Jack N. Green (director)

THREE & A HALF STARS--The final book of the S.W. Vaughn's Skin Deep" series/trilogy ended with a quieter finish when compared to the earlier books in the series. This is not in anyway downplaying this book. But if I had read this book first in the series...I still would have liked it, I guess.

This book could be read as a stand alone but I think it would serve potential readers to read the books in order to better understand the history of Cobalt & Will - [b:Skin Deep|7379685|Skin Deep (Fae, #1)|S.W. Vaughn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1261461803s/7379685.jpg|9217818] and [b:Heartsong|8301398|Heartsong (Fae, #2)|S.W. Vaughn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1274804199s/8301398.jpg|13150125] - Uriskel & Trystan (my fave couple). The author wrote her own version of a prince & a pauper theme.

We have returning to the final book, Braelan, the ex-villain/brat fairy prince from the first two books finally get his shot at love. I'm still on the fence with him getting his own book, but I'm not the author. Who's Braelan's love interest? Why, it's River/Rob/Jeff/Jack (he's a con artist, you see) - a tormented, homeless, suicidal, ex-cop, ex-con, con artist who actually meets the prince while the prince is robbing an ATM machine. Try saying that sentence ten times fast.

Unforgiven's Braelan was way tamer compared to Heartsong's Braelan. Heartsong's Braelan was an evil, sadistic, sensual prick that just hurt so good. In this book he's repentant and cries a bit and falls in love. I'm all for mush but I was hoping brat/prick! Braelan would have made a visit or two. But Braelan was adorable with his innocent act to the human world. I liked it. He went from Jaguar to kitten though.

Also there were some questions that lingered: (SPOILER ALERT-ish)

--What's the meaning of the name River for Rob? He said it was a nickname carried over from prison but...why?

--David MacShayne, he's a human, right? How did he learn so much about the Fae if it's supposed to be a secret? Where did his hatred stem from? Did it start with Harry? What did Harry do to him to get him worked up? Was there a history?

--Why would Braelan's father step down from the throne? He's immortal and chose such an odd time to give up his throne if his son was so wishy-washy with ascending the throne. His father is uber-selfish so why give it away after ruling with such an iron fist?

This book I think ended up being the mushiest out of the three, still had a resolute ending for the series and will appeal to series followers. This series is by far still one of the more palatable fae series I've read.
"… (meer)