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rlp78's review against another edition
5.0
I really love Laura Kaye and was really looking forward to this series. I have to say it didn't disappoint. This was an exciting start to what looks like an awesome series (don't worry, no cliffhangers!!) As usual, Laura Kaye's writing was amazing. The book was hot and suspenseful. Great read.
mags_louise's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic start to the series. Hard as it Gets introduces you to the Rixey brothers Nick an ex special forces soldier and Jeremy his younger brother a tattoo artist and owner of Hard Ink.
The story starts when a stranger Becca Merrit walks in to the shop looking for Nick with a message from her brother Charlie who has disappeared and a plea for help. However Becca is the daughter of Frank Merritt a special forces soldier who lost the respect of his team and his ultimately his life on the road side in Afghanistan.
So Nick refuses to listen and sends her on her way from which a series of events take place which leave Nick in no doubt Becca and her brother are in danger and if he can help find him it may just bring Nick and the remainder of his special forces team the answers they need.
The introduction of Nick's former team mates brings another set of dynamics to the story which am sure will continue to play out over the series and overall the story is a good mix of suspense, romance and laughter especially after the introduction of a 3 legged puppy!
~Re-read Oct 2017~
The story starts when a stranger Becca Merrit walks in to the shop looking for Nick with a message from her brother Charlie who has disappeared and a plea for help. However Becca is the daughter of Frank Merritt a special forces soldier who lost the respect of his team and his ultimately his life on the road side in Afghanistan.
So Nick refuses to listen and sends her on her way from which a series of events take place which leave Nick in no doubt Becca and her brother are in danger and if he can help find him it may just bring Nick and the remainder of his special forces team the answers they need.
The introduction of Nick's former team mates brings another set of dynamics to the story which am sure will continue to play out over the series and overall the story is a good mix of suspense, romance and laughter especially after the introduction of a 3 legged puppy!
~Re-read Oct 2017~
gothai's review against another edition
3.0
It was a romantic suspense book with lots of romance and a little suspense so the pacing was slow. The insta-love was quite unbelievable. There were some funny moments with a puppy.
sophienocturne's review
5.0
This book is exactly what I had been looking for! A hunky tattooed man and a strong female character who can handle herself, plus a plot that isn't just about the romance. It's my ideal book. I enjoyed the suspense of the 'where's Charlie?' storyline and the way the mystery escalated, it kept me hooked. I also loved how the romance took it's time to evolve and allowed the electricity between Nick and Becca to build, it's so much more realistic than the 'insta-love' scenarios I've read a lot of recently.
Becca is really likeable, she faces her fears and tackles the situation head on, but she also knows when it's best to take a back seat. I found myself really wanting things to work out for her. Nick is another great character; I enjoyed learning how his military past has affected him and shaped who he is. Plus all the secondary characters are really interesting so I can't wait to hear more from them in the second book.
Becca is really likeable, she faces her fears and tackles the situation head on, but she also knows when it's best to take a back seat. I found myself really wanting things to work out for her. Nick is another great character; I enjoyed learning how his military past has affected him and shaped who he is. Plus all the secondary characters are really interesting so I can't wait to hear more from them in the second book.
chelseammg's review against another edition
4.0
You know what I really love? Well thought out characters. Characters I can connect with. Characters that I feel like I really know.
Laura Kaye creates the hell out of some characters! She knows how to suck you in, make you feel and make you fall in love with the characters she creates.
Hard as it gets is touching, engrossing, and anxiety inducing. I felt such a range of emotions when I read it! I loved every minute of it. I believed the characters completely. Not once did I say “yeah, that would never happen!” (and honestly, I say that a LOT when reading books!) I totally bought the story. I was invested in it and was invested in the outcome from page 10.
You can read the synopsis to learn more about the book… from me you will just hear: Read it. If you are like me, you will be waiting with bated breath to read more about these hot Hard Ink guys!
Laura Kaye creates the hell out of some characters! She knows how to suck you in, make you feel and make you fall in love with the characters she creates.
Hard as it gets is touching, engrossing, and anxiety inducing. I felt such a range of emotions when I read it! I loved every minute of it. I believed the characters completely. Not once did I say “yeah, that would never happen!” (and honestly, I say that a LOT when reading books!) I totally bought the story. I was invested in it and was invested in the outcome from page 10.
You can read the synopsis to learn more about the book… from me you will just hear: Read it. If you are like me, you will be waiting with bated breath to read more about these hot Hard Ink guys!
chelseaj91's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a pretty good start to this series. Although, I'll admit that I actually started this series by reading Hard as Steel through one of the 1001 Dark Nights anthologies. But that made me want to read how things got started and I'm so glad I did.
I'll admit that the relationship between Nick and Becca was a lot more insta-lovey than I normally go for, but it was interesting. I did roll my eyes at how often Nick brought up the NDA/the fact that Becca was Merritt's daughter to try and warn himself away. While I could understand reasons with the NDA and everything that entailed, the fact that he was so wrapped in who she was related to, rather than who she was got annoying.
