Under her skin

Uma is on the run from her abusive boyfriend, Joey, when she finds herself applying for a job as a companion to an elderly shut-in. She chose this tiny, out-of-the way town because there's a clinic there that removes tattoos free of charge for abuse victims. Uma never would have chosen to have the horrible words and scribblings that mark her body. Joey insisted on them during a drunken, rage-filled night. Now she has decided to remove the tattoos and delete him from her life. Uma soon falls for her moody next-door neighbor, Ivan. He has his own demons, but he is intrigued by this wounded woman who shows up on his doorstep curious about his forge and metalworking. His scruffy manner and gentle, patient nature help Uma overcome her fears and anxiety and enter into a relationship. Their steamy nights together give Uma hope that she can move on despite her marred body. Anders' cast of well-rounded supporting characters will have readers on edge, ready for the next installments in her Black Canvas series.--Lefkowitz, Ilene Copyright 2017 Booklist

In this emotionally riveting page-turner, debut author Anders creates two broken but highly sympathetic protagonists who elicit each other's inner strength as each seeks to heal from poor choices and toxic relationships. Uma is on the run from her abusive boyfriend after a night of torture in which he covered her body with horrible tattoos. She lands in tiny Blackwood, Va., where a local skin clinic offers free tattoo removal for abused women. After getting a job as a live-in companion to an elderly woman, Uma is drawn to her gruff new neighbor, Ivan, a metalworker and self-defense teacher that strays of many species turn to for nurture. The kindness, integrity, growing trust, and playful, steamy chemistry between Uma and Ivan allows them both to find hope in the possibility of a healthy relationship. Anders's strong cast of supporting characters includes Uma's reclusive employer, Ivan's sister, and the local bartender, and the town becomes a character in itself. Readers will be hungry for more from Anders's pen. Agent: Laura Bradford, Laura Bradford Literary. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.