I am impressed by this first work from debut author, Adriana Anders. I was drawn in by the cover and the synopsis at a time when I was looking for an emotional book, and I think Under Her Skin fit that bill pretty well.

Uma Clark is a tortured heroine on the run from an abusive and somewhat powerful ex. She has suffered mental/emotional and physical abuse that has long-term and possibly lasting effects. She was an utterly sympathetic heroine... after reading what she endured from the legally and politically connected Joseph "Joey" Chisholm, my heart hurt for her. Now Uma has arrived in Blackwood, Virginia for a specific reason (which should be left to the reader to discover)... but the small town is a little too close to her ex for comfort. This means Uma feels she is living on borrowed time and she is terrified. As a result of the terror, Uma is jumping at noises, seeing her ex in every male face, and having panic attacks... so it's no wonder that its obvious to everyone she encounters that she is in hiding and needs help. Well, its obvious to seemingly everyone except for her new employer, the curmudgeonly Ms. Lloyd - an abusive old coot with eccentricities of her own.
Ivan is a big burly lumberjack type who lives and works on the property adjacent to Ms. Floyd. As an ex-con who battles his rage, Ivan is surprisingly gentle with the wounded and strays that who flock to him. I particularly liked that Ivan was a blacksmith, bending iron to his will in the forge on his property. This is such an unusual occupation for heroes this days, and I thought the detail provided gave a unique air to this character and his livelihood. And hey - I live in New Orleans where we have wrought iron everything so I could totally envision these aspects of the story. From the moment that Ivan meets Uma, he feels the need to add her to his collection of stray and wounded. While she may not be an animal in need of rescuing, he can tell that she definitely needs help.

The relationship between Ivan and Uma progressed solely by necessity... but the story wasn't all build up. I enjoyed watching Uma come out her shell and take her power back through interactions with Ivan and a few progressive sexual encounters. Despite our characters' pasts, the romance really had a "sweet" feel owed mainly to the gentle and accommodating nature of Ivan. He reminded me of a gentle grizzly - fiercely protective of those he cared about and gentle as a lamb when they needed him. His relinquishment of power to Uma created an interesting dynamic - one that I don't normally go for, but it fit this story perfectly.

If there was anything that I was missing - it was a desire for more action, danger and suspense. I felt like the conflict with Uma's ex was resolved a little too easily. I think the fear and anticipation could have been ramped up a little more as the story and romance was progressing. I also would like to know why Ms. Lloyd never left her house. We got a peek into Ms. Lloyd's past, but that didn't quite translate to her being afraid to leave the house or open the door after dark.

If you like for your contemporary romance to evoke emotion and stories with sympathetic characters, then I recommend this book. I think it would also be enjoyed by fans of dark romance and romantic suspense. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca.

Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders blew me away. Its raw sincerity, combined with a romance that I can only describe as urgent and primal, completely pummeled my heart.

Uma is on the run from an abusive past. Her ex-boyfriend, Joey, was a manipulator who controlled Uma's life, cutting her off from family and friends. He isolated her to the point where he was her primary connection to the outside world. One night, the relationship takes a horrifying turn when Joey holds Uma against her will, assaulting her and marking her body with slurs in the form of tattoos.

Uma flees to the small mountain town of Blackwood, Virginia, after hearing a radio interview about a dermatologist who helps people like Uma for free. Desperate to remove the tattoos that cover much of her body, Uma is scared to undergo laser treatments but just wants to feel normal and whole again--less like a freak and more like herself.

In the meantime, Uma takes a job as live-in help for Ms. Lloyd, a cantankerous widow. She and Uma butt heads constantly, but eventually grow on each other as they develop a kinship.

Living next door is Ivan, a blacksmith and ex-con who served time for assaulting his sister's abusive ex. Ivan is a dichotomy of burly, imposing physicality combined with quiet tenderness. On one hand, Ivan is the man who nearly killed someone exacting justice on his sister's behalf. At the same time, he's the man who rescues stray animals and looks in on his agoraphobic neighbor out of concern.

Ivan has his share of heartache from the past, which is a big reason why he keeps to himself most of the time. Uma probably should be afraid of him, but his inherent sweetness tells her that she can trust him. Likewise, Ivan is drawn to Uma's contradictory personality as well. In one moment, she's jumpy and skittish; in the next, she's bold and challenging. Ivan doesn't know much about the city girl, but he knows that he likes the fire he glimpses in her.

Uma and Ivan strike up a friendship that becomes more, thanks to their intense physical attraction. However, Uma's shame from being marked haunts her constantly and steals her confidence. But Ivan doesn't pressure or push Uma; instead, he makes her comfortable and assures her that she's never at fault. Ivan's unconditional acceptance and loyalty bolsters Uma during her struggle to regain the sense of self that was stolen from her. Uma truly goes on a journey in this book. That journey takes her through hell, but she emerges on the other side so much closer to being whole again.

Throughout the story, there's a delicious undercurrent of longing and tension between Uma and Ivan. Once their relationship turns sexual, the storytelling is elevated to another level. For both of them, sex becomes almost a conduit for healing--while simultaneously being dirty and super erotic. The sex scenes in this book are positively transcendent. Anders' evocative, sensual, and deeply emotional writing style is reminiscent of some of my favorite authors, such as Anne Calhoun, Cara McKenna, and Charlotte Stein.

Under Her Skin hit me hard in the feels, in the best possible way. And this might sound silly, but after I finished the book, I felt absolutely euphoric. It's that good. I highly recommend this book and eagerly await the next book in the Blank Canvas series.

When it comes to romantic tales I find the most satisfying ones put readers through the emotional wringer. It's not a truly Happily Ever After unless the journey to get there was a hard-fought one. From start to finish this book held my emotions captive as two bruised souls fought to rise above their pasts in a tale that beautifully blended a charming and heartwarming romance with steamy interludes that ultimately empowered and healed the heroine's battered body and soul. This romance hurt my heart at times but ultimately had me cheering as an eclectic group of people bonded together to form an unlikely family.

Uma's life was once all about color and light as a photographer, but the moment she met Joey her life suddenly took a dark and sinister turn. He took over her life, trapping her in a nightmare of doubts and eroding her self-confidence, until one night when the nightmare turned to hell. With her body permanently marked and her soul bruised she ran until she found an unlikely haven with a bitter old woman and a gentle, yet gruff, giant. These two individuals become her saviors, giving her the strength to find herself once again. Being with Ms. Lloyd gives her her first taste of standing up for herself as well as a confidant who understands her fears. Being with Ivan shows her that strong men don't need to be cruel. He makes her feel desirable despite the marks on her body though it was a slow journey towards acceptance for her. When Uma first came to town she was scared of her own shadow. Her transformation out of her shell was full of baby steps that had me cheering her on as each step saw a palpable weight lifting off her. Everything Uma went through was vividly depicted which drew me to her as each of her aches became mine. By the end of the story I felt a bond with her and was happy for the new life she made for herself.

Ivan's lived in Blackwood all his life. His childhood was tough as his family was poor and his mother walked out after the birth of his sister. This and an undiagnosed learning disability led to lots of anger issues that ultimately landed him in prison for almost killing the man who abused his sister. Since getting out he's worked on his rage issues, become caretaker to every stray in town, and tries to keep to himself. The town sees him as a mystery, a man you don't want to cross but who's loyal to those he calls friend and family. To the women in town they see him as a sexy beast, which I wholeheartedly agree with! The moment he and Uma meet is a life-altering experience for them both and takes them on a journey that empowers her and teaches him the power in letting go to another. In subtle ways Ivan shows he cares for Uma, from shedding his caveman looks to helping her find her self-worth through his longing glances. He proves time and again that he'd do anything to make her happy and keep her safe, but a chance to avenge Uma may put their HEA in doubt in a pulse-pounding conclusion that wrapped up a bit to easily. Ivan may look like a beast but he has a heart of gold. He let Uma take charge in moments where she felt weakest and I adored him for it. His care of Ms. Lloyd also endeared him to me as he could easily charm her bitter heart. His care of the unwanted town strays made my heart ache even more and sealed his nomination to my list of book boyfriends.

From start to finish I found myself fully immersed in this powerful romance. The main characters were larger-than-life with pasts that left an indelible mark on them both and bound them together in an ultimately uplifting connection. Their romance was sweet yet scorching at times, empowering as Uma was given control during their erotically-charged encounters. Throughout the story Ms. Anders vividly depicted the past of both of the main characters which helped me understand the feelings they were going through in the healing process. The town of Blackwood was also brought alive as a haven for Uma with its majestic mountains and warm countryside courtesy of Ms. Anders talents. The colorful denizens of this small town further enhanced the narrative, relating past secrets that changed my views on characters as well as introducing me to complex and intriguing secondary characters. British bartender Rory's antagonistic banter with Ivan's sister, Jessie, especially has me intrigued as it's full of sexual tension that I hope to see play out in the next installment in this series. On a whole this was an unforgettable story, with characters I quickly came to care for, and I highly recommend it to readers looking for a powerful romance of survival and acceptance.

Under Her Skin will grab readers' interest when it introduces us to two main characters whose lives are very dark and broken . Uma and Ivan's first meeting starts with a simple helping hand, pretty soon their lives starts to mesh and in the end their trust comes easy with the right person. This story unfolds bit by bit but doesn't lose the readers attention in any way. Under The Skin is poignant, dark, often times humorous, all the way intense and quite erotic but it also is a story of taking back what was lost and ultimately surviving with of course a happy ending. Excellently written and well plotted, I cannot wait for the next book.

I strongly feel that this review needs to start with a warning: If you have been abused, in any fashion, parts of this story may be trigger points for you. Although this review is merely my opinion of a story, I never want to bring harm to anyone…. so, should you feel that the events in this story could bring back painful memories for you – please, pass it by. I and I believe the author would totally understand.

I’m going to keep my review of Under Her Skin rather brief and vague for two compelling reasons. The first is as stated above. I don’t want someone who has experienced abuse to come across this review and be emotionally harmed by my words. The second may seen an odd phrasing but I really believe that this is a story that should be experienced first hand and not through the words of someone else. Under Her Skin is a beautifully haunting romance between a woman who has been horribly abused, and carries those memories on her body – and a man who understands from second hand knowledge what abuse can do to a woman.

I was drawn into Uma and Ivan’s story from the opening and was caught up in events until the very ending. I know there are two other stories planned for this series, perhaps more, and I honestly cannot wait to dive into them. Ms Anders approaches a very sensitive subject with respect, empathy and hope for the future. Two wounded people, drawn to each other make healing possible for both. It’s a timeless love story told well.

I would definitely recommend this story to any Romance reader – with the warning for those who may find triggers within it. Under Her Skin sets the series off to a great start and lays some of the groundwork for the future stories.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I loved 'Under Her Skin' by Adriana Anders! It’s a gritty story about overcoming abuse - not only physical and mental abuse but dealing with the scars left behind. In this case, tattoos. Covering her upper body and arms. Not beautiful tattoos, but ugly reminders that make Uma’s sick to look at - just thinking about it makes her skin crawl.

I was first drawn in by the cover; then the storyline captured my attention. Once I received my copy, I started reading it right away, even though I was in the middle of another book. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. I devoured it!

Uma comes to a little town in Virginia because there is a clinic there offering help to people who need tattoos remove, but can’t afford it. But first she needs a job, so she answers an ad in the local paper;

“Old hag in need of live-in helper to abuse. Nothing kinky.”

The "old hag" is Ms. Lloyd. She’s a bizarre old lady, who’s hard to get along with. She usually runs off anyone willing to work for her with her demanding and crazy commands. Uma and Ms. Lloyd have a bit of a rough start, but in the end, it might be the best situation for both of them.

Ivan, who lives next door to Ms. Lloyd, is an ex-con with anger issues. He works out his aggressions hammering hot metal on an anvil as a blacksmith and pummeling a punching bag with his fists, most of which he does at night, and those rhythmic pounding sounds are both comforting and alluring to Uma.

'Under Her Skin' is Adriana Anders debut novel and the first of three in the series. I look forward to reading more of these gritty, emotional romances!

Mature rating for sexual scenes and strong language.

3.5 stars

For me this story started off as intriguing, right from the start. A woman on the run with a secret to hide. A man with a past that continues to haunt him. A quirky and nasty old woman who you know has a backstory just waiting to be discovered. I was pulled in to the lives of all these people and anxious to see where the story went next.

Until it just started to linger.

Under Her Skin was a mix of emotions for me. I was filled compassion for Uma who experienced abuse that was beyond imagining and had to live with the consequences on a daily basis. I felt her nervousness at meeting the burly gentle giant that lived next door and her struggle to take back her body and emotions. My heart swelled for Ivan as he fell in love with a brave and complex woman and ached to take away her pain and hide her from the world while still give her the freedom she deserved.

I enjoyed these characters. From Uma and her suspicious nature that gradually learned to trust again to Ivan who was truly in my mind an unlikely cross between the god Vulcan working with fire and iron, and a squishy teddy bear. And I even liked Mrs. Lloyd, Uma’s surly shut-in of an employer, for her orneriness.

However, all of these positive elements didn’t stop the story from starting to drag somewhere around the middle. I felt as if the same issues were rehashed a number of times and the story ran in place more than it made any headway. Which saddened me because I wanted to feel immersed in the lives of these people. But instead I felt as if I was just skimming along to get to the end.

3.5 Stars
I enjoyed reading this book, and I think overall this painted a realistic portrait of a woman who is the survivor of abuse. I really liked Ivan. But I did have a couple of issues. Her mom was shocked at the end by the abuse, and I know she tried to reach out to her mom at first, but obviously she didn't use words like rape, assault, or tell her of the tattoos. I have a hard time figuring this out, because I would be like mom, I got away after he did this, not just listening and telling her I didn't need money. I would have told her what the "misunderstanding " was. And while it understand she was isolated and scared, how far did she think his reach was? Surely after looking at her body no one would think she willing submitted to it. Finally I felt the romance was far too quick. I can't imagine that as scared as she was that she would become physically intimate with a man after only knowing him for a week or two.
Despite all of this, I did enjoy it. I loved the characters, and the writing was good.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is an intense read – very, very good, but not always easy. That said, there is some lovely humour, and a very satisfying ending.

It is most definitely a hot and passionate romance, with a fascinating sharing of power and control, which is very engaging. The musings of the leads are not overdone, and their stories are revealed, in part, through the little actions which define them. And somehow they read each other so carefully and effectively, that the speed in which they connect works.

At the same time as we enjoy the romance, we meet a whole variety of people who make the story so much richer. Cookie is a particular gem, hidden deep in the dirt! The scene is set for a series which has great potential. I am looking forward to see what comes next, in the hope that we return to Blackwood.

As soon as I began reading this book, I knew that it was going to be a good one. It’s always exciting to find a new author whose writing and storytelling strikes a chord with me. I was immediately pulled into the story and the lives of the characters and, quite honestly, I didn’t want to put it down.

Uma is on a mission to erase the signs of abuse that were etched into her skin by her abusive boyfriend. She has arrived in the small community of Blackwood, Virginia to begin the process of healing. Leaving her old life behind, she wants to start fresh, make a new beginning for herself. Living in Blackwood is a means to an end, an initial and crucial pit stop in her journey to a new life. Having only the clothes on her back and a couple of dollars in her pocket, Uma needs to find a job and a safe place to stay. Answering a peculiar ad in the local newspaper for a caretaker for an elderly lady is just the stroke of luck that she needs…or so she thinks.

Being at the beck and call of her new boss, Ms. Lloyd, would test even a saint’s patience. She is demanding, rude, and downright cruel to Uma, but Uma isn’t in the position to quit or complain too much. She needs the meager paycheck and the roof over her head.

When Uma meets Ivan, Ms. Lloyd’s next door neighbor, she is immediately taken aback by his hulking appearance. Her experience with men has given her good reason to be cautious, however, Ivan’s intimidating appearance is just an outward mask of a kind and caring human being. Despite Ivan’s past and his anger issues, he has only ever been gentle and thoughtful toward Uma. I loved Ivan!

What really worked in this book was that this was Uma’s journey. She wasn’t looking for Ivan or any man to save her. She wanted to regain the control that she had lost by being in a relationship with a controlling, abusive man. Ivan was there to support her, to show her the kindness that she deserved. He demonstrated the way that a man should treat a woman. Did he want to seek out her ex-boyfriend and give him a taste of his own medicine? Absolutely. Ivan was a gentle giant around those he cared about, but it took great discipline on his part not to seek retribution for the wounded. Did I mention that I loved Ivan?

The relationship that developed between Ivan and Uma was sweet and patient. It was also incredibly steamy. Their connection and chemistry was intense, and I was rooting for them from the very beginning.

Under Her Skin is an emotional story about healing, regaining control, and learning to trust. It has characters that I was immediately invested in – characters that I was rooting for. It is the coming together of broken souls. Each character has their own story, their own history that has made them the person that they are today. I am looking forward to discovering more about the characters from Blackwood, Virginia.

This was a fantastic debut novel!

*4.5 Stars

Her Body is His Canvas

A darkly possessive relationship has left Uma alone and on the run. Beneath her drab clothing, she hides a terrible secret—proof of her abuse, tattooed onto her skin in a lurid reminder of everything she’s survived.

Caught between a brutal past and an uncertain future, Uma’s reluctant to bare herself to anyone…much less a rough ex-con whose rage drives him in ways she will never understand. But beneath his frightening exterior, Ivan is gentle. Warm. Compassionate. And just as determined to heal Uma’s broken heart as he is to destroy the monster who left his mark scrawled across the delicate tapestry of her skin.

Review:

Wonderful debut for this Author!

There are so many ways to describe this book that I am having a hard time making them be succinct and make sense. It has dark subject matter that maybe a trigger for some, but I think the Author did a wonderful job with it. I liked the unique way she dealt with abuse and especially with how Uma is tattooed during her abuse and after how she goes about changing her life and the tattoos on her body. I have to say that just like Ive I wanted to kill Joey for her. One thing I found a little odd was there were so many abused women in this town. I don't know the statistics about abuse but it seems high for this small town. Besides the emotion and tension around Uma's abuse and that her ex could find her at anytime. There is a super sexy romance going on here. It builds slowly which makes sense to the story and even with Uma fully dressed most times (because of the tattoos) it sure is hot. Ive is very good for Uma. His sister having been abused make him compassionate and patient when getting to know and act upon the chemistry between them. For this being this Author's first book it is very rich and emotional. It is also first in a new series, that I cannot wait to read more of.

4Stars

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

This book was weird, yet good. Messy, not perfect kind of good. When I started it, the characters were very different and not what I was expecting. This story follows Uma who has been abused by her ex. You don't learn right away exactly what he did, but you start to put the pieces together. It's not what you normally read about in abuse victims. It's no less horrific, but it sure made me think about what I would do if it happened to me. I think that's what the author did really well in this story.

When Uma ended up In Blackwood, VA with no money, she takes a job as a live in helper for Mrs. Lloyd, an elderly woman. My first thought of Mrs. Lloyd is that she was cray cray. Not really a place for a recently abused woman should be at. Then we meet Ivan. I really didn't know what to think of Ivan at first. He reminds me of one of those men who has spent too much time alone in the woods.

It's a weird mix of people, but the more you learn about all of them, the more they grow on you and the more you understand why they are they way they are. Like I said, weird but a good weird. Really my only complaint was one scene with another woman. It was a small scene and not major but that's kind of my point. It was unnecessary to the story and I'm not a fan of interference with other woman in books.

I am definitely interested in reading the next in the series to see how this author will top this book. ARC Provided by NetGalley.

This book is really intense. It wasn't easy to read as Uma's former relationship really was a nightmare but I loved to see how she started to heal, how she got stronger and fought to get her life back.

Ivan and Uma are both very complex and very interesting characters who make me want to know what happened to them and what makes them tick.
Ivan`? Well, that's the rather rough and frightening looking guy living next door, an ex-con actually, who gets her and her fear and who helps her to get back on her feet and to feel good again.

"Feel good again"? Feeling good isn't easy when your *** of an ex left you with more than a simple broken relationship as a reminder of the time with him and to show what he is capable of. He got under her skin alright, literally. So it's not just a question of brushing him off but also of getting rid of every single reminder he left on her, of getting rid of her fear and also of getting her self-confidence back.
A long way to go but with someone like Ivan at her side, there might be a good chance for her to get there....

Sometimes I felt really sick when I read what had happened and there were times when I was a bit worried how things might turn out and...well, I really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Uma, Ivan and all the other people around them.

Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders is a great debut novel in her Blank Canvas series!



