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Black Opals #1
Stripped
In Tori St. Claire's dangerously naughty debut novel, a body of secrets is entwined with a body of lies...and deception is part of the game. As a member of the CIA's elite Black Opals, Natalya Trubachev must live a lie, working undercover as the lover of Dmitri, a Russian mob boss. His business is trafficking vulnerable Las Vegas strippers overseas for twisted sex games. Natalya's business is to blow the ring wide open and bring down Dmitri and his American contacts. But the stakes are raised when she learns that the next target is her own sister Kate, a dancer in the famed club Fantasia. Only now does Natalya realize how personal her mission has become, and how far she's willing to go to complete it. The manager of Fantasia is Brandon Moretti, an undercover detective who keeps a close eye on his girls, and an even closer one on his sinfully sensual newest hire. For Natalya, working the club could be the break she's been waiting for. But for Moretti, Natalya is a possible link to a killer. Only he never counted on her being so lethally seductive or so dangerous to get close to. As every forbidden pleasure between them is stripped away, his own secrets threaten their security, but it's Natalya's secrets that could destroy them both.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2012
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June 6, 2012£8???
Way too steep for an ebook. Think this one will have to wait.
Way too steep for an ebook. Think this one will have to wait.
January 16, 2012
Review Posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
STRIPPED brings together two people, each with their own deadly secrets and makes them an unlikely duo in an undercover investigation where neither of them know just exactly who they can trust.
Natalya has been undercover for three years posing as the fiancé to a Russian mob boss, Dimtri, involved in human trafficking. She works for the Black Opals, an off-the-books group in the CIA that handles dangerous, elite missions. Natalya’s time table for getting the proof she needs against Dmitri has become critical when his next target turns out to be a stripper in Vegas, Kate – Natalya’s twin sister. She’s sent to Vegas on behalf of Dimtri and his organization to secure Kate’s capture but she and her CIA partner, Sergei, have only days to lock down the information they need to not only bring down Dmitri but to save Kate’s life.
Brandon is also working undercover, managing a strip club and trying to track down a killer who’s targeting the girls. The killer’s pattern has led them to Fantasia as the next club that’s due to be hit and the person who fits the profile is Kate – she’s a wanted woman by everyone. When Natalya comes to town and gets her own job at the club as the housemom, using Kate as her connection, it brings her one step closer to identifying the players in the human trafficking ring, only in Brandon’s eyes, she could be linked to the killer he’s searching for and no one is certain about who they can trust.
One thing about erotic stories that I sometimes find hard to really get into is the lack of plot. The hot, sexy scenes are always there, but I enjoy having a nice balance between that and in this case, an equally strong suspense plot. And that’s where STRIPPED stood out. Natalya and Brandon have chemistry that burns up the pages, and I loved their scenes together. From a naughty lap dance that started their relationship off, to the sweet moments when they both let themselves just act human and let go of all their lies and covers that they have to hang on to in order to survive. Those moments really drove home their relationship and made it solid.
This is an erotic romance that doesn’t include BDSM, or anything that really pushes those limits. It's about two people who have instant attraction and a lot of lust, that ends up turning into something with much deeper feelings for both of them.
Brandon pulled on her hair, tipping her head back and terminating the kiss. His breath rasped in harmony with hers. He nudged her mouth with his, caught her lips again, then turned his head and rubbed his cheek against hers. “I want you to forget I said this,” he whispered as he increased the pressure on the back of her scalp and urged her forehead to his shoulder. “I don’t even know what I mean by it.”
His mouth dusted over the crown of her head. “But I think I need you, Natalya.”
Her breath caught, the sudden overflow of emotion bringing unbidden moisture to her eyes. He’d reached right in and pulled the words out of her very soul. If anyone needed the other, she needed him. Needed the way he made it impossible to hide.
As I mentioned earlier, a really nice balance to the lead relationship is the detailed suspense plot. There’s Natalya working her case against Dmitri at the strip club and doing whatever it takes, including getting up on stage, to try and figure out the players involved. Also Brandon, who is working undercover with his partner at the club, trying to find a killer and also trying to advance his career so he’s in a better position to get vengeance against his father, who killed his mother and siblings. We learn early on that Brandon’s younger brother actually survived an explosion that Brandon thought took his entire family and he’s working with Natalya on this case. It’s one of my favorite storylines, siblings that have been apart by circumstance – and I find myself flipping the pages even faster to find out if and (hopefully) when they’re reunited.
Even though this was one of the few stories where I actually guessed who the bad guy was that Natalya was searching for, it didn’t at all diminish my need to find out exactly how everything goes down. The supporting characters and small, short POV changes kept the pacing fast and the action coming.
With as well balanced as the romance vs. suspense was with the story, I was drawn more to Brandon and Natalya and their relationship, probably because there was much more depth to the overall plot. When we first meet Natalya she’s really hardened herself over the years to be able to work undercover like she does. Brandon is one of the few people who is able to see through her, distinguish between her lies and the truth and he doesn’t just accept what she tells him. He starts breaking down all those imaginary walls she’s put up and Natalya lets herself start to think and dream about a future where she can have a family and children and not lead a life that she thought would end in her death sooner rather than later.
For fans of romantic suspense, this is a must read. Natalya and Brandon will have you fanning yourself during some of their scenes together, but those scenes are at first full of desire that lead into a lot of emotion for the couple. This is book 1 in Tori St. Claire’s new series surrounding the Black Opal team and I’m excited to see what’s coming up next.
STRIPPED brings together two people, each with their own deadly secrets and makes them an unlikely duo in an undercover investigation where neither of them know just exactly who they can trust.
Natalya has been undercover for three years posing as the fiancé to a Russian mob boss, Dimtri, involved in human trafficking. She works for the Black Opals, an off-the-books group in the CIA that handles dangerous, elite missions. Natalya’s time table for getting the proof she needs against Dmitri has become critical when his next target turns out to be a stripper in Vegas, Kate – Natalya’s twin sister. She’s sent to Vegas on behalf of Dimtri and his organization to secure Kate’s capture but she and her CIA partner, Sergei, have only days to lock down the information they need to not only bring down Dmitri but to save Kate’s life.
Brandon is also working undercover, managing a strip club and trying to track down a killer who’s targeting the girls. The killer’s pattern has led them to Fantasia as the next club that’s due to be hit and the person who fits the profile is Kate – she’s a wanted woman by everyone. When Natalya comes to town and gets her own job at the club as the housemom, using Kate as her connection, it brings her one step closer to identifying the players in the human trafficking ring, only in Brandon’s eyes, she could be linked to the killer he’s searching for and no one is certain about who they can trust.
One thing about erotic stories that I sometimes find hard to really get into is the lack of plot. The hot, sexy scenes are always there, but I enjoy having a nice balance between that and in this case, an equally strong suspense plot. And that’s where STRIPPED stood out. Natalya and Brandon have chemistry that burns up the pages, and I loved their scenes together. From a naughty lap dance that started their relationship off, to the sweet moments when they both let themselves just act human and let go of all their lies and covers that they have to hang on to in order to survive. Those moments really drove home their relationship and made it solid.
This is an erotic romance that doesn’t include BDSM, or anything that really pushes those limits. It's about two people who have instant attraction and a lot of lust, that ends up turning into something with much deeper feelings for both of them.
Brandon pulled on her hair, tipping her head back and terminating the kiss. His breath rasped in harmony with hers. He nudged her mouth with his, caught her lips again, then turned his head and rubbed his cheek against hers. “I want you to forget I said this,” he whispered as he increased the pressure on the back of her scalp and urged her forehead to his shoulder. “I don’t even know what I mean by it.”
His mouth dusted over the crown of her head. “But I think I need you, Natalya.”
Her breath caught, the sudden overflow of emotion bringing unbidden moisture to her eyes. He’d reached right in and pulled the words out of her very soul. If anyone needed the other, she needed him. Needed the way he made it impossible to hide.
As I mentioned earlier, a really nice balance to the lead relationship is the detailed suspense plot. There’s Natalya working her case against Dmitri at the strip club and doing whatever it takes, including getting up on stage, to try and figure out the players involved. Also Brandon, who is working undercover with his partner at the club, trying to find a killer and also trying to advance his career so he’s in a better position to get vengeance against his father, who killed his mother and siblings. We learn early on that Brandon’s younger brother actually survived an explosion that Brandon thought took his entire family and he’s working with Natalya on this case. It’s one of my favorite storylines, siblings that have been apart by circumstance – and I find myself flipping the pages even faster to find out if and (hopefully) when they’re reunited.
Even though this was one of the few stories where I actually guessed who the bad guy was that Natalya was searching for, it didn’t at all diminish my need to find out exactly how everything goes down. The supporting characters and small, short POV changes kept the pacing fast and the action coming.
With as well balanced as the romance vs. suspense was with the story, I was drawn more to Brandon and Natalya and their relationship, probably because there was much more depth to the overall plot. When we first meet Natalya she’s really hardened herself over the years to be able to work undercover like she does. Brandon is one of the few people who is able to see through her, distinguish between her lies and the truth and he doesn’t just accept what she tells him. He starts breaking down all those imaginary walls she’s put up and Natalya lets herself start to think and dream about a future where she can have a family and children and not lead a life that she thought would end in her death sooner rather than later.
For fans of romantic suspense, this is a must read. Natalya and Brandon will have you fanning yourself during some of their scenes together, but those scenes are at first full of desire that lead into a lot of emotion for the couple. This is book 1 in Tori St. Claire’s new series surrounding the Black Opal team and I’m excited to see what’s coming up next.
February 4, 2013
At some point in the past I've read a very favourable review of this book from Smexy Books and decided I wanted it. A year-year and a half later I had a chance to read it, and well... the experience left me very disappointed.
We've already established that good erotic fiction has to have a believable plot. I was quite excited to read a book involving a bad-ass Russian who works as a deep undercover agent to stop a human trafficking operation.
What I got as a finished product was laughable. Both Brandon Moretti and Natalya seem to switch off their brains completely when they meet each other and blow her three year old cover completely almost straight away. There are lives at stakes there, peeps. Lives of their relatives and people they love. What do they do even when the danger is imminent? Right, screw their brains out. *headdesk*
I am sorry, but to me this is absolutely unforgivable. You both work undercover, you both know what's at stake. Can you at least exercise some discretion?!
After that obviously despite hot sexual interactions the book was ruined for me. If you want your characters behave stupidly, make them that way, leave precedents for such behaviour, but when it's out of blue in otherwise pretty rigid, paranoid and cautious way of life, this is character development fail, this is a structural fault, and to me it's a huge no-no, especially when throwing your caution to the wind means putting your family in great danger.
We've already established that good erotic fiction has to have a believable plot. I was quite excited to read a book involving a bad-ass Russian who works as a deep undercover agent to stop a human trafficking operation.
What I got as a finished product was laughable. Both Brandon Moretti and Natalya seem to switch off their brains completely when they meet each other and blow her three year old cover completely almost straight away. There are lives at stakes there, peeps. Lives of their relatives and people they love. What do they do even when the danger is imminent? Right, screw their brains out. *headdesk*
I am sorry, but to me this is absolutely unforgivable. You both work undercover, you both know what's at stake. Can you at least exercise some discretion?!
After that obviously despite hot sexual interactions the book was ruined for me. If you want your characters behave stupidly, make them that way, leave precedents for such behaviour, but when it's out of blue in otherwise pretty rigid, paranoid and cautious way of life, this is character development fail, this is a structural fault, and to me it's a huge no-no, especially when throwing your caution to the wind means putting your family in great danger.
January 1, 2012
This review was posted at Under The Covers
Yes, go ahead and judge this book by its cover, I know I did and was not disappointed. This book is scorchingly hot romantic suspense!! This was my first book by this author and it left me wanting more!
Natalya Trubachev is a CIA operative working undercover in Russia trying to bring down a human trafficking lord. To do this, she infiltrated the organization along with her partner and now Dmitri is sending her to the States to take care of problems with their human trafficking crew there.
