RELEASE DAY + REVIEW ~Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye~

Title: Hard As It Gets
Author: Laura Kaye
Series: Hard Ink #1
Release Date: November 26, 2013

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Tall, dark, and lethal...

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...

Oh this was a fantastic read! Hard As It Gets is the first in a brand new series by Laura Kaye and I was wowed throughout the entire book. This is one of those perfectly blended books. Just the right amount of heat, suspense and thrilling story all rolled up into one gripping book. It was also a very unique setting, the home base for the story is a tattoo shop that is eventually packed with a handful of ex-military men. Can you say hot? The story focuses around Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt, who, despite their circumstances could not have been more made for one another. The connection is magnetic but, they also understand each other on a whole different level. In an almost eerie way they can preempt each others moods and actions. And they become the support the other has never had before. 

Becca and Rixey are both incredibly strong-willed and stubborn. And while Becca is light to Rixey's dark, and sweet to his gruff, they compliment one another. When her brother goes missing, he leaves Becca clues to help find him. The clues, which lead straight to Nick Rixey. And once a reluctant Rixey realizes there is more at stake than he realized, he agrees to help Becca in her journey to find her brother. With Becca and Rixey it was a lot of push and pull. Both intimately and professionally. They fight their attraction, until they simply can't anymore. I felt like once they gave in physically, they also gave in mentally to one another. They had created such a relationship before they ever fell in bed, it was basically the last stepto take in their relationship. But don't take that to mean there is any lack of heat or sex in this book... because there isn't! But along the way secrets have been kept, and tensions rise higher until all hell breaks loose. Rixey's team has joined the efforts but, not just to find Becca's brother. They believe they can prove the wrong doing of their commander that caused them to be kicked out of the military. A commander who just happens to be Becca's father. And in this twisted web of connections everyone's life is at risk.

Hard As It Gets is a rollercoaster of a story. It's intense, then sexy, emotional, then laugh out loud worthy. This group looking to save a hostage, ends up unfolding a story much bigger than anyone thought possible. And it the midst of it all two people learn to heal and love together when the scenes unfolding should be tearing them apart. Ms. Kaye writes a refreshing and thrilling book that I will be suggesting to everyone! You like suspense and mystery? Pick it up. Romance? Pick it up. You like heated scenes and alpha men? Pick it up. It literally has a taste for almost everyone. It was highly enjoyable and captivated me from beginning to end! So, go forth and buy it!

Happy Reading!

*ARC provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

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