Under Her Skin

The premise stretches belief just a tad--pretend to be engaged for six months to the guy who was your ended-very-badly first time in exchange for two million dollars? Who does that?--and of course you can see the ending coming a mile away, but still it was a fairly decent diversion for all of that. The three sisters and their friend Dana are an entertaining group of characters, and it's clear that the fourth Titan child is going to continue to make life interesting for all of them. I did have serious problems with the whole idea that Lexi had to move in with Cruz for the entire engagement--surely they could have gotten together even without the obvious sexual manipulation?--and I'm still unclear on how, exactly, Cruz seemed to already show more know that Lexi was in trouble when presumably only the antagonist, Lexi, and her banker were aware of the situation. Still, though, when I don't have any other pressing books to read (surely that day will come, yes? Or maybe not--so many books, so little time, after all) I'll probably give book two in the series a go. show less

Susan Mallery begins another trilogy with "Under Her Skin". This series is about three sisters who find love while fighting off a malicious unknown person who appears to be trying to destroy their family. Although born of two different mothers, the Titan girls couldn't be closer and they have no intention of going down without a fight!

Lexi has always yearned for her father's approval. He's a cut-throat entrepreneur and businessman who built his inheritance into a kind of mini-kingdom. Lexi's mother left her father and left Lexi behind and she's struggled with her insecurities ever since. Now, determined to make her father notice her, she struck out and opened a spa...a very luxurious spa after an anonymous backer loaned her two million show more dollars. Unfortunately, that backer has called his note...immediately. If Lexi can't come up with the two mil, she'll not only lose her spa, she'll lose her chance of gaining her father's respect. What to do?

Cruz's business brain is busy scheming once he overhears Lexi talking about her problem to a friend. Cruz is a successful self-made man and has plenty of money...but not the connections necessary to break into the rarefied inner circle that Lexi has grown up in. So he proposes a deal, he'll pay her to be engaged, live with him, and sleep with him for six months--just long enough to get that 'in' he so desires. Then, they'll part as friends. No problems, eh?

It takes a talented author to make such a sordid deal into something more and Mallery has done just that. Although I had trouble warming up to Cruz at first, understanding his background and motivations made all the difference. The secondary story of the unidentified enemy is rolled out smoothly and has a semi-conclusion--it was enough to get a sense of closure for this first book in the series while still leaving enough questions to make me run out and pick up book two, "Lip Service", as soon as it hit the shelves!

Susan Mallery combines romance, a little mystery, a lot of heat, and scenes of 'girl power' into a very readable story. Of course, that doesn't surprise me since she manages to do that for me all too often. "Under Her Skin" will play with your emotions, but not enough to cause crying jags...is that a good description? show less

I read some of Susan Mallery's books before and i really enjoyed reading them. So is this one to me. It is an enjoyable read with a simple story plot. Lexi and Cruz spent a night before during their teens and both of them could not forget that night before. Hence, when Cruz wanted Lexi to help him to get into her circle of acquintaces, memories of that nigh hovered between them. Lexi have no choice but to agreed to Cruz's demand as it is the only way to get herself out of the financial disaster.

Knowing the story plot, i was anticipating a whole lots of conflict especially for Lexi and it did have lotsa of conflict when Lexi got pregnant. I really felt for her when Cruz rejected her when she told him the news. Cruz was tormented with his show more past childhood and was of the thought he couldnt be a good father to anyone. And as for the ending, i like the way the author end the story. simple yet meaningful ;) show less

The plot was okay and the action moved right along but I didn't like the hero and he irritated me throughout the story. Spa owner Lexi needs two million dollars and Cruz will provide it in exchange for fake engagement with introductions.

Just too silly for me to engage with the characters at all. The absurd plot is played out by cliched characters spouting unnatural-sounding dialog.

Maybe I'll finish it some day when I'm in the mood for a Silhouette Desire-style read.

Really loved this book. The chemistry between Lexi and Cruz was hot and I really liked Lexi's character. Really looking forward to Skye's story.

fun read! great book!