The girl that she's assigned to deliver to them turns out to be her twin sister, so she has to find a way to save her and finish her op.
Enter Brandon Moretti. Sexy-as-hell cop working on the disappearance and murder of local strippers, he is posing as the strip clubs' manager.
Sparks fly from the start between these two. Hot.Hot.Hot! And the suspense plot as well as the twists were excellent. "Bad guy"? It actually took me a bit to suspect the correct person.
Start your new year with some suspense and plenty of heat! This book was really good and I can't wait for the next one!
*ARC provided by author
Yes, go ahead and judge this book by its cover, I know I did and was not disappointed. This book is scorchingly hot romantic suspense!! This was my first book by this author and it left me wanting more!
Natalya Trubachev is a CIA operative working undercover in Russia trying to bring down a human trafficking lord. To do this, she infiltrated the organization along with her partner and now Dmitri is sending her to the States to take care of problems with their human trafficking crew there.
The girl that she's assigned to deliver to them turns out to be her twin sister, so she has to find a way to save her and finish her op.
Enter Brandon Moretti. Sexy-as-hell cop working on the disappearance and murder of local strippers, he is posing as the strip clubs' manager.
Sparks fly from the start between these two. Hot.Hot.Hot! And the suspense plot as well as the twists were excellent. "Bad guy"? It actually took me a bit to suspect the correct person.
Start your new year with some suspense and plenty of heat! This book was really good and I can't wait for the next one!
*ARC provided by author
January 22, 2012
I didn't know what to expect when I started reading Stripped. There was a bit of judging a book by its cover but I decided to put my pre-conceived notions aside and give this book a try. I am so glad that I did.
Natalya is working undercover for an elite CIA team. She has been working for and living as Dmitri's girlfriend for three years. She is close to bringing down his human trafficking ring until she finds out that his next victim is her sister. Natalya is sent to Vegas to make sure that she catches Dmitri's cohorts in the act and to make sure that her sister stays protected and Natalya's cover is not blown. Brandon is working undercover at Fantasia, a strip club on the Vegas strip. He's trying to track down who has been killing strippers. The killer has a formula; it's just a matter of stopping the killer before he claims his next victim.
Stripped immediately pulled me in. Natalya is a strong heroine (which I love) and I found her to be very likable. Some people may be put off by her due to the nature of her job and what she has to do to maintain her cover. For me, I knew that Natalya The Black Opal is different from Natalya the woman. Natalya has worked hard to maintain her cover which means she's had to be the loving fiancee to Dmitri 100%, doing some of his dirty work and leading innocent women to their doom. Natalya doesn't do this without feeling sadness, hurt and guilt; her goal is to bring down Dmitri's organization so despite the guilt she feels, she has to keep her eye on the prize.
Brandon and Natalya are a great match. They are both strong, stubborn and sexy. The attraction is instantaneous and when they are in the same room together, they are explosive. There is a lot of sexual tension between these two characters and some hot, hot, hot smexy times. I found the attraction between Brandon and Natalya believable and not contrived. These are two people who have more in common than they think and they see something in the other that they see in themselves.
The supporting cast of characters were wonderful and added to the wonderfulnesss (is that a word?) of the overall plot. Stripped is a nice blend of suspense and erotic romance. Most of the action takes place towards the end but there is a nice build up that has you itching for the bad guy to get his comeuppance.
Throughout Stripped, both Brandon and Natalya are trying to make sure that the other doesn't figure out their true identity. Little do they know is that they are both working towards the same goal; to take down the human trafficking ring. There were some "out there" moments in the plot but I felt that it fit with what was going on. I think when you're reading this book, just go with it. Whatever happens, no matter how unbelievable or coincidental it may seem, just go with it. Some of those moments totally work in this book.
Stripped kept me on the edge of my seat. When the big bad was revealed, I was blown away. (I'm normally good at guessing before the big reveal) I am looking forward to reading more by Tori St. Claire. Stripped was a sexy, suspenseful ride that I enjoyed from start to finish.
Natalya is working undercover for an elite CIA team. She has been working for and living as Dmitri's girlfriend for three years. She is close to bringing down his human trafficking ring until she finds out that his next victim is her sister. Natalya is sent to Vegas to make sure that she catches Dmitri's cohorts in the act and to make sure that her sister stays protected and Natalya's cover is not blown. Brandon is working undercover at Fantasia, a strip club on the Vegas strip. He's trying to track down who has been killing strippers. The killer has a formula; it's just a matter of stopping the killer before he claims his next victim.
Stripped immediately pulled me in. Natalya is a strong heroine (which I love) and I found her to be very likable. Some people may be put off by her due to the nature of her job and what she has to do to maintain her cover. For me, I knew that Natalya The Black Opal is different from Natalya the woman. Natalya has worked hard to maintain her cover which means she's had to be the loving fiancee to Dmitri 100%, doing some of his dirty work and leading innocent women to their doom. Natalya doesn't do this without feeling sadness, hurt and guilt; her goal is to bring down Dmitri's organization so despite the guilt she feels, she has to keep her eye on the prize.
Brandon and Natalya are a great match. They are both strong, stubborn and sexy. The attraction is instantaneous and when they are in the same room together, they are explosive. There is a lot of sexual tension between these two characters and some hot, hot, hot smexy times. I found the attraction between Brandon and Natalya believable and not contrived. These are two people who have more in common than they think and they see something in the other that they see in themselves.
The supporting cast of characters were wonderful and added to the wonderfulnesss (is that a word?) of the overall plot. Stripped is a nice blend of suspense and erotic romance. Most of the action takes place towards the end but there is a nice build up that has you itching for the bad guy to get his comeuppance.
Throughout Stripped, both Brandon and Natalya are trying to make sure that the other doesn't figure out their true identity. Little do they know is that they are both working towards the same goal; to take down the human trafficking ring. There were some "out there" moments in the plot but I felt that it fit with what was going on. I think when you're reading this book, just go with it. Whatever happens, no matter how unbelievable or coincidental it may seem, just go with it. Some of those moments totally work in this book.
