When a man makes his living by his looks, he can forget that love—and lust—are more than skin deep. But the right woman can remind him . . . A former soccer player, stripper, and model, legendary party boy Patrick Halloran finally gets his big break starring in the summer blockbuster. But when an accident leaves him changed forever, he hides away in his secluded Montana ranch. Only his new … secluded Montana ranch. Only his new housekeeper is allowed inside—with one rule: she’s not allowed to see him. But Pat sees her, and she’s the most stunning woman he’s ever laid eyes on. Even her voice is beautiful. Still, Pat can’t allow himself to get close to anyone. Not without a fight at least . . .
Magdalena “Lena” Martel is a long way from Queens, New York. After a rough patch, the aspiring artist is working her way through college—even if it means keeping house for a man whose gruff voice she can only hear through a closed door. Still, Lena senses Pat’s got a good heart, maybe even a lovable one. She’s intrigued—until his anger sends her running into the freezing woods. Now Pat will have to find her—and when he does he may have found the one woman who can thaw his heart—not to mention the rest of him. But can their new bond survive the paparazzi—and their personal
demons? . . .
Praise for Stripped
“A witty, wonderful romance that speaks to who we are, who we are meant to be, and who we are meant to be with.” —Sarah MacLean, The Washington Post
“Stripped is a modern rom-com that’s equal parts sexy and sweet.” —Shondaland
“That smile you have on your face right now? It’ll be there the entire time you’re reading Stripped.” —Jasmine Guillory, Oprah Magazine
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5 AMAZING STARS for Flashed by Zoey Castile
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way.
This book was SO GOOD & I was hooked immediately …
Patrick & Lena are amazingly flawed characters and yet so totally relatable – defying the odds by sticking together when the going gets really tough. These characters do not even initially like each other and yet their chemistry is pretty immediate …
What did it for me :
Sizzling off the charts chemistry
Great plot & storyline
Very interesting secondary characters
Patrick really – really needs to work for their HEA after several screw ups on his part …
This story had me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end – loved it !! I would highly recommend Flashed as well as the other 2 previous books in the series Stripped & Hired
This author writes fantastic easy to read romance about amazing relationships !!
A hot slow burn, Flashed is emotional and heartbreakingly romantic. The story follows Pat, a former actor and stripper who has lived most of his life believing that his appearance defined his worth. He was the life of the party, experiencing his first taste of success until a car accident left him scarred and hiding from the world. His friend hires Lena to act as his live-in housekeeper/chef for the next few months in an attempt to get him to start caring about his surroundings again. Pat refuses to speak to Lena face to face, so they begin exchanging texts and calls which slowly bring them closer.
I loved this story – I was hooked from the very first page. It’s well written and the storyline is unique. Pat and Lena don’t actually “meet” for quite some time, so they slowly get to know each other on an emotional level before the physical side factors in (though once it does things get pretty steamy). The first half of the book was fantastic, with Lena breaking down Pat’s walls. Pat has been through a lot and he has plenty of healing left to do, but I liked that the author made the process feel believable – he’s not all of a sudden going to be cured of his demons just because a beautiful woman moved into his home. It’s a story of healing and recovering from trauma that is certainly worth a read. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book immensely and will have to try out more from this author.
Flashed by Zoey Castile is book Three in the Happy Endings Series. This is the story of Patrick “Pat” Halloran and Magdalena “Lena” Martel. I haven’t yet read the previous book, so for me This was a standalone book.
Pat once was a great soccer player, stripper and even a model so most of everything he knows is related to his body and looks. So when accident happens it changes his life to someone outing going and having fun to a recluse where he doesn’t want anyone to see him. So he leaves for a secluded Montana Ranch to get away from everyone but he does need help.
Lena can’t take her abusive step-mother anymore so when she see an ad for a personal assistant on a off location it sound like what she needs. There she can be away from her step-mother, earn a living and continue her art school. But what is unexpected is not seeing her boss and talking to him through some form or another. But Pat has seen her and he is so taken with that it is become all he can think about.
Loved their story and hope to read more from this author.
I love Lena and Pat and all their family and friends. I did tear up reading this story a couple of times. There are parts of the story that are intense. The writing is good and the characters are well writen. There is depth to each character and there is a reason for each one we meet. The setting is interesting and well thought out.
I’ve read the other two books in this series and I have to say, this one was my favorite. Reading about the rise and fall of Patrick and the struggles he had to go through, especially mentally, I thought all of that was handled really well. Lena was so patience and kind and I don’t know how she stayed so calm with all the crap that went down with her stepmom. I wanted to punch that lady in the face! It was nice to see past couples and new characters, I really liked everyone.
Magdalene Martels life sure isn’t a picnic she has lost both her parents and is suffering under the hands of a stepmom from hell so she decides to get herself a summer job while on break from art school She is employed by Scarlett to care for recluse Patrick Halloran the only rule she has to obey is that she isn’t to ever see her new boss. Patrick was deeply scarred by a accident on the set of his latest blockbuster and has retreated to his secluded Montana ranch. When anger on the part of Patrick drives Magdalene out into the dark and wild of the ranch he knows he will have to find her Will this be the start of him starting to face his future and realising that he doesn’t have to hide away. Will her sweet nature be the thing to break down his walls. This is a deeply emotional story that draws you in and keeps you engaged until the very last page and has you thinking what if how would I handle this
This was Patricks book and it was sad. It was a little different from the first two books in the series and I hope you started with the very first one, Stripped that way you know some of the secondary characters and a little more of Pat. Due to an accident Pat is scarred and really depressed so he becomes a recluse and is in darkness (mentally) daily. His very good friend Scarlett hires someone to cook and clean and even though he fights it he eventually succumbs to allowing Lena to work for him. Lena is a good woman, she is in debt due to her horribly step-mom and is intrigued with her employer. Eventually these two develop a relationship but have to deal with Pats demons, will he mess it up or allow her to help him heal.
Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions