Just Gotta Say by Laura Kaye-Review and Release Day Blitz

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Sandy

Just Gotta Say by Laura Kaye-Review and Release Day Blitz

Just Gotta Say
by Laura Kaye
Rerelease: October 14, 2014
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotica

Just Gotta Say

.99¢ ebook special: Amazon.com (paper copy) / Amazon.uk (paper copy)/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: release October 14, 2014

Callie Davis stumbles upon two of her three male roommates in a surprising, molten-hot midnight tryst and discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. Desire to play with them grips her, and she can’t stop fantasizing about having multiple men, particularly her three long-time best friends.

Callie is thrilled when a guys’ night out gives her the perfect opportunity to recreate her fantasy, with the help of a threesome porn video and a bag of sex toys. That is, until Lucas, Jack and Noah return early and catch her in the act. More than anything, the guys want to make her fantasy come true. But Callie has a secret, and she can’t help wondering if being with all three men will risk the future she’s always wanted with one of them.

As three strong sets of hands caress and undress her, Callie surrenders to desire, because sometimes you just gotta say…yes.

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: JUST GOTTA SAY is an erotic stand alone novella (short story) by author Laura Kaye that follows a few hours in the life of Callie Davis and the three men that she loves. This is a M/M/F/M storyline with graphic sexual imagery and language.

After finding two of her three male roommates having wild, passionate sex Callie fantasizes about a four way-a ménage with Lucas, Jack and Noah. Hoping to learn about the intimate positions and what to do, Callie rents a porn video and proceeds to teach herself the basics of sex with multiple partners at one time. What Callie never expected was to be caught in the act and for her roommates to offer up a fantasy night of passion. All three men are just as aroused as Callie but one wants something more than a one-night stand….he wants forever.

JUST GOTTA SAY is a fast paced, passionate and sexual storyline of erotica that focuses on four people who love one another and take advantage of their desires and needs. It is a story that is in the moment; there is very little background information, no detailed character analysis or childhood history revealed. It is what it is….a story of sex, passion and falling in love with your best friend.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

excerpt

The set-up: Callie’s most secret fantasy was just unexpectedly revealed to her three male roommates. NOTE: For mature readers only 18 +

The invitation he laid out for her—the invitation to be with them, to act out this fantasy for real with them—was completely outside anything she imagined possible.

She sat for a long moment, still mostly curled into herself. Her gaze lit on the rough bobbing of Jack’s Adams apple as he swallowed. His apparent case of nerves eased hers. A little. Soft, sandy-colored strands  brushed against her forehead. Her nose filled with the scent of him, all night  air and masculinity.

Callie took a deep breath, her body remembering her  unfulfilled arousal even as her brain struggled to keep up. “What are you  saying, Jack?” she whispered, buying herself time to think and needing him to  spell it out.

One hand stroked her back while the other combed her hair  off the side of her face. “I’m saying”—he nibbled at her ear, but this time his  lips lingered, his warm exhalation caressing her skin—“that the three of us want  to bring that fantasy to life for you. If you want.”

Every nerve ending tingled with the promise of what he  offered. Her heart rose from where it had plummeted into her gut and now  hammered against her chest. Images of the three of them kissing her, fucking  her, swamped her brain. Blood roared through her ears. “Are you teasing me?”

“Look at me,” he said, sliding his large hand under her  cheek.

The commanding press of his skin on hers skittered  electrical charges down her neck to her breasts. Her nipples hardened. She  acquiesced and sat up just enough to face one of her three dearest friends.

“We want to do this for you.” He quirked the sexiest of  crooked smiles and shrugged with one shoulder. “You know we’d be good  together.”

She didn’t know whether his “we” meant her and him or the  four of them. An encouraging voice in her mind said both interpretations were  true.

He cupped her neck, his grasp comforting and reassuring, and  brushed his lips against her right cheekbone. Her right eye. Her forehead. Tilting  his head to the other side, he repeated the action against her left eye, the  apple of her left cheek. She gasped when his last kiss fell on that tender, hollow spot just below her ear.

“What do you want, Callie? Whatever you want, we want. Always.”

