2.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

OK, this one was a hard one to rate for me. Because there was a lot that just rubbed me the wrong way entirely and made me grimace when I ended the book...but at the same time, I read this all in one afternoon and couldn't put it down. I'm not sure if it was like a bad car accident, or if I was just sucked in enough despite the things that didn't work for me, or if I just needed something with a familiar plotline and was curious enough to find out where it was going and if it would get better. So I'm rounding up to 3 stars...I just can't deny that I was enraptured regardless of the reasons.

So...what were my problems? *sigh* I didn't particularly like the characters, ESPECIALLY our hero Finn. He was, quite frankly, a self-absorbed dick. I mean seriously, he looked into a mirror and thought about what woman wouldn't want him. I know some people like those alpha guys, and I can sometimes, but they have to have some likable qualities, and I just didn't see enough of it from him...he just wasn't redeeming in my opinion. I don't mind a guy who is confident in himself, but like I said he came across more as just self-absorbed and self-important.

And Macey wasn't terrible, I just didn't really get much of a feel for who she was. I know her daughter is really important to her, and I was intrigued with the storyline of a woman willing to strip to get her and her daughter out of the slums and away from her alcoholic mother (that has some sort of unsafe house). But other than that, what interested her? I did get some sparks of sass to her on occasion, but then they would be missing at other times with weak excuses for why she was allowing Finn to treat her a certain way. I guess I was just confused.

And then there was the romance. Am I the only one who wants there to be more than sex in a relationship? I mean, if this was an erotica maybe (though even then some eroticas have more to their romance than this did). But seriously, what drew these two people together? What in the world did they love about each other? Every time I saw a glimmer of something more, it would come back to sex. I mean, I guess I know that there are couples out there where their relationship is mostly based on sex, but that's just not as interesting for me. I want to see friendship, and just some activities together that are outside that. Heck, even Macey said on more than one occasion, there's more to love than sex. But then why didn't I see that?

And am I the only one that felt like their relationship was kind of unhealthy? Finn was downright mean to Macey on occasion, and she would excuse it. The whore thing came up I don't know how many times. And I wasn't even taken in by what Finn was thinking about Macey in his own head. And every time they had an argument or something, he would like command her to strip and start trying to get busy, and then that would be that.

So yeah. I was curious how the daughter thing was going to play out, and I was fairly ok with that aspect of the story. Morgan really didn't feel 10, but the author did occasionally say she acted young for her age...but I guess I don't know why. And otherwise it kind of played out like a mediocre Harlequin, which was probably why I was entertained. It also had really strong Pretty Woman tones, but occasionally too strong...like I might as well just put on the movie and actually get some magic and conversations between Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

The one bright spot for me was Lamar. That guy was awesome. But since the series is about billionaires, I doubt he's going to get his own book. A shame, he was the only character I really ended up loving. Ah well. I have other books by this author on my Kindle, so hopefully this was just a one-off, and not indicative of her characterizations in general. Cause if it is, then we're just not a good fit.

Finn and Macey meet up unexpectedly when she sees him in the casino he owns in Vegas after losing a bunch of money at blackjack. Their worlds could not be more different - he owns two Casinos and she is a single mother who makes a living as a waitress by day and a stripper at night. Macey gets a tp that she can make fast, easy money for one week in Vegas so she decides to take the plunge in order to better her life and that of her daughter, Morgan. After losing a huge hand, Finn makes a proposition to Macey that she can't refuse. Finn recognizes Macey as a one-night stand he had back in high school but can't remember her name. Macey knows exactly who Finn is when she sees him since she stares at similar features on her daughter every day. Finn knows nothing of what has transpired in Macey's life and just assumes she is a stripper because she grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Their story was interesting, but I am not a fan of keeping such a huge secret for someone. Macey had ample opportunity to come clean and chose not to. Finn was not all that endearing at times and I wanted to throttle him at points. He really could not get out of his own way at points. He claimed not to think of her as a wh*re but yet insinuated it over and over again. He was awful slow on owning his feelings and Macey paid the price for that several times. Macey really did get whiplash at points from Finn's constant hot and cold behavior and I would have walked away at a certain point. I did like the ending and was glad to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one although it seems it is my week to read books with leading male characters I love to hate! Macey is a down on her luck single mom doing what she has to do to get ahead. She's been trying for 1o years now though so she takes a chance and goes to Vegas to earn some quick cash stripping in the clubs there. She had me up to this point, then she makes an insane decision and my respect for her takes a huge hit. Finn is a club owner is Vegas and can't believe his eyes when he sees Macey, a girl from his hometown, losing big in one of his clubs. Seeing how devastated she is at losing her money Finn offers up a proposal. One week - she belongs to him and he'll pay her double what she lost. He's arrogant, bossy, and demanding. And Macey loves it!!

Definitely a book I recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the storyline was fun and I always enjoyed a sexy billionaire story. My only issue, is I wish Finn could have come around sooner. At least with his behavior. He made me dislike him for a lot of the book. However, that being said, I ended up really liking him by the end of the story and I loved Macey. Sweet, strong and independent. I thought she had really been through a lot and really liked the way she handled it all. I loved the writing style and the story definitely held my interest and I can't wait to read more from Heidi.

I truly enjoyed this book, even at times I could have smacked Finn a few times. But other than that I did like him. Finn and Macey were perfect together and I enjoyed watching their relationship unfold. This was an enjoyable quick read.

1.5 stars- I couldn’t see past the characters

I had a host of issues with Stripped Bare but they all boil down to the fact that I really didn’t care for the hero and heroine. As my dislike grew for Macey and Finn, I became more critical of other aspects and it compounded for the bulk of the book. The plot is similar to Pretty Woman and the blurb sounded promising, but my inability to click with the characters eliminated my enjoyment.

When the book opens, we meet Macey. She’s had a difficult life and willing to try just about anything to make things better for her young daughter. I never had a hard time with her motivations and I could empathize with most of her choices, but a few felt really incongruent with her role as a struggling single mother. The author addressed some of these, but as they piled up it was increasingly hard to dismiss. I also felt she was underdeveloped. She came off as brittle and angry for a good majority of the book. That attitude made sense given her life experiences, but I needed the softer sides too and I never got more than glimpses. The lack of balance and some of her behaviors made it difficult to like her even if I felt for her. While I could forgive Macey’s anger and rough exterior, I couldn’t cut Finn much slack. His haughty, egotistical, self-indulgent attitude made him unappealing. It was almost as if the stereotype the author was striving for got overblown. Though there’s no doubt there are people like that in the world, I don’t see them as heroes. He contradicted himself too often, saying he respected Macey, then cutting her down a page later. I’m all for the reformed playboy, but I need to see a lot of change or character development throughout the book, rather than just the end. In the latter half of the story, Macey talks about all the ways Finn makes her feel that enabled her to see beyond his brash words and actions. It was nice and you could understand why she wanted more, but the reader never sees those sides or moments. And I certainly never felt them.

Unfortunately, my difficulty with the characters extended to the other aspects of the story. The writing was okay, but it didn’t flow as well as I expected from this author. There was a lot of telling of emotions in the story, making it a bit stiff. The romance was largely lust-driven, and while that made sense initially, it also ensured I didn’t connect with the story or characters much. I was happy there wasn’t insta-love involved, but the relationship didn’t develop much beyond having physical chemistry even toward the end. I liked the hints we got that both characters felt more or appreciated aspects of each other’s personality, but it never went beyond brief flashes and I never felt their love.

Overall, I think this was a case of too far gone for me. The plot and conflicts held promise, and the execution and resolutions were solid, but it felt uninspired. I love stories featuring character redemption and growth, but in Stripped Bare the reader was just told it happened or it was casually dismissed. I wanted to see that. I wanted those tender moments where the reader sees the walls come down explored in detail. There were a few, but it wasn’t convincing enough to draw me back in. By the time there’s a shift, my walls were up and my feelings for the characters colored the remainder of the story. I found myself reading to see how it ended rather than enjoying the journey itself.

