Ryan, before he was Jack the F^cking Stripper – 5 Stars.
Absolutely the best prequel to Strip Me Bare that I could have imagined!
I am so rapt that MNever has written this book. Insanely tense and highly emotional, this is Ryan’s story as he is trying to work his way out of the hell-hole that is his life. With an alcoholic mother and a drug-fuelled identical twin brother using his name to avoid criminal charges, there was no way for him to go but down.
I loved Ryan before, and my heart was breaking for him as he took care of those who continued to abuse and deceive him, as he fell in love with a woman from the right side of the tracks, and as he began to plan for some goals in life. He was optimistic, yet I knew how the book would finish.
Alana Remington was a gorgeous and positive young lady, despite the emotional desert that her upbringing had been. She had all the creature comforts and more, but love wasn’t displayed, and emotions were considered a weakness. Even so, she was perfect for Ryan, not judging him for the background he’d told her about and who still saw the promise in him. She encouraged him to see options for the future that he didn’t know existed.
But then, Ryan’s family, that millstone around his neck, truly de-railed his life.
Ryan’s story consumed my thoughts even when I should’ve been doing real life stuff. I really wanted things to work out for him, but, not so in this book. That ending came in Strip Me Bare, which of course was re-read. I just love this pair of books – and absolutely recommend them as essential reading for those who enjoy hot and sexy books with a great story and a side of humour. 5 Stars.