Skin Deep

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Synopsis

Liam Newman is madly in love and living a pretty good life with his boyfriend, Justin Evans, who saved him from a life of being sexually trafficked. Although he's still working to heal from his past abuse, he's been making strides in the right direction. However, when a new co-worker at the restaurant where he's employed recognizes him as Angel from his days starring in porn against his will, Liam can't fathom staying there with all the rest of his co-workers looking at him differently every day. Instead, he decides to reinvent himself in a surprising way, but as he embarks on his new career, Liam may find that it's a little too close to the life that he's attempting to leave behind. Meanwhile, he and Justin try to move forward in their relationship with a little weekend getaway that brings up memories he'd rather stay buried. But as long as they stay true to each other, they may find themselves coming out the other side even better than before.

Review

Skin Deep is the second installment of D. P. Denman's Saving Liam series, which follows the characters of Liam and Justin throughout. As the story opens, they've been living together for a little while, and Liam is slowly trying to heal from his abusive past. He's been employed as a server at a five-star restaurant for six months, and it's been going well. That all changes, though, when the restaurant's newest employee recognizes Liam from his porn films and propositions him. Liam tries to ignore him and shrug it off, but the guy won't take no for an answer. He intimidates and assaults Liam, causing a set-back in his emotional recovery. Liam fights back and the restaurant manager is understanding, but when word gets out about Liam's past, he feels like he has no other option but to quit. While Justin is supportive and happy to foot all their bills until Liam can find a new career path, Liam is reluctant to be dependent on a man because of everything that happened to him in the past. Instead he applies for a job as a tablet boy, selling private dances and such, at a strip club. However, when he realizes how little he'll be paid and how boring the work is, he decides to audition for one of the open slots as a go-go boy. He figures that, as a strip club dancer, if anyone finds out about his past, they likely wouldn't look down on him like trash. He also insists on working the women's side of the club, thinking that if the patrons get handsy, it won't freak him out as much as it would if they were men. However, his expectations are challenged in unanticipated ways. Not to mention, when Justin plans a nice weekend getaway for them, it brings up memories that Liam doesn't want to think about. Justin and Liam face some difficulties, but if they can stay true to each other, things could start to get better for both of them.

In the previous book, Liam got a really rough start with his boyfriend exploiting him in porn films and then prostituting him without his consent, which led to him being raped by the john. However, with his friend and neighbor, Justin in his corner, Liam was able to get out of that life and begin to heal a little. He and Justin have grown in their relationship, but there are certain sex acts that are still off limits for him, making him fear that Justin may one day leave him if he get can't past his hangups. Having the new employee at the restaurant recognize him from his old life is also his worst nightmare come true. That's why, when things escalate, he feels like he has to quit, knowing that he couldn't deal with his fellow employees staring and thinking the worst of him. Wanting to be at least somewhat self-sufficient and also thinking the strip club is a place where he wouldn't be judged for his past if anyone found out, he applies for the job there and later auditions to become a dancer. Even though he's only working with women, it still proves rather difficult at times to deal with their innuendo and attempts at touching him. Then when Justin takes him to the hotel for a little getaway, it has unintended consequences that set back his recovery. Liam makes some strides forward in this book, starting to make his own decisions even if Justin somewhat disagrees with them, and becoming a little more independent. He also grows a bit more adventurous in bed even though there are still things that are hard limits for him right now. But as good as things are with Justin, there are some challenges Liam must face. For only being a year into his recovery, though, I thought that he handled things pretty well, and I look forward to seeing him grow even further in the remaining books of the series.

Justin is still the same supportive boyfriend and best friend that we saw in the first book. He's fully aware of Liam's history and knows all he's been through, so he's very understanding about his hangups and respectful of his boundaries. Justin would love to expand their sexual relationship, but he keeps his own desires in check, knowing that if he pushes too hard, it could ruin all they've built together so far. Even though Justin would like to see Liam pursue his education and get a well-paying job that he genuinely likes, he understands and supports Liam when he decides to start working at the strip club instead. We don't really get much additional character development for Justin in this book beyond seeing him interacting over video chat with his mom, who is very accepting of his relationship with Liam, and one new thing that happens for him at the end of the story. I still adored Justin, though, for how open-minded, loving, and gentle he is with Liam.

Overall, I very much enjoyed Skin Deep. I liked seeing the progression in Justin and Liam's relationship. They're so good together, very loving and trusting toward one another. Justin is about the only person Liam genuinely trusts and understandably so. I hope that Liam can experience further emotional growth in the remaining two books of the series. He's made strides forward, but he can still get down on himself and have feelings of unworthiness. A part of me wishes the author would include some therapy for him, as in real life that could certainly prove helpful for processing everything he's been through. Still, Justin is a great sounding board and someone who gives his all to Liam. He's the perfect boyfriend, always selflessly thinking of what Liam needs. Generally speaking, this was a pretty low-key book that doesn't have a great deal of excitement. While there are a few challenges for Liam, they're overcome with a minimum of conflict and don't have far-reaching repercussions. The story is mostly about Justin and Liam growing their emotional connection and their sexual intimacy. The love scenes are fairly frequent, but more sensual than genuinely spicy. A few more details, especially what they were feeling in the moment, wouldn't have gone amiss, but I wasn't necessarily unhappy with them. I just really love Justin and Liam as a couple and very much look forward to finding out what comes next for them.

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D. P. Denman

Themes

Beta Heroes
Tortured Heroes