Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Skin Game
    Unavailable
    Skin Game
    Unavailable
    Skin Game
    Ebook383 pages6 hours

    Skin Game

    By Ava Gray

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Kyra's a con woman and a thief who can steal her target's strongest skill. But when she becomes the target of a hit man, she won't be able to hide from the passion that engulfs them.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Group
    Release dateNov 3, 2009
    ISBN9781101151242
    Unavailable
    Skin Game
    Author

    Ava Gray

    Lora Leigh is known for her deliciously intense and satisfying erotic romance. Her characters come to her in her dreams, inspiring her with the possibilities of What If... Most days, Lora can be found in front of her computer weaving daydreams while sipping the ambrosia of the gods, also known as coffee. When not writing, thinking about writing, or plotting what to write, Lora, a Kentucky native, enjoys gardening, fishing, and hiking with her husband and children. Michelle Rowen writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, futuristic romantic suspense, and young adult fantasy. She has been on the Waldenbooks/Borders Group romance bestseller list and was the winner of the 2007 Holt Medallion for Best First Book. Michelle lives in Southern Ontario and is the 2010 President of Toronto Romance Writers. She wields her power wisely. Please feel free to contact her, she loves hearing from readers! Jory has been writing since childhood and has never outgrown being a daydreamer. When she's not hunched over her computer, lost in the muse and conjuring up new heroes and heroines, she can usually be found reading, riding her horses, or hiking with her dogs. Jory has won numerous awards for her writing. She lives in California with her husband and a menagerie of pets.

    Related to Skin Game

    Related ebooks

    Paranormal Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Australia Reads At Home

      May 18, 2020

      Australia Reads At Home
      7 min read

    • Article

      Lost for WORDS

      Sep 23, 2020

      Lost for WORDS
      6 min read

    • Article

      Nikki Glaser

      Jun 27, 2023

      Nikki Glaser
      15 min read

    • Article

      Echo

      Jan 10, 2024

      Once, during a depressive episode, Stanley cut out thirteen small paper stars and taped them to the ceiling of his cluttered bedroom. They were made from the construction paper left over from his youth, stored away in a basket on a shelf in the basem

      14 min read

    • Article

      Decisions, Decisions

      Aug 27, 2020

      Decisions, Decisions
      5 min read

    • Article

      Freedom

      Aug 6, 2020

      Freedom
      7 min read

    • Article

      A Gentle STIRRING

      Mar 13, 2024

      A Gentle STIRRING
      6 min read

    • Article

      Six Dart Out

      Sep 10, 2023

      Marc figured the girl was a vegan. Her puke had overflowed the sink and run onto the floor—tomatoes and rice marinated in microbrew lager. He’d told Vegan Girl to slow down, but her friends had won the turning-21-peer-pressure battle. Admittedly, Mar

      9 min read

    • Article

      A Kind Of Magic

      Apr 1, 2024

      A Kind Of Magic
      7 min read

    • Article

      THE PLOT thickens...

      Oct 11, 2020

      THE PLOT thickens...
      3 min read

    • Article

      100-WORD-STORY COMPETITION Winners

      Aug 16, 2022

      We’ve been delighted by the huge response to our 100-word-story competition. The entries have flooded in thick and fast during the past few months, but while we’ve enjoyed reading every story, only a few can come out on top! You, our readers, voted t

      5 min read

    • Article

      Jack of Knives

      Jun 3, 2021

      WINNER £100 Jennifer is the author of four middle grade children’s novels published by Maverick (writing as Jenny Moore). Her latest book, The Misadventures of Nicholas Nabb, is set during the same period as her winning story and also includes a scen

      6 min read

    • Article

      Plan of ACTION

      Oct 3, 2023

      Plan of ACTION
      6 min read

    • Article

      Elizabeth Coleman

      Jan 8, 2024

      Elizabeth Coleman
      2 min read

    • Article

      Planof Action

      Oct 5, 2021

      Planof Action
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Naughty List

      Nov 13, 2018

      THROUGHOUT HANUKKAH and the days following Christmas, my phone gets more action than a muscle bunny cruising for carrots! People call with stories of their holiday peril, and (while I should confess that these calls give me life) they’re dilemmas, hu

      2 min read

    • Article

      Kerre, Quite Contrary

      Jul 3, 2022

      Kerre, Quite Contrary
      7 min read

    • Article

      St Vincent: ‘At A Certain Point, We Are All Culpable. Just Don’t Be A S***ty Person’

      May 12, 2021

      I’m good,” says St Vincent brightly. “I’m better than last time when I was a royal dick. So apologies for that, again.” “Royal dick” is pushing it, but my last encounter with Annie Clark was definitely frosty. In 2017, off the back of no sleep, too m

      10 min read

    • Article

      Family Fun And Games

      Oct 24, 2019

      Family Fun And Games
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Bridle

      Oct 10, 2021

      Saliva pooled on her tongue beneath the rusty depressor. She endured a constant urge to swallow, afraid of choking on her own fluids. The taste of metal and blood are so akin, it is easy to mistake one for the other. This early in the day, blood was

      11 min read

    • Article

      ‘Out With The Bins’

      Mar 5, 2023

      ‘Out With The Bins’
      5 min read

    • Article

      Murder Most Fowl

      Mar 12, 2023

      Murder Most Fowl
      2 min read

    • Article

      His Brilliant Career

      Mar 19, 2023

      His Brilliant Career
      9 min read

    Reviews for Skin Game

    4.5/5

    1,022 ratings81 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      I always have an overwhelming urge to punch Harry Dresden. I feel like he's gotten better since the beginning, and at least now his friends always call him on his bullshit, but there are still moments when he needs punching. Like with the earring. Like whenever he thinks about some women as a sexual object. This is probably why I laughed my ass off when the whole mpreg thing came up.

      Here's why I liked this book: Because I love Michael Carpenter beyond the telling of it and because this book gave Michael quite a bit to do and feel.

      Also, this book was a caper. A con. A whole Harry's Eleven kind of thing except for how Harry was by no means in charge. And I do enjoy a caper.

      And? That spoiler OMG!
    • 5/5
      This series continues to get better and better. I immerse myself so fully into when I'm listening to the audiobook, that it can be hard to come back to reality. It's so in depth and wonderful and their is no other series that has such wonderful character growth. In this book, Harry is ordered by Queen Mab to help his archenemy, Nicodemus, on a secret mission to rob Hades safe. Backed into a corner and with no way out his must think five steps of his enemies (now co-workers) and pull of the biggest job of his career. He enlists the help of his good friend (and hopefully soon lover!) Karen to help and they have to lean on each other now more than ever. Wonderfully written and plotted, this book was amazing from start to finish. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
    • 5/5
      I love the Dresden books and this one doesn't disappoint but I do think there are too many battles and he gets hurt all the time. I loved Murphy and Butters in this books.
    • 5/5
      A transitional novel in the series, no doubt, but the best kind — it's exciting, clever, and has enough important stops in the series' overall narrative that make it vital.
    • 3/5
      Harry Dresden is a detective, a former cop, a Wizard of the White Council, and Winter Knight to Mab, The Queen of Air and Darkness.

      And this is his fifteenth adventure, leaving the reader coming in cold working to figure out a great deal of backstory.

      Harry's immediate problem is that he has a magical parasite in his head that is causing terrible headaches and will eventually kill him. There's a limited number of people who can help him, and they're not responding to his messages. Then Mab shows up at his Demonreach lair, with such a deal. She's got a temporary fix for Harry's problem, to allow him to function away from Demonreach so that he can do a little job for her--or rather, for Nicodemus, whom she owes a favor to. If he completes the job successfully and returns alive, then she'll deal permanently with his parasite problem.

      Harry hates Nicodemus, but it's not just his life at stake; the parasite will go after everyone he cares about after killing him. He's not happy, well, even less happy, initially, when he finds out he'll be working with a warlock (unlicensed wizard, or something like that), Hannah Ascher, as well as another, even darker, character called Binder. Oh, and his first assignment is to recruit an old acquaintance, Anna Valmont, Anna's a thief, and her skills are going to be needed for this job, which as it happens is burgling the Greek god Hades' private treasure vault.

      The writing here is nothing really exceptional, but it's perfectly competent and smooth. The problem is that because this is a Hugo Best Novel nominee, I'm coming into the series at book number fifteen. At this point, the book relies on the fact that everyone reading it knows the major recurring characters and the world they live in--and I don't. And sadly, without the backstory, I don't care. There's nothing here so compelling that I really wanted to keep reading. Regular fans of the series, I've noticed in online reviews, mostly feel very differently, but in a very real sense, we're not reading the same book.

