Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Only Skin Deep
SERIES: Enchanted Ink
AUTHOR: Kelex
PUBLISHER: Twisted E-Publishing, LLC
LENGTH: 401 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2023
BLURB:
Welcome to the world of Enchanted Ink! For a price, master tattooists can place a beautiful spell directly onto your skin. Want to be wealthy? Beautiful? Loved? You’ve come to the right place. Just make sure the price you’ll pay is worth it as the cost isn’t always in gold.
****
Luca Galioto can tattoo just about any spell, but he specializes in healing tattoos. He’ll need to create his masterpiece after his mate, and Salem PD detective, Ash Montgomery brings in a human suffering a curse to end all curses. Luca uses every ounce of strength to save the man—because they both sense he’s their third.
Colby Kennedy doesn’t believe in witches, demons, fated mates, and the things that go bump in the night. Yet he struggles to ignore the deep-seated lust he feels every time he looks at Luca and Ash. No matter his need, he has his brother to care for and a business to run. He doesn’t have time for nonsense.
The demons don’t stop coming, putting everything he holds dear in jeopardy. Luca and Ash, and the coven at Enchanted Ink, are the only things keeping him and his brother from losing everything.
But can he accept their world and his place in it before it’s too late?
REVIEW:
Luca and Ash are a mated couple. Luca is a witch tattoo artist and Ash is a squirrel shifter who is also a detective with the Salem PD. He always seems to be in the wrong place at the right time 😉 Like when a human seems to melt into the sidewalk and then some sort of spell erases and memory, recording or picture of the event. Seems like there are demons in town and they are out to potentially hurt the human mates of their coven. About this same time, Luca sees a Tik-Tok of a potter and his mate mark pings. Seems like he’s found their third.
This particularly coven seems to have groups of three – generally a witch, a familiar and a human. In this case, Colby, the human in question, has no knowledge of the paranormal/magical world. He’s a regular guy who runs a business and cares for his other brother Daniel, who is Down’s Syndrome. They are their own little family but soon, Colby is in grave danger – and it’s up to Ash, Luca and their coven to save him. He ends up with a curse from a tattoo that nearly kills him and if not for Ash getting him to Luca quickly, well it could have been a lot worse.
Colby is skeptical about everything that happens to him after Luca and Ash take him in – although there is certainly no logical explanation for what is happening. Daniel knew that Colby shouldn’t go to the “bad place” where he got the tattoo. Turns out that demons have glamoured a place to LOOK like Enchanted Ink where Luca’s coven is HQ’d. And they aren’t done. There is other collateral damage as they try to get to Colby and other coven mates. Luca is drained by all the healing he’s been doing and he’s about to run out magic. Can he live without his magic? Can Ash? Can Colby? How can he recover? Will they ever be able to get rid of the demons who have come to Salem with trouble on their minds?
So apparently this is the first book I’ve ready from this author. There were things I liked a lot and then there were a few niggles for me. Overall, I felt like there was just a bit too much going on in this book. I’m guessing as this is the first in a series that the intent is to set up this world. There is a LARGE cast of characters and I will admit that at some points, I was overwhelmed with all the witches, familiars, humans, demons, family members, twins, brothers and sisters, etc. I’m sure it’ll make sense somewhere down the line, but be prepared for a catalog of primary and secondary characters. The premise for the next book is definitely set up here with another triad who lost their third. Also there is a LOT of sex in this book. Turns out that is the primary way that Luca, the healing tattoo artist witch, replenishes the power he uses to heal his clients. When he doesn’t seem to be recovering, it’s clear that something else is going on. There is a lot happening with Ash as well. The magic isn’t exactly explained and there is a lot of sort of “bewitched” type moments – just a wave of the hand and their in a new place, or have new food, or clothes on or off. That’s not necessarily a criticism. I was just a bit surprised a few times that everyone just took it in stride.
There is wonderful representation of an individual with Down’s Syndrome with Daniel. Colby has been responsible for his brother since his parents passed away. Daniel was a bright light for everyone. He’s a loving and happy guy who also looks out for his brother. I loved their relationship. Colby has quite a bit to overcome and accept, so needless to say, a lot of the story is getting him on the bus, as it were. I’m anxious to see what happens next. Recommended.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: