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Sexy Capers #2
Strip Search
First time in trade-nothing less than "the hottest read of the summer."(Romance Readers Connection) If the Feds want to nail a Mafia kingpin, they need a trap. Enter Mark Sullivan, totally built for the job-to go undercover as a male stripper in the mobster's Vegas club. The club's owner, Nicki, is an unexpected perk. But Mark and Nicki have more in common than sizzling sexual chemistry. They each have their share of secrets, and with the mob closing in, what gets exposed is as irresistible as it is dangerous.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2006
58 people are currently reading
2176 people want to read
About the author
Shayla Black
153 books9,997 followersShayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
As an only child, Shayla occupied herself by daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and started pursuing a publishing career. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America, her heart was with her stories and characters, so she left her pantyhose and power suits behind.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, gaming, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
Follow me on Facebook: http://shayla.link/FBPage
Join me in my Book Beauties group for weekly LIVE chats: http://shayla.link/FBChat
As an only child, Shayla occupied herself by daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and started pursuing a publishing career. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America, her heart was with her stories and characters, so she left her pantyhose and power suits behind.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, gaming, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
Follow me on Facebook: http://shayla.link/FBPage
Join me in my Book Beauties group for weekly LIVE chats: http://shayla.link/FBChat
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
October 25, 2009
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Before reading this one, I heard that a lot of people liked it less than the previous book, Bound and Determined, but for me, I found them to be fairly equal. Both were decent books...above average, probably, but didn't entirely capture me.
Summary:
In the previous book, Mark Sullivan is a mostly absent character who is in jail, suspected of embezzlement. His sister works to prove he is innocent and in the process discovers Mark's wife had set him up to take the fall for her actions. Mark was freed but his life was not the same after. He lost all faith in relationships, women, and his ability to see a woman for who she really is. He quit his job and took one from his brother-in-law as a CPA and financial investigator.
Now he's been offered a chance to investigate the Mafia connection behind his now ex-wife's actions. He's been asked to free lance for the FBI by going undercover at a male strip club in Las Vegas that the authorities suspect is being used for money laundering. The FBI doesn't think the owner, Nicki DiStefano, is involved but they don't know for sure. Mark's job is to secretly look into the club's finances and to investigate those around the club, including Nicki.
But from the moment he meets her, Mark can't resist her. They begin a sizzling affair despite Mark's growing belief that Nicki is involved in the money laundering. Only he doesn't know if it's his past affecting his opinion or if his investigative conclusions are correct. He's torn between his feelings and the past and his indecision may cost Nicki her life. And even if he manages to save her, he may not get his to forgive him.
Review:
I thought this book had a very similar feel to Bound and Determined in the sense that both are about a man and a woman who get involved thinking it's just a sex thing - a casual fling. And in both the people involved end up developing feelings for the other person but fight it. And in each at least one of the characters is reluctant to enter a relationship because of their past.
So the books had a similar feel...it didn't feel like I was reading the same thing. The books were unique enough, but the vibe was similar. Which is probably why I ended up liking the books about the same amount.
Like some other reviewers, I did find Mark a bit frustrating...not as much as some other readers did, but enough that it got annoying now and then. He's so up and down about Nicki...he likes her, wants her, then thinks she's guilty, pulls away, regrets it, goes back, etc etc. He's just very, very, very affected by what his ex-wife did to him and it colors his every action regarding Nicki. And it did get a bit old as I was reading. But it didn't totally frustrate me.
What kept me from loving this book, and the previous one as well, is the sort of lack of action. I don't necessarily mean action as in suspense and all that, but action in general. It seems like there's a lot of space spent on character introspection. A lot of paragraphs with what the character's feeling, thinking, wanting, etc and I just wanted some more scenes of things actually going on. Couple that with all the sex and the book gets kinda one-dimensional (or if you're a math geek - 2-dimensional). I think I would have liked the books a lot more if there were fewer bulky, long paragraphs and more action.
Still, not a bad set of books. I liked them enough and don't feel like I wasted my money. I am a little disappointed that there is apparently no book for Nicki's sister, Lucia, and Blade. There was something interesting going on there and I was really hoping there was a book for them but I haven't found one. Bummer.
WARNING, this book contains: moderate to very explicit sex and language, light bondage, toys, a little ass play and that's about all, I think
Before reading this one, I heard that a lot of people liked it less than the previous book, Bound and Determined, but for me, I found them to be fairly equal. Both were decent books...above average, probably, but didn't entirely capture me.
Summary:
In the previous book, Mark Sullivan is a mostly absent character who is in jail, suspected of embezzlement. His sister works to prove he is innocent and in the process discovers Mark's wife had set him up to take the fall for her actions. Mark was freed but his life was not the same after. He lost all faith in relationships, women, and his ability to see a woman for who she really is. He quit his job and took one from his brother-in-law as a CPA and financial investigator.
Now he's been offered a chance to investigate the Mafia connection behind his now ex-wife's actions. He's been asked to free lance for the FBI by going undercover at a male strip club in Las Vegas that the authorities suspect is being used for money laundering. The FBI doesn't think the owner, Nicki DiStefano, is involved but they don't know for sure. Mark's job is to secretly look into the club's finances and to investigate those around the club, including Nicki.
But from the moment he meets her, Mark can't resist her. They begin a sizzling affair despite Mark's growing belief that Nicki is involved in the money laundering. Only he doesn't know if it's his past affecting his opinion or if his investigative conclusions are correct. He's torn between his feelings and the past and his indecision may cost Nicki her life. And even if he manages to save her, he may not get his to forgive him.
Review:
I thought this book had a very similar feel to Bound and Determined in the sense that both are about a man and a woman who get involved thinking it's just a sex thing - a casual fling. And in both the people involved end up developing feelings for the other person but fight it. And in each at least one of the characters is reluctant to enter a relationship because of their past.
So the books had a similar feel...it didn't feel like I was reading the same thing. The books were unique enough, but the vibe was similar. Which is probably why I ended up liking the books about the same amount.
Like some other reviewers, I did find Mark a bit frustrating...not as much as some other readers did, but enough that it got annoying now and then. He's so up and down about Nicki...he likes her, wants her, then thinks she's guilty, pulls away, regrets it, goes back, etc etc. He's just very, very, very affected by what his ex-wife did to him and it colors his every action regarding Nicki. And it did get a bit old as I was reading. But it didn't totally frustrate me.
What kept me from loving this book, and the previous one as well, is the sort of lack of action. I don't necessarily mean action as in suspense and all that, but action in general. It seems like there's a lot of space spent on character introspection. A lot of paragraphs with what the character's feeling, thinking, wanting, etc and I just wanted some more scenes of things actually going on. Couple that with all the sex and the book gets kinda one-dimensional (or if you're a math geek - 2-dimensional). I think I would have liked the books a lot more if there were fewer bulky, long paragraphs and more action.
Still, not a bad set of books. I liked them enough and don't feel like I wasted my money. I am a little disappointed that there is apparently no book for Nicki's sister, Lucia, and Blade. There was something interesting going on there and I was really hoping there was a book for them but I haven't found one. Bummer.
WARNING, this book contains: moderate to very explicit sex and language, light bondage, toys, a little ass play and that's about all, I think
April 24, 2012
I am a huge fan of the works by Shayla Black. Her books can be quite addictive when you are looking for an erotica to read with lots of sex and suspense. I read the first book in this series over a year ago and finally got my hands on a copy of this one. I don't know why it took me so long to buy it, but I decided to finally sit down and read it.
We are introduced to Mark -- who happened to be the heroine's brother from the first book -- when Rafe comes to him with info on how to take down a mafia ring. He is sent to investigate a strip club owner and work undercover as a stripper to find the info the FEDs are needing. The FEDs are not sure if the club owner named Nicki is involved in the money laundering or if she is innocent, but Mark needs to figure it out fast. When he auditions for Nicki as a stripper, the attraction is instant for both of them. They are attracted to each other and have a hard time fighting it. While Mark tries to gain her trust, he quickly realizes that he is falling in love with her.
I will say one thing --- the author brought the sexy for this book. We get read about some sexy romance, but I wasn't as thrilled with the plot or characters. I was so disappointed with this one and that is hard for me to admit since I love this authors writing. For one, Mark is suppose to be able to figure this stuff out faster but he couldn't even figure out the small clues that are left for him. I for one, started figuring out who the bad guy was early on, while this so called detective was clueless. Nicki was hot one minute, then cold the next and made her personality seem off. I wanted to like her at times, but then I also wanted her to bring out that backbone she kept referring to. Honestly, the characters of Rafe and Kerry reappearing in this book were more delightful than the reading of this book. The story was choppy and at times when you would think the plot was going to heat up, it would turn to the couple having sex instead of some suspense that you are craving.
While I am glad that I finally sat down and read this book in the series, I will say that this book is one of my least favorite by Shayla Black. I am curious to know though if Nicki's sister will have a book in the series though, especially since the author leads us to believe that there might be more by the ending we are left with.
We are introduced to Mark -- who happened to be the heroine's brother from the first book -- when Rafe comes to him with info on how to take down a mafia ring. He is sent to investigate a strip club owner and work undercover as a stripper to find the info the FEDs are needing. The FEDs are not sure if the club owner named Nicki is involved in the money laundering or if she is innocent, but Mark needs to figure it out fast. When he auditions for Nicki as a stripper, the attraction is instant for both of them. They are attracted to each other and have a hard time fighting it. While Mark tries to gain her trust, he quickly realizes that he is falling in love with her.
I will say one thing --- the author brought the sexy for this book. We get read about some sexy romance, but I wasn't as thrilled with the plot or characters. I was so disappointed with this one and that is hard for me to admit since I love this authors writing. For one, Mark is suppose to be able to figure this stuff out faster but he couldn't even figure out the small clues that are left for him. I for one, started figuring out who the bad guy was early on, while this so called detective was clueless. Nicki was hot one minute, then cold the next and made her personality seem off. I wanted to like her at times, but then I also wanted her to bring out that backbone she kept referring to. Honestly, the characters of Rafe and Kerry reappearing in this book were more delightful than the reading of this book. The story was choppy and at times when you would think the plot was going to heat up, it would turn to the couple having sex instead of some suspense that you are craving.
While I am glad that I finally sat down and read this book in the series, I will say that this book is one of my least favorite by Shayla Black. I am curious to know though if Nicki's sister will have a book in the series though, especially since the author leads us to believe that there might be more by the ending we are left with.
March 24, 2018
Another read from awhile ago. Fabulous!
December 17, 2013
This book is the sequel to her book, "Bound and Determined." I didn't like this book as well as some of her others. I much prefer the books in her "Wicked Lovers" series. This one moved rather slowly and was too talky. I also had difficulty relating to characters. Perhaps, because, for a relationship/romance-book, it was more male-centered rather than female character-centered. I found myself disliking this male character (Mark) more and more as he continuously would have sexual relations with Nicki and then leave abruptly afterwards with her in tears. They had sex about 3 or 4 times during the course of the story and each time was the same--no afterplay, and she was left feeling lonely and bereft and wondering "what happened?" If I were her, after being jerked around that many times, I would have sent his sorry ass home. I don't care how many times he saved her from being murdered; he wasn't a gentleman in the bedroom!
June 15, 2012
I did not even finish this book, I found it rather boring compared to decadent and its cheesy plot was not my favourite.
