Skin

Hot Cops #2

by Karin Tabke

From the author of Good Girl Gone Bad comes the sizzling tale of an undercover cop who shows a little skin to get in with the mob—and the sexy mafia princess who gets in the way.

Curvaceous and feisty, Francesca Donatello is the owner of Skin , an upscale woman's magazine and her pride and joy. To boost sales, she's decided to feature a smoldering male centerfold in each issue—even though it was once forbidden by her rigid father, a recently murdered mob boss. He always doubted her ability as a businesswoman, and now Francesca is even more determined to succeed. So when she meets sexy, charismatic model Reese Barrett, she knows he is perfect, and perfectly chiseled, for the job.

From the moment Reese sheds his clothes for the photo shoot, business becomes pleasure, and both are overcome with unadulterated desire for each other. But what Francesca doesn't realize is that Reese is a cop who's using her to infiltrate the Donatello family and find out who murdered her father. Even she is a suspect. But it soon becomes apparent that someone wants Francesca as dead as her father. As they dodge bullets and bodies Francesca and Reese shed secrets and inhibitions—and learn that they must trust each other to survive.

Genres: Romance, Erotica, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance, Suspense

356 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2007

About the author

Karin is a multi-published, national bestselling, award-winning author.

Karin has sold more than a dozen stories to US publishers: Kensington, Simon & Schuster, and Penguin Random House. Her self-publishing debut, THE CHRONICLES of KATRINA, was met with resounding enthusiasm. Never one to disappoint her readers, Karin happily launched the spinoff series The Bad Boys of the Bay, featuring the heroes she knows so well–hot cops. Translation rights to Karin’s books have been licensed in Japan, Thailand, Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Italy, Portugal and the UK.

In 2008, Karin’s novel JADED (Simon & Schuster) won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Erotic Romance Suspense. In 2011, her paranormal romance BLOOD LAW (Berkley) won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice award for Best Erotic Fiction and was the first book in her Blood Moon Rising series. In 2012, the second book in the trilogy, BLOODRIGHT, was nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Erotic Paranormal Romance. Karin’s other awards include a CAPA and the Holt Medallion, as well as a finalist nod for the Prism. Her debut single title, GOOD GIRL GONE BAD (Simon & Schuster), was featured in the October 2006 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.

Karin’s most rewarding award, however, was not bestowed for her storytelling skills but for her mentorship of unpublished writers. She was honored to receive RWA’s (Romance Writers of America) Pro Mentor of the Year award in 2008. She has served as president of her local RWA chapter in San Francisco and as Director-at-Large on the RWA National Board of Directors.

Karin has been married to her own hot cop–now licensed Private Investigator–for over thirty years and she writes what she knows. She has also started and sold several profitable businesses, but her true love is writing passionate love stories. When she isn’t writing, Karin loves to travel and does so extensively, meeting readers and sharing her knowledge via workshops at writer conventions and conferences.

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was the first book in a series, turns out it's the second but didn't take away anything from my enjoyment of this. More erotic then what I usually go for but this was so much fun, had an entertaining plot and interesting set of characters to balance the steamyness. Need to find the other books in the series!

[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book... Reese had me fanning my self!! He was sexy in every move he made! The chemistry btwn him and Frankie was undeniable... The way he felt such lost when he thought of how that could never be together was soooo sad, tho all the trust issues got annoying. I really hoped Frankie would be honest with Reese so that he could be honest to her. In the end it worked out and i loved hearing that Phil and Ty from the 1st book were engaged. I hope Jaded gives a glimpse into the lives of Reese and Franki too:)

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francesa "Frankie" Donatello runs a women's magazine called Skin. She interviews Reese Garrett (a UC cop) a male model for a centerfold spread.

There were undertones of Frankie's background being tied to mobster-like history. Her father being a don was "taken out". Reese is trying anything to get information from her any way he can to close the case against her. While Frankie doesn't want to sleep with her new employee the wicked hot attraction to his naked body during thier photo shoots and his candid responses to her while looking through the lens can't be denied. For long.

I like how Karin Tabke writes. There is no doubt she is writes well. I enjoyed my first full length novel by her and plan on reading another. Her charcters explore thier attraction and I like seeing how that plays out.

PHF (personal heat factor) Sizzler

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars - Romantic Suspense/Erotica

Skin by Karin Tabke sort of reminded me of a steamy, erotica-lite, romantic version of an episode of the Sopranos. I liked the relationship development between the undercover cop/model Reese & the mafia princess/photographer Francesca "Frankie". The descriptions of the photo shoots between Frankie and Reese are extremely sexy, and Karin Tabke writes a realistic and intriguing cop and bad guy procedural. I liked the characters in Skin much better than the characters in Tabke's first cop procedural novel, Good Girl Gone Bad. My only complaint and confusion is the book's deceiving cover, which doesn't fit the story at all, considering the fact that Francesca is described as a young and modern version of Sophia Loren and by no means a blonde. Overall, Skin is a spicy and exciting read.

[Splage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally started this in June and just couldn't get into it, but I believe it was my fault and not the story - too many other books I wanted to read. I just picked it back up and really enjoyed it. It had some really spicy sex scenes, the truth or dare striptease in the atrium- ultra hot- and a few others. The hero, Reese, was so sexy and alpha even though he was working undercover as a centerfold for the the heroine and her Skin magazine. He wasn't the best at following her directions which added a lot to his sex appeal. The story was very mafia princess / Soprano-esque, but the mystery had me still unsure who was the bad guy until the end. The ending was wrapped up too quick and was the only thing I was disappointed in. I would rate it between 3-4 stars and I will check out another one of the author's books.

[Maris Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down: finished it in 2 1/2 days. If you like a fast-paced page-turner complete with a well-rounded heroine, a sexy cop working undercover, and enough hot scenes to spark your interest---you'll love this book. Karin Tabke wrote a winner.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

หลังจากบ้าแนวแฟนตาซีอยู่เกือบอาทิตย์ ในที่สุดแม็กซ์ก็กลับมาสู่แนวโรแมนซ์ได้สำเร็จ กับการอ่านเรื่อง "ผิวหนัง" ชื่อเรื่องอาจแปลแล้วดูประหลาดจนไม่น่าเป็นโรแมนซ์ แต่ความหมายแฝงมันมีเยอะ

ลองนึกกันดูว่าจะหมายความว่าอะไรกันได้บ้าง กับเรื่อง Skin ของ Karin Takbe นี่

ให้เวลาคิดค่ะ

แต่ถ้าขี้เกียจก็อ่านต่อแล้วกัน

สกินเป็นชื่อนิตยสารที่นางเอกเป็นผู้บริหารอยู่ ด้วยความมั่วของเนื้อเรื่องทำให้แม็กซ์ก็ยังงงอยู่ว่า มันอะไรของมัน เพราะจากที่อ่านได้ความว่า นางเอกต้องการเปลี่ยนแปลงรูปโฉมของนิตยสารของเธอ ด้วยการเปลี่ยนจากหนังสือแนวแม่บ้าน (เหมือนขวัญเรือน หรือกุลสตรี) ไปเป็นหนังสือปลุกใจเสือป่า (ผู้หญิง) แนวเพลย์เกิร์ล ที่มันงงก็เพราะว่า แล้วทำไมนิตยสารแม่บ้านถึงได้มีชื่อปกว่า สกินกันได้ (โอเค แม็กซ์ซื้อไอเดียที่ว่า สกินแปลว่าผิวหนัง ดังนั้นอาจจะหมายถึงการดูแลผิวหนังก็ได้นะ) แต่ความมั่วต่อเนื่องมาทำให้แม็กซ์ชักจะแน่ใจว่า คนแต่งแกมั่วแบบเอาจริงเอาจังมาก

นอกจากนางเอกจะเป็นผู้บริหารนิตยสารแล้ว เธอยังเป็นช่างภาพ และเธอยังเป็นลูกสาวของมาเฟียใหญ่ที่เพิ่งถูกลอบสังหารไปหมาด ๆ พระเอกของเราเป็นตำรวจที่ปลอมตัวเข้ามาสืบคดี (ที่อ่านจนจบเรื่องไม่เห็นจะสืบได้ความอะไรสักกะอย่าง) โดยการปลอมตัวเป็นนายแบบแนวนู้ดที่มาเทสหน้ากล้องเพื่อเป็นแบบหน้ากลาง (ถ้าไม่เข้าใจว่ามันคืออะไร ก็นึกถึงภาพที่เปลือยหมด เห็นทุกอย่าง) และด้วยความที่ทั้งหล่อ ทั้งใหญ่ (คิดเอาเอง) ก็ผ่านการทดสอบได้เป็นนายแบบประจำปกสกินฉบับปรับปรุงใหม่เล่มแรก

เห็นพล็อตก็คงพอรู้ว่าเรื่องนี้ พระเอกของเราต้องแก้ผ้า แก้ผ้า และแก้ผ้า นับเนื่องไม่ถูกเลยว่าถอดไปกี่รอบ เพราะนางเอกของเราจู่ ๆ ก็มีมู้ดอยากถ่ายภาพนู้ดของพระเอกทั่วไปหมด เรียกว่าไม่จำกัดเวลา และสถานที่ และพระเอกของเราก็มีวิญญาณที่ชาติก่อนเกิดเป็นชีเปลือย ก็เลยถอดให้ถ่ายได้อย่างหนำใจ

ความมั่วของเรื่องกระจัดกระจายอยู่ทั่วเรื่องอย่างไม่น้อยหน้ากันเลย รีส พระเอกเป็นตำรวจที่ปลอมตัวสืบคดีที่ไม่ได้เรื่องที่สุดคนหนึ่งที่แม็กซ์เคย ได้อ่านมาในหน้าหนังสือ เขาไม่ปกปิดเลยสักนิดถึงตัวตนที่แท้จริงของตัวเอง คนมีสติดีคนไหนจะเชื่อว่า นายแบบภาพนู้ดจะพกปืน และเรียนศิลปะการต่อสู้ป้องกันตัว นี่ยังไม่นับบรรดาผองเพื่อนพระเอกที่มาเป็นกำลังหนุนโดยไม่ปกปิดร่องรอยตัว เองเลย (เสนอหน้ามาจีบนางเอกต่างหาก) แม็กซ์อยากจะสรุปว่านี่เป็นปฏิบัติการสืบคดีที่งี่เง่าที่สุดที่เคยอ่าน

แม็กซ์ไม่ชอบเรื่องนี้เหรอ

น่าแปลกที่คำตอบคือ แม็กซ์ชอบแหละ อาจเพราะความมั่วมันมีอยู่จนไม่เป็นประเด็นสำคัญไปซะแล้ว อ่านตรงไหนก็ต้องเจอจุดจับผิดที่ไม่สมความจริง จนในที่สุดแม็กซ์ก็ต้องยอมรับความมั่นอันนี้ไปโดยปริยาย แล้วหันมาสนใจกับการดำเนินเรื่อง และเซ็กส์

แม็กซ์พูดถึงเซ็กส์ไปรึยัง หรือว่าแม็กซ์บอกไปแล้วรึยังว่าเรื่องนี้เป็นแนวอีโรติกโรแมนซ์ ดังนั้นจึงไม่จำเป็นต้องพูดถึงดีกรีความร้อนแรงหรอกนะ มันฮ็อต ฮ็อต ฮ็อต สำหรับแม็กซ์แล้วถือว่าเป็นหนังสืออีโรติกที่เขียนฉากเซ็กส์ได้ดีมากที่สุด เล่มหนึ่งแห่งปีค่ะ

ไม่รู้ว่าเพราะเหตุนั้นหรือเปล่านะที่แม็กซ์ถึงได้ให้อภัยกับความมั่วในเนื้อเรื่องของคนแต่ง

[Dana Delamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really loved the premise and the opening scenes of this book, and the characters were interesting -- an undercover cop posing as a male pinup model and a Mafia princess magazine editor/photographer.

However, the publisher (Pocket, so there's no excuse!) really let the writer down with some poor editing. Hint: Spanish is NOT Italian! Your Italian mob characters are not going to say "Bueno." Nor is the heroine a "one-woman man."

I'll try another book by the author, but errors like this kept pulling me out of the story, so my feelings about this one are mixed. I loved parts of it a lot, and there's great chemistry between the leads and some good mafia stuff. (I really didn't know who the bad guy was until the very end.) I just wish Pocket had done a better job on the editing so that I could have just enjoyed the story without getting distracted.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story, lots of drama and action and of course steamy sex scenes. I also liked how the author kept the secrets hidden only releasing little bits at a time, made the story line addicting.

[Cherie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Loved the mystery and all the loving. Good read.☆☆♡♡☆☆

[Busybee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had fun reading the book! Their banter and speaking about the sexual tension🔥! I loved the angst. I loved the heroines. Great book!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good! i didn’t know it was the second of the series, but you don’t need to go in order apparently. pretty predictable but still a good easy resd

[Christie P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

She needed a gorgeous male body and she needed it now. Francesca, Frankie, Donatello is the operator of SKIN, an upscale women's magazine akin to Playgirl and she needs an amazing centerfold to boost sales of the magazine before she father turns it over to her half brother. Or that was her life before her father, a known mob boss, was murdered.

Reese Barrett is the cop assigned to go in as the new male model while investigating whether Frankie was the one who murdered her father or not.

The sparks fly between Frankie and Reese as soon as they meet. Frankie really wants Reese for her campaign but he wants more money than she's willing to spend. They spend time haggling and working out a deal when some attacks on Frankie's life are made and Reese volunteers himself to be not only her model but her protection as well.

Frankie has had to deal with a lot of shake ups and heart ache in her life but she is beginning to trust Reese for who he is, and trust comes very hard to her.

Reese wants to believe the mafia princess but there are just too many questions to take anything Frankie says or does at face value. But it's getting harder and harder to be impartial about her involvement.

I really, really, really liked Frankie. If I had to be a mafia princess I would want to be Frankie. Even though she can't trust anyone and so very many lies come to light during the span of the book, I think Frankie is always amazingly strong. There were a lot of times I wanted her to lean on Reese more, but that just wasn't who she was.

Reese was an alpha male and a doubting Thomas. You could tell he wanted to believe Frankie, almost from the beginning, but other people were bringing the doubts he had to the forefront. He did do a few crappy things that really hurt Frankie, and made me angry. But he always seemed to make up for them, even the big mistake.

This is a definite read for anyone who likes romance, hotness, suspense, and mafia action.

[good_girls_read_romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skin is the 2nd book in the Hot Cops series. This story focuses on Francesca Donatello who is the daughter of the mob, and Reese Barrett, an undercover cop who goes undercover as a model posing for Francesca's magazine-Skin. He tries to get close to Francesca to use her for information on who has murdered her father. Although, there seems to be someone trying to kill Francesca herself, she is also a suspect as there is motive and evidence against her. Will Reese be able to figure out who is guilty and who is innocent? And what will happen when Francesca finds out who and what Reese really is?

I rated this book 4.5. This was my first time reading Karin Tabke's work, and I'm glad that I picked it up. When I first started reading, I wasn't sure I was going to like the story, but the more I read, the better the book became, and the more hooked I was. It was definately a story that got better and better as the book went along. There were a few spots that seemed to drag a little, where nothing really was happening, but when the story picked up again, it totally made up for these spots. Tabke did an amazing job creating characters you couldn't help but fall for and root for until the very end. The story was HOT, and STEAMY and I can't wait to read more in the Hot Cops Series by her!

[Pattianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

SKIN - HOT COPS #2 - From the author of Good Girl Gone Bad comes the sizzling tale of an undercover cop who shows a little skin to get in with the mob -- and the sexy mafia princess who gets in the way....
Curvaceous and feisty, Francesca Donatello is the owner of Skin, an upscale woman's magazine and her pride and joy. To boost sales, she's decided to feature a smoldering male centerfold in each issue -- even though it was once forbidden by her rigid father, a recently murdered mob boss. He always doubted her ability as a businesswoman, and now Francesca is even more determined to succeed. So when she meets sexy, charismatic model Reese Barrett, she knows he is perfect, and perfectly chiseled, for the job.

From the moment Reese sheds his clothes for the photo shoot, business becomes pleasure, and both are overcome with unadulterated desire for each other. But what Francesca doesn't realize is that Reese is a cop who's using her to infiltrate the Donatello family and find out who murdered her father. Even she is a suspect. But it soon becomes apparent that someone wants Francesca as dead as her father. As they dodge bullets and bodies Francesca and Reese shed secrets and inhibitions -- and learn that they must trust each other to survive.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to be a wild ride when it opened with a woman demanding a man strip so she can check out his assets, and boy, did it not disappoint.

From the start Frankie, ie Mafia Princess, and Reese, ie under cover cop, had chemistry. Their instant attraction made for some very interesting reading. Both of them are predisposed to hate each other, or at least they would be if Frankie really knew about Reese, they both want to have the upper hand in the relationship between each other for very different reasons, and sex becomes a weapon.

Each of them takes great fun in teasing and pulling away, the battles are always intense with neither winning all of them, but circumstances are such that they have to depend on the other.

As the war escalates between then, Frankie's mobster family keeps coming after her, with close calls with her life at stake coming left and right. Finally they have to really trust each other as all the truths come out, but can their intense attraction survive it? That is the real question.

[It's Me - Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Perfect!
Ever read a book where the characters jumped off the page? Ever read a book where you fell in love with the story even as the main characters fell in love? Ever read a book where you enjoyed the scenes and could visualize them as if you were the author? Ever read a book that you never wanted to end? Ever read a book that was so romantic that your heart got involved?


This is the second book in this series. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, for me, this one was so much better! I just finished reading it and am seriously considering starting it again! It is just that good -- absolutely perfect!

[Magda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to like this book.
It has all the characteristics that I would like. Sexy hero, sassy heroine, fast paced story ... but it didn't deliver.

1- The heroine was SO sassy that every retort out of her mouth was bratty. Nothing like reading immature convos between the H/h & others throughout the whole book.
2- The ex-marine cop who makes stupid decisions.
3- The "He's hot so I'm in love" mentality.
4- The sex. Some was hot but I ended up skimming all of the sex scenes after the first.
Who wants to read this:
"His body, mind, and soul were possessed with only one aim. The age-old ritual of mating."

Ugh. That is not hot.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie and Reese, this was a fun book, it went by really quick, great action, good read. I am enjoying her as an author. The pace is fast as Reese fakes being a model to go undercover and Frankie is trying to launch her magazine Skin. Reese is hot off the go as soon as he is asked to drop his pants. The chemistry is off the chart, the only flaw is that I wish Reese would have fought harder with his cop gut as he got to know her. Instead of believing intel he should have believed in the woman he was coming to know. If that would have happened I think I would have given it five stars. Love that they take pictures while having sex!!!

[Yelania Nightwalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una novela encantadora, cada vez me convenzo + que la autora es una de mis favoritas :)

Karin Tabke me sorprendió con ese giro que da la historia, yo realmente nunca supe quién estaba detras de todo, mis apuestas estaban en la persona equivocada, me temo.

La parejita tenía una química buenísima y yo podía imaginarme las fotos que conseguían esos dos XD La escena del granero fue terriblemente hot :O Pero por supuesto, eso no era todo entre estos dos. Me encantó los celos de ella por la "rubia" y la estupidez de él... típico, pero bueno... una muy buena historia.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sopranos does erotica. Very strong book - the characters, the writing, the action. I loved the whole book except for one nagging point: I was a little put off by how easily Frankie was duped by her undercover cop - even when she had doubts, she should have known. Or guessed. Or something. And once she found out he was a cop she still kept sleeping with him. I almost had to ask how she survived in her family as long as she did.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been introduced to Karin Harlow through ...not knowing she also writes under Karin Tabke. (Now I know, years later)

Her writing reflects the earlier works of Shannon Mckenna, Linda Howard and Lora Leigh, but darker and even more erotic.

[Hotncold82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book so much. I loved both Reece and Francesca, and what a tough gal she was. I also loved the mystery and plot in this one, along with the relationship the two lovers shared. I also loved the way the book ended, and thought that everything about the charcters fit each other and the plot. Amazing book with an awesome mystery and even better characters.

[Mskychick · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd at 20%. Too many things that strain the suspension of disbelief. Lack of plausibility in the basic functioning of a magazine and also policework. I require at least a modicum of believability, even for erotica.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in Karin Tabke's Hot Cops series. Another hot and spicy romantic suspense. I love it when erotic romances actually have a plot.

[Melanie♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 3 1/2 stars ****
Fast paced romantica suspense. Lost 1/2 star because of the repeated cliched/Soprano-ish names/situtations. Other than that, an enjoyable steamy book.

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3½ Stars

[Beachbaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In boxed set - "Hot Cop Box Set"

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot. Compelling. Steamy. Erotic. Karen Tabke knows what she's doing to keep the reader interested and wanting more.

[Janeia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot and steamy...on to book 3!! :)