Under Her Skin

Blank Canvas #1

by Adriana Anders

Her Body is His Canvas

A darkly possessive relationship has left Uma alone and on the run. Beneath her drab clothing, she hides a terrible secret—proof of her abuse, tattooed onto her skin in a lurid reminder of everything she’s survived.

Caught between a brutal past and an uncertain future, Uma’s reluctant to bare herself to anyone…much less a rough ex-con whose rage drives him in ways she will never understand. But beneath his frightening exterior, Ivan is gentle. Warm. Compassionate. And just as determined to heal Uma’s broken heart as he is to destroy the monster who left his mark scrawled across the delicate tapestry of her skin.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Abuse, Fiction, Dark, Adult

344 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 7, 2017

About the author

Adriana Anders is author of the Survival Instincts, Love at Last, and Blank Canvas series. Her debut, Under Her Skin, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2017 and double recipient of the HOLT Medallion award, and Loving the Secret Billionaire was a Romance Writers of America 2019 Rita® Award Finalist. Her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Oprah Mag, Bustle, USA Today Happy Ever After, and Book Riot. Today, she resides with her husband and two small children on the coast of France, where she writes the gritty, emotional love stories of her heart.

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Reviews

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Self Healing and Discovery Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
My 2017 has started out with a bang...I have been reading a diverse group of books and every one of them brought something interesting to my reading table. With Under Her Skin, I was taken on a journey that surprised me. The author was new, the blurb intriguing and my involvement complete.

It was an experience which left me thinking of a number of things...

Of how evil people can be in this world...and how easy it is to wish for something, become isolated and manipulated by them and then suffer the doubts, guilt, and self hate after being victimized. I am very lucky; in all my years, I have never experienced any of the types of treatment women have endured through no fault of their own...

How incredibly strong and brave these same women are to find a way to take back their lives...to rediscover who they are and move forward...The determination and resistance to all the negative inner dialogue ingrained takes a Herculean effort, I would think... and I respect it immensely.

So with all of that said...I was able to dive in and take what was given to me on the page...

This is a story that is not the most comfortable...but there is also a relationship between two broken people who are drawn to each other, provide a safe place for both...and experience what each need...

This relationship in the context of all that has happened with each of them... seemed to have a type of calling out to each other. For me, it worked and was a way for the woman to find herself. For him, it brought him back to feeling a connection to someone, more than just a caring or protecting...
Each was able to be free in the moments of trust...and the trust grew.

The premise is not an unusual one for a romance book... and this could have been like many I have read...But this had more in the way it gave me the inner workings of both main characters...I was able to feel the hopelessness and panic she first felt in the story. I understood the way she had to deal with her self loathing and fight to be brave and overcome small tasks to get through the day. I was there when she fought to make herself go forward and do things that would help heal her, no matter how difficult they were...

And when she allowed herself to experiment and take charge of her sexual needs...I got it.

Our fella was the perfect vehicle for her...he sensed right away how damaged and skittish she was...His history with his sister made him recognize what she was all about...But it wasn't pitying...which caused him to care for her...It was something else for the both of them...an almost animal instinct of her knowing he was there and willing to be whatever she needed...

And he was.

When these two start to come together physically, it is a way for her to take back her power... she is surprised with her actions and relishes the way she is able to control him and the situation. It is presented sensually, with care yet also with an honesty of how sex isn't always perfect and pretty...
For me, all of it worked.

There were others in this story...not all of them likable...But they played their parts...Jessie, our fella's sister was given a hint of a back story with another engaging character...and since this seems to be a series...my guess is she will have her own book. I will be looking forward to seeing what comes next.

I would like to suggest Madeline Iva's review. It brings a personal view to this book which is very powerful and insightful.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Under Her Skin (Blank Canvas, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
By Her Touch (Blank Canvas, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In His Hands (Blank Canvas, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A gifted copy was provided by SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under Her Skin is the story of a damaged woman on the run from her past, and the man that wants nothing more than to discover the secrets she hides. It's full of intrigue, steamy scenes, and a romance that will make you swoon.

For me I really liked the story, but it was the characters that I had a hard time with. I just didn't connect to them for some reason so it brought my rating down some. I would still recommend this book though because it was a very captivating story.

[Madeline Iva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Megan Hart? You'll love this book. UNDER HER SKIN has a literary feel at times, especially in the beginning. Yet make no mistake--UNDER HER SKIN is clearly a steamy romance, with some great sex. It delivers all the feels we romance readers are addicted to. There's a deeply detailed gritty feel to Anders' book and the trauma the heroine has suffered.

Having gone through some serious abusive sh** in my own life at a young age, I can say with absolute authority that one thing you get really good at is a cold read on people. It's pretty clear to the heroine fairly quickly that Ive, blacksmith and beardy hero, is a gentle soul who fixes things. He has a great deal of patience with wounded critters and wounded women, which makes his past all the more surprising.

When I was going through a lot of trauma, there was nothing I wanted more than to feel immediate-intimacy and closeness with a friend/guy I could really trust. I just felt so alone. This book offers the kind of fantasy I longed for--to form a strong and powerful bond with a soul mate almost from the git go. A man who is strong, but completely trustworthy. Anders delivers exactly such a fantasy in her book. The sex between the hero and heroine is an act of the heroine reclaiming power in her own life again: power over her body, over her relationships, and over her sex life. She chooses, she decides, and after her body goes through such abuse, she reconnects with her own body's sensuality, letting good sensations wipe away the bad.

Loved it! I loved the setting of Ive's forge at night too!

I also have to comment on how much I happily sank into the sleepy-steamy little Southern town.
Finally--like another reviewer said--I am looking to the rest of the series to see if the defensive arts instructor Jessie gets it on with the bartender. I imagine their sex will be no-holds-barred and I CAN'T WAIT!

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was weird, yet good. Messy, not perfect kind of good. When I started it, the characters were very different and not what I was expecting. This story follows Uma who has been abused by her ex. You don't learn right away exactly what he did, but you start to put the pieces together. It's not what you normally read about in abuse victims. It's no less horrific, but it sure made me think about what I would do if it happened to me. I think that's what the author did really well in this story.

When Uma ended up In Blackwood, VA with no money, she takes a job as a live in helper for Mrs. Lloyd, an elderly woman. My first thought of Mrs. Lloyd is that she was cray cray. Not really a place for a recently abused woman should be at. Then we meet Ivan. I really didn't know what to think of Ivan at first. He reminds me of one of those men who has spent too much time alone in the woods.

It's a weird mix of people, but the more you learn about all of them, the more they grow on you and the more you understand why they are they way they are. Like I said, weird but a good weird. Really my only complaint was one scene with another woman. It was a small scene and not major but that's kind of my point. It was unnecessary to the story and I'm not a fan of interference with other woman in books.

I am definitely interested in reading the next in the series to see how this author will top this book. ARC Provided by NetGalley.

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow! Now i regret listening to this book just now. This book has been seating on my to be read list. But i keep put it off. This is a story of survival of young brave woman named Uma. She endured a horrific abuse from her boyfriend and she runs from him. She ends up in a small secluded town and found a nasty job with a old hag ( yes i am putting 'old hag'). Then she met her new secluded handsome brooding ex con living next door. Their first meet is very very cute but also heartbreaking.

The rest you have to read it yourself. The secondary character is so funny especially the old hag.

The minus is the description of the feeling sometimes too dragging. I also notice that the author keep adding suspence on her sentences, i found it too much.

Anyway i enjoy this book very much.

4 stars

[Katie(babs) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything about Under Her Skin (Blank Canvas #1) by Adriana Anders made me want to throw it against the wall. Writing a romance with a hero or heroine who has been through unspeakable abuse at the hands of someone they loved takes extreme care. In this case, Under Her Skin fails in so many ways, especially to those readers who have been in the heroine’s shoes in some way or another. As soon as the first chapter ended, I had a bad feeling Under Her Skin was going to make me rage because of the actions of the heroine, and the over the top cruelty from other characters, including the eye rolling romance between the heroine and the hero that happens so fast, which doesn’t make any sense, especially since the heroine was abused, raped and tortured by her former boyfriend. Why doesn’t this make sense? Because less than 2 weeks after the extremely tortured and scarred heroine leaves her psychotic abusive boyfriend, she lands into bed with the hero and wants him to get her pregnant. WHAT??

Uma is on the run from Joey, her boyfriend who has horribly abused her. She was once a professional photographer who met him at a wedding. Because of his blue eyes, and Frank Sinatra looks, she fell for him. He then took over her entire world, going as far to put her name on his back, and visa versa with his name on hers. But then her fairy tale went down hill fast. Joey became controlling, so much so that Uma was smothered and decided to leave him. Joey, who is a big district attorney with the law on his side, ends up raping Uma, and then torturing her with a tattoo gun and tattooing her all over her body. Uma runs away after he finds her at a women’s home, not even asking her mother in India for help because her mother wouldn’t understand because Joey is handsome and well respected; he could never be an abuser.

Uma answers a sketchy ad in the paper to take care of an old lady, who’s a hermit in her home. The old woman is just as cruel and mean as Joey, but uses words instead of fists. But Uma doesn’t have much of a choice. She also meets Ivan, a not so handsome, bearded lumberjack type man who is a neighbor of the hermit old lady. He appears kind and gentle. He treats Uma with care. Soon she is meeting him at his house, and in less than 2 weeks they’re making out and having foreplay, which leads to hot and heavy sex. After a few rounds of sex, Uma wonders if Ivan will make her pregnant, even though she has suffered a horrible rape and abuse at the hands of another man she had loved. She is suffering PTSD from her horror, but doesn’t mind the intimacy or the possibility of getting pregnant with Ivan.

As Uma and Ivan fall in love, Joey is waiting for revenge for Uma leaving him.

Under Her Skin is a hair pulling read because it takes the abuse of a woman and writes it in a very unbelievable and ridiculous way. I’ve read many romances before with a heroine who has suffered mental and physical abuse from a husband or a lover, including rape, but usually the heroine takes much longer than 2 weeks to recover and jump into a bed with a man she knows nothing about, and who she can’t trust fully. Also the woman Uma cares for is ridiculous in her portrayal, even when it’s explained why she is such a wicked witch. Joey is laughable and one-dimensional because we’re told, rather than shown why he’s so evil and abusive to Uma.

Under Her Skin was insulting to me as a reader because of the portrayal of abuse Uma suffers, including her eye rolling actions with Ivan, which doesn’t make any sense.

BIG PASS ON THIS ONE!

[Alleyne Dickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant debut novel from a terrific new voice in romance! I don't write spoilery reviews, so look for the plot elsewhere. I'm only going to talk about what I particulary enjoyed about the book.

Everything! I loved the story -- the abused woman who takes her agency back with the help of a giant of a man, who is gentle with the lost and damaged but has a hard time controlling his anger at injustice. I loved the subplots, all of which showed Uma (the heroine) growing stronger and reclaiming her self-respect. Ivan (the hero) learns to put his fury aside out of respect for what the heroine really needs.

The thing I really loved was the writing. The words are both lyrical and gritty, which suited the book perfectly. If you don't like swear words, particularly ones starting with F, this is not the book for you. But the richness of the writing, the evocative setting and the care with which all the characters -- major and minor -- and handled, made this a book that will stay with me for a long, long time.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book and as it started off really well and I was enjoying it I don’t know where it went wrong.
Uma left an abusive relationship six months ago and what a horrible, abusive, disgusting relationship it was. She landed in Blackwood to get a treatment so that she could get rid of the marks of her past.
I felt for Uma but I didn’t like her. Yes what she went through was awful but I could connect to her as much as I wanted to. It wasn’t her fault and these things usually happen gradually it was just as a person she did act like a survivor but she was getting there.
Ivan is one big Hero with a heart of gold who has picked up strays throughout his life. He has an anger management problem but seems to be doing alright. I liked Ivan he is a great Hero.
For me it felt as if Uma was using Ivan and he let himself be used by Uma: I don’t like that kind of thing.
The main characters didn’t have a connection in my opinion although the sex although hot at times and the author had it done pat I felt uncomfortable as the Hero submitted a lot to the heroine. That thing isn’t for me. I need me an alpha Hero. I find it hard to explain.
Not to mention the fact that every time they did the nasty she would constantly compare Ivan to her ex Joey the abuser. Really off putting.
I skimmed and my mind wandered to other things which meant I had to reread a couple of times. I was close to giving up on it as well.
I reckon that this is a strong case of this is ME and not YOU!

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six months ago Uma ran away from her controlling and abusive boyfriend. Now she's hiding from him, knowing he's looking for her and that he has contacts in law enforcement. This all means Uma's old life is something she has to stay away from. Uma started out as a photographer but that's a far cry from what she's doing now, working as a live in help for a truly cantankerous older lady but some things are worth putting up with because Uma has plans. Her plans don't include a man because what hides beneath Uma's clothes is something she cannot bare not even to her own eyes. Yet the neighbour Ivan keeps cropping up. This giant with a good heart seems kind but Ivan has a dark past which has shaped the man he has become. Still, Uma can't stop thinking about him , listening to him at night working in his forge and then when she's locked out of the house it's Ivan who comes to her rescue in more ways than one!
Yes there's a romance here but it's the story of how Uma becomes her own woman again that pulled me in. I had seen wildly conflicting reviews for this so had to satisfy my curiosity. Yes she has been through a traumatic event and has genuine reasons to be afraid but she is an odd conundrum . Nervous yet fierce, wanting to be alone but attracting friendship and then there's her ability to change from a mouse to a lion that roars! The opening line to this book mentions the old hag that is looking for a home help and admittedly that surprised me but Uma takes on her employer to glorious effect but even then there's a twist I just hadn't seen coming!
The word dichotomy describes Uma, particularly when it comes to her interactions with Ivan. Without saying too much I think this is where we first start to see Uma gaining in confidence as Ivan lets her call the shots . I really liked that this man was man enough not to be phased by that and it made a wonderful change from all the macho alpha type males that often feature in romance that has a darker side . This is not in my opinion a dark romance but it is one with a heroine who has and indeed still actually is living in a dark place.
Definitely a story of hope but the abuse mentioned is sickening . I would have liked to know more about her ex as his character just didn't feel real although I do understand that true evil and madness can often be found under the face of an angel . Yet Uma triumphs and regains that which is most precious, her feeling of self worth. Not a preachy story and it's definitely an adult one as Ivan doesn't just stoke the fires when he's working!
A copy of this was provided for me which I have voluntarily read and these comments are my own honest opinion

