I tried to finish this book a gazillion times as I thought the story was extremely interesting and the characters had me rooting for them. Unfortunately, the writing style just wasn't for me and eventually I had to give up. I haven't rated this book nor reviewed it on retail sites.

Uma and Ivan a relationship for the times. Starts off with Uma running from the bad ex. Meeting the new guy who’s got a few issues but nothing like what she left. Ivan meets Uma unable to resist the pull of hope desire and need that she seems to need from someone. Over all a traditional story of the mistreated woman falling for the stronger man that tries to save her. Good read.

I am very particular about my romance books.  I like contemporary small-town,. historical or suspense.  I thought this one leaned more towards suspense and unfortunately, it wasn't what I expected so I found it difficult to stay in engaged.  Thank you so much for allowing me to read this series.

Overall I liked this book, although there were times I didn't. I enjoyed it enough to continue with the series, and can attest that the series gets better as you go. 

The story revolves around Uma, the main female protagonist. She's suffered terrible abuse and is on the run from her abuser. She picks up a job with a truly terrible lady and eventually becomes involved romantically with her new male neighbour. 

I loved Uma's journey to self discovery, that it seemed realistic and didn't happen on the drop of a hat was nice to read. I liked her relationship with Ivan, how overall they were good for eachother and that they didn't form a true bond until both were emotionally ready to heal. Without spoilers I hated some plot points, actions of the characters, and the depth of abuse Uma still had to suffer. 

Sometimes the good outweighed the bad, and other times it didnt. But this book is worth the read to see how the reat of the side characters' lives pan out in their own books.

Under her Skin by Adriana Anders features two pieces of the puzzle that seem to be looking for each other. Uma isn't looking for any healing, but that's what she finds when she encounters Ivan. She's been through a lot, and once you learn her story her reluctance is understandable. Ivan wants nothing more than to help her, but his rough exterior reminds her of a time she'd rather forget.

I liked this book overall, and the characters provided a study in contrasts. A couple of the characters, such as the woman Uma goes to work for were hard to like, even if I did eventually learn their sad backstory, and Uma herself continually lived in the past with her ex. As I mentioned earlier I did like the book overall, but some of the characters made the story drag on a bit..

Adriana Anders hit a homerun with this one.  Uma finds herself running from her past - but how can you forget the past when it's all over your skin?  Ivan only wants to uncover Uma's secrets but can she ever let another in?  Incredible writing that sucks you in and makes you feel like your living their lives.

I met this author at a reader/author luncheon last year and she seemed lovely. I was excited to see her debut book and doubly excited to see it featured an ex-con hero. I LOVE books with ex-con or reclusive heroes. I had high hopes for this story, I was not disappointed in this book.

Uma ends up in Blackwood, Virginia and she’s got secrets, lots of them. She takes a job working for a cranky, reclusive woman. The best thing about the job is the sexy, yet grumpy neighbor next door. Uma is trying to reclaim her life after having left an abusive relationship. She’s jittery around men yet quickly develops a friendship with Ivan.

Ivan is the neighbor and he is growly and kind of awkward and spends more time in his shed than he does his house. Ivan also has a dog as his trusty sidekick. Uma describes him on first site like this, “He looked like something you’d see stamped into an ancient coin- hard and noble.” 

I really enjoyed this author’s voice. She wrote a story filled with emotion, yet it didn’t feel overly angsty. It felt like she did a fantastic job of writing the tension between Ive and Uma. They both struggle with their worthiness to be loved. This was a story of broken and flawed people finding the love they deserve. I have many highlighted sections, here are some of my favorites that show the emotion happening in this book.
When she finally worked up the courage to look him in the face again, he was smiling. A real one. Wide mouth and big white teeth, And just like that, it was back- that image of Ivan the warrior, fueled by bloodlust, his mouth open in a battle cry. Her pulse ratcheted up a notch.

Tonight, now...he was a timeless magician whose body bent iron and sparked fire. Or was that the moonshine talking? Maybe, she swore he was than handsomest man she’d ever seen: hard and sweet-looking at the same time. Tonight, although he’d unveiled another piece of his puzzle, he sat before her a mystery she desperately wanted to solve. 

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a little dark and messy but it all comes together, with appropriate amount of obstacles for this couple. This is book one in a series and I am definitely looking forward to reading more.

On first glance, Under Her Skin looks like a traditional damsel-in-distress book. After fleeing an abusive relationship, Uma is admittedly in some pretty serious distress. But her story is really about how she works to find a way to take back control of her own life. She has the support of others, including a doctor and a self-defense instructor, and she slowly builds a relationship with the man who lives next door. The heart of the story though, is the way that Uma works to find the strength to set the terms of her own recovery and life, from her finances to her sex life. That Uma feels so real as a character is a big part of what I found so engaging about Under Her Skin.

4.5 stars I loved this story. Uma was in a terribly abusive relationship. So abusive it frightened me to death. We met her after she left, but the haunting was vivid. This is her story of healing, but it’s also Ive’s story of allowing himself to be happy. The synopsis gives you enough detail to know the basic outline of the plot. Most of this story is the journey of healing, and that is always a storyline that I can’t get enough of.

Ive (Ivan) was sexy as f*ck. Am I allowed to say that? I kind of have to simply because he really was all that and a bag of chips. His physical description is as manly as it gets: beardy, big, strong and brooding. All of that = off the charts sexy. But beyond his exterior, his quiet isolation, hard work and loyalty was just hot as his body appearance. His life became so full and colorful when he met Uma.

Uma was gloriously strong. I loved her with my whole being. She was broken, but this was her story about her healing, which is my favorite. It felt real. There had been a lot of pain, and there are references to what her ex did to her (big trigger warning, FYI), but this was truly about the hope.

The romance was divine. It felt like a slow burn, but it wasn’t. It actually happened quickly, but there was some level of first love that had me hooked. The sexy scenes were hot, yet they felt very tame at the same time. I think because so much romance was incorporated into every touch. It all meant something, which made me so vested in their relationship. Don’t worry though, my naughty friends….there was still plenty of dirty talk to keep us all happy. 😉

I can’t end this review without mentioning the secondary characters, who were so good. Mrs. Lloyd and Jessie, especially. They added a depth and richness to the story without being fluff. They were secondary characters done right.

However….I wish, wish, wish the story had not been written in 3rd person. Yes, it could easily flip between Uma and Ive during a scene, but to me, I need to be in the character’s head, and the fact that it was not 1st person definitely held the story back a little for me. I still loved it, but written from a more personal perspective would have made me ecstatic.

The ending was good, but I’d say the last 10% of the story was pretty stressful. I’m a huge baby though, and while I loved it, I was biting my nails and sweating bullets. Yes, I got my HEA, but I had to work for it at the end. I wish I got an epilogue, just so I could roll around a little more in the happiness that Ive and Uma found. However, I’m hoping they show up in the next installments and I can see where they are today.

Rec it? YES. YES. YES. If you love the journey of healing, along with a swoony romance and smexy manly lumberjack type man, this is an absolute must for your TBR. I can’t wait to read more of this series!

Happy reading!

Why you should read it: Such an emotional rollercoaster! 

Uma + Ivan = Perfection

I wanted Uma and Ivan to be together so bad! The events of Uma’s life is seriously tragic and the fact that she’s been backed into a corner with no one fighting on her side made her story that much more heart wrenching. 

All the characters in this story are flawed but I felt that the key, or what the author is trying to convey, is that everyone needs help from others and that we all need to be open to both helping and accepting help in return. And although the characters were flawed, there was a depth to each person that made them lovable (or “hate-able” too). The story is well written and made me cry! 

I loved following Uma and Ivan’s journey together, him to redemption and hers to unconditional love. 

Rating: 4 Stars

I really think that this book might be the right book for some of you readers out there but I have to say it was not the right book for me. For all of you readers who like really agonizing romance with a lot of emotion, a lot of character introspection and sort of broken characters, this is the book for you. For readers like me who need more action and more erotic content, this book can go a little slow.

Uma arrives in the small town where Ivan lives and it's clear that something bad happened in her past. We are not hold what happened to Uma the quickly find out that the tragedy is connected to her abusive ex and something that he did to Mark her body. Uma is so traumatized by whatever happened in her past that she suffers from serious anxiety and an inability to sleep. She is also extremely socially awkward and finds it difficult to stand up for herself. Despite her issues, one thing that I did like about this character is that she does grow as the book goes on. She works for a crazy old lady who won't leave her house and is borderline abusive at the beginning of the book. By the end, Uma has learned to take authority over the situation with her employer and her life. I have a great appreciation for a character who grows in that way.

As for Ivan, I'm not completely sure why but he also had some serious issues. Ivan is a loner who is living a fairly isolated life when he meets Uma. Ivan been immediately recognizes that Uma is deeply damaged and is frankly surprised by his own urge to protect her. Ivan and Uma are repeatedly thrown together by virtue of the closness of their homes and the smallness of the town. Uma immediately finds Ivan to be a comforting presence and is really shocked that she feels like he would accept even her physical imperfections.

There were a lot of pages of conversation and bonding. Uma finds herself, Ivan remembers that it is possible for him to find love and the two develop a sweet emerging romance. It was really a great story of emotional triumph and that might be great for you. I just like a bit more action, grit and steam than I got. But this book is well written and conceived and might be perfect for you.

I'm so thrilled to find a new author to read!! This story was original and so well written! The characters, the plot points - everything was unique, and it's increasingly difficult to find that in the romance genre! I can't wait to read more from this author!!

Here’s what I know after reading Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders. Gimme. More. Thoughtful, well-developed characters with a wonderfully paced arc drove me through the entire book.

I loved Uma. For reasons. Um. And this one needs a trigger warning for domestic abuse—mostly the verbal/emotional kind, but there’s physical too. And that b@stard was twisted. But…she is fierce, feisty, and is going to be a difficult character to forget.

I loved Ivan because he’s not the typical alpha male we traditionally see in contemporary romance. As his story unraveled, I was increasingly drawn into the story. I’m leaving this super vague because I think readers need to experience the reveal of each detail about Ivan.

Together, Uma and Ivan are hot. Even with their baggage, they’re real. They have real baggage. They have real issues. They have real situations. I definitely want to see more of them—even if it’s a novella or glimpses in other books in the series. The second Blank Canvas title will release April 4, 2017 and is up for preorder. The third is slated for an August 2017 release.

Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders is an engaging and heart pinching erotic romance with two very interesting and damaged protagonists. Heavily character driven, I loved the bold sexuality that emerged from within the slow burning romance. The abuse storyline is handled well and I liked how Anders focused on Uma and her journey. I am looking forward to book two in the series which involves the Doctor who helps Uma.

review will be posted at heroesandheartbreakers.com soon!

When a woman is traumatized, doesn’t have a dime to her name and desperate, she will do what she must to survive. In Uma’s case, she answers a kooky advertisement to work as a live-in caregiver for a cranky old curmudgeon who lives in isolation on the outskirts of a small town. It’s a good place to hide, and the town has a medical clinic that offers a specialized treatment that Uma desperately needs. While she is prepared for anything, she doesn’t anticipate her new employer being such a miserable, manipulative old coot. Nor does she expect to learn to trust and develop feelings for Ivan, her boss’ very large, craggy and formidable neighbor.

Here's a little snippet:

“You her next victim?”

Uma winced, embarrassed. “Guess so.”

He lifted his brows in semi-surprise before turning to the side and stuffing his hands deep into the pockets of jeans that had seen better days. They were stained and ratty and littered with what looked like burn holes.

Backlit by the sun, his profile was interesting, despite the bushy lower half of his face. Or maybe because of it. He looked like something you’d see stamped into an ancient coin—hard and noble. The scene came easily into focus: clad in something stained and torn, wading into the thick of battle with his men, sword in hand, face smeared with enemy blood, and teeth bared in some primal war cry. Her hands came to life, itching for a camera.

Uma is a vulnerable woman who has suffered horrific physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her powerful ex-boyfriend. I liked Uma, and my heart broke as she slowly recounts the details of her previous nightmare relationship. Ivan is an intriguing hero, who you can’t help but love. Despite his intimidating exterior, Ivan is kind and contemplative with a heart of gold. He has a forge where he plies his trade as a blacksmith, and he frugally lives off the land, keeping company with a motley crew of critters that he’s rescued, including a previously abused pooch, a gang of feral cats and a baby skunk. What’s not to like, right? Ivan is fiercely protective of those he loves and deals with aggressive impulses that have gotten him into trouble in the past. Anders gives depth and dimension to her characters that is exemplified in Ivan’s gentle, thoughtful and patient treatment of Uma.

Strong, well-formed secondary characters include Uma’s boss, Ms. Lloyd, who is a real piece of work and full of surprises. There were times that I wanted to smack her upside the head, but she did grow on me, and by the story’s conclusion, I couldn’t help but like and respect her. Ivan’s sister Jessie is devoted to her brother, and she becomes a good friend to Uma. Jessie is awarded a pivotal role in the plot.

Under Her Skin is described as dark romance, and Uma’s previous relationship was certainly dark and destructive. However, I found this read to be suspenseful, passionate and hopeful. We know Uma’s evil ex is out there, looking for her, and readers will sit on tenterhooks waiting to see what happens if and when he finds her. Will Ivan be able to protect her? Anders writes compelling prose with vivid descriptions and treats us to a conclusion with a surprise twist that is riveting. I became completely invested in Uma and Ivan’s story, their HEA is hard earned but well deserved. Under Her Skin is an impressive debut novel, and I’m looking forward to reading Adriana Anders' next story, By Her Touch, due in April.

This was a fantastic book. I loved the hero and heroine and will continue to look out for future books from this author. I was approved on NG today (but I purchased this copy on Amazon.)

I admit it. It was the cover that caught my eye, which is what I think book covers are supposed to do. And then I read the synopsis, and my attention held. Now, I’ve not only finished reading a really well-written book with healthy amounts of quirky sweetness, snarky back-and-forths, and fan-yourself-because-it’s-so-hot sex plus a dose of suspense, but I’ve added a new name to my roster of must-watch authors in Adriana Anders. Under Her Skin is the first in her debut series, Blank Canvas, and while it does keep its focus on the main couple the story is about, there are also a couple of supporting characters that were scene-stealers who brought much-appreciated lightness to the story as a whole. This book has set the bar high for the two other books to follow.
A promise made on the radio by a doctor has led Uma Crane to Blackwood, Virginia, and a brutally honest ad in the newspaper has brought her to the doorstep of one Ms. Lloyd. However, it isn’t her would-be employer that she meets first—it’s the neighbor, Ivan Shifflett, and his precocious bundle of fur, Squeak. At first sight, Ivan is physically intimidating and should have spooked a victim of abuse like Uma, but there’s a shyness to the gentle giant, and he soon becomes a source of support and levity for her. There’s also an underlying current of attraction between them, something that grows far stronger than either one of them could have predicted. But Uma’s past refuses to set her totally free, and the inked reminders on her skin will never allow her to forget.
Under Her Skin was a surprisingly enchanting read, and when I say “enchanting”, I don’t mean your typical fairy tale. There was something about it that made it so damn different from anything that I had read before it this week. Adriana Anders’s writing more than tickled my fancy, giving me things I wasn’t expecting but wholly welcomed. If you had asked me prior to reading this book what my ideal book boyfriend was like, there was no way I would have described someone like Ivan Shifflett. But by the end of it all, the man won me over tenfold, and Squeak—a dog with a history after my own heart—was the perfect companion for him, setting up an irresistible package that made me realize awesome things can be hidden beneath the most unexpected of wrappings.
Uma Crane has become one of my all-time favorite heroines, courtesy of the evolution she goes through here. She endured abuse at the hands of a man she was in love with and while she has her struggles and setbacks, you see her desperation and desire to truly push through them all and not just survive but truly thrive. She’s found the ideal man in Ivan—an actual partner and someone who’s secure in his masculinity, never hesitating to hand over the reins to Uma whenever she wants or needs. Saying how much I loved these two together doesn’t seem to be enough to explain how inspiring they were to read about, never rushing and taking their time to find their own footing in the world. Under Her Skin is my favorite debut so far in 2017 and it gets five-plus stars. ♥

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.

I was intrigued by the premise of Under Her Skin, and completely blown away by the story.  The characters just about leap of the page – they are dark, funny, broken, beautiful people. The writing was a sublime mix of dark and light moments, humour and sensuality.

Dark, sexy and gritty, Under Her Skin doesn’t shy away from the issues within the plot. I couldn’t put this book down and enjoyed every second. I’m so glad we don’t have to wait long for the rest of the series. Highly recommended!