Shelley Bradley continues a storyline she set up in her January 2006 book Bound and Determined. As a favor to his brother-in-law, Mark Sullivan agrees to go undercover to help bust a money-laundering scheme in Las Vegas. What he doesn’t realize, however, is that his cover will have him working as a dancer in a ladies-only strip club.

Nicola DiStefano is the owner of Girl’s Night Out, the premier male strip club on the Vegas strip. She desperately needs to hire a new dancer, and once she lays eyes on Mark, she knows he’ll be perfect for the job. Big, blond, and bronze with dark green eyes – who could resist this Adonis? Certainly not Nicki.

Embarking on a sexual relationship, Nicki soon finds herself falling for Mark more and more. Mark feels similarly but grapples with the challenge of reconciling the Nicki he knows and has grown to care for with the idea of her being at the helm of a money-laundering scheme. Can Mark maintain his cover and figure out who’s working for the Mafia before he falls completely for Nicki?

Shelley Bradley has penned an exciting contemporary romance with suspenseful undertones. Strip Search is the sequel to Bound and Determined, and while the book mostly stands alone, there are certain portions, especially near the beginning, that could have benefited from more explanation or background. Additionally, as a result of a past relationship gone bad, Mark tends to think the absolute worst of Nicki at every turn, even when her actions don’t necessarily warrant such a vehement response. I found this behavior tiring, and as the story progressed Mark’s actions made me less sympathetic to his past. Aside from this, though, Strip Search is populated with well-drawn secondary characters, and the love scenes are particularly steamy. This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy their romance with a hint of suspense.