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Skin Deep
No emotional involvement, that was Tessa Cadman's rule.
And usually, though she enjoyed working with children, she stuck to it. Involvement was the way to heartbreak.
At present, however, young Jason wasn't causing her upsets. It was his father, attractive Mark Leyland, who was.
He'd asked Tessa to take on marriage to him just like another job. For him it was a convenient solution to his problem. For Tessa it wasn't so simple. She was about as far removed from his kind of woman as he was from her kind of man.
And usually, though she enjoyed working with children, she stuck to it. Involvement was the way to heartbreak.
At present, however, young Jason wasn't causing her upsets. It was his father, attractive Mark Leyland, who was.
He'd asked Tessa to take on marriage to him just like another job. For him it was a convenient solution to his problem. For Tessa it wasn't so simple. She was about as far removed from his kind of woman as he was from her kind of man.
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Kay Thorpe
181 books65 followersKay Thorpe was born on 1935 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK. An avid reader from the time when words on paper began to make sense, she developed a lively imagination of her own, making up stories for the entertainment of her young friends. After leaving school, she tried a variety of jobs, including dental nursing, and a spell in the Women's Royal Airforce from which she emerged knowing a whole lot more about life - if only as an observer.
In 1960, she married with Tony, but didn't begin thinking about trying her hand at writing for a living until she gave up work some four years later to have a baby, John. Having read Mills & Boon novels herself, and done some market research in the local library asking readers what it was they particularly liked about the books, she decided to aim for a particular market, and was fortunate to have her very first, completed manuscript accepted - The Last of the Mallorys, published in 1968. Since then she has written over seventy five books, which doesn't begin to compare with the output of some Mills & Boon authors, but still leaves her wondering where all those words came from.
Sometimes, she finds she has become two different people: the writer at her happiest when involved in the world of books and authors; and the housewife, turning her hands to the everyday needs of husband and son. Once in a while, she finds it difficult to step from one role to the other. She likes cooking, for instance, but she finds that it can be an irritating interruption when she's preoccupied with work on a novel, so the quality of her efforts in the kitchen tend to be a little erratic. She says, "As my husband once remarked, my writing gives life a fascinating element of uncertainly: one day a perfect coq au vin, the next day a couple of burned chops!"
Luckily Kay has daily professional help with her housework, and that leaves her time to indulge in her hobbies. Like many other Mills & Boon authors, she admits to being a voracious consumer of books, a quality she shares with her readers. She likes music and horseback riding, which she does in the countryside near her home. But her favorite hobby is travel - especially to places that will make good settings for her books.
Kay now lives on the outskirts of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, along with husband, Tony, and a huge tabby cat called Mad Max, her one son having flown the coop. Some day she'll think about retiring, but not yet awhile.
In 1960, she married with Tony, but didn't begin thinking about trying her hand at writing for a living until she gave up work some four years later to have a baby, John. Having read Mills & Boon novels herself, and done some market research in the local library asking readers what it was they particularly liked about the books, she decided to aim for a particular market, and was fortunate to have her very first, completed manuscript accepted - The Last of the Mallorys, published in 1968. Since then she has written over seventy five books, which doesn't begin to compare with the output of some Mills & Boon authors, but still leaves her wondering where all those words came from.
Sometimes, she finds she has become two different people: the writer at her happiest when involved in the world of books and authors; and the housewife, turning her hands to the everyday needs of husband and son. Once in a while, she finds it difficult to step from one role to the other. She likes cooking, for instance, but she finds that it can be an irritating interruption when she's preoccupied with work on a novel, so the quality of her efforts in the kitchen tend to be a little erratic. She says, "As my husband once remarked, my writing gives life a fascinating element of uncertainly: one day a perfect coq au vin, the next day a couple of burned chops!"
Luckily Kay has daily professional help with her housework, and that leaves her time to indulge in her hobbies. Like many other Mills & Boon authors, she admits to being a voracious consumer of books, a quality she shares with her readers. She likes music and horseback riding, which she does in the countryside near her home. But her favorite hobby is travel - especially to places that will make good settings for her books.
