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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
This was really great. The writing was so assured and gentle. I love when characters quietly and slowly fall in love with each other, and through the process learn more about themselves. My only complaint about this book is that it wrapped up pretty abruptly, and was a little bit too neat of an ending.
Release date: February 07 2017.
*
3 stars.
*
Under Her Skin is an emotional debut novel that deals with abuse and shows us what life can be like for a survivor. The pace is very slow but consistent, the characters are developed, and the story takes us on a journey that explores the building of a relationship based on trust and intimacy.
Adriana Anders is a new voice in Romance that will definitely captivate readers. This book follows Uma, a woman on the run from her abusive ex, and Ivan, her handsome neighbor who has a few secrets of his own. Their romance is one that will get a lot of dreamy sighs from people, especially with the level of Anders’ writing. Unfortunately for me, the story remained slow and a little boring through most of the book.
Positive points first: the writing is really good. The book has a fantastic beginning that makes you laugh and grasps your attention, and it does a wonderful job introducing some of the characters. The story is told in POVs of Uma and Ivan, and Anders manages to give them both unique voices that read very differently from one another.
The characters are developed, and all have different stories and backgrounds. Even the side characters have their own conflicts, which will definitely be addressed in the next installments. Not to say that some of them aren’t horrible people, because they can be and are.
Which leads me to talk about one of the main factors that fuels Uma’s story: her abuse. I won’t give away details, but I can say the author addresses it in the most respectful manner. It is not brushed off as something minor; Uma deals with it every day and we can see it is a struggle for her to overcome what happened and get her happy ending.
So I’m sad to say I still didn’t fully connect with the story, the main characters, and the romance. There is a little bit of instalove going on, but the relationship between Uma and Ivan develops along the course of the book. Also, nothing about Uma and Ivan as characters call to me, and their inner monologues become rather boring to follow. With that, the slow pacing also becomes an issue, as things took a while to move forward. Ivan can also be very… intense, and not in a way that appeals to me; and Mrs. Lloyd is an entire different problem.
Overall, Under Her Skin is a debut novel to be proud of. Romance fans that like their stories a little dark will certainly love this, and Anders’ writing shows great potential. I’m curious to see what she has in store, and will definitely check out her other works in the future.
*
Series: #1 in the Blank Canvas series.
POV: Told from Uma and Ivan’s POVs.
Content Warnings:
Instalove:
Steam: Pretty steamy!
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Up Next: [b:By Her Touch|30612661|By Her Touch (Blank Canvas, #2)|Adriana Anders|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481503937s/30612661.jpg|51145210].
*
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
*
3 stars.
*
I want to feel everything.
Under Her Skin is an emotional debut novel that deals with abuse and shows us what life can be like for a survivor. The pace is very slow but consistent, the characters are developed, and the story takes us on a journey that explores the building of a relationship based on trust and intimacy.
Adriana Anders is a new voice in Romance that will definitely captivate readers. This book follows Uma, a woman on the run from her abusive ex, and Ivan, her handsome neighbor who has a few secrets of his own. Their romance is one that will get a lot of dreamy sighs from people, especially with the level of Anders’ writing. Unfortunately for me, the story remained slow and a little boring through most of the book.
Positive points first: the writing is really good. The book has a fantastic beginning that makes you laugh and grasps your attention, and it does a wonderful job introducing some of the characters. The story is told in POVs of Uma and Ivan, and Anders manages to give them both unique voices that read very differently from one another.
The characters are developed, and all have different stories and backgrounds. Even the side characters have their own conflicts, which will definitely be addressed in the next installments. Not to say that some of them aren’t horrible people, because they can be and are.
Which leads me to talk about one of the main factors that fuels Uma’s story: her abuse. I won’t give away details, but I can say the author addresses it in the most respectful manner. It is not brushed off as something minor; Uma deals with it every day and we can see it is a struggle for her to overcome what happened and get her happy ending.
So I’m sad to say I still didn’t fully connect with the story, the main characters, and the romance. There is a little bit of instalove going on, but the relationship between Uma and Ivan develops along the course of the book. Also, nothing about Uma and Ivan as characters call to me, and their inner monologues become rather boring to follow. With that, the slow pacing also becomes an issue, as things took a while to move forward. Ivan can also be very… intense, and not in a way that appeals to me; and Mrs. Lloyd is an entire different problem.
Overall, Under Her Skin is a debut novel to be proud of. Romance fans that like their stories a little dark will certainly love this, and Anders’ writing shows great potential. I’m curious to see what she has in store, and will definitely check out her other works in the future.
*
Series: #1 in the Blank Canvas series.
POV: Told from Uma and Ivan’s POVs.
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
Abuse. Rape. Non-consensual body modification. Victim blaming.Instalove:
Spoiler
A little bit, yeah.Steam: Pretty steamy!
Love Triangle:
Spoiler
No.Cheating:
Spoiler
No.Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Spoiler
Yes.Up Next: [b:By Her Touch|30612661|By Her Touch (Blank Canvas, #2)|Adriana Anders|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481503937s/30612661.jpg|51145210].
*
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book started strong, but 75% into the book the pacing got weird and slow for me. I wanted more drama and intrigue in between the love scenes.
And what's the future with Uma and her mother?
And what's the future with Uma and her mother?
Uma takes a crappy job in a backwater town for one reason and one reason only - to get her skin back from the tattoos that tell the story of her past. But while she is trying to find her way back to herself - she finds Ivan. He is enormous and should scare her but he might be the gentlest person she has ever known. But her past isn't that far away and she can't ask that he take on her secrets or the fallout of them. This was so good. I mean - it is intense and angsty. But Anders is talented and makes it hurt so good. There are also so many awesome realistic sex-positive moments - including removing condoms correctly and body hair on a woman. There is also a lot of discussions of trust and respect and being able to trust someone to do the right thing for you - even if it is not doing something. There are two tiny reasons that this isn't five stars - 1) I really only give five stars to ones I will reread - and this might be too angsty for me to do that with? 2) I wanted slightly more of Ivan's POV. It felt like he got less time than she did.
NOTE: Please pay attention to the TW/ CW they are no joke in this one.
Second Note: This book is about 270 pages long but in the Kindle version there are a lot of post book additions so it looks like you have a lot left.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Steam:
NOTE: Please pay attention to the TW/ CW they are no joke in this one.
Second Note: This book is about 270 pages long but in the Kindle version there are a lot of post book additions so it looks like you have a lot left.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Steam:
DOWN & DIRTY QUICKIE REVIEW!
One Sentence Summary:
An abuse survivor heroine, on the run from her evil ex, hides out next door to a big, bearded, beta-tastic mountain man with Dyslexia.
Name That Trope:
* Dominant Heroine And Smexy Times And Consent- Oh My!
* Beta Hero Out To Get Her Heart (AND YOURS!)
* Melt-Your-Panties Bed Shenanigans
* Forced Proximity
* Tough As Teflon Heroine
What part made you fangirl squeal:
The twenty-eight million one hundred seventy-eight thousand three hundred seventy-one times our boy rocked consent! My swoonage was epic! Plus, like, when our gal finally showed Mr Sexy Sweetie her skin? AND HIS REACTION? Oooh. Daaaaaaamn.
Favorite Character:
Dude. Both! I refuse to choose. Uma was damaged yet unbroken & strong, while Ivan was a volcano of protective respect. They were catnip covered in chocolate and french fries.
How smexy was the smex?
M-I-N-D B-L-O-W-I-N-G! Uma retakes ownership of her body through sex with Ivan, but NOT because of his magic wand; it's because of the control he surrenders to her. And their dialogue? It did hot stuff, consent stuff, AND communication stuff! Plus, ya know, a mutually blindfolded sex scene was a thing, so there was that.
Whose Line Is It Anyway:
Got any bitching to do?
My one complaint is that I wish professional counseling had been a part of Uma’s healing. Her exit from victim & transition to survivor was phenomenally well written, but therapy is not a four letter word.
Visually Depict Yo Book Feels:
Famous last words:
OK YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT AN EMOTIONAL GUT-PUNCH THIS CRACKTASTIC BOOK WAS! The whole thing is character wrapped up with internal conflict & beautiful ass writing! I swear to you on the honor that is my romance-loving fangirl heart; IF YOU READ THIS YOU GONNA FEEL FEELS!
-------------------------------------
For a more in depth, LOL-fest discussion on romance novels and romance Asian dramas, HERE BE MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
https://www.youtube.com/fangirlmusings
One Sentence Summary:
An abuse survivor heroine, on the run from her evil ex, hides out next door to a big, bearded, beta-tastic mountain man with Dyslexia.
Name That Trope:
* Dominant Heroine And Smexy Times And Consent- Oh My!
* Beta Hero Out To Get Her Heart (AND YOURS!)
* Melt-Your-Panties Bed Shenanigans
* Forced Proximity
* Tough As Teflon Heroine
What part made you fangirl squeal:
The twenty-eight million one hundred seventy-eight thousand three hundred seventy-one times our boy rocked consent! My swoonage was epic! Plus, like, when our gal finally showed Mr Sexy Sweetie her skin? AND HIS REACTION? Oooh. Daaaaaaamn.
Favorite Character:
Dude. Both! I refuse to choose. Uma was damaged yet unbroken & strong, while Ivan was a volcano of protective respect. They were catnip covered in chocolate and french fries.
How smexy was the smex?
M-I-N-D B-L-O-W-I-N-G! Uma retakes ownership of her body through sex with Ivan, but NOT because of his magic wand; it's because of the control he surrenders to her. And their dialogue? It did hot stuff, consent stuff, AND communication stuff! Plus, ya know, a mutually blindfolded sex scene was a thing, so there was that.
Whose Line Is It Anyway:
“I don’t know what happened with the asshole you're runnin’ from, Uma, but I can tell it wasn't good. I know I'm big and ugly, but I don't hurt women. You got that? Ever. I will tear some shit up in a fight. I mean, I've been stupid as hell all my life, but never with a woman. Never.” - Ivan
‘Ivan nodded. Uma nodded. It was like a fucking bobblehead convention.’
Got any bitching to do?
My one complaint is that I wish professional counseling had been a part of Uma’s healing. Her exit from victim & transition to survivor was phenomenally well written, but therapy is not a four letter word.
Visually Depict Yo Book Feels:
Famous last words:
OK YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT AN EMOTIONAL GUT-PUNCH THIS CRACKTASTIC BOOK WAS! The whole thing is character wrapped up with internal conflict & beautiful ass writing! I swear to you on the honor that is my romance-loving fangirl heart; IF YOU READ THIS YOU GONNA FEEL FEELS!
-------------------------------------
For a more in depth, LOL-fest discussion on romance novels and romance Asian dramas, HERE BE MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
https://www.youtube.com/fangirlmusings
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a pretty engrossing book from the start. Uma is a sympathetic character, fiercely determined to live, and on her own terms, despite what she has endured in the past. Before reading this book, I had never thought of tattoos as a possible tool of abuse. Thanks to this story, I have a little different perspective on that now. So she shows up to town for a job and a treatment she's seeking, and meets the beefy Ivan, or "Ive". Ive was a little bestial beserker for my taste, but his developing relationship with Uma is sweet, especially the fluid exchange of power in their sexual encounters as they grew more comfortable with each other. While Ive was not my thing, I saw how he and Uma complimented each other, and appreciated them as a couple. I also appreciate the development of the other characters in this story, from Uma's employer to Ive's family. Not so much Uma's mother and ex, but that was kind of the point, right? The ending was satisfying, both with resolution, and with the characters' growth and development as decent adults. I enjoyed this, and look forward to trying the rest of the trilogy (although I see Jessie doesn't get her own story, and that makes me a little sad).
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).
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).