Skin Game (A Skin Novel)

by Ava Gray

Book Overview

Kyra's a con woman and a thief who can steal her target's strongest skill. But when she becomes the target of a hit man, she won't be able to hide from the passion that engulfs them. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425231534
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 0.8" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

scalett

An avid reader of paranormal and historical romance and this sounded like something a little different, was thrilled with the author and this book, will be following her future writings. Had just the right amount of "talents", the greatest characters and the way they become more, am looking forward to the next one, can't wait for Mia's story and her Foster/Strong. Very well written in my opinion and keep typing Ms Gray. You have a fan.

Ava Gray Brings It!!

Kyra is a con and a thief, but not in the usual sense. She possesses a unique supernatural ability that allows her to steal her mark's best abilities for a period of time simply by touching them. She then uses the marks own talents to take their money. Bent on avenging her father's death, she seduces Gerard Serrano, the casino owner responsible for killing him. Not only does she manage to get him to fall in love with her but she steals a fortune in cash, and publicly humiliates him in the process. In turn, Serrano hires a hit man to find her, find the money, and bring her back, dead or alive. Reyes is a hit man who always finishes the job. His professional reputation is everything to him and he'll stop at nothing to complete his contract. He is also the tall, dark and broody type with a side of ruggedly sexy, and he wants Kyra in more ways than one. When he begins to have feelings for her, he realizes completing this job may more difficult than he thought. In fact it may be impossible. From the moment they meet, Kyra and Reyes' chemistry heats up and holds tight throughout the book. Ava Gray creates incredible sexual energy and an amazing love story that keeps the reader on edge and sometimes fearful that Reyes just might follow through in his intention to kill Kyra to fulfill his contract--in love or not. Let's talk about Foster for a minute. He is Addison Foster, head of security to Casino owner Gerard Serrano. At his introduction we meet a man who is cold, calculated and whose behavior is designed to make those around him take a step back in his presence. As a secondary character he is superb. Never the main focus but a still character that commands attention and leaves the reader with lingering doubts as to his true nature. Skin Game is not your typical paranormal romance. The only obvious paranormal twist to the story is in Kyra's ability to steal personal skills from people. The focus is more on relationships, action and suspense. However, being the paranormal romance fan that I am, I wanted to know more about the origin of Kyra's power. Growing up, Kyra's father seemed to be more inclined to exploit her power rather than suppress it, which leaves me to wonder if her paranormal ability was not an anomaly but something he had dealt with before. Perhaps it's genetic and something he knew about before Kyra inherited it? Since this is first in a series I'm hoping there will be some answers to come. Ava Gray brings it with Skin Game! It's fast paced, exciting, at times violent, and super sexy. She has created powerful enticing characters, interesting relationships and intriguing secondary characters that will leave you wanting more...NOW!

Hot contemporary romance with a touch of paranormal

Kyra is a woman on the run and a con artist with an edge. With a touch, she can steal your best skill for a short time. When a con in a pool hall starts to go south, she encounters a man who wants a ride and won't take no for an answer. Reyes is the man hired to kill her. But first he must find out what she did with the large sum of money she stole from his employer. In order to do that he must get close to her, earn her trust. But as he gets to know her, he realizes he has been misled about her. What started out as a job for him and a good partnership for her turns into so much more. Will she trust him with all her secrets as well as her heart? Or will she leave him when she finds out that she isn't the only one with secrets? I can sum this one up with one word: intense! The story sucks you in and doesn't let up. Reyes is so closed down, so lonely. It is sometimes a little scary to see inside his head. But he has a code of honor which makes him a character to root for. Who doesn't want to cheer for the assassin who only kills people that need it? Kyra is vunerable and at the same time, hard as nails. She is a very smart and endearing character. I didn't want to see her in pain so when it happens, you can't help but feel for her. About halfway through, things really start to crank. I kept saying to myself, just one more chapter and I will put it down. Five hours later I had come to the end. And what an ending it was! Ava Gray, other wise known as Ann Aguirre, has been compared to Linda Howard and I can't think of a more apt description. Hot, steamy sex and violence are a powerful combination. Several times I found myself saying, WOW!! I didn't see that coming, which I can't say very often. I loved this book and I am so glad it is the start of a series. I can't wait to see what Ms. Gray has in store for us next. Originally reviewed at Night Owl Romance

fast-paced romantic suspense thriller

In Vegas, the big shot casino owner Gerard Serrano beat to death her father; two bit con artist Kyra Marie Beckwith vows to get even. She cleverly wormed her way into his vicious inner circle and pulls off a con that leaves a raging Serrano stripped of his monumental pride and a thirst for enacting vengeance to rival that of Kyra. Kyra uses her skills to steal someone's abilities by touching them as she just did in the pool hall. However, the deadliest hit man alive, Reyes is after her and unbeknownst to her he marked her at the pool hall. Hired by Serrano to kill her after he recovers the money he claims she stole from him, Rey knows he must get close to his target to retrieve the loot before killing her. He figures that will prove easy as all he has to do his forge a relationship and seduce her. However, Rey makes love with her in Lake Charles only to find he wants more and she is gone. Taken aback because for the first time in memory he cares about someone else; he is falling in love just as she is with him. However he also knows once she learns who he is, Kyra will end their relationship as she will never forgive betrayal even as his failure to do the job means the end of his vocation. Soon Reyes realizes Serrano hired some of his assassin competitors. With a literally touch of para-tactile skills to enhance the tale, SKIN GAME is a fast-paced romantic suspense thriller starring two unlikely lead characters. He is a paid killer and she is a con artist while their "matchmaker" is a cruel individual used to ordering executions. Fans will enjoy this fun tale mindful of Grosse Pointe Blank only the female star is a felon too. Harriet Klausner

SKIN GAME

Holy Cow! I bit my lip. I squirmed. I may have panted. I thought I was having a hot flash til I remembered I'm not in menopause. That's when I set the book down and stepped into the freezer. When I thawed out my pork chops and whole kernel corn, I started reading again. The paranormal concept is fresh and a much welcome change from vampires and were creatures. I needed something different. This is different. Lemme tell you that SKIN GAME totally SUCKED me IN. OMG. The story line, the paranormal element, the romance and the suspense sent me into the throes of ecstasy. SKIN GAME also has me now panting for the next book in the series, SKIN TIGHT. I would consider giving up Blue Bell ice cream for SKIN TIGHT. Y'all. That's saying something. If you like your books to be unique, sexy and ohmygosh delicious, you'll adore SKIN GAME .