12 September 2014

Trashy Tour Stop

She’s trying to move on, but the past won’t let her go.

I fell in love once.

It was a big mistake, but the biggest mistake of all was staying with him.

He pushed me around. He cheated and treated me like trash.

I don’t feel sorry for myself, because I let him.

But no more.

I moved out. I'm saving my stripper's salary for an education that will get me somewhere better.

But breaking the chains of a shitty past isn’t easy. He says I owe him. He says we aren’t done. I don’t care what he says anymore. 

I do care about Adam.

But my history tells me I’m not the best judge of men. And the fact Adam’s been married four times tells me he probably isn’t a safe choice.

I need safe. I need better. I need out.

If the past is any indication of my future, getting out isn’t going to be easy.
Ok, I’m going to admit something to you people.  After the last “Take It Off” book, I was pretty ready to give this series the boot.  Maybe I just read too many in a row, but the last few were lackluster and repetitive to me.  I have to say, I’m glad I took a chance on this book because while it seemed to follow the same basic formula of the series, it still was a vast improvement over the last installment.
Roxie has had a tumultuous past, and has been working for the last several years as a stripper at the Mad Hatter.  Her heart had been broken by her first love Craig, who turned out to be an abusive jerk face.  So, trying to put her pieces back together and save up for college, she found herself stripping.  Though, she has a firm rule against getting involved with anyone at work, she’s always kind of harbored a crush on her boss Adam.  She doesn’t think it has anywhere to go, what with her stripper status and questionable past with men, but Adam has different ideas.  Adam has decided he wants Roxie, and wants to be the man that she needs.  Can Roxie and Adam overcome Roxie’s past together?  A past that includes an abusive and psycho ex that wants Roxie back?
Ok, ok…so the plot is familiar.  Spunky but damaged woman and a man who makes her want to love again.  Been there, done that.  Specifically been there in this series…multiple times.  And while I have to admit I found myself getting bogged down in some incongruous details, the saving grace of this book was Adam.  He’s sexy…totally alpha but not in a douchey way.  He lets Roxie dictate the pace and tone of their relationship with a few nudges on his part, and I adored him for that.  He was a great character and probably my favorite male character of Cambria’s since Nathan from Text.  He’s awesome, and a totally honorable guy.
If I look past the issues I had with the repetitive plot, I liked this book.  It was exciting and fun, and the romance portion of it is lovely.  This one stood out for me because I think it really showed some growth in Roxie as a character throughout the book.  It had depth, which I appreciated.  4 stars.
  
“Kiss me.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. In seconds he was standing to his full impressive height and towed me up along with him. Adam released my hand and cupped my face. His hands engulfed my jaw but he was so gentle. His eyes swept over me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen and around us sparks flew like snowflakes in a blizzard. 

Instead of crushing his mouth to mine like I expected, like I wanted, he took his time. His heated gaze dropped to my lips, then back to my eyes. His fingers spasmed against my head and tightened ever so slightly.

Slowly, slowly he lowered his head, cupping my jaw so that I could do nothing but hold still and wait for him to arrive.

The anticipation of his lips on mine was almost my undoing. Everything going on inside me head floated away. I became aware of the moment, of the quietness in the room, of the way my body swayed wanting to get closer.

Adam’s lips brushed over mine, a gentle caress, once, twice and then a third time. He lifted his head just slightly and stared down at me, his thumb climbed up and caressed my lower lip.

He smiled softly and then joined our lips once more.

Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series, the new adult Death Escorts series, and the new adult Take it Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com
 

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