Sage's story and thought they were perfect for each other.
They are two good people afraid to open up their hearts. They find it difficult to trust, but they are loyal to those they care about. I enjoyed this intense story, it held me spellbound from start to finish.

Originally posted on Long and Short Reviews.
Profile Image for Laura.
217 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2022
“ I was so wrapped up in protecting my heart, I didn’t realize I was hurting yours. I’m an idiot, but I’m an idiot who’s desperately in love with you.”
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trope: fake dating (kind of),
pov: 3rd person pov
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rating: 4,75/5
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Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I adored this book, I loved Sage and Ryker so much. They are everything, their relationship was amazing. I loved the slow development from no trust and kind of dislike towards them slowly starting to unconsciously liking each other. Both characters are the definition to 'don't judge a book by its cover', in appearance they look a certain way but in reality they're so much more complex. I loved Rosemary and Christian, and how they were ready to kick their siblings ass to make them admit their true feelings. I also really loved Ryker's protectiveness of Sage even just a few days after meeting her.
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tw: abuse, murder, cancer
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genre: Adult Romance
Profile Image for Courtney.
4,298 reviews
September 29, 2022
Romance with a twist? Yes, please. 👏

Now, everyone has heard the saying, 'don't judge a book by it's cover;' and that definitely applies to this novel! At just a glance, one could assume this would be just a quick, steamy read; but no, this story takes the reader on a journey the no one can predict the ending of.

If you like romance, passion, feisty heroines, sexy heroes, action and twists- then you have found the book of your dreams! 😍

I, personally, couldn't put this novel down until I had devoured every last page!
Profile Image for artsandgrace *ೃ༄.
1,313 reviews20 followers
October 11, 2022
Thank you City Owl Press and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It started off a bit slow, but then it picked up real nice. While I didn't agree with Ryker's hot-and-cold behaviour, he was actually quite sweet.

The ending was superb! I super duper loved it. The plot twist came out of nowhere, but it IS a plot twist.

I loved the story, but the characters, not so much. The angst, the conflict, the argument, ALL MADE THIS BOOK BETTER. Bravo! (Just say you cried and go)
Profile Image for Ashbonn.
107 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2022
This is one of my favorite books this year! I wasn’t exactly sure what I would find beneath the cover but I was pleasantly surprised by the character depth, backstory and chemistry that sizzled off the pages. Loved it all! Will definitely be following up it there is a sequel.

I’d rate this a five out of five! I don’t want to put in any spoilers besides telling you that you won’t be disappointed if you just put this on your to read list. This ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Sandy N.
626 reviews4 followers
October 20, 2022
The cover picture of this book and the story were enticing. A Woman working in a strip club to help her sister with a medical bills. She had to "Sell" herself to the Man the owner of the strip club and CEO of the pharmaceutical company that has the medicines that will help her sister. Thrown in there as well a bit of suspence and mystery with the step father.
There was way too many teases between the two leads before they even have sex and I wished it had happened a bit earlier in the story.
Book provided by the publisher. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Cody Marie Phoenix.
1,099 reviews7 followers
October 1, 2022
This book will grab you from the very start and keep you turning pages way past bed time! The two main protagonists, Sage and Ryker, are both lost souls who are tired of fighting the world, but they do it for their siblings. The story is suspenseful, dramatic, romantic and heartwarming all in one. Never judge a person till you've walked a mile in their shoes, a sage piece of advice!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Rebel.
2,654 reviews
October 3, 2022
I loved it. It wasn't just toe curling sex. There was some action, drama, suspense. There are a few errors in this copy. Some extra words repeated and there was one paragraph where Ryker was talking to Christian and after Christian said something Ms. Caldwell wrote "Justin shook his head and frowned" instead of "Ryker". With all that it ends with a HEA. I really enjoyed it, in one sitting no less.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sheila.
1,174 reviews11 followers
October 11, 2022
5 Stars for Strip : A Bargain with the Boss by (new for me author) Elisabeth Caldwell. Happy to have discovered her work !


Strip has everything I loved in a great read / romance :

Great characters in Sage and Ryker
Real life family issues
Down on her luck - but very strong heroine
Sizzling chemistry
Great storyline
Happily Ever After

I would definitely recommend this read and author !.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
6,168 reviews59 followers
October 12, 2022
This was an amazing story. There is action, suspense, drama, betrayals, skeletons, romantic and wonderful chemistry. Sage is working by dancing at a gentleman's club to help with her sister's illness and support both of the. Ryker is her boss, and the owner of the club. This story was so intriguing that I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Leanne Bryson.
5,234 reviews23 followers
October 19, 2022
Ryker & Sage's story is the first book by a new author Elisabeth Caldwell and a compelling one indeed. Although the storyline is familiar, (h) big sister taking care of younger, ill sister, makes a deal with (H)the hot, alpha rich guy for help. These characters were well written, the storyline was well paced, had sizzle, steam, drama, and more. Great job and I'm looking forward to more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for wonderfullyweird88.
877 reviews16 followers
May 6, 2024
While the storyline is implausible - how many pharmaceutical owners decide to buy a strip club and fall for a performer? this is still an entertaining read. The chemistry is electric and the characters are likeable.
while there was nothing particularly wrong there is also nothing particularly memorable either. Its a solid read and one I would recommend.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
56 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2022
Riker and Sage are so perfect for each other. wow i really enjoyed reading it and was really sad when i finished it. This is my first book by this author and I was really pleasantly surprised with the plot, writing style and structure of the book. I definitely recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Christina Bowling.
1,601 reviews15 followers
October 9, 2022
I stopped reading after I found out about Sage's younger brother dying as a child. This is literally the third book today alone that I've tried to read and gave up on because the author has had one of the characters having a dead sibling that died as a child. It's depressing and overdone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kerri R..
20 reviews
October 9, 2022
This book is a great read. The chemistry between Sage and Ryker is electric. The characters are well developed and you will get invested in them. The story has a great twist and is well written. Definitely a must read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
418 reviews
October 13, 2022
Complimentary copy provided from the publisher and NetGalley for my honest opinion. When things are not as they seem, you can become entrapped by falsehoods. This romance brings secrets to light that you never saw coming. Great mystery and romance. You don't even realize it is a mystery until you are in the thrones of the unthinkable.
Profile Image for Viktoria.
223 reviews6 followers
May 25, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for being able to read this as an ARC. These are my honest reviews.
This book was not what I expected. I was thinking it was going to be a sleazy book about strippers and a typical sleeping with client and falling in love trope. I was right about sleeping and falling for a client but there is a lot more depth to what you read.
Profile Image for Jordyn B.
409 reviews5 followers
March 2, 2024
This annoys me, ANOTHER DNF added this year. The writing was so unrealistic and stale. I didn’t care about the characters whatsoever. I really really tried to stick it through this one but life’s too short to suffer through a book.
Profile Image for Emily.
1 review
February 12, 2026
Amazing amazing amazing!!! Was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story and all of the characters. You find yourself really rooting for and understanding Sage, Ryker and their friends and family. Loved the plot, the ending, and the plot twist omg!!!! 5/5 😊
1,352 reviews10 followers
January 31, 2023
This wasn't your typical stripper meets hot man kind of book but has a twist or two... Making it a book worth reading.... I just wished it had more an ending to it like an epilogue at the end.
Profile Image for Amanda.
1,260 reviews11 followers
February 1, 2023
This was a definite wild ride start to finish. It was good but not a deep book which honestly I did not expect. It was pure smut and perfect for when you were in the mood for that.
Profile Image for Nichol Taylor.
172 reviews18 followers
October 18, 2023
If you are looking for a book that will suck you in and never let go, than this is the book for you. It has all the things one looks for in a romance and so much more. Elisabeth Caldwell will have you feeling all of the things right along side the characters in this story of love, loyalty, and self discovery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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