Lee Winter

Under Your Skin

Alex

Renee

Winter is one of my favorite authors and this sequel proves why. I was dying with anticipation to read Under Your Skin, but had to sit on it because I wanted to reread The Red Files first, which I highly recommend. Given that, both stories remind me of the saying, "There's always a story within a story." We see this from the story's journalistic perspective and in the relationships between the main and supporting characters. The chemistry Catherine and Lauren developed by the end of The Red Files first strengthens in this story. I like that we (and Lauren) get to witness the real side of Ayers despite the remark made by a certain empty character. Catherine is softer and more reflective throughout the story. 

Of the two main characters, I didn't see much of a change in Lauren's character as I did with Catherine. This could be because Lauren had a loving and supportive family growing up and Catherine most certainly did not. From the story's intriguing perspective, we are advancing deeper into the age of technology. There could always be the possibility of Big Brother watching over us and sharing/selling our private information—right into the hands of criminals. It's going to take the journalist in all of us to protect what's rightfully ours.

Lucia Correa

ARRRG. Goodreads ate my review before I could save it. Now what did I write so brilliantly?

5 STARS! Now that I remember.
Under Your Skin is the sequel to The Red Files. It is essential that you read The Red Files first. Don't worry, its a 5 Star book about how our two news reporters MC's Catherine Ayers the "Caustic Queen" and Lauren King meet and together they investigate a political intrigue. 

In Under Your Skin, they have been together for a year and are about to leave for Iowa so Catherine can meet the King family and to make arrangements for their wedding. They are both anxious about the meeting - how will the Bostonian, caustic, wealthy and a DC Bureau Chief get along with the Kings - consisting of Lauren's Dad, grandmother (MeeMaw) and her 5 younger brothers! Her father and brothers are all mechanics in some form or another. To complicate matters they are investigating a microchipping scheme that involves a clandestine company, a crooked senator and others.

What I really liked about this book is that we do learn why Catherine is the way she is and why she put impenetrable walls that she now only lowers for Lauren. I tell you my heart was breaking whenever she confronted her family. 

Winter is able to balance humor, with conspiracies, romance and family drama. I hope Winters writes more with Cat & Lauren.

Note: Before reading the book, I wasn’t that enthralled with the cover, now I think it really does fit well, along with the title.

Jude Silberfeld

3.5⭐️ – With Sliced Ice coming out, I realised I’d never read this sequel to The Red Files. I have to admit I didn’t remember much about The Red Files (if you follow my reviews, you’ll know it usually doesn’t have a lot to do with the quality of the book), which made it a bit hard to get into the story. If you’re wondering if that’s my way of saying don’t read Under Your Skin as a standalone, yes, it is.

Under Your Skin begins like a romcom, with Catherine and Lauren planning their wedding in Iowa. Most of the first third is Catherine meeting Lauren’s family and trying to convince them she’s worthy of their sister, daughter and granddaughter while politely not choking on too much fried food.

The plot picks up when Catherine’s ex – the one who ruined her career – comes back into the picture, at the same time as Catherine’s estranged parents. From then on, it’s hidden agendas and low blows while Lauren and Catherine work together again to uncover a conspiracy to erase whatever privacy U.S. citizens still have.

A book by Lee Winter is never a waste of time, even if I didn’t enjoy this one as much as some of her others (Breaking Character, Requiem for Immortals, Hotel Queens). I was also slightly confused by the cover. I love it, it’s beautiful, but it doesn’t fit the tone of the story. It’s not exactly off topic – there is an important tree in Lauren’s life – but it turns the spotlight on what isn’t, in my eyes, the main plot.

Anyhow, this was a nice read and I’m now ready for Sliced Ice.

Under Your Skin

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