[Ari Reavis · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Arc received from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*

2.5 Stars

Well it started off promising, but went downhill somewhere along the line. Uma is on the run and takes a job with an evil old lady. Now this old lady ended up having a very sad back story, that's revealed towards the end of the book, but to me that didn't excuse the way she treated Uma most of the story. The next door neighbor is Ivan. He was a genuinely nice and considerate guy, even if he had a bit of a temper. He was the highlight of the story, because (even I felt bad for her) Uma just got on my nerves for some reason. Even when she and Ivan were getting down and dirty (which was pretty hot at times) she was comparing him to Joey (the abuser). What Joey did before, what Joey would be doing, blah blah. It was reallllly a mood killer to hear about Joey in the middle of a sex scene. Another thing that killed it was that Uma was mostly in control during their sex scenes. Personally, this just isn't my cup of it.
What I liked was the ending and how everything turned out with the psycho who'd abused Uma. And that there was a happy ending.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Under Her Skin is the first book in her Black Canvas trilogy. I have had this trilogy on my TBR for the longest time, and even have books 2 and 3 on my kindle but realized when wanting to read this trilogy this year, that I didn't have book 1 but my library had it so I just grabbed this up in Audio. Lately, I have been obsessed with Audiobooks and I had a fun time with this treasure trove. I am not sure what exactly I was expecting, but I knew that I was in for a treat since I have heard so many good things about these books over the past couple of years. And first I want to mention that this book was fantastic and I had a fun time with this story.

Uma, our heroine, is on the run from her ex. She is hiding some secrets, and all she dreams of is to be free but knowing that she might be on the run most of her life.  She has come to this town to hide in for a time when she hears of a clinic that can help erase the painful scars of her past, scars that haunt her to the point where she covers her body up and hides from herself. Uma finds a job as a companion for an elderly woman who may be bitter and crotchety at times, but she is endearing at times and a champion when Uma needs one. But when Uma meets her next door neighbor, she wishes that she could be free from her past and live as she wishes but she knows that she will have to move on after she finishes what she came there to do.

Ivan has his own demons that he battles with. He is a honed fighter, helps teach MMA and self-defense classes for women and runs a wood and blacksmith shop. He grew up poor and had to learn to survive with only the essentials. Ivan, spent time in prison when trying to protect his sister from her abusive husband. Now, he lives a quiet life, working in his shop and taking care of his menagerie of animals. But he is intrigued by Uma, she is so different and he knows that she is haunted and only wishes to protect her but once he learns the truth, Ivan will need to prove his trust and love to Uma, one that fights his instincts to protect.

Under Her Skin is a provocative romance that stuns you with powerful emotions and depicts some trauma that Uma deals with that you normally don't see in characters that have suffered abuse. Your heart will ache for Uma though, she is a fighter and she has such courage and resilience and I love her determination to not let what her ex has done to her keep her from living her life. But her ex is powerful so she has some fears and wants to make a life away from him. We see how she hides in the shadows at the beginning of the story though and even tries to hide from herself. Now when you find out what her ex does to her, then you begin to understand her goals and what she is wanting. There is powerful chemistry that we see form between Uma and Ivan and the intimacy that we see build between these two is electric.

Seeing these two overcome their pasts and open their hearts to each other has an almost cleansing feel for the reader/listener, we see what drives these two people and the dynamics of their characters and their relationship is heartfelt in all the right ways. These two really come together when its right for them both and we find that they are so right for each other, they truly understand pain in different ways but their different outlooks on their pasts are what connects them.

Under Her Skin is a powerful read, that makes you think and feel some powerful emotions....a romance that provokes the readers in an endearing manner and makes you want more from this stunning author....BRILLIANTLY DONE!

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the run, Uma settles in a small town because of two reasons; an unusual help wanted ad which would let her work out of sight, out of mind and completely under the table; and, a tattoo removal clinic that advertised doing free work for those who suffered abuse. When she shows up at the house where she is supposed to work, she runs into ex-convict Ivan Shifflett. Ivan has a bad habit of bringing home stray animals. With Uma he sees in her the same fear that his abused dog had before he rescued her and he can’t help but want to protect her. Although Ivan believes he is unworthy of Uma, he will do anything, even face down the ex.

