Hard to Come By

Starred review from October 13, 2014
Rough sex and explosive fights power Kaye’s third Hard Ink novel (after Hard as You Can), a thrilling adventure that feels more like an action movie with a romantic subplot than a typical contemporary romance. Derek “Marz” DiMarzio may have been discharged from the Army, but he’s still on a private mission to find the person responsible for the ambush in Afghanistan that killed seven members of his team and destroyed his leg. He’s joined by friends who run a tattoo parlor and collaborate on covert operations. His inquiries lead him to fellow former soldier Manny Garza—and Manny’s sister, Emilie. She’s all too eager to answer Marz’s questions, hoping to understand why war changed Manny so much. Marz and Emilie sizzle right from their first meeting, and every sex scene is hotter than the last, balanced by tender moments where Marz just holds Emilie and helps her feel safe as Manny becomes ever more dangerous. New readers will head straight for Kaye’s backlist after powering through this installment.