Secrets from his past have scarred his heart. Can he trust her enough to learn to love again? In the eyes of the law, I’d atoned for the secrets of my past, but in my heart, I knew the debt I owed was too big to ever be repaid. I didn’t ask for forgiveness, because I knew I wasn’t worthy of it. Guilt weighed me down and scarred my heart.If it wasn’t for my art, I’d probably be dead. The truth … I’d probably be dead. The truth was, I had nothing else to live for. Or so I thought until Octavia Douglas came breezing unexpectedly into the picture.
Sexy, stubborn, and smart enough to know better than to throw her future away on a guy like me, Vivi made me question everything I thought I already knew. I suddenly craved the happy ever after I’d never dared dream of, and knew I didn’t deserve.
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I really enjoyed Zed and Octavia’s story! It was a slow build up to the relationship and the burn was there from the beginning between them but took them a while to get to the point of giving into their feelings. There was so much to Zed and his background and I really, really liked him! He was so hard on himself and Octavia seemed to just make her way into his life with growing understanding. It really was an interesting read and my first by Ms. Ellis. I look forward to reading more about the interesting secondary characters and future books in the series! I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the story!
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more from MV Ellis. Zed was brooding and extremely standoffish but you find out exactly why he is the way he is and it all makes sense. Now I loved Octavia, she was strong, funny and even though she was living a life she really didn’t want but didn’t want to disappoint her father she was no push over and could literally give it as good as she got from Zed. These two were instantly attracted to each other but wouldn’t acknowledge it cause they could not be more opposite but it just worked.
I voluntarily reviewed a advanced readers copy of this book
Zed is a story that will steal your heart and have you captivated by the characters. Octavia and Zed are complicated, stubborn and sometimes finding themselves with their foot in their mouth when it comes to talking to each other. These two will be caught out judging each other by outside appearances and coming up short to the actual truth. Their story is filled with pasts clouding their future. A story that will at times frustrate you, make you anxious and have you second guessing which way these two will go. A connection that radiates so strongly between these two that it will have you seeing stars. A book that is passionate and so seriously steamy that it will have you wiping the perspiration from your brow. A love story of not only romance but friendship and family.
Nothing like a good girl falls for bad boy story to get your engine going. This story has great build-up of tension until it explodes all over the pages in lots of steamy goodness. The writing is clear and the plot is nicely thought out and written well. The supporting cast of characters are fun and I found myself wanting the next installment of the series immediately after finishing one. This was my first read from MV Ellis but it definitely won’t be my last.
Just realised I never wrote a review for this book!! .. Brilliant story. Zed and Vivi are great characters and I loved their chemistry. I really felt for Zed, what a rough time he has had. Vivi helps him heal and live his life like he is meant to. Definitely recommend.
This is my first time reading this author and I have to say I am very glad I selected this book to read. There was a good depth to the characters and I found myself liking most of them. There was also a good amount of what happens when people make assumptions about others. One issue was not resolved but maybe it never will be? The profanity and sex may not be to everyone’s liking but there were some humorous twists in the analogies and unusual profane expressions used by the main characters. I liked Olivia for her honesty with herself. Although not completely original it was very well written.
I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Zed is a tattoo artist with a dark past. Olivia is an uptight lawyer. Xavier is the teenager that brings them together after he is in Zed’s tattoo shop drunk and looking to get a tattoo while he’s underage. Zed and Vivi are total opposites but they have an undeniable attraction and sexual chemistry. Vivi makes Zed think he may be able to have the life he wants but thinks he doesn’t deserve. A wonderful read that I enjoyed and recommend.
Well this book was emotionally deep. There are intense, steamy and snarky moments. You will get sucked into this book. It does jump off quickly and then it slows down and builds throughout.
We follow Octavia and Zed as they discover themselves and feelings. Zed has the bad boy vibe but with a heart of gold. Octavia is a good girl who feels that she is trying to do what is expected of her. They meet due to Xavier Cross who is a young rich kid who thinks he can do what he wants. Unfortunately, Octavia and Zed are at odds until something bad happens to bring them together for a second time. But will it last? Do they find out what Xav is up to? Will they finally admit to themselves how they filled?
Well if you want to know what happens then you need to read it. You won’t be disappointed.
Zed is a very complex tattoo artist that keeps to himself and tries to stay behind the scenes as much as possible. But when a teenager comes into his shop and causes trouble, he feels he needs to set a good example for the kid and sets out to do just that. But when things change and get complicated, will he back away and let things go? Or will Olivia make him see that there is more out there even for him? He may be dark, but under all of that, is a sweet man waiting to come out, for the right person.