Verdict: I don’t like writing spoilery reviews so far before the publication date, so I will be a vague as possible while still trying to fully disclose what this book made me feel. So to start, having never been abused in any way, I can’t really say what someone would do in Uma’s place. However, I couldn’t imagine the type of abuse she experiences or on what to do to overcome it. Was there some artistic license used to describe the extent of her tattoo torture session, yes. But that’s why it’s called fiction. I felt like the same artistic license was applied to the relationship that formed between Uma and Ivan. Neither time did I feel like the artistic license employed was a bad thing. Many times, romance books that feature a tortured heroine and/or hero often feel rushed because there just isn’t enough space in the book to make it follow a more natural, true to life progression. If books really followed true to life we would be lucky if it finished up as a 1000 page book. And that just doesn’t make for good reading. You would get bored well before anything actually ever happened. Just take a look at some of Kristen Ashley’s books. Some of them just go on and on and on without much of anything happening beyond the heroine’s internal dialogue. Not to say that I dislike Kristen Ashley, I love the majority of her books. I just can’t claim I read every word in every chapter, because sometimes I find myself skimming until something a little bit exciting happens.

Here, I feel like both Ivan and Uma were given enough play time to fully disclose their issues and the crappy things life put them through while also getting enough romantic play time to make it believable enough for the ending to take place. So to summarize, yes, some leniency in the bending of the truth is necessary for enjoyment BUT I personally enjoyed Uma and Ivan story as well as many of the secondary characters who were introduced. On a side note, I can’t wait to see if Ivan’s sister and the bartender get their own book.

*Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for a copy of this book to review*

[b.andherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black smith romances are my catnip (please always tell me if you find one) but I'd been saving this Adriana Anders in case of an emergency, and wow did that pay off well for me!

With such a heavy subject matter, I loved how Anders showed Uma reclaiming her power and control, and for Ivan being oh so willing and able to do whatever Uma needed to feel safe and comfortable. Uma's fear of being discovered by her powerful ex, who is a prosecutor and "in bed with the cops" made my heart break thinking about how many people live with that same fear.

Uma learning self-defense, finding friendship, finding love, was so fulfilling. I never felt like Uma went through a "magic" moment of healing, which is what I fear from stories including abuse and trauma, but Anders put our heroine well on the path to finding her happiness and home.

Of special note, I loved how the relationship between Uma and the woman who became her employer played out. Uma didn't take her shit, but also respected her as a human, despite her awfulness/crankiness. I liked how that played out, and I about passed out when we found out her name.

CWs: heroine experienced emotional and physical abuse/torture at the hands of an ex. abuse is detailed, and the ex does return to try and harm the heroine. Hero served prison time for beating his sister's abuser. Drinking, medical procedures (heroine is getting tattoos forced on her by ex removed).

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma´s life is in shambles, now she´s on the run, hiding from her ex, when an opportunity she can´t refuse has her in close proximity to him again. When her new neighbor shows a talent for making her trust again, Uma will have to make a choice..
Ivan put his life on hold when tragedy struck, but his content. Until Uma comes along and shows him a promise for more. Can he persuade her to stay?
Contemporary romance, feelings, and two broken people finding happiness again. <3 Loved it!
Disclaimer; I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprising little tale. I can't remember why I grabbed it many months ago but... it had some things I LOVE.

Domestic abuse survivor who is taking her life back. Blacksmith hero with a submissive streak just for her. Makes for a romance I enjoyed.

Pacing was a bit off and the ending of the villian was a bit strange.

4 stars
3.5 on the spice scale

TW: Domestic violence, rape, scarring

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa! This book! I am totally blown away by this story!

Uma is running away from a past that has left its mark on her in a way I never could’ve imagined. She’s so broken and alone and searching for just a tiny bit of hope that she can find something to erase that past. When she meets Ivan, despite her initial fear, she also finds a sense of comfort. Soon these two are learning to trust each other with not only their bodies but with their hearts and souls.

I absolutely loved this book! My heart hurt so much for Uma and what she had had to endure in the past and what was to come. But Ivan, a beast of a man with a gentle heart and a deep seated need to protect those he loves, gives her the confidence to step out of the shadows. Ivan owns my heart as he was everything she needed. I adore big burly heroes who will do anything to save his woman. And yet, what I loved the most about him is the decision he made in the end. It was exactly what Uma needed and as a result gave her the ultimate power of his protection.

This is a relatively fast paced read that has some secondary characters that you will love, some you will want to smack and one that will have you wanting to do both. The steam is high and has a bit of a twist to it that I’ve never read about before and yet found I enjoyed it very much due to the change it made in one of the characters. I really, really missed having an epilogue. I need to know how Ms. Loyd is doing but more importantly, I need to know how things work out in every area of Uma and Ivan’s life.

Dual POV
Safe h thinks H is married at first; ow makes a move on H while a group of them are hanging out at club - this was a woman he had had an on and off thing with over a period of time. Nothing else is ever mentioned about this woman and there really was no reason for this scene; om drama – h’s ex is hunting her
Triggers abuse; manipulation; rape; miscarriage – secondary character

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erasing the Past

This really pulls at the heartstrings. This is a cast of broken souls. Ivan (Ive) Shifflett and Uma Crane are most definitely carting around some baggage, Uma's is really awful, but Cookie and Jessie are in very similar boats. Each situation is traumatic, so please consider that when reading.

Uma was inside. It should have been comforting, the knowledge that she was locked away, safely hidden. So why did she feel as though she’d jumped from the fire right back into the frying pan?
-- Uma Crane

In many regards, I like their crazy, messed up story. The OCD agoraphobe can be a bit much to take in and the flow stutters a few times. Otherwise, it is very realistic and gritty with steam, exploration, and some interesting revelations.

I read along with the audio book. The new-to-me narrator, Wendy Tremont King, is pretty good. A second narrator would probably be helpful, but I didn't mind much. 🎧🧡🎧

Story: 3.5 stars
Narration: 3.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H = 32; h = 26

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know why this book isn’t rated higher. It’s like a 4.3 to 4.5 rating. The reason it’s not 5 is because I think there could have been more character development, the ending was a bit abrupt.

But the writing is good. The characters are likable. And of course one of my fave kind of Heroes - strong, big, protective, loyal. Yes, he maybe “fucked and fought” too much until he met Uma, but after laying eyes on her, there were no more women. He could care less. He found his ONE.

I usually don’t like men who had a lot of random hookups, but in Ivan’s case, I can actually understand. For him, it was always meaningless exertion - like starting a fight. A kind of release of pressure.

But with Uma, it was never that. It always meant something more. It was love.

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 2017 -- 4 Stars

So, this will sound silly, but something I find terribly annoying ... I hate when a book includes so much of another book at the end. My Kindle tracks my progress, and so I think the book is so much longer and then, done. Over. And, my progress is at 66%. Ugh.

Okay, over that little miff'd point. I enjoyed this one. I guess what happened to Uma could happen. Seems a bit farfetched, but there are some real assholes in the world, so anything is possible. I really, really liked Ive. His anger, the reason for it, never really got told, so I still wonder. I didn't think anything in his life warranted the anger issues he seemed to have to deal with. So, you can tell, I have real issues with logic in a story. I try to tease the details out and just don't let it rest until I have it together. This one bothered me a bit.

I enjoyed the story. I applaud Uma's bravery. Cookie's more so. Ive is the person who cares and nurtures those around him. He is lovable. Uma deserves an Ive.

This book for me, would have been 5 Star, until the last 15% or so. It hurried to the ending and didn't close the tentacles in the story it developed. I hate when a book does that. So, my final rating is 4 Stars. Subsequent stories in this series are over $6. I'm not pulled to pay that much. I'll wait and see what other think and/or for the books to go on sale.

Happy Reading!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars I think. I liked this but something kept me from really liking this. These characters have both been through a lot and they are written well but how reluctant they are to trust (for understandable reasons) made it hard for me to connect to them.

Generally I think the writing is well done but a few things didn’t quite work for me. The ending felt very rushed. There’s a lot crammed into the last little bit with very little resolution. I don’t usually like epilogues but it kinda felt like this book needed one. There were a few things I also felt like could have been expanded more. I would have liked to have seen more of the FMC’s love of photography. We only get one scene of her with a camera and I would have liked a bit more. Same with the the MMC’s metalworking.

I did really enjoy seeing how the characters treated each other and their baggage. The MMC was so good with the needs of the FMC and I love reading that. I thought their scenes together were very well written and definitely was my favorite parts of the book.

I’ve been wanting to try this author for a while and I’m happy I did. I will definitely read more.

[Elsa Bravante]

Le doy con pena DNF en el 35%. Me gustan los personajes, e incluso la historia, pero no tanto el estilo de la autora, a veces se entretiene demasiado, da vueltas sobre lo mismo una y otra vez, ralentiza la acción y sin embargo me parece muy precipitado cómo la protagonista, víctima de abusos, confía en el protagonista masculino, no me lo he creído, así que lo dejo aquí y no le doy rating.

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now and then, I come across a book that tests my boundaries and forces me to re-think my views on controversial and hard-hitting topics. “Under Her Skin” was one such book. From the moment, I read the blurb I knew this would be an interesting read and so I was glad when Netgalley approved my request.

Not only is the story an emotional read, it is also thought-provoking. I know that this story is likely to be a trigger for persons who have been in a similar position. This story was a vivid reminder that some women may find themselves in a relationship that proves to be toxic both mentally and physically. At times, they find excuses to justify their reasons for remaining in such a relationship. Some of these same women will look deep within themselves to find the courage to escape such a situation and take back their lives. This is a story about one such woman.

Uma was in a relationship with a powerful man. When they first met, he was as charming as ever, but that all changed as their relationship progressed. The signs were there, but she stuck it out believing that things would change. Unfortunately, that was not the case, things went downhill and before she knew it, she was running for her life.

The story started slow and it maintained that pace to the end. Although the pacing was slow, the story was not boring. The pacing was perfect for this kind of story. This is the kind of story that deserves to be savoured and not rushed.

This is not a sweet and flowery romance. It is a story about two broken souls finding love when they least expect it. Uma is running for her life and getting close to anyone, especially a man was not on her list of priorities. What she never expected to encounter was the brooding and scary stranger who would become her lifeline in her journey of reclaiming her life.

From the moment Ivan laid eyes on Uma, he knew she was a victim of abuse having experienced it first-hand. He wanted to help, but this would prove challenging, as she was afraid to put her trust in him, which is understandable given her history. She would soon come to realise that he is nothing like her ex-fiancée but, that did stop her from being wary. He helped her realise that she need not be afraid. He gave her hope. This reminded me that a relationship with the right person could be a wonderful and powerful experience.

Their interaction was poignant. The author’s portrayal of Uma and Ivan made it easy to establish a connection with them. I felt every emotion that they experienced. I enjoyed watching Uma overcome her fears and regain her confidence. They helped each other in their healing process.

I enjoyed the romance, which did not take place until around the second half of the story. It moved slowly, which was a good thing for them both. Her need for control in this was understandable and I loved that Ivan allowed her to take charge.

The supporting characters were diverse, some were likable and some not so much. The one that peaked my interest was Uma’s new employer. At first, her behavior was mean, but beneath all that, meanness laid a soul that has had its share of pain. I loved that Uma stood up to her making their interaction entertaining.

Verdict:

Under Her Skin is everything I expected it to be. It is an unforgettable story about love, hope, and healing. I enjoyed every moment of this powerful, emotional and thought-provoking read and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

NB: This can be read as a stand-alone.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars - 3 Flames

DISCLAIMER!

If you have ever been in an abusive relationship and HAVE NOT healed, there may be some triggers in this one. So proceed with caution.

Review -

Wow! This was completely unexpected. In fact, as a reviewer, I didn't even ask to read this (sorry, just being honest). But it fell in to my lap and I have to honestly say that I'm very pleased that it did. I've never read this author before. And from the looks of it, this could be her first one? If that's the case, then bravo. Very well done.

Uma is running. She's running from a very abusive relationship, has nothing including zero money to her name and finds herself answering a help ad. At least the position keeps her off the streets and away from being found, right? The hiring lady is an "old hag" who's afraid to go outside and is basically in need of some serious companionship. Once Uma gets the hang of the hag, things become a bit easier for her. You know what's not that easy though? The feelings she's having toward the next door neighbor. And those feelings aren't exactly the bad kind.

Ivan (Ive) is the next door neighbor. Over the years, he's taken in many strays. Stray dogs, cats, even a mini pony. But it's the look that Uma gives him that make him want to take care of her too. The only problem is that he doesn't want to scare her in the process. After all, he's got a little bit of a past that he's sure she won't like too much.

I REALLY don't want to give any of this away. Writing this review is becoming hard with every word. When you start reading this story, you might start thinking that it's moving pretty slow. But I'd have to disagree. I think that the pace of this was absolutely perfect. Especially considering the healing going on individually for both Uma and Ive. Not to mention the fact that they both help each other with the healing as well. Ive was the perfect gentle giant to Uma's fragile feminine psyche. Like I stated earlier, everything was perfectly timed (timeline) for me to truly appreciate everything about the story. And OMG, when the poo hits the fan.........lets just say that you'll find yourself flipping the pages quicker. LOL....damn that old hag...in the end, loving that lady.

P.S - I had NO IDEA that this was the first in a series. So imagine me doing a happy dance when I found out that this is a trilogy!!! I'm hoping that Uma makes an appearance in the next one because I read the blurb on the next one.....EEEEKKKKK....I'm in!!!!!

*I received this book from the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author put up a pretty good story for her debut work. The characters are interesting. There is some mystery and suspense. And of course some romance!

Uma is a woman on the run from an abusive ex. She has been at a woman's shelter for 6 months when she hears about a Dr who can help with the damage he caused her body. Uma is a woman still coming to terms with what happened to her yet is so desperate to erase the past, she will do just about anything to make that happen. She takes a job after a cryptic want ad leads her to a crabby, ungrateful older woman with her own secret past.

Ivan is the burly neighbor to Uma's new charge. He has his own secrets to hide from. They have a bit of insta lust but develop a friendship along the way as well. I loved that Ivan was able to love Uma as she came and helped her to see she was still herself and not how the marks on her body defined her.

Overall, and interesting read. It will be worth checking out the next in the series as it comes out. Not sure where else the author is going with this story.

*Complimentary copy received via Netgalley for an honest review.

[Tina Hobbs Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under Her Skin is a great story of life moving on. Despite our heroine, Uma's, abusive past, she shows how to persevere. Being on the run, no money and desperate to remove the more obvious damage of her abuse, she takes on a job that definitely makes me wonder about her mental stability! The cantankerous old woman that has hired her seems to be as scary as the past Uma is running from. But, as any good story will show you, there is more than meets the eye. When she meets the giant of a man next door, she is torn between wanting to trust him and wanting to run as far away as possible. Ivan has his own secrets and dark past. He is willing to work through those issues to be with the one person who may just understand him best.

