Cover Up is the third sexy entry in the Skin Deep military/tattoo shop series. I was really excited to read Nate's story after having felt so bad for him in Jon and Matt's story (Pounding Skin), but I don't feel as if Nate got the great relationship I think he deserved. Nate is going through a divorce, after having caught his husband cheating on him, when he meets Lucas when Nate comes in to have a consultation about getting his tiger tattoo covered up. Soon after meeting the hot tattoo artist, though, the cover up is kind of forgotten as they engage in a hot, FWB kind of thing that is supposed to be helping Nate move on from his ex. What it ends up doing, though, is just taking his mind off the soon to come divorce, rather than helping him deal with it.

While I enjoyed Cover Up and I liked both Nate and Lucas, I don't feel as if it was as cohesive and emotionally well-rounded as I had been hoping for. I wanted something really intense and hot for Nate, and it is hot, but it's also lacking the emotional intensity that I had been looking for. I never felt as if the men were in love, or even close to it. I suppose that's to be expected considering Nate is just coming off a 10-year relationship, but still, I wanted a stronger emotional connection to go with their obviously strong physical connection. Perhaps another entry in this series will continue Nate and Lucas' relationship and give me a glimpse into how they're doing in the future. But, as Cover Up is written, I can't honestly rate it higher than 3.5 stars because it's not emotionally satisfying enough for my tastes. It's hot, but there's not a lot to it other than lots and lots of hot sex.

So if you're looking for hot and sweaty MM sex, by all means, dive into Cover Up, but, if you're looking for a well-rounded romance with a strong physical AND emotional connection, you should probably look elsewhere.

**I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 stars

Cover Up is the 3rd book in the Skin Deep Inc series but can be read as a stand alone book also. I am a massive L.A. Witt fan and have read many of her books but I while I enjoyed it I don't think this was one of her better ones.

Cover Up centres around Nate who pays a visit to Skin Deep to cover up a tattoo that matches that of his soon to be ex husband. Enter Lucas, the young and sexy tattoo apprentice who does an amazing job with tattoo cover ups. There is an immediate attraction between the two men but neither want anymore than a friends with benefits arrangement. However that changes when both guys begin to have strong feelings for the other but Nate's impending divorce throws a spanner in the works and makes things a bit more complicated than they imagined.

This book was just ok in comparison to the previous two. I really like how in this series the characters in previous books make an appearance as it kind of gives the reader a little update as to how they are getting on. Also I feel like there was a real connection between the two M/C in this book despite their age difference and in particular their sexy scenes were a very nice read. I liked Lucas but I really liked Nate. He was such a sweetheart and I kept thinking to myself: why would someone cheat on a great guy like him? But I liked how when he got to know Lucas he was still open to a relationship with him despite the outcome of his previous relationship.

I was sort of surprised as to how quickly Nate and Lucas hooked up. After reading in the previous book (I think in a conversation with his best friend Jon) how against casual sex Nate was, it just seemed a bit out of character for him. Even in the circumstances he was always a character who seemed to be more interested in romantic relationships and getting to know someone before he jumped into bed with them.

However I didn't really feel like there was much of a storyline at times and found it a bit repetitive in parts e.g. Lucas's 3 jobs and Nate's 10 year marriage/soon to be divorce. Moreover as much as I love a good, well written sex scene in m/m books, I felt that there was just far too much of it in this. Literally every few pages it was like scene after scene of hot sex to the point where I felt myself skipping pages here and there.

All in all this was a pretty good read but I think that the best book of the three was definitely the second one in the series featuring Jon and Matt. I usually finish L.A Witt books in one sitting but this one took a couple of days as I had to keep making myself pick it up again just to see how it ended. That being said I am looking forward to seeing if there are any other books in this series as I am still a big fan of L.A. Witt's work.

I’m in love with the author. Just amazing. Sexy and spicy. One of my favourite reads this year.

Cover Up is the third book in the Skin Deep Inc. Series by L.A. Witt. Each of these books are standalone stories, though the characters are interconnected. You do not need to worry about reading them out of order though some small details might be spoiled for the previous books if you do read them out of order. I am really enjoying this series though, and recommend reading them all.

Nate thought that he had found his forever when he married Caleb. But after 10 years together he found Caleb in their bed with another man, devastating him and forcing him to figure out a new future for himself. Starting with getting his tattoo that matched Caleb's covered up, his friend referred him to Lucas, the man that was said to be the best. After messing up someone's tattoo though, Lucas finds his confidence shaken. So when Nate walks in and the attraction between them is instant he begins to worry about how he can possibly cover up his tattoo. The attraction between them though is something they can't fight and as they start a friends with benefits relationship, they find something in each other they never expected.

I loved these two. Both of them had issues and yet they were doing their best to cope and move on with their lives. Nate was forced to face the reality of a broken marriage and the life he had planned while Lucas had to come to grips with a mistake and how to move past it. They were so good for one another though, and I really felt like they needed each other. It was clear the chemistry and attraction between them was there from the start. They were SO hot together! But the connection they were building here was more than either of them intended and honestly it felt so real and genuine. I thought that L.A. Witt did a great job with these two, and I really believed that everything that they had been through was so that these two could end up where they did.

Overall, I just really enjoyed this story. Nate and Lucas were impossible not to love, and I couldn't get enough of them. This story was sexy and fun, but it was also emotional and was just a solid story. If you are a fan of contemporary M/M romance, I highly recommend this series. I love the characters and the stories and I definitely can't wait to read more from L.A. Witt.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Navy RIO Nate Chandler is divorcing his cheating husband. Single for the first time in ten years, Nate is struggling to deal with the aftershocks of what he thought was his forever. Ready to get rid of anything that reminds him of his ex, Nate walks into Skin Deep to get a cover up tattoo. The tiger him and his husband once shared has to go. That's where he meets the gorgeous tattoo apprentice Lucas Brandt, and suddenly his dormant libido is back with a vengeance. Meeting Lucas wakes something in Nate that he thought was long gone. With Lucas, Nates feels good. He feels desired. When they are together, they can't keep their hands off each other. But soon, what started as a casual fling becomes more. Lucas has been married before. Twice as a matter of fact. He knows divorces are brutal. He also knows that Nate isn't over his ex. And falling for someone who is unavailable is a mistake. Cover Up is a second chance romance about two sexy men who find love when least expected. Together they heal each other and find that lust can turn to love in a heartbeat.

3.75 stars.

This was another steamy story in the Skin Deep Inc. series and I really enjoyed it. It was about Nate & Lucas (who you meet in the previous books) but don't worry this can definitely be read as a standalone.

I liked the way it flowed really well and how good the story was written. I love the secondary characters just as much as the main and seeing them grow.

This book was unfortunately a DNF, I just had some limits I could not get past. I am sorry for that. Thank you for the opportunity to read. I am sure that other readers will enjoy.

I loved this book I was hooked from the very first page and I couldn't put my kindle down while reading this book. I loves this installment in this series and I just loved the romance between Lucas and Nate

This is a fantastic addition to the series I really enjoyed the first two books and this one did not disappoint.This is Lucas and Nate's story this two are just so cute together I just loved them as a couple.
Nate catches his husband cheating and is in the middle of divorcing him, Lucas is in a funk me messed up a tattoo and his sex life is less than impressive.When these two meet the chemistry is instant can they get past their own issue and make something this great work.
This was a great read and if like me you enjoyed the other books in the series you won't want to miss this one.

I love this series and this author so much.. this story is adorable.. it is sweet.. it is full of emotions and conflict.. sorrow and happiness.. so many things going on and so much that is wonderful. i loved it

Cover Up is the third book in the Skin Deep Saga!  All of the books in the series have been really good to read and L.A. Witt does an awesome job of writing interesting and innovative storylines! Each character is well thought out and we understand where they are coming from.  

This book showcases Nate and Lucas.  Nate has been devastated after finding out that his husband of ten years has been cheating on him. He is just going through the motions.  His best friend Jon suggests he needs to take his life back and one of the things to consider is getting his ex's matching tattoo gone. Whether it is laser removed or totally inked over, he knows that may be the first step to taking the control back.  Jon takes him to Skin Deep Tattoo shop and Nate meets with Lucas about the cover up.

Lucas is awestruck when Nate comes in for a cover up of a very meaningful tattoo. He has a hard time not letting his attraction show while trying to help Nate! And against all odds, Nate feels the undeniable attraction too! What starts out as a one night stand, soon morphs into more nights, and weekends, and everything neither thought they wanted.  Now that they are what they are, neither wants to go back, but Nate's impending divorce is in the forefront. And don't forget that pesky detail that Nate hasn't dealt with any of the feelings a divorce brings. He's just been pushing them away in favor of letting Lucas distract him from those feelings. There is a breaking point coming, but how can he feel like he does so soon?

I really love this world revolving around Skin Deep and the Navy! I feel so close to all these characters, I could easily blend in at one of their BBQ's! It's also great to catch up on the relationships of the guys of the first two books, Colin and Daniel, and Matt and Jon!  They are like family to each other and that's the thread that winds itself around my heart! Good stuff!

5 Stars/4 Flames

This book was gifted to me for a voluntary review.  The review and ratings are solely my opinions.

Another hot story in this great series.

When I finished reading Pounding Skin, book 2 in this series, I couldn't wait to read the next one. But for some reason I missed the release date for Cover Up earlier this month. Once I realized that, I quickly added it to my TBRL (to be read list) and I'm so glad that I finally read it.

We met the MCs (main characters) briefly in Pounding Skin. Nate is still reeling from finding his husband in bed with another man. He can't wait for the end of the 6-month waiting period for their divorce to be final so he can change his name. His next task is to cover up the tattoo of a tiger that he had gotten to match his soon-to-be ex-husband's. It had been a romantic gesture at the time but one that he now regretted.

Lucas is an apprentice tattoo artist but his mentors at the shop where he works think he has an amazing talent for doing "cover-ups," turning bad or unwanted tattoos into new works of art. As a bi-sexual man, one with two failed marriages to women, the last thing Lucas sees in his future is a serious relationship. Fate has other ideas.

Nate is definitely not looking for a new relationship but a hook-up seems like just the thing to help him get over his ex. The attraction between Lucas and Nate is undeniable so they agree to have a good time with each other.

Since this is a romance, one with an HEA, I knew that Nate and Lucas would soon be more than a hook-up for each other. However, the story that L.A. Witt wrote these two was much more complex than this simple premise. The ups and downs in their relationship had me both laughing and shedding tears. I was thoroughly entertained and hated to put my e-reader down so I could exit the plane that I'd been on for two hours. Upon waking the next morning, I promptly finished the story!

I don't know if there will be any more books in this series or not but I will be reading them if there are.

Cover Up starts with Nate leaving a divorce settlement meeting as he's going through a divorce because his husband cheated on him. He's angry and he wants to get rid off everything that reminds him of his ex - including a tiger tattoo, which he got a matching ones with his ex. That leads Nate to meet Lucas, who's tattoo artists specializing in cover ups. It's instant lust between the two of them, and they decide to hook up. Everything seems to be perfect between them, because they both love how hot the sex between them is, and Lucas has gone through divorce twice already so he understands it's just a rebound for Nate, and he's okay with that. Their chemistry flares up and they end up being friends with benefits because they enjoy each other's company on and off bed.

Both Lucas and Nate were likable characters. Nate's a little bit lost and avoiding his feelings of grief from the divorce, but he's also funny and gentle. Lucas's struggling with confidence issues because he screwed up a tattoo not long ago, and he works three jobs just to pay off student loans. Life certainly didn't seem too easy for them, and I rooted for them. Other characters were quite likable too, well, everyone else but Nate's ex-husband but he was mostly off page.

However, there were quite some problems I had with the story. Mostly it comes down to excessive sex scenes - there were so many of them and so frequently that the story seemed to drag on, especially since there wasn't much anything else going on. There weren't many scenes were Nate and Lucas spend time separately (and even if they did, they were certainly thinking about each other). There just wasn't much plot to go on, and not much character development until the last few chapters. Quite honestly, the story felt really long even if it wasn't, and I did skim read some of the sex scenes because there wasn't anything new for the overall storyline. I wished more interaction with secondary characters and more activities that had nothing to do with sex - I would have liked to see more tattooing or army training as Nate was a Navy Pilot. There was plenty of potential to extent the story to cover more than just Nate and Lucas together, and it would have fleshed out the story more.

Cover Up was a nice story with a happily ever after, but it wasn't something that blew my mind and it ended up just scratching the surface of the potential the story could have reached. So if you're looking for something relatively light with some angst looming on the background and plenty of sex scenes, then I'd recommend Cover Up for you.

3.5 Stars!

Salacious, flirty, and ardent!

Cover Up, the latest novel in the Skin Deep Inc. series is a passionate, steamy tale involving the betrayed, resentful Nate who is struggling to come to terms with the end of his marriage and Lucas the young, hardworking tattoo artist with little self-confidence but huge talent.

The writing is crisp and clear. The characters are handsome, diligent, and likable. And the plot, although a little repetitive, has lots of dirty talk, chemistry, lust, sex, emotion, and love. 

Cover Up is the third novel in the "Skin Deep Inc." series and even though I was really looking forward to reading Nate's tale, I have to admit I would have liked just a little bit more depth to the storyline. However, saying that, Witt is still one of my favourite authors of this genre and you can be sure that her next release will once again be on my TBR list.

I was so pleased with L.A. Witt’s latest novel, “Cover Up”! Both Nate and Lucas were adorable from the start and I was rooting for them the whole way through the story. The banter was really sweet, funny, and (best of all) real.

That was the overwhelming feeling I got through the whole book - it all felt real. Witt’s wonderful descriptions of what it is like to have a relationship with someone in the military, Nate’s process of dealing with a cheating spouse, and finding love again. It was all done extremely well.

This was a terrific book and I’m going back now to read the first two in the series!

Below is my review from Goodreads.
The positive: I loved the cover, very nice.
The rest: Ok, I received this book as an ARC which is the only reason I persevered to finish it. I didn't really care what happened to either Nate or Lucas and was bored a lot of the book. Most interesting parts were probably the road trips. Also, LA Witt really needs to learn from the saying less is more. In this case less sex would have seemed like more sex. When there is a little bit more of a buildup, you appreciate the steamy scenes more. Instead I skimmed the lot. One of the reasons I was attracted to reading LA Witt is her name pops up a lot in relation to read-a-likes to Annabeth Albert's military romance series, which is fantastic. However, the military section of this seemed like a few facts that were factual but didn't give the feel of the military. Might have been better without trying to attempt that. First LA Witt, last LA Witt.
Leaving it at a 2 for now but honestly feel like that's fairly generous.

I've put off this review long enough, but I've been trying to gather my thoughts and they are simply... lackluster. Like this book...

I started off really enjoying this series, or as much as I enjoy any L.A. Witt book, but I've been struggling with her writing lately and this book goes along with that trend.

I struggled to get through Cover Up. It took me a long time to read it, and I kept skimming the sex scenes that seemed to never stop coming.

The biggest problem with this book is that it is repetitive. So, so much so. Like many L.A. Witt books, this book lacks direction and a true plot. Nothing every happens. The characters complain about their jobs and have copious amounts of sex. Now, I wish it was hot sex and then maybe I could forgive the book for its constant repetition, but the sex felt rote and almost icky after awhile. The sex was just really bad for me, which lowered my rating a ton. I hate when characters slur from being turned on... is that a thing? I would think my partner was having a stroke.

I was really looking forward to this book after the last book ended with Nate's divorce, but the chemistry in Cover Up was nearly nonexistent for me. I nearly cringed at times, the chemistry was so awkward and forced.

I don't know what happened with this one. Lots of telling and little showing, sex scenes that kept coming, even when I hoped they would stop, and just a lack of substance.

I'm stopping this series at this point.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I don’t read a lot of m/m romance but every now and then I’ll spy one where the blurb really catches my eye and this one was definitely one of those. I really liked the idea and given the state of my country at the moment it was nice to read a book where gay marriage was so normal and an accepted part of society (mostly) rather than something that needs to be endlessly debated and the subject of a postal vote. This sounded interesting and pretty hot and I didn’t mind that I hadn’t read the previous two books. Even after reading it, I know the two couples that featured in the books preceding this one but I didn’t feel as though I’d missed anything, nor did I really feel that anything would’ve been spoiled for me if I wanted to go back and read those first two books.

There were things I liked about this but there were also some things that didn’t really work for me. Firstly, Nate is still super raw when he goes to see Lucas about getting the matching tattoo he got with his estranged husband covered up. It’s a very recent break up and he’s heartbroken. So even though it’s originally supposed to start out as just a fling, something to get him back out there, it still feels very soon for someone as upset as Nate. He kind of seems like he should still be wallowing. He was betrayed by his husband, catching him in their bed with another man (bit of a cliche, that, it amazes me how many people in fiction bring their lovers into their marital or relationship bed!) and now they’re going through what seems like a very traumatic and painful divorce for Nate. He definitely married thinking it would be for life and his hurt and level of emotional instability comes across very well, even when he’s trying to conceal the fact that he has a boner for his young-looking tattoo artist.

There’s lots of sex in here and it’s very detailed so if that’s your thing that part of the book should make readers pretty happy. I was hoping the relationship aspect would get the same attention but I really didn’t feel like it did. Everything felt very fast, like these two guys barely even knew each other. It is supposed to be a once off, then a fling but then it seems like they’re spending a lot of time together, when their various jobs allow and it’s clear it’s more than just sex but we just don’t get a lot of the emotional investment, such as them really talking about their feelings etc. Lucas was having a bad spell before Nate and he’s also clear at the beginning that he doesn’t want a relationship. Randomly he’s already been divorced twice despite the fact that he’s in his late twenties and even though he kind of talks about both his marriages it’s in passing and quite brief and just didn’t really add a lot of the narrative. Both of Lucas’ marriages were to women and although he readily admits to being bi I’m not sure if Nate is his first actual relationship with a man versus just hooking up with them or including them in threesomes with one of his former wives.

At some stage in the book it becomes very clear to Nate that he still is yet to really deal with his divorce and his feelings for his estranged husband and that he should probably get around to doing that if he wants a real future with Lucas and so off he goes to do that and it basically takes one phone call, a meeting in a cafe and feels done with. That aspect felt quite rushed and also unrealistic because even if you find yourself moving on, I’m sure that a 10 year partnership and marriage that ended in cheating and divorce isn’t quite so easy to just get over. Given this is obviously a huge part of Nate’s life, it felt like it should’ve been a more dominant part of the story. Much more, given it’s really only just happened before this book begins. It felt like Nate should’ve had quite a bit more to work through before he could really take that genuine next step with Lucas from “fwb” to in an actual committed relationship for the long haul. I wouldn’t have minded examining Lucas’ past a bit more either, that felt glossed over as well. A lot of this felt packed with filler sex scenes and because of that, the rest of the story did suffer. I’m all for lots of spice but I do also like it to be balanced out.

All in all it was a quick and entertaining read but did leave me wanting more from it.

7/10