Review of Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2) by Laura Kaye

[Barbara Ann RS]

Laura Kaye has written another fantastic, thrilling installment in the Hard Ink series. If you enjoyed Hard As It Gets, then you do not want to miss Hard As You Can, which I enjoyed even more than the first book.  To follow the series, you do need to start at the beginning since the plot is a continuation of the external conflicts already introduced. The Hard Ink team is back in action as they search for the truth behind a cover up that cost five dedicated Army special ops soldiers their military careers and the deaths of their teammates under the command of the now deceased, Colonel Frank Merritt. Full of tension and suspense, Hard As you Can is a tantalizing blend of danger and heart-fluttering romance.

Hard As You Can picks up immediately following the events in the first book to elaborate on an unresolved subplot that emerged when the Hard Ink team rescues Charlie Merritt from the basement of a strip club run by notorious crime boss, Jimmy Church and his gang of “apostles” who are heavily involved in drug and human trafficking. During the climatic rescue, Shane McCallan meets Crystal, a server at the club who plays a role in facilitating the team’s escape.  Afterwards, Shane cannot stop thinking of Crystal and worrying that she’s in trouble and needs his help. Shane’s attraction to Crystal pulls him further into her dark world of abuse and torture.

Crystal is an amazing heroine; she’s a fighter, a protector, and a survivor. Because of her father’s association to the Church gang, she is forced to work for Church and endure the physical and emotional abuse that Bruno, one of the gang’s enforcers, doles out. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her younger sister, Jenna, innocent and safe from the seedy underbelly of Church’s organization. Driven by shame and fear, Crystal bides her time until she and Jenna can make their escape.  The horrendous abuse Crystal has already suffered isn’t graphically described, but over the course of the story, enough details are revealed for me to imagine the severity of her experience and understand the pervasive fear that dictates her life. I can’t help but admire her courage and her unwillingness to be broken despite her circumstances.

Crystal doesn’t trust easily, especially since the men in her life who are supposed to protect her have done just the opposite. So, when Shane barges into her life asking for help and offering protection, her reluctance to accept his help is understandable.  Pretty boy Shane is a hero that will absolutely sweep you off your feet. Crystal is shocked and awed by Shane’s gentleness and genuine concern for her. The hope he arouses in her is both frightening and thrilling. There are quite a few tender moments between them that tugged at my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Shane’s desire to rescue Crystal is fueled in part by guilt from his childhood but is mostly driven by the irresistible chemistry between them, and their emotion-packed romance is one I greatly enjoyed.

The cast of main characters from the first book continue to play significant roles in this storyline, including Jeremy with his quirky tee-shirt quotes and the adorable German Shepherd puppy, Eileen. Furthermore, the Hard Ink’s unexpected alliance with a motorcycle club also adds an element of intrigue to an already gripping story. Although the team is making progress in their mission to clear their names, there are still plenty of unanswered questions to keep readers waiting for the next book in this wonderfully engaging romantic suspense series.

 Source: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for an honest review.