ARC Review and Book Trailer: Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye

Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink #1)

by Laura Kaye (Goodreads Author)

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...

So, I have probably already said this, but I will say this again. I loves me some guys with tattoos. And I loves me some guys that are hunky, protective, and totally ripped. And Laura Kaye knows how to put that kind of guy on paper. There are some authors who need a magic pen that can make their characters come alive, and Laura Kaye is one of those authors, among others. The characters were perfect, both main and secondary.

While at times I think Nick is seriously too soft, hes perfect. Hes perfectly scarred and tatted, he cares about his family, and his description just makes you imagine licking something off his stomach. Anything will do. He takes charge and doesnt back down easy, and you can see that he cares. I will admit though, I expected a lot more issues than there were with the romance. Its like they fell into bed a little too easily.

Becca is fun and quirky and while she gets the hell scared out of her a lot, I like that she doesnt break. She goes after what she wants, even Nick, and I just admire her. A lot of times the main female lead is just lacking or over the top, but I thought that Becca was just perfect. She didnt over complicate things or pitch fits and she blended well with the other characters.

The story line is different (well, to me) and I enjoyed it. Not only was it like a contemporary romance, but it was like solving a mystery. Two, in fact. Both were like on a collision course and you just knew that it was going to be fireworks when they collided head on. I liked the fact that while there was a happy ending there was also more to go on at the end. Without giving any spoilers, one of the myseteries remains and will continue on in the next book, and I dont think I have read too many, if any, books that were like that.

All in all, I fangirled all over this book. Thanks so much to whoever let me get a copy because to read. I totally reccommend it to anyone who loves contemporary romance with a little bit of mystery, a haunted military guy and a quirky gal who makes it all better. Cant wait for the next book! Happy Release Day!

I received a print ARC in exchange for an honest review.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER -- NOT LISTED ON YOUTUBE, SO YOU HAVE TO CLICK THIS LINK