OMG...I enjoyed nothing about this book. First Fin was nothing but an asshole for the majority of the book. He doesn't even remember the heroine's name or that he slept with her ten years prior. Macey wasn't much better. She is trying to give her daughter a better life (for ten years she has been trying.) Yet when she goes to Vegas and earns enough money to move out of the ghetto and away from her drunk prostitute of a mother (who she has allowed around her kid. Often leaving her ALONE with her) she gambles it away in one go?!

Of course, Finn sees her and goes all "PRETTY WOMAN" on her ass. Pretty much insulting her or thinking hurtful things. Like after they have sex for the first time he thinks "maybe his dick will rot off" because she sleeps around. This whole book was a hot mess for me. So much so I don't even feel inspired enough to make any graphics for this review...

Stripped Bare caught me by surprise - in a good way. It seems a little sexier and grittier than other books by Heidi McLaughlin, and I was not expecting it. Specifically, her hero in Stripped Bare is much more of an alpha-jerk than her other heroes. I really enjoyed the story and like this new side of Ms. McLaughin. (At least, this side is new to me. I will check out other books I have not read.)

Macey Webster is a single mom who supplements her meager waitress's income by stripping. She’s not happy to do it, but she is a devoted mother and does what she must to care of her young daughter. She’s never done more than strip, but she needs a financial boost to permanently set her and her daughter up in a better housing situation. She takes an opportunity to spend one week in Vegas as an escort and stripper to make a lot of money.

In Vegas she runs into casino/hotel owner, Finn McCormick, and her offers her a one week agreement to be exclusively at his command. Problem is…. Macey knows Finn, and they have a history. They are from the same hometown (where Macey still lives) and had sex one night years ago. Finn remembers Macey (barely) but she’s obviously changed since he last saw her. He wants her and is willing to pay to her her be his for the next week.

Macey is unapologetic about being a stripper, and I respected her mom-warrior attitude. She’s doing what she needs to do, and she isn’t going to let someone like Finn judge her. He does, and he isn’t shy about telling her what he thinks or her and her occupation. Finn is a bit of a jerk, but I admit that the worst jerks make the best happily ever afters for me. He has a long way to redeem himself, because he does not always treat Macey well. It is obvious that somewhere underneath his ego that he has the capacity to care and love, but he refuses to believe he could ever be in a committed relationship. Macey and Finn’s week together has consequences neither bargained for, and you will love going on this ride with them. - Janet Reads Romances

Stripped Bare was an enjoyable read by Heidi McLaughlin.

Even though this book is fairly predictable the storyline left enough question to keep you interested. I will say that there were certain aspects of this book that reminded me of the movie Pretty Woman, but was still a story of its own. I loved the flow and pace of this story. Everything moved along well. I thought the length of this story was great, it wasn’t filled with a lot of excess drama or filler to make it longer and slow it down.

Stripped Bare is a standalone novel told in Dual POV. This is kind of a second chance romance but I say that pretty loosely. Finn and Macey hooked up once back in high school but never actually got together. So this was more of an unrequited love.

In this book we follow the story of Macey and Finn. Macey is a single mother to Morgan and will do about anything to give her daughter a good life. She is determined to get out of her alcoholic mother’s house and provide a stable life for Morgan. That means that she has turned to stripping for the past ten years, because overtime she thinks she can stop she realizes how good the money is. Still not making enough to get out of her mom’s house, she is given an opportunity to go to Vegas for a week and strip there and earn more money. She takes the job. Then her luck turns bad and she loses all the money she made, but this is where Finn comes in. Macey just happens to be in Finn’s hotel (that he owns) and he sees her and recognizes her. Seeing her down on her luck he wants to help and offers her a proposition. Will Macey actually do anything to provide for her daughter?? What will happen when Macey’s secret comes to light?? Will Finn be able to forgive her?? Read this book and get those answers.

I liked Macey’s character in this story. She proved to be a strong woman who just wanted to give her daughter a better life then the one she grew up with. I liked that she was able to stand up to Finn when she needed to. Now Finn on the other had….I liked him but wasn’t in love with him. I thought he was kind of a jerk throughout most of the book. He had his redeeming factors and there were some times he was really sweet and let his softer side show, but those were rare. Now he wasn’t the worst or meanest Hero I have read before, but it might take you some time to warm up to him. I will say that I thought the ending was a little quick and abrupt. I found it hard to believe Finn’s change of heart, but I was glad to have an epilogue in this book, because I thought it put the perfect ending on their story.

