Under Her Skin

by Jolene Raine

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.

She’s my only light, my only weakness.

It was too good to be true. Men who cause pain like I’ve caused don’t get to be happy. We don’t get to have it all.
Ava’s brothers, my best friends, were right to want me out of her life, but I couldn’t let go. We were just starting to settle into our own version of normal when the world turned upside down, and my worst nightmare came true.

I lost everything.

I lost her.

Now, I’m on a mission, ready to move heaven and earth to get her back. While I fear we’ll both be broken beyond repair when all is said and done, I’ll take that risk.

There are very few people I’d willingly follow into the darkness, but Ava has quickly become one of them. If there’s one thing anyone who goes against me should know, it’s that I’ll stop at nothing for those I care about.

I failed to protect her once; I will not fail her again.

Even if it costs me everything.

Even if it costs me my life.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2024

Reviews

[Lauren Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in the Skin Deep Duet. Check the triggers before reading! Super dark & heartbreaking. I would say this is actually a pitch black read. I had to binge it. Just so F***ed up. Solid 4 for me across the board. Be kind to your mind. Read something happy after this.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW !!!

PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS AS THERE ARE MANY !!! (Not between mmcs )

I absolutely loved this book so much l read it in one day l couldn't put it down.
We start this 2nd book where the first book left off with Ava and Cal both taken prisoner by the devil himself Kiel.
Ava fmc my poor poor baby, felt like reaching into book and protecting a character more. Ava was such a brilliant, strong, likeable, down to earth character. Her love for Cal showed through this book. Her pain and her suffering omg broke my heart, even when she was rescued that was only the start for Ava a certain bad guy had tried to break not just her body but her mind and soul as well.The things he did to Ava made me cry.

Cal mmc oh my goodness he is the perfect book boyfriend. Cal himself desperatly needed to recover physically before he could rescue Ava, but mentally it would take him a long time to recover, the nightmares they where both having so terrible.
The way he loves Ava ❤ oh my its perfect, and the care and attention he showed her, omg it was amazing. He does everything he can possibly do for her so perfect. He never gave up hope of finding Ava.

Kiel OMG never hated a character more. Glad her brothers and Cal get their revenge and made him suffer.
I also loved Ava and Cals relationship with her brothers they where brilliant side characters
This is my honest arc review

[Savannah Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the ending to this duet, but please read the trigger warnings!! It is super dark, lots of trauma and non-consent scenes. This is my first really intense dark romance as far as the traumatic scenes, not just with the fmc but also the mmc as well. A lot of people say that the storyline felt rushed which to an extent I agree, how if you go off the lines alone that the fmc was on heroine basically the entire time? What felt like a fast story for us was days missing for her and time fleeting as if everything blurred together. As a trauma victim personally I can relate, for me it seemed perfectly in tone to the setting of the fmc's current situation and what she experienced.

Definitely prepare yourself for this read, it is not a gentle one but the ending was so sweet. The mmc's care alone after all the fmc experienced really made it worth it for me. 🤍

[Calley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book - after waiting what feels like forever I happily jumped into this second installment. Unfortunately it was in my opinion just not as great. Starts off right where book one left off - but if feels rushed and forced. Instead of really getting into the story of WHY he wants Cal punished and the motivation for his cruel torture it just seems to go on and on. The “drug” being sold on a high dollar island and all the rich men who drop trow and “try “ her…just felt forced, not really helping the story. - just more torture….i don’t mind all the trauma - but I want story with it…not just the torture.

[Brittany Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waited so long to get my hands on this book and was very let down

So the first book was my favorite book I read last year. Even though it was a dark romance, it was nothing like this book. Even though this book started right when the first one left off it was extremely rushed and forced. I wanted a little more back story about Kiel’s need for revenge etc, but instead the first half of the book there is nothing but torture. I have read a lot of trauma books and dark romance, but this seemed very overkill. I do not mind trauma but some more plot would have been great. Everything seemed forced and rushed, even Ava’s healing. The author touched on it but was not executed effectively.

[Peyton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this pretty quickly (fist kindle read :))

It was ok. I love the “touch her your die” trope and it was really lost. I get Ava was kidnapped and all, but it was a lot of forced trauma (rape, assault) which is fine for a dark romance but it was every. Other. Page. Really losing the story.

I wanted more yearning and more of Cal hunting. Then her recovery and bounce back was the last 40ish pages of a ~200 page book?

They also killed the guy and was just like “oh he’s dead.” Nothing about Cal getting his revenge - which would have been so great and added to his yearning/character.

[Victoria Sand · Rating 1 out of 5]

WAY TOO MUCH RAPE! I expected to love this book, because the first book was AMAZING! But I continued to the second and for my kindle, to about 60% finished, was all her getting raped. It was graphic rape sequences, and I was disguised. I’m a dark romance girly at heart. That’s why I loved the first book. But as a woman, this broke me for her and it was too much in my opinion. I would say to stay away from both books.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cal and Avas conclusion, what an epic ride, just when things seemed settled does chaos arrive tearing them apart and Cal will do anything to get Ava back, but will the cost be to high? Well written steamy desires, action emotions and more!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy what an intense read this was. Loved every single page, couldn't put it down or read fast enough. That is all I'm saying not even sure how to write a review without spoiler, and I'm so not spoiling this read for anyone.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely Dark

I enjoyed the story though it felt rushed. The timeline was unclear, the villain was two dimensional and the connection between the mains was tenuous but it was a good kink fix.