Stripped kept me on the edge of my seat. When the big bad was revealed, I was blown away. (I'm normally good at guessing before the big reveal) I am looking forward to reading more by Tori St. Claire. Stripped was a sexy, suspenseful ride that I enjoyed from start to finish.
April 16, 2012
A winner! The chemistry between Natalya and Brandon was electric. The vulnerability of all the characters, especially Natalya was well written. I really liked this book. I hope Sergei/Stefan gets his own story.
January 24, 2012
If i'm not mistaken, this is Tori St. Claire's first novel. I am super duper duper impressed. Reading through the first couple chapters, I am reminded of one of my very favorite suspense authors, Shannon McKenna. There is great sex, a creepy villain and a deep seated mystery. That is a huge compliment if I say so myself. There is an immediate feeling of "better than your everyday romance”, and when you dig in you know St Claire is articulate, creative, and seemingly accomplished far beyond her experience.
Natalya Trubachev is a toned lethal CIA kick ass machine who is an expert at compartmentalizing her feelings in order to accomplish her job and protect the people, especially women, of the United States and abroad who may become victims of the sex trade. She has a deep love of children and family but has been a block of ice for so long that she barely recognizes the melting of her soul when her Russian lover Dmitri decides the next victim will be her estranged sister, Katarena.
Natalya is an expert undercover operative. She goes through the motions and acts better than Meryl Streep through her disgusting relationship with the Mob boss who is responsible for several killings and trading of females overseas using critical and sometimes lethal doses of barbiturates. Natalya brings these women under her wing while they mistakenly think she is on their side, and she sacrifices them to the wolves for her Russian counterparts to play with at their whim. Her guilt is suffocating and though she knows it is for a greater good, she has an increasingly hard time living with herself. Natalya is about to meet Brandon Moretti, and finally realize in her soul what true happiness is after being long overdue.
Brandon Moretti is a product of Witness protection gone wrong, trying to right the wrongs in his life by becoming a public servant-undercover of course. Posing as the manager of the famous Gentleman's club Fantasia in Vegas, he is at the very center of the action, trying to pinpoint whom in the circle of his life is responsible for the killing and drugging of young blonde and beautiful exotic dancers. He has lost so many in his life, family, and most recently, a close friend and coworkers. One of his best dancers, Kate, reccommends a seasoned entertainer-her fraternal twin sister Natalya. No one knows the relation and are blind to it, with the exception of a few of the inner circle. Brandon has no idea. All he knows is that he has an immediate and violent reaction to her. His need to possess Natalya is so strong upon first glance that while he realizes her performing will be a huge draw, possibly the best bait he has had access to so far, he cannot stomach her on stage for others to devour. He immediately casts her as house mother. Their relationship is heated and strained from minute one and they both struggle with their secrets while unaware they are both striving for a common goal. Their stories and fabric of their lives and families are woven together in a quilt of coincidence and circumstance, bonding them in love before they even realize it.
This book was excellent for many reasons. First off, not only was it highly, highly erotic and sensual, but it was a great textbook suspense. My heartstrings were pulled many times. I felt so sad for Natalya and who she had become. I wanted Brandon to realize that he was worthy of love and that the things that happened in his past to shape him were not his fault. I know I have said this about other novels and in other reviews, but these are the essential elements of a romance that pull you in and make you want happiness for the characters. The bad guy in all this is of course a twisted sick freak which we all love in a mystery/suspense novel. What I enjoyed, or loathed, whichever you prefer is that to a kindhearted reader, he was particularly disturbing and cruel not only with his physical manifestations and dire warnings, but his emotional and psychological warfare. This guy was really off. It's great.
If I had to criticize at all, it would be that the "red herring" meant to throw us off from the real goon wasn't that convincing. I knew who the villain was relatively early, which was a little disappointing but didn't lessen the enjoyment of the novel for me. Also, I felt, as I mentioned earlier, a lot of coincidence occurred. It was necessary to tie and bond the characters together, but I felt it needed just slightly more back story to make it plausible. But this was a great book, and I urge anyone who is a fan of Roxanne St Claire (relation?), Shannon McKenna and others in that class of Grande Dames to give this one a try. You will not be disappointed.
Ratings:
Overall: 4.75 Stars. Excellent book. Some issues, but nothing that she can't nip in the bud with the next one.
Sensuality: 4.95. Way erotic in my opinion. Nothing kinky, but just freaking awesomely hot.
DD For Seductive Musings Seductive Musings
Natalya Trubachev is a toned lethal CIA kick ass machine who is an expert at compartmentalizing her feelings in order to accomplish her job and protect the people, especially women, of the United States and abroad who may become victims of the sex trade. She has a deep love of children and family but has been a block of ice for so long that she barely recognizes the melting of her soul when her Russian lover Dmitri decides the next victim will be her estranged sister, Katarena.
Natalya is an expert undercover operative. She goes through the motions and acts better than Meryl Streep through her disgusting relationship with the Mob boss who is responsible for several killings and trading of females overseas using critical and sometimes lethal doses of barbiturates. Natalya brings these women under her wing while they mistakenly think she is on their side, and she sacrifices them to the wolves for her Russian counterparts to play with at their whim. Her guilt is suffocating and though she knows it is for a greater good, she has an increasingly hard time living with herself. Natalya is about to meet Brandon Moretti, and finally realize in her soul what true happiness is after being long overdue.
Brandon Moretti is a product of Witness protection gone wrong, trying to right the wrongs in his life by becoming a public servant-undercover of course. Posing as the manager of the famous Gentleman's club Fantasia in Vegas, he is at the very center of the action, trying to pinpoint whom in the circle of his life is responsible for the killing and drugging of young blonde and beautiful exotic dancers. He has lost so many in his life, family, and most recently, a close friend and coworkers. One of his best dancers, Kate, reccommends a seasoned entertainer-her fraternal twin sister Natalya. No one knows the relation and are blind to it, with the exception of a few of the inner circle. Brandon has no idea. All he knows is that he has an immediate and violent reaction to her. His need to possess Natalya is so strong upon first glance that while he realizes her performing will be a huge draw, possibly the best bait he has had access to so far, he cannot stomach her on stage for others to devour. He immediately casts her as house mother. Their relationship is heated and strained from minute one and they both struggle with their secrets while unaware they are both striving for a common goal. Their stories and fabric of their lives and families are woven together in a quilt of coincidence and circumstance, bonding them in love before they even realize it.
This book was excellent for many reasons. First off, not only was it highly, highly erotic and sensual, but it was a great textbook suspense. My heartstrings were pulled many times. I felt so sad for Natalya and who she had become. I wanted Brandon to realize that he was worthy of love and that the things that happened in his past to shape him were not his fault. I know I have said this about other novels and in other reviews, but these are the essential elements of a romance that pull you in and make you want happiness for the characters. The bad guy in all this is of course a twisted sick freak which we all love in a mystery/suspense novel. What I enjoyed, or loathed, whichever you prefer is that to a kindhearted reader, he was particularly disturbing and cruel not only with his physical manifestations and dire warnings, but his emotional and psychological warfare. This guy was really off. It's great.
If I had to criticize at all, it would be that the "red herring" meant to throw us off from the real goon wasn't that convincing. I knew who the villain was relatively early, which was a little disappointing but didn't lessen the enjoyment of the novel for me. Also, I felt, as I mentioned earlier, a lot of coincidence occurred. It was necessary to tie and bond the characters together, but I felt it needed just slightly more back story to make it plausible. But this was a great book, and I urge anyone who is a fan of Roxanne St Claire (relation?), Shannon McKenna and others in that class of Grande Dames to give this one a try. You will not be disappointed.
Ratings:
Overall: 4.75 Stars. Excellent book. Some issues, but nothing that she can't nip in the bud with the next one.
Sensuality: 4.95. Way erotic in my opinion. Nothing kinky, but just freaking awesomely hot.
DD For Seductive Musings Seductive Musings
January 9, 2012
4.5 Stars
Dangerously erotic, Stripped will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Natalya Trubachev has been in Russia for the last three years, deep undercover for the C.I.A. and its top secret elite group the Black Opals. Posing as Russian mob boss, Dmitri’s, lover her mission is to take down Dmitri’s sex trade and human trafficking business. When it leads her to a Las Vegas strip club though, Natalya’s learns that her twin sister is the next victim and she must uncover the names of Dmitri’s two American contacts before the kidnapping of her sister is scheduled to take place. But when she arrives at the club Fantasia and meets its dark and sexy manager, the stakes are raised even higher.
Brandon Moretti is an undercover vise cop managing Vegas’ popular strip club, Fantasia. Investigating the disappearances and murders of several strippers, he knows that he only has a short amount of time to find the killer before he strikes again and one of his girls could be next. When his alluring new house mom shows up with her sultry accent, Brandon knows that she is going to be trouble, both to his investigation and his control. But can she be involved with his case or is it just a coincidence that she has shown up right when the killer is about to strike? One thing Brandon knows for sure though, Natalya has too many secrets and he plans to strip them from her one at a time.
Each are living a lie, and each is fighting an attraction that if they give in to can mean not only their deaths, but the deaths of those around them as well.
Thrilling, suspenseful, exciting and HOT HOT HOT, Stripped was an immensely satisfying read start to finish! The entire story just builds and builds upon itself, setting the stage for a dark and captivating world of intrigue and sex. There were fantastic and surprising twists, nasty bad guys who when revealed made my head spin and every character was so well fleshed out that I even felt sorry for the main villain and the betrayal of his love.
I absolutely loved the main characters of Brandon and Natalya, their chemistry explodes from the pages right from the beginning and they were paired masterfully together. Both of them are strong, determined and sometimes frustratingly stubborn but I really enjoyed their dance of secrets play out; how they unknowingly were seeking the same end game. And the heat they generate, wow – burning passion that light up the pages often! Stripped is seriously a blistering hot suspense all around.
The plot was intense and fast paced, I immediately wanted to start on the next book, but alas, I must wait until July for Lie to Me.
Highly addictive, Stripped is hands-down a must read for romantic suspense and erotic romance fans this year! This one is going right on the keeper shelf!
Dangerously erotic, Stripped will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Natalya Trubachev has been in Russia for the last three years, deep undercover for the C.I.A. and its top secret elite group the Black Opals. Posing as Russian mob boss, Dmitri’s, lover her mission is to take down Dmitri’s sex trade and human trafficking business. When it leads her to a Las Vegas strip club though, Natalya’s learns that her twin sister is the next victim and she must uncover the names of Dmitri’s two American contacts before the kidnapping of her sister is scheduled to take place. But when she arrives at the club Fantasia and meets its dark and sexy manager, the stakes are raised even higher.
Brandon Moretti is an undercover vise cop managing Vegas’ popular strip club, Fantasia. Investigating the disappearances and murders of several strippers, he knows that he only has a short amount of time to find the killer before he strikes again and one of his girls could be next. When his alluring new house mom shows up with her sultry accent, Brandon knows that she is going to be trouble, both to his investigation and his control. But can she be involved with his case or is it just a coincidence that she has shown up right when the killer is about to strike? One thing Brandon knows for sure though, Natalya has too many secrets and he plans to strip them from her one at a time.
Each are living a lie, and each is fighting an attraction that if they give in to can mean not only their deaths, but the deaths of those around them as well.
Thrilling, suspenseful, exciting and HOT HOT HOT, Stripped was an immensely satisfying read start to finish! The entire story just builds and builds upon itself, setting the stage for a dark and captivating world of intrigue and sex. There were fantastic and surprising twists, nasty bad guys who when revealed made my head spin and every character was so well fleshed out that I even felt sorry for the main villain and the betrayal of his love.
I absolutely loved the main characters of Brandon and Natalya, their chemistry explodes from the pages right from the beginning and they were paired masterfully together. Both of them are strong, determined and sometimes frustratingly stubborn but I really enjoyed their dance of secrets play out; how they unknowingly were seeking the same end game. And the heat they generate, wow – burning passion that light up the pages often! Stripped is seriously a blistering hot suspense all around.
The plot was intense and fast paced, I immediately wanted to start on the next book, but alas, I must wait until July for Lie to Me.