So if you are looking for an entertaining read, I think you should give this one a try. If you are a fan of Heidi’s books then I think you will want to read this book!!!

This book is so AMAZING that not many words can describe how I truly feel. The chemistry between Finn and Macey is instant and off the charts. It This is a romance that I could read over and over again! If you love Pretty Woman then you will love Stripped Bare!!

I just totally devoured this story!! Macy and Finn are now totally a favorite couple and Heidi McLaughlin once again has knocked my socks off with her storytelling!

From the first time I read the synopsis for this book I knew I'd love it, but I have to say there was so much more to the story than I thought going in. It had so many things I adore. Hot, dirty talking alpha with a huge heart- check. A strong, determined heroine - check check. A second chance romance with two people so drawn to each other but unsure they deserve the other -oh yeah triple check. So many things I loved about both Finn and Macy, them finding each other again may have been a twist of fate but the way they were together was totally meant to be and totally beautiful.

DNF

I'm sorry to say this one wasn't for me. It felt way too fast paced and a bit choppy. I never really connected with the main characters and found them a bit off putting. I was initially interested in the Pretty Woman vibe it had going on but there wasn't enough to keep me reading. This one just didn't click for me.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Loveswept for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I started reading this I was totally reminded of the Julia Roberts movie Pretty Woman. You know hooker (Macey is a stripper, not a hooker but is thinking of it out of desperation) meets billionaire, he buys her for the week to be his date at functions and they fall in love. As well as the “no kissing” on the mouth aspect of that story too.

As soon as I knew that Macey knew Finn from her past, I knew the role he played in her past and her big secret. I have to say that I was pretty much turned off by Finn in the beginning. Yep, he’s rich and gorgeous but totally a conceited jerk to go with it. He also has a problem of using sex too much. It’s like that is how he tries to fix things or he thinks everything is ok if they have sex. My heart broke for Macey and the struggles that she went through as a single mom, working two jobs to support her daughter, living in a not so great situation where her daughter has to hide in a closet from “Grandma’s friends”. Ugh, I could so see why she was making the decisions she did.

My problem with Macey is that she lets Finn manipulate her. Heck she even admits that he will manipulate her until he gets what he wants. She wants the “fairy tale” so bad that she gives in to Finn. She does have moments where a back bone is evident but they are few and far between.

I also felt that the story kind of moved fast. Once he found out the big secret he wants to play that part and it just felt a little rushed and fake to me.

With all that being said, I couldn’t put this book down. I had a feeling how it would end, and it did but I had to see that it did. I actually rooted for these two to be together and wanted them together. I wanted Macey and her daughter to have everything they deserved in life and to finally have a break.

If you are looking for steam then this book will not disappoint. HEA, yep, it’s there! If you like billionaire romances then you’ll love this book!

Oh I am completely in love with this book. For me this was a Pretty Woman story but with some twists and ones that make this book unique on its own.

Macey is barely making ends meet resorting to stripping and waiting tables to provide for herself and her daughter Morgan. She finds herself in Vegas attempting to make some quick money and runs into Finn a blast from her past who also happens to be a super rich wealthy casino owner.
Finn has a proposition for her, one that could help with some of her financial woes.

Finn was a little bit of an ass I will say but it was so fitting for his character as you find out about his life. As the story goes on his douchebag persona is slowly chipped away by Macey. Macey is tough, determined, focused and willing to do what it takes to provide for Morgan. I absolutely loved her and she didn't back down from Finn nor did she put up with his mood swings.

I loved their interaction, the banter back and forth between the two. Macey certainly challenged Finn at every turn. The sex is off the charts hawt and the chemistry between the two will have you fanning yourself. As their time comes to end, my heart was racing a bit wondering whether he would keep her or let her walk away. Some surprises are revealed that will leave you with some anxiety, some drama unfolds that will have you cursing and wanting to slap someone and there are some moments that will make your heart melt.

