Book 3 in the ‘Get Ink’d’ series, ‘Hard Ink’, centers on tattoo-artist and professor, Mateo, and Get Ink’d tattoo-shop assistant, Bryan. Start your ‘Get Ink’d’ experience here if you wish; the book can stand by itself, even though the series is interconnected.
Ali Lyda offers readers an age-gap romance mixed with workplace and forbidden-love tropes for good measure. The best feature of the book is the great character development Lyda explores. Mateo sees himself as the protector in his relationships and comes to realize that sometimes it’s nice to have someone protect and give comfort to him. Bryan is struggling with low self-worth after years of juvenile detention then relying on ‘sugar daddies’ for support. They each endeavor to improve their individual self-destructive behaviors while working to form a solid loving relationship.
Once again, Connor Brown does a good job with narration. The tone he sets suits the story nicely. There’s a tendency to rush the words together, but that’s a minor personal quibble.
I was given a free review copy of this audiobook, at my request, and have now written this voluntary opinion.
Recommended.