Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.
Ever since hard-bodied,
drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal
Dean works, he’s shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little
sister’s sake, Crystal can’t get too close. Until her job and Shane’s mission
intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed.
Shane would never turn his back on
a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a
dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The
gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad.
He’s exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart.
All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold
on as hard as you can—and never let go.
Review: ~By Shelly
I rate this book 4 stars.
Hard As You Can is book 2 in the Hard Ink Series by Laura
Kaye. This book features Shane McCallan,
the incredibly charming and sexy southern boy, and Crystal Dean, the sexy waitress form the dance club.
The men from the book, Hard as it Gets, are back, and this
time they are looking for answers to find out the truth behind their
discharge. Shane cant stop thinking
about what has come of Crystal since she has helped them rescue Charlie from
the confines of Jimmy Church. He talks
the team into checking out the strip club, Confessions, so he can keep tabs on
Crystal, and he didn’t like what he found!
He made it his mission to rescue her from this abusive situation she is
in, not matter what it takes!
Crystal has no choice but to work at this shady dance
club. When her father passed away, she
was left with not only the debt that had accrued but also to care for her
sister. All she wants for her sister to
be the success Crystal could only dream about,
college, friends, a life away from the world that has Crystal in the
clutches. She will do anything to
protect her sister and if that means that she takes all the heat onto herself,
than so be it!
Can Shane find a way to help free Crystal from the dark,
shady, world that is swallowing her whole, or is she just in too deep to ever
be set free?? Read Hard As You Can by
Laura Kaye to find out!
Blog Blitz Excerpt Post
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Laura will also be hosting a Facebook party for
HARD AS YOU CAN on 2/25 from 12-9pm EST if you want to participate, please visit the link below.
Blog Blitz Excerpt Post
It’s
release day! And I’m so excited to share Hard
As You Can, the second book in the Hard Ink series, with all of you here
today! Hard As You Can follows the
surviving members of a disgraced Army Special Forces team as they fight to
regain their stolen honor, and finds their investigation crossing paths with a
waitress willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive and protect her younger
sister. For Shane McCallan, saving Crystal Dean is a mission he refuses to turn
down.
Today,
I’ve got a super sexy scene to share with you, one that was a total surprise to
me as I was writing it! I hope you enjoy this peek at the first time Shane and
Crystal find themselves alone with each other:
“Do
you like to dance, Crystal?” Shane asked in a low voice.
“Uh,
what? Why?”
His
smile was crooked, playful. “ ’Cause dancing’s something people do when they’re
getting to know each other.”
“Really?”
Maybe where he was from. Then again, she worked in a strip club. Dancing was
something people did to make money. So, okay, maybe her view of dancing was a
bit jaded.
“Absolutely.
Ask anybody.” The song faded away, followed by the announcement of a Southern
rock station’s call sign. A new song started, and Shane turned to her with a
smile. “Dance with me.”
Crystal
peered up at him without the slightest idea how to respond. Because her body
was saying hell, yes!, while her brain was screaming bad idea,
really, really bad idea.
He
stepped closer, arms raised, expression full of all kinds of invitation.
The
next thing she knew, her right hand was in his and her left had slipped around
his neck. Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod, ran over and over in her
mind. What am I doing? But then he tucked her hand against his chest and
tugged her against him with the hand that settled at her lower back. And the
closeness stole her breath.
He
moved them to the beat of the song, a slow, sexy, bluesy number she didn’t know
but would never forget. Some songs carried memories like the images were
imprinted upon the very lyrics themselves, and she had no doubt this would be
one of them.
All
of a sudden, the air in the room felt ten degrees warmer. As they swayed to the
beat, Shane’s body pressed against hers from thighs to chest. With every step
and move and turn, Crystal’s breasts rubbed against the hard plane of his chest.
Strong hands held and guided her body, making her want to feel them explore her
everywhere. Arousal rose like a waking dragon inside her. Cautious. Curious.
Dangerous.
This
was wrong and stupid on so many levels. But, scary as it was, it felt so
freaking good that she couldn’t force herself to pull away. One song. It’s
just a dance. Just a dance just a dance just a dance.
And,
holy crap, she wasn’t the only one aroused.
Against
her belly, Shane hardened.
Crystal
sucked in a breath, and he pressed his lips close to her ear. “We’re just
dancing here. That’s all. I promise,” he said. But the adrenaline was already
in her blood, setting her to a trembling she couldn’t control. Part curious
interest and part instinctive fear. “Sshh,” he almost cooed. “Just dancing.”
The
echo of her own thoughts from a moment before allowed her to draw a breath that
almost calmed. They turned and swayed to the music, moving closer, pressing tighter,
Shane’s lips so close to her face that she could feel his breath shudder across
her cheekbone.
He
was a fire she had no business playing with. She knew that even as she leaned her
face against his . . . and got exactly what she’d hoped for.
He
kissed her.
Just
a brush of his lips against her cheek, but a kiss all the same.
And
as much as it made her head spin, it was the little catch of breath in the back
of his throat that sent a jolt of electricity down her spine to settle low in
her belly. Light as a feather, he caressed her cheek, her temple, her ear with
his lips. With him, always such gentleness, so different from almost every other
sexual experience she’d ever had. It made her feel safe to allow this to
continue.
Between
them, his erection was firm, long, totally unyielding.
She
shivered, caught between interest and fear, desire a river moving faster and
faster inside her. The whole experience was a revelation—that her body had the capacity
to respond this way, that a person existed who could pull these reactions from
her.
For
a moment, she gave herself over to the dizzying sensations. In her mind’s eye,
she saw them undressing, fumbling their way back the hall, falling naked and wanting
on the bed. What would it be like, just once, to take something that she wanted
without worrying about anyone else, without being afraid? Just one wild, secret
night, all for her? What would Shane be like?
So that’s Shane and Crystal
for you! Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!
~Laura
“Edgy, sexy, and full of
suspense! A great read from a great new author!”
~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets
About Hard As You Can:
Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.
Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan
strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he's shown a knack for
getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister's sake, Crystal can't get too
close. Until her job and Shane's mission intersect, and he reveals talents that
go deeper than she could have guessed.
Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad. He's exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can--and never let go.
Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad. He's exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can--and never let go.
Read an Extended Excerpt of Book 1, Hard
As It Gets
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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