I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend to those that are looking for a love story with some elements of hotness, drama, surprises and swoon.

This author for me is a hit or miss.. this time it was a really really big miss... not enjoyable and predictable at all.. it's kind of like Cinderella meets pretty woman and not in a good way.. and the whole plot twist about the daughter being his? No thank you

Stripped Bare reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies – Pretty Woman! I read Stripped Bare in one sitting, which I did not plan to at all. It was a really quick read; one of those reads that you just need to know what will happen next. It’s not suspenseful in any way, since it is predictable. However, the characters were a bit unpredictable to me. In turn, it intrigued me and made me want to know more.

From the blurb, I didn’t expect the story to unfold the way it did and it was a welcome surprise. The characters were truly likable except they had a few faults that didn’t appeal to me personally so I didn’t fall in love with them.

Finn was a bit of an asshole. Don’t get me wrong, I typically don’t mind a bit of this flaw in my leading man but at times it almost came off too douchebag-like for me. The other thing that threw me off was that Macey’s character is strong and independent and she truly was, but she was also portrayed as extremely weak when it came to her body with Finn. Because of this, I couldn’t help but feel like she is not as strong as she was written to be. This could all very well be due to my having this strong belief in – you may not have control over how you feel but you have full control over your actions. And Macey pretty much let her emotions control her actions completely. It just wasn’t a good balance for me personally.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this story so if you are looking for a quick, cute and well written book – give Stripped Bare a chance.

My review will be left on release day on amazon UK it was a brilliant read

I loved this book. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. It had all the feels I love in a book. There were times I wanted to slap Finn and scream at him. But I also understood why he was the type of man he was. I can see why he feels the way he does about love.

I felt for Macey and everything she went through. I understood why she had to work the job she did. She was trying her best to provide for her family. She was trying her best to provide a better life.

There's instant chemistry between Finn and Macey, even if she wants to deny it. I wasn't so happy with the proposal between Finn and Macey but understand it. And I think anyone who needs money to provide for someone else will do just about anything to get money.

My heart broke for Macey and her situation, for everything she had to put up with. Macey struggled through her life unnecessarily. Someone could've helped her but they didn't.

There so much more to say about this book but I don't want to give anything away. I highly recommend this book. It's very sexy, more than Heidi McLaughlin other books but is great. There's a story to be told and it unfolds wonderfully. Can't wait for Heidi McLaughlin's next book.

Received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

Finn McCormick doesn't do relationships, the mere mention of them and he's sprinting for the door, one night between the sheets is the name of the game with him. After witnessing his own parents marriage completely unravel, and end in heartache, he decided early on that there was no way he was ever going to travel down that path. And for the most part it's been easy for him to avoid it, but when the alluring Macey Webster wanders into his casino, clearly in need of his help, he can't help but get involved... and before long his plan to keep things one night only becomes really hard to stick to!

To say that Macey Webster has been dealt a crappy hand in life is an complete understatement, but she is doing all she can to change it, and has a plan in place to get her life on a better track. Her little plan involves one week in Sin City, doing a little dancing, and reaping the benefits... but when temptation gets the better of her she finds herself broke, alone, and back at square one. Now she must find a way to re-earn the money she lost to help create a better life for her and her young daughter... lucky for her a friend from her past is about to offer her the deal of a lifetime, now she just has to decide if it's worth the gamble!

As soon as my eyes landed on the synopsis for this story I knew it was going to be a exceptional read, and I am happy to report that it DEFINITELY lived up to my initial expectations, it was AMAZING!! Barely a chapter into the story I was hooked and felt myself being pulled deeper into Finn and Macey's alluring world and couldn't wait to see how it would all end! The instant these two wandered into each other's lives you could literally feel the sparks bounce between them, and those little sparks produced some very blush worthy scenes that had me in dire need of a fan...several times!! Enjoyed every minute of this one, it touched my heart, made me swoon and left me with a smile! Highly recommend you give it a try!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

One very hot read. Funny and completely entertaining from start to finish.