DISCLAIMER!

If you have ever been in an abusive relationship and HAVE NOT healed, there may be some triggers in this one. So proceed with caution.

Review -

Wow! This was completely unexpected. In fact, as a reviewer, I didn't even ask to read this (sorry, just being honest). But it fell in to my lap and I have to honestly say that I'm very pleased that it did. I've never read this author before. And from the looks of it, this could be her first one? If that's the case, then bravo. Very well done.

Uma is running. She's running from a very abusive relationship, has nothing including zero money to her name and finds herself answering a help ad. At least the position keeps her off the streets and away from being found, right? The hiring lady is an "old hag" who's afraid to go outside and is basically in need of some serious companionship. Once Uma gets the hang of the hag, things become a bit easier for her. You know what's not that easy though? The feelings she's having toward the next door neighbor. And those feelings aren't exactly the bad kind.

Ivan (Ive) is the next door neighbor. Over the years, he's taken in many strays. Stray dogs, cats, even a mini pony. But it's the look that Uma gives him that make him want to take care of her too. The only problem is that he doesn't want to scare her in the process. After all, he's got a little bit of a past that he's sure she won't like too much.

I REALLY don't want to give any of this away. Writing this review is becoming hard with every word. When you start reading this story, you might start thinking that it's moving pretty slow. But I'd have to disagree. I think that the pace of this was absolutely perfect. Especially considering the healing going on individually for both Uma and Ive. Not to mention the fact that they both help each other with the healing as well. Ive was the perfect gentle giant to Uma's fragile feminine psyche. Like I stated earlier, everything was perfectly timed (timeline) for me to truly appreciate everything about the story. And OMG, when the poo hits the fan.........lets just say that you'll find yourself flipping the pages quicker. LOL....damn that old hag...in the end, loving that lady.

P.S - I had NO IDEA that this was the first in a series. So imagine me doing a happy dance when I found out that this is a trilogy!!! I'm hoping that Uma makes an appearance in the next one because I read the blurb on the next one.....EEEEKKKKK....I'm in!!!!!

reviewed by Chris

4.5 of 5

Adult Romance (Warning - contains abuse).

ARC provided for an honest review through NetGalley.

Uma is on the run. She leaves behind a toxic and abusive relationship, knowing she deserves more...she wants more. She can only run so far and for so long because he has the means to find her. Although she runs, she can't seem to get away and is trapped by the scars on her body. When she find a new place, a place that can help the memories and abuse fade away, she doesn't expect a rough and tough ex con to understand or save her.

This story is about Uma. Yes it's a romance but it's so much more. It's about her struggles, her growth and her acceptance of who she is. I LOVED that! At times it was tough to read and difficult to understand but Adriana writes a story of hope and love that resonates deep.

This read was "slow" but steady and so captivating. To really understand Uma and what she was thinking, I had to read each word with care and had to fully take in every sentence. It helped me to relate and feel for Uma. I made a strong connection with her and that was everything. I became fully invested in her and wanted her to succeed because she was so well developed...and real.

I did like Ivan and his character. I would have loved to have "seen" more of his backstory in this book BUT I totally understand. Uma, this book was about her.

This book is so well done! It's a deep and emotional read that will stick with you days after reading.

Releases Feb 7. Preorder on Amazon now! (Looks like Adriana Anders has more books coming this year - By Her Touch (Blank Canvas Book 2) releases April 1 and In His Hands (Blank Canvas) releases August 1.

Six months ago Uma ran away from her controlling and abusive boyfriend. Now she's hiding from him, knowing he's looking for her and that he has contacts in law enforcement. This all means Uma's old life is something she has to stay away from. Uma started out as a photographer but that's a far cry from what she's doing now, working as a live in help for a truly cantankerous older lady but some things are worth putting up with because Uma has plans. Her plans don't include a man because what hides beneath Uma's clothes is something she cannot bare not even to her own eyes. Yet the neighbour Ivan keeps cropping up. This giant with a good heart seems kind but Ivan has a dark past which has shaped the man he has become. Still, Uma can't stop thinking about him , listening to him at night working in his forge and then when she's locked out of the house it's Ivan who comes to her rescue in more ways than one!
Yes there's a romance here but it's the story of how Uma becomes her own woman again that pulled me in. I had seen wildly conflicting reviews for this so had to satisfy my curiosity. Yes she has been through a traumatic event and has genuine reasons to be afraid but she is an odd conundrum . Nervous yet fierce, wanting to be alone but attracting friendship and then there's her ability to change from a mouse to a lion that roars! The opening line to this book mentions the old hag that is looking for a home help and admittedly that surprised me but Uma takes on her employer to glorious effect but even then there's a twist I just hadn't seen coming!
The word dichotomy describes Uma, particularly when it comes to her interactions with Ivan. Without saying too much I think this is where we first start to see Uma gaining in confidence as Ivan lets her call the shots . I really liked that this man was man enough not to be phased by that and it made a wonderful change from all the macho alpha type males that often feature in romance that has a darker side . This is not in my opinion a dark romance but it is one with a heroine who has and indeed still actually is living in a dark place.
Definitely a story of hope but the abuse mentioned is sickening . I would have liked to know more about her ex as his character just didn't feel real although I do understand that true evil and madness can often be found under the face of an angel . Yet Uma triumphs and regains that which is most precious, her feeling of self worth. Not a preachy story and it's definitely an adult one as Ivan doesn't just stoke the fires when he's working!
A copy of this was provided for me which I have voluntarily read and these comments are my own honest opinion

This book was a different kind of romance than I typically read; that being said I still loved it just as much if not more. Uma is running from a scary, unsafe life when she stumbles upon a job that will be under the table and provide room and board. When she meets Ivan, she is too withdrawn to even forge a friendship; thankfully for her, Ivan is patient enough with Uma to wait it out. A wonderful story that deal with some hot topics but does so with such care. I will say that I absolutely loved, loved, loved Ms. Lloyd.