Reasons to read Under Her Skin

Ivan - bearded, blacksmith neighbor who looks dangerous but has a heart of gold
Uma - on the run from abusive ex but stays strong through her road to recovery
Ms. Loyd - old hag that needs love and friendship
Romance novel wrapped in mystery, suspense and the dark and light sides of love
Uma's past wouldn't have allowed for an instant hook up and I'm really like how the romance element was the main focus until about half way through the story. The romance between Ivan and Uma was a slow burn something both of them needed. These characters were hunted and tormented by their pasts and they really needed each other. Their connection was so beautiful.

The suspense of what could, would, should happen with surrounding the events of Uma's past kept me on the edge of my seat. I wondered when the shit would hit the fan. Would someone get hurt, die or kill someone. (You'll have to read to find out!)

Ms. Loyd is a perfect old hag that turned out to be an enigma wrapped in a mystery. She helped deliver some much needed humor (although dark) to Uma's life. She also worked as a safe place for Uma even when she didn't want to be in her house.

Ivan is all the things that Uma needed in her life after Joey. Kind, gentle, strong, sexy, protector (when she needed it) and allowed her to be strong for herself. A man who knows when his woman needed him to be a caveman and when she needed he to stand be side her and let her lead.

Under Her Skin was a great read and had me up way past my bed time to see how the story ended.

I've already requested the next novel in the Blank Canvas series, By Her Touch from Netgalley. It will release April 4th from Sourcebooks. It features Dr. George (Georgette Hadley) who helps Uma in Under Her Skin.

I really struggled with this book and as it started off really well and I was enjoying it I don’t know where it went wrong.
Uma left an abusive relationship six months ago and what a horrible, abusive, disgusting relationship it was. She landed in Blackwood to get a treatment so that she could get rid of the marks of her past.
I felt for Uma but I didn’t like her. Yes what she went through was awful but I could connect to her as much as I wanted to. It wasn’t her fault and these things usually happen gradually it was just as a person she did act like a survivor but she was getting there.
Ivan is one big Hero with a heart of gold who has picked up strays throughout his life. He has an anger management problem but seems to be doing alright. I liked Ivan he is a great Hero.
For me it felt as if Uma was using Ivan and he let himself be used by Uma: I don’t like that kind of thing.
The main characters didn’t have a connection in my opinion although the sex although hot at times and the author had it done pat I felt uncomfortable as the Hero submitted a lot to the heroine. That thing isn’t for me. I need me an alpha Hero. I find it hard to explain.
Not to mention the fact that every time they did the nasty she would constantly compare Ivan to her ex Joey the abuser. Really off putting.
I skimmed and my mind wandered to other things which meant I had to reread a couple of times. I was close to giving up on it as well.
I reckon that this is a strong case of this is ME and not YOU!

The first line of Under Her Skin had me hooked. I was expecting a steamy romance, and the start of the book had me doubting my own expectations, but I soon found out I was right all along. Getting to know all of Ander's characters and their difficult pasts was delightful.

Uma and Cookie had me laughing with their back and forth. I admired Uma's strength to fight against her fears and stand up for herself. She even stood up for Cookie when it came down to it, which only made me like her more. Ivan is dreamy. Let's just get that out there. He is a blacksmith, hunter, and an empathetic and caring soul. Plus, he knows how to handle himself in a fight and treat a lady right.

Under Her Skin combined just the right amount of mystery, romance, and steam to create a compelling debut novel for Ms. Anders. I have already added book 2 in the Blank Canvas series to my TBR list hoping to spend more time with these characters.

As a general rule, I don't read contemporary romances. I just don't. The description for this book caught my eye and I decided to take a chance on it, hoping that it might be like the small handful of contemporaries that I have read and enjoyed in the past. I am so incredibly glad that I decided to take a gamble with Under Her Skin. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional roller-coaster ride of a book from a new author whose next work I can't wait to get my hands on.

This is a different kind of love story. It ventures into some very dark places, but it comes out swinging. This book made me laugh, made me cry, smile, cringe and shudder a bit in horror. At the end it left me feeling good. Feeling hopeful about the possibility of healing and recovering from trauma, about taking back yourself after someone else has done their very best to crush, threaten, and ridicule out of existence those things that make you who you are. This isn't a book about victims, it's a book about survivors.

The subject of domestic abuse, whether it be enduring it, escaping it, or recovering from it, is always very tricky territory in fiction. I think Adriana Anders handled it well without going overboard in any way. There are some artistic liberties taken, in my opinion, but not to an extent that struck me as being absurd. Those liberties ensured that the story would be able to flow and progress within the framework of this genre. Given under 400 pages and total realism, Uma and Ivan would never have entered into their relationship, nor would Uma's issues with her controlling, abusive psycho of an ex been resolved. So I can understand and get behind those liberties, as they were necessary to the work.

I absolutely loved watching the romance between Uma and Ive unfold. It's a slow-burn romance that begins with the building of a strong foundation of trust, respect and understanding. I wondered at first just how Anders would manage to pull it off! Uma and Ive are like night and day. She's a fragile, terrified young woman on the run from her ex (both physically and mentally). He's a rugged bear of a man who is, in a way, also on the run. Only he's running from his past and his issues with anger.

Ive has a protective instinct that manifests through his kindness towards animals. He feeds the stray cats and other wild things that come near his home searching for food. He rescued his dog Squeak from her abusive owner. When he sees Uma, he's both smitten with her good looks and compelled to protect her from the monster who is responsible for putting so much fear in her eyes. He works to earn her trust through kindness and friendship, giving her the support she is lacking and providing a safe place when she needs one.

Uma is like a deer in headlights when confronted with genuine kindness from a man. Especially one as big and gruff looking as Ive. Her ex left his mark on her in a very cruel, permanent, and visible way: her body is covered by his rage-filled tattoos. Her reason for coming to Blackwood is to have them removed at a clinic that provides the service free of charge to women in her situation. At this point, she's been cut off entirely from any sort of support network. Her friends were shoved out of the picture by her ex, Joey, in a successful attempt at isolating her.
Uma's absent mother, while not intentionally cruel, is a gullible woman who believes the lies fed to her by Joey. He expertly manipulates her into taking his side in all matters pertaining to his relationship and control over Uma. She berates her daughter for overreacting and throwing away the 'best thing that's ever happened to her.' Little does she realize the truth about the man her daughter is running from, or the abuse and horror she's endured because of his sickness.

Coming from this situation, just how is Uma supposed to even begin to allow herself to believe that anyone could possibly be in her corner? That's where this story shines brilliantly and I'm not going to say anything else. I don't want to spoil the hows!

The relationship that grows throughout this story is one of very few that I can imagine being successful long after the last page is turned. From Uma and Ive's tentative first steps in friendship to their smoking-hot, emotionally charged intimate moments, I can believe in this love and its ability to endure. For me, that was the absolute best part of this book; being able to believe that love can heal deep wounds and help us understand that the scars left behind by them are indicators of strength, courage, and the will to live.

Very emotional read. Lots of pain for almost all of the characters. Each one had their own demons and they banded together to help each other. This is a story of healing and loving. It is a journey and it takes time.

Uma was an interesting character and throughout the story she grew and found herself again. I detest men that hurt woman and manipulate those around them to justify themselves. I want to do what Ivan wants to do to those men. Ivan is so wonderful. I can't find the words to say about him and wonderful seems so lame. He has a heart of gold and he is so accepting and sexy too. He has his demons and he too has to go through to become an even better man.

The pace of the book does seem to lag at times and I dreaded the whole climax at the end. The supporting characters were really good too. Jessie is interesting and I hope we get a story about her. The Doctor is also someone who needs her story told.

Great read and I definitely want more from the tiny town of Blackwood.

Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This is a new author to keep a eye on. Looking forward to the next book in the Blank Canvas series.

A romantic thriller, “Under Her Skin” follows Uma Crane, a battered woman who was able to escape her abuser. With no ID, no money and nowhere to go, Uma found herself in rural Virginia because of a free clinic for women like her.

And in this little town where everybody knows everybody, Uma unexpectedly found friends and most of all, love. But, with her history, can she sustain it? The nightmare is not over and she is poised to run once again.

If you like “Sleeping with the Enemy,” then you will find “Under Her Skin” more than just another story. An emotional read, Uma catches the reader’s attention from the first page. And as the story progresses, Uma becomes real and not just a character in the book. You hope that she is not your neighbor, because how can you wish something like that to someone you know. But, you have seen the likes of Uma on television and in the news. With that, you start rooting for her, including the newfound love she has.

“Under Her Skin” is Rated M for Mature due to violence and sexual content.