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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Definitely worth the wait! This story's happening while book 4 ([b:Hard to Let Go|23003746|Hard to Let Go (Hard Ink, #4)|Laura Kaye|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424062162s/23003746.jpg|42569941]) is going on, though--I read that one way back in the beginning of July and almost felt as if I needed a cheat sheet to remind me of what was going on back then in the world of Hard Ink. So I wouldn't say this one is the book to start the series with--too much backstory for sure--but now that it's out, I heartily recommend reading #4 and immediately following up with this one for maximum impact. ;)
I really liked getting to know Jess and Ike better--I love it when an author fleshes out secondary characters and gives them their own stories. :) Jess has been crushing on Ike as long as she's known him, but it's all one-sided...isn't it?
Ike's been convinced from the first that he's not good enough for Jess. He's got a tragic backstory which makes him believe that he's not worthy of the love and trust of a good woman--especially Jess. He knows he can only bring her heartache, so he stays away. The daughter of a cop with the son of a man who was mixed up with the Mexican drug cartels? Couldn't happen...or so he thinks.
From start to finish, it's pretty much Ike keeping the two from being together with his good-intentioned, but seriously mislead ideas. Poor Jess has to suffer through some pretty rough scenes as he tries to push her away--for her own good, of course--but the other scenes (you know the ones I mean!) almost make up for it. Then they get some bad news, and Ike is forced to reconsider Jess's place in his life...finally!
A very satisfying end, and an excellent intro to the Raven Riders MC series that is coming soon. Can't wait!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked getting to know Jess and Ike better--I love it when an author fleshes out secondary characters and gives them their own stories. :) Jess has been crushing on Ike as long as she's known him, but it's all one-sided...isn't it?
Ike's been convinced from the first that he's not good enough for Jess. He's got a tragic backstory which makes him believe that he's not worthy of the love and trust of a good woman--especially Jess. He knows he can only bring her heartache, so he stays away. The daughter of a cop with the son of a man who was mixed up with the Mexican drug cartels? Couldn't happen...or so he thinks.
From start to finish, it's pretty much Ike keeping the two from being together with his good-intentioned, but seriously mislead ideas. Poor Jess has to suffer through some pretty rough scenes as he tries to push her away--for her own good, of course--but the other scenes (you know the ones I mean!) almost make up for it. Then they get some bad news, and Ike is forced to reconsider Jess's place in his life...finally!
A very satisfying end, and an excellent intro to the Raven Riders MC series that is coming soon. Can't wait!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Jess has to hide from some bad dudes so Ike takes her to the Raven Rider’s compound and shacks up with her in his secluded cabin in the woods. Natually, their forced proximity leads to hot sexy times... And then love!
I really liked that Jess was her own woman. She's not a wallflower or a inexperienced miss, she’s a tattooed and pierced badass with sexual experience and know-how. And Kaye doesn’t shame her for it! Ike is a bit of an emotional curmudgeon, so it’s fun to watch his walls get torn down by Jess
I really liked that Jess was her own woman. She's not a wallflower or a inexperienced miss, she’s a tattooed and pierced badass with sexual experience and know-how. And Kaye doesn’t shame her for it! Ike is a bit of an emotional curmudgeon, so it’s fun to watch his walls get torn down by Jess
Kaye used this well done Hard Ink novella to crossover into her new Raven Riders MC series. Can’t wait to meet them all! Jess was quirky and feisty. Ike was resolute about remaining BFF’s only. Their backstories were very well crafted by Kaye. And man did she turn up the HEAT in this one. It makes the Hard Ink happenings look tame! I’ve never read anything more graphically steamy, ever!
Holy hot damn!! This novella was hella interesting and hella sexy. If this was just a taste of what Laura Kaye has to offer, sign me up!!
Jess and Ike have been best friends for four years. Due to some behind-the-scenes drama, we're immediately thrust into a story about Jess having to hid out from some bad guys and Ike's tasked with protecting her. It was soon obvious that these two wanted each other real bad. However, a traumatic even from Ike's past has left him hesitant to start anything with Jess. The sparks flew, clothes fell off, the sex was incredibly hot, and there was a decent yet vague plot. I'm off to add some more Laura Kaye to my tbr.
Jess and Ike have been best friends for four years. Due to some behind-the-scenes drama, we're immediately thrust into a story about Jess having to hid out from some bad guys and Ike's tasked with protecting her. It was soon obvious that these two wanted each other real bad. However, a traumatic even from Ike's past has left him hesitant to start anything with Jess. The sparks flew, clothes fell off, the sex was incredibly hot, and there was a decent yet vague plot. I'm off to add some more Laura Kaye to my tbr.
