Customer Reviews

Skin Tight (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Thomas Strong, the Human Resources Director at Micor Technologies, is not what he seems. He is hiding deep secrets, one being a special ability where he can pretend to be anybody that person desires with one touch or even a kiss. Thomas wants to bring Micor Technologies down because he knows they have ruined many lives, including his. What he doesn't count on is seeing a woman from his recent past who causes him to second guess everything. She is Mia Saunter, a forensic accountant, who's an undercover freelancer hired to investigate a Micor employee embezzling funds from the company. Thomas and Mia met in Las Vegas a year ago under interesting circumstances. She thought Thomas, known as Addison Foster at the time, was willing to help her. Instead he almost got her killed.

When Mia meets Thomas again, she is more than disgruntled. When he kisses her, she almost loses herself, but is able to break away from the spell Thomas usually casts around others. Thomas doesn't know what to think because no one he has ever come in contact with has ever been immune to him. He wants to now team up with Mia to take down Micor. Mia is wary about this man, who she kiddingly thinks of a combination of Batman and The Punisher (There you get the BatPunisherMan label ) because of his hidden super powers. But, Thomas tries to downplay his ability the best he can because he hates what he can do. He is more like a faceless Phantom, a man with no true identity. He longs to be himself. Perhaps with Mia he finally can.

As Thomas and Mia begin to get closer to the truth, they are in danger from Dr. Rowen, a mad scientist in truth. He manipulates the DNA of those poor, unfortunate people who also have special abilities and treats them much as like animals in a zoo. He wants to create the ultimate super human and is closed to obsessed with one of his test subjects, Gillie, a young girl, who he thinks is naïve and has no idea what he wants from her. Gillie may have lived most of her life in a cage, but she is biding her time, waiting for the right moment to escape.

Thomas makes no excuses for the lengths he has to go to, even if that means killing. Mia can no longer ignore her desire for this man, who with one touch can make her body zing with pleasure. Theses two former adversaries become lovers and form a bond that enables them to reveal their inner demons. And as long as they can stay alive, they may just have a future together.

Skin Tight is heavy on the smoldering tension between Mia and Thomas. Ava Gray can sure write excellent love scenes, especially with the way Mia allows Thomas to do whatever he wants with her in the bedroom because of his issues with intimacy. He is all out of sorts because Mia is the only one who can see the true him. And he thanks her in ways that will having you grasping for breath. Both give and take and the outcome is very satisfying.

The action and suspense is much like an espionage spy novel with a great super hero comic book feel to it. Thomas, in a way, reminds me of Wolverine from X-Men, who can barely keep his emotions in check. What you see, is definitely not what you get with Thomas. But as for all the mention of Thomas' ability and the angst that surrounds him because of it, there wasn't enough show and mostly telling. I felt robbed because we only get a small glimmer of what Thomas can do. For all this build up, I felt in that aspect it didn't deliver. But, Ava makes up for it in other ways. Mia is very much Thomas' equal in every way, and I think most readers won't be disappointed in their final outcome.

Skin Tight has definite appeal and Ava's writing really does grab you from beginning to end. There are many poignant scenes between Mia and Thomas, as well as an almost animal magnetism between them, especially on Thomas's end.

For those who enjoy paranormal thrillers with a nice hot romance, pick up Skin Tight.

Katiebabs

Skin Game (Berkley Sensation)

Addison Foster, who we meet in Ava Gray's first book, Skin Game is a man of many identities. He uses a new name every time he needs new information. He is currently employed as the Human Resource manager at Micor a research facility, as Thomas Strong. Micor may look like a normal research place where the effects of caffeine and sugar are tested on monkeys. But there are many deep, dark secrets in the works, and Strong desperately wants to uncover them.

Rowan is the scientist that holds all the key information Strong is searching for. Rowan is continuing in something his predecessors started - experimenting on humans. Trying to make the perfect human - a stronger, smarter race. Strong was vaccinated by this very organization when he was young, and wants revenge. He blames them for his daughter's current vegetative state, and for the loss of his entire family. His plan is to infiltrate the company, find the secret labs and do what he does best - dispose of those in his own way.

