Kay

Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Hard Ink #1
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
368 pages

Nick Rixey is a former Special Forces soldier who was less than honorably discharged after a mission went terribly wrong. Half of his group was dead and the rest were left with basically nothing. He and his team know their commanding officer was responsible. He is trying to find his way in civilian life as a process server and a tattoo artist. He works with his brother, Jeremy at his tattoo parlor. One day a beautiful blond walks in asking for his help and his life will never be the same.

Becca Merritt is a nurse. She had a fight with her brother and now he’s missing. He left her instructions to find Nick Rixey to help her uncover the dangerous secrets he thinks he’s stumbled onto. Becca is unprepared for Nick. Her reaction to him is powerful and combustible but she desperately needs his help to find her brother.

This is a solid start to what I think will be a good series. I liked the characters and the suspense was good. As far as the suspense story, it’s a cliffhanger. The love story though has an HEA. The chemistry was hot and you couldn’t wait for the sex to start. The love scenes were good and steamy. I just wish they would’ve been a little hotter. Anyone who likes military romantic suspense will enjoy this new series.

                       


 

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah Maclean

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Earl
Grade-A-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
384 pages

William, the Duke of Lamont lost everything he had when he was a young man. Everything but his title. One night that he can’t even clearly remember changed his life forever. A woman who disappeared, bloodied sheets and him standing accused of her murder. He became Temple, a bare knuckled fighter at the Fallen Angel gaming hell, where he is a partner with his three friends. All of which were exiled or shunned as well. All Temple wants is his life before that night back.

Mara Lowe is the woman from that night. She ran away all those years ago and reinvented herself. But now she has to face the past, hers and his. She offers him redemption in exchange for something she requires. But the cost of his redemption is her ruination.

I loved this book! I really needed to also. I was craving a historical and it was everything I needed it to be. This is a really good series. I didn’t classify it as that above because it isn’t really listed as one. Clear as mud? Temple and Mara’s story touched me in so many ways. Two tortured souls finding each other. Both victims of their childhoods and being under the control of everyone. Mistakes made in youth that cost them both everything. And both of them realizing that the road to redemption isn’t ever what you think it’s going to be. A sweet, moving and passionate love story. My favorite quote is as follows.

“Without the past, there would be no present. No future. I don’t regret a moment of it. It all brought us here. To this place. To this moment. To this love.”

All Fired Up by Kate Meader

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


All Fired Up (Hot in the Kitchen, #2)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Hot in the Kitchen #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
384 pages

Cara DeLuca is an events planner at her future brother-in-law’s restaurant. She beautiful, aloof and private. Very controlled. She ‘s OCD about her cleanliness. But inside she is fighting her own very difficult demons. Her need to control consumes her. She’s the black sheep, the misfit, the one not easily understood. She’s called Lemon Tart by her co-workers because she’s so standoffish.

Shane Doyle is an Irish pastry chef trying to take the world by storm. He also wants to connect with his half brother, who is unaware of his true identity. He also has some demons to overcome. Shane was horribly abused by his drunk father until he got big enough to hit back. His anger, guilt and shame are a constant battle for him.

These two unlikely almost strangers spontaneously marry in Las Vegas at a family get together. When the smoke clears, Shane wants to try to work at the marriage but not Cara. She wants her mistake to disappear. She has enough baggage, despite her desire for love and a family.

I ended up enjoying this book quite a bit. Kate Meader is a new author for me and I was unsure when it drug a little in the middle, if I wanted to finish. I even stopped and read another book and then came back to it. I’m glad I did. I love the premise of kitchen love stories. I love secret marriages in my romances. I felt for both characters due to what they endured in their pasts.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a racy, sexy read. There was a boatload of sexual tension and when it comes to fruition, you get rewarded with a 28 page sex scene that will rock your socks off.