      If you haven't, or don't want to, read the previous fourteen books, skip this one.
    • 4/5
      It was the typical Dresden adventure, but the focus was more on choices and faith and family. Dresden had been hiding out, trying to keep those he loves safe. But circumstances will show him that this is not a viable path. Dresden has doubts about who he is, but his friends know better. One of my favorites in the series.
    • 4/5
      Book 15 in The Dresden Files and the first of this series I've read. Winter Knight Harry Dresden's skills have been traded to his enemy Nicodemus by Queen Mab in order to pay off a debt. Along with a group of supernatural villains he must travel to the Underworld to steal the Holy Grail from the treasure hoard belonging to Hades. The alternative is death. Harry enlists a friend to watch his back as he knows Nicodemus will try to finish him off once his skills are no longer required. A good read for fantasy fans.
    • 3/5
      Hades is a very attractive character.
    • 4/5
      Torn between 4 or 5 stars. Definitely worth a read, though I thought the first third was a bit slow.
    • 3/5
      The final battle was a bit of a bust, and the wrap-up left all sorts of questions unanswered. But I sure do like Waldo Butters' character development.Soooo... I've read all that's been published. Next?
    • 3/5
      Harry Dresden is in thrall to Mab, the queen of the faeries, and must collaborate with one of his worst enemies to secure a bauble from the vault of Hades himself.
      A team is assembled, violence and mayhem ensue in pursuit of the heist. The plot twist which saves our hero is perhaps abit too convenient. But then, Harry is required in the next installment after all.

      It is difficult to justify awarding the Hugo for best novel to the 15th book in a long running series. That said, I enjoyed reading the story, and did not feel that not being across the backstory was a great disadvantage.


    • 4/5
      This is great story in the Harry Dresden Universe, after the last few novels being mediocre. In this one, Harry, as the Winter Knight for Queen Mab is forced to be part of a heist to steal the Holy Grail from Hades, ruler of Hell. He has to work with people from the magical criminal element, most of them cruel and psychopathic. This includes his arch nemesis, Nicodemus, a very old Denarian (read fallen angel). As usual, hijinks galore, and Harry gets beat up. His allies get beat up and put in unusual and possible moral quandaries. Of course, Harry survives, barely, and the world is saved for another day.This is the first novel in a long time where I felt Harry expanded as a person. As usual, his allies power up (Butters as a Knight of the Cross) and Harry makes a new friend, who may, or may not be good. Most of the book is set up for the actual heist, but the end is fun. Highly enjoyable if you like Harry Dresden.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic continuation of the adventures of Harry Dresden. This is one of the better books in the series. Plenty of witty banter, action, and character development for Harry and the supporting characters. Jim Butcher writes great characters and very entertaining conversations. While the book isn't as epic in scope as a few previous books, I feel it is much better written. Still leaves a lot of openings for the next book in the series.
    • 4/5
      Skin Games proves once again that Jim Butcher knows how to develop memorable heroes. Dresden is one of the good guys, but he has just enough humility to wonder just how good he really is, all things considered. Dresden's sense of humor is quirky and helps the reader develop a relationship with the hero.

      The story itself is filled with action, and Butcher is a master of maximizing the excitement. Never say die in a Butcher story, because the minute you do, someone or something will come to the rescue and save your sorry ass at the last minute.

      While many of the characters come straight for mythology, Butcher gives them relatable personalities. My favor was Hades and his pet. After reading Skin Games, it is easy to feel compassion for even the most hated of gods.
    • 3/5
      So many other people loved this book I wonder if I am burnt out on the series. The overall story arc of the series didn't appear to be advanced in this installment, some character development from Harry, a development with Butters I rolled my eyes over, and a demotion for Murphy.
    • 4/5
      Sort of an average entry in the Dresden series. It was a pleasant diversion but nothing makes it stand out from the other volumes in the series.
    • 5/5
      I wish there were a dozen more........ *sigh*
    • 2/5
      I think I liked it more than my friends, but then I have lowered my expectations. It's always hard to sustain a character like this for as long as he has, and it has become a bit predictable. He learns a skill which just turns out to be crucial later in the book. He almost dies time after time. I read them now with a bit of nostalgia. It had some nice twists in the plot. I like the characters and I like the creativity. I just don't expect as much.
    • 4/5
      Not the best or funniest one in the Dresden files but a must-read if you are a Butcher fan. Some importand development, a small cliff-hanger. And love, love, love
    • 5/5
      I'd give this at least ten stars if I could. I finished it and immediately started it over so that I can catch all of the stuff that missed before I knew the plot twists. And it is twisty. And snarky. And touching. And all kinds of other great stuff. It's going to be a long wait for the next one.
    • 4/5
      I fear this is gonna send me into another slump because nothing else gives me the feels like Harry and his family. I just. I honestly might just start the series over because I need more.
    • 4/5
      This is the best Dresden book in a while. Great stuff.
    • 5/5
      this made me cry, 5/5
    • 4/5
      This series continues to be astonishingly good: in the breathtaking pace of the action, the constant struggle and development of Harry as a person and all his friends around him, and the ever-loving ass-kicking clever twists and turns. Well played, Dresden, well played.
    • 4/5
      Possibly my favorite Dresden, so far.Dresden is loaned out by Mab to help one of his many nemeses break into the Underworld and steal an artifact. The conversation with Hades (yes, /that/ Hades) was easily my favorite part of this story. Well, that or the emergence of Dresden’s spirit-child (rich possibilities for the future). Cap these two bits off with a reveal about one of Dresden’s fellow burglars; and I can’t wait to read the next books.
    • 4/5
      I didn't like this one at first, but it grew on me as the story progressed. It's book eleventy-something of The Dresden Files and began with a lot of references to past adventures—people and events I had either forgotten or only hazily recalled. The scenario is that Harry Dresden, the wizard who is currently the Winter Knight sworn to serve the Faerie Queen Mab, has been lent out to an archdemon to help him rob the vault of Hades. Strike two. Harry Dresden has never been a paragon of virtue, but the thought of him making even more compromises with the forces of evil was unpleasant. However, Mr. Butcher managed to surprise me and pull a number of light moments into a dark situation.--J.
    • 4/5
      So much fun...much better than the previous book (in which I missed Dresden's verve and smart-alec quips).
    • 5/5
      Fast and powerful, a difficult combination to maintain for over 400 pages.
    • 5/5
      I don't think I will ever get tired of reading about Harry Dresden. Every book in this series has been better than the last, and it never slows down. I read a lot of books and a lot of authors but only a select few do I read over and over again. Jim Butcher and his books are among those few. I'm not only speaking about his Dresden Files books either, I also love his Codex Alera books as well and am eagerly anticipating his newest series, the Cinder Spires.

      Skin Game is the 15th book in the Dresden Files and I loved every minute of it. The plot is this: Harry is tasked by Mab to take on a new job for her as the Winter Knight. This job is of course very dangerous and life threatening (as usual) with plots behind plots and double dealing going on all over the place. What's the job? Oh just the small matter of teaming up with past bad guy Nicodemus Archleone to steal a priceless artifact from Hades himself. No big deal.

      Harry is of course as well characterized as ever. He has real problems and fears and the book lets you see them and experience them with Harry. He is afraid of his new title of the Winter Knight and all the dark thoughts and urges that go along with the title. He is afraid of moving his relationship with Murphy to a deeper level. Not out of commitment issues really, but rather a desire for her to stay away from him and the monster he could easily become working for Mab. Harry also is afraid of seeing his daughter again. He thinks she will remember what happened in the book "Changes" and resent or fear him because of it.

      Although the book is still the super fun heist book I wanted from Butcher, with plenty of laughs and double crosses, these deeper issues are what keeps me reading (and re-reading) this series. I love that Harry is just this normal guy who can use magic, but is also grounded with real life issues you can empathize with.

      This book also features a glimpse of how a few of his old friends see him now. Murphy is as loyal as ever, but even that is tempered with some caution. She has a deep respect and serious feelings, maybe even love, for Harry yet she stands as her own character. In the earlier books I was afraid she would be pigeonholed into the "Skeptic" or "Love Interest" boxes and never get to move beyond them. Luckily, I've always felt she stood apart as her own character. She is strong and capable yet has real fears about the world Harry moves around in.

      Butters feelings are a little different. He is flat out afraid of Harry (well, mostly), and of the power he holds as the Winter Knight. He sees Harry as just another villain or at least someone headed that way. And the thing is, you can see his side! He has a couple of different points in the story where he has a chance to explain himself and his feelings and they are all pretty reasonable.

      This book is full of deep characterizations for many different characters. I mean, even Nicodemus gets some!

      I really did love this book a lot. I think it is a great addition to the series.
    • 5/5
      One of the better ones! Although I missed Thomas, I thoroughly enjoyed this high-tension, high-stakes romp. The surprises were right on target! Also, Octokongs.