Mia Sauter is a forensic accountant hired by Micor to track someone who is embezzling funds. She fronts as an IT employee, so no one in the company knows what she is up to. But there is one man in the company that already knows her. In Skin Game, Strong helped rescue Mia's best friend Kyra - but he did it by turning Mia over to the bad guys where she ends up tied up. Although in the long run, everyone escaped, she has never forgiven Strong for what he did. When she sees him at Micor - she is shocked, furious, and can't forget the passionate kiss they shared all that time ago. Strong, is also shocked but for different reasons. His entire life has been affected by the vaccination administered so long ago - and now he must confront what truly haunts him.

We first meet Addison Foster/Thomas Strong in Skin Game and I have to admit, I was very surprised when I learned he was set up to be the hero in Skin Tight. In book one he is a violent and all around a bit creepy and I was so curious to see how Ava Gray would turn him into a hero that I wanted to root for and lust after. Strong is always so in control of his life, but in this book, we see deep inside him. We see his defenses down and that allows his more human side to shine.

I am a bit conflicted with the romance. I think I was expecting something more explosive like in Skin Game. Now, I realize these are two different characters and they are going to have different chemistry. One thing I really liked was that Ava Gray gives Strong a little problem in the bedroom. He still sexes Mia up, but he is not perfect at it. On the exterior he is so in control of every detail of his life that I LOVE he has issues when it comes to having sex. I think that is a very unique, and great twist Ava Gray creates. I do wish I felt a bit more connection between them. Towards the end when there comes a point where Strong thinks he lost Mia, he acts too disconnected in my opinion. Overall though, Strong is such a different type of hero, I think we need to have different expectations when it comes to how he handles romance.

My favorite part of this book, and for this series as a whole is that the characters are so morally ambiguous! Mia embezzles from people, Strong is still chopping off people's fingers at the end of the book. There is no redemption for their criminal acts. Kyra from Skin Game can't even come back into the country because of the warrants out for her. I can't think of another book that gives the hero and heroine criminal attributes, yet you still root for them - and in my case I root for them to keep up the unethical practices. Ava Gray has thrown away the black and white world, and filled it with gray area - and that is what makes this series stand out.

While Skin Tight can be read as a stand alone, to really appreciate the journey Foster/Strong takes, I recommend you start with Skin Game.

We were introduced to Addison Foster in Skin Game. He was the head of security for Gerrano's Vegas casino. Foster is mysterious and dangerous. He has secrets and a past that he's bent on avenging. He's a man on a mission and he will not let anything or anyone get in his way.

Mia Sauter's encounter with Foster left a bad taste in her mouth. When she went to him for help, she trusted that he would help her. Instead he used her as a means to an end. Now the two are working at the same company, both with their own agenda.

I was hesitant to read Skin Tight because I wasn't bowled over by Skin Game. I thought Skin Game was good, don't get me wrong. I just wasn't sure if I wanted to invest in the series. But my twitter friends kept making references to the hot sex scenes and I knew then that I couldn't resist. I love hot sex scenes! The sex scenes did not disappointment. Even though Foster is detached - emotionally and physically - Mia breaks through those barriers. She manages to slowly chip away the wall he has built around his heart. Foster is a damaged man and has kept himself physically and emotionally away from people. A lot has to do with his "gift" and a tragedy from his past. Mia manages to break through the armour and makes Foster feel. She's unique in that she is the only person that can "see" him. For Foster, that makes her special and dangerous.

The best part about this book is Foster and Mia's relationship. The back story of Micor and the testing they were doing on humans was not that interesting to me. How Foster came into his "gift" is explained (even though I still don't quiet understand it). I finished Skin Tight with several questions that weren't answered. Many of the patients that Micor were using for experiments were people who grew up in poor households. Is it possible that this is how Kyra (from Skin Game) came into her powers? Judging from how Skin Tight ended, the series will follow the people who subjects of Dr. Rowen's experiments. Will we ever know how Kyra got her power?

The romance aspect of Skin Tight is fantastic. The relationship between Foster and Mia isn't easy and it's not pretty. Foster is always in control of his emotions and his actions. But once he drops his guard around Mia, the control slips away.

Final verdict: An enjoyable read with hot sex scenes and great characters. The mad scientist Dr. Rowen sub-plot was a bit much but it does explain a lot about Foster and it sets up the plot for the next book, Skin Heat.

Book 2 Skin Tight takes place a year after Book 1 Skin Game. The most interesting person in Skin Game for me was Foster and here we get his story. I liked Book 1, but Book 2 knocks it out of the park, hitting on every element of a good romantic suspense novel. I thought it was excellent. Intelligent, complex and really well done.

