Join in the Release Fun for HARD AS YOU CAN!

By Laura Kaye

Believe it or not, we are almost a month from the release of HARD AS YOU CAN, the second book in my bestselling Hard Ink series! And I've got some fun things for you to look forward to and consider joining!

HARD AS YOU CAN NEW RELEASE PARTY
Readers! Come one, come all, to my new release Facebook party! There will be tons of prizes and guest authors. This will be most of the day on February 25th. Go here to sign up.

HARD AS YOU CAN RELEASE DAY BLOG BLITZ PARTY
If you have a blog, consider hosting me for my release day blog blitz party and help me get the word out about the new book. Review copies are also available to be requested. Go here to sign up.

HARD AS YOU CAN BLOG TOUR #1
If you have a blog, consider hosting me for a week-long blog tour focused on getting reviews and excerpts out into the world. Review copies available. February 23-28. This tour will have an exclusive big giveaway. Go here to sign up.

And stay tuned for more ways to WIN and PARTICIPATE!

Releases February 25, 2014!

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. 

Pre-Order Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

“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 It Gets:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

Read an Extended Excerpt of Hard As It Gets

Buy at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Make sure you're ready for Book 2! Book 1 is $1.99 for a limited time!

If you've read Hard As It Gets already, did you have a favorite part? Thanks for reading!

~Laura
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It's Release Day for Laura Kaye's Hard As It Gets!

By Laura Kaye

It's finally here! The release of my new book - my twelfth book! - Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink #1)! I am so excited I can't hardly believe it! LOL Especially since people have been sending me pictures of Hard As It Gets in the wild everywhere - at CVS, Publix, WalMart, Kroger, B&N, etc.!

Here's what it's about and where you can find it!

“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 It Gets:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

Read an Extended Excerpt of Hard As It Gets 

Buy at Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon.uk | BAM | Kobo 
B&N | iTunes

All day on the 26th, keep your eye out for New Release Blog Blitz Posts! There will be Q&As, guest posts, excerpts, reviews, book trailers, and more! I cannot say THANK YOU enough to everyone participating in the blitz, so please turn out and support them!

Plus, don't forget to join my New Release Celebration on Facebook to win tons of prizes from me and 16+ guest authors!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

Meet Hard As It Gets' Nick Rixey!

by Laura Kaye

Hi everyone! Less than one week until the release of Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink #1)!!! I can't even believe it's almost here! 

Today, I want to introduce you to my hero, Nick Rixey, who's in a bad place at the beginning of the book. This excerpt gives a good look into the internal workings of the man:

Nick fell heavily into his desk chair and pulled his drawing into his lap. Following from Jeremy’s rough sketch, the half fireman, half soldier tattoo was nearly done, though that didn’t mean he understood why he kept letting his brother talk him into doing this. Part of it was that art had always been the one thing he and Jer had in common. Well, that and video games. That was about where it ended. Only a year separated them, but Rixey had been sports, and his brother had been books. Rixey had been parties and drinking and hell-raising of the usual teenage variety, and Jeremy had been quiet around everyone but his small circle of Goth and punk friends.

But there was more to it, and Rixey knew it. He continued to do these tats and apprentice toward a license he didn’t really want and had no intention of using in the long term because he was fucking floating through life.

No purpose. No plan. No mission.

For a dozen years, all he’d worried about was completing the mission and getting everyone home safe. In Afghanistan, his team had done counterinsurgency work, counternarcotics work, which had often been the same thing, and local police force training. It had been challenging, dangerous, and sometimes frustratingly thankless work, but it had given him the sense of purpose in life he’d been lacking as a younger man.

Now? Wish in one hand, shit in the other. See which one fills up the fastest. He chucked the pad to the desk.

The Army had given him more than just a purpose. It had made him part of something much bigger than himself, placed him in the middle of a brotherhood who understood him implicitly. Nearly a year later, he still mourned the loss of the six good men gunned down in the ambush. Eric Zane, Carlos Escobal, Jake Harlow, Walker Axton, Marcus Rimes, Colin Kemmerer. Their memory was a weight on his shoulders he was privileged to carry. But in not doing more with his life, he wasn’t doing enough to honor their memory. His survival should’ve meant something, shouldn’t it?

