Synopsis:
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…
My Review:
Hard To Be Good is book number 3.5 in author Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink series, a series I have loved reading since the very beginning, and follows the growing attraction between our fave tattoo artist, Jeremy Rixey, and our fave computer guru, Charlie Merritt. I’ve got two words for this book: freaking delicious.
While things had been getting more and more intense for the Hard Ink crew in their search for the truth, the situation has reached a fever pitch. In this story we catch up with the series right after a huge explosion leveled part of the rag-tag crew’s operation and ended up killing a couple important members of the group. It had rocked everyone. Including Charlie and Jeremy. Both of whom had different reasons for being completely unsettled. Charlie felt terrible that all of these people had been dragged into things because of his rescue. Jeremy felt like his efforts weren’t enough and he had an inability to help more than what he was already doing. The two of them almost felt like outsiders in a way. Luckily they had each other. To understand the shared troubles. To lend a shoulder to lean on. To share comfort in each other’s company. There had been a slow building attraction between them and although neither one was 100% certain, there was no denying something heating was simmering between them. This tragedy, as awful s it may be, could end up being the push they need to take their relationship to the next level…
I have loved both Jeremy and Charlie since this series began. Charlie for his silent courage and his genius tech brain. Jeremy for his loyalty and his amazing sense of humor. As each of the characters in this book were finding their mates, their partners, I was waiting for the day Jeremy and Charlie would both find theirs. Finding that mate in each other? A-freaking-mazing. Laura Kaye delivered. Not only on the heat and delicious tension building between these two. Not only on the physical magic that happens between them. Because, yes, she gave us those fantastic things, delivered on a sexy plate. But what I really and truly appreciated most were the emotions Jeremy and Charlie shared. The tender and special moments that we saw in the way Jeremy touched Charlie. The way Charlie looked at Jeremy. The things their body language showed what, at times, they didn’t know how to express in words. Those moments made me so very happy for these two incredible men. These men who deserve their happy ending and who Laura gave it to so beautifully and reverently.
What Laura gave Jeremy and Charlie was a beautiful gift and I will forever be grateful to her for taking the chance. For writing their story. I realize that even though it’s 2015, same-sex couples, in real life as well as in books, still don’t have the simple joy of being accepted as they are. The beings they were born as. It’s hard for me to understand the disapproval and the hatred over two people finding love. It’s hard for love not to be accepted because of something as unimportant as gender. I admire the people and the voices who take the chance…the bravery for putting themselves out there and risking scrutiny for simply embracing the love between two humans. I admire those people, and I stand with you and support you. I admire and appreciate Laura for writing this story. I thank her for loving love.
Thank you, Laura, for Hard To Be Good. Thank you for once again giving me a story that will stay with me and one I will recommend time and time again.
Five Loves
Excerpt:
Standing between Charlie’s knees, Jeremy held the man’s hands and gave him a million little kisses. For a long moment, they were just together quietly, their foreheads resting against each other.
Family.
Being with Charlie felt so damn natural. Like they’d always known each other. Like they belonged together. Like they were the best of friends—only so much more.
Family.
The realization that Jeremy was having these kinds of feelings about a man was surprising only because all his other encounters had been casual, just for fun.
But this was Charlie. And that made everything different. That made everything … more.
Jeremy stroked his knuckles down Charlie’s handsome face. “Thank you for that.”
Charlie gave a small smile. “You, too. I’ve never … done that before with someone who was pierced.”
“No? Was it different?” Jeremy asked.
His cheeks turned pink, just the littlest bit, and it made Jeremy smile. Charlie was adorable and cute and sexy as hell by turns. “It was like another sensation. Cool when your skin was hot. And harder against the back of my throat than I’m used to.” Charlie peered up at him from behind longish lengths of his hair. “I really liked it,” he said quietly.
Smiling, Jeremy pressed a kiss to Charlie’s temple. “I really liked it, too.” They both chuckled.
“I want you to know something,” Jeremy said, taking a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts … and his courage. But he didn’t want Charlie having any more doubts. Not about him anyway.
“Okay.”
“I’ve loved the things we shared today, Charlie. For real. But what I’m feeling for you isn’t just physical. It’s something more. I’m not sure what yet, I …” Jeremy shrugged. “… don’t want you to think this is just about sex for me.”
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And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:
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
Giveaway:
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.
Well said Jilly!
Thank you so much, Barb! I have to admit, I cried through the last part when I was writing the review <3