Plot Summary:

Undercover contractor Mia bumps into HR director Strong, aka Foster from Book 1, at Micor, a scientific research company where they both work. She has a score to settle with Strong. Strong has a score to settle with Micor because it's secretly conducting illegal testing on humans. He is dumbfounded that Mia is impervious to his paranormal "gift" of projecting an illusion. She's the first person who sees him for who he is. They begin a romance. Mia's activities arouse suspicion at Micor. Strong must protect her and carry out his mission of destroying Micor.

Pros:

* Oh, Ava, you had me at "Hm. Does that mean no oral sex?" (p. 63). I had to return the library book and buy my own copy because I knew I would want to read over and over one of the best first date scenes I've ever read. Awesome lines, pacing, everything. The perfect intellectual foreplay to the sex scene that followed.

* The premise of a man who can't be touched for fear of projecting a fantasy to the person touching him, meeting the woman who sees through it, is fascinating. Every scene Mia and Strong are in together is tense, sizzling or touching. It just works. Really, really well.

* As a romantic suspense novel it is brilliantly executed, imho, with the focus on the Soren/Mia relationship. Each character changes over the course of the book, through their feelings for the other. Yet the secondary story about the doctor and patients in the basement is so compelling as a background, it could have been it's own book in a horror genre.

* Speaking of the basement, the nefarious scientist, his Igor and subjects are truly creepy. Loved Rowan's chilling thoughts and misplaced affection for Gillie.

* Any writer who can deftly write a line like Taye's, "What do think Doc? Will she put out?" and then make me dust off my dictionary like I was reading a Jane Austin novel, is awfully skilled with the language.

* Also good handling of the name change from Strong to Soren around p. 100. usually this bugs me when authors change a character's name, but Gray handles this really well using the same letter, S, and avoiding overuse of Strong in the first section.

Cons:

* I missed not having a morning-after scene after Soren and Mia's first time. He had to drive her to her car so you know she couldn't have snuck out. I wanted to know what occurred between them.

* The British-isms used throughout struck me as odd for two Americans in Virginia. An "elevator" is called a "lift", "reckon" is used instead of "figure," "bits" instead of "things," "I'm sorry?" instead of "what?" or "Excuse me?" etc.

All writer's say you can read their books out of order, but I don't recommend it in this case because Foster and Mia factor heavily in Book 1 Skin Game. It will make more sense and be a richer experience if you read Skin Tight only after reading Skin Game.

Gushingly, enthusiastically recommended. 5 stars.

Skin Tight is the sequel to Skin Game, both written by Ann Aguirre writing as Ava Gray. The heroes and heroines of this series are NOT fine, upstanding members of society. Typically, they live on the fringes, usually due to some paranormal aspect of their personality. I'm not going to go into a long synopsis, because other reviewers have done that. This book is definitely a page-turner, but it will help if you've read Skin Game first. Personally, I really liked Foster/Strong and Mia from the first book, so I already had a connection to them. I loved how inexperienced they both were with real relationships, but that they were still willing to take chances when necessary. I thought the sex scenes were hot, and funny, and touching at times. I love how more of the overarching series storyline is being revealed as each book adds to it.

If you like paranormal romance more on the gritty side, this book/series is for you!

We were first introduced to Addison Foster as a secondary character in Ava Gray's first book in the Skin series, Skin Game. We meet him once again but this time as the hero in Skin Tight. He goes by the name Thomas Strong these days--and there may be still lingering doubts as to his true nature and he likes it that way. He is working as a Human Resources Director at Micor Technologies, a laboratory doing mundane research on the effects of caffeine and sugar. But Thomas Strong believes there is more going on there behind locked doors than meets the eye and this laboratory could hold the key to him finally getting vengeance on the those responsible for destroying his life and all he loves.

Mia Saunter, also a secondary from Skin Game, is a forensic accountant who has been hired to go undercover posing as an IT specialist at Micor Technologies. She's been asked to do some investigating to figure out who has been embezzling funds. When she runs into the man she knows as Addison Foster, the man that abandoned her in Las Vegas and nearly got her killed, she's pissed and wants an explanation. She also can't forget the brief bit of passion that passed between them back then, much to her irritation.

Strong is shocked when Mia recognizes him. That simply never happens, and it shouldn't be possible (for reasons you'll learn about when you read the book). This leaves Strong thinking about Mia more than he is comfortable with. He too remembers what passed between them in Vegas but he knows he should put as much distance between them as possible--for Mia's safety as well as for both of their own good. He doesn't need the distraction when he is so close to achieving his goals but he wonders what is it about Mia that's different. Why can she recognize him?

After reading Skin Game I was not fully convinced that Addison Foster would ever win my heart. In Skin Game he was straight up creepy with a huge helping of scary on the side! I thought I'd never get over the prostitute scene. However, in Skin Tight, we see a character that is just slightly softer, but still every bit a criminal mind. He'll still relieve you of a finger or two if you don't cooperate, but now we get a look into his world and what drives him to do what he does. We learn about his past life, his relationships, and slowly but surely he becomes a hero to be sympathized with and adored. He effectively won my heart.

Mia as a heroine was middle of the road for me. I really expected someone a little darker and edgier. I suppose if I had not read Skin Game first I would not have come into this book with expectations for Mia but I did and was just a tiny bit disappointed. I had the impression that she was tougher and more self assured and felt like she lost that edge a bit in Skin Tight. I did like that she was not the picture of perfection though. Mia has had a difficult past and is not above a bit of mild white collar criminal behavior herself.

Ava Gray knows how to write dirty, steamy sex and she brings it once again in Skin Tight. The sexual chemistry between Mia and Strong starts off with a bang with one single kiss and they carry that heat throughout the book. Strong is such a cool, reserved character and to witness his moments of `coming undone' are not only smoking hot but also endearing and charming.

I loved the fast paced action and suspense and was fascinated by the diabolical plot in Skin Tight. There were literally times when I could not put the book down. We learn the origin of Strong's `gift', why he considers it a true curse, and his reasons for wanting vengeance. However it was the stripping down of Strong's character to his raw vulnerable core and the intense emotional scenes that really stood out for me. There is one particular scene involving Strong's daughter that nearly did me in. All I'm saying is keep the tissues handy, you might need them.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this second book in Ava Gray's Skin series and eagerly await the next book, Skin Heat.

I probably would have liked this book a bit more if I had never read Skin Game.

We first met Foster in Skin Game. He was devious, ruthless, and cold. You never quite knew what side of the fence he was playing on. He was very contained, but you could practically see the plots running through his head. Every move, every word, seemed to be done with a purpose in mind. He was, quite simply, a fascinating character. I was dying to know more about him by the time I closed the book. Added to that, the glimpses into his sexuality were intriguing. Why doesn't he like to be touched? Is it his kink, is it about control, or is it something deeper? You can probably see why I got on Amazon right away and bought this book.

Unfortunately, everything I loved about Foster seemed to be turned on its head when we got to know him better. I know you lose a little mystery when you learn more about a person, but, jeez, we shouldn't lose a whole personality.

So, Mia gets a job to find an embezzler. This job's a little different, because she's not coming in as a consultant, she'll be playing the role of employee. While there she sees the man she knew as Addison Foster playing the role of Thomas Strong, head of HR. Mia is still deeply bitter over her short time in captivity by Foster's old boss. She would like nothing better than to find a way to make him pay for hand delivering her to them.

Now, I'm not going to outline this story too much, because I feel a lot of it would be spoilers. I'm just going to focus on what didn't work for me and keep it vague about the rest.

After having all these hints of Foster/Strong in Skin Game I expected him to live up to his character. I expected to be wowed, not sit there scratching my head and going What?

***SPOILERS***

So, Strong can't get close to anyone because of his ability. After he hit puberty no one really saw him anymore, they just saw whatever their expectations directed them to see. Therefore he doesn't have that much experience with relationships. He tried it once, but that just made him sad and lonelier. So, when he discovers his ability doesn't affect Mia he turns super needy. I didn't even get the sense that it was actually her he wanted, it seemed like he would have acted that way with anyone who could bypass his ability. That's where the book really failed for me. I have to believe that the protagonists actually love each other for who they are. Here it seems like anyone who saw Strong would do and anyone who made Mia feel needed would do. I also felt that a big part of Mia's love for Strong was tied directly into his ability to give her overwhelming orgasms.

