Skin Deep (I-Team Book 6)

I have enjoyed reading these as a series. This was one of the first and they only get better as you go, so get them in e-book/audio soon! I'd highly recommend Pamela to all my other "romance" readers!

I listened to the Audible version. First book for this author and this narrator form.
That means I wasn't really familiar with the background. I don't know that that hindered the story for me.

I know this was to be an angsty story, the setup, the background given, all lead to angst. But the narrator, gee, he just seemed too, too angst ridden. I just generally did not like his performance. His child voice made me want to disconnect my auditory nerve. It was just horrible. And yeah, "she" didn't have many lines, but what "she" did have would take me totally out of a story I wasn't really into in the first place.

Yes, long series and I should start at the beginning. But seeing a Kindle/Audible special made me decide to jump in and see if I liked it enough to start at the beginning. Based on this, I would have to say no, I won't be investing.

The writing was fine, competent from what I could tell, just not for me. I like a lot less angst and narrators who can voice the characters in the story in a semi-realistic way.

I know that the narrator is a favorite of many. Based on this narration, though, I will be very careful about buying any more of his performances.
I will say I enjoyed the bonus story a lot more than the main story. The only reason I even listened to it was because I was driving and disconnecting was more of an issue than letting it run.

Pamela Clare’s romantic suspense I-Team series is fabulous. Skin Deep, a novella of 6 Audible hours, works well as a stand-alone. It has a simpler story-line than Ms. Clare’s longer novels of 12-13 Audible hours, but no writing shortcuts are taken and it feels like a full novel with all the hallmarks of Ms. Clare’s excellent writing.

Heroine Megan is the sister of Marc, hero of book 3 in the I-Team series - a novel I haven’t read yet. Some spoilers are given about Marc’s story, but I didn’t mind. Spoilers only increased my desire to go back and read book 3. It sounds fantastic.

Skin Deep is a lovely story of two battered and bruised souls learning to trust and love. Pamela Clare skilfully infuses Nate and Megan’s interactions with chemistry, kindness, respect, and she allows their mutual desire to find expression in a sweet, tender and gentle way. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the romance played out against the backdrop of the waiting danger.

Nate’s gruff and loveable cowboy father plays surrogate Grandfather for Megan’s four-year old daughter Emily. I am excited there is a romance novella for him as well – SOUL DEEP (also 6-ish hours). I can’t wait to listen to that.

I can’t imagine a better listening experience for this series because Kaleo Griffith narrates beautifully. He is well cast in the role of sole narrator. Especially here in SKIN DEEP, as his voice sensitively expresses the longing and loving between this pair of injured souls who find healing in each other’s arms.

I highly recommend this novella for a heart-warming read/listen.

As I listened on the store/Audible’s Romance Package, this won’t appear as a Verified Purchase.

Wonderful story. We met Megan in Hunter's book (he served time in prison while covering for a crime his sister (megan) committed in order to protect her from enduring more hideous acts like she did while in juvie). It has been 4 years since the truth came out about what happened and Megan and her daughter are getting on with their lives. She is living the straight and narrow life. Loving her daughter and forever blaming herself for what her brother endured. One night, her past caught up with her in the form of an ex trying to rob her and beating her.
Nate west doesn't care to socialize with anyone, but when he makes his delivery of donated food to the soup kitchen, he can't help but notice the pretty young woman he always sees is nowhere in sight. When he finally sees her, she is breezing in and out chatting to the pastor about going to pick up her daughter. As Nate steps out of the building to leave and head back to the ranch, his world stops. He witnesses Megan being hit by a man in her car. His instincts kick in and he manages to get shot while trying to protect Megan. After the cops arrive, he makes a quiet exit and then realizes he is holding her wallet and needs to return it to her ... which means seeing her again.

