Blog Tour ~ Hard to Come By (Hard Ink 3) by Laura Kaye ARC Review

Title: HARD TO COME BY

Author: Laura Kaye

Series: Hard Ink #3

Release Date: November 25, 2014

Synopsis:

Caught between desire and loyalty…

Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team—sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.

When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he's become. Derek’s easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn’t trust.

As the team’s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away…

Five Stars

An absolute Hard Ink page turner!

Hard To Come By is Derek DeMarzio’s story. While fighting in Afghanistan, Derek (a.k.a Marz) lost a leg while protecting his friend. Just knowing that bit of info, you get an idea of the kind of person he is. Not only is Derek loyal to those he cares about, but also he’s the first to make everyone laugh. He’s just an all around great guy who tries to find the silver lining in everything. I was delighted that he gets paired with someone like Emilie Garza, because she’s one helluva strong heroine!

The quest for truth leads the Hard Ink team in search for Emilie’s older brother, Manny. When Emilie meets Derek, her life is forever changed in dramatic fashion. Both their backgrounds twisted my heart, and both have to overcome the issue of trusting one another. While reading, I just fell more and more in love with the idea of these two together. The timeline is quick, but Laura Kaye still takes the time to carve out their romance at an acceptable and believable pace. The emotions drawn out for them seemed pretty convincing for the tense situation they’re all in. I appreciate how Ms. Kaye is able to do that in her writing.

One of the things I absolutely adored in this book is that we get a little more of Beckett Murda! He’s been quiet throughout the series, but he’s got a lot to say this time. So much goes on with the series arc in this installment that will leave fans satisfied and craving for more!

I love, love, love this series! Again, Laura Kaye has managed to keep me turning the pages with the perfect balance of action, suspense, tension, and steam. So far each book has been incredibly addicting. If you haven’t met the Hard Ink men yet, you really should!

Hard To Come By links:

Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Hard to Come By on Goodreads

Purchase before December 2, 2014 and
get awesome bonus content!

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

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To

Praise for Hard to Come By:

"Rough sex and explosive fights power Kaye's third Hard Ink novel, a thrilling adventure that feels more like an action movie with a romantic subplot than a typical contemporary romance. New readers will head straight for Kaye's backlist after powering through this installment." ~Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"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

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.

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Release Day ~ Hard To Come By (Hard Ink 3) by Laura Kaye Excerpt and Giveaway

 

We are beyond thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for Laura Kaye's HARD TO COME BY! HARD TO COME BY is the third full length novel in Laura's Hard Ink Series, published by Avon Romance. As a special treat, through December 2, pre-order Hard to Come By or purchase it during release week, and receive exclusive bonus content! Just fill out the quick form here! 

Buy at

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Hard to Come By on Goodreads

Pre-order or purchase before December 2, and get awesome bonus content!

Excerpt:

Marz was playing with fire. He damn well knew he was. But that didn’t make him want to pull away.

He just wanted more of the heat.

Marz nuzzled the side of Emilie’s face with his nose, his lips. She turned her face toward him and offered her lips. He couldn’t refuse.

Capturing her mouth on a tortured groan, Marz poured every ounce of his longing and confusion and desire into the kiss. They grasped at each other and Emilie turned in his arms. He pinned her against the railing and planted his hands in her hair. She opened to him and accepted his tongue, sucking him in until Marz’s blood ran hot and his hard-on ached. He ground himself against her and devoured every little moan and whimper and gasp she spilled.

Trailing kisses from her mouth to her jaw to her ear, Marz dragged a hand down her body and grasped her breast in his palm. She cried out and her head dropped back, drawing his mouth to her neck, where he licked and sucked and nipped as he kneaded her soft flesh. “You are so damn sexy.”

Her hand flew to his hair and grasped the back of his head. “Touch me,” she said. “Don’t stop touching me.”

Marz pulled away long enough to do a three-sixty scan. The lighthouse cast a dark shadow over them, and the pier was otherwise empty. His heart raced and his pulse hammered. He dove back in, trailing kisses down her neck to her collarbone, which he traced with his tongue. Her nails scratched deliciously at his scalp and her grip urged him down.

Through the thin material of her blouse and bra, he mouthed and flicked at her nipple. He shifted the deep vee of the neckline to reveal a lacy royal blue bra. He tongued her through the lace until she was panting and moaning and writhing against the railing.

“Oh, my God,” she rasped as he shifted her shirt and moved to her other breast. This time, he tugged the lace down to bare the deep pink of her nipple. She tasted and smelled like something fruity and sweet, and it made Marz hunger for more. “Derek,” she gasped. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Her palm cupped and squeezed the bulge of his erection through his jeans. His hips jerked into the touch, craving more of her, all of her. He groaned and it seemed to egg her on, because she pressed and rubbed her hand against his trapped cock until he was panting and imagining taking her down to the ground.  
“Jesus, Emilie, you’re driving me fucking crazy,” he said as he worked kisses back up her body to her mouth.

“I know just what you mean,” she said. Her molten hot gaze met his. Eyes hooded, lips shiny and swollen, cheeks flushed, she was a freaking goddess standing under the moonlit sky. He felt the force of her beauty every bit as much in his chest as in his cock.

“You sure about that, babe?” he asked as he took her mouth in a deep, wet kiss. “Because my imagination has me stripping you of those fuck-hot jeans.”

“Yeah?” She rubbed his cock in a long stroke with the heel of her hand. “Mine has us getting a room at the hotel back there. So I’m sure,” she said with a smile.

Marz’s heart hammered against his breastbone and his cock jerked, clearly liking her idea, too. Except, if he took her up on it, he was going to end up buried inside her for as long as she’d have him. And so long as this clusterfuck of a situation defined their relationship, he couldn’t take things that far. Could he?

 

About HARD TO COME BY:

Caught between desire and loyalty... Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team--sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there. When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he's become. Derek's easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn't trust. As the team's investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away...

 

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

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To

Praise for Hard to Come By: 

 "Rough sex and explosive fights power Kaye's third Hard Ink novel, a thrilling adventure that feels more like an action movie with a romantic subplot than a typical contemporary romance. New readers will head straight for Kaye's backlist after powering through this installment." ~Publishers Weekly Starred Review "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

 

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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Just Gotta Say by Laura Kaye Release Day Launch #Review #Giveaway

 

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Laura Kaye's JUST GOTTA SAY! JUST GOTTA SAY is a 17K-word erotic menage short story. JUST GOTTA SAY will be $.99 and available in print!!

 

Just Gotta Say is a super sexy friends-to-lovers story and a contemporary ménage a quatres.

Here’s the blurb:

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.

Just Gotta Say Excerpt:

The set-up: Callie’s most secret fantasy was just unexpectedly revealed to her three male roommates…

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.”

Buy Links

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Repost

I read Just Gotta Say back in 2011. Here is a repost of my original review. If you've read Just Gotta Say before, let me know what you thought of it. I'd love to hear your comments. Thanks!

Mmmmhmmm!

OK, let's get down to it, the men are HOT in this story and Callie is one lucky girl!!!!!

I usually don't read ménage stories, but being familiar with this author's other fictional work I thought I'd give this little novella a try, and I'm so glad I did! Just Gotta Say is all about having your fantasy fulfilled by your 3 best friends and opening your heart to one in the process. Ms. Kaye has a way of creating likable characters and a steamy plot filled with some funny moments and LOTS of sexy times! There's even romance too! It will leave you exhilarated and wanting to read it over and over again.

 

About Laura Kaye:

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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Hard To Hold On To (#HardInk 2.5) by Laura Kaye ~ Character Interview #Review #Giveaway

For today's tour stop, I'm so happy to present to you a character interview with Easy and my review of Hard To Hold On To! ~Grace

Let's begin...

G:  Hi Easy, I’m so excited for your visit today!

E:  Hey, Grace. *rubs hand over head* Thanks for having me.

G:  Can you tell us a little about yourself? Where did your nickname came from?

E:  Um, I’m not sure if there’s a lot to tell. I used to be in the Army. Spent a lot of years in Afghanistan with some very good men. That’s where I got my nickname. One of my teammates, Shane McCallan, combined the E and the C from my real name, Edward Cantrell, to come up with Easy. Fits me better, I think. Anyway, this past year, I’ve been working for my family’s business up in Philadelphia, and a few weeks ago, I caught up with some of my old teammates to figure out the bullshit related to why we were forced out of the Army. Oh. *smiles, just a little* And I met an awesome girl named Jenna. *smiles a little more* That was the best of it all.

G:  Being in the military has changed you so much. Do you have any regrets? If you could talk to your younger self, what would you tell him?

E:  Regrets? Hell, yes. Seven good men lost their lives on a dirt road in Afghanistan. Seven men who were as much like family as my flesh and blood. That I couldn’t save them, especially my best friend, Marcus Rimes, will always be a regret I carry inside. But carrying it is as much a privilege as it is a burden, because they’re not here anymore. And I will remember them every damn day I might have left. Being in the military changes everyone. It’s a given. It’s a culture as much as it is a job. So I wouldn’t change going on. It was one of the best things I ever did. Certainly, the place where I felt like I fit in the best. I would just tell my younger self that you have to hold on to and appreciate the things you care about as hard as you can, because they don’t always last, no matter how sure you are that they will.

G:  You met Jenna under somewhat unusual circumstances.  She’s pretty special to you. What would you tell her if she were sitting here with us right now?

E: *rubs hand over lips, shaping into a small smile* Yeah, it was a little unusual. But I also think it happened at exactly the right time. Wouldn’t change it for the world. I would tell her that I got her back. That I will protect her with everything that I have. And that she is very special to me. I’d also say thank you, because since I met her she’s had my back, too.

G:  Describe your perfect date night.

E:  Guys do not sit around thinking about perfect date nights. But as long as it was me and Jen together, it would be about as good as it could get.

G:  A few quickie questions...

Who inspires you the most?

E:  This is a hard one because I can’t say I’ve felt inspired in a long time. But meeting Jenna and reuniting with the guys have definitely made me want to be a better man, so I could say them.

G:  Favorite hobby?

E:  I’m a big fan of Eddie Murphy movies.

G:  You got any ink you can tell us about?

E:  I have a cross and chain that hangs around my neck and on my chest and the Special Forces knife and arrows on my arm. And I have three newer pieces on my ribs – a quote, my fallen teammates’ initials, and a little something from Jenna to help me remember to hold on no matter what.

G:  Thank you so much, Easy, for stopping by Sweet Spot Book Blog! It was such a pleasure to chat with you!

E:  Welcome.

Feel free to ask Easy or his author lady anything!

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

About Hard to Hold On To:

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.

Buy at

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Hard to Hold On To on Goodreads

Five Stars

I love reading novellas. I’ve read my fair share of novellas that leave you so unsatisfied and wondering what the whole point was, a tease perhaps? Not with this one! First, if you’ve been following along with the Hard Ink series, then reading Hard To Hold On To is a no-brainer! Second, Edward “Easy” Cantrell is counting on you to read what he’s all about. He’s finally speaking up and letting everything that he’s going through all flow out…it’s raw, it’s painful, and it all unfolds into a story with a very powerful message.

The timelines for the books of this series so far have run close together. This story begins immediately after where book 2 ended. I LOVE how Laura Kaye wrote the chemistry between Jenna and Easy. Jenna had just gone through something so traumatic. The way they’re written, you can feel that her pain is his pain at this moment in time. Easy totally gets her, and in return feisty and sweet Jenna is there for him when he needs her the most.

I loved that the other characters play a huge role in this story, too. What the others do just brought tears to my eyes! On the other end of the spectrum, Jeremy’s shirts continue to inject a bit of humor! I can’t wait to see what shirt he wears next. The romance and steam? This is Laura Kaye we’re talking about. She knows how to describe the emotions of when a man makes your belly flip-flop. Jenna is so freakin’ lucky! Remember, this novella is only the beginning for these two. I have a feeling we’ll see more of them in the next books.

Finally, Ms. Kaye covers a very serious and real issue in this story, one that veterans and those currently serving in the military deal with every day. I can tell that Easy was a very challenging character for her to write. I truly appreciate how genuine and realistic she wrote him. If anything, read this to be enlightened, to be touched, and to know that there will always be someone, somewhere willing to listen. Hard To Hold On To is absolutely worth reading!

*ARC received from publisher. This is my honest review.

Other Books in the Hard Ink Series:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Come By (11/25/14)

Hard to Be Good (3/10/15)

Untitled (7/28/15)

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

"Kaye's depiction of sexual tension and her sex scenes are masterful and this will appeal to fans of Maya Banks' KGI and Julia Ann Walker's Black Knight's series." ~Booklist

About Laura Kaye:

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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