March 17, 2012
STRIP SEARCH by Shayla Black
This was one hot-tastic story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
If the feds want to nail a thug with ties to the Mafia, they need a slick trap to catch him. Enter Mark Sullivan, who’s totally built for the job—to go undercover as a male stripper in the Vegas club where the mobsters works. The perk? The club’s owner. Sure, she’s got some unsavory connections, but how can anyone with those legs be all bad?
When it comes to business, Nicola DiStefano’s a pro. As for pleasure, she’s been out of commission too long to care. If anyone can strip her of her inhibitions it’s the new guy who’s stirring her wildest G-string fantasies. But Mark and Nicki have more in common than sizzling sexual chemistry. They each have their share of secrets and motives, and with the mob closing in, what gets exposed is as irresistible as it is dangerous.
This was one hot-tastic story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
If the feds want to nail a thug with ties to the Mafia, they need a slick trap to catch him. Enter Mark Sullivan, who’s totally built for the job—to go undercover as a male stripper in the Vegas club where the mobsters works. The perk? The club’s owner. Sure, she’s got some unsavory connections, but how can anyone with those legs be all bad?
When it comes to business, Nicola DiStefano’s a pro. As for pleasure, she’s been out of commission too long to care. If anyone can strip her of her inhibitions it’s the new guy who’s stirring her wildest G-string fantasies. But Mark and Nicki have more in common than sizzling sexual chemistry. They each have their share of secrets and motives, and with the mob closing in, what gets exposed is as irresistible as it is dangerous.
October 26, 2020
This was a solid Shayla Black story. It had sex, intrigue, mystery, stripping, and a hot Alpha. While it wasn't my favorite of Shayla's I would still recommend it.
Our Alpha is a CPA, turned private eye, turned Vegas stripper for an undercover money laundering investigation. Nicki, the owner of the club is instantly attracted to Mark when he does his stripper audition. Well, as nervous as he is to try out this stripping gig, he is instantly attracted to her too and their chemistry ends up off the charts.
Is is just sex? Is Nicki trying to hide her mafia underbelly business from Mark? Or will their be true love?
It is kind of a wild roller coaster ride to find out!
Our Alpha is a CPA, turned private eye, turned Vegas stripper for an undercover money laundering investigation. Nicki, the owner of the club is instantly attracted to Mark when he does his stripper audition. Well, as nervous as he is to try out this stripping gig, he is instantly attracted to her too and their chemistry ends up off the charts.
Is is just sex? Is Nicki trying to hide her mafia underbelly business from Mark? Or will their be true love?
It is kind of a wild roller coaster ride to find out!
dnf
February 19, 2021I just couldn't get into this one......I will try again at a later time
September 25, 2025
🌶🌶spiciness
❤❤romance
❤❤romance
January 22, 2014
Strip Search, by Shayla Black, was a phenomenal and titillating novel. Nicki DiStephano is the main character of this thriller/suspense/romance novel. Nicki has been on her own since her parents dies and her uncle, Pietro, is the head of the Gamalini mafia ring, but she doesn't know it. Nicki is frustrated because she has sunk all her money into a strip joint and her uncle helped bank role her, so now he thinks he can do what he wants. He puts one of his goons, Blade Bocelli, in as an accountant, and Nicki is hard pressed to get rid of him, but women have to keep their mouths closed and know their place in the family. Nicki has a knockout, half sister, named Lucia, a very intelligent professor home for the summer. Nicki wants to get rid of Bocelli, but the only way out of the situation is to first pay her uncle back.
Mark Sullivan owns an undercover investigation agency with his brother in law, Rafe. They are doing a job for the feds, and have to bring down a thug with connections to the mafia, Blade Bocelli. In order to do this, Mark, must act as if he is a stripper to infiltrate the business and find out who is laundering money and where it's going through the strip joint. Mark used to be married, and his wife, Tiffany, destroyed his life, setting him up for embezzlement and prison. The man that helped bring him down was Blade Bocelli, and now he is in this job deep for the ultimate pay back. He has never been the same again once he found out Tiffany never really loved him, and he was just a patsy for her greed. Mark got cleared, with the help of his sister, Kerry, left Florida for New York, and never looked back. He has had a tough life, including the death of his parents, the loss of Kerry for three years to foster care, stage two melanoma, and chemo therapy. Mark eventually petitioned to get Kerry back and they were very close from that point on. He has a lot of one night stands, but never repeats, till him and Nicki get together, and both have an undeniable attraction to each other.
Bocelli was a voyeur, waiting around every corner. Always lurking and giving Nicki the creeps. She tried to stay clear of him as much as possible. He was definitely attracted to her little sister Lucia, and that was a problem for Nicki. Mark and Nicki begin a mutual sexual relationship, but every time Nicki thinks that they are getting closer, Mark is long gone once the deed is done. Mark has a lot of conflict, and trust issues due to his past experience with Tiffany, and he never wants to fall prey to another woman. He over analyzes everything. Mark just needs to earn Nicki's trust, which she has a hard time doing also, so he can get a chance at doing the books for her to see what is really going on. Does Nicki know what is going on? Is she part of the illegal crime going on? Is she outsmarting and outwitting Mark like Tiffany did? Will Mark find the answers before someone kills Nicki or him in the balance for power? These are all questions the reader will find themselves asking.
This novel was fantastic!!! It was fast paced, non stop action, near death accidents, coincidences or not, and the hottest...swoon worthy...love scenes ever! Mark is some yummy eye candy on a stick, and it takes a beauty like Nicky a whole lot of time and effort to melt the ice around this man's heart. Ms. Black has just made it to the top of my list for sexy and erotic novels.
I give Strip Search, by Shayla Black 4 Intriguing, Scary, Enticing, Swoon Worthy Stars!!!