You do have a mission, shithead. Keep Becca safe. Find her brother. Get whoever is harassing them to back the fuck off. Maybe that’s why you’re still here.

Fair enough. It was a worthy mission. And if it filled the void for a few days, all the better.

A kind of peace settled over his shoulders—well, as close as he freaking got to anything in the same zip code as peace. And it was enough. Really, it had to be, didn’t it? With a last glance at his soldier-fireman, Rixey pushed up from the chair and made for his bed.

What was on the other side of his soldier identity?

Someday soon, he’d have to figure out the fubar of his career and find his own next mission. Wasn’t anybody going to drop that shit in his lap. But, damn, oh stupid thirty in the mothereffing morning was too early to put his brain cells to work on that particular conundrum.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I really enjoyed writing Nick's journey in Hard As It Gets, and I can't wait for you all to read more!

There are a TON of fun things planned over the next few weeks:

• Like the new Hard Ink Puppy FB page for some fun prizes!
• 11/21, noon, chat with me and Kay Thomas, author of Hard Target
• 11/26, blogs everywhere, release day blitz event
• 11/26, 12-9pm, Facebook New Release Celebration with guest authors & prizes
• 11/29-12/8, Hard As It Gets Blog Tour - with 2 Kindle Paperwhite 3G devices as grand prizes!

And don't forget: I've got a reward of some exclusive content for anyone who pre-orders Hard As It Gets (or who already has pre-ordered)! Submit proof of pre-order using this form, and on December 1 you'll receive my behind-the-scene notes and character dossier for the whole Hard Ink team!

Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward on HARD AS IT GETS

Pre-Order at Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt?

Thanks for reading!
Laura

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Hard As It Gets Winners!

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway for the signed copies of Hard As It Gets! The winners are:

Mary Preston

Elizabeth Haney

Congratulations!

Want another chance at Hard As It Gets and a bunch of other awesome prizes? Join my Facebook event for my release day celebration of the book on November 26!

And don't forget to look out for new chapter excerpts from Hard As It Gets each Tuesday on my Facebook page! Chapter 3 will be up tomorrow!

Thanks for reading!

Laura
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward on HARD AS IT GETS

Pre-Order at Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Hard As It Gets Video, News, and Giveaway!

By Laura Kaye

Less than six weeks til the release of Hard As It Gets and I'm getting very excited! I just finished the second book in the series, too (called Hard As You Can), and I just love being immersed in this world!

Now that we're getting closer, I have a number of fun things to share with you:

First, a video about the series. Yes, that's me being a little dorky but don't watch for me, watch for the hot tattooed guys!!! LOL



Second, Hard As It Gets had a very awesome week in reviews and I'm so excited because all three of these represent firsts for me: first review ever from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and first Top Pick! from RT Book Reviews! Take a look:

"Sizzling romance. The intriguing tattoo parlor and military background will appeal to fans of Suzanne Brockmann and Lindsay McKenna." ~Publishers Weekly

"TOP PICK! Joining the Avon ranks is hot new star Kaye, who kicks off a suspenseful and electrifying new series featuring tarnished soldiers trying to regain their stolen honor. The collision of Nick and Becca's lives makes for sizzling danger with a spicy edge. Kaye is one to watch!" ~RT Book Reviews Magazine

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

MEEP!!! LOL

Third, each Tuesday between now and 11/26, I'll be sharing a new chapter excerpt from Hard As It Gets on my Facebook page, so bookmark and come back each Tuesday to get a taste of the book before it releases!

Fourth, we've got a reward of some exclusive content for anyone who pre-orders Hard As It Gets (or who already has pre-ordered)! Submit proof of pre-order using this form, and on December 1 you'll receive my behind-the-scene notes and character dossier for the whole Hard Ink team!

Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward on HARD AS IT GETS

Pre-Order at Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Finally, it wouldn't be a celebration without a good old-fashioned giveaway, right??? So, leave a comment here AND like our blog's Facebook Page and be entered to win one of two signed paperbacks of Hard As It Gets! Ends 11:59pm EST on 10/25! Open to international! What to comment? Tell me your favorite military romance hero!

Thanks for reading!
Laura

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Cover Reveal for Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2)!

By Laura Kaye

Hey guys! I'm super excited to share with you the cover for Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2), a military romance and my current work in progress! Avon did a photo shoot for this cover. I first saw the raw images in May and about died I thought they were so wonderful. And the finished cover and stepback images are just amazing, too. See what you think:

Here's what it's about:

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.

And here's the cover and stepback images, an interior "second cover":

  

 

Add to GoodReads

Available for Pre-Order from Amazon | B&N 

What do you think???

Book 1, Hard As It Gets, releases November 26! Don't miss either one! Woohoo! Here's the info:

Five dishonored soldiers

Former Special Forces

One last mission

These are the men of Hard Ink

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees. 

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

"Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward on HARD AS IT GETS

Read Chapter 1 of Hard As It Gets

Pre-Order at Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Thanks for reading!

Laura

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These Are the Men of Hard Ink...#HardAsItGets #Giveaway

By Laura Kaye

I am super excited for the release this fall of my Hard Ink series, starting with Hard As It Gets on November 26! So I wanted to share a bit about the book and an awesome giveaway of goodies I just received from my editor!

Five dishonored soldiers

Former Special Forces

One last mission

These are the men of Hard Ink

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees. 

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...


I'm also very excited to share the brand new endorsement I got for the book from my absolute favorite author, #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward!!! Gah!

"Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward on HARD AS IT GETS

Read Chapter 1

Pre-Order at Amazon | B&N | iTunes

GIVEAWAY!

2 commenters will win an awesome set of Hard Ink swag, including a dogtag, signed cover flat, postcard with excerpt, Heroes series bookmark, AND a super fun Yay Our Troops! magnet and Got Your 6 pin! Giveaway is open to international! Good luck!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Laura

Visit Laura around the web:

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And the winners are:

Terrie Newton Fulk

Jennifer Betts

Congrats!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For the Love of Military Romance, Indeed! by Laura Kaye

Credit By His Boots

Hey everyone! Welcome to our new digs and to the first author blog dedicated to military romance! I wanted to share a little about why I love military romance, introduce you to my series, and pass along a funny or two!

I’m often asked why I write about military heroes, and I have a couple of answers to this question. First, I’ve worked for the Navy as a civilian professor at the U.S. Naval Academy for the past seven years, so I’m surrounded by military culture all the time. Not only do I find it fascinating, but I have a real respect for the people with whom I work, their families, and the midshipmen who are dedicating their lives to the service of their country. 

Second, the U.S. has been at war for a dozen years, touching a whole generation of Americans in some way. I think it's important to talk about what the impact of these wars have been on ordinary people. I'm interested in telling all of these stories - the stories of military combat, the stories of personal sacrifice by military members, the stories of sacrifice by families and loved ones, and the stories of loss and grief and post-service injuries and adjustment. Some of my most satisfying moments as an author have been when I've received messages from military spouses telling me how much I've gotten right, or how much a character's struggles with post-traumatic stress syndrome remind them of someone they know and love.


I also enjoy writing military history because I have quite a few members of my family who served in the military. My father was a Marine during Vietnam, and my grandfather served in the Army during World War II. An uncle I admire greatly is an active duty Army doc. And, of course, military romance is so much fun to write because military heroes are strong and brave and alpha and protective, and that makes them so very compelling to read and write about! All of these have influenced me in writing my military romance series.

I have two military romance series underway: the Heroes series and

the Hard Ink series. The first two books in the Heroes series are out and follow the stories and struggles of prior Army Special Forces soldiers back from war. The Hard Ink series releases in November and is about how five members of an Army Special Forces unit who survived a deadly ambush in Afghanistan only to be blackballed in a conspiracy that ruined their reputations, ended their careers, and tarnished their honor, fight back to clear their names. I'm having so much fun writing both!

Finally, take a few minutes and watch this spirit video by midshipmen at the Naval Academy. Too freaking funny, guys, for real!

Why do you enjoy reading military romance?

Thanks for reading!
Laura

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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