Review: Skin Game by Ava Gray

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense

Casee‘s review of Skin Game (Skin Series, book 1) by Ava Gray.

A beautiful fugitive—wanted dead or alive.

Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target’s strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist—anything she wants… for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father’s murder; with deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerard Serrano’s inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.

A hit man who never misses the mark.

Reyes has nothing but his work. Pity for Kyra, he’s the best and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He’s been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash—and bring her back to face Serrano’s “justice.” Dead will do, if he can’t locate the loot. He’s never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce heat and her outlaw heart. So Reyes has a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.

Considering my lack of reviews lately, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when I say that I haven’t been at the top of my reading game. It’s not that I’ve been in a slump, I just can’t be bothered to read. I picked this book up four times (started it twice) before I got through it. I have to admit that part of it was all the ZOMG!!!! reviews that made me hesitate at the end. Eventually, the blurb was too good and I had to read it.

Kyra and Reyes are not your typical h/h romance fare. These two characters are raw and gritty. They are liars, cheaters, and thieves. They don’t apologize for any of it. I think that may have been what held me up in the beginning. I had a hard time with Kyra’s lack of remorse when she used her gift against people. See, when Kyra touches someone, she retains that person’s most prominent talent (i.e. fighting, gambling, etc.) for a short time.

Kyra is on the run from the man that was responsible for killing her father. After pulling a con on him that will ruin his public image, Kyra takes off with millions of his dollars. Meeting Reyes is something that is unexpected and unwanted. After a hot fling one night, Kyra takes off thinking she’s never going to see him again. When he shows up in the same town she is a few weeks later, he has good reason for being there so Kyra doesn’t really question it.

In fact, Reyes is tailing Kyra. He’s been contracted to kill her, something that he still plans on doing even after the hottest night of sex he’s ever had. As he starts traveling with her, he starts doubting that Kyra is guilty of doing anything wrong.

One of the reasons that this book is so good is b/c Reyes is such an anti-hero. He’s not a good guy by any stretch of the imagination, but even an assassin has morals. Kyra doesn’t trust easily, so trusting Reyes is taking a huge step for her. When she finds out who Reyes really is and why he tracked her down, it doesn’t go over well at all.

This is a very unconventional book, but that’s what makes it so good.

4.25 out of 5.

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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