FELICITY STRIPPED BARE - Vanessa Jaye
Samhain Publishing Samhain Publishing
ISBN: 1-60504-062-2
July 2008
Contemporary Romance

Toronto, Canada – Present Day

Felicity is a high school drop out who has been on her own since she was sixteen years old. She was called a "retard" in school because of her dyslexia and now, ten years later, Felicity gets by the best way she can as a waitress in a strip club. She also attends tutoring sessions at the local library. Felicity barely has money to get by, but she is proud to make it on her own, even if her parents won't support her. Unfortunately, her problems are about to get worse. What she doesn't count on is her new landlord, Daniel Mackenzie, trying to evict her!

Daniel has a dream of owning his own construction company and renovating old apartment buildings into single family homes. He also toils away at his father's law office where he is expected to do no wrong. Daniel and his friend and business partner, Rob, hope this new building they have just bought will be a move in the right direction. If only he can get the sexy yet annoying Felicity to move out, everything will be perfect. Not only is she easy on the eyes, she is very stubborn and a major pain in Daniel's…

Felicity can't stand Daniel, and he seems to feel the same way about her. Her friend Cheryl wants Felicity to seduce Daniel, but Felicity is done with smooth talking gorgeous men. And when she finds out he wants her to move out of her home, she sees red. She is not leaving and will fight tooth and nail to stay! Daniel is used to getting his way, and it only takes one kiss from him to make Felicity weak in the knees. Daniel may want Felicity to find somewhere else to live, but the kiss they share and some other interesting moves between them make him realize that Felicity is one woman he wants to keep in his life. Perhaps he can have his cake and eat it, too? Why not have her in his bed and help her move somewhere else, close by so he can keep an eye on her, especially when she allows her slimy ex-boyfriend, Stuart, back into her life.

Soon Daniel and Felicity become more than just landlord and tenant. Felicity is now very important to Daniel, but he's been burned by love before and is not sure he can give his heart to her. Felicity is frightened about her feelings for Daniel because everyone has hurt her in the past. What will Daniel think when he finds out she can't read and has to start working as a stripper to make ends meet?

FELICITY STRIPPED BARE is a wonderful and engaging romance about a woman who feels she is useless because of her handicap, her lack of education, and what she must do to pay the bills. How can she ever be comfortable around a man like Daniel who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth? If you like stories where total opposite characters are attracted to each other, Vanessa Jaye's heart-wrenching tale is one you must read. I found myself tearing up a few times because Felicity feels she will never get ahead and be worthy of Daniel's love. I wasn't a big fan of Daniel at first because he is very rude and cold to Felicity, but just as she is warming up to him, I did also. And when Daniel shows Felicity what she means to him, their love scenes are quite perfect in their telling.

Daniel's mother is a wonderful character, along with Rob who is such a big flirt, he makes Daniel jealous. Michael, Daniel's father, is cold and unforgiving. Cheryl is also a great friend of Felicity, especially when she tries to push her friend into Daniel's arms. But Felicity has to watch out for Daniel's old girlfriend, Deidre, who wants Daniel back with a vengeance.

FELICITY STRIPPED BARE is my first read of Vanessa Jaye's and certainly won't be my last. This is one romance that may make you cry, so make sure you have some tissues handy. Felicity is one character who will tug at your heart for a long time after you finish. And if you are a fan of hot and smoldering sex, FELICITY STRIPPED BARE is that perfect book!

Kate Garrabrant