Skin Tight by Ava Gray  (Skin #2)
Paranormal Romance
June 1, 2010
Paperback, 336 Pages
Berkley Sensation


Joint Review by Mandi and KC from Smokin’ Hot Books.


Our 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?”

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.

Mandi: 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. He is BatPunisherMan!!!


KC:  I brought a little something with me today *pulls out Foster Batman Fan suit*.  In honor of his sexiness I thought I’d review Skin Tight in my Batgirl suit.
P.S.  Is it wrong that I was turned on by Foster’s creepiness in Skin Game?  That bedroom scene…oh lordee.


Mandi: Does that mean I get to dress up as Robin?


KC: You better! I don’t want to be the only one in spandex and a cape.


Mandi: And in case people are thoroughly confused, in Skin Tight, Strong is referred to as the punisher and batman for his many deeds. Hence the nickname, BatPunisherMan.


KC: Mandi, Skin Tight was THE book I was looking forward to most since I finished Skin Game! Ava Gray writes the most unique and interesting characters especially with the cold, emotionless Foster. 
I know he is referred to as Strong in this book but in my eyes he will always be Foster.

This book had so much going on, Mia and Strong’s relationship, revenge, creepy Dr. Rowan and glimpses of  *maybe* future Skin characters.  Skin Tight has some of the best dialogue between Mia and Strong.

“Don’t do that.” (Strong)
“What?” (Mia)
“Act as if you shouldn’t have told me something you love”
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I have something you want.”
“You have no idea.”

What I liked: This book blew me away with action and sexiness. I liked how we slowly got to peel away  Strong’s layers and see  the man behind the emotionless mask. The side story with Gillie and creepy Dr. Rowan was a fascinating addition to the overall story.  One of the most suspenseful scenes is Dr. Rowan’s inner dialogue and how he feels about his all star pet, Gillie.  Say it with me a-creepy!

What I didn’t like:
There were times I didn’t connect with Mia and Strong’s relationship. Part of this probably had to do with my former expectations of reading Skin Game. The relationship tension between Reyes and  Kyra was so spectacularly explosive , while Mia and Strong’s was more of a slow burn.  Without going into too much detail there was a scene towards the end where Strong’s reaction, even for a stoic man, was just odd when he thought Mia might have been hurt.  I wish I could be less vague but Mandi will karate chop my ass if I spoil ANYTHING. So KC is going to be a good girl and keep her lips zipped.


Mandi: Rats – I really wanted to try out my karate chop on you!
I am a bit conflicted with the romance. I think I was expecting something more explosive like you said 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. Like you mention KC, 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.

One last thing I must mention are two supporting characters we are introduced to – Gillie and Taye. Both of them are under experimentation by Rowan, and they both really stole page time in this book. I’m so intrigued by Taye and so excited to see what Ava Gray has in store for him.


KC: Mandi do you think we are twins separated at birth…(think about it, m’kay)? I’m nodding my head at everything you mentioned above. I too liked how the author blurred the good guy/bad guy character lines – Ava Gray makes ‘grey’…..sexy (pg 76 and that’s all I’m going to say).

For me, my favorite part of the book was discovering Strong’s unique ability and how it shaped him to what he is now. I liked how Mia became a pivotal part in bringing Strong back to his humanity.   God, some of the scenes between him and Mia where she could “see” the real him had me tingling from head to toe.
Mandi didn’t you just melt when Reyes said he would do ‘anything’ for Mia because she brought him Kyra.


Skin Tight didn’t have me squeezing (as much) as the first book in this delicious series, but hot damn I liked it.  Now remember make sure to wear your Batgirl/boy suits while reading ST and show your Foster fan girl love.


Rating: 4/5


Mandi: I loved that conversation with Reyes, and yes, there are some points in this book where Strong becomes so vulnerable, so stripped of everything he has been hiding behind where I got chills. Ava Gray (aka, Ann Aguirre) knows how to write such intense filled moments.

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.


Rating: 4/5

Recent Reviews:
Goodreads