Title: Stronger With Her
Author: JA Hensley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: November 1, 2015
Stephanie’s life has been on auto pilot for years. Growing up a child prodigy with a troubled family does that to a woman. Her job as a computer tech just reinforces her invisibility. She wants to be seen, to be noticed, and her solution is working part-time as a dancer. What she wants more than anything else, is to be known.
James suffered a tragic loss four years ago and has since kept his focus on work. He’s built Owens Ammunition from the ground up to be a very successful company. When his buddy makes him attend a birthday party, he’s forced to go outside his comfort zone. That’s when he sees her on stage and his world shifts on its axis.
One night, one dance, one fateful meeting that changes two lives forever. Will he find that he’s stronger with her?
“Now coming to the main stage is The Shady Sprocket’s very own Vixen!” Paul turns around, practically jumping out of his seat to get closer to the stage. I shake my head and sit back down, effectively moving as far away from the stage as possible. If Paul’s excitement is any indication of how this girl is, my bladder will have to wait so I can watch him make an ass of himself.
All the lights dim as the spotlight focuses on the curtains at the back of the stage. The opening chords of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” are blaring through the speakers, and I roll my eyes at the cliché song. Every stripper uses this one at some point. The curtains open and this tiny woman wearing platform heels, a black leather halter top and the tiniest skirt with zippers up both sides that barely covers her ass slinks out from backstage.
To be fair, everyone is tiny compared to me but she can’t be taller than five and a half feet without her stripper shoes. Walking slowly and seductively up the stage, looking at the men like she wants to eat them, she stops at the pole, leans her back against it and slides down to the floor. She humps the floor a couple times, bounces up to her feet, reaches behind and pulls herself up the pole. She spins around slowly and as she does she slides down, ending in the splits. This routine continues for the duration of the song. All the while, men are throwing money at the stage and vying for her attention while she takes her clothes off, leaving her in just heels and the tiniest black thong on earth.
Just as the song reaches the bridge, she looks directly at me. I find that I can’t look away, like there’s something holding my gaze to hers.
With long black hair, sparkling blue eyes, and plump red lips begging to be kissed, she’s beautiful. There’s no denying it, but it’s something else. I watch her on the stage, twirling on the pole and she looks . . . happy. Most of the women in here look bored like they’re trying to imagine themselves anywhere else. This woman, however, is smiling and enjoying herself; showing off her gorgeous tits as she hangs upside down, sliding toward the stage slowly. My friends have been dragging me here for years, and I’ve never seen anything like it. Obviously, neither have the rest of these men who are going crazy. I can’t believe the sight in front of me of grown men practically crawling over each other to get closer to the stage.
The bouncers must hate this. My friends are in the thick of the crowd, and I shake my head. Being over six five, I don’t have any problem watching the show from where I am. Def Leppard continues to blare out of the speakers, and she moves perfectly with the music. She’s really good and she knows it, teasing and wiggling just enough to keep the dollar bills floating to the stage. Why have I never seen her before and why can’t I take my eyes off her? I feel like I’m under some sort of spell, drawn in by a force I can’t explain but not wanting to fight it at all. It’s not lust; it’s something else.
She smiles and winks at me just before spinning one more time to land on the floor in the splits as the music comes to an end to the loudest cheers I’ve ever heard in here. This girl knows what she’s doing.
The volume of the crowd is deafening as they chant, “Vixen! Vixen!” It takes two men to help her pick up all the money on the stage but she walks slowly around the stage lifting the bills and giving everyone a little bit more attention. I follow her every move, unable to look away. When she finally makes her way backstage, the spell is broken, and I feel like a part of me is missing. What the fuck is that about? I throw back the shot that has apparently been waiting for me and shake my head to clear it.
I really loved this book! JA Hensley does such an amazing job of connecting you to all the characters and has created a storyline the pulls you into the character’s world. While I was reading Stephanie and James’ story, I felt like I was right there with them for their journey. It was a bumpy road for both of them, but I was so pleased I was able to walk it with them.
What I really enjoyed about this story, was that though there was plenty of sexy time (don’t get me wrong, I do love me some sexy time) you also got a story. Some Erotica books, you get lost in all the sex. There’s no story between the two characters other than the amount of times they do it. JA Hensley gives you the sex you crave from the erotica stories, but she also gives you a story that you could relate to. You fall in love with Stephanie and James because of their pasts and their present, not because of how well they do it in the bedroom.
JA Hensley is an author I’d willing read a book from, without even reading the synopsis. She’s yet to disappoint and I doubt she ever will. Congrats JA on an remarkable story that I’ll be reading again and again!
**ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review**
J.A. Hensley’s debut novel, Wedding Dreams, was named an Amazon Erotica Best Seller. She loves smut of all kinds and is a reader first. J.A. is constantly working on a new project, whether it’s writing or working in her craft room. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and daughter, and spends her days teaching college students about social work and human sexuality.
Amazon USA Best Seller Erotica Category #91
With This Ring: Amazon USA Free Erotica #1
Amazon Best Seller Romantic Suspense: Australia #60; Canada #23; USA #92
Winner: Sexiest Alpha Male—Ever After Author Event Readers Choice
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