Taken by Charlotte Stein (Under the Skin #3)
Released: April 14, 2015
Erotic Romance
Avon Impulse

Reviewed by Mandi

First, this cover represents nothing about this book. So disregard!

I read the first page of this book, and immediately cuddled into my couch a little tighter. Stein’s voice, her characters and her erotic words make me happy.

The one I call the secret werewolf in my head – because honestly, that is what he looks like. He wears tweedy jackets with leather elbow patches and these tiny, wire-rimmed glasses, s he should seem harmless. But then you notice his black-as-pitch beard and his wild, dark hair and his eyes like twelve past midnight, and suddenly it doesn’t feel that way at all.

Rosie and her friend like to visit this rare-book store, but the owner is kind of surly and yells at them if they touch first edition books, so they decide to get revenge. But they get caught vandalizing the store, and as Rosie watches her friend escape, she finds herself being dragged down to the basement of the store by the owner. The gorgeous, hairy, rugged, Johann.

Han didn’t really mean to kidnap Rosie – he just wanted to restrain her while he called the police. But all of a sudden he looks down and he has her chained to his bed and he realizes he could be in a lot of trouble. He panics and then can’t decide what to do, finally trying to free her, but of course he can’t get the handcuff off. All the while this is happening, Rosie starts to realize she isn’t going to be murdered or abused – that this man, this “werewolf” (because he is so hairy) is actually a huge softy with a great sense of humor. Han is SO embarrassed he overreacted and chained her up and then couldn’t get the chain off. He is also SO embarrassed he is attracted to her. He is in his early thirties and looks upon twenty-four year old Rosie as too young for him. But Rosie knows what she wants – and she wants her werewolf.

He just looks big and hairy and rugged, like he spends his spare time climbing mountains in the dark, or was possibly enslaved in the sixteenth century by his vampire betters. I bet he had a long-lost love who burned to death, leaving him tormented and lovelorn and oh my God I really need to stop thinking like this.

I LOVE Charlotte Stein heroes. They are always so – big and hairy. And sex-crazed yet kind of awkward. Han does yoga and wears corduroy pants. And he likes to spank girls and he always thinks he is too kinky for them. But Rosie is vivacious and outgoing and wants every dirty thing that Han has to offer. He even starts to warn her of things he could do, and Rosie says – bring it!

“How about if I blindfold you and make you feel your way around harrowing obstacles until you find various parts of my naked body?”

“Oh my God.”

“And that excites you too…all right. Is there anything that doesn’t?” he asks, and though he packs a lot of incredulity int that one little sentence I can tell he really means it.

I also adore Stein’s heroines. To start this book, Rosie goes through about every situation that could happen to her being chained to someone’s bed. From being murdered to other crazy, and silly ideas. Once she sees that Han is actually a good guy, she torments him with her words and actions and it made me laugh over and over again.

Before we get to the sweaty sex, we have to get through their awkward first meeting, especially when Rosie has to use the bathroom while chained to a bed. It puts them in a close position

“I don’t think Stockholm syndrome happens so fast. Or because your kidnapper has a supernice ass,” I say, but I swear I do it only because he totally, totally does. The second he turns around it’s pretty much all I can see. The corduroy hugs the curve of it like an overexcited hand, and when he moves I swear I can see muscles bunching there.

He has muscles in his butt.

Is it any wonder I feel the need to comment?

I doubt I could stop myself if he begged me—a point that proves true a second later.

“Please do not look at my ass while I attempt to not listen to your underwear coming off,” he says, swiftly followed by me asking even more salacious things.

“Can you hear it sliding down my thighs?”

“No. All I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears.”

“They are cotton with Tuesday on the bottom.”

“Stop that. That is . . . not cool.”

“Which one? Talk of my underwear or your backside?”

“Both of them. Both of them are not cool.”

Coming in at just 100 pages, it’s a quick read but very satisfying. For a blurb leading you to believe it’s dark and dangerous, it’s actually a very light and funny book. It’s a stand alone as well.

Rating: B+