Mark Sullivan owns an undercover investigation agency with his brother in law, Rafe. They are doing a job for the feds, and have to bring down a thug with connections to the mafia, Blade Bocelli. In order to do this, Mark, must act as if he is a stripper to infiltrate the business and find out who is laundering money and where it's going through the strip joint. Mark used to be married, and his wife, Tiffany, destroyed his life, setting him up for embezzlement and prison. The man that helped bring him down was Blade Bocelli, and now he is in this job deep for the ultimate pay back. He has never been the same again once he found out Tiffany never really loved him, and he was just a patsy for her greed. Mark got cleared, with the help of his sister, Kerry, left Florida for New York, and never looked back. He has had a tough life, including the death of his parents, the loss of Kerry for three years to foster care, stage two melanoma, and chemo therapy. Mark eventually petitioned to get Kerry back and they were very close from that point on. He has a lot of one night stands, but never repeats, till him and Nicki get together, and both have an undeniable attraction to each other.
Bocelli was a voyeur, waiting around every corner. Always lurking and giving Nicki the creeps. She tried to stay clear of him as much as possible. He was definitely attracted to her little sister Lucia, and that was a problem for Nicki. Mark and Nicki begin a mutual sexual relationship, but every time Nicki thinks that they are getting closer, Mark is long gone once the deed is done. Mark has a lot of conflict, and trust issues due to his past experience with Tiffany, and he never wants to fall prey to another woman. He over analyzes everything. Mark just needs to earn Nicki's trust, which she has a hard time doing also, so he can get a chance at doing the books for her to see what is really going on. Does Nicki know what is going on? Is she part of the illegal crime going on? Is she outsmarting and outwitting Mark like Tiffany did? Will Mark find the answers before someone kills Nicki or him in the balance for power? These are all questions the reader will find themselves asking.
This novel was fantastic!!! It was fast paced, non stop action, near death accidents, coincidences or not, and the hottest...swoon worthy...love scenes ever! Mark is some yummy eye candy on a stick, and it takes a beauty like Nicky a whole lot of time and effort to melt the ice around this man's heart. Ms. Black has just made it to the top of my list for sexy and erotic novels.
I give Strip Search, by Shayla Black 4 Intriguing, Scary, Enticing, Swoon Worthy Stars!!!
April 12, 2011
This is a very good whodunit without a murder. The theme is learning to trust. Mark was introduced in Bound and Determined to which this is the sequel. I feel one should read the two of them one after the other, although this also works well as a stand-alone. This book appears to be set roughly a year after the action in the first story. My edition lists the author as "Shayla Black writing as Shelley Bradley."
Nicki is a nightclub owner seemingly unaware that someone in her club is using the operation to launder money for the mob. Accountant Mark is working undercover as a male exotic dancer (with stage fright, no less) to find out whether she is the guilty party or not. The guilty party has been setting her up to take the fall. Mark's motivation is that the unknown guilty party is probably the same one who helped his (currently ex-) wife set him up to take the fall for a crime in Bound and Determined. Naturally, this has made him suspicious of any woman's motives and honesty. His parents' early deaths also tend to make him unwilling to commit in a relationship.
I liked that Mark's previous experiences and analytic nature prevented the character from making the error of "I've fallen for her so she must be innocent." He cites his tendency to fall for evil women like his ex. The fact that Nicki is not evil and Mark is uncertain causes some misunderstandings that serve to forward the action and strain the relationship. This is excellent plotting.
We are given a lot more of Mark's thinking and feelings than Nicki's. She is portrayed as a class A bee-yotch when running her club. The biggest weakness of this book is that, rather than having incidents illustrate and reveal this part of her character, the author just has people say it about her. She is described rather than the reader coming to know her. (This is the same thing I did not like about Jane Austen's writing.) The contrast between Nicki's dominant personality outside of the bedroom and the sexual submission Mark inspires in her would have been much more powerful had Bradley fixed the problem.
As to the sex scenes, hot hot hot hot hot! This story straddles the line between steamy romance and erotic romance. The sex scenes actually serve to forward the plot and to illustrate theme and characterization, so whichever side of the line one feels the book falls upon matter less than the fact that few authors in the romance genre can say the same of their sex scenes. Well done, Ms. Shelley Bradley/Shayla Black or whatever you name really is (copyright shows an LLC).
Many of the secondary characters are not very well drawn. That did not affect the story, but it might have been better had they been. (Too bad, so sad, and all that.)
As to the crime being solved, I like that the reader is sometimes left in doubt as to whether Nicki is guilty or innocent. The climactic scene of the whodunit seemed a bit contrived to me, but it served to create a rift in the relationship that seemed insurmountable. The later climactic scene of the relationship seemed very real, so I did not mind at all.
Definitely worth re-reading.
Nicki is a nightclub owner seemingly unaware that someone in her club is using the operation to launder money for the mob. Accountant Mark is working undercover as a male exotic dancer (with stage fright, no less) to find out whether she is the guilty party or not. The guilty party has been setting her up to take the fall. Mark's motivation is that the unknown guilty party is probably the same one who helped his (currently ex-) wife set him up to take the fall for a crime in Bound and Determined. Naturally, this has made him suspicious of any woman's motives and honesty. His parents' early deaths also tend to make him unwilling to commit in a relationship.
I liked that Mark's previous experiences and analytic nature prevented the character from making the error of "I've fallen for her so she must be innocent." He cites his tendency to fall for evil women like his ex. The fact that Nicki is not evil and Mark is uncertain causes some misunderstandings that serve to forward the action and strain the relationship. This is excellent plotting.
We are given a lot more of Mark's thinking and feelings than Nicki's. She is portrayed as a class A bee-yotch when running her club. The biggest weakness of this book is that, rather than having incidents illustrate and reveal this part of her character, the author just has people say it about her. She is described rather than the reader coming to know her. (This is the same thing I did not like about Jane Austen's writing.) The contrast between Nicki's dominant personality outside of the bedroom and the sexual submission Mark inspires in her would have been much more powerful had Bradley fixed the problem.
As to the sex scenes, hot hot hot hot hot! This story straddles the line between steamy romance and erotic romance. The sex scenes actually serve to forward the plot and to illustrate theme and characterization, so whichever side of the line one feels the book falls upon matter less than the fact that few authors in the romance genre can say the same of their sex scenes. Well done, Ms. Shelley Bradley/Shayla Black or whatever you name really is (copyright shows an LLC).
Many of the secondary characters are not very well drawn. That did not affect the story, but it might have been better had they been. (Too bad, so sad, and all that.)
As to the crime being solved, I like that the reader is sometimes left in doubt as to whether Nicki is guilty or innocent. The climactic scene of the whodunit seemed a bit contrived to me, but it served to create a rift in the relationship that seemed insurmountable. The later climactic scene of the relationship seemed very real, so I did not mind at all.
Definitely worth re-reading.
January 30, 2014
3.5 stars-read as a rerelease
STRIP SEARCH is the second storyline in Shayla Black’s (aka Shelley Bradley) Sexy Capers contemporary romance, mystery series. This is Mark Sullivan’s story and we first me Mark in Bound and Determined as his sister was struggling to prove his innocence in a multi million dollar theft at the bank where he worked.
Strip Search begins approximately a year or more after Bound and Determined. Our hero Mark is now divorced from his wife, his sister is married to the man she abducted and, Mark is now working for his brother in law’s corporate investigations firm. His latest assignment will pit him against some of the people involved with his ex wife and her attempts to pin the theft of millions of dollars on Mark.
Nicki is the owner of a Vegas strip club and Mark is going undercover as a stripper in an attempt to seduce his way into Nicki’s bed and eventually her books. With an FBI operative non-responsive, Mark must go in blind to try and discover who and what is responsible for the money laundering and missing millions in the Vegas club. But to Mark’s surprise, Nicki doesn’t seem like the type of person to launder millions but her infamous mafia family is in the FBI’s sights.
The sexual relationship between Nicki and Mark is sensual and entertaining but there is a big elephant in the room as it pertains to Mark. He is a man unable to get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and it is affecting his relationship with Nicki. He can no longer trust anyone and everyone becomes a suspect even the woman who has declared her love for him.
Mark is the male version of many of the female heroine’s in romance novels. He is so disillusioned and heartbroken that he sabotages every attempt at happiness; he willingly hurts Nicki at every opportunity using emotional cuts and bruises. He is the epitome of bi-polar personality both in and out of the bedroom. And in this, he is a difficult character to like. He is making love one moment and then his mind begins to wander and he pulls away and runs. I don’t know anyone who would be able to accept his actions on an ongoing basis.
Nicki is a woman who is oblivious to her predicament. She is partnered with a mafia-connected uncle and she willingly allows employees and co-workers access to her computer information. In this, she is definitely heading for trouble.
The world building continues from Bound and Determined. Rafe and Kerry return for a few cameos and their lives are about to be turned upside down as well. But there are also many similarities between the first two storylines including premise and plot scenarios and conversation stylings.
Mark needs to make amends to the woman with whom he has fallen in love, but he cannot stop the accusations and feelings of betrayal. Right up until the end of the storyline our hero pushes Nicki away until it is too late for both. If Mark cannot get past the betrayal, he will lose the woman and his heart.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
www.thereadingcafe.com
STRIP SEARCH is the second storyline in Shayla Black’s (aka Shelley Bradley) Sexy Capers contemporary romance, mystery series. This is Mark Sullivan’s story and we first me Mark in Bound and Determined as his sister was struggling to prove his innocence in a multi million dollar theft at the bank where he worked.
Strip Search begins approximately a year or more after Bound and Determined. Our hero Mark is now divorced from his wife, his sister is married to the man she abducted and, Mark is now working for his brother in law’s corporate investigations firm. His latest assignment will pit him against some of the people involved with his ex wife and her attempts to pin the theft of millions of dollars on Mark.
Nicki is the owner of a Vegas strip club and Mark is going undercover as a stripper in an attempt to seduce his way into Nicki’s bed and eventually her books. With an FBI operative non-responsive, Mark must go in blind to try and discover who and what is responsible for the money laundering and missing millions in the Vegas club. But to Mark’s surprise, Nicki doesn’t seem like the type of person to launder millions but her infamous mafia family is in the FBI’s sights.
The sexual relationship between Nicki and Mark is sensual and entertaining but there is a big elephant in the room as it pertains to Mark. He is a man unable to get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and it is affecting his relationship with Nicki. He can no longer trust anyone and everyone becomes a suspect even the woman who has declared her love for him.
Mark is the male version of many of the female heroine’s in romance novels. He is so disillusioned and heartbroken that he sabotages every attempt at happiness; he willingly hurts Nicki at every opportunity using emotional cuts and bruises. He is the epitome of bi-polar personality both in and out of the bedroom. And in this, he is a difficult character to like. He is making love one moment and then his mind begins to wander and he pulls away and runs. I don’t know anyone who would be able to accept his actions on an ongoing basis.
Nicki is a woman who is oblivious to her predicament. She is partnered with a mafia-connected uncle and she willingly allows employees and co-workers access to her computer information. In this, she is definitely heading for trouble.
The world building continues from Bound and Determined. Rafe and Kerry return for a few cameos and their lives are about to be turned upside down as well. But there are also many similarities between the first two storylines including premise and plot scenarios and conversation stylings.
Mark needs to make amends to the woman with whom he has fallen in love, but he cannot stop the accusations and feelings of betrayal. Right up until the end of the storyline our hero pushes Nicki away until it is too late for both. If Mark cannot get past the betrayal, he will lose the woman and his heart.
Copy supplied by the publisher.
www.thereadingcafe.com
July 8, 2010
What a ride!
Shelley Bradley knows how to write intense sensual and emotional love-stories like no other. She takes you on a journey of emotions and feelings that leaves you wondering afterwards what the h.ll just hit you.
And for this book I'm not even talking about the smoldering love scenes, the fast-paced and suspenseful plot or that yummy alpha male Mark who goes undercover as a stripper and the feisty and smartass owner of the strip joint. Together they just make the dialogues combust in flames, not to mention what they make the love scenes do. Don’t get me started on that because then this review would never get finished and it certainly wouldn't pass any PG-13 rating...
I had an amazing time reading this book and to think I picked it because I wanted something contemporary so it would be an easy, uncomplicated read. Uncomplicated it sure wasn't, it was intense, fast-paced, emotional and hot.
With a plot that was well written, be it a little bit predictable as to who the bad-guy is, and a love-story that brought tears to my eyes at the end.
The characters were wonderful and you just feel there's a story coming for some of the secondary characters.
I really fell hard for Mark; he is a true alpha with a capital A, both inside and out of the bedroom. Who could have thought an accountant could be so hot and yummy! Because of his past he's determined never to trust a woman ever again and loving a woman is definitely out of the question. Until Nickie storms into his life, setting his whole world upside down. His determinations starts crumbling bit by bit despite his efforts not to give in.
Nickie is feisty, hard to the bone and a real smartass. Giving as good as she gets she manages her strip joint with an iron fist. She really doesn't know what to do with her feelings for Mark and tries to resist him but fails miserably at it.
They are so good together! Talk about a perfect match. Their interactions both in and out the bedroom are sizzling and filled with intensity.
Shelley Bradley wrote an erotic romance including mafia, embezzlement, strippers and strip joints and managed to keep it intensely emotional and sizzling hot at the same time without getting raunchy, just for that she deserves to be at the top of my auto buy-list.
Miss Bradley did it again. She enticed me with her first Shayla Black novel and has continued the thrilling ride with this one!
Shelley Bradley knows how to write intense sensual and emotional love-stories like no other. She takes you on a journey of emotions and feelings that leaves you wondering afterwards what the h.ll just hit you.
And for this book I'm not even talking about the smoldering love scenes, the fast-paced and suspenseful plot or that yummy alpha male Mark who goes undercover as a stripper and the feisty and smartass owner of the strip joint. Together they just make the dialogues combust in flames, not to mention what they make the love scenes do. Don’t get me started on that because then this review would never get finished and it certainly wouldn't pass any PG-13 rating...
I had an amazing time reading this book and to think I picked it because I wanted something contemporary so it would be an easy, uncomplicated read. Uncomplicated it sure wasn't, it was intense, fast-paced, emotional and hot.
With a plot that was well written, be it a little bit predictable as to who the bad-guy is, and a love-story that brought tears to my eyes at the end.
The characters were wonderful and you just feel there's a story coming for some of the secondary characters.
I really fell hard for Mark; he is a true alpha with a capital A, both inside and out of the bedroom. Who could have thought an accountant could be so hot and yummy! Because of his past he's determined never to trust a woman ever again and loving a woman is definitely out of the question. Until Nickie storms into his life, setting his whole world upside down. His determinations starts crumbling bit by bit despite his efforts not to give in.
Nickie is feisty, hard to the bone and a real smartass. Giving as good as she gets she manages her strip joint with an iron fist. She really doesn't know what to do with her feelings for Mark and tries to resist him but fails miserably at it.
They are so good together! Talk about a perfect match. Their interactions both in and out the bedroom are sizzling and filled with intensity.
Shelley Bradley wrote an erotic romance including mafia, embezzlement, strippers and strip joints and managed to keep it intensely emotional and sizzling hot at the same time without getting raunchy, just for that she deserves to be at the top of my auto buy-list.
Miss Bradley did it again. She enticed me with her first Shayla Black novel and has continued the thrilling ride with this one!
April 24, 2013
HOT! Love Shayla blacks erotic suspense. This was 2nd in the sexy capers series (Bound & Determined #1).
Mark and Nikki were great strong characters. Both had issues to get past but couldn't stay away from each other. I loved the emotional and physical pull between them both, sucked me right in. Of course I was loving the romance and also wanting to shake them both to wake up and get their shit together!!!
It had suspense, great twists that had me surprised, some laughs, (yes I did tear up), and of course hot steamy sex scenes. HOT!!!
Mark and Nikki were great strong characters. Both had issues to get past but couldn't stay away from each other. I loved the emotional and physical pull between them both, sucked me right in. Of course I was loving the romance and also wanting to shake them both to wake up and get their shit together!!!
It had suspense, great twists that had me surprised, some laughs, (yes I did tear up), and of course hot steamy sex scenes. HOT!!!
May 9, 2016
This book was interesting if not a little predictable. I enjoyed the storyline. It is classic Shayla Black. Lots of suspense, and lots of steamy scenes. Nicki and Mark have incredible chemistry from the jump and while they both have their reservations about the other they can't seem to fight it. When things look their worse Mark makes some harsh and rash judgements that he has to later figure out how to make right. I really enjoyed watching these two make their way to their happily ever after. 4 Solid stars
June 1, 2013
Not as entertaining as Bound and Determined, but still a great story and well done! However, I'm not sure Mark had to be THAT hung-up with his past and the ending was a bit too close to to Bound and Determined for my taste. I dont like to feel like I'm reading books that have been 'cut and pasted' together....
March 10, 2013
Follow up from previous book - Kerry & Rafe's story. This one's about Kerry's framed but proven innocent brother - Mark Sullivan!! A character that got totally screwed in the first book. Well, credit to the author, he's got his HEA despite all the things that happened to him. Hooray!!
July 18, 2009
I was going to give this 3 stars, but I couldn't because the guy in this is such a stupida**!!! He does eventually realize what an idiot he's being, sooooo....Hmmm. Nope--still 2 stars.
January 22, 2013
greatly written. fantastic ending.
May 4, 2019
Amateur airplane blowjob
The fact that we are human beings is infinitely more important than all the peculiarities that distinguish human beings from one another; it is never the given that confers superiorities: ‘virtue’, as the ancients called it, is defined on the level of ‘that which depends on us’.
My life has led me to develop a love for thought, a love heavily dependent on the context of reality and my personal view of such, a love that has been, is, and will continue to grow through heavy doses of words both spoken and printed. I will admit to being biased towards the printed, as well as to being biased in many things as a result of characteristics both physical and mental; the fault of nature and nurture, neither one of which I can help very much. My method of coping with having a love for thinking, while being aware of the inherent inaccuracies of said thinking, is a rabid interest in argument, debate if you will, on many fronts that concern me.
Being a woman concerns me. With that, let us begin.
I am a white middle class female undergraduate who has spent all twenty-two years of her life in the United States. I did not read this book for a class. I do not in any way claim that this book speaks on all women’s issues, or deem women’s issues more important than those of any other oppressed group, whether via race, sexuality, financial security, et al. I simply don’t have the firsthand experience with other issues that, I believe, would accredit me to speak on them to such length. Account for the inherent biases as you see fit.
Females are biologically different from males in the interest of propagation of the species, resulting in imposed monthly cycles that involve a whole host of painful and bloody side effects, as well as the inconvenient and sometimes dangerous states of pregnancy and giving birth. Females also have a more difficult time of building up muscle mass and other aspects lending to physical movement, due to the consequences of puberty and resulting chemical development.
The bearing of maternity upon the individual life, regulated naturally in animals by the oestrus cycle and the seasons, is not definitely prescribed in woman - society alone is the arbiter. The bondage of woman to the species is more or less rigorous according to the number of births demanded by society and the degree of hygienic care provided for pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, while it is true that in the higher animals the individual existence is asserted more imperiously by the male than by the female, in the human species individual 'possibilities' depend upon the economic and social situation.
We are now acquainted with the dramatic conflict that harrows the adolescent girl at puberty: she cannot become 'grown-up' without accepting her femininity; and she knows already that her sex condemns her to a mutilated and fixed existence, which she faces at this time under the form of an impure sickness and a vague sense of guilt. Her inferiority was sensed at first merely as a deprivation; but the lack of a penis has now become defilement and transgression. So she goes onward towards the future, wounded, shameful, culpable.
In the United States, the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified on August 18, 1920, which declares that: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. This occurred 144 years after the US declared independence, 137 years after the US was recognized as independent, and 132 years after the Constitution itself was ratified.
In masculine hands logic is often a form of violence, a sly kind of tyranny: the husband, if older and better educated than his wife, assumes on the basis of this superiority to give no weight at all to her opinions when he does not share them; he tirelessly proves to her that he is right. For her part, she becomes obstinate and refuses to see anything in her husband's arguments; he simply sticks to his own notions. And so a deep misunderstanding comes between them. He makes no effort to comprehend the feelings and reactions she is not clever enough to justify, though they are deeply rooted in her; she does not grasp what is vital behind the pedantic logic with which her husband overwhelms her.
The fact that we are human beings is infinitely more important than all the peculiarities that distinguish human beings from one another; it is never the given that confers superiorities: ‘virtue’, as the ancients called it, is defined on the level of ‘that which depends on us’.
My life has led me to develop a love for thought, a love heavily dependent on the context of reality and my personal view of such, a love that has been, is, and will continue to grow through heavy doses of words both spoken and printed. I will admit to being biased towards the printed, as well as to being biased in many things as a result of characteristics both physical and mental; the fault of nature and nurture, neither one of which I can help very much. My method of coping with having a love for thinking, while being aware of the inherent inaccuracies of said thinking, is a rabid interest in argument, debate if you will, on many fronts that concern me.
Being a woman concerns me. With that, let us begin.
I am a white middle class female undergraduate who has spent all twenty-two years of her life in the United States. I did not read this book for a class. I do not in any way claim that this book speaks on all women’s issues, or deem women’s issues more important than those of any other oppressed group, whether via race, sexuality, financial security, et al. I simply don’t have the firsthand experience with other issues that, I believe, would accredit me to speak on them to such length. Account for the inherent biases as you see fit.
Females are biologically different from males in the interest of propagation of the species, resulting in imposed monthly cycles that involve a whole host of painful and bloody side effects, as well as the inconvenient and sometimes dangerous states of pregnancy and giving birth. Females also have a more difficult time of building up muscle mass and other aspects lending to physical movement, due to the consequences of puberty and resulting chemical development.
The bearing of maternity upon the individual life, regulated naturally in animals by the oestrus cycle and the seasons, is not definitely prescribed in woman - society alone is the arbiter. The bondage of woman to the species is more or less rigorous according to the number of births demanded by society and the degree of hygienic care provided for pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, while it is true that in the higher animals the individual existence is asserted more imperiously by the male than by the female, in the human species individual 'possibilities' depend upon the economic and social situation.
We are now acquainted with the dramatic conflict that harrows the adolescent girl at puberty: she cannot become 'grown-up' without accepting her femininity; and she knows already that her sex condemns her to a mutilated and fixed existence, which she faces at this time under the form of an impure sickness and a vague sense of guilt. Her inferiority was sensed at first merely as a deprivation; but the lack of a penis has now become defilement and transgression. So she goes onward towards the future, wounded, shameful, culpable.
In the United States, the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified on August 18, 1920, which declares that: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. This occurred 144 years after the US declared independence, 137 years after the US was recognized as independent, and 132 years after the Constitution itself was ratified.
