“> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < < Tattooed and bronzed torso on an equally bronzed cover does not leave much to stand out and catch the eye. Title font is bold. Synopsis does not pull at me as much as BACK PIECE did, but I did like the first book quite a bit, so I'm game to give this one a chance. > > Looking Deeper < < POV ~> Third-person. A Naval pilot with a fear of needles and commitment meets a tattoo artist that's just coming to question his own sexuality in this second installment of the series. It was an odd pairing and they formed an odd relationship/arrangement. They were compatible and seemed to hit it off well, but it was hard to feel an emotional bond to them as a couple when the couple lives in denial. One thing that became annoying after a while were how random looks, thoughts, touches, and/or memories causing one or the other to "shiver". Good gawd, that was overused and became less attractive every time. I was almost afraid they'd need to be checked for neurological issues as often as it came up! That aside, the secondary cast mainly consisted of Matt's coworkers at Skin Deep, Inc. and Jon's RIO (co-pilot) Nate. A few extras were brought in on occasion as well, such as a best friend or family member. The dialogue was sound and their interactions were decent. It was just hard to believe that every time one went to the other's house, they could barely wait to get the front door closed before pawing and mauling one another. As the relationship continued on, there were times that I wanted to slap some sense into one or both of them, but mostly just one of them. The plot was good but was not really dynamic or exciting. However, the writing style allowed for it to flow smoothly and freely. There were a few conflicts (bonehead moments), that were too easily forgiven but overall, it was entertaining to see them work their issues out. There was not a lot of predictability; in fact, I'd noticed a few potential conflicts that never came to fruition ~ missed opportunities for a little added drama. The conclusion provides a loosely implied HEA for the lead characters. Overall, I do not feel it was as strong as BACK PIECE (Colin & Daniel, book 1), perhaps because of the emotional disconnect for 80+ percent of the book, but it stood it's own ground fairly well. That said, I'd still recommend reading the books in order since Colin and Daniel's story continues to play out in the background of POUNDING SKIN. I am interested in COVER UP and look forward to seeing if they have a stronger connection, and I hope to see more of Jon and Matt growing stronger as a couple and hope to see Daniel and Colin together again as well. . Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.1 ~ Stars: 4 ========================== ⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐“

“I don't know why but it's been a little while since I've read a book by L.A. Witt. I don't know how I missed the first book in the Skin Deep Inc. series, Back Piece, but I'm glad I saw Pounding Skin available on NetGalley. This one stands alone with no problem; I didn't feel like I missed anything from the first story but I plan to go back and read it because I enjoyed Pounding Skin so much. The book starts out in a kind of humorous vein; fighter pilot Jon Russel has lost a bet and must get a tattoo of whatever his buddies pick and on whatever part of his body; within reason. When he sees the tattoo artist who will be initiating him into the world of ink he is stunned speechless by the man's good looks. Matt Huffman likes women but lately he's also realized he's attracted to men, although he's not really ready to admit it out loud. He's intrigued by Jon and his commitment to getting a tattoo even though he doesn't really want one. I loved how this story developed a bit slowly. Not the sex part, these two guys hooked up quickly, but the relationship between them developed slowly. They both agreed that it would only be for fun, no strings sex and companionship. As things begin to change John gets scared. The depth of feeling conveyed by Ms. Witt's writing was just perfect. In a way, I pretty much knew how the story was going to go but I just didn't know how it would get there. The writing kept me glued to my e-reader and I didn't want to put it down. The only thing that kept me from finishing this in one sitting was sleep – as in my e-reader fell out of my hands when I could no longer keep my eyes open! I almost never read excerpts for the next book when they're found at the end of my current read. I'm not sure what compelled me to read the one for Cover Up but I did and now I can't wait to read it. A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book. ***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***“

“An awesome M/M romance. I enjoyed how Matt thought through his feelings and didn't immediately freak out. He accepted his newly discovered desires and decided to explore them. Having denied being gay for most of his life, it wasn't easy for him to accept his bisexuality but the longer he is with Jon the more obvious it becomes. They have several struggles and major bumps in the road but these two were meant to be and for the most part stuck with it. A very well done story proving that love can come in many forms. I would definitely recommend this one.“

“I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The story is about a man (Matt) who is just starting to realize he may be bisexual and has started a relationship with a man (Jon) who is definitely gay. There is drama from others, noted in the story, that have an effect on them. They separate for a short time and realize they love each other. There is a lot of sex in this book but it is very well written. I would recommend this book.“