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yazaleea's review against another edition
4.0
I need more!! Where is volume 3???
Cloister was still great, and we learn more about Javi and I really like him despite him being an asshole. I like that, for once, a character with commitment issues like Javi doesn't just gets "fixed" by sex. That man is traumatised and, again, a judgy dickhead, but he is slowly coming to realise how much he cares for Cloister and slowly comes to accept his feelings more and more... When Javi gave Cloister the key to his place I was so :,)))
The relationship is just a nice background to an engaging mystery, that's a bit convoluted but I didn't mind too much. I enjoyed the investigation!
Bourneville is still the best doggo <3
The editing is bad, always with the same confusing timeline, missing words and discrepancies.
Anyway, I don't think we will ever get a next volume for this because it's been years but it feels unfinished and I am so sad about this!! I wanted more of Cloister, Javi and Bourneville. The book hints at political changes and more of Javi's past through political games that put his career at risk, and I want to see him and Cloister get through this so bad!!!! I want more!!!!!!!
Cloister was still great, and we learn more about Javi and I really like him despite him being an asshole. I like that, for once, a character with commitment issues like Javi doesn't just gets "fixed" by sex. That man is traumatised and, again, a judgy dickhead, but he is slowly coming to realise how much he cares for Cloister and slowly comes to accept his feelings more and more... When Javi gave Cloister the key to his place I was so :,)))
The relationship is just a nice background to an engaging mystery, that's a bit convoluted but I didn't mind too much. I enjoyed the investigation!
Bourneville is still the best doggo <3
The editing is bad, always with the same confusing timeline, missing words and discrepancies.
Anyway, I don't think we will ever get a next volume for this because it's been years but it feels unfinished and I am so sad about this!! I wanted more of Cloister, Javi and Bourneville. The book hints at political changes and more of Javi's past through political games that put his career at risk, and I want to see him and Cloister get through this so bad!!!! I want more!!!!!!!
divapitbull's review against another edition
5.0
Skin and Bone picks up 1 week after Bone to Pick ends. Cloister and Javi were continuing their friends with benefits arrangement; until Cloister did his usual partially on purpose fucking things up. Although to be fair; it wouldn’t take much to fuck things up with commitment-phobe Javi (who is much easier to take as we get to know him as traumatized, damaged self-hating Javi). So basically, we have 2 MCs who thanks to very different traumas, both believe themselves not really worth anyone’s time of day.
Life goes on; and Cloister and his K-9 partner Bon are doing their job – responding to a missing girl, turned hit and run…when they – or Cloister to be exact – becomes a collateral hit and run. It looks like whoever tried to take out Janet Morrow, came back to finish the job and Cloister happened to be smack dab in the middle of the way. Luckily for Cloister’s estranged friend with currently no benefits (i.e Javi); Janet Morrow turns out to be MTF transgender. Javi can’t stick his FBI nose in the middle of the Sheriff Department’s hit and run case; but he can certainly push his way in to investigate a hate crime – which gives him the perfect excuse to interact with Cloister (because God forbid, he just call him and have an emotionally healthy conversation).
Once back in each other’s orbits, it doesn’t take long for these two sweet talkers to find themselves again entangled in a hot sexual relationship that keeps skirting around the edges of acknowledging actual feelings developing.
“Your life is your own business,” Javi growled as he broke the kiss. He reached around and shoved his hand down the back of Cloister’s jeans to cup the firm curve of his ass. He gave it a rough squeeze, hard enough to make Cloister’s breath hiss between his teeth. “But your ass is mine. So tell me why you threw it in front of a car”.
Having an excuse to again be in each other’s company; they work together to solve the very interesting police procedural elements of the story. Who the hell is the comatose Janet Morrow, what was the down on her luck, wanna be designer from NY doing in the town of Plenty, California and why did someone try to kill her? They also resume their sort of friends with benefits leaning into something more, kinda, sorta. This is the sort of story that I love; rich complex character development and a very slowly developing relationship between two emotionally damaged MCs; unfolding as a backdrop to a story with enough mystery, action, adventure and intrigue to keep things moving. Skin and Bone ends on a very fragile HFN; so hopefully there are more books to come in this series. The relationship between Cloister and Javi has the potential to be epic.
There also has to be a shout out to Bon Bon; Cloister’s k-9 partner. Best portrayal of a dog in fiction that I have read to date. The author clearly knows dogs; and realistically captures the intricacies of Bon’s personality. And while Javi started out as an unlikable asshole; we’re able to see his true measure in the way he takes to Bon despite his lack of experience with dogs. It doesn’t take long at all before he has her snoozling on his couch and eating scrambled eggs off his dinnerware. Can not hate a guy who knows how to treat a dog.