I liked how the team showed up, even if Nick was being a butt about things. I did wish that he'd pulled his head out a little earlier, especially because of how much time he spent half whining about missing everything. But then again, they got the things out that they all needed too, once everyone gathered together.
I am definitely intrigued with everything. The reveal that Merritt set stuff to go to Charlie makes me wonder just how willing Merritt was in everything. Yeah, what he did was bad but, especially with what was said when everything went down, there's a lot more angles than anyone knew.
I'll admit that the relationship between Nick and Becca was a lot more insta-lovey than I normally go for, but it was interesting. I did roll my eyes at how often Nick brought up the NDA/the fact that Becca was Merritt's daughter to try and warn himself away. While I could understand reasons with the NDA and everything that entailed, the fact that he was so wrapped in who she was related to, rather than who she was got annoying.
I liked how the team showed up, even if Nick was being a butt about things. I did wish that he'd pulled his head out a little earlier, especially because of how much time he spent half whining about missing everything. But then again, they got the things out that they all needed too, once everyone gathered together.
I am definitely intrigued with everything. The reveal that Merritt set stuff to go to Charlie makes me wonder just how willing Merritt was in everything. Yeah, what he did was bad but, especially with what was said when everything went down, there's a lot more angles than anyone knew.
aboutthatstory's review
5.0
4.5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic book. Great love story mixed with mystery and intrigue with a nice balance between both.
I loved Nick and Becca. Nick had a sexy, hard exterior with a wonderful heart, definitely the strong, silent type but really sweet. Becca was awesome! She was a strong woman who didn’t take crap and stood up for herself and the ones she loved. I think Becca is an excellent female lead.
Nick and Becca had a huge attraction one another and there was a nice build to them connecting. Great chemistry mixed with lots of sexual tension. I love that there was no game playing between the two of them, it was refreshing.
I really enjoyed all of Nick’s friends, the guys who were with him on the Special Forces team. They all have distinct personalities and I'm interested to know more about their backgrounds. I am excited this is the first book in a series and we will get to see more of them.
Excellent ending! There was drama throughout but the end was jam packed and I was on the edge of my seat, it was intense. Because it is the first in the series, some questions were left unanswered but I assume it will tie into the next books.This book was a great introduction to the series!
I enjoyed the descriptive writing and details, I was really pulled in. There were lots of sexy times as well as sweet, tender moments and I enjoyed it all. I also liked the added element of the dog. The overall story had lots of intensity and emotion which had my breath hitching and heart stopping on several occasions!
There were a few - just a few - times that I thought things were a little drawn out but I was so into the story I just went with it. What few slow times there were are far outweighed by the intensity and drama. It was an excellent story!
I am officially a fan of Laura Kaye! Can’t wait for the next one. :-)
Fantastic book. Great love story mixed with mystery and intrigue with a nice balance between both.
I loved Nick and Becca. Nick had a sexy, hard exterior with a wonderful heart, definitely the strong, silent type but really sweet. Becca was awesome! She was a strong woman who didn’t take crap and stood up for herself and the ones she loved. I think Becca is an excellent female lead.
Nick and Becca had a huge attraction one another and there was a nice build to them connecting. Great chemistry mixed with lots of sexual tension. I love that there was no game playing between the two of them, it was refreshing.
I really enjoyed all of Nick’s friends, the guys who were with him on the Special Forces team. They all have distinct personalities and I'm interested to know more about their backgrounds. I am excited this is the first book in a series and we will get to see more of them.
Excellent ending! There was drama throughout but the end was jam packed and I was on the edge of my seat, it was intense. Because it is the first in the series, some questions were left unanswered but I assume it will tie into the next books.This book was a great introduction to the series!
I enjoyed the descriptive writing and details, I was really pulled in. There were lots of sexy times as well as sweet, tender moments and I enjoyed it all. I also liked the added element of the dog. The overall story had lots of intensity and emotion which had my breath hitching and heart stopping on several occasions!
There were a few - just a few - times that I thought things were a little drawn out but I was so into the story I just went with it. What few slow times there were are far outweighed by the intensity and drama. It was an excellent story!
I am officially a fan of Laura Kaye! Can’t wait for the next one. :-)
cgroup6's review
4.0
A romance series with an ongoing plot - a former army SF team is out to restore their reputations which were tarnished after their commanding officer framed them for treason. Along the way, each team member will find love. Predictable but a good story nonetheless. Great vacation read because it is an easy one.
This book was about the team's former 2nd in command.
This book was about the team's former 2nd in command.
whatismimreading's review
3.0
Good writing, awesome action packed but GAHHHHH so over the 'insta-love' crap!!!
cmdc325's review against another edition
4.0
I really really liked this book. Between the suspense and the romance it kept the story going. I loved that the end wasn't a cliffhanger, but it was well wrapped up. But it did set up the rest of the series. The romance between Nick and Becca was so so so good. Like Ahhhhh! And every time he called her sunshine, a part of me melted inside. And this is one of the times where insta love didn't bother be because she was still a strong female character and she stood up for herself. I would recommend this for all romance lovers.