Review: Skin Tight by Ava Gray

Skin Tight
by Ava Gray
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Available: June 1st 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Book received from: Penguin

Uncovering the truth is her specialty

As a forensic accountant, Mia Sauter could usually tell when people had something to hide. She made her living exposing secrets while concealing her own. Then, in Vegas, she met a clever, ruthless man who called himself Addison Foster. One year later, she’s still haunted by his betrayal.

He’s a natural born liar

The truth of him had long ago been buried. Foster was only one name of many; he’d been so many men, he’d lost count. Reinvented as Thomas Strong and hell-bent on revenge, his mission is about to be compromised by the one woman capable of exposing him…

Reunited, they confront the explosive chemistry still crackling between them. But their chance meeting will have consequences, for a ruthless madman has his own deadly agenda. The question is—if they survive the fallout, will he choose love over vengeance?

Reviewer: Fiction Vixen

We were first introduced to Addison Foster in Ava Gray’s first book in the Skin series, Skin Game.  I wrote this about him in my review:

At his introduction we meet a man who is cold, calculated and whose behavior is designed to make those around him take a step back in his presence.

[…] a character that commands attention and leaves the reader with lingering doubts as to his true nature.

We meet Addison Foster 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.

Favorite Quote:

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a vegetarian.” Mia lifted her glass and took a sip.

“Hm. Does that mean no oral sex?”

Purchase a copy Skin Tight

Other books in the series:

• Skin Game – book 1
• Skin Heat – book 3
• Skin Dive – book 4

Skin Tight on GoodReads

Visit Ava Gray at:

Website | GoodReads