This could have been an whole novel. It did not need to be a novella. I would have loved to have more. It wasn't short, but Megan and Nate were the type of couple I could have read about for a few more hours

Pamela Clare can really write a well-balanced romantic suspense story; she always seems to find that right ratio between action and love, never forsaking one for the other. Not only do we have the danger and suspense of Megan's mistake-from-the-past returning and threatening her and her child, we have some true romance here between Megan and Nate, two really wounded souls.

Not only is Nate in need of mending on the inside, he's also very scarred over a large portion of his body and face, having been wounded in action in Afghanistan. As a former Marine and all-around cowboy, he's so tough and masculine, strong and solid, but he's also vulnerable in his own way. His fiancee abandoned him when he needed her most, and now years later, he really wants someone to love him and see past the scars. I just loved him, a true hero, a real man. There's such a quiet strength to him.

As for Megan, we know her from her brother Marc's story (Unlawful Contact (I-Team)), one of my very favorite books and heroes of the series. Megan is very similar to Nate, just that her scars aren't physically visible. This woman has been through a lot, suffered a lot, and survived it all. She certainly doesn't trust men, in general; she's never felt desire for a man, as she's learned that men and sex equal pain and fear. But Nate shows her differently. He shows her how to love and how to forgive herself.

It was so satisfying to see these two people find love and hope in each other. If ever two characters needed and deserved each other, it's Megan and Nate. Their story is tender and touching. The sex scene was prolonged and sexy, just very well written with the right amount of sexiness and sweetness. I think what makes it special is the amount of emotion Clare packed into the scene. Even leading up to it, with the gentle kissing and teasing, as if Nate were gentling a frightened, skittish animal, the attraction is palpable, the chemistry is present, but it's always laced with true emotion. Just a very nice depth there that takes the scene beyond only sex. Sexy, sweet, tender, it had it all.

It was great to see previous characters again (love "Uncle Julie", what a man, as always; Julian also had another nickname I got a chuckle over). Also, that epilogue was sweet and heart-warming. I was tearing up there. As for the bonus short story that followed Skin Deep, it's funny and exciting, you know, gun talk, testosterone, the usual when you hang out with these manly guys, alpha to the core.

Skin Deep is a great addition to the I-Team world. Nate truly belongs among those other sexy, protective and strong men Clare writes so well. Clare writes these characters so deeply that they actually feel like family. Just another great read in an outstanding series.

Skin Deep
Reviewed by Ann and posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Thank you to Pamela Clare for giving readers something to indulge in as we wait for the next I-Team book. For me, it has felt like a long time since I've read an I-Team book, but after reading this short story about Megan, I felt the need to go back and read them all again.
True to Clare's writing style, she sucks you in right from the beginning. I was already emotionally involved in this story because if you're a rabid fan of the I-Team series, you know of Megan Hunter, the younger sister to Marc Hunter. We have read about her trials and troubles from Marc's POV but never really got her side of the story...until now.
Clare delivers a great short story that will pull on your heartstrings and make you fall in love with these damaged characters that have the lucky chance to fall in love. I love all the heroes in the I-Team series, so I wondered how Nathaniel West would compare to the rest of the bad boys. Nate is a wonderful character filled with an old soul that I admired. Though physically scarred, his heart holds so much love that even though Megan doesn't think she is worth it, Nate has some tenderness to spare. And the fact that Nate was so welcoming and attentive to Emily, Megan's daughter made him more irresistible.
Megan and Nate are both scarred, but I think together, they are able to see past the emotional and physical reminders of what has happened with them. So even though their relationship progresses slowly, it is so worth the wait.
I also loved how involved Marc and the other guys were in this story. For this reason, I personally think it's better to have read the I-Team books BEFORE you read this one. There are some details in this book that are somewhat spoilery for the books in the series. To get a better experience, you'll want to read this in order.
At the end of this book, Clare also includes an extra short story about what goes down when Marc and Julian go for a beer run. It was nice to read about the guys once again because they have much distinct personalities. I couldn't help but smile whenever one of them made a smart remark. Nothing beats their humor.
SKIN DEEP may have quenched my thirst for some I-Team goodness, but it seems like I'm already addicted. I'm already begging for more! I think it's time for a re-read.

Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.- Fanny Crosby

I am a newcomer to Pamela Clare's I-Team series - I reviewed BREAKING POINT last year. BREAKING POINT includes guest appearances of the previous heroes and heroines from the series. But I was not familiar with Megan Hunter, sister of Marc Hunter from UNLAWFUL CONTACT. Thus, I did not have any preconceived ideas about SKIN DEEP.

Actually, I did. Clare was on target with the emotional scars of hero from BREAKING POINT, Zach McBride, a Navy Seal turned DEA agent. Hence, I know she can capture the overwhelming baggage that military personnel bring home after armed conflict. Clare challenged herself to capture the complex feelings of a wounded soldier in the novella length SKIN DEEP ... and she exceeded my expectations. As a military veteran, I was drawn to Nate West and his natural courage in a hostile situation. I wept for his isolation and I cheered for his joy when meeting Megan. But as woman, I also responded to Megan's strength in moving forward from her past, her desire to be independent, and her attraction to a man as honorable as Nate.

Clare is no ko oi - Hawaiian for none is better - in delivering a riveting story that ensures the read from page one. Recommended read for fans of romantic suspense, wounded warriors, and "love conquers all".

About the book: Megan Hunter has worked hard to get back on her feet, leaving the nightmare of her teenage years behind. The last thing she wants or needs in her life is a man. But when she is attacked by someone from her past, a scarred stranger intervenes, saving her life and that of her little girl. Looks can be deceiving, for despite the man's rough appearance, she feels safe with him. And for the first time in her life, she knows the stirrings of desire.

Broken on the outside

Nathaniel West paid a high price serving with the Marines in Afghanistan. He returned to his family's ranch in the Colorado mountains to heal--and be alone. Disfigured as he is, he has put all thoughts of sex and romance aside. But something about Megan brings him back to life, heats his blood, makes him feel like a man again. As danger pursues her, and the truth about her past is revealed, he vows to protect her--and to heal her wounded spirit.

But confronting the past is never easy--especially when it's carrying a gun. Megan will have to learn to trust Nate to survive and to claim a passion that is much more than ... Skin Deep.

Includes a Bonus Story, Marc & Julian Make a Beer Run

Ride along with Marc, Julian, Zach, Gabe, Reece, Nate, and Joaquin as a beer run turns out to be more than they bargained for.

Review: Oh...my...GOD. She's done it again! Pamela Clare has a true gift for writing and even beyond that, understanding just what a reader is looking for. Her males in the I-Team series are hot, sexy, charming, and full of such comedy that always leave me wanting more.

Reading about Megan's follow up story and meeting Nick was just a highlight of this book. Ms. Clare has the ability to draw you in and hold you captive right on down to the last word in the book. Her writing is superb, the scenes always so full, and the chemistry between the characters on edge. I loved how she brought Megan's story full circle and gave us a chance to see into her mind's eye after the last book.

The bonus of this one was that we had a chance to follow up on the other characters from the series. This is something many authors often leave out, but with Ms. Clare, you can't help but to grin.

The bonus story at the end is definitely one you don't want to miss and had me laughing out loud at the boy's antics.

All in all, while a short read - yes I wanted more - I couldn't put this book down and ended up finishing it in just under four hours. Ms. Clare has a true gift that anyone would be a fool to pass up. I give this book five stars and a huge recommendation for anyone!!!

This was just perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

It's the story of Marc Hunter's little sister Megan, the one he did time for, trying to get her life back on track but the father of her little girl is doing his best to scupper her plans. She meets Nate, an Afghanistan vet, who's been badly burned and scarred in service and is now back living on his father's horse ranch.

Megan has a traumatic sexual past - sex has only ever been an act of violence against her and she is scared to let go with Nate even though she feels her attraction for him deepening. Nate is infinitely patient and gentle with her and they have a very satisfying HEA with a great little epilogue. Not to be missed is the beer run story at the end of the novella. I love the camaraderie between them all.

I kind of expected to see Nate suffering a bit more with PTSD but I guess that's just not what this story was about.

4 stars contemporary romance

I have come to the conclusion that Pamela Clare is incapable of writing a bad or even a mediocre book. Skin Deep is just as moving and gripping as any of her full length novels. I started this book this morning had to clean house/grocery shop before family arrived and still couldn't seem to put it down. I loved Megan from the moment I met her in Unlawful Contact. In my opinion she is one of the strongest heroines ever written and in Skin Deep she proved to be even more remarkable. If a person has ever been touched by any of the ugliness that Megan had been exposed to they would be in complete awe of her. Pamela captured that helplessness perfectly in Unlawful Contact and could not have written a better HEA for Megan. She deserved her knight in shinning armor more than any other heroine I've read. And Nate proved himself worthy of such an amazing woman. His scars weren't as easily hidden as Megan's but he is a hero through and through. I honestly believe he fits in perfectly with the I-team men. Pamela can write heroes so real and true that it wouldn't surprise me to drive downtown Denver and see one of her guys out strutting their stuff. lol Love this after hours I-team novella and am patiently awaiting the next arrival!!

"Skin Deep" was definitely one of the best love stories I've read! It was so interesting to read about the two main chatacters whose lives were vastly different, but who had both suffered incredible tragedies. Megan had lived in foster homes as well as on the street and had struggled to overcome drug addiction. She turned her life around with the help of her brother to become a good mother for her daughter, but is still haunted by her past. Nate grew up on a ranch in a loving family and nearly lost his life serving his country. He feels no woman will want him because of his disfigured appearance. Both Nate and Megan have long given up on finding true love. However, they find it, along with healing from the past in one another. This was a beautiful love story, and the love scene was incredibly hot! A must read!

Amazing! Great author, wonderful story with depth, honor and caring. Nate and Megan both have scars from tragic pasts. Nate's are more visible but Megan's are much deeper. When Megan's past comes back to haunt her Nate is there to protect her and Megan begins to open her heart to a man when she thought that possibility would never happen - ever again! I'll definitely be looking for more from this author. Extremely well written, kept me entertained from page 1 to the end.

If you like Cindy Gerard, Roxanne St. Claire, Maya Banks, Marliss Melton or other top romantic suspense authors, you will LOVE Pamela Clare. I have read and loved all the I-Team books and Skin Deep did not disappoint. Pamela Clare is an exceptional author and her books are addictive. I would recommend reading the first five books in the I-Team series before reading Skin Deep, but if you haven't, you will still enjoy this book. The Beer Run short at the end of Skin Deep is a great bonus.

Like many reviewers said, the book is predictable. The characters are likable enough. I have one issue with the book, if Marc was in prison for 6 years, how I'm the world was he able to be working in SWAT now? Same goes for Megan.

With the horror of what both of them went through, I found Nate and Megan's romance to be so touching. They were very courageous, but merely survivors when they met. However, they found complete wholeness in each other from both inward and outward scars. Their little girl was adorable! All the characters were so appealling. Nice hotness too!

Sample was interesting and held promise of a good storyline. Then as it went I felt like I knew what was going to happen before it did. Very very predictable. I got almost halfway before I started skipping bits then gave up. I wanted to like it.

I have enjoyed reading these as a series. This was one of the first and they only get better as you go, so get them in e-book/audio soon! I'd highly recommend Pamela to all my other "romance" readers!

Nate and Megan both have baggage. We all do. Sometimes the only way to get rid of baggage is to let down your guard and trust someone. As with all of Pamela Clare's stories, this one is full if amazing characters and a great storyline. Oh, and steamy sex.