If you haven’t read the Hard Ink series by Laura Kaye, now is definitely the time to start. Hard Ever After is the perfect way to send the badass romance series off.

About the Hard Ink series

Three years ago, Laura Kaye sent us on a journey for redemption alongside Nick Rixey and his fellow servicemen, Shane McCallan, Edward “Easy” Cantrell, Derek “Marz” DiMarzio, and Beckett Murda. They had been wronged by their ex-commander, now dead, and were other-than-honorably discharged from the military because of it. They were all moving past it separately when Becca Merritt, their ex-commander’s daughter, brings trouble and opportunity to Nick Rixey’s door. That day began a quest for redemption that took a number of twists and turns along the way.

It’s just fitting that the series ends where it began, with Nick and Becca.

About ‘Hard Ever After’

The main story of the Hard Ink series was wrapped up in the final full length novel, Hard to Come By, but thank goodness Laura Kaye wasn’t ready to say good-bye. In this treat of a novel, we get a chance to wrap up the very last loose end and see the couple that started it all start a beautiful life together as man and wife.

Throughout the novella, Hard Ever After, we see each of the characters and what they are doing now that the threat has been vanquished. Everyone is helping get the warehouse ready to house their consulting business, as well as enjoying each other’s company. This book was a lovely way to get one last glimpse into their lives before we throw ourselves wholeheartedly into the Raven Riders spinoff series.

‘Hard Ever After’ review

This novella has been a long time in the making. We met Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt eight books ago and found ourselves absorbed in this mission for justice. We finally got closure in Hard to Come By, but soon after learned that Laura Kaye wanted to grant us one last wish. In addition to giving us Hard As Steel about Ike and Jess (and still-to-be-released Hard to Serve highlighting Detective Kyler Vance), we were going to get a wedding novella, and a say in who ties the knot.

If you were already a Hard Ink fan back in July, you probably voted and campaigned for your favorite couple. There were so many reasons to see just about any of these lovely pairs get hitched, but Nick and Becca won with 46% of the overall vote. That’s a pretty large margin considering there were six couples to choose from.

It’s a perfect fit, though. Nick and Becca started this whole thing. Becca’s love for her brother caused her to hunt out Nick Rixey to help her find him, and their instant connection was one of the reasons Nick agreed to help. We have watched them grow closer in the background while each of the other five couples found each other. It seems only fitting that they end the series with their declarations of devotion and love.

It wouldn’t be a Hard Ink novel without a little gunfire though, would it? It’s not all fun and games in Hard Ever After, as a loose thread from the investigation that they thought was tied up tight starts to unravel. Worse yet, that loose thread puts Becca, the only team member who works regularly outside the compound, in danger.

We wouldn’t want to spoil the fun, but rest assured that this story proves that each and every member of this new family is battle-hardened and ready to fight. We couldn’t have been happier with this story, and we can’t wait to (maybe?) check in from time to time through the eyes of the Raven Riders. (Please?)

Hard Ever After is available now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound. Get your dose of Hard Ink family love today!