In this book you will read about three people who deal with their past in different ways.
Uma is running away from her abusive ex. She fears men thanks to her cruel brutal ex boyfriend. He left her with physical and emotional scars. But thanks to her sweet caring neighbor she learns to open up to new experiences.
Ms. Lloyd is a grumpy old lady that gives Uma a job. I think she deals with her past by pushing people away. By being mean and strict.
Ive deals with his past by rescuing those who are runaways or who have been hurt. And he doesn't just save Uma but run away cats and dogs. Which I found adorable.
I am a very sensitive person and this kind of books depress me. Because I wish everyone can find someone like Ive. But real life is not as hopeful and Romantic as in books. Not everyone finds a Ive.
Overall this book was great, the characters were well develop, The pace was good, The plot wasn't boring. The romance and sex scenes were amazing.

The fact that the book was about empowerment following a brutal assault, didn't diminish the fact that i was slightly disappointed with the book. The story was good, right amount of elements and drama was used to enrichh it. But the main character of Uma just felt a little short of hitting all the right chords, though her story definitely will make you feel and emphatise more. Unlike her opposite Ivan, there was just something core missing that stopped me from making a bond with her.
Considering the plot, I expected a more dramatic cover image than the elegant one that has been depicted.

Under Her Skin is heartbreaking, emotional, and hopeful. It's a story of survival and finding love after abuse. Although Under Her Skin is romance, it's not a light read and it deals with topic of domestic violence and physical abuse. The author did a very good job writing about such a heavy subject without trivializing it (which I see quite a lot in romance novels) and I applaud her for being sensitive and respectful.

In Under Her Skin Uma is on the run from her abusive ex and arrives in small town, Virginia to hide and heal. She meets Ivan, her broody neighbor, who is ex-con and is rough around the edges but has a heart of gold. Their relationship is slow burning, there is no insta love and understandably so because Uma has to let go of her fear and learn to trust again. Ivan is the perfect hero, he is a gentle giant who understands Uma's fragility and makes it his mission to make her happy again. But he also has some anger issues and is fiercely protective of people he loves. It was a joy to see Uma healing from her ordeal and learning to love herself and her body again with the help from Ivan. I really enjoyed Under Her Skin and I am looking forward to the next book.

I really liked the premise of this story but it was hard to get into and so for that reason I can't recommend the book whole heartedly. Maybe it's just me so give it a try if it sounds good to you!

3 stars.

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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.

4 Self Healing and Discovery Stars
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My 2017 has stared out with a bang...I have been reading a diverse group of books and every one of them brought something interesting to my reading table. With Under Her Skin, I was taken on a journey which surprised me. The author was new, the blurb intriguing and my involvement complete.

It was an experience which left me thinking of a number of things...

Of how evil people can be in this world...and how easy it is to wish for something, become isolated and manipulated by them and then suffer the doubts, guilt and self hate after being victimized. I am very lucky; in all my years, I have never experienced any of the types of treatment women have endured through no fault of their own...

How incredibly strong and brave these same women are to find a way to take back their lives...to rediscover who they are and move forward....The determination and resistance to all the negative inner dialogue ingrained takes a Herculean effort, I would think... and I respect it immensely.

So with all of that said...I was able to dive in and take what was given to me on the page...

This is a story which is not the most comfortable...but there is also a relationship between two broken people who are drawn to each other, provide a safe place for both...and experience what each needs...

This relationship in the context of all that has happened with each of them... seemed to have a type of calling out to each other...For me, it worked and was a way for the woman to find herself. For him, it brought him back to feeling a connection to someone, more than just a caring or protecting...
Each was able to be free in the moments of trust... and the trust grew.

The premise is not an unusual one for a romance book... and this could have been like many I have read...But this had more in the way it gave me the inner workings of both main characters...I was able to feel the hopelessness and panic she first felt in the story. I understood the way she had to deal with her self loathing and fight to be brave and overcome small tasks to get through the day. I was there when she fought to make herself go forward and do things which would help heal her, no matter how difficult they were....

And when she allowed herself to experiment and take charge of her sexual needs...I got it.

Our fella was the perfect vehicle for her...he sensed right away how damaged and skittish she was...His history with his sister made him recognize what she was all about...But it wasn't pity...which caused him to care for her...It was something else for the both of them...an almost animal instinct of her knowing he was there and willing to be whatever she needed...

And he was.

When these two start to come together physically, it is a way for her to take back her power... she is surprised with her actions and relishes the way she is able to control him and the situation. It is presented sensually, with care yet also with an honesty of how sex isn't always perfect and pretty...
For me, all of it worked.

There were others in this story...not all of them likeable...But they played their parts...Jessie, our fella's sister was given a hint of a back story with another engaging character...and since this seems to be a series...my guess is she will have her own book. I will be looking forward to see what comes next.

I would like to suggest Madeline Iva's review. It brings a personal view to this book which is very powerful and insightful.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A gifted copy was provided by SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a heartbreaking, yet wonderful story about getting your life back. Uma suffered horribly in the hands of her ex, who claimed he loved her, that is what is the worst part. She was able to escape, and ends up living with a grouchy older woman, who is known as "the old hag", but then you find out why she is the way she is, and they end helping each other out. She also meets Ivan, who lives behind the house she is staying, he is a gruff man, whom she is terrified at first contact, but then is drawn to him as he is to her. Of course, you have the horrible jealous ex girlfriend who isn't even a girlfriend. But you also have great secondary characters. I would love to know what is between Jessie and Rory, there is definitely a story there. And this one ends great.