Hard as you Can
Hard Ink, Book #2
By Laura Kaye
ISBN# 9780062267917
Author’s Website: http://www.laurakayeauthor.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
The mission to rescue Charlie was a success! They got him out of the clutches of Jimmy Church and his gang and all the team members made it back safe, with minimal injuries. But Shane can’t help, but worry about the waitress that helped them, Crystal, and he can’t help but worry about the fallout she received after they left.
Shane convinces the rest of the team that they need to infiltrate the strip club, Confessions, once again so he can check on the pretty waitress. His blood is set to boil when he sees evidence of physical abuse on Crystal’s beautiful face. He knows he has to help her get out of the situation she’s in, but knows that it will take a lot of convincing on his part. This is Shane’s chance to right some of the wrongs over what happened to his sister, but it becomes so much more than that when he starts falling for Crystal.
But when Crystal’s life and the life of her sick sister hang in the balance, it will take Shane and all of his friends at Hard Ink and even some new allies to get them out safely.
Wow! What a difference a book makes! I really wasn’t crazy about the first book in this series, Hard as it Gets, mainly because I didn’t like the couple it centered around. But Hard as you Can does NOT suffer from that problem in the least!
I liked Shane in the first book, but I fell absolutely head-over-heels for him in this installment. What can I say? He was just so incredibly sweet, protective, and just plain adorable! He had his own demons of the past to slay in this book, letting go of the guilt he’s carried for the last 17 years.
I also liked Crystal as well. She wasn’t a strong badass, but she wasn’t exactly a wimp either. She has suffered unbearable things due to her father’s death. But she keeps going and keeps suffering so that her sister can live the life that Crystal couldn’t.
It was great to see how Shane and Crystal could lean on each other to help heal the other’s wounds. And, when they finally come together it’s just so incredibly sweet!
And, Bruno? What a cretin! Kaye sure managed to give us a villain that anybody can love to hate! But he definitely made for interesting situations, ones that ratcheted up Shane’s protective instincts. *Swoon* I love that boy!
“No. What he did out there, that wasn’t okay with you. Jesus. I could see it in your eyes, your body, the way your fucking hands shook.” He heaved a deep breath, like he was attempting to calm himself. “And if it wasn’t okay with you, it’s sure as hell not okay with me.” Closer, yet. So close his chest brushed hers. “In point of fact, I have a major fucking problem with a male forcing a woman to do anything,” he said, his eyes burning with molten silver. “But let me be clear, Crystal. Seeing him all over you like that would do bad things to me even if you wanted his attention. So my intentions here” –he pursed his lips and shook his head– “they’re not all honorable. Because I want you. I want you so bad I can hardly breathe.”
This is not a sex filled romance book like you may think based on its cover. But it is filled to the brim with emotion and I loved every drop! I went from not knowing if I truly wanted to read this book to not being able to wait for the next taste of this series!! Check this book out, you will NOT be disappointed!
And, I’ll leave you with a nice little piece of eye candy while I’m at it … Shane perhaps?