About The Author Black and Blue

Laura Kaye New Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance. 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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Ink Slinger

Hard to Hold On To (Hard Ink 2.5) by Laura Kaye-Review and Release Day Tour

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Sandy

Hard to Hold On To (Hard Ink 2.5) by Laura Kaye-Review and Release Day Tour

Hard to Hold On To
Hard Ink 2.5
by Laura Kaye
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance, suspense
Release Date: August 19, 2014

Hard To Hold On To

*Did you know Laura is donating the proceeds of all the sales from the first two weeks to a national non-profit that assists wounded veterans?*

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 19, 2014

Hard to Hold On To on Goodreads

Edward “Easy” Cantrell knows better than most the pain of not being able to save those he loves–which is why he is not going to let Jenna Dean out of his sight. He may have just met her, but Jenna’s the first person to make him feel alive since that devastating day in the desert more than a year ago.

Jenna has never met anyone like Easy. She can’t describe how he makes her feel–and not just because he saved her life. No, the stirrings inside her reach far beyond gratitude.

As the pair are thrust together while chaos reigns around them, they both know one thing: the things in life most worth having are the hardest to hold on to.

•••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: HARD TO HOLD ON TO is the third instalment and first novella in Laura Kaye’s adult, contemporary Hard Ink romantic suspense series focusing on a tight knit group of ex special forces Green Beret soldiers trying to prove their innocence in an Afghanistan operation that went completely wrong. This is Edward “Easy” Cantrell and Jenna Dean’s storyline. Jenna had been held prisoner by the ‘Church Gang’ and Easy is one of the men who helped in her rescu . The storyline covers about a day in the life and the series covers about a week in total (to date).

HARD TO HOLD ON TO commences immediately following the events of HARD AS YOU CAN. Jenna is Crystal’s (Hard as You Can) younger sister and finds herself the victim of a kidnapping and human trafficking ring. With her rescue, Easy begins a slide into an emotional abyss where flashbacks and guilt begin to eat away at the heart and the mind. Suffering the effects of PTSD Easy knows that without help the nightmares and guilt will force his hand to do the unthinkable.

The relationship between Easy and Jenna fast becomes friends to lovers. Easy and Jenna have an immediate attraction to one another but Jenna’s injuries require that Easy try to remain distant. In the end, Jenna only wants and needs one thing-the strong arms of Easy to make all the evil-disappear.

HARD TO HOLD ON TO is a quick and intense read that looks at PTSD and the effects of war, death and tragedy on the human psyche. Some people are stronger and able to live through the atrocities while others struggle with the reality of what happened. The difficult times sometimes outnumber the good; the emotional shame may batter the mind so that the people suffering are afraid to reach out for help; and in the end everyone must be aware that experiences affect each individual differently.

HARD TO HOLD ON TO pulls the reader into an emotional struggle for one man whose guilt over the loss of a friend continues to burn on his soul. The rescue of Jenna is a reminder of the people in Easy’s life he was unable to save but with it will come the help from the unlikeliest of sources. Another fantastic and remarkable storyline from the pen of Laura Kaye.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Edelweiss.

Reviewed by Sandy

Excerpt 2

Easy tugged down the covers and gestured for Jenna to get in. She chose the side that would allow her to lie on the uninjured side of her face.

“After what you’ve been through, I don’t want to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable,” Easy said.

Propping herself on an elbow, Jenna shook her head. “You won’t. You’re the—” She blanched as if she hadn’t meant to say whatever she’d nearly said.

Which made Easy need to know. He crawled on the bed as if lured by the words. “Finish. That. Sentence.”

She eased back onto the pillow, red hair sprawling around her shoulders like silk, and stared up at him. And it took everything Easy had not to settle himself on top of her and tease the words out with his hands and tongue.

“The only one who makes me feel safe,” she whispered.

Satisfaction humming through him, Easy turned and stretched out on his back. Because if he kept looking at her while she was looking at him like that, he might not be able to restrain himself from having what he wanted. A taste. A chance.

None of which she was in any shape for. And given the shitstorm in his head, probably neither was he.

“Good. That’s good,” he murmured, blowing out a long breath. Damn, he was tired. Not just because he hadn’t slept much the night before. But because of the size of the load he’d been shouldering for the past twelve-plus months. If he could only figure out how to put it down. He scrubbed his hands over his face, wishing he could shake himself out of this fucking slump.

If Rimes were here, he’d kick Easy’s ass for being such a morose motherfucker.

But he wasn’t here. Which was the damn problem in a nutshell.

He dropped his arms to the bed and peered over at Jenna.

She lay on her side facing him, hand tucked under her chin, not looking the least bit settled or relaxed.

“Whatchu need?”

“You.” She spoke the word without any hesitation, any doubt, any seeming self-consciousness.

“Have me, Jenna. Whatever you want,” he said, his cock stirring no matter how hard he reined himself in.

Holding his gaze, she moved closer until her head rested on his shoulder and her body trapped his arm between them. And, suddenly, she wasn’t fucking close enough.

“Here,” he whispered, lifting his arm and inviting her closer. And damn if his heart didn’t soar when she fitted herself the rest of the way against him, her face against his throat, her breasts against his ribs, her leg curling up onto his thigh.

He wasn’t sure whose sigh was louder. All Easy knew was that this was the first time in more than a year he didn’t feel alone. Wrapping his arm around her, he couldn’t resist squeezing her in just a little closer.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her breath ticklish against his neck.

He laced his fingers between hers where they rested on his chest. “I gotchu. You just close your eyes and know I’m here.”

Hard Ink Series

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

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To (8/19/14)

LK Donation Promo Final 2

About the Author yellow
About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. 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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Ink Slinger

Dare to Resist (A Wedding Dare .5) by Laura Kaye-a review

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Sandy

DARE TO RESIST (A Wedding Dare .5) by Laura Kaye-a review

Dare to Resist

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 12, 2014

Trapped and tempted, this battle of wills rages all night long…

Kady Dresco and Colton Brooks click on a level that defies logic. There are only two problems. One, he’s her older brother’s irritating best friend, and two, they’re bidding on the same military security services contract.

When the competition heats up, Colton is torn between wanting to strangle Kady (and her annoying brilliance) and kissing her into submission. Which is a bad idea for a million reasons, because Kady’s submission is exactly what he craves. Being trapped in a tiny motel room with the object of his darkest fantasies will require every ounce of his restraint.

Kady doesn’t want his restraint, but Colton knows better. She deserves love, marriage, and a white picket fence—three things Colton can’t give her. But her proximity and the memory of their steamy near-miss three years ago slowly destroys his resolve. And he’s not sure how much longer he can keep his hands off…or his heart closed.

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DARE TO RESIST is the first storyline and novella in Entangled (Brazen) Publishing’s new contemporary, adult A Wedding Dare romance series. With five storylines in total, each consecutive instalment will focus on a different couple, written by a different author. DARE TO RESIST is Colton Brooks and Kady Dreso’s storyline and it is the introductory novella of the Wedding Dare series.

Dare To Resist follows Kady and Colton as they struggle with their mutual attraction to one another. Kady is the younger sister of Colton’s best friend and for all intents and purposes is off limits-not only because she is his best friend’s little sister but Colton’s sexual needs go beyond gentle and soft. With both in contention for government contract, Kady and Colton will find themselves stranded in a cheap motel during a monsoon that has hit the area closing airports, freeways and all transportation in and out of the city. What ensues is a friends to lovers story where Colton will discover that the little girl he has wanted for so many years is no longer the wide eyed teen that was his forbidden fruit.

The relationship between Kady and Colton is sexy, aggressive, vulnerable and new. Kady has wanted to explore this particular side of her sexual nature and Colton is the perfect man to bring it on.

The secondary characters are limited as the storyline focuses on the building relationship between two people who have wanted one another for years. By way of mention, Laura will introduce the upcoming characters in future Wedding Dare storylines

Laura Kaye has written a sexy and sensual introductory novella that is the stepping stone for the Wedding Dare series. Each successive storyline in the series will focus on one couple who will find love at Kady and Colton’s wedding.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

East of Ecstasy (Hearts of the Anemoi #4) by Laura Kaye-Review and Blog tour

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Sandy

East of Ecstasy (Hearts of the Anemoi #4) by Laura Kaye-Review and Blog Tour

East of Ecstasy
Hearts of the Anemoi #4
by Laura Kaye
Genre: paranormal, romance
Release Date: April 22, 2014

East of Ecstasy cover

.99cents for a limited time: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 22, 2014

Annalise Fallston made peace with postponing her big-city dreams to care for her ill father, but lately she’s been filled with a restlessness not even her beloved painting dispels. Worse, the colors don’t speak to her as they always have, and all her efforts produce dark, foreboding images of a dangerous man and a terrifying future.

