The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker

Mel Vaught and Sharon Kisses met in an art class in college. Mel is the self-assured wild child willing to stand up to their bullying professor. Unsure of her talent, Sharon is happy to hang out with Mel, when the two discover their mutual love of animation. Ten years later, the two hit the big time with the success of their first full-length animated film recalling Mel's disturbing childhood. Then tragedy strikes, Sharon suffers a debilitating aneurysm and must struggle to slowly recover. Always doubting her own talent, Sharon loses even more confidence in her work, and tensions arise between the two after they win an award that allows them to create a second film. This time the film will focus on Sharon's childhood and the criminal who lurked next door.

Whitaker doesn't shy away from uncomfortable, brutal truths, capturing the shortcomings of both Sharon and Mel, highlighting their multitude of problems. Despite this, Whitaker makes the strong bond of friendship between Mel and Sharon shine throughout, and their dedication to each other and their art is clear. The complexity of relationships can be bittersweet, and The Animators displays this tendency to the fullest. An excellent debut and highly recommended.

Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders

Uma is on the run and desperate for a job, which is why she’s standing at the doorstep of a woman whose ad is asking for a live-in care giver willing to put up with mistreatment. She literally has nothing but the clothes on her back, a few dollars, and her car which is close to empty. Beneath her clothing is a terrible secret, the permanent signs of her abuse.

She’s caught between her past and a very uncertain future, with no one to trust, not even her own mother. When Ivan, her new neighbor shows interest in her she’s reluctant to bare herself to anyone, let alone an ex con. But underneath his rough, handsome exterior is a compassionate guy who rescues stray, lost animals. 

Uma’s story unfolds slowly, as she begins to let Ivan into her life. Bits and pieces of her abuse slowly come together showing what a strong woman she is for managing to escape and trying to heal herself. If you’re looking for a romance with a man who understands that a woman’s scars are a beautiful part of her history and with a woman who learns to fight her own battles, this is the perfect fit. Under Her Skin is the first title in the "Blank Canvas" series.