Skin Tight [Mass Market Paperback]

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.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 14 reviews  3.6 out of 5 stars