Devlin Eston, black-souled son of the evil Anemoi Eurus, is the only one who can thwart his father’s plan to overthrow the Supreme God of Wind and Storms. But first, Dev must master the unstable powers he’s been given. Distrusted and shunned by his own divine family, he never expected to find kindness and passion in the arms of a mortal.

But Devlin’s love puts Annalise in the path of a catastrophic storm, and in the final Armageddon showdown between the Anemoi and Eurus, sacrifices will be made, hearts broken, and lives changed forever…or lost.

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: EAST OF ECSTASY is the fourth instalment in Laura Kaye’s adult, contemporary, paranormal erotic Heart of the Anemoi romance series. Based loosely on Greek and Roman Mythology, the Anemoi are the gods of the directional winds-North (Boreas), East (Eurus), South (Chrysander) and West (Zephyros) and connected to the seasons. This is Devlin Eston –son of Eurus- and Annalise Fallston-an artist whose paintings divine the future.

The focus of the storyline is the continued hunt for Devlin’s father Eurus-God of the East wind; the man whose anger and rage against his own absent and negligent father has been directed at his brothers and sons. As Eurus takes his vengeance out on his brothers, his son Devlin will bare the scars and the stigma of a man whose pain and hatred knows no boundaries. With the increasing storms battering the East Coast, Devlin will find himself drawn to a woman who ‘paints’ the future and the future looks pretty grim.

Devlin is the son of Eurus and has been caught in the maelstrom of his father’s revenge; a war between family that extends to the heavens and to Earth. With one brother already lost to the afterlife and another held captive, Devlin wars with his honor as it pertains to his extended family and his father. As the son of the most hated God of the Winds, Devlin will reap the pain and sorrow of a family who will continue to suffer losses at the hands of one of their own. It is only with the help of Annalise-a human with powers only a god should posses-that Devlin will earn his place amongst the Gods of the Winds.

The relationship between Annalise and Devlin is one of mutual distrust-strangers who meet under mysterious circumstances-but who are drawn to one another like moths to a flame. With her ability to ‘paint the future’ Annalise’s true powers and heritage will manifest themselves into a purpose known only to the gods. The sexual energy between our couple is fueled by the knowledge that Devlin believes himself unworthy of love-a man whose heritage has marked him for death-but a man who has never felt a kind touch; heard a kind word; or experienced love with another being.

The world building continues with the inclusion of the Wind Gods and their mates from each of the previous storylines. The reader is pulled into an emotional storyline of loss and revenge; betrayal and pain; forgiveness and letting go. It is said that when someone dies there is always someone waiting to be born and in this the Gods of the Winds will experience death and rebirth but not before many tears are shed and hearts are shattered.

EAST OF ECSTASY is a storyline with action, suspense and romance. It is a story about family and betrayal; about a man who is unable to let go of the past and in doing so destroys everything in his wake; and a story about saying goodbye to those that we love. Laura Kaye pulls the reader into an intense and imaginative storyline that will captivate lovers of both romance and mythology. If you have ever wondered why some storms are more intense than others think first about Hearts of the Anemoi and family feuds built from the power of the Gods.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Excerpt beige

EAST OF ECSTASY (Hearts of the Anemoi#4)

By Laura Kaye

You guys! I can’t believe release day for East of Ecstasy is finally here! This is the final book in my Hearts of the Anemoi series, which includes: North of Need, West of Want, and South of Surrender. The Anemoi were wind gods the Greek associated with controlling the wind, weather, and seasons. In East of Ecstasy, hero Devlin Eston is the heir to the East Wind which has long been associated with unluckiness, misfortune, and, thanks to Devlin’s father, even evil. Devlin himself has been the victim of father’s evil, and thereby finds himself an outcast among his own divine family. In this scene, heroine Annalise Fallston—who gets visions that she’s forced to paint in order to quiet them in her mind—sees Devlin for the first time. Here’s what she says:

Forcing the chaos in her mind away, Anna dipped her brush into the gray and stepped to the canvas. Motion captured her attention from the corner of her eye.

The Dark Man, the subject of her recent paintings, stood in the doorway and leaned against the jamb.

Anna jumped and her pulse raced, but this time, anger flooded in instead of fear. “I will deal with you on my own damn terms,” she said, taking a perverse amount of pleasure from putting a figment of her imagination in its place. Because that’s all he was.

He didn’t move or speak. Not that he could, since, you know. Figment.Of.Imagination.