Adriana Anders weaves a dark and emotional story in her debut novel. A story that may pull many feelings from the reader, good and bad, but delivers the happy ever after. I loved the journey. I always enjoy a good emotional roller coaster! Looking forward to reading more in this series, as well as from this author!

[Maria11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very emotional read. Lots of pain for almost all of the characters. Each one had their own demons and they banded together to help each other. This is a story of healing and loving. It is a journey and it takes time.

Uma was an interesting character and throughout the story she grew and found herself again. I detest men that hurt woman and manipulate those around them to justify themselves. I want to do what Ivan wants to do to those men. Ivan is so wonderful. I can't find the words to say about him and wonderful seems so lame. He has a heart of gold and he is so accepting and sexy too. He has his demons and he too has to go through to become an even better man.

The pace of the book does seem to lag at times and I dreaded the whole climax at the end. The supporting characters were really good too. Jessie is interesting and I hope we get a story about her. The Doctor is also someone who needs her story told.

Great read and I definitely want more from the tiny town of Blackwood.

Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans · Rating 2 out of 5]

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This contemporary romance features a domestic abuse survivor on the run from her law enforcement ex and starts over again with her lumberjack of an ex-con neighbor (well, he's technically a blacksmith). All the content warnings, although I personally didn't find it too graphic.

The pacing was off for me. Things moved super fast with the romance -- it felt too fast given what the character had endured. The main character also moves in with an elderly woman and I overall enjoyed their dynamic, but the old lady just completely disappears in the middle of the novel and then pops back up at the end with gusto.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Ivan, I thought he was sweet, “I shouldn’t have pushed you.” His next words brought another wave of heat to her face. “You’re so fuckin’ hot, Uma. Got kinda carried away.” Ivan does not hesitate when his woman tells him to do something, “take off your pants, Ivan.” Uma had never seen ivan do anything as quickly as he whipped off those jeans." I liked this book, I loved the patience Ivan had.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb for this book does not do the book justice. The cover of this book is pretty fantastic and captures the essence of this book perfectly. New to me author, Ms. Anders wows me and breaks my heart a little. She is like Megan Hart for me; I can only handle her books once in a while. If I was on steady diet of Ms. Anders and Ms. Hart, I'd probably slit my wrists and end it. I loved this book.

The characters are so well written. Uma is a woman who is frightened and obviously abused by her husband. The amount of abuse is written all over her skin, literally. Uma may have been a victim but she does not define herself as one. She is a survivor and she proves it, even without the support of her "loving" mother. Oh how I loathed her mother and at the end of the book I wanted to scream at the mother, "Are you happy now? Hope you suffer and you don't deserve a daughter like Uma!" I digress as I become all ragey thinking about this worthless mother who should be shot in the gut and left to slowly perish.

Ivan is also a complicated man. He has a past that does not put him in the best of lights. He is the tarnished knight with a heart of gold. Ms. Anders does an excellent job of showing through actions rather then telling us how "fabulous" Ivan can be. I loved that about this book, how well each character's actions showed what kind of person they truly are... even the bizarre woman who hired Uma. None of these characters are as they seem. Once the reader learns more about them, it is clear there is much more to each of their stories.

I will admit, the story did start out a little slow, but quickly pulled me in. This is probably because I enjoy dark stories of abuse and pain. I like stories that triumph over traumatic situations, and this is definitely one to remember. I do want to mention one little item. There may be some who will link the abuse Uma suffered under her husband's hands as why BDSM is horrible and abusive. I want to make clear that the view of BDSM in this story is hostile and not what those in the lifestyle agree to. Does what happen to Uma happen in the lifestyle? Yes. However, it isn't non-con and it is with consent. Because Uma is clearly not consenting to permanent marking and other "play" that her husband thinks is "fun" for both, this is a line crossed and I would never condone it. In fact, I don't consider this BDSM or kinky. Just a cruel man who is abusive and supported by his mother-in-law.

Even though this story contains flashbacks and explanations of abuse, there is still erotic sex in it. How? Because Ivan is a loving man who can coax the frightened Uma back to the land of consensual sex. It's a beautiful thing to witness as Uma slowly opens up again and learns to trust. The trust between Uma and Ivan is tentative at first and does get tested several times before the strong bond forms. The trust helps to bring them on a path of healing. Even through the darkness, there is light in the humour and laughter Ivan and Uma find together.

The ending of this story is righteous as I pump my fist in glee when Uma confronts the monsters in her past and triumphs. Loved it! I hope the monsters suffer a thousand painful torments. This dark romance is recommended to readers who believe damaged people can be healed.

*provided by Edelweiss