Kay now lives on the outskirts of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, along with husband, Tony, and a huge tabby cat called Mad Max, her one son having flown the coop. Some day she'll think about retiring, but not yet awhile.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 22, 2017
Re Skin Deep -Kay Thorpe returns with her standard misogynistic H and a nanny h that are compelled to marry when the H's ex-wife, who hasn't seen her son Jason in years cause she gave up custody in the indifferent divorce from the H, returns with an eye to conscripting Jason to be her new hubby's heir - since the ex can no longer have children. Throw in the typical willowy blonde catty OW and the H's brother who is a natural mischief maker and you have a hot mess of forced seductions and martial martyrdom.
The h is 24 and coerced into taking a short term nanny assignment with the H's son Jason. (Technically the H doesn't know if Jason is biologically his or not, but the H claimed possession so he is keeping him.) The h adores Jason, who is a pretty cute seven year old whose only goal in life is to stay out of boarding school and get a puppy. The H is bit more enigmatic. He is a wealthy travel writer and an indifferent father. He doesn't want any mollycoddling of his sensitive son, but doesn't mind putting the forced roofie kissing moves on the h or walking in when she is bathing to ogle the goods.
The h is pretty militant about bonus pike bouncing services not being offered as a extra job duty, but this is KT and the H is going to get what he wants anyway. Except that want soon turns into a marriage with benefits, cause the ex wife is serious about taking Jason and the H figures she won't have a case if he is married to the dark haired, dark eyed, proper, know-her-place mother/wife type the h is. The OW is in and about and making the h a bit green-eyed, but since she and the ex wife are both blonde aspirants to be wealthy men's arm candy type, the H figures the h will have no problems in the convincing maternal stakes department if it actually gets to court.
So they marry, after some roofie kissing sessions and dog petting excursions to the h's family - who cannot wait to marry the h off to the first lucky applicant. The H's mischief making brother has made his presence felt by this point and the h soon gets a lovely note explaining that since the h and Jason were with her family for the two week lead up to the big white wedding, the H has been tapping his sap with a certain familiar willowy blonde sap catcher.
The h is livid cause she doesn't take turns, so the honeymoon turns from anticipated boudoir bliss to forced seduction with the H doing his best battering ram impersonation and the h doing her best iceberg impression. Fortunately the h felt sorry for the H prior to the wedding vows, so her unicorn fondling status had already been voided. The H soon decides that piking a frigid lump isn't the way to properly tap the sap, and after the honeymoon things settle down into marital martyrdom distant detente.
The H's brother manages to get him self kicked out of the h and H's house as it seems all the men in this family over the age of eight have a compulsion to try and force themselves on the h. Only the H steps in before any serious damage occurs and the aftermath of the little brotherly love scene is more forced seduction, tho the h melts in the blaze of the H's passion.
In the meantime, the ex wife makes a brief appearance at Harrod's where the h is shopping to add a few more hits to the h's battered defenses and then she takes herself off, having lost her new husband and the case for custody.
The OW is more than a hot blonde torment of OW deliciousness, as she shows when she takes the H around for a nice selection of houses that the h and Jason can pick to move into. We also find out the brother has moved in with the OW when the H kicked him out and the h kindly gives him a personal loan so that little brother in law can reestablish himself and get a proper job. Finally a new house is picked, Jason gets a puppy and the H and h are having nightly battles of passion to balance out the impersonal distance during the day.
Then the h and Jason return from a planned all day trip earlier than expected and the h sees the OW's car parked in her parking spot. She doesn't confront the H until much later that night, but she pretty much verbally flays the H alive with accusations of him being a liar and a cheat. The H won't explain and demands the h's trust, but that is hard to give when the OW seems to be everywhere that h wants to be with the H. Eventually they all get moved to the new house and the h and H are still politely feuding about trust and fidelity.
The h and H hold a big housewarming party and the h is nervously waiting for the OW to make her big entrance cause she is sure the H has put her at the top of the invitation list. However the OW never shows up and the H says it was cause she wasn't invited. The H's brother finds out the h loaned him her own money instead of the H's and he makes a nice apology before taking himself off.
That leaves the H and he claims he never had it on with the OW after the h agreed to marry him. He claims he is jealous that she loves his son and doesn't like him, but he doesn't care cause now he is demanding the h love him as well as continuing to bump him. The h agrees that she went overboard on the jealous rantings and avows her love and embraces the tap sapping business with enthusiasm for the big HP HEA.
This one was okay, the drama was dramatic, but the continual forced seduction and roofie kissing scenarios got pretty old, pretty fast. For once tho I actually did believe the H when he denied his cheating, and for a KT book, (cause KT has never seen a cheating H that she did not like and use,) that believability is pretty impressive--but KT did do a good job of showing the h's jealousy was a large part of her accusations. Still, unless you are a KT fan, you can probably reject this HP offering and find a better vehicle to venture with for an HPlandia outing.
The h is 24 and coerced into taking a short term nanny assignment with the H's son Jason. (Technically the H doesn't know if Jason is biologically his or not, but the H claimed possession so he is keeping him.) The h adores Jason, who is a pretty cute seven year old whose only goal in life is to stay out of boarding school and get a puppy. The H is bit more enigmatic. He is a wealthy travel writer and an indifferent father. He doesn't want any mollycoddling of his sensitive son, but doesn't mind putting the forced roofie kissing moves on the h or walking in when she is bathing to ogle the goods.
The h is pretty militant about bonus pike bouncing services not being offered as a extra job duty, but this is KT and the H is going to get what he wants anyway. Except that want soon turns into a marriage with benefits, cause the ex wife is serious about taking Jason and the H figures she won't have a case if he is married to the dark haired, dark eyed, proper, know-her-place mother/wife type the h is. The OW is in and about and making the h a bit green-eyed, but since she and the ex wife are both blonde aspirants to be wealthy men's arm candy type, the H figures the h will have no problems in the convincing maternal stakes department if it actually gets to court.
So they marry, after some roofie kissing sessions and dog petting excursions to the h's family - who cannot wait to marry the h off to the first lucky applicant. The H's mischief making brother has made his presence felt by this point and the h soon gets a lovely note explaining that since the h and Jason were with her family for the two week lead up to the big white wedding, the H has been tapping his sap with a certain familiar willowy blonde sap catcher.
The h is livid cause she doesn't take turns, so the honeymoon turns from anticipated boudoir bliss to forced seduction with the H doing his best battering ram impersonation and the h doing her best iceberg impression. Fortunately the h felt sorry for the H prior to the wedding vows, so her unicorn fondling status had already been voided. The H soon decides that piking a frigid lump isn't the way to properly tap the sap, and after the honeymoon things settle down into marital martyrdom distant detente.
The H's brother manages to get him self kicked out of the h and H's house as it seems all the men in this family over the age of eight have a compulsion to try and force themselves on the h. Only the H steps in before any serious damage occurs and the aftermath of the little brotherly love scene is more forced seduction, tho the h melts in the blaze of the H's passion.
In the meantime, the ex wife makes a brief appearance at Harrod's where the h is shopping to add a few more hits to the h's battered defenses and then she takes herself off, having lost her new husband and the case for custody.
The OW is more than a hot blonde torment of OW deliciousness, as she shows when she takes the H around for a nice selection of houses that the h and Jason can pick to move into. We also find out the brother has moved in with the OW when the H kicked him out and the h kindly gives him a personal loan so that little brother in law can reestablish himself and get a proper job. Finally a new house is picked, Jason gets a puppy and the H and h are having nightly battles of passion to balance out the impersonal distance during the day.
Then the h and Jason return from a planned all day trip earlier than expected and the h sees the OW's car parked in her parking spot. She doesn't confront the H until much later that night, but she pretty much verbally flays the H alive with accusations of him being a liar and a cheat. The H won't explain and demands the h's trust, but that is hard to give when the OW seems to be everywhere that h wants to be with the H. Eventually they all get moved to the new house and the h and H are still politely feuding about trust and fidelity.
The h and H hold a big housewarming party and the h is nervously waiting for the OW to make her big entrance cause she is sure the H has put her at the top of the invitation list. However the OW never shows up and the H says it was cause she wasn't invited. The H's brother finds out the h loaned him her own money instead of the H's and he makes a nice apology before taking himself off.
That leaves the H and he claims he never had it on with the OW after the h agreed to marry him. He claims he is jealous that she loves his son and doesn't like him, but he doesn't care cause now he is demanding the h love him as well as continuing to bump him. The h agrees that she went overboard on the jealous rantings and avows her love and embraces the tap sapping business with enthusiasm for the big HP HEA.
This one was okay, the drama was dramatic, but the continual forced seduction and roofie kissing scenarios got pretty old, pretty fast. For once tho I actually did believe the H when he denied his cheating, and for a KT book, (cause KT has never seen a cheating H that she did not like and use,) that believability is pretty impressive--but KT did do a good job of showing the h's jealousy was a large part of her accusations. Still, unless you are a KT fan, you can probably reject this HP offering and find a better vehicle to venture with for an HPlandia outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2023
Nanny Tessa takes on sad, little Jason and does the full Mary Poppins with him and divorced writer Mark. Mark is good looking, emotionally withdrawn and inclined to forcibly seducing. I am ashamed to say he definitely floated my boat 😂
It was maddening, his relationship and secrecy regarding the OW, estate agent Fiona, and the Hs sleazy brother Dean also stuck his oar in. Nevertheless we leave the little family happily ensconced in home Counties luxury with a puppy and the promise of a happy ever after. Sounds marvellous.
It was maddening, his relationship and secrecy regarding the OW, estate agent Fiona, and the Hs sleazy brother Dean also stuck his oar in. Nevertheless we leave the little family happily ensconced in home Counties luxury with a puppy and the promise of a happy ever after. Sounds marvellous.
May 16, 2022
On the bad side he forces her but it's not explicit. Also she accuses rather than asks him to explain note that she receives on her wedding day about his supposed infidelities.
On the good side this has all the Kay Thorpe excellent characters and dramatic tension with plenty of emotion. I like several of her books and this is one of the better ones.
Reread and still 4 stars
On the good side this has all the Kay Thorpe excellent characters and dramatic tension with plenty of emotion. I like several of her books and this is one of the better ones.
Reread and still 4 stars
April 20, 2024
What the dickens?! The story is trotting along fine but then as if realizing there was still a half of story to fill! The we get some random crap! That leads to our couple fighting, and it makes no sense. The boy is also a practical afterthought. Skip it!!
September 13, 2023
HAIKU BOOK REVIEW: Skin Deep, by Kay Thorpe
Portrait of Marriage
lies, cheats, rapes, fights, hate, seven
circles of hell pale.
Portrait of Marriage
lies, cheats, rapes, fights, hate, seven
circles of hell pale.
May 19, 2025
This was a good story, with the h, Tessa, starting out as a nanny for Jason, the seven-year-old son of the H, Mark (a famous travel writer) and ending up with a ready-made family she adores! Not that it was easy, of course. There was a snarky ex-wife to contend with, and a threatened custody battle that prompted a marriage proposal. Not to mention Mark's trouble-making younger brother, Dean, and Fiona, the sexy real estate agent who had set sights on Mark. There are misunderstandings, jealousy, (hers of Fiona, his of Dean). and the frustrations of two people who are crazy in love but afraid to admit it, sure that their feelings aren't returned. She suspects Mark only married her in order to insure he keeps custody of Jason, while he thinks Tessa's love for Jason is her only reason for marrying him. It takes quite a bit of time for everything to get sorted out.
Two things I liked a lot. One was the way Tessa, only a short time on the job, had a real insight into how Jason was feeling, and knew that the boarding school Mark planned to send him to would be wrong for him, that he really needed more time with and attention from his father. She wasn't afraid to speak up about this, or about anything else concerning Jason, no matter how much Mark objected.
Another thing was Mark admitting that Jason might not be his son. He only married Diane because she was pregnant, while she only wanted his money and baby-trapped him, even though she knew he might not be the father. (Why there was no DNA test done, I don't know, since they had them when the book was written, and Mark seemed too sophisticated to fall for what could be a lie.) When he found out, it didn't matter since it didn't change his feelings toward Jason, and Diane didn't even want him, and left him with Mark when she met another man with more money.
Though it leaves you wishing at times that they would both stop being so stubborn and admit their true feelings (aside from the physical ones), it's a good story and worth your time.
Two things I liked a lot. One was the way Tessa, only a short time on the job, had a real insight into how Jason was feeling, and knew that the boarding school Mark planned to send him to would be wrong for him, that he really needed more time with and attention from his father. She wasn't afraid to speak up about this, or about anything else concerning Jason, no matter how much Mark objected.
Another thing was Mark admitting that Jason might not be his son. He only married Diane because she was pregnant, while she only wanted his money and baby-trapped him, even though she knew he might not be the father. (Why there was no DNA test done, I don't know, since they had them when the book was written, and Mark seemed too sophisticated to fall for what could be a lie.) When he found out, it didn't matter since it didn't change his feelings toward Jason, and Diane didn't even want him, and left him with Mark when she met another man with more money.
Though it leaves you wishing at times that they would both stop being so stubborn and admit their true feelings (aside from the physical ones), it's a good story and worth your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews