UNDER HER SKIN - Susan Mallery

Author: Susan Mallery

Line: HQN

Release month North America/UK: May 2009

The S-Factor: Sizzling and Sensual

Back-Blurb:

Lexi Titan can just see the headlines. All of Titanville will be buzzing. Not that she has any other choice. Faced with exactly thirty days to come up with two million dollars, she is out of options. Marry Cruz Rodriguez or lose everything—the successful day spa she built herself, her tyrant of a father's respect. And the long-standing competition with her sisters for the family business.

Cruz has money, success, smoldering good looks—everything but the blue blood needed to become a true member of Texas society. If Lexi agrees to be his fiancée for six months, lending him her famous father's influence and connections, he'll hand her a check on the spot. And in six months they'll go their separate ways.

But neither one is prepared for their long-ago shared passion to throw a wrench into what would seem to be the perfect deal….

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Under Her Skin, the first book in author Susan Mallery’s Lone Star Sister’s series was literally amazing; full of passion, family secrets and very emotional. You will fall in love with the very beautiful Lexi and her sisters Skye and Izzy and their close friend Dana. Each woman has one thing they’re searching for and Lexi’s is revealed in this book. It’s to be acknowledged for her business savvy by her father, have his love and have him admit they are a family.

Their town Titanville was founded by her family and her father runs a very successful corporation which Lexi walked away from. He has also challenged his girls to compete for the family business holdings and their family home, Glory Gate, and the sister who wins, wins it all! Lexi is interested in Titan’s corporation while her sister Skye is only interested in the family home. It’s amazing to see how this competition has not destroyed the sister’s relationship and you will love how they band together and how close they are as Lexi had a different mother than Skye and Izzy. And now Lexi is in trouble and stands to loose her spa business because of an anonymous loan which is now being called in. Add to the mix when they find out they have a brother unknown to them who wants to take them down!

Cruz and Lexi have a past, one night of passion years ago when they met under unusual circumstances. Cruz was racing to win at all costs, pink slips and Lexi that evening was daring as well and experienced an incredible night with Cruz. Only to be hurt the next morning when he walked away. Cruz has come up the hard way and is now worth millions. However, there are social doors still closed to him and that’s why he’s decided to attend Lexi’s sister Skye’s charity and renew his friendship with Lexi. He sees her as a way to get ahead and when he hears about her need for two million to pay off her loan, he makes a deal…..the money for society introductions. To make everything look real she must move in with him, become engaged and help him get the social connections he needs.

Lexi and Cruz have so many secrets and obstacles to get past and to come to terms with and it’s this journey and her love for him, her sister’s and friend Dana’s support that make her get through it all. Lexi’s past with her father have put up all sorts of barriers, can she let herself love and what if she’s not loveable back? However with Cruz she could be herself.

For Cruz, he has so many scars from his youth which his father caused for he and his mother and he’s afraid to give his heart. His realization that he can have it all with Lexi and coming to terms about their pasts will have one in tears. Again, Susan Mallery does not disappoint with this wonderful story, extremely interesting characters and so many lessons to be learned…..trust, love and believing in oneself! Thank you Susan Mallery!

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥

Reviewed by: Marilyn

Tidbit about author: Under her Skin made the New York Times Bestseller list. Congratulations, Susan!