Can he convince the girl from his past to become his future?Ever since Michael Waverly joined Stronghold and recognized Ellie Sanders he’s wanted to scene with her, but over time it’s turned into something more than that and he knows one scene just won’t satisfy him. Unfortunately, she’s been avoiding him and she has a reputation for never doing more than playing at the club – no commitments. … playing at the club – no commitments.
Now, for the first time, her defenses seem to be down and she’s giving him a chance – but while she’s willing to sign a club contract with him, will she ever be willing to open her heart?
Ellie is so full of secrets sometimes she feels like that’s all she’s made of – all the things she doesn’t want other people to know about her. The person she’s most afraid of revealing all of her secrets to is Michael – her one-time protector and crush in high school, now grown into a devastatingly attractive sadist at Stronghold. She wants to play with him. More than that, she wants to know if maybe she has a chance for a normal relationship with him… the first man in a long time that she’s both trusted and been attracted to. Unfortunately for Ellie, normal has always been out of her reach. The most important secret of all is the one she’s keeping from everyone, especially Michael, because there’s no way he’d ever want her if he knew the truth.
But communication is everything in a relationship like this and Michael’s determined to strip back all of Ellie’s defenses and claim her as his own… with a determined Dom like that, what chance does a scared subbie have of keeping her secrets?
This book is about a strong female heroine still in recovery from a terrible incident when she was younger and the Dom who loves her – HEA guaranteed.
Stronghold Doms Series
1. The Sassy Submissive
2. Taming the Tease
2.5 On His Knees
3. Mastering Lexie
3.5 Pieces of Stronghold
4. Breaking the Chain
5. Bound to the Past
6. Stripping the Sub
7. Tempting the Domme
8. Hardcore Vanilla
more
I’m not sure why but I decided to do a re-read of this book. It’s not like I haven’t got several hundred unread books on my TBR list, but . This time around I DID enjoy the book and characters a lot more because I’ve now read the other books in the series. So despite each individual story being stand alone, the book involves a large group of friends and it’s almost impossible to keep track of them if you haven’t read at least a few of the previous books. (There is a sort of ‘more on this later’ later).
Having read one heck of a lot more BDSM/kinky/dark reads since my first dance with this book, I no longer found the S/M level of this shocking or difficult to read at all. In fact I would now describe the kink scenes in this as incredibly hot, sexy and lust inducing. There are plenty of them, not too many as to detract from the story, but enough to make it a smouldering read.
The stories are quite long, and I love, love, LOVE that we get to see the characters grow and develop. We are shown how the couple fall in love and we work through their lives and issues with them. Golden Angel draws us into their world, ensnares us in their lives, and captures our hearts along with theirs, brilliantly.
This is where I come back to my ‘later’ bit. Sometimes I feel as though I’m struggling to get through the stories and it’s taken me a long time to realise the why. Each book brings us a new couple and as we progress through the series we keep seeing more of those couples. And whilst those friendships are a real strength of these books, it’s also a weakness for me. There is too much time spent ‘off couple’ on developing/continuing other plot lines. I enjoy seeing Angel, Lexi et al but if it isn’t just a brief glimpse, or it doesn’t somehow build into the current storyline then I find it both distracts and detracts from the couple I am reading. This book spent a LOT of time building up two future books and continuing Angel and Adam’s story. None of this really added to Ellie and Michael though, and THEY were the only couple who I wanted to read about in this book. The other stuff would have been better kept to a multi-couple novella snuck in between main books IMO.
I really liked both Ellie and Michael. Ellie had massive issues to deal with and we all handle our problems in different ways. Ellie hadn’t really dealt with it at all, she’d run away from them. It might seem weak to some but we all handle things the best way we can and no-one should be judged for how they choose/manage/have to cope. I adored how gentle Michael was with her, well out of scene time anyway! How determined and caring and sweet a side this mean, sadistic Dom had. I fully bought into their connection, their relationship and their feelings.
So to summarise, I would recommend the book AND the series. I would also very much recommend reading them in order. The spoiler below contains my first review, JFYI.
5 Star Review Stripping The Submissive (Stronghold Doms # 6) by Golden Angel
Audio Review
I thoroughly enjoyed this story about Dom, Michael Waverly, a sadist and the woman he has never forgotten, Ellie Sanders, a masochist. The narrator did a good job but I did feel that the male character voices were not as strong as the female ones.
This book packed an awful lot into it. I really liked Michael and Ellie, both as individuals and as a couple. I felt their connection and the chemistry between the two of them is scorchingly hot. However Stripping the Submissive is so much more than just a steamy book, it has a great depth to it. Ellie’s journey as she struggles to come to terms with her past was at times heart breaking.
It was great to see how Michael handled Ellie’s doubts and insecurities as she wrestled with the past and how it had impacted her life and relationships around her.
Will Michael be able to break down the barriers that Ellie has erected and in turn, help her to overcome her past and to take a chance on a future together? As a Dom, Michael knows that the key to any relationship, particularly a BDSM one is communication and trust, but will Ellie have the strength to share with Michael the truth of her past or will her secret remain between them and in doing so destroy the trust that has built between them?
This has fast become one of my favourite series, although I have only listened to a couple of them, I had no trouble following book 6 and hopefully I get a chance to listen to or read the other books in the series.
This was a story of the Stronghold family i was só looking forward to reading! When i found it on instafreebie,i immediately grabbed it and it was more than worth it! Ellie is such a sweet,vulnerable little subbie….My heart ached for her. What she went through,was awful,and the reactions of those close to her,was even worse! No wonder she put up those walls….And it’s up to Michael,who knew her before disaster struck,to tear them down. Her masochist soul yearns for this sadist. But what will he do once he finds out what happened back then? I cheered Michael on as he very slowly,very carefully worked his way back into her life. Love that man! Love this story,it’s such a beautiful addition to the Stronghold series!
This book is the sixth book in the Stronghold series but, the first book that I’ve read. It is well written, respectful and realistic of the subject matter and a group of characters that are fun, supportive and genuine.
Ellie and Michael are the focus of this book. They are such a special couple and their road to happiness becomes center stage. It is imperative that they get their happily ever after but, there are some serious bumps in the way that need to be resolved before that happens.
Really good book especially if you enjoy kink and the BDSM lifestyle.
Probably one of my favorite books in the series. A story of second chances and survival. A beautiful story of redemption and renewal. You can’t go wrong with the Stronghold Doms series.
Ellie and Michael have a history. Michael protected Ellie back in school and Ellie never forgot that. Michael knows Ellie just does scenes, but he has always wanted more than that. But in order for Michael to have Ellie, he has to strip her. Strip her of her clothing, her wall that she puts up and her defenses about her secrets. WHile Michal scenes with Ellie, and steams up the pages, he is also working towards having her for longer than a scene. I loved this interaction. It brought depth and emotion to the story. Golden Angel brought out the feels and the steam in this book and left me wanting more. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.
Rosie brings this story to life. I enjoyed listening to her narration. She has an easy to listen to voice that captures the readers attention. Rosie is able to bring out the best and worst of the characters and make them real. I felt as if i was a fly on the wall in the story. Overall, this was a great narration.
Golden Angel does an amazing job talking about a difficult topic. A topic that many women and men are ashamed to talk about. I love how in this book Golden not only has stories being shared but takes the time for the characters to explain their experiences.
I think that Elli and Michael are an interesting and sweet match. My one struggle was that there was a lot of internal dialogue that the characters and I would have liked a little more interactive dialogue. That is purely just my preference and in no way changes how interesting and entertaining this book is. I love how there is this level of uncertainty and suspense throughout the entire book!
I’ve been following “The Stronghold Doms” series and this one was a dual edged sword for me. Michael and Ellie’s story both broke my heart and melted it. These two have a history going back to high school. But as life happens, people go their own way and circumstances change causing new life experiences; not all of them good. Golden Angel has taken one of those life experiences, brought it and it’s consequences into my life. Not just to read but to experience the repercussions. Each person deals with things differently but this author has taken something so vile and turned it into a learning experience. Not only for Ellie and Michael as they try to grow through it but ultimately for this reader. What a beautiful story.
EllieMichael! More Stronghold Doms Greatness!
Stripping the Sub
Stronghold Doms, Book 6
By: Golden Angel
Narrated by: Rosie
I love this Stronghold Doms series, Golden Angel created a wonderful world with terrific characters who belong to the same BDSM club, they are a tight knit circle of friends who took out for each. Each book in this series features a newly developing couple. While each book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone it is really great to know more about the other characters form earlier books. ‘Stripping the Sub’ is Ellie and Michael’s story. Micheal, a Dom and sadist, is a new comer to Stronghold brought in by his friend Angel. He recognizes Ellie at the club whom he knew from High School and is interested in her but something in Ellie’s past leaves her broken, not trusting and unable to have a relationship. She is a sub and a masochist who enjoys the structure and safety of the club. Michael does not give up on her, wants to penetrate the walls she built up around herself. I loved his patience with her, also loved that the group of girls, subs and Olivia, stepped up and gave her their support. Michael and Ellie are perfect for each other, his Dom to her sub, his sadism to her masochism. Their story is not an easy one, lots of drama, angst & emotions but there sure is great chemistry between them and their scenes were smoking. Gold Angel, thank you for another great story, I am looking forward to the next book in the series, also want to see how the new club turns out and what stories it will bring.
I listened to the Audible edition, Rosie does a great job narrating and bringing the characters to life. She is a wonderful voice performer and an entertaining storyteller. That you for this great listen
Thank you AudiobookObsession
#AudiobookObsession #AudiobookObsessionReviewer
I have never read another book series written in such a “conversational style” and I can honestly say that I really, really loved it! It wasn’t as if I were reading this book as much as it felt like I was hearing it from a great group of friends. I laughed, I blushed, I squirmed, and I swooned- this series has it all. It revolves around a core group of friends and their connection to the Stronghold BDSM club.
There is a bond between people who share like interests, even if those interests vary in degree or kink. I loved going along for the journey between Mike & Ellie as they navigate past hurts, fears and misconceptions about one another and themselves. Seeing their friends support them all along the way, sometimes teasing, sometimes sharing their strength makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the group!
It is very much a one step forward three steps back kind of dance that they weave as they make their way to the realization of what they want and what they are willing to do to get that. The comradery between these characters is so believable, it’s like you’ve known them your whole life. Especially when the ladies begin discussing the common thread of being taken advantage of in one way or another because they are women- what a profound moment that was!
I was never more excited than when I got to the end of the book and realized there more waiting to be read! I am already so enamored with these characters, I am not ready for it to be over! And let me just say the sex… oh my… melt my Kindle HOT!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well told story with characters that are beautifully crafted. I was new to this author when I read this book, but I am considering myself a fan from here on in!
Another great story for the series
Having stumbled onto this series late, this was the last new story in the series for me and it filled in some missing pieces. If you’re new to the series yourself, while each book can be read as a standalone, there is some building upon events in the previous books (in this case, particularly Andrew and Kate’s story, Bound to the Past), so for the best experience, I’d recommend reading the series in order. Note I originally reviewed this as part of the Stronghold: Closing Time boxset, so this review is also included there.
With the teases from the previous books, I was eager to get the full story behind Ellie’s issues and equally eager to see Michael get his sub, and this story didn’t disappoint. Michael and Ellie were both great characters, and if some of their play was a little outside of my comfort zone (Michael is a sadist to Ellie’s masochist), they were still perfect for each other and I thoroughly enjoyed their journey to their hea. Getting the background behind the idea to start up the new club, Marquis, was a bonus, especially as the author’s new series will be set there.
Of course, we get updates on the rest of the Stronghold group, and getting some of the setup for the final two books in the series was an additional bonus—in fact, I feel a re-read coming on. *grins*
Heat and humor plus some pain as well (Ellie is a masochist after all), and another great story for the series. 5 stars
B2B Kelly
Book six in Stronghold Doms series. Can be read as stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the entire Stronghold Doms series in order (and reading the Venus Rising series first). This books main characters have been secondary characters in the other books in the series. The group of friends are throughout the entire series and I love reading about them in each others books. Told in dual POV with HEA for this couple. Michael and Ellie knew each other in High School but lost contact when he went of to college and she was just a sophomore. Ellie has severe self confidence issues and believes she’s too damaged for any relationships (including friends). She is a member of the BDSM club Stronghold where she only plays to get extreme pain. Michael returning to the area joins Stronghold as a Dom and recognizes Ellie. He wants to scene with her, but she avoids him. Great book about learning to trust yourself as well as others. I love this book and this series!! I can not wait for the next one.
Ellie is an enigma. She is a masochist who rarely scenes with the same Dom twice, refuses after care and flees Stronghold as soon as she is able. The only exceptions to her behavior are her multiple scenes with Andrew and allowing Jared and Leigh to give her limited after care from a scene with Andrew. Another quirk? She avoids Master Michael like the plague. Michael, however, finally decides to make his move and slowly invades her space. Realizing Ellie has had some kind of traumatic event in her past, Micael moves at a snail’s pace with her slowly building on the trust she’s already given him. Ever the sadist, Michael gives Ellie all the pain she needs but in ways she never expected. As they move into a more personal relationship Ellie’s shame and self doubts come to the fore and she tries to distance herself from him. Fortunately the Stronghold group doesn’t allow it. Michael and Ellie work to become a couple while coping with her insecurities but live will triumph and give them thei HEA!