I loved this book I was hooked from the very first page and i couldn't put my kindle down while reading this. This is the first book that I have read by Sarah and I will be reading more of her work In the future.  I loved the connection between Ben and Aria and i loved the characters as individuals

We are all the same once we are…nude. Dear Humans, We Can Do Better…

This book was more than a blurb, cover, or name on the cover. This book was strength, respect, dignity, and support. The true meaning of put down to build back up. The definition of acceptance and being more than what is portrayed for other to dissect and shame at will. It was about true friends, family, love with action not words, support with nothing in return. Sarah did that and more. She brought to light so many issues with grace and flair. She brought tears, cheers, hell YES, and inner strength. She brought power to what was hushed. A voice for equality where many bow their head and went with the flow. 

Nudes was it, her voice, my voice, his voice, their voice. Don't just view it, take the stand and embrace the movement. Aria, Ben, Travis.... They were created to put thoughts into action and fiction into reality. I. LOVE. MY. NUDE. 

P.S. The acknowledgment is EVERYTHING. Thank you Sarah, I found you in MMA but LOVE for NUDE.

The Prologue is 2 months from now. Aria is awakened by her cell phone blowing up with calls, texts and voice mails.......
In Chapter One, Aria, the h, is wrapping up filming her first movie. Her first starring role. 
The cover of the book. doesn't accurately depict Aria. IMO she's more of natural beauty. Red lipstick? Nah. 
This is told in 3rd person POV. 
Ben (H), is the new studio head for Shepherd Film Studios. Ben was assigned by the parent company to bring the studio up to date and successful. He walks onto the set of Aria's movie on the last day of filming. 
Ben and all the other crew are dazzled by her moving performance. 
Ben is fresh off a nasty divorce with a (bitch of) an actress. Ben's ex Marion smeared his name and kicked him to the curb. He's sworn off ever getting another actress. Rrrrright.....
Ben meets the cast and crew. Russ, the director is creepy creeperson. Eww. Ben is then introduced to Aria- and yep, he's dazzled. Uh oh, not another actress. Ben tries to resist the attraction..............
A little later, it's revealed (to the reader) that Aria and the director Russ had a short affair. It ended when Russ showed his true scummy ways. Ben isn't aware that Russ & Aria were involved. Yeah, don't turn your back on Russ. 
Ben and Aria start an affair but keep it quiet. Or so they think. Russ is always lurking. 
Ben's ex, Marion makes an appearance that puts brief doubts in Aria's mind. Thankfully Marion is mostly talk. 
The middle seemed to slow a bit with a little too much mundane details. 
Around the 70% point, the story really picked up. The shit hit the fan. The teaser in the prologue is tearing Aria and Ben apart. Freaking Russ. What an asshole. Ben does confront Russ- but IMO doesn't fully stand up for himself. Aria thinks the worst of Ben after Russ drags him down with him. Ben made a careless mistake and Aria is paying for it.
Aria was fairly passive & naive in the beginning of the story. SHE's really the one to clean up this mess. Ben grovels and does his part to make amends.
The ending was much stronger. Great HEA. The writing flow was fast. 
Correction: it should be: Marina Del Rey, not "the Marina Del Ray". (location of the wrap party)
Another off moment(s) Aria's mom Betty (Aria's manager!) often swore like a sailor and almost sounded like a rapper. 
I would have preferred her to act like her mom and more professional when she's working as her manager.
This is a first time author for me. I will probably read more in the future-just no more Hollywood based stories.

I really enjoyed this book & instantly fell in love with the characters. Very relevant subjects covered in a brilliant way that draws the reader in.

My first book by this author but definitely won't be my last

Stripped Bare and Strong
* * * * Spoiler Free
We live in a day and age where anyone can hide behind a keyboard spewing cutting and hateful words. There is no direct responsibility, no ownership or blow back to the author of these types of comments. It was only a matter of time for an author to address this and do it within a story with all of the necessary seriousness. Sarah Robinson took this concept and put it front and center with another current issue happening today. The mixing of these situations with the backdrop of the Film Industry worked.

We come into the world Nude...a blank canvas where our life experiences color everything about us. We learn to protect ourselves with layers to fight off what will cause us pain... what will leave us open to hurt...yet when we find The Person who we fit with...

We risk everything...

Both of these characters cross paths when neither were looking to have a relationship. They did have this desire, though... a chemistry and want which could not be denied...So they decided to have a little fling... enjoy, wring out all of the lust and then move on...But when two people fit...and not just physically...it is very hard to let that go...

A romance begins and then manipulations happen from outside sources...causing some insecurity with the man in this relationship.

Then all hell to break loose...And it is a missed opportunity of support and communication which causes so much pain for her... Leaving her stripped bare and experiencing a person's worst nightmare. It is during this time when we see what she is made of... and it is impressive.

This is a romance... and there are lovely moments between our main characters...But there is also betrayal, anger and a stark understanding of what assumptions are made... based on gender...and an unwillingness to call it out rather than to accept it.

This romance takes the current hurdles we all believe could happen and then gave us a romance to help us through it. Sarah Robinson in her acknowledgements highlighted all the backstory and it was very relevant.

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Nudes...
Oh the power a Five Letter Word can hold...
What does it all mean to these two people...
How does it impact a fledgling romance...

In the hands of Sarah Robinson...
It will not be taken lightly....

Nudes - May 22, 2017

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

Nudes was one of those good surprises you sometimes get as a reader. We've never read a Sarah Robinson book before and within pages I knew that we'd be reading more from her backlist. Nudes was just so incredibly easy to get sucked into; it's this Hollywood romance where Ben and Aria (our dual narrators) seem to instantly be drawn to each other and it's their connection and inability to stop it that made it so much fun to read. I know that some readers are put off by that insta-connection thing but the writing was so smooth that Ben and Aria's relationship just seemed right. 

Another notable thing was the conversation about sexism and the double standard against women we find in our society. Robinson was not heavy handed in her application to this aspect and the way she crafted Aria and Ben's responses to various events in the novel was appropriate and what you'd want or expect to happen in real life. I also appreciated the author's note added to the end of this novel; it's nice to know where an author is coming from and how/why she makes the choices she does.

If Sarah Robinson is new to you, as she was to us, Nudes would be a great one to start with--it's a stand alone, a quick read, and you'll really like Ben and Aria.

There is a powerful message packed into this book.

I sometimes get uncomfortable when a book packs such a heavy message – but this one hit me right where I live. As a female. As a mom. As someone living in a society where social media has stripped us of our filters and, on occasion, even basic human kindness and grace. This message resonated. It made me cry and it made me angry, and it made me so fiercely proud of Aria and how she handled her situation. It made me completely adore Ben, and the choices he made in the aftermath. However I felt about these two as a couple – they were stellar characters in their own rite.

As for how I did feel about Aria and Ben as a couple? Well, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. I loved them. I obviously loved them individually and they’re connection and chemistry was undeniable. However, I did not always connect with them. I felt like I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop and so I wasn’t able to fully enjoy the romance. I was frustrated with them a fair amount – their push/pull didn’t always resonate with me and sometimes it felt like manufactured drama. However, by the time I turned the last page, I was completely invested (and shedding tears like crazy) so at some point I did become hooked. It was just a bit uneven for me.

There’s no glorifying sexual assault in here. If anything, Ms. Robinson approaches the issue with a tremendous amount of respect and sensitivity. This is not the story you think you’re going to read. It’s definitely not the story I thought I was going to read. And, in the end, I’m so glad I did read it because it left me feeling hopeful, inspired, empowered, and – like I said – insanely proud of the two main characters Ms. Robinson created. ~ 3.5 Stars

Aria Rose is a rising Scarlet of Hollywood! She isn't looking for love, but when she first meets Ben, sparks fly! Let's get this out of the way, Aria is no meek character. And I love that about her, she speaks her mind and isn't afraid to be looked down upon. The message of this story is what sold me with Nudes, and the fact that this isn't your typical Hollywood love story. 

If you like Insta-love, you will love this story!

I really enjoyed this book-- the hollywood aspect of it, the characters, the heat between the characters, etc. I do find that the main female character made some poor choices though, and then acted like they were out of her control. I don't like when people don't stand by their (poor) decisions.

I've seen Sarah Robinson books for years and just never picked one up. That was a mistake. Nudes is a story with a purpose. There is the love between Ben and Aria encompassing it all, but the story of humanity and how cruel we can be became the focus. I liked that Aria wasn't perfect. She'd done things that people assume of actresses, but Robinson showed us as readers that sleeping with people in power positions isn't always about getting to the top. It can be genuine and innocent.
And Ben...I fell in love with him from the onset. He was just a great guy. I wanted him to get his girl and succeed in his career. He made me swoon with his charm and wit. Ben came right off the pages and settled into my heart.
Love stories are my favorite. Give me one that has depth and I'll be a fan for life. Sarah Robinson, you just earned yourself a new fan.

I thought that I knew what this book was going to be once I read the prologue.  Turns out I was wrong.  Very wrong.

You know the saying "it's not the destination but the journey that counts"? This book completely embodies that.  The path that the reader wanders down is unflinching, with clear and necessary foreshadowing, yet with no frivolous drama which didn't completely add to the depth of the story.

Aria and Ben are a delightfully imagined couple - not perfect by any means - both subtly flawed yet with an inexorable attraction to each other, and this really drew me in to the narrative of their story.  However, it was the concluding chapters which really made this novel stand out, and created  a much more emotional read for me.

A truly lovely book.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Judge not by the cover, readers. I don't read erotica-- and luckily for me, this book isn't erotica. Does it have sex? Yes. Is it about sex? Yes, but not in the way you think. This book is about power balance and media and double standards-- but it's also a love story. Interesting read!

This review is based on an ARC given to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.  

Hollywood and the shenanigans that may or may not go on between male and female actresses, directors, studio personnel etc. is not an area that I am intimately familiar with.  That gave me a good appreciation for some of the details that author Sarah Robinson provides.  I am usually quite critical of too much flaunting of wealth and power from male characters.  I am usually the first to cry foul on overlapping characters who have had sexual/love connections.  I am harshest when it comes to thinking about how wasteful great wealth is when it is used on expensive cars, clothing, houses... all materialistic things in a world where money could make a huge difference in the lives of people trapped by circumstances beyond their control.  It makes for great fiction because it gives ordinary people the ability to live vicariously through the characters.  But I often crave more depth and if anyone has read my reviews they know that I will pop in a comment like a book has a "Fifty Shades" vibe to it if there is excessive reference to penthouse apartments with huge glass windows, perfect furnishings and extravagant gifts.  As a fan of the Fifty Shades books, I am not a fan of copycat writings.  Original ideas that keep fiction fresh are not only my personal preference but a necessity.  Giving the large umbrella of Women's Fiction room to branch out is the way we have seen growth of these titles throughout the years.  

Nudes has succeeded where others have failed.  Sarah Robinson tells a story that is not too complex to follow but is filled with moments that feel real and less like Hollywood fantasy.  Ben and Aria are flawed human beings, even if there are those moments where they are described by their sculpted curves, muscle, hair, beauty and physical attributes.  If that keeps a reader engaged, I have no issue with it when a novel also addresses flaws and emotion and the people that surround them as being like someone a reader might know.  Hollywood elite are ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances.  If their talent and luck hold out they stay in that elite status.  So often, especially in the age of 24 hour news cycles, we learn that one of them has a crack in their perfect facade; alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, tax evasion... Suddenly their expensive habits become even more closely scrutinized.  Sometimes, there is an innocent person who becomes the victim in Hollywood.  That is where Sarah Robinson takes us.  Aria makes a mistake and that mistake is taken advantage of.  Suddenly her talent is no longer what people talk about and she becomes the meaty gossip that is nearly always prevalent in Hollywood.

I will not go further into the details of the book.  You can read spoilers in other reviews.  I do encourage readers to take advantage of the summary blurbs that the publisher provides.  They rarely contain spoilers.  What you should find is just enough information to determine if the investment of time in reading a title is worth it for you.  If that blurb pulls you in, then reading the book can be exciting and fresh and a treat that you savor.

The best parts of Nudes, go far beyond the seductive cover or the fantasy of being wealthy, beautiful and famous.  The story reaches into  Aria's life, shows how a bad choice or personal judgment can become a nightmarish scandal, which in her case overwhelms her. The reader is presented with her realization that talent is not always what Hollywood or the public crave.  It shows that one can feel betrayed on both a personal and a professional level.  

Love, betrayal, loyalty, trust, sexuality and sexism are all topics touched upon.  No single actress or one studio can change the world.  In an industry where impressions are everything it takes a community to stand together against those things that are most hurtful.  The author gives both Aria and Ben roles in taking on personal causes in Hollywood.  It is disheartening to know that innocent people can be hurt in any industry.   Public figures have the platform to bring attention to causes.  The novel begins with Ben trying to come out from under a personal attack that was intentionally fed to the public.  That is our first hint that Hollywood is not all glamour.  When Aria becomes the target of a scandal, when she feels that Ben has betrayed her for his own benefit, is it possible that love can win over evil intent?  Can this outwardly beautiful couple also have inner beauty?  

Sarah Robinson tackles the difficulties of being famous in Hollywood.  She takes the reader behind the beauty and glam.  Where she goes is sometimes dark and sometimes sad but, without any question, this is a love story.  Following Aria and Ben and the characters around them opens up Hollywood for a behind the scenes glimpse.  It shows reality behind the costumes and sets.  There are many directions that this novel could have gone.  I applaud the path the author chose and have some hope that there are always going to be real actors  and actresses that tackle the seedy side, the gossipy news and that they will take on the challenge to change things one personal step at a time.  For every individual who is intolerant of gossip and half truths and bad apples, there will be progress made.  

I encourage you to read Nudes for content not cover.

***ARC provided by the author via NetGalley/The Rock Stars of Romance***

I admit it, there are a lot of books that I finish and then I get to the review a few days later.  I know I should write them immediately, but I don't.

This one, however, is getting the review about 45 seconds after I finished, because it is that good and I don't want to lose my thoughts on it, even though I always have notes, for this one, I want it fresh.

This book is good.  Really good.  

There's so much that I could talk about.  Their relationship, how they are both in a place where they don't think they can be more than a weekend fling, but how fate throws them together again and again until the realize they don't want to fight their attraction any longer.  So, things are good, and then as the blurb says, things go really wrong for Aria, and Ben looks to be the one responsible.  The reader knows both sides of the situation, which is an excellent choice on the part of the author, as it makes what happens, and the resolution of it, work well.

The blurb gives the impression that the sex scandal, the exploitation that happens, in the book is perpetrated by Ben.  Well, it is, and it isn't.  I am not able to get into the actual events without spoiling it, but I can say that this is a romance, and there is a happily ever after and there is no way you could find a happily ever after with a man who exploited you sexually, I am pretty sure this is one of the "rules" of romance novels in general. I will leave the details of what happens for you to discover on your own.

Ms. Robinson, in the notes at the back of this book mentions some things that may or may not surprise you, but gives a depth to the story that will leave you thinking about the book in a different way.  And, the internet.  Again, not telling you, read the book.  

She also mentions that she wrote the initial draft of this rather quickly.  And you can tell.  Not that it is bad, the exact opposite.  There is a flow to the story, to the words, to the dialog and the entire construction of the book that you can tell there is a connection to the story for the author, that this was a book she just had to tell.

I am very glad she did.

I recommend this book.

This was such a great story!  It grabs you from the first page!  I was drawn to both the lead characters.  Ben was such a hottie!  He was drawn to Aria Rose even knowing he should stay away.  They have great chemistry!  There is also a lot of drama, which should be expected of Hollywood.  I loved everything about this and I would love to read more of these stories!  Definitely worth getting!

Don't Judge This Book By It's Cover

Sarah Robinson delivers a honest yet cleverly written story about how easily we judge people in our lives. She brings forth the issues of name shaming and what it's like to live in a world full of cynicism and degradation especially towards women. 

The way the characters portrayed these issues was beautifully articulated and the chemistry was easily desired and felt throughout the storyline. Yes people you do get some sexy scenes even under these real life messages. 

I really loved the tenacity of Aria Rose who played the victim in this story. She encumbered a great spirit for women who have fallen victims to name shaming tactics in the movie world industry. However it clearly sends a great message to its audience that we all need to treat each other with more respect and not to be quick on judging one another with degrading and vindictive words. 

If you love stories of women on top then you will definitely enjoy this book.

I have tons of warm fuzzies but you probably don't know why...

Nudes is a pretty awesome story... I enjoyed the writing. I enjoyed the storyline. But the absolute clincher was the message, this book has heart. It wasn't written just to tell a Hollywood romance. No, it has a point. 

I think that point makes this book worth a lot more than others in the genre. I'm not book shaming because I am a certified book whore. I love them all, morals or not. But when a book is used for good (cue super hero music), it seems to stick with us even more.

This book will stick with you. Whether for the heinous acts and words or because it touched you in a way that lifted you up, Nudes will be on your mind long after you finish.

Sarah Robinson set a new standard with this book. The story will twist, turn and at times gut you. It's honest, raw and will challenge you in a way you have never thought before.
She pulls every emotion out of the hat and pours it into this story between Aria and Ben. The chemistry between these two is incredible and steaming hot. The storyline is flawlessly perfect. 

Reading this book could very well change your life or at the least the way you look at your world and the what surrounds you. There are powerful messages couched into this book. It reminded me to refocus on those things.

Full review coming prior to release

This is another book I wish I could more than 5 stars to.  Nudes was an amazing story, I loved every page of it.  I really LOVED the message it has wrapped up in the story.  This was a spectacular read.  Aria was put through the ringer for nothing that was her fault, she came out stronger than she was before and had a powerful impact on everyone.  Ben was an amazing man, he was just as amazing as Aria.  The two together generated plenty of heat and I loved all the times they were around each other.  I loved this book and I highly recommend it.

Rating: 4 stars

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review 

I had been waiting to read this book ever since the author announced it a couple of weeks back and I have to admit that I was not disappointed. Sarah Robinson sure knows how to write a story that will capture your attention and make you feel. The chemistry between Ben and Aria was HOT! And the fact that Aria was such a strong personality- it is so rare that we get to see so. I could feel connected with the characters- my emotions were certainly put on a hell of a ride! It was so worth picking this NUDES and I am so glad I did!