Highly addictive, Stripped is hands-down a must read for romantic suspense and erotic romance fans this year! This one is going right on the keeper shelf!
January 31, 2012
Article first published as eBook Review: Stripped by Tori St. Claire on Blogcritics.
Stripped is a seriously sexy erotic suspense novel by Tori St. Claire, and boy, does it keep you on the edge of your seat! Natalya Trubachev, the female lead, is a member of the CIA's elite Black Opals - a very dangerous, very skilled undercover team. For the past three years, she's been posing as the lover of Dmitri, a Russian mob boss, an evil man whose business is trafficking vulnerable Las Vegas strippers overseas for twisted sex games.
Natalya's job is to earn Dmitri's trust enough so she has information and contacts, so she can use them to blow his business to pieces and take him and his evil cohorts down at the same time. However, when Natalya learns that the next stripper who is to be shipped overseas is her own sister, things become more urgent. Natalya has been determined for a long time that she would see her mission through and stop the sick and twisted people involved, but now it's personal. So when she's sent to Las Vegas to oversee proceedings, Natalya knows she can't put a foot wrong, or it's all over.
The trouble is, despite her cool demeanour and her unfailing professionalism, Natalya isn't betting on the manager of the club she goes to work at being such a temptation. Brandon Moretti is hot, sexy, strong and determined. And what's more, he's attracted to Natalya, too.
The two of them make a living on secrets and lies, but it seems they're evenly matched, and their attraction begins to overrule their sensibilities. But will they complete their respective missions and emerge unscathed, or will the distraction they're finding in one another cause things to blow up in their faces?
This is an absolutely super read. I was gripped from beginning to end. There's lots going on, and lots of characters to keep track of so it's not the sort of book you can rush through, because you'll probably miss out on something. But it's such a sexy, tense read that you won't want to rush, you'll want to savour it. Stripped is a brilliantly written book that is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing right until the very end. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of smokin' hot books.
Stripped is a seriously sexy erotic suspense novel by Tori St. Claire, and boy, does it keep you on the edge of your seat! Natalya Trubachev, the female lead, is a member of the CIA's elite Black Opals - a very dangerous, very skilled undercover team. For the past three years, she's been posing as the lover of Dmitri, a Russian mob boss, an evil man whose business is trafficking vulnerable Las Vegas strippers overseas for twisted sex games.
Natalya's job is to earn Dmitri's trust enough so she has information and contacts, so she can use them to blow his business to pieces and take him and his evil cohorts down at the same time. However, when Natalya learns that the next stripper who is to be shipped overseas is her own sister, things become more urgent. Natalya has been determined for a long time that she would see her mission through and stop the sick and twisted people involved, but now it's personal. So when she's sent to Las Vegas to oversee proceedings, Natalya knows she can't put a foot wrong, or it's all over.
The trouble is, despite her cool demeanour and her unfailing professionalism, Natalya isn't betting on the manager of the club she goes to work at being such a temptation. Brandon Moretti is hot, sexy, strong and determined. And what's more, he's attracted to Natalya, too.
The two of them make a living on secrets and lies, but it seems they're evenly matched, and their attraction begins to overrule their sensibilities. But will they complete their respective missions and emerge unscathed, or will the distraction they're finding in one another cause things to blow up in their faces?
This is an absolutely super read. I was gripped from beginning to end. There's lots going on, and lots of characters to keep track of so it's not the sort of book you can rush through, because you'll probably miss out on something. But it's such a sexy, tense read that you won't want to rush, you'll want to savour it. Stripped is a brilliantly written book that is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing right until the very end. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of smokin' hot books.
January 30, 2012
Black Opal operative Natalya Trubachev goes undercover at a Las Vegas club called Fantasia. She walks a delicate line as she juggles the needs of her crime boss Dmitri, her own safety and her growing fascination with Brandon Moretti. Brandon is actually an undercover detective, but Natalya doesn’t know this and she suspects him of being the contact she needs to neutralize.
I suspect that this is one of these books that readers will either like or dislike intensely because of the subject matter and the heroine’s occupation/past history. While deep undercover Natalya has killed and also lead innocent women into a life of drug addiction and prostitution. She feels deep remorse for the acts she has committed and this both shapes her and snaps at her heels, putting her under deep mental pressure. If she fails in this mission, more women will suffer the same fate, and this time her twin sister is the chosen victim.
While I could understand the heroine’s motivations, I didn’t like or enjoy the plot. That said, STRIPPED packs a real punch. Ms. St. Claire writes fresh, vibrant prose that the writer in me aspires to, and the sexual tension between Natalya and Brandon crackles each time they meet. I swear smoke poured from my iPad each time I opened this book! If you prefer a sweet romance then this isn’t the book for you. Stripped has numerous explicit love scenes, which showcase the hero and heroine’s growing relationship.
Characterization, check! Both main and secondary characters are rounded and real with clear motivations and conflict. One small problem I had was the familial relationship between Brandon and Sergei. While I could buy that Natalya and Kate were sisters it seemed a little too convenient that Brandon and Sergei were long-lost brothers too. I had to stretch my imagination to accept this coincidence.
While the plot didn’t do it for me, this is an interesting story where the characters are racing to beat a ticking clock. It’s full of danger and passion and characters with much at stake. The author’s voice grabbed me, and I’ll definitely be looking for more from Ms. St. Clare. Luckily for me there’s a sequel due out later in the year. Fans of romantic suspense—give this one a try.
Note - ARC provided by author for review.
I suspect that this is one of these books that readers will either like or dislike intensely because of the subject matter and the heroine’s occupation/past history. While deep undercover Natalya has killed and also lead innocent women into a life of drug addiction and prostitution. She feels deep remorse for the acts she has committed and this both shapes her and snaps at her heels, putting her under deep mental pressure. If she fails in this mission, more women will suffer the same fate, and this time her twin sister is the chosen victim.
While I could understand the heroine’s motivations, I didn’t like or enjoy the plot. That said, STRIPPED packs a real punch. Ms. St. Claire writes fresh, vibrant prose that the writer in me aspires to, and the sexual tension between Natalya and Brandon crackles each time they meet. I swear smoke poured from my iPad each time I opened this book! If you prefer a sweet romance then this isn’t the book for you. Stripped has numerous explicit love scenes, which showcase the hero and heroine’s growing relationship.
Characterization, check! Both main and secondary characters are rounded and real with clear motivations and conflict. One small problem I had was the familial relationship between Brandon and Sergei. While I could buy that Natalya and Kate were sisters it seemed a little too convenient that Brandon and Sergei were long-lost brothers too. I had to stretch my imagination to accept this coincidence.
While the plot didn’t do it for me, this is an interesting story where the characters are racing to beat a ticking clock. It’s full of danger and passion and characters with much at stake. The author’s voice grabbed me, and I’ll definitely be looking for more from Ms. St. Clare. Luckily for me there’s a sequel due out later in the year. Fans of romantic suspense—give this one a try.
Note - ARC provided by author for review.
January 8, 2012
Stripped by Tori St. Claire
Erotic Romantic Suspense –Jan. 3rd, 2012
3 1/2 stars
Two undercover agents work at cross-purposes and find passion and love in this enjoyable if convoluted story.
Natayla Trubachev has been working deep undercover as a Black Opal. She has infiltrated a female slave trafficking ring. As the lover of one of a Russian mob boss named Dmitri, she has had to become unemotional. With the help another Black Opal named Sergei they hope find all the players and bring them to justice. Her job has been to befriend specific beautiful women and make them sex slaves, but her lover’s newest target is her sister! Natayla’s sister Kate is a stripper and Natayla is assigned to kidnap her. To make matter worse the club where Kate works has a new manager named Brandon. And when Brandon and Natayla meet, their chemistry is combustible! Brandon is an undercover detective who wants Natayla and quickly becomes possessive. But Dmitri has a spy and his jealously and feelings of betrayal put Natayla and Brandon in danger. Can they outsmart the devious and cruel mob boss or will their lives and Kate’s be forfeit?
The attraction between Brandon and Natayla is super hot and are the best sections of the story. I could actually feel their attraction and was glad Natayla had a man who she deserved after playing lover to a villain who was pure evil. I was also fascinated by Natayla’s quiet and efficient partner Sergei who was hands down my favorite character in the story and has secrets of his own. (I really hope he gets his own book!) However, the one drawback to this novel was the very convoluted plot which sometimes seemed a bit farcical. After a while I just ignored the plot and let the book lead where it would.
Extra steamy if a bit contrived, this a book that defies all logic but will keep you entertained.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Erotic Romantic Suspense –Jan. 3rd, 2012
3 1/2 stars
Two undercover agents work at cross-purposes and find passion and love in this enjoyable if convoluted story.
Natayla Trubachev has been working deep undercover as a Black Opal. She has infiltrated a female slave trafficking ring. As the lover of one of a Russian mob boss named Dmitri, she has had to become unemotional. With the help another Black Opal named Sergei they hope find all the players and bring them to justice. Her job has been to befriend specific beautiful women and make them sex slaves, but her lover’s newest target is her sister! Natayla’s sister Kate is a stripper and Natayla is assigned to kidnap her. To make matter worse the club where Kate works has a new manager named Brandon. And when Brandon and Natayla meet, their chemistry is combustible! Brandon is an undercover detective who wants Natayla and quickly becomes possessive. But Dmitri has a spy and his jealously and feelings of betrayal put Natayla and Brandon in danger. Can they outsmart the devious and cruel mob boss or will their lives and Kate’s be forfeit?
The attraction between Brandon and Natayla is super hot and are the best sections of the story. I could actually feel their attraction and was glad Natayla had a man who she deserved after playing lover to a villain who was pure evil. I was also fascinated by Natayla’s quiet and efficient partner Sergei who was hands down my favorite character in the story and has secrets of his own. (I really hope he gets his own book!) However, the one drawback to this novel was the very convoluted plot which sometimes seemed a bit farcical. After a while I just ignored the plot and let the book lead where it would.
Extra steamy if a bit contrived, this a book that defies all logic but will keep you entertained.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
June 13, 2012
Bad ass heroine and strong, sexy male hero take the stage in this awesome erotic suspense novel. This was edge of your seat action and sizzling sexual goodness at its best! Looking forward to Lie to Me which releases July 2012.
December 9, 2011
Really liked this one. Nice erotic suspense. Review to come
January 8, 2012
full review to come soon
August 1, 2015
Loved it.
May 27, 2018
A really good read,but would have liked a bit more on the suspense side.Hope there is a book to come on Sergei/Stefan.
April 6, 2024
The story is entertaining and has quite a few steamy scenes in it. However, there are instances where it is clear the author did not bother to research basic information that could have made the story better and more realistic. Some of the adult scenes also seem to take more from the plot than they give which is a bit disappointing.
January 16, 2014
Oh holy hades..
I was expecting a lot from this book due to it's insane price and thankfully I was not let down. It was everything i hoped you and more.
Now to be honest it was not the most realistic of storylines but really it did not matter once i got involved in the story. All i was interested in was what was going to happen next.
The main characters are very engaging. Discovering about their backstory really helps you connect & sympathise with them both. They are both pretty bad-ass & definitely both sexy as hell.
The story had action, twists, surprises & mystery. I was surprised who the bad guy was which was great! I love when i cannot guess who it is.
Brandon... wow..
He was soo hot and alpha but still he said things similar to this...
Which had me swooning for him.
The sex.. oh.my.god. it was so hot. As was the stripping descriptions. Jesus. Half the book i was wondering..
I enjoyed the book, i would recommend it & i would read more by this author.
I was expecting a lot from this book due to it's insane price and thankfully I was not let down. It was everything i hoped you and more.
Now to be honest it was not the most realistic of storylines but really it did not matter once i got involved in the story. All i was interested in was what was going to happen next.
The main characters are very engaging. Discovering about their backstory really helps you connect & sympathise with them both. They are both pretty bad-ass & definitely both sexy as hell.
The story had action, twists, surprises & mystery. I was surprised who the bad guy was which was great! I love when i cannot guess who it is.