Anna rolled her eyes, done with being scared and so pissed to have to do this again that she was nearly out of her mind. “I’m doing your damn painting already. So just leave me alone.” She cut her gaze back to the expanse of white, but the desire to see if his image would still be there if she looked again drove her to distraction.

Finally, she gave in and…he was still there.

Completely still.Blatantly scowling.Totally unfathomable.

Was this a vision? Another image she’d have to paint?

Her heart tripped into a sprint, and she couldn’t look away from him. Like the compulsion that forced her to paint these images, Anna couldn’t help but return his stare and memorize his masculine features. The sharp angles of his face, the harsh set of his mouth, the dark shadows around his even darker eyes.Black eyes. Blades of black hair hung low over his forehead and just touched the hooded shirt he wore under his short, scuffed leather jacket. He’d crossed his arms over his chest, and the position caused his biceps to bunch up under the worn leather. In fact, everything about him appeared worn—the coat, the threadbare jeans, the scuffed boots. None of it struck her as the kind of shabby chic you could buy in some upscale store for a small fortune, either. The whole effect was rough. Dangerous.Deprived.

Deprived? What a strange way of describing him. But as Anna’s gaze swept over him again, the thought stuck. For his height, he seemed thin, with his lean hips, clad in old black jeans, a trim waist, and pronounced cheekbones. Her fingers twitched around the nearly forgotten paintbrush. What would it feel like to cup that harsh face in her hand?

Anna gasped and tore her gaze away. She had to blink to pull herself out of the haze of thoughts. Frustration surged through her and tensed the muscles of her shoulders and neck. She didn’t want to be working on another of these paintings as it was, so the last thing she needed was to lose a bunch of time daydreaming. Or would it be daynightmaring?

As she stared at the blank canvas, the image of the shackled man behind the prison bars filled her mind’s eye.

Definitely the latter.

Curiosity pulled her eyes to the left again. The doorway was empty.

So, did you have a favorite line from the excerpt? Thanks for reading!

Laura

_______________________

Catch up on the whole series with the Hearts of the Anemoi ebook box set featuring the first three books: North of Need, West of Want, South of Surrender!

*** .99 cents ebook bundle for a limited time ***

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Hearts of the Anemoi box set

About The Author beige

About Laura Kaye:

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Ink Slinger

Cover Reveal-Hard To Hold On To (Hard Ink Novella) by Laura Kaye

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Sandy

Cover Reveal-Hard to Hold On To (Hard Ink Novella) by Laura Kaye

Laura Kaye is thrilled to share with you the cover to her next Hard Ink book, Hard to Hold On To which releases on August 19, 2014! Check it out:

Hard To Hold On To

Pre Order: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / iTunes

Jenna has never met anyone like Easy. She can’t describe how he makes her feel–and not just because he saved her life. No, the stirrings inside her reach far beyond gratitude.

As the pair are thrust together while chaos reigns around them, they both know one thing: the things in life most worth having are the hardest to hold on to.

Hard to Hold On To on Goodreads

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

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

A Note from Laura:

Hey guys! I am so excited about Easy’s book that I can hardly wait for August to get here! Easy’s character was a total surprise to me. When I initially plotted out the series, there were four surviving members of the Army Special Forces team and therefore I planned for and sold four book in the series. But then, when I sat down to write Hard As It Gets, all of a sudden the story demanded there were actually five guys, and Edward “Easy” Cantrell was born. And I’m so glad! Because Easy’s character is a totally tortured hero, which I adore writing! So I’m super happy that we added his story and this novella into the series, and I can’t wait for you to learn about Easy in Hard to Hold On To!

Is it August yet???

xo, Laura

Praise for the Hard Ink Series:

For Hard As You Can:

“TOP PICK! There is a sinister and desperate edge to this tale that will keep readers glued to their seats. Kaye has dark romantic suspense nailed!” ~ RT Book Reviews Magazine

“Hard As You Can is another five star read. The characters Ms. Kaye has created are wonderfully broken and the drama is gritty, but the burgeoning romance and the tight-knitted relationship of the team leaves you with a sense of redemption. A must read series!” ~San Francisco Book Review

For Hard As It Gets:

“Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!” ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward

“Sizzling romance… The intriguing tattoo parlor and military background will appeal to fans of Suzanne Brockmann and Lindsay McKenna.” ~Publishers Weekly Review

About The Author beige

About Laura Kaye:

Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2) by Laura Kaye-Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Sandy

Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2) by Laura Kaye-Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

Hard As You Can
Hard Ink #2
by Laura Kaye
Genre: contemporary, suspense, action, romance, adult
Release Date: February 25, 2014

Hard as You Can

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About the book: Release Date February 25, 2014

Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he’s shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister’s sake, Crystal can’t get too close. Until her job and Shane’s mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed.

Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn’t want him to uncover. Too bad. He’s exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can—and never let go.

•••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: HARD AS YOU CAN is the second storyline in Laura Kaye’s contemporary, adult, romance, suspense Hard Ink series focusing on five former Special Forces soldiers trying to prove their innocence from a mission that went horribly wrong. This is Shane McCallan and Crystal (Sara) Dean’s story and begins immediately on the tail of book one – Hard As It Gets. Nick and his men are hoping to extricate Becca’s brother Charlie from the men who hold him captive and Crystal Dean may be Charlie’s ticket to freedom.

The storyline follows Crystal as she is in desperate need of help if she is to ever save her life and that of her younger sister but Crystal knows that to run could mean the end. When her father’s past bleeds into her present, Crystal is caught between illegal activities and the law. Her only choice is to remain bound to a man and a job she does not want and hope that in the near future she will be able to escape. Enter Shane McCallan-the man who will become both her protector and her future.

The attraction between Crystal and Shane is immediate-there is no denying the heat-but Crystal’s life is not hers to command. As the storyline progresses, Shane will discover that Crystal and her sister Jenna are in danger and the people behind the threats are tied directly to the Special Forces mission in Afghanistan that all went to h*ll. Crystal has suffered horribly for her father’s sins and Shane will ensure that it will never happen again.

The world building continues from book one. We learn more about the men who have each other’s backs as well as the emotional scars that have kept them apart for so long. A family of survivors, our Special Forces soldiers will pull together to save those they love and get one step closer to the truth about what happened.

Laura Kaye writes from the heart-her storylines are about survivors –men who have survived the war in the Middle East only to return to a war on drugs, gangs and human trafficking -are all topics tackled in the stories of Hard Ink. Each member of the Special Forces team has a story to tell and a special someone to find.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

__________________________

Series Spotlight

Hard As It Gets
Hard Ink #1
by Laura Kaye
Genre: contemporary, suspense, action, romance, adult
Release Date: November 2013

Click HERE for our review of HARD AS IT GETS

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Hard As It Gets 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..

Q & A

HARD AS YOU CAN is your second book in the “Hard Ink” series (after USA Today bestseller, HARD AS IT GETS). What can readers look forward to?

Readers can look forward to tons of sexy alpha male goodness, awesome bromance between the Hard Ink men, more antics from the Hard Ink puppy, and another great love story between Shane and Crystal. But readers should also be ready for a book that is darker, more intense, and more emotional. This book pushed me to emotional places that were tough as a writer, and might be tough for readers, too. But I think that just makes the payoff at the end so much sweeter!

Describe Shane and Crystal. What are their best traits? What are their weaknesses?

Shane and Crystal are such an amazing couple to me. They’re each exactly what the other needs. Shane’s best traits are his protectiveness, his fundamental kindness, and his soul-deep loyalty (his southern accent and humor are also right up there!). His biggest weakness for sure is a tragedy from the past for which he blames himself—and it’s something that continues to motivate him in Hard As You Can. Crystal’s best traits are her courage, protectiveness, and selflessness—she’s willing to do anything to keep her younger sister safe. Her biggest weakness is also that selflessness, because the sacrifices she’s required to make are getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?

When a woman in trouble assists an ex-soldier’s covert mission to regain his team’s stolen honor, he finds a new mission to save her, too

What are you most excited about with this second book release?

I’m really excited to take readers deeper into these awesome characters and into the mystery behind the Hard Ink team’s ambush and discharge!

What books are you reading right now?

I’m almost done with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander (yes, I’m very late to the party but OMG JAMIE FRASER!!!). And I’ve recently devoured and loved Juliana Stone’s Offsides and Shelly Thacker’s time-travel historical romance, Forever His.

What can fans of your “Hard Ink” series look forward to next?

There will be two more Hard Ink books in 2014!

Hard to Hold on To – August 2014
Hard to Come By – November 2014

About The Author beige

About Laura Kaye:

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Second Anniversary Celebration: Laura Kaye Giveaway Prize Package

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Sandy

Second Anniversary Celebration: Laura Kaye Giveaway Prize Package

Today’s SECOND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION giveaway prize package has been graciously donated by the amazing LAURA KAYE. Laura is offering a paper copy (and swag) of HARD AS IT GETS (Hard Ink #1) to one lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

Click HERE for the link to Laura Kaye’s website.

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Laura Kaye giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK: Tall, dark, and lethal…

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge..

________________________________________

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1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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5. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.

6. Giveaway runs from February 9 to February 14, 2014

Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye-Review and Blog Tour

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Sandy

Hard As it Gets by Laura Kaye-Review and Blog Tour

Hard As It Gets
Hard Ink #1
by Laura Kaye
Release Date: November 26, 2013
Genre: contemporary, suspense, romance

Hard As It Gets

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK; Release Date November 26, 2013

Tall, dark, and lethal…

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge..

•••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: HARD AS IT GETS is the first instalment in Laura Kaye’s new contemporary, adult, suspense, action-filled, adult HARD INK series focusing on a group of ex special forces soldiers trying to prove their innocence in an Afghanistan military operation that went horribly wrong.

The premise of Hard As It Gets finds Becca Merritt at Hard Ink Tattoo Studio when her computer nerd brother Charlie goes missing and the only clue is a cryptic message to contact Rixey at Hard Ink Tattoo. Nick Rixey is a former special forcers soldier who once served under the command of Becca and Charlie’s father- Colonel Merritt- and wants nothing to do with Becca or her brother. Painful memories and the loss of friends has forced Nick to walk away from the life he once knew and the people he loved. But when Becca’s life is threatened, Nick gathers his former friends for another mission that will bring them one stop closer to clearing their names and uncovering the truth about what happened the year before.

The relationship between Becca and Nick is one of instant attraction but one that is initially subdued because of the circumstances surrounding Nick’s association with Becca’s father and the search for her missing brother. Nick wants Becca but knows that if the truth about what happened in Afghanistan were ever revealed he could lose Becca once her brother has been found.

The storyline is a suspense filled, action packed search and recovery for Becca’s missing brother and the people behind his abduction. Although the ex special forces friends are closer to clearing up their name, they are no closer to finding the people behind the operation and why they were the ones to take the fall. The story ends with the mystery yet to be solved but in doing so will allow each member to be front and center in a future storyline.

Laura Kaye pulls the reader into a heart pounding story about honorable men who have been placed in a dishonorable position because of one man’s greed and struggle for power. We are introduced to the surviving members of the special forcers team-each bearing the emotional and physical scars of that fateful day-and each with their own story to tell. Nick will come face to face with the ‘brothers’ he once served with and fought beside and, realize that pushing them away was the biggest mistake he could have made.

HARD AS IT GETS is a story about betrayal and loss; lovers and friends; retribution and honor. Laura’s grasp of the military life and the day to day struggle of those who survived will make you think about all of the soldiers who have returned only to remember those that they left behind.

Copy supplied by the author/publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

Excerpt beige

Hey everyone! I’m soooo excited to be celebrating my release of Hard As It Gets, the first book in my new Hard Ink series that follows the surviving members of a disgraced Army Special Forces unit as they follow new leads to uncover the conspiracy that saw them discharged from the military. Running their covert operation out of the back of Nick Rixey’s tattoo parlor, their mission brings them into all-out war against an organized crime ring. Along the way, the team finds love and support in unexpected places—but will they be able to regain their stolen honor?

Today, I wanted to share a sexy excerpt from the book where the action is heating up for Nick and Becca – ahem – enjoy!

Excerpt ~ Chapter 11, just after Becca has survived a kidnapping attempt:

Becca’s insides nearly vibrated with the need to know what the hell Nick wasn’t telling her. She’d hit the edge of her tolerance for any more mystery, even of the tall, dark, and achingly handsome kind.

His lips pressed into a grim line and his eyes flashed. “Becca, let’s just—”

“No.” She stepped right into his space and jabbed a finger into the granite of his chest. “Don’t put me off anymore. I deserve to know. I need to know,” she said, hating the strained pitch of her voice.

His expression went dark and his jaw ticked. She saw it in his eyes the minute he made the decision to spill. Her stomach plummeted to the floor. It was bad. He didn’t need to tell her that much. Everything inside her braced for the onslaught of bad news.

When he spoke, the words were even, straightforward, factual. “Someone ransacked your house. Picked the back door lock again. Went through just about every room.”

The brick walls bent and warped around her, but she shook off the dizziness and forced herself to focus on Nick’s face. His presence was the only thing grounding her. “Why would they do that? Could you tell if anything was missing?”

He shook his head. “The why of it I intend to figure out. I promise you. But the place was too much of a mess to—”

“Take me.” Becca pushed past him and hit the handle on the door.

Arms wrapped around her from behind. “Becca, we—”

“No!” She threw off the hold and scrambled away, her back coming up hard against the wall.

Nick’s expression was a roiling sea of emotion. Surprise. Fear. Anger. Concern. “I’m sorry. What just—”

“That was how he grabbed me.” She swallowed hard and shuddered at the remembered press of the man’s flesh against hers. “I’m sorry,” she rasped, embarrassment heating her face, despair and exhaustion sucking the fight out of her.

He came forward slowly. “Don’t apologize,” he said, his voice cranked tight. “And don’t cry.” His thumb swiped under her eye, once, twice, and then his knuckles caressed her cheekbone. The little touches were comforting, sweet, and she thought maybe he needed to give them as much as she needed to feel them. He tucked the loose strands of her destroyed ponytail behind her ear.

“I’m not crying,” she said despite the wetness plain on her face. She shook her aching head, then pressed her cheek into his hand. “I’m not.”

“I know.”

Guest Post beige
Introducing Nick and Becca from Hard As It Gets

I am absolutely thrilled to be celebrating the release of my sexy contemporary romance, Hard As It Gets, the first book in my new Hard Ink series. If you like sexy, gritty contemporaries, military heroes and themes, and even a little suspense, Hard As It Gets is the perfect book for you! *grins*

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt, the hero and heroine of Hard As It Gets. They just sizzled together on the page and I really enjoyed writing them. I hope you love them, too! So, without further ado, please meet Hard As It Gets’s Nick and Becca:

MEET HERO NICK RIXEY:

Becca’s first impression of Nick:
“I’m Nick Rixey. Who wants to know?”

Becca jumped at the deep sound of the man’s voice. Geez. How long had he been standing there? And, big as he was, how had she not heard him approach? It was like he’d materialized out of thin air.

The surprise of his appearance pounded adrenaline through her system. Her racing pulse had absolutely nothing to do with the bulge of his impressive biceps straining the sleeves of his black T-shirt, the hints of ink just visible on his upper arms, nor with his harsh yet darkly handsome face. And definitely not with the way his jeans hung on those lean hips. Right. Definitely not.

Given who her father was, or had been, this was the type of man she’d expected to find at the end of Charlie’s cryptic note. His dark hair was a little on the long side, but the hard edges and leashed strength of his body clearly read ex-military.

Nick’s Job: Process Server, Part-time Tattoo Artist

3 Words that Describe Nick: Tortured, Alpha, Heroic

3 Things he Loves about Heroine Becca Merritt: Her courage, her compassion, the way she takes away his hurt

Who could play Nick if the book was made into a movie? Tyler Hoechlin hung above my desk for months (in fact, he just may still be there!), so he’s got the look for sure!

MEET HEROINE BECCA MERRITT:

Nick’s first impression of Becca:
Becca Merritt was the all-American girl personified, with her fierce blue eyes and wavy hair the rich color of honey. Bet she tastes as sweet, too. And, damn, that body. It was all he’d been able to do not to gawk at the curves her fitted T-shirt hugged, or trace his eyes over the lace just visible through the thin cotton. It was like the sun had strolled through their front door, casting heat and light all over him. Only the haunted dark circles under her eyes ruined the analogy.

Becca’s Job: ER nurse

3 Words that Describe Becca: Loyal, Compassionate, Strong

3 Things she Loves about Hero Nick Rixey: His intensity (in everything), his strength, his willingness to help her and her brother

Who could play Becca if the book was made into a movie? With her wholesome prettiness, Blake Lively would make a good Becca Merritt!

Do you have a question for either of the characters or their author lady? Ask away and we’d all be happy to chat!

Thanks for reading!
Laura

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”
~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

About The Author beige

Laura Kaye-21

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