Hard As It Gets: A Hard Ink Novel

Hard As It Gets, first in the Hard Ink series, introduces us to Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt. Becca is the daughter of Nick’s former Army commander, whom Nick had a falling out with, subsequently forcing him to leave the Army. A cover-up in which Nick is implicated and deaths of his brothers in arms, leave Nick bitter and jaded. However, when Becca comes to his tattoo studio looking for help in locating her missing brother, Nick needs to reevaluate the core values of loyalty and honor.

Ms. Kaye has created characters with incredible depth and emotion and a storyline with many twists and turns. The heat between Becca and Nick is unmistakable and the brotherly relationship between Nick and Jeremy is endearing. The story itself is riveting and grabs your attention from the very first chapter. We are introduced to each of the characters that will be featured in subsequent novels and learn about their history and the secrets that haunt them to this day. It is fast-paced and an easy read. Five stars for Hard As It Gets, and I look forward to the next installment, Hard As You Can.