Brandon... wow..
He was soo hot and alpha but still he said things similar to this...
Which had me swooning for him.
The sex.. oh.my.god. it was so hot. As was the stripping descriptions. Jesus. Half the book i was wondering..
I enjoyed the book, i would recommend it & i would read more by this author.
September 14, 2013
Five electrifying stars.
I'm honestly surprised at how low this rating is because I loved this novel. I thought it was great.
Stripped by Tori St. Claire is a erotic suspense romance, which is new category for me. I actually thought this wasn't quite erotica, but more of a suspense romance. However, some of those scenes were electrifying enough to make my heart skip more than a few beats. I definitely liked the plot of this book. It was a very intense read and sweet at the same time. The plot was thoroughly developed, which made the book a lot smoother and clear. Which is great in a book. One thing that I really loved about this book was the balance between the sizzling romance and the plot. I've read many books where authors kind of forget about the plot and focus on the romance, but I especially liked the balance. So claps for St. Claire.
Secondly, the characters were fleshed out very well. It was very easy to connect with the characters and I loved how vulnerable Natalya seemed. Brandon was quite the guy as well. I would order a Brandon like him if I could. Haha.
In conclusion, overall its a great read. There's romance, mystery, and great chemistry.
I'm honestly surprised at how low this rating is because I loved this novel. I thought it was great.
Stripped by Tori St. Claire is a erotic suspense romance, which is new category for me. I actually thought this wasn't quite erotica, but more of a suspense romance. However, some of those scenes were electrifying enough to make my heart skip more than a few beats. I definitely liked the plot of this book. It was a very intense read and sweet at the same time. The plot was thoroughly developed, which made the book a lot smoother and clear. Which is great in a book. One thing that I really loved about this book was the balance between the sizzling romance and the plot. I've read many books where authors kind of forget about the plot and focus on the romance, but I especially liked the balance. So claps for St. Claire.
Secondly, the characters were fleshed out very well. It was very easy to connect with the characters and I loved how vulnerable Natalya seemed. Brandon was quite the guy as well. I would order a Brandon like him if I could. Haha.
In conclusion, overall its a great read. There's romance, mystery, and great chemistry.
January 1, 2015
I finished the book... I liked this book for a HOT, EROTIC thriller. Its something sort of different I've read in awhile. Natalya and Brandon are so HOT together. Through out the book I felt their relationship grow. In the end of the book I felt there were some unanswered questions like, Brandon and Sergei/ had no talk about what happened after he told him he was alive, and where is the closure with Dimitri? did he die? No prison? was he left alive he didn't even have a face to face with Natalya, and Mayer I didn't think he was really relevant at all him being the killer, it just felt rushed. Overall I did like the book very much, I just hope the next one isn't similar to this one. I am going to read "LIE TO ME" and I don't need the same storyline.
This book is steamy hot. I love the connection with Natalya and Brandon. I am reading "LIE TO ME" and I am not getting into the story with Alexei and Sasha, its hard for me to finish.
This book is steamy hot. I love the connection with Natalya and Brandon. I am reading "LIE TO ME" and I am not getting into the story with Alexei and Sasha, its hard for me to finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2012
Review for www.nocturnereads.com
As Tori St. Claire’s debut novel, it’s pretty darn good. Character development is good and they felt real. Erotic elements are steamy and well placed. The sexual chemistry between the main characters could be cut with a knife it was so thick. The stripper role was hot and detailed. The Romantic element is one of those love-at-first-sight pairings. The suspense component was exciting, but I figured out who it was pretty early in the story, but the anticipation lay in how the ending was going to play out.
At a few points in the story I felt like I was missing some back story. There were a few story lines I thought were a little over-the-top as far as coincidental, and the time line of the story is a little hard to believe; having said that, this is a work of fiction and doesn’t necessarily have to be believable. Great job for a debut!
As Tori St. Claire’s debut novel, it’s pretty darn good. Character development is good and they felt real. Erotic elements are steamy and well placed. The sexual chemistry between the main characters could be cut with a knife it was so thick. The stripper role was hot and detailed. The Romantic element is one of those love-at-first-sight pairings. The suspense component was exciting, but I figured out who it was pretty early in the story, but the anticipation lay in how the ending was going to play out.
At a few points in the story I felt like I was missing some back story. There were a few story lines I thought were a little over-the-top as far as coincidental, and the time line of the story is a little hard to believe; having said that, this is a work of fiction and doesn’t necessarily have to be believable. Great job for a debut!
July 19, 2014
Honestly I would have to give this book it's due respects. Tori St. Claire can write her butt off. I found myself wanting to call in and finish reading this book. The flow of her story the characters omg. The only thing I wish she would have elaborated on was Sergei/Brandon's drama smh. More I need more!!!! The erotica hot the twists confounding. I didn't figure out who the killer was till the end. Jill geez girl did you get hit wit a whammy. But you know what you were EVIL. SMH good story. I would kinda read this again.
March 18, 2014
I thought this book would be awesome with the whole undercover and CIA agents stuff but the characters risked everything because they couldn't think about anything other than sex. Their job was falling apart and all they could do is think about how hot they were and what they wanted to do to each other, you've been doing undercover work for years and you f* everything up because you couldn't think or do anything else than f* each other brains out, come on!
May 15, 2015
Hummm... This was more erotica than story... the story is still good so it's not purely porn. Hahaha! I did end up skipping some of the scenes since it was getting repetitive. :P I was reading it for the story. If it was for the erotica, then the stars would be more.
November 15, 2012
**Won on GoodReads First Reads**
February 9, 2012
First time reading this author and this is an excellent book. Very sexy, with great action and mystery.
June 26, 2012
Loved, loved this book. Can't wait for the next installment.
March 22, 2012
Suspenseful AND erotic. Great read!
Read
June 22, 2012Loved this book. Full of suspense.I couldn't put it down. I am looking forward to more of St. Claire's books.
Read
March 20, 2013Couldn't finish this book.Got a little bored with it and started skimming.I'm not sayin' it's bad,it sounded promising,I just couldn't get into it now.Maybe some other time.
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