Bone Deep

Another hit from Bonnie Dee. This is the second short novel of hers that I've read. She does a really good job with a sweet but misfit beta hero. Loved him and how the author filled you in on his miserable life without an info dump, just hints here and there in his conversation. He was so gentle and sweet while being actually strong physically and emotionally. The heroine was brave and gutsy and open minded. The story is well written and flows nicely with good characterization. Just loved this simple sweet story. I recommend it to lovers of beta heros.

This was a bit unusual for what I usually read, 1st person, 1950s (practically modern! lol), close to the rural area I grew up in, none of that is really my preference, but I found the characters compelling. The hero, especially, was very easy for me to invest in. The heroine walks into a few obvious mistakes, but overall I found her likable as well. And I like the two of them for each other. The ending felt a little abrupt, but I suppose it was a decent place to end. This is my first from this author and I will seek out more to try.

A young WWII widow is tricked into going on a double date to the circus. She feels bad going into the freak show to gawk at people with "handicaps". When she gets to the tattooed man she can't stop staring. A flush of heat lances through her...

Burned through it in a day. It was an easy, enjoyable read. It kept my interest but it's not an amazing story.

It's pretty mild in some ways and pretty dark in others. Mild in the fact that it's insta-love and none of the characters are very deep. The dark part is the life of the tattooed man. Unfortunately the past trauma of the tattooed man is not represented in his behavior. The author gave him a dark, tortured past but then does very little with it.

The time period is the 1940s. A simpler time show more in some ways but a time with many prejudices and public opinion about sex & children before marriage. A carnival "freak" covered in tattoos is going to cause some town drama & gossiping for sure.

Includes some "magical" elements in that the tattooed man's mom was the carnival fortune teller & he inherits some of her abilities. show less

This is more like 3 and half stars. Lovely and tender romance set in a small town in post second world war America. The hero, Tom, escapes from an abusive situation at a carnivale he works for where he was part of an attraction for those who were seen to be freaks due to disfigurements or disabilities. In Tom's case, he was heavily tattooed all over his body and when he ends up finds sanctuary at Sarah's farm, who is a widow who is still mourning the loss of her husband. He stays hidden due to his tattoos but both Sarah and Tom fall deeply in love despite the prejudice and distrust they both face in her community.

I found Tom to be one of the best beta heroes I've read in a long while. He was so lovely and tender and I loved how show more protective he was over Sarah especially due the hate they relieved due to the distrust they face. My only gripe is the ending when they both came out of a dangerous situation but it seems to dismiss there could potentially be more in the future. But overall this was a wonderful and heart-warming romance with an unusual premise! And I am all for that! show less

It is 1945. Sarah is a war widow who ends up at a carnival. She goes with friends into the "freak Show" tent where she sees the tattooed man along with others. Something about the man with tattoos stays with her. Next morning, she finds him in her barn.

This story deals with prejudice in many forms. Also, abuse. Sarah sees beyond the tattoos to the human inside. Can she help her town see it before it is too late for Tom, the tattoo man?

This is a great read, and worth picking up. I got it while it was free.

4 1/2 stars from me.

Once in a while a special book comes along that will touch your heart with it's poignancy and tenderness. Bone Deep is such a book for me.
It's the story of two lonely people who find each other and despite all obstacles, triumph in their love for each other.
Sarah Cassidy is a young widow whose husband was killed during WWII. While at the local carnival one evening she was talked into going into the freak show by her friends. There she saw Tom the tatooed man and felt a very puzzling yet instant attraction to him.
The next day he turns up in her barn and right away she sees past his outward appearance and into the gentle soul that he is. But together can they overcome the predjudice of the small town she resides in?
I loved the setting show more of this book, it's very unusual and refreshing. Sarah makes a wonderful heroine, lonely and somewhat reluctant to get involved with Tom,yet very protective of him and very aware of what people will think. Tom is a hero that lingers long after you close the last page. Gentle yet strong and damaged against his will, it's wonderful reading about his coming out of himself and slowly gaining confidence after being held a prisoner all his life.
This book has the same sort of feel as another one of my favourite books, Morning Glory by Lavryle Spencer.
I can't recommend it highly enough show less

Interesting plot - but there sure were some things that happened that should have set alarms off for the people of the town - or other towns - house fires, whole blocks exploding shortly thereafter (same block that the house fire was on), family members all murdered days apart... but overall a good story