Safety Rating: Safe with Exception
• No cheating
• Does have OM drama
• Does have pushing away
- Hero behaves like a major ass to the Heroine in attempt to stop developing romantic feelings for her
• No separation
Possible Triggers:
• Violence
• Heroine's ONS wants her dead
Ending: HEA
• No cheating
• Does have OM drama
• Does have pushing away
- Hero behaves like a major ass to the Heroine in attempt to stop developing romantic feelings for her
• No separation
Possible Triggers:
• Violence
• Heroine's ONS wants her dead
Ending:
I had NO interest in a motorcycle club romance but after seeing this Raven Riders series come up over and over in recommendation lists for good romance. This is a prequel (0.5) to the actual series and I really enjoyed this one so much more than I'd expected. Looking forward to continuing with the series.
*Check out the original review and more at http://www.confessionsofabookfreak.blogspot.com*
*I recieved an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
"Jessica Jakes had been lusting after Ike Young from almost the day she met him, back when she was a newbie piercer at Hard Ink Tattoo and Ike first came looking for a job as an artist."
This was so much better than I expected. The characters, the writing, the plot. It was great.
"No matter how hot Jessica Jakes was--and she was like goddamn molten lava with her tight Little body, inked porcelain skin, and smart mouth--she was precisely the kind of woman Ike had vowed never to get twisted up with again. A woman in trouble."
Let’s start with the best thing about this novella.
Often in novellas, insta-love happens. I get why, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Thing is, it doesn’t seem real to me. I don’t think you can fall in love overnight, it happens over time. This is one of the main reasons why I don’t often read novellas, unless it’s from a favorite author or series.
That wasn’t the case in this novella, though. Jessica and Ike has known each other for a while, and there’s tension and attraction there already, and a lot of messy emotions. There’s a lot of focus on that, and less focus on the action, which I didn’t mind as much as I thought it would, because the characters and their interaction with each other made it plenty interesting and tense.
I loved getting to know the characters.
They are realistic and have depth, and I couldn’t help but want to know how it would work out for them. Kaye has done something in this novella that I’ve never seen before; she has created something with the characters that I’ve only seen in books, never novellas. I really got to know them, and started to care about them. I couldn’t put it away, because I had to know what would happen to them.
The writing is great.
It really pulls you in and keeps you in until the very last page. At first, I was a little disappointed in the lack of action, but then I realized that the tension between Jessica and Ike was enough to keep it interesting. For the first time ever, it didn’t need more action.
I am thoroughly impressed by this novella. It’s one of the best novellas I have ever read. Hard as Steel is an intense, sweet, sexy read, filled to the brim with emotion and heat.
*I recieved an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
"Jessica Jakes had been lusting after Ike Young from almost the day she met him, back when she was a newbie piercer at Hard Ink Tattoo and Ike first came looking for a job as an artist."
This was so much better than I expected. The characters, the writing, the plot. It was great.
"No matter how hot Jessica Jakes was--and she was like goddamn molten lava with her tight Little body, inked porcelain skin, and smart mouth--she was precisely the kind of woman Ike had vowed never to get twisted up with again. A woman in trouble."
Let’s start with the best thing about this novella.
Often in novellas, insta-love happens. I get why, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Thing is, it doesn’t seem real to me. I don’t think you can fall in love overnight, it happens over time. This is one of the main reasons why I don’t often read novellas, unless it’s from a favorite author or series.
That wasn’t the case in this novella, though. Jessica and Ike has known each other for a while, and there’s tension and attraction there already, and a lot of messy emotions. There’s a lot of focus on that, and less focus on the action, which I didn’t mind as much as I thought it would, because the characters and their interaction with each other made it plenty interesting and tense.
I loved getting to know the characters.
They are realistic and have depth, and I couldn’t help but want to know how it would work out for them. Kaye has done something in this novella that I’ve never seen before; she has created something with the characters that I’ve only seen in books, never novellas. I really got to know them, and started to care about them. I couldn’t put it away, because I had to know what would happen to them.
The writing is great.
It really pulls you in and keeps you in until the very last page. At first, I was a little disappointed in the lack of action, but then I realized that the tension between Jessica and Ike was enough to keep it interesting. For the first time ever, it didn’t need more action.
I am thoroughly impressed by this novella. It’s one of the best novellas I have ever read. Hard as Steel is an intense, sweet, sexy read, filled to the brim with emotion and heat.
Jess needs a hand avoiding some bad guys - Ike has the perfect place to hide from said bad guys. Now they just have to keep their hands off each other...
NOTE: don't read as a standalone. Really best within the series as a whole.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam:
NOTE: don't read as a standalone. Really best within the series as a whole.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: