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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm
Summertime quickie review:
Continuing in my deep, dark romance reads, this book was incredible. Content warning for domestic abuse and rape, and very brutal at that. The thing that I most loved about this story was how the hero was physically large, but she was able to use their romance as a way to begin her own healing, as she took on a more sexually dominant role in order to take back her power. Yes, their encounters were sexy, but there was also a lot of both characters doing some personal discovery, about how they could overcome destructive cycles and move forward.
Continuing in my deep, dark romance reads, this book was incredible. Content warning for domestic abuse and rape, and very brutal at that. The thing that I most loved about this story was how the hero was physically large, but she was able to use their romance as a way to begin her own healing, as she took on a more sexually dominant role in order to take back her power. Yes, their encounters were sexy, but there was also a lot of both characters doing some personal discovery, about how they could overcome destructive cycles and move forward.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief
Minor: Torture, Violence
*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.
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.
I read for stress relief and escapism, so it makes sense that I avoid something as dark as Under Her Skin. The whole "tortured souls" trope is popular among many fans of contemporary romance, but I've avoided it until now because it sounded depressing to me. It is a testament to Adriana Anders' writing that I was able to appreciate the hero and heroine's experience of pleasure with each other without feeling overwhelmed by the darkness of the subject matter.
Under Her Skin is the first book in the Blank Canvas series, but it is a standalone. Without giving too much away, Uma is on the run from a hideous situation when she meets Ivan. He can sense that Uma has gone through something bad and all he wants to do is protect her. Well, that's not ALL he wants. This is a contemporary romance, after all.
Anders does a good job of revealing the background of each character bit by bit without making me want to scream, "Get to the point!" Uma's attraction to Ivan despite her background felt realistic and not at all "insta-love". I was not tempted to skim any of the sex scenes; again, a testament to Anders' skill. When the bad situation comes back to haunt Uma, the resolution didn't feel contrived.
Overall, this was a good book that kept me tapping my Kindle (I rarely turn pages these days) until the end.
Under Her Skin is the first book in the Blank Canvas series, but it is a standalone. Without giving too much away, Uma is on the run from a hideous situation when she meets Ivan. He can sense that Uma has gone through something bad and all he wants to do is protect her. Well, that's not ALL he wants. This is a contemporary romance, after all.
Anders does a good job of revealing the background of each character bit by bit without making me want to scream, "Get to the point!" Uma's attraction to Ivan despite her background felt realistic and not at all "insta-love". I was not tempted to skim any of the sex scenes; again, a testament to Anders' skill. When the bad situation comes back to haunt Uma, the resolution didn't feel contrived.
Overall, this was a good book that kept me tapping my Kindle (I rarely turn pages these days) until the end.
This is an intense, incredible, heart-breaking and inspiring story of two people overcoming pain and finding love. Also, loads of sexytimes. I stayed up until 1am reading it.
all the love and feels for Ivan. i enjoyed it, got the thrills, even if i wasn't over the hills about it. still a really fast paced book!
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.
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.