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thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Read for Review (Edelweiss)
Overall Rating: 4.75
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating: 5.00
First Thought when Finished: Hard As It Gets was a fantastic read that made me start counting down to the next Hard Ink Novel. (I may or may not have been stalking Laura Kaye's FB page for updates as she was writing #2)
Story Thoughts: Hard As It Gets is a really good mystery that appears to start out as a missing person case but soon morphs into much more. I enjoyed the action, the sleuthing, and the fact that our leads were in real danger. There was a sense of "realness" in the story because things happened that made me flinch. The end was a little open-ended (yes so the series can continue) so I was frustrated that the next book was not available yet. What can I say patience is not a virtue of mine. That being said, it was not a cliff-hanger of a "typical" nature and most things with this couple were wrapped up in Hard As It Gets!
Character Thoughts: Holy freaking hotness! Nicholas Rixey was just HAWT. If I was reverting to my 80s teenage self "Like he was totally hot to the max and had a gnarly job that was totally Righteous". Needless to say, I was in love with Nick almost from the beginning. He was just the right amount of damaged alpha and protective male. I also really liked Becca! She was strong, driven, and willing to do whatever to help her brother. She wasn't stupid either and didn't insist on being involved in something that was clearly out of her ability scope. Together they were a great couple! Also the rest of the guys = SWOON!
Final Thoughts:Stalking Hard Ink #2! That is all!
Overall Rating: 4.75
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating: 5.00
First Thought when Finished: Hard As It Gets was a fantastic read that made me start counting down to the next Hard Ink Novel. (I may or may not have been stalking Laura Kaye's FB page for updates as she was writing #2)
Story Thoughts: Hard As It Gets is a really good mystery that appears to start out as a missing person case but soon morphs into much more. I enjoyed the action, the sleuthing, and the fact that our leads were in real danger. There was a sense of "realness" in the story because things happened that made me flinch. The end was a little open-ended (yes so the series can continue) so I was frustrated that the next book was not available yet. What can I say patience is not a virtue of mine. That being said, it was not a cliff-hanger of a "typical" nature and most things with this couple were wrapped up in Hard As It Gets!
Character Thoughts: Holy freaking hotness! Nicholas Rixey was just HAWT. If I was reverting to my 80s teenage self "Like he was totally hot to the max and had a gnarly job that was totally Righteous". Needless to say, I was in love with Nick almost from the beginning. He was just the right amount of damaged alpha and protective male. I also really liked Becca! She was strong, driven, and willing to do whatever to help her brother. She wasn't stupid either and didn't insist on being involved in something that was clearly out of her ability scope. Together they were a great couple! Also the rest of the guys = SWOON!
Final Thoughts:Stalking Hard Ink #2! That is all!
planningwithgrammy's review
3.0
this is a good book. I thought it was balanced well with romance and action. great starter book for militia romance. I had to edit my review after reading book 2. there is human trafficking in it. and a scene where they watch women get loaded on a boat and not intervene. if they are rescued in a later book I do not know. I realize this is fantasy. and kidnapping in real are not romantic. but for some odd reason I am ok with that in a novel only when they are rescued. But HUMAN TRAFFICKING is not romantic or erotic in anyway and does not belong in the storyline. Since I have already read the first book in the spinoff I know the bikers are into rescuing women at risk. I will read the next book. but if the trafficking gets worse I will downgrade the book again. no sense reading the first book if the series goes into very dark territory.
booksabrewin's review against another edition
4.0
I purchased the book on a whim from Barnes & Noble as I was on my way to the checkout. I had heard a few good things about the book, but was curious to branch out of the paranormal genre and start reading a bit more romantic suspense or contemporary. This fit both of those genres and featured one of my favorite subject matters. Tattooed men. I hadn't sat down to read the book until I was presented with an opportunity to read the second book in the series for a book blitz. Of course, I had to read the first one before the second. It was not time ill spent.
Nick was still reeling from his less than stellar dismissal from the military and the loss of some of his military brothers in an ambush in Afghanistan. He also has not let go of the anger and betrayal that his commanding officer had unleashed on him and his team. So when the ghost from his past's daughter comes to his place of business at Hard Ink Tattoo, Nick's immediate reaction is to send her away. And he does so, but he can't shake the draw he felt for the blonde haired, blue eyed beauty nor could he shake the gut reaction that helping her could ultimately change his life for the better.
Becca did not know why her missing brother's last message had told her to seek out Nick Rixey, her father's second in command, but a part of her was glad. Nick was a whole lot of yummy man and despite his no nonsense persona, she could see that he was a war-hardened hero capable of finding and returning her brother to her safely. Reluctantly, Nick comes around to helping her and so starts a very confusing hunt for her computer savvy hacker brother.
Along the way, the couple learns that Becca's brother, Charlie's, disappearance may have something to do with the situation with their father that ruined Nick and his surviving teammate's lives. Now, not only is it vital to find Charlie for Becca's sake but also to find out what Charlie may know about possibly clearing Nick and his teammates' names. Add to that a budding romance between the spawn of the man Nick hates with every fiber of his being and the the wounded soldier Becca only knows as someone her father trusted and you have the makings for a world of mystery, intrigue, and hot, hot romance.
Hard As It Gets was even more "suspensey" than I first thought it would be. I normally gravitate towards fluff pieces in contemporary that features only a very minute dramatic situation and absolutely zero conspiracy theories. This one was not that. This was more action-packed than I would have imagined or liked, but surprisingly, it worked for me. I loved Nick and Becca and their connection to each other. I liked the fact the book featured not only tattooed men but MILITARY men. Be still my heart. To my overwhelming amazement, I actually liked the cliffhanger the book left off on. I usually LOATHE cliffhangers.
To sum it up, Hard As It Gets is a thrilling ride of hot men, thought provoking mystery, predominant intrigue, and sexy romance all rolled into a 358-page work of art worthy of Hard Ink Tattoo.
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hannas_heas47's review
3.0
I picked up this book because the cover was freaking F-I-N-E..... Fine. The blurb looked real promising and I hadn't read anything by this author. So I shelved it. Now three books later, I finally decided to read the series or give up. I sometimes find myself collecting books just because I like the covers when I don't even know if I like the actual book. Sounds wierd but most of my library builds this way. So someone offered me a novelette in this series so I feel encouraged to actually read the first three.
This book started out great, I was digging Nick and Becca. They seemed to have pretty nice chemistry, and then I waited. And waited. And waited....... Took them forever to shag. Meanwhile there's a pretty decent plot. Her brother Charlie was kidnapped. Charlie leaves a message on a chat message board for her to find Nick Rixey. Nick is one of the five men who were in Becca's fathers command that were dishonored during a tour in Afghanistan. Then the book dragged a bit because let's face it. The story is much bigger than one book. So I'm guessing the five soldiers that were dishonored are going to each get their own book. So the five soldiers form a task force to get Becca's brother away from this drug running gang called The Church.
The book says romance but for me it was mostly about the brother. I was actually a bit bored in places because the action just wasn't there. Other than a bunch of quickies, I didn't really feel any action between Becca and Nick. There were many things going on in this book with the kidnapping, ink shop, and Colonels part to the point where maybe too much was going on. I'm still going to read on because I think the story will get better but my overall entertainment for this one was barely three stars.
This book started out great, I was digging Nick and Becca. They seemed to have pretty nice chemistry, and then I waited. And waited. And waited....... Took them forever to shag. Meanwhile there's a pretty decent plot. Her brother Charlie was kidnapped. Charlie leaves a message on a chat message board for her to find Nick Rixey. Nick is one of the five men who were in Becca's fathers command that were dishonored during a tour in Afghanistan. Then the book dragged a bit because let's face it. The story is much bigger than one book. So I'm guessing the five soldiers that were dishonored are going to each get their own book. So the five soldiers form a task force to get Becca's brother away from this drug running gang called The Church.
The book says romance but for me it was mostly about the brother. I was actually a bit bored in places because the action just wasn't there. Other than a bunch of quickies, I didn't really feel any action between Becca and Nick. There were many things going on in this book with the kidnapping, ink shop, and Colonels part to the point where maybe too much was going on. I'm still going to read on because I think the story will get better but my overall entertainment for this one was barely three stars.
bri_839's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Laura Kaye's series however this book fell a bit flat for me. I found the steamy scenes to be a bit boring after experiencing her other works. this book was a bit longer then the others and I sometimes found myself skimming the pages which is a sure sign I'm bored. I also didn't enjoy the references to torture and nails which makes me feel physically ill.
Unsure if I'll continue with the series, might give it another shot and make my mind up then especially when I loved her other works so much.
Unsure if I'll continue with the series, might give it another shot and make my mind up then especially when I loved her other works so much.
tiffcutshall's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As good as the first time!
Read this book several years ago and loved it. Re-reading now I love it even more and caught things I missed before or forgot about.
Laura Kaye is an amazing author and this the perfect book and series to start with!
Read this book several years ago and loved it. Re-reading now I love it even more and caught things I missed before or forgot about.
Laura Kaye is an amazing author and this the perfect book and series to start with!
honey1382's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really great crime/mystery/army alpha male read. Very fun to read and exciting. Once pieces start getting put together the end of the book speed along. I can't wait to read the second book. I also love that this is a running storyline and not just a series about each separate man in the team (although I see the following books focus on the other members) I love all the stories sound like they intersect.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
3.0
What I Liked: If I'm being completely honest, the tattoos on the cover of this book are what piqued my interest in it. That, and I had just read, and enjoyed another Laura Kaye book and was curious to see how this one measured up.
The story is interesting, the characters engaging and because I live close to Baltimore, I could easily visual the setting. The romance that develops between Nick and Becca is fast, intense and at times, graphic. And while there's definitely insta-attraction between these two, the emotional connection doesn't feel forced or trite which was nice. I enjoyed the "brotherhood" feeling among the guys as well and I really hope Jeremy gets his own book, for reasons.
What Left Me Wanting More: The sexy scenes were more graphic than I was expecting.
Final Verdict: Intriguing start to a new series. (Again, I vote for Jeremy's story!)
The story is interesting, the characters engaging and because I live close to Baltimore, I could easily visual the setting. The romance that develops between Nick and Becca is fast, intense and at times, graphic. And while there's definitely insta-attraction between these two, the emotional connection doesn't feel forced or trite which was nice. I enjoyed the "brotherhood" feeling among the guys as well and I really hope Jeremy gets his own book, for reasons.
What Left Me Wanting More: The sexy scenes were more graphic than I was expecting.
Final Verdict: Intriguing start to a new series. (Again, I vote for Jeremy's story!)
frogglodite's review against another edition
4.0
Fun. It really reminded me of the "Men Who Walk" series by Lori Foster, but these heroes were more like real people and less like patronizing uber-alphas (don't get me wrong, I love that series, but those guys aren't real). Quite the mystery going on, and I like how enough was resolved that you feel the story was complete, but enough was left open to continue the series. Becca was a nice change... no whiny, bitchy, can't-follow-directions heroine like we get in so many of these books. She had the sense to trust the professionals and stay put when she needed to. That in itself deserves a whole star! However, I'm not a fan of Rixey's name... it just didn't flow well in my mind, so I started calling him Captain Yum in my head, and that seemed to fix everything. ;)
I'll definitely read the next one.
I'll definitely read the next one.
sadie_rae's review against another edition
3.0
Kind of a mystery intregue thing going on, and a plot that will go on for 5 books or so. I enjoy this type of plot and series set up where the plot continues but the main H&h change in each book. I do plan on reading the second book at least because the plot is interesting, but while this book was good I just didn't seem to connect with the characters. Nick's brother Jeremy is awesome and adds a fair bit of comical relief to the book, not sure if he'll get his own book or not but I would jump on it if he did. Overall 3.5 stars!