Life goes on; and Cloister and his K-9 partner Bon are doing their job – responding to a missing girl, turned hit and run…when they – or Cloister to be exact – becomes a collateral hit and run. It looks like whoever tried to take out Janet Morrow, came back to finish the job and Cloister happened to be smack dab in the middle of the way. Luckily for Cloister’s estranged friend with currently no benefits (i.e Javi); Janet Morrow turns out to be MTF transgender. Javi can’t stick his FBI nose in the middle of the Sheriff Department’s hit and run case; but he can certainly push his way in to investigate a hate crime – which gives him the perfect excuse to interact with Cloister (because God forbid, he just call him and have an emotionally healthy conversation).
Once back in each other’s orbits, it doesn’t take long for these two sweet talkers to find themselves again entangled in a hot sexual relationship that keeps skirting around the edges of acknowledging actual feelings developing.
“Your life is your own business,” Javi growled as he broke the kiss. He reached around and shoved his hand down the back of Cloister’s jeans to cup the firm curve of his ass. He gave it a rough squeeze, hard enough to make Cloister’s breath hiss between his teeth. “But your ass is mine. So tell me why you threw it in front of a car”.
Having an excuse to again be in each other’s company; they work together to solve the very interesting police procedural elements of the story. Who the hell is the comatose Janet Morrow, what was the down on her luck, wanna be designer from NY doing in the town of Plenty, California and why did someone try to kill her? They also resume their sort of friends with benefits leaning into something more, kinda, sorta. This is the sort of story that I love; rich complex character development and a very slowly developing relationship between two emotionally damaged MCs; unfolding as a backdrop to a story with enough mystery, action, adventure and intrigue to keep things moving. Skin and Bone ends on a very fragile HFN; so hopefully there are more books to come in this series. The relationship between Cloister and Javi has the potential to be epic.
There also has to be a shout out to Bon Bon; Cloister’s k-9 partner. Best portrayal of a dog in fiction that I have read to date. The author clearly knows dogs; and realistically captures the intricacies of Bon’s personality. And while Javi started out as an unlikable asshole; we’re able to see his true measure in the way he takes to Bon despite his lack of experience with dogs. It doesn’t take long at all before he has her snoozling on his couch and eating scrambled eggs off his dinnerware. Can not hate a guy who knows how to treat a dog.
teresab78's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not sure I liked Javi any more in this book than the last but I think he maybe growing on me. Bin stole the show again.
becka6131's review against another edition
4.0
My favourite detail in this book was that Javi has black silk sheets on his bed because OF COURSE HE DOES, he's such a ridiculous dramatic idiot!! Also that final scene development between Javi and Bon was so surprising and sweet that I had to check I hadn't somehow inserted it out of pure wish fulfilment. Thanks TA Moore for my life.
That aside, I think this book did a good job of showing how two people can fall in love at different speeds. Usually in romance, it's made clear that everyone is up to date and level with each other because otherwise the power dynamic can get skewed and it's difficult to write that kind of tension without it feeling gross, because somebody is getting the crappy end of that bargain. But the interesting thing about this couple is that they blow so hot and cold with each other - there isn't just one person holding back here. Javi tells Cloister over and over again that he can only give so much, even as his own assurance of that starts to give way and he makes more gestures that betray his feelings (the kiss at the station!!). Whereas out of the two of them, while Cloister is more mentally willing to accept how he feels and commit to something serious, he isn't actually very good at demonstrating that? He pushes Javi away whether intentionally or not, because he's obsessed with asserting his own independence and doesn't believe he deserves to have nice things. So while it's clear from the beginning that Javi isn't being honest with himself when he thinks of Cloister as just a fuck buddy, it's also obvious that Cloister is struggling with the possibility of letting Javi in. They're fucked up, but they're fuck ups together. And they're relatively self aware about it. It's great.
I'm pleased with the progression of their relationship in this one - by any metric it's still slow, but I think the conversation they have in the epilogue would have been impossible for the characters we see at the beginning of the book. Javi in particular sharing details of his life like that is more than I expected, so I'm excited to see where it goes in the next book, whenever that appears.
