Sunday, November 24, 2013

4 stars! Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink #1) by Laura Kaye


Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

Type: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon All Romance Book Depository Goodreads
Damn but Kaye did it again! Hard As It Gets was a freaking smorgasbord of sexy and just impossible not to love. I'm telling you. Whew. Total *girly swoon* An abundance of tattooed military men, hot romance, exciting can't-turn-the-pages-fast-enough suspense, and make you *snort* humor made for a damn fine read as Nick and Becca join forces to hunt down the truth behind recent attacks on her family and discover way more than they were expecting.

Gah, where to start? Okay, Nick and Becca. Loved. Them. Nick is an alpha male through and through. This guy has some serious sexy going on. He's inked up, fierce and a bit damaged emotionally and physically from his past but he doesn't let it slow him down. And when he needs to eat crow and apologize...he does. Lickable, people. Lickable.

And Becca. She's exactly what I look for in my heroines. This woman was amazing--strong, bold, caring, and determined and willing to admit when she needs help and can't do something on her own. Absolutely adored her and that she was intelligent and just a solid and respectable person. And she loves a little 3 legged puppy.

And together. Fucking scorching! The chemistry was sizzling and it definitely carried over to between the sheets *fans self*. Hot, erotic and incredibly emotional. And they had some amazing innocent moments as well that were just so sweet and touching and made me aww a few times. The romance moves fast but I completely bought it and loved every second as the two fought side by side and got to know each other.
His mouth came down on hers at the same time his thick middle finger penetrated her. He swallowed her moan as he mimicked the act they were barreling toward. "I am wound too tight, Becca. Do you understand? In about ten seconds, I'm going to be all over you. And I'm not going to be able to go slow. It's gonna be hard and fast and rough."

He meant it as a warning, but Becca heard it as an engraved invitation on fine linen paper. That as a party she sooo wanted to attend. "Good," she said, groaning as he removed his hand. 
The suspense was nicely done too. It kept me curious throughout wanting to know exactly what was going on after Becca's brother disappears and attacks start against her. I loved that Nick's teammates from the military joined in and that there were ties between what was happening and their pasts. It really did keep you on your toes. My only complaint (other than having trouble with the hero being called by his last name half the time--just pulled me out of the story a little each time) was that everything wasn't completely wrapped up at the end. The immediate threat was dealt with, the relationship had a happily ever after but the underlying storyline with the 'bad guys' is carrying over. Not a terrible thing but I would have liked a bit more finality in that. A fairly minor complaint though for an excellent read.

If you haven't read Kaye yet you've really been missing out on a treat. I don't know how she does it but time and time again she completely knocks it out of the park. Sexy heroes, strong women, beautiful romances and stories that'll just leave you smiling. Hard As It Gets was all that and a great start to what looks like a very promising series for both romance and suspense lovers.


Have you read Kaye? Have a favorite?

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