This series is a spinoff of the Bruised Series.Baltimore Detectives Dee Quarter and Connie Wilks spring into action when a woman is strangled to death. The investigation immediately leads to Dee’s ex, Grayson, who still wants her. As if Grayson isn’t enough to deal with, the case brings Dee to Jonathan Wild, the leader of a cult called The Circle. The charismatic Jonathan is unlike any man Dee’s … charismatic Jonathan is unlike any man Dee’s ever met and his interest in the feisty cop goes beyond the case, threatening Dee’s romance with Winston Lewis.
Dee loves Winston with all her heart and despite curiosity for Jonathan, she refuses to get sucked in, but Dee doesn’t know Jonathan plans to make her a member of The Circle whether she likes it or not.
While juggling her love for Winston and intrigue toward Jonathan, Dee fights to solve the case, but will she lose herself in the process?
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Dee was playing with fire and her relationships. She was so stubborn that she didn’t need help she couldn’t resist being drawn in to a place she didn’t really want to be. This book was filled with will she or won’t she and how far will she fall.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Detective Dee Quarter is not thrilled to work with her new partner Connie Wilks. The two don’t have much time to debate the issue when they arrive at the home of a woman who was murdered. The woman was strangled to death.
Their deceased victim was in a relationship with Dee’s former ex which complicates their investigation and Dee’s relationship with her current boyfriend. In the course of the investigation, the detectives have to look into a cult to which their deceased victim belonged. The cult leader, Jonathan, is the charismatic leader of The Circle. His charming nature is difficult to resist, but the most difficult part is his piqued interest in Dee.
Complications seem to follow them at every turn, and Dee struggles to resist Jonathan’s pursuit. Working hard to maintain her professionalism, Dee is so focused on the case that she doesn’t realize the depth of Jonathan’s interest in wanting her to become a part of The Circle. Will his possessiveness threaten Dee’s life? Will Dee and Connie be able to solve the murder even with all the complications they encounter?
Though the story did take a little bit to get into – as I hadn’t read the other books leading up to it – once I got going it was an intense and entralling book! It really sucks you in with the various characters and how they overlap and interact.
I am very interested in how this story progresses through the series. Despite being a bit difficult to get started, the book was engaging and the characters humorous while still being relatable. Time and time I kept finding myself thinking of how I would be reacting in that situation, which I find as a sign of a well written story!
This is the 1st murder mystery book I have read. I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it. This is book one of the Stripped series and it’s a spin off of the Bruised series. I can’t wait to go back and read the other series. This book takes Dee the main character through some very serious soul searching. The love triangle, the steam, and the suspense were all great!!!
I never read a book about detectives on a case before. I’ve only ever watched TV shows and movies. But reading in a book is just as enticing, if not more. The author does a great way of describing the places and making each suspect give off a particular aura that keeps you guessing. Stripped is about Dee, a detective who is assigned a new partner, Connie, who she dislikes greatly. They are put on a homicide case that is turning up at many odd angles with many rich and successful people involved. If you like books with an air of mystery around them that keeps you guessing until the very end, this is the book for you.
Detective Dee Quarter doesn’t seem to have many things going for her at the moment. She has recently lost her father, am ex-boyfriend that wants her back, and she has recently been partnered with the one person on the department she can’t stand. When a case comes across her desk she and her new partner have the pleasure of interviewing a local author, Grayson Paul, who also happens to be Detective Quarters pesky ex. She may still have some feelings for him, but she is seeing Winston Lewis and doesn’t want to throw away what they have. Grayson gives up the name of a man that runs a group known as The Circle. A meeting is set up for them to meet the man behind the so called cult, Jonathan Wild, but he is busy when they arrive. Who is this mysterious man? Detective Quarter is intrigued by the man from what she has seen on the internet, but what doesn’t realize is that he has taken a special interest in her. He wants her to become part of his private community no matter what it takes. Out of the many people that are potential suspects will she be able to find the culprit? Will she be able to keep herself from being sucked in by Jonathan Wild?
This was an interesting and quick read. I have seen somewhere that this us a spin-off of another series and I am now curious to check it out so I can find out more about some of these characters. The author did a good job drawing me in and keeping my attention.
This was a 4 star read, it took me just a little bit to get pulled into the story.
A woman is dead and Connie and Dee are investigating it. The investigation takes them to The Circle, a cult that is led by Jonathan. Jonathan is intrigued by Dee and wants her to join The Circle. The other difficult thing she is dealing with is her current boyfriend and her ex. Who will she choose? Will they be able to find the murderer?
Overall this was a good read. All of the characters added a great element to the story. I look forward to reading more from this author and series. 1-click and get started today.
We get suspense, murder, drama and so much more.
I haven’t read a good suspense book in a while, but this book was absolutely thrilling! I have a bad habit of guessing who was the killer and most of the time I’m able to figure it out way in advance of the big reveal. The red herrings in this were so well done that I couldn’t even get close to figuring it out. I loved it! This book has it all, a badass female protagonist, thrills for days, sexy people, cults, intrigue I mean you name it and it was there. I read this book in one session and am eager to read more. I really love an unpredictable ending, and a suspense book that keeps me guessing. I can’t wait to read the other released books in this series. Definitely a must read!
Stripped (Stripped Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne is my first read by this author and I was definitely not disappointed. This mystery/ romance had so much to offer including intrigue, plot twists, fantastic characters, and more. Ms. Deanne had me hooked from the very beginning and after finishing this book I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see what happens to her terrific characters. The authors writing really seemed to just flow right off the page, her characters and plot were both just terrific and really made me love her story even that much more. Personally I can’t wait for book two, to see what happens next.
This was a great romantic mystery. We meet Dee Quarter a police detective who has just lost her partner from an accident on the job. She gets paired with Connie Wilks who she has personality differences with. It may just be that they are a lot the same. The case that gets thrown their way is a woman who was strangled. Their investigation leads them in a couple directions, one of them being a cult called The Circle, led by Jonathan Wild, another her ex-Grayson.
Will Dee be drawn into Jonathan’s world or will she be able to hold onto her romance with Winston Lewis. I feel Dee’s struggle, the pull she feels to Jonathan, Grayson not wanting to let go of the love he has for her, and Dee just wanting to have her relationship with Winston. Can she keep a hold of who she is? Or will this case pull her in directions she really doesn’t want to go?
Stripped (Stripped Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne
4 of 5 Stars
This is a fast paced page turner which had me hooked from start to finish. The main character Baltimore Detective Dee Quarter is a strong and independent female lead who really brings the story together and I felt that she is a relatable and realistic character, making her easy to engage with. Dee and her partner Detective Connie Wilks have a case to solve when a woman is strangled to death. The investigation becomes personal for Dee when it leads to her ex boyfriend Grayson and causes her current relationship with Winston to be strained. The case also introduces them to cult leader Jonathan Wild, of The Circle. As they continue to investigate it becomes clear that Jonathon wants Dee as a member of The Circle, whether she wants to be or not. The storyline flows well and the plot twists kept me guessing until the end and had me happily turning the pages. It turns out that this series is a spinoff of the authors Bruised Series, and I did feel as I was reading the novel that certain things that were referred to had maybe happened in a previous book. Although this book can be read as a standalone story, I feel that the reader may understand Dee’s backstory better if they have read the other series first. I found this gripping romantic suspense to be an enjoyable and engaging read and I am now keen to read other books by Stacy-Deanne as I liked her writing style.
Stripped (The Stripped Series Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne is a compelling love triangle suspense novel. A spin-off of the Bruised series by the same author, this book follows Detective Dee of Baltimore. When a murder investigation takes her straight to her ex, she must contend, also, with the leader of a cult. All the while, she must stay true to her love Winston and, more importantly, to herself. Dee struggles with her loyalty to Winston while combating her interest in Jonathan, and she is a character you find yourself rooting for. This book will suck you right in and keep you until the very end. It is the first installment in The Stripped series, so rest assured there will be more to come! Seriously, don’t miss out on this read. The combination of romance and dealings with The Circle (Jonathan’s cult) will definitely keep your interest while satisfying your romantic side. Definitely don’t miss out on the Bruised series to get to know the characters first – however, this can be read as a standalone and enjoyed just fine.
I really enjoyed this romantic suspense book…..I felt like I was being pulled in the cult aspect of it by a character named Jonathan, just the way he talked and came across as the leader of “The Circle”. Detectives Dee Quarter and Connie Wilks are investigating a murder of a woman whom was strangled. You feel like it leads up to Dee’s ex named Grayson. As you read the story, there is another aspect of it that the woman whom was murdered possibly belonged to this “cult” run by Jonathan Wild. Dee finds herself being pulled in by Jonathan and his girls and they would like her to join “The Circle”. This book had some twists and turns and it is truly intriguing read. I would like to continue the series and I am curious what will happen next. I will be also circling back to the other series’ by Stacy-Deanne as this book is a spin off series. Overall, I really liked this book and I am very intrigued what may happen next.
Stripped is the first book in the Stripped series by Stacy-Deanne. The Stripped Series is a spin off from the Bruised Series. I had not read any of this author’s work before reading Stripped. I did feel that maybe I’d have got more out of this book if I had read the other series.
I enjoyed the overall story with Dee being forced to work with new partner Connie who she doesn’t like (I’m assuming there is a story there from the previous series) on the case involving The Circle.
I really enjoyed reading the interactions between Dee and The Circle cult leader, Johnathan. I was drawn into their story and really enjoyed reading about these two characters.
I have to say though that I really didn’t get the relationship between Dee and her boyfriend Winston. Again, I’m assuming that there is more to their story from the previous story. Maybe if I had read that then I’d have a better insight into their relationship.
Overall I did enjoy the book and I will read the remainder of the series as I want to know how this story pans out.
Detective Dee Quarter has gotten herself into quite the love triangle (or quadrilateral?). Boyfriend of 1 year, Winston, is what she says she wants and needs in a man. But then how to explain her reaction to ex-boyfriend Grayson’s advances, and how her body reacts to cult leader Jonathan? As she gets closer to solving her murder case, she gets more and more embroiled in temptation and trouble.
The plot is well-drawn, and the developments in both the case and Dee’s love life make for interesting reading. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why Dee was drawn to the creepy cult leader, but to each their own. I think the issue I had is that I wanted there to be more character development. I didn’t feel like these characters were truly lifelike and believable… something was missing for me. However, fans of romance will appreciate the steamy love scenes, and suspense/crime lovers may enjoy this mystery.
Stripped (The Stripped Series Book 1)
By Stacy-Deanne
This was a good read. There were definitely some interesting characters in this book. There are twists and turns, suspense, romance and more. As I was reading this story I realized that some of these characters were in another book and although I was able to follow this story very easily I wish I would have read the other book these characters were in so I had a better back story. I also wish I knew what happened between Dee and Grayson.This author kept me intrigued and entertained throughout the book. I look forward to reading more books in this series. I’m not sure how I feel about Jonathan and the woman that lives with him so I’m hoping to get to know more in the next book. I’m glad I decided to take a chance on this book.
Stripped is the first book I’ve read by Stacy Deane and while I could follow along pretty well, I felt like I was missing something despite starting from book one. The interactions between Dee and Grayson made me curious about their history and how we got where we are. I looked into Stacy Deanne’s writing a little further since she’s new to me and realized that her Bruised series crosses over. Now, this might have been blatantly obvious when I downloaded the book, I have a tendency to see something, read the synopsis and forget it by the time I delve into the book (added suspense!).
No harm done though, I am just left with another book series I look forward to tackling. As for Stripped, I really liked it overall. Part of the reason I was drawn to this romantic suspense is because of the female main character being a detective. I feel like so often our female leading ladies are not portrayed as strong and independent as I’d like them to be and I was hopeful this would be a different case. Fortunately, I was right and really enjoyed Dee as a character.
What really pulled me in though was Stacy Deanne’s writing style. There was something unique about the writing style in the first two chapters that really grabbed my attention. Each chapter felt like a perfectly timed commercial break that made me
need to see what was next. The storyline was fluid and the book
was short so pages flew by. I would give the book 4 stars and will gladly continue on in the series.
5 Stars
Stripped (Stripped Book 1) by Stacy-Deanne
Stripped is the first book in the Stripped Series by Stacy-Deanne. This is a suspense with a bit of romance. I was drawn in from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down. It was a fast paced story with twists and turns that had me turning the pages trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This is a new to me author but I’m definitely going to check out what other books she has. This is a story about Dee and her Partner Connie who is put on a murder case of a woman who had been strangled to death. She’s shocked when the case leads her to her ex boyfriend who might be involved. Better yet she gets a lead to a leader of a sex cult. Will they solve the case and find who murdered Autumn? Find out what happens next in this must read. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
Way to spin it off on a new series! This is not a typical Love Triangle. There is much more to it than meets the eye. This is the first book in the Stripped Series written by Stacy-Deanne. It is a spin off from the Bruised Series. In this story we meet Baltimore Detective Dee Quarter. Her and her partner Connie Wilks are called in to a homicide which involves and ex-boyfriend of Dee’s and another man who just seems to be very intriguing but has ulterior motives to bring her in a cult. This book sounded very intriguing as it involves a Murder Mystery, Romance and Cults but it’s also because it is a BWWM (Black Woman/White Male). I haven’t read much of this genre but it totally worked in this book! I loved the characters and the mystery within it all. I hadn’t read this author before but I was very pleasantly surprised. This story was a very easy read and it was very engaging and it really brought you in. I wished I had read the previous series just so that I could have a little bit more of a background but you can totally read this book without doing so. I can honestly say that I am excited for the next book in the series! Well Done Ms. Stacy-Deanne!
Stripped by Stacy-Deanne is the first book in the Stripped series. This book is a spin off from another series however I don’t think you need to read the other series first. I started with this book and was able to completely follow the story and the characters with no issues.
I found this book to be quite an easy read.
You get into the story easily enough, and although the characters obviously have background from the other series you connect with them easily too. I didn’t find the storyline too gripping, in parts it was a little predictable, I did still find myself invested enough that I wanted to know how things were going to turn out.
This is a new author to me and I have to say I definitely enjoyed her work. I will be reading the next book in this series and probably the previous series too.