Title: Stripped Down
Author: Eva Moore
Series: Exposed Dreams #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

There were certain aspects of this story (primarily Natalie’s past) from the Christmas short story Decked Out. Yet, this still fleshed out a lot of their characters. And was a very fun and engaging romance. It was one of those easy read romances that was cute and fun. But it also focused on the fact that both Enzo and Natalie had to work on themselves and their own hangups to truly be good for one another.

There is something extra special about single parent romances. I think because it is never just about the parent, and there is a whole other aspect of trusting that just isn’t there when you aren’t a parent. And in this story, I love that Enzo is forming a bond and relationship with daisy. Not because it makes things better with Natalie (if anything it makes her go off her rocker even more), but because of Daisy in and of herself.

Where Enzo is constantly working at improvement throughout this story, it does take Natalie an annoyingly long time to move past her own insecurities. But, when she is finally called on her crap and chooses to grow up a little, it is seriously glorious. And a bit of a reminder that sometimes asking for help isn’t actually such a bad thing after all…

Although all of Enzo’s actions come from a really nice place, they definitely are not as considerate as they should be. It’s fantastic that he finds a way to move on from this. I mean, its all well and good to want to solve the problems of someone you love. But if you don’t actually take the time to learn HOW to, it’s really just you acting in a fairly entitled way. Or at least, that’s how I felt upon reading this. And through some of my own experiences.

Ultimately, Enzo and Natalie learn to process their own damage and create a new reality for themselves. At the centre of all of this is the idea that communication is key. You can’t just assume you know what someone else is feeling – you have to ask them.

<- Opened Up

Decked Out ->

Image source: Kobo