That aside, I think this book did a good job of showing how two people can fall in love at different speeds. Usually in romance, it's made clear that everyone is up to date and level with each other because otherwise the power dynamic can get skewed and it's difficult to write that kind of tension without it feeling gross, because somebody is getting the crappy end of that bargain. But the interesting thing about this couple is that they blow so hot and cold with each other - there isn't just one person holding back here. Javi tells Cloister over and over again that he can only give so much, even as his own assurance of that starts to give way and he makes more gestures that betray his feelings (the kiss at the station!!). Whereas out of the two of them, while Cloister is more mentally willing to accept how he feels and commit to something serious, he isn't actually very good at demonstrating that? He pushes Javi away whether intentionally or not, because he's obsessed with asserting his own independence and doesn't believe he deserves to have nice things. So while it's clear from the beginning that Javi isn't being honest with himself when he thinks of Cloister as just a fuck buddy, it's also obvious that Cloister is struggling with the possibility of letting Javi in. They're fucked up, but they're fuck ups together. And they're relatively self aware about it. It's great.
I'm pleased with the progression of their relationship in this one - by any metric it's still slow, but I think the conversation they have in the epilogue would have been impossible for the characters we see at the beginning of the book. Javi in particular sharing details of his life like that is more than I expected, so I'm excited to see where it goes in the next book, whenever that appears.
kiki124's review against another edition
4.0
They're so damn alone.
Case and status so opaque.
Pining, swoony men.
Case and status so opaque.
Pining, swoony men.
trippyotter's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aligroen's review against another edition
4.0
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I enjoyed the banter of these MCs just as much as I did in Bone to Pick. Cloister just wants to bring people home and find those who are lost, he finds much more trouble this time. Javi is struggling with his feelings towards Cloister and continued issued with his job.
Cloister continues to struggle with nightmares and everything from his past, while it makes him a good deputy it hurts to see him struggling. I love his connection to Bourneville and how dedicated they both are to each other. I still have trouble with Javi and I can’t quite figure out why everyone he is working with has it out to get him.
I still like Cloister and could easily connect with him, he doesn’t want to make anyone feel responsible for him and though he like Javi isn’t going to push him. Seeing some of the story trough Javi’s eyes we are able to see that he cares for Cloister no matter how much he doesn’t want that complication. Most of this story was focused on the mystery and finding out who Janet Morrow is and why she was attacked though we get glimpses of Cloister and Javi together. It looks as if there will be more books featuring these two and I look forward to them.
The cover art by Bree Archer is great and I love it. It’s similar in style to the first book but not a copy which is always nice.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I enjoyed the banter of these MCs just as much as I did in Bone to Pick. Cloister just wants to bring people home and find those who are lost, he finds much more trouble this time. Javi is struggling with his feelings towards Cloister and continued issued with his job.
Cloister continues to struggle with nightmares and everything from his past, while it makes him a good deputy it hurts to see him struggling. I love his connection to Bourneville and how dedicated they both are to each other. I still have trouble with Javi and I can’t quite figure out why everyone he is working with has it out to get him.
I still like Cloister and could easily connect with him, he doesn’t want to make anyone feel responsible for him and though he like Javi isn’t going to push him. Seeing some of the story trough Javi’s eyes we are able to see that he cares for Cloister no matter how much he doesn’t want that complication. Most of this story was focused on the mystery and finding out who Janet Morrow is and why she was attacked though we get glimpses of Cloister and Javi together. It looks as if there will be more books featuring these two and I look forward to them.
The cover art by Bree Archer is great and I love it. It’s similar in style to the first book but not a copy which is always nice.
cmira2027's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent sequel to Bone to Pick. For me this was more A story about the growth of the protagonists than the mystery, I loved seeing how Cloister and Javi have changed since the first book. Javi is still an ass, just less so. Watching him and Cloister dance around each other and their feelings was what I enjoyed most about reading this one.
If you haven't read Bone to Pick, buy it now, then get this one, you won't regret it.
If you haven't read Bone to Pick, buy it now, then get this one, you won't regret it.
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/3.75*
Javi and Cloister stumble from one encounter to another, still with a lot of their secrets in tact but some shared. Despite his reluctance, it does look like Javi may be in a relationship!
Cloister and Bon do their tracking thing a few times and the riddle of who Janet is is gradually revealed, as is the why and how of her attack - all a bit of a mess.
It got a bit complicated in the middle, who was who, who was alive, who was dead so pay attention!
After we had met the culprit a few times I did wonder, so quite a good long tie in.
Still plenty (!) of hanging threads to explore!
Javi and Cloister stumble from one encounter to another, still with a lot of their secrets in tact but some shared. Despite his reluctance, it does look like Javi may be in a relationship!
Cloister and Bon do their tracking thing a few times and the riddle of who Janet is is gradually revealed, as is the why and how of her attack - all a bit of a mess.
It got a bit complicated in the middle, who was who, who was alive, who was dead so pay attention!
After we had met the culprit a few times I did wonder, so quite a good long tie in.
Still plenty (!) of hanging threads to explore!