J. A. Howell (1)Critiques

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This was a great story of losing the one you love most and picking up the pieces. Unbeknownst to Dillan, her loss was sadly a case of mistaken identity. The story kept me utterly engrossed from beginning to end. I felt her grief and pain as she struggled to simply live day to day. Suddenly, in walks Trey, her former love’s brother, with more secrets than she can handle as he searches for his twin’s killer. The plot thickens as both their lives are put in danger.

Lucy is in town to work on a photo shoot with Niall and Grant. Niall's brother, Liam, meets her but they don't get on. Liam has a sleeve of La Belle Dame which is Lucy's alter ego which he does not know. Spending more time together Lucy hopes Liam is falling for her not La Belle Dame. When the truth comes out, all hell breaks loose.

I loved this book. It is as good as the first in the series. Lucy and Liam are a good fit. Both have pasts that come back to harm them. They needed to communicate better but love wins out. I liked knowing what was happening with the brothers. I also appreciated the story of the brothers' past.

I hope there is a book for Niall. I hate for this series to end.

I loved this book! The intense scenes between Shayne and Kieran are so hot. Kieran has found his wife in bed with 5 men. She walks out on him begging her to stay and try to work their marriage out. He's such a mess that eventually his brother Niall steps in and sends him home to Rhode Island where he stays with his older brother Liam who owns a tattoo parlor with Shayne. He and Shayne feel an instant and strong attraction. Liam warns them both to stay away from each other but they cannot.

I loved Kieran and Shayne. Both are flawed with a lot of baggage. I like the trust they give each other. Shayne shares her past with Kieran. He accepts it and her. He does not try to change her. When he leaves her, he cannot leave her. She is always with him. It is through her that he finds the courage to do what he must to gain control over his life. When he does, he comes back and is able to take on her additional baggage even against Liam's feelings. When Shayne is most vulnerable, Kieran comes through with his strength and acceptance of her. She knows she can lean on him and he'll be there.

There is humor here, hence the lube incident. Niall was not kind during it but his actions are what a sibling does. The sex is intense and hot.

MARKS ON MY SKIN sets the bar high for the LOVE AND INK SERIES. I cannot wait for the rest of the books.

Book Description:
One year ago, two bullets from a .45 caliber pistol ripped away any hopes Dillan had of a future with her fiancé, Jamie. On the anniversary of Jamie’s death, the appearance of his estranged twin brother, Trey, leaves Dillan wondering what other secrets her prefect fiancé was hiding. When Trey learns of his brother’s death, Dillan takes pity on him and gives him a place to stay.

Trey’s erratic behavior and a series of suspicious phone calls lead Dillan to believe that Trey knows more about the circumstances surrounding Jamie’s death than he’s letting on. With all leads exhausted and Jamie’s murderer still on the loose, Trey is Dillan’s last hope for finding the truth.

Sometimes the truth hurts… but in Dillan’s case it could kill her.

My review:
The characters were easy to relate to, but the writing style was a little simple for me. The plot was great, and I enjoyed reading it, but it did take me a while to get used to the authors way of writing. Don't get me wrong, it was not a bad book whatsoever but the diaglogue between the characters could have been constructed a bit better. I would definitely put this in the young adult category. I still give this book a 4/5 for creativity and for getting me hooked into the book enough to finish it with a smile on my face. I look forward to more of Howell's books!