Olivia is trying to work her way up the law firm and by doing things the other partners won’t do, may get her noticed in the right ways. But when she is charged with the troubled teenager, she has her work cut out for her. But can she work with Zed to make this work and keep her client’s son out of hot water? Will Olivia let her hair down to see Zed for who is he?
This story goes beyond boy meets girl, it has so many layers and wonderful characters. Definitely a must read. I can’t wait for more by this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
ZED is a wonderfully written story filled with unexpected moments, emotions and sexual chemistry that is off the charts.
As the name suggests Zed is one of the main characters a strong stubborn independent alpha straight talking tattooist.
Octavia Douglas is a corporate lawyer who works for a large firm, and one of their client’s son Xavier Cross who is a privaged boarding school student is constantly acting out. Octavia has been assigned to keeping him out of legal trouble whilst his father travels the world paying people around him to deal with Xavier.
Xavier decided to skip out of school to party drink and drunkenly decides his wants a tattoo, walks into the studio throws up all over Zed then pass out. Zed not wanting to risk his business license with an drunken underage person goes to Xavier’s phone and dials the last contact on the phone Octavia and states his address stating get here pick him up before he calls the cops the gangs up.
What sounds like the start of a joke you would hear in a bar, about a lawyer tattooed and a rich spolit 17year old turns into one beautifully written heartwarming emotional story riddled with missunderstands with heartbreaking memories and lots of humour. Highly recommended read.
This is the first book I have read from this author and it was simply amazing!! There were so many twists and turns in this story that it keeps your interest from start to finish because you don’t want to miss a single, solitary thing! Zed and Octavia have amazing chemistry and their story is the main one you read about, but the character Xaviar will also shock you and steal your heart in the end. Along with twists and turns, you also get sexiness, heartbreaking back stories, sadness and love. This one is a definite must read!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, and also steamy and romantic. I love books where the two main characters can’t seem to see what everyone else does, and this had that in spades. I also love a book that has a tortured hero and we’ve got that here too. I think I found that this was book one in a series and that makes me very excited, as I would love to read more about Raine and also Xavier!
If you like tatted up bad boys, or any of the things I mentioned above, I think you will enjoy this book.
I was given a free copy of this book which I am reviewing voluntarily.
MV Ellis can really tell a story! This book is emotional, full of heat and drama, and psychology, and lust, and it’s amazing. It’s one of those books you just can’t put down because you have to know what happens next.
This book has it all! the sass, stubbornness, chemistry, complicated history. each character brings their own in this book. this book sucks you in, once you start reading their is no stopping until you finish.
This is the first book that I have read from this writer. Wow this was gripping intense and interesting from the very beginning. Zed is a very intense character with many different sides. You get to know every single side throughout this storyline. I absolutely loved that. Vivi is quite the woman. She is a lawyer but she has a side of her that she doesn’t let many people see. Xavier brings these two together in the oddest way. Xavier is a rich kid that is pretty much on his own. He shows up one day at Zed’s tattoo shop. Throwing up all over the place. Zed ends up calling Vivi who comes to the rescue so to speak. And that is how these two meet and that is where the story kicks off. Xavier has to do work for Zed every Saturday Vivi has to be there to supervisor. Zed and Vivi are complete opposite. But more alike than they could ever believe. Zed has led a life that wasn’t his own. Vivi wants him to finally live the life he deserves. But will it be happy ever after for these two? Intense interesting well written enjoyable storyline with great characters. I absolutely loved this one.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
When Xavier comes into his tattoo shop, demanding Zed stamp his father on his ass, Zed knew this was NOT going to be a good day. When said teenager then throws up all over him, Zed loses his temper and calls the last nmber in the teenager’s phone to come get him. When Octavia turns up for Xavier, Zed knows his life will never be the same again. But Zed has demons, ones he cannot ever forgive himself for. Why should he be happy, after what he has done?
I liked this, I liked the A LOT! Not quite enough to stretch to 5 stars, but still, a rather excellent read.
It’s not immediately clear what Zed did, to hate himself so much, and when all is revealed, you see WHY does. It also takes time for the FULL story to come out. Makes you understand why he does what he does when he comes face to face with his brother after all this time.
Octavia is feisty, I liked her! She knows what she wants, even if she isn’t getting it yet. She knows Zed has demons, and the lawyer in her grills him, but he’s not giving up. She uses her own resources to find that out. Not really fair to Zed though, I thought!
The chemistry between them burns hot from the very beginning but it takes time for them to get to the main event. The fact that Zed ruins it, is besides the point! He knows Octavia is for him, but he can’t be happy, not at all, it’s not fair that he be happy.
Xavier, the spoilt, entitled teenager? He’s the one who brings them together. His letter to Zed towrds the end made me cry! And then I find out what Octavia’s letter says! More tears, for a one liner!
Book one in the series, and the first of Ellis’ books I’ve read. More, I really need more! I’m assuming the guys and gals who work in the ink shop will get a story, since it’s billed as the Rough Ink series. I hope that’s so, cos some interesting characters here! Maybe, just maybe, even Xavier will get his happy ever after, cos Lord knows the boy really does need it!
A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
You guys know how much I love finding new authors and this one was recommended by a very close friend which made it even sweeter! I couldn’t put this book down!!! (Except for the day I had a horrible headache and couldn’t function.) This book just had my attention from so many different angles!!
I loved her name, Octavia, it sounds (in my head) so beautifully! Her character made her sound like a “Corporate Barbie” as Zed describes but boy does she knock him on his butt! The freaking banter between these two not only turned them on but I’m sure will turn everyone on with the sexual tension! To be honest, I was quite surprised how this whole story turned out because things escalated quickly at the beginning. I wasn’t sure where she would take the story from that and still have a heck of an ending. Well, she proved me the freak wrong because not only did she still have my attention after things escalated but the suspense of it all had me so freaking curious I needed to know.
Now it’s a FULL DAY of reading!! I started again today around 23% and finished just a little bit ago and I think that was one of the best epilogue I’ve read in a very long time!!! I am so very curious about so many characters now though and I can’t wait to see what’s in the future!! This was a heck of a book to start me on and I’m hooked! Sexual tension, tattoos, fun banter, emotional issues and so much sex…. this book was not only hot but I cried, laughed and got nervous as crap! I’m honored I got to read this book!!
This is a new author and this story had me glued to this story. This is a hot read that will have you wanting more from this story.
Bad Boy meets Good Girl. Sure, it’s a genre that’s been done time and time again.
But that’s where the comparison to other stories I’ve read ends.
There’s just a whole lot more to ornery tattooist Zed, and wilful legal eagle Olivia, that had me so invested and intrigued in each of them as characters, that it made this story ‘unputdownable’ and a cert for my “must read” list for this year!
Zed is a complex man, so many sides like the dice marked in ink on his chest, he’s got some dark history and closely guarded secrets, yet despite the gruff exterior it’s clear there’s an honourable giving soul lurking in the shadows.
Olivia is a marvellous heroine; she’s determined and professional but there’s a vibrant lightness to her that clearly attracts Zed despite his better, or is that bitter, judgment.
It’s the verbal stoushes between these two characters early in their encounters which are the real highlight of this book. They are heavily laden with personal opinion, obstinance, and barely veiled humour, it was a joy to read!
And as their walls lower through shared history and their mutual appreciation grows so does the simmering chemistry between them reach fever pitch, and the resulting connection is sizzling hot.
But these two are far from on the same page and as such this is a tug of war of emotions and beliefs that is so brilliantly delivered I’m now a huge MV Ellis fan and am totally sold on the Rough Ink series.
Zed, the sexy and steamy start to the Rough Ink series
Wow, there is so much more going on under the surface of Zed’s story, and I loved every minute that I spent with it. Holy hell, this book was not only hot, it was steamy, passionate, witty and humorous as well – the whole package. Once I started, my tablet accompanied me everywhere to that I could get back into the book at every opportunity. MV Ellis is a new to me author, and I am her newest fan. Seriously.
Zed and Octavia (Vivi) were two characters who, on the surface, were total opposites. They clashed, even as the chemistry in the atmosphere between them was so strong that the secondary characters could barely wade through it. And, these guys were an absolute integral part of the book, as best friends and work mates are in our own lives.
Bought into each others world through the incoherent actions of a richly entitled teenaged Xavier Cross, Zed and Octavia soon find that they have more in common when they look beyond each others facade and give in too friendship and an extremely mutual attraction – there were some hot passages going on for sure! I unreservedly loved them both. Even as I wanted to figuratively junk punch Zed at times, his colleagues were there to do it for me, and Vivi didn’t take that treatment lying down either.
Zed is the epitome of damaged hero who has put his past behind him. He might have come out stronger in spite of everything, and he might not let his past define him either, but, it certainly still impacts his present and future. Until Xavier brings Vivi barrelling into his life and place of work.
And what I also loved about this book was, psychological insight from Vivi. Her character was strong and thoughtful, even as she had her own insecurities going on. She didn’t accept everything at face value, always looking for the deep-seated root of Zed’s emotional scars and the puzzle that is Xavier and his own motivations in life. She was Zed’s perfect person. Did I mention how much I loved them both??
Yep, I absolutely loved this book, and I can’t tell you enough about it. I’ll just say that there certainly were some plot surprises. I recommend it as great read, and well worth the money and time spent with it. 4.5 Stars.