Mia was a piece of work. On one hand she was so contained that she became uninteresting. On the other hand she was kind of clingy and judgmental and the term those in glass houses kept repeating through my head. We find out late in the book that Mia isn't really the good girl that everyone thought she was. She's a thief. Her reasons for stealing were pretty weak. I really found it hard to respect someone who does that yet turns around and judges people for their less than legal activities. She was so boring and the thief thing seemed like a sad attempt to make her more exciting. It didn't work for me, obviously. Also, this is just a personal pet peeve, but I hate when characters constantly spice their internal monologues with comments like, God how I love him.

***END SPOILERS***

One thing I noticed was the edge of superiority that both characters had to the rest of the human race. Mia was constantly talking about how smart she was and different she was from everyone else. She also made comments about the drones she was having to work with. Strong made throwaway comments about how odd the humdrum concerns the people at work had. He was amused by thinking about accepting a baby shower invite. They all just had a superior edge to it which I found off putting. I don't mind confidence, but cocky bothers me.

One other thing, after reading Skin Game I had a certain expectation about the sex in this book. Based on the scenes in the least book I expected it to be hot! Unfortunately, no. The first scene was kind of hot, but the rest really weren't. They seemed uninspired and boring, and truthfully I felt there were way too many of them with how repetitive they were.

So, if I wouldn't have read Skin Game first, I wouldn't have built up any expectations about Strong. Then I would have probably been meh instead of ticked off at the character inconsistency.

I enjoyed the first book in the series but this one was a real disappointment. The plot was depressing and cruel. There was no real romance just weird sex scenes thrown into a nightmare of a plot.

This book has something for everyone,intrigue,sizzling romance, and nail-biting suspense.A great follow up to Skin Game,It's hard to resist such a heady mixture of romantic fiction! Very entertaining, and very well written. Well worth the wait.And did I mention I LOVED IT?

Skin Tight by Ava Gray (aka Ann Aguirre for anyone who doesn't already know it) is the second book in the "Skin" series and for the record, Skin Game (book 1) was one of my favorite reads last year. I'd never heard of Ann Aguirre or read any of her previous books, but after Skin Game she became an auto-buy author for me. Skin Tight is definitely a stand alone book and you don't have to read Skin Game first - but it was a great book, so why wouldn't you?

Thomas Strong (or Addison Foster as he was introduced to us in Skin Game) is a dark and deeply flawed character and if that isn't enough, he's got some spooky special abilities. As head of Human Resources, Thomas infiltrates Micor Technologies, because this lab is not what it appears to be and Thomas is a man on a mission. Nothing and no one will get in his way as he intends to expose all of Micor's nasty secrets, exact his revenge and make sure that people pay for the inhuman experiments they've been conducting. The same people who turned him into the man he is today and ultimately cost him the one thing he cared about most in the world - his little girl.

Thomas Strong or whatever he's calling himself these days is a loner, someone that no one ever really remembers or recognizes. This is where is "special" ability comes to light. People only see and hear Thomas as he wants to be seen and heard. That is until Mia Sauter reappears in his life, with the ability and knowledge to bring his well constructed world crashing down around him and all his carefully laid out plans with it.

Mia Sauter is a smart and savvy forensic accountant for hire who currently finds herself employed undercover at Micor Technologies to ferret out whose been siphoning off funds to line their own pockets. Shock doesn't begin to describe Mia's reaction her first day on the job when she comes face to face with Addison Foster (as she knows him), the same man who handed her over to kidnappers without regard for her own personal welfare in Skin Game.

Thomas and Mia may have a mutual distrust towards one another with good reason, but they also have an undeniable and smouldering chemistry between them. Once they decide to trust each other and work together, the action really heat up.

The scenes in the secret lab with the requisite "mad scientist" and the trusty henchman carrying out torture on the unsuspecting human subjects were both chilling and creepy, but they also provide the back story for two very interesting secondary characters in Gillie and Taye (who get their own book I am happy to report - can't wait for that one).

Thomas was a hard hero to warm up to at first, but as his story and character developed, you can't help but realize that he is a man who loves deeply and is willing to do anything to save and protect those he loves and cares about. And seriously how can you not love a man who visits a blind, elderly woman every week in the hospital pretending to be her absentee son just to provide her some company? If that doesn't melt your heart just a little nothing will.

Skin Tight has something for everyone. Page turning action and suspense, paranormal abilities and a touching romantic love story that will tug at your heart-strings. If you aren't reading this series - you should be...what are you waiting for?