I received this book for free from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hard as Steel by Laura Kaye Series: Hard Ink #4.5
Series Rating:
on September 22nd 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 128
Format: eARC
Source: Inkslinger PR
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After identifying her employer's dangerous enemies, Jessica Jakes takes refuge at the compound of the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club. Fellow Hard Ink tattooist and Raven leader Ike Young promises to keep Jess safe for as long as it takes, which would be perfect if his close, personal, round-the-clock protection didn't make it so hard to hide just how much she wants him—and always has.
Ike Young loved and lost a woman in trouble once before. The last thing he needs is alone time with the sexiest and feistiest woman he's ever known, one he's purposely kept at a distance for years. Now, Ike's not sure he can keep his hands or his heart to himself—or that he even wants to anymore. And that means he has to do whatever it takes to hold on to Jess forever.
I was heartbroken when I learned that the Hard Ink series was coming to an end, so hearing that there was going to be a crossover with the Ravens had me doing my Snoopy happy dance. And Laura Kaye did not disappoint. Ike and Jess were smoking hot. I knew they would be; the chemistry between the two of them sizzled from the very beginning.
Laura Kaye managed to pack a lot of story into this 100-page novella. A lot of the action happens at the same time as the action in the earlier books, so if you’re caught up with the series, some of the information they get from the other group will be repeated, but it’s a great introduction to some of the Ravens we’ll be seeing in later books.
It was like she’d unleashed a beast…. He was on her everywhere. His hands in her hair on her back, grabbing her ass and lifting her up so that her legs circled his hips…. And then he was kissing her, fucking her mouth with his tongue, absolutely devouring her.
Jess is great; she’s tough, smart, and takes exactly zero of Ike’s shit without tossing it right back at him. And there’s a lot of Ike’s shit. He has some misplaced guilt from his past that makes him unwilling to be with anyone beyond a one-night sand. He’s tough, and being around Jess doesn’t turn him into a giant softie, but she does get him to open up more than he typically does. They’ve both been dancing around their feelings for a long time, and they’ve been in this heightened situation for a few weeks now, so their emotions are running high and it’s so fun to watch.
I don’t know if I’d recommend this as a standalone. It focuses on Ike and Jess, but there’s a lot going on in the background from previous books. But this series is a must-read, so I can’t imagine why you’d try to read this one as a standalone anyway. Start at the beginning and definitely check out this series.
About Laura Kaye
New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller Laura Kaye is the author of over twenty books in romantic suspense and contemporary and paranormal romance. Among her many awards, she recently won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense of 2014 for Hard As You Can. A former college history professor, Laura grew up amid family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
