Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Hard to Be Good - Release Day Review

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I am so, so excited to help bring you guy the Release Week Blitz for Laura Kaye's

 HARD TO BE GOOD!! 

HARD TO BE GOOD is a novella in Laura's Hard Ink Series,  published by Avon Romance

love Laura's Hard Ink men,  I have been watching these two for ages and just biding my time and am so excited to see Jeremy and Charlie get their HEA!!

  Hard to Be Good - Cover

Amazon ~ Amazon.ca ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo

HARD TO BE GOOD on Goodreads


Author: Laura Kaye
Publication Date: April 14. 2015

Publisher: Avon Romance
Series: Hard Ink
Genre:
M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and up

Rating: 4 Stars


Book Description:

Hard Ink Tattoo owner Jeremy Rixey has taken on his brother’s stateside fight against the forces that nearly killed Nick and his Special Forces team a year before. Now, Jeremy’s whole world has been turned upside down—not the least of which by a brilliant, quiet blond man who tempts Jeremy to settle down for the first time ever. Recent kidnapping victim Charlie Merritt has always been better with computers than people, so when he’s drawn into the SF team’s investigation of his army colonel father’s corruption, he’s surprised to find acceptance and friendship—especially since his father never accepted who Charlie was. Even more surprising is the heated tension Charlie feels with sexy, tattooed Jeremy, Charlie’s opposite in almost every way. With tragedy and chaos all around them, temptation flashes hot, and Jeremy and Charlie can’t help but wonder why they’re trying so hard to be good... 
 

Shirtless muscular attractive young man model wearing sweatpants

EXCERPT:

“You should be inside celebrating,” Jeremy said, his voice a raw scrape. “You and Marz did an amazing thing this morning.” An hour ago, Marz and Charlie had cracked open a heavily encrypted microchip that contained a wealth of information that not only seemed likely to help the team clear its name, but proved that Charlie’s father hadn’t been dirty, like they’d all thought. “And I’m so happy for you about your dad.” A wounded darkness passed through Charlie’s gaze, but he finally nodded. “Didn’t feel right without you there.” Pink filtered into his cheeks, and damn if that wasn’t as cute as it was sexy. Jeremy wasn’t sure anything had ever made him blush. “I’m just not—” Jeremy shrugged and looked down at Charlie’s chest again. Having seen the guy dress more than once, he knew that shirt covered lean muscle that ran from strong shoulders down to his narrow hips. Jeremy fisted his hands against the urge to burrow them under the hem of the tee. After weeks of looking, and wanting, he was dying to touch. Jeremy found Charlie hard to read though, and hadn’t wanted to do anything to scare him off. “—very good company right now. I’m sorry if that—” Charlie nudged Jeremy’s chin up with his hand, his fingers just barely touching Jer’s stubble-covered skin. But then his thumb landed softly against his lips. Jeremy’s heartbeat kicked up and his lips fell open. Slowly, oh so tentatively, Charlie stroked the soft pad of his thumb back and forth across them. “Charlie,” Jeremy whispered as arousal surged through his body, spiking his pulse, tensing his muscles, hardening his dick. Uncertainty poured off Charlie as the man’s hand trembled where it touched him, but those blue eyes absolutely blazed desire. No way was Jeremy imagining that. “You’re always good company, to me,” Charlie said in a low voice, his gaze dropping to Jeremy’s lips. Charlie leaned in closer, and closer still, and Jeremy could hardly believe the other man was the one to initiate this. But he was fucking thrilled. Jeremy swallowed, his lips anticipating that first soft brush. Charlie was so close his shaky breath caressed Jeremy’s lips. His pace was maddening but so damn sexy Jer could barely breathe. And then Charlie’s eyelids fluttered closed and he was right there… 

 My Review:


I have been waiting for 'JERLIE" for what feels like ages, although realistically I know it hasn't been that long...Laura Kaye has been getting this series out amazingly fast, I have just been watching these two dance around each other since book one and waiting for the moment that they both realize they are meant to be together.  

Jeremy is the owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, an all around ladies man, mans man, crazy t-shirt wearing, fun loving, big hearted guy.  His world has been turned upside down since opening up his home and shop to his brother Nick and Nick's old military team.  Charlie, brother to Nick's new girlfriend and father of Nick's old special operations team leader is a quiet computer genius who's caught Jeremy's eye. 

I have so many favorite pieces to this book besides just Jeremy and Charlie getting their HEA, I love how together they are both finding their place in the crazy world they have found themselves in.  Jeremy, even though he has basically given up everything for his brother, the team, and the women that have become involved with each team member hasn't felt that he was a valuable member of the group.  With Charlie's help I see him opening up even more and understanding that Jeremy is the rock and heart of this group.  And Charlie learns to believe in himself, to take chances and risks, to forget his fear and let go of his heartache. 

I also enjoyed that we got away from all the 'action' for a little bit.  This book is different from the others in that it isn't focused on the team and the main story line so much, this book is truly focused on Charlie and Jeremy and their finding of themselves and each other.

My only complaint really is I would have liked a longer book for these two. This is a novella and while I think it is fantastic I just wish we could have had more time with them.  I wish we could have delved deeper into who they are separately and together, to have watched them grow a bit more as a couple.  I think it is hard because we have all waited so long for this coupling that we want it all!  However, I know that we will continue to see them in the future and I am hopeful we will get some more quality time with them. I want in on their quiet moments. I know they have them, those moments where they just sit their together tucked away from everyone else, Charlie finally relaxed in one of Jeremy's crazy t-shirts and Jeremy with his laughing eyes just watching and listening as Charlie tells him all his thoughts and fears....sigh! 

This is a sure hit with any fan of the Hard Ink series. If you are new to the series, I highly suggest reading the other books first.  While you don't HAVE to have them read to understand this couple, you won't want to miss out on the build up or accidentally spoil any of the other stories before you have a chance to read them.  The books pick up right after the one preceding it and we had a pretty dramatic and rough end in Hard to Come By, so I think it is best that you start from the beginning.  

Happy Reading 
'Conquer your Fears'

"Conquering fear didn’t mean not being afraid, it meant being afraid of something and doing it anyway. It meant saying no to fear—no you can’t rule me, no you can’t hold me back, no you can’t keep me from the things I want the most. Not anymore.”

 
And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:


Hard as It gets

Hard As It Gets

  Hard as You Can

Hard As You Can

  Hard To Hold On To

Hard to Hold On To

  Hard To Come By Cover

Hard To Come By

Praise for the HARD INK SERIES: "TOP PICK! If you're looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you." ~RT Book Reviews Magazine


Author Photo   About Laura Kaye: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
   
 

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