Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Enchanted Ink

AUTHOR:  Robin Lynn

PUBLISHER:  Idle Winter Press

LENGTH:  278 pages

RELEASE DATE:  June 1, 2023

BLURB:

When it comes to transformation, magic only fixes what’s skin deep…

In a world where an artist’s magic brings tattoos to life, ink gone wrong can spell lasting heartache for those unlucky enough to experience it. Jaded and cynical on both life and love, tattoo artist Ashton Andrews is about to find out that even the most deeply-etched scars can be transformed into something beautiful when the right person is holding the pen.

Having carried the burden of intentionally-ruined ink on his skin (and the matching scars on his psyche that come with such betrayal), Ashton is understandably reluctant to trust. He’s entirely content to bury his nose in the fantasy worlds created by his favorite author, rather than risk his heart in the real one.

…On the other hand, he would like his tattoo fixed.

Enter Link Remington: magical tattoo artist extraordinaire, devastatingly handsome media darling, and co-owner of the famed tattoo studio, Soul Survivor. Ashton knows that Link has the artistic chops to repair his skin, but is completely unprepared for the charming, persistent, and impossibly understanding man to find a place inside his heart.

Through working together, Ashton begins to realize that there’s more to Link than his public persona, the art on his body, and the image he’s created that only goes skin-deep. Link has his own scars to heal, but with a charm or two, a dash of creativity, and equal leaps of faith, perhaps the enchanted ink the two of them create together will be the beginning of something positively magical.

REVIEW:

Ash is a magical tattoo artist who has been betrayed in the worst possible way by his ex/boss/tattoo artist.  That betrayal has crippled him.  It’s taken him a year to get up the courage to even attend a tattoo show and see if there is something that can be done about his tattoo gone horribly wrong.  When he does, he meets Link Remington – another star artist who he hopes can help him.

Link is clearly interested in Ash – and not just as a project.  He is interested in fixing his ink, yes, but he also likes Ash as a person.  He gets that Ash is a bit damanged by the unforgivable betrayal of Whittaker, the aforementioned boss/ex/tattoo artist who hurt Ash in more ways than one.  But Ash is reluctant and wary. He’s also dealing with near crippling anxiety and low self-esteem.  Getting used to working with Link and his sister Sam at their shop, Soul-arium is a step in the right direction.

As Link and Ash get closer while Link works on fixing Ash’s tattoo and while working together at the Soul-arium where Ash gets his mojo back is a great step in the right direction.  They are working together and getting to know each other.  Link respects Ash’s boundaries and Ash respects Link as well.  As a couple, they are able to build on their relationship – which is a bit of a slow burn.  Overcoming their past

This was a really interesting book from a new to me author.  I really liked Link and Ash and their chemistry.  I would have really liked to know more about the magic world and tattoos because that was a little bit vague for me.  Whittaker is clearly a bad guy here, but I didn’t really get a sense of his motivation other than being an a$$.  I loved the whole vibe of the Soul-arium tattoo business that Link and Sam have built.  Ash and Link both have past issues that they are able to overcome together and build something strong with each other.  Ash is understandably gun shy giving his past with Whittaker and the anxiety that he deals with.  He struggles with feeling like he’s enough or worthy and it takes Link to help him get past some of these negative inner voices.  This was definitely a bit of a different story with a lovely atmospheric quality that I really liked.  Recommended especially for fans of MC’s overcoming past hurts and getting a well-deserved HEA.

RATING:

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