In masculine hands logic is often a form of violence, a sly kind of tyranny: the husband, if older and better educated than his wife, assumes on the basis of this superiority to give no weight at all to her opinions when he does not share them; he tirelessly proves to her that he is right. For her part, she becomes obstinate and refuses to see anything in her husband's arguments; he simply sticks to his own notions. And so a deep misunderstanding comes between them. He makes no effort to comprehend the feelings and reactions she is not clever enough to justify, though they are deeply rooted in her; she does not grasp what is vital behind the pedantic logic with which her husband overwhelms her.
February 4, 2024
The plot line in Strip Search has potential, but the two undercover characters made so many basic errors that both would have been dead the first day undercover. While this is a erotic romance book, not a fast-paced dramatic mystery, the errors were so frequent and blatant that they were distracting. I had a difficult time finishing the book. Nikki's Uncle Pietro DeStephano is a misogynistic as***le. Not a nice man, but he owns 30% of the club, Girl's Night Out. Blade Bocelli is doing a very bad job with the accounting for the club, but as Uncle Pietro requires Nikki keep him as the accountant as long as all the totals balance in the end. Lucia DeStephano is Nikki's half-sister and is working in the club while finishing her PhD in history. She and Blade have a secret interest in each other. Blade is a violent aggressive jerk to everyone else. Zack Martin is the gay stage manager who lives to take care of his frail, ill aging grandfather. Mark is undercover to prove who is the ringleader of the criminal using the club for money laundering and worked with his ex-wife Tiffany to frame him for embezzlement.
December 12, 2018
I so wanted to like Mark's book but ... this was not the one for me.
I loathe "romances" based on deception. And then I also don't get hate fucking. So ... that was like 80% of the book. And both characters felt like SHIT about themselves and each other after like almost every time they had sex so ...
Yeah that lead to a lot of read/skimming.
Also maybe because seriously I've done more of a Shayla Black glom than maybe anyone else has? ... So there was that and I'd read the previous book the night before so I guessed the "bad guy" like the second time s/he showed up ... so there was that too.
Also I do not think the hero groveled enough and I guess it just was a miss for me.
... I actually kinda wanna see if Lucia gets her romance but ...:X if it's like the others in this series, uh oh.
D-
I loathe "romances" based on deception. And then I also don't get hate fucking. So ... that was like 80% of the book. And both characters felt like SHIT about themselves and each other after like almost every time they had sex so ...
Yeah that lead to a lot of read/skimming.
Also maybe because seriously I've done more of a Shayla Black glom than maybe anyone else has? ... So there was that and I'd read the previous book the night before so I guessed the "bad guy" like the second time s/he showed up ... so there was that too.
Also I do not think the hero groveled enough and I guess it just was a miss for me.
... I actually kinda wanna see if Lucia gets her romance but ...:X if it's like the others in this series, uh oh.
D-
February 3, 2019
A book where the hero goes undercover as a male stripper? Sign me up for this bonkers story! If only it had delivered! It somehow just fell flat and the suspense storyline felt forced.
.
Our hero is sent undercover to a club in Las Vegas which is exclusively a male strip club. His mission is to discover if money is being laundered through the club and if so who is responsible. He, however, can’t stop from falling for the owner of the strip club even though he suspects her of money laundering at the same time.
.
I HATE heroes with commitment issues. All I want to do is get my book and whack them so hard the get right out of the book. Although there are some great steamy scenes in this book it doesn’t make up for the fact that I could see the plot coming a mile away and that I didn’t particularly like either of the main characters.
.
Our hero is sent undercover to a club in Las Vegas which is exclusively a male strip club. His mission is to discover if money is being laundered through the club and if so who is responsible. He, however, can’t stop from falling for the owner of the strip club even though he suspects her of money laundering at the same time.
.
I HATE heroes with commitment issues. All I want to do is get my book and whack them so hard the get right out of the book. Although there are some great steamy scenes in this book it doesn’t make up for the fact that I could see the plot coming a mile away and that I didn’t particularly like either of the main characters.
October 27, 2019
An early work by Shayla Back & it shows. The story was fine, everything was fine. It didn’t captivate me like her latter books, but it was still good. I feel bad comparing this book to the more recent ones as authors usually get better with time, but, for an early work, it was still much better than a lot of stuff out there. Even though it doesn’t seem like it, I highly recommend Strip Search.
December 31, 2020
Great series.
I knew I’d love this book. Mark was such a good brother but he’s been through so much. He’s undercover, could Nicki be guilty? He’s lost faith in trust due to his ex wife. Was surprised too in the plot. Really felt their emotions. Will Nicki give Mark another chance? I highly recommend this book.
I knew I’d love this book. Mark was such a good brother but he’s been through so much. He’s undercover, could Nicki be guilty? He’s lost faith in trust due to his ex wife. Was surprised too in the plot. Really felt their emotions. Will Nicki give Mark another chance? I highly recommend this book.
March 9, 2025
While it was a decent plot, it was predictable and the writing style was not great. Every other sentence does not need to be a simile or a metaphor. I know it’s an older story, published in 2006, so I’m sure in the nearly 20 years since it was written, the writing style has evolved. The spice was definitely spicy, and let’s be honest: that’s really what we came here for.
June 9, 2018
Love, loved, loved it. I did get extremely frustrated with Mark. He was using his past to keep from moving forward and missing what was right in front of him. Nicki was a self made woman, going for what she wanted. She has started her own business and now she wants her msn.
June 15, 2017
Samantha's books
Oh boy I want to see the stripper up close. Their description of him was good enough to get my fantasies going.
Oh boy I want to see the stripper up close. Their description of him was good enough to get my fantasies going.
November 27, 2017
This book was OK. After reading the first book, it was hard for me to believe that Mark was so good looking, but i went with it.
February 4, 2018
Nice
Pretty good! Kept me interested and I finished it in 2 days. Not as steamy as I hope but still good
Pretty good! Kept me interested and I finished it in 2 days. Not as steamy as I hope but still good
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