Page Princess: MARKS ON MY SKIN by J.A. Howell

Title: MARKS ON MY SKIN

Series: Love & Ink #1

Author: J.A. Howell

Narrator: Yael Maritz

Length: 9 hours, 3 minutes

Release Date: 10.16.2014

Publisher: Jennifer Ann Howell

Publish Date: 03.15.2014

Category /Genre: Contemporary Romance

Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content

Received from: J.A. Howell (as a gifted copy)

Goodreads link: Marks on My Skin

Date completed: 04.03.2016; 07.09.2017 (audio)

Description from the publisher:

Not for listeners under the age of 18. Contains language, explicit sex, and adult situations.

Kieran Donovan has always been a doormat to the women in his life. Begging his wife not to leave after finding her in bed with not one - but five men - only provides further proof of that.

In need of an escape from an empty house and a broken heart, Kieran heads to Midtown to see his estranged brother, Liam. There he meets Shayne Wickham, Liam’s best friend. Shayne’s dark and sexy with a wild streak a mile long and a sexual appetite for things Kieran’s never even dreamed of doing. But after an intense, and all too brief encounter, he’s more than willing to learn. Despite the usual safeguards Shayne keeps around herself and her own wounded heart, she finds herself more than willing to show him the ropes…and the floggers…and the paddles.

Kieran’s never seen himself as dominant in any aspect of his life. But when Shayne submits herself to him, it ignites an inner strength and hunger he never knew he had - and feelings Shayne didn’t know she could have. So used to keeping others at an arm’s length, the ease with which she finds herself trusting Kieran is both exciting and unsettling. Could Kieran be someone she could finally trust her heart to - or will he leave her scarred like everyone else?

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MARKS ON MY SKIN is the first book in the Love and Ink series. I believe they will each stand on their own with crossover characters, but you can never be sure after just one book.

I loved the character development in this story. Kieran especially grew… as in he finally grew some balls. The man went from begging a whoring wife to keep him to being a Dom for Shayne. Who would you respect more? I know who I choose.

Both Shayne and Kieran have trust and abandonment issues to work through and BDSM is the format that seems to work for them. Their chemistry means working through it together in ways that threatened to set my kindle on fire!

Besides hot sexy, there was a ton of funny that had me laughing so hard that my stomach felt like I had done extra sit-ups!

I enjoyed the story, but the heavy accents on the audiobook were distracting at times. Oh well, it just meant I had to back up and listen to some parts again to be sure I caught a few words.

I would love to listen to more of this series to find out who pairs up with Liam, Niall, and (especially) Darren.

Note: while I was given this book as a gifted copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Love & Ink series: