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Hard Bitten
Rule number one: hands off the witness
As a newbie public defender, Mark Eliades is stuck defending DUIs. But when his latest client gets charged with felony arson, the result is a career-making case he has to win. The last thing he needs is to fall for his key witness. Any hint of impropriety and his credibility will be shot, along with Mark’s case. But the more time Mark spends with the jaded private investigator, the more the rules began to blur.
Tired of endless nights chasing people who don’t want to be found, private investigator Lukas Nystrom needs a change—and a guaranteed paycheck. When a high-profile contract with the state falls in his lap, he can’t screw it up. Even if it means ignoring his growing desire for the hotshot attorney who hired him.
Convinced their client is innocent, Mark and Lukas team up to investigate the crime. With the trial looming and every lead gone cold, they work relentlessly to uncover the truth. But keeping things professional while searching for evidence they need might just make this the hardest case they’ve ever taken on.
This book is approximately 90,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Anne Scott
As a newbie public defender, Mark Eliades is stuck defending DUIs. But when his latest client gets charged with felony arson, the result is a career-making case he has to win. The last thing he needs is to fall for his key witness. Any hint of impropriety and his credibility will be shot, along with Mark’s case. But the more time Mark spends with the jaded private investigator, the more the rules began to blur.
Tired of endless nights chasing people who don’t want to be found, private investigator Lukas Nystrom needs a change—and a guaranteed paycheck. When a high-profile contract with the state falls in his lap, he can’t screw it up. Even if it means ignoring his growing desire for the hotshot attorney who hired him.
Convinced their client is innocent, Mark and Lukas team up to investigate the crime. With the trial looming and every lead gone cold, they work relentlessly to uncover the truth. But keeping things professional while searching for evidence they need might just make this the hardest case they’ve ever taken on.
This book is approximately 90,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Anne Scott
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2018
1 person is currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
M.K. York
2 books20 followersMichelle K. York is a medical student on the West Coast with a master’s degree in psychology. Necessary Medicine is her debut novel. Previous work includes fanfiction, as well as academic publications on the social perception of sexual orientation and the intersections of sexual orientation and gender identity with patient experience in the medical profession.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
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March 8, 2018DNF. I don’t enjoy this writing style.
March 9, 2018
The story was good and focused on the investigation. The MCs were great; they're both sensible and hard-working person with integrity. The interaction between them felt natural and the romance developed slowly and convincingly without them needing to fuck every time they met.
Why I give this book 3* instead of 4* is because I found the writing a bit stilted and some of the sentences had unusual structure that made me read the sentences twice or thrice to understand them. I don't know if it's just me (because I'm not a native speaker) or if it's because the setting of the story, which is, to my understanding, not the author's world. Because I didn't find this problem with the author's first book which was set in medical world (FYI: author is a medical student with a master’s degree in psychology).
Putting this problem aside, if you want to read a story about public defender and PI who think with their brain and not their dick and do their job well, here's the book for you.
Why I give this book 3* instead of 4* is because I found the writing a bit stilted and some of the sentences had unusual structure that made me read the sentences twice or thrice to understand them. I don't know if it's just me (because I'm not a native speaker) or if it's because the setting of the story, which is, to my understanding, not the author's world. Because I didn't find this problem with the author's first book which was set in medical world (FYI: author is a medical student with a master’s degree in psychology).
Putting this problem aside, if you want to read a story about public defender and PI who think with their brain and not their dick and do their job well, here's the book for you.
January 25, 2018
3.5 Stars Hard bitten was a good criminal suspense however has very little focus on the romance. I enjoyed the storyline and would read more as I do love a good suspense story.
February 27, 2018
This was a fantastic! Another compelling read. I loved both Mark and Lukas. <3 York writes lawyers and courtrooms almost as well as she writes residents and hospital drama. Such good stuff!! Full review coming to www.thenovelapproachreview.com
March 5, 2018
M.K. York is an incredibly talented writer. Her debut novel, Necessary Medicine, made my Best Books of 2017 list, and I enjoyed her brand-new release, Hard Bitten, immensely also. York writes lawyers and courtrooms almost as well as she writes residents and hospital drama. I found myself completely sucked into the story from the very beginning, and loving the characters, the setting—it’s set in Seattle—and the writing style. York’s writing is so vivid, I can perfectly picture every scene. She includes tons of great detail, but it never feels like too much. And, she’s also fantastic with dialogue. Whether the tone of the scene calls for snarky, or serious, or funny, it’s always smart and on point. I thought this exchange was so hilarious:
In addition to the fabulous dialogue, one of the story’s biggest strengths was the characters themselves. Both MCs were well-developed and relatable. Mark is a public defender who is just out of law school and new to the PD’s office. Since he’s so green, the most action he typically sees are the many DUI cases that come through the office, but one of the new cases he’s working ends up being much bigger than the DUI portion that was dropped in his lap. It turns out the woman is also accused of felony arson and murder. Lukas is the private investigator the police force hires to do some additional digging around for the case. l loved both Mark and Lukas a lot. Mark is so self-deprecating and funny and easygoing. And, I appreciate how seriously he takes his career, and how enthusiastically he tackles everything. This bit, where he’s trying to relay some information to Lukas, was so funny…
I liked Lukas so much, too. What’s not to like about a burly Scandinavian guy from Ballard?!? Heh. I told you I liked the setting! But, more about that in a minute…Lukas as great instincts and patience which both lend well to being a good private investigator; and the arson/murder case is very important to him. Working for the state on any kind of permanent basis would mean steady work, and fewer crappy night gigs and stakeouts. It’s critical that he work every lead and leave nothing hanging on this one. And, as the story progresses and Lukas and Mark grow closer, the case matters more and more to him because of how much it matters to Mark.
The romance here was definitely more back burner than it was in Necessary Medicine, but it was still very much a part of the story. The attraction was certainly there, but the risks with them being involved while the case was ongoing were too high, so the UST was off the charts. We’re talking record levels of UST. They have a couple of minor slips while working the case—including a super hot moment while on a stakeout—but they work very hard to stay on the ethical and moral high ground. I really loved them together. They were a great team, both romantically and professionally.
The case itself was intriguing, though I thought it maybe wrapped up a liiiiittle too quickly. There was a fabulous twist at the seventy-five percent mark that I did not see coming at all, and much of the last quarter of the book had me firmly on the edge of my seat. So good and suspenseful. Overall this book was fantastic. Another compelling read that I absolutely could not put down. If you like dramatic suspense, don’t hesitate to check this one out. I love this author’s work.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
“Yeah, and then when they find you dead they know exactly who to prosecute!”
“They already know,” Lukas pointed out. “I texted you, there’s a record now.”
“Oh, you texted me. Great. Great! Love it. Foolproof fucking plan! Because I’m definitely the cops, with a shit ton of resources at my disposal to ensure the safety of the citizenry—oh, wait, I’m not, I’m just some fuckass public defender.” Mark’s voice got distant. “Lena! Can you tell our investigator he’s being a fucking moron jackass?”
In addition to the fabulous dialogue, one of the story’s biggest strengths was the characters themselves. Both MCs were well-developed and relatable. Mark is a public defender who is just out of law school and new to the PD’s office. Since he’s so green, the most action he typically sees are the many DUI cases that come through the office, but one of the new cases he’s working ends up being much bigger than the DUI portion that was dropped in his lap. It turns out the woman is also accused of felony arson and murder. Lukas is the private investigator the police force hires to do some additional digging around for the case. l loved both Mark and Lukas a lot. Mark is so self-deprecating and funny and easygoing. And, I appreciate how seriously he takes his career, and how enthusiastically he tackles everything. This bit, where he’s trying to relay some information to Lukas, was so funny…
He called Lukas to tell him, but Lukas didn’t pick up, so he just left a short message. He felt like he probably sounded too excited for a murder case. He didn’t care. This was interesting. For once in his godforsaken career, something more than a driver’s license was at stake.
I liked Lukas so much, too. What’s not to like about a burly Scandinavian guy from Ballard?!? Heh. I told you I liked the setting! But, more about that in a minute…Lukas as great instincts and patience which both lend well to being a good private investigator; and the arson/murder case is very important to him. Working for the state on any kind of permanent basis would mean steady work, and fewer crappy night gigs and stakeouts. It’s critical that he work every lead and leave nothing hanging on this one. And, as the story progresses and Lukas and Mark grow closer, the case matters more and more to him because of how much it matters to Mark.
The romance here was definitely more back burner than it was in Necessary Medicine, but it was still very much a part of the story. The attraction was certainly there, but the risks with them being involved while the case was ongoing were too high, so the UST was off the charts. We’re talking record levels of UST. They have a couple of minor slips while working the case—including a super hot moment while on a stakeout—but they work very hard to stay on the ethical and moral high ground. I really loved them together. They were a great team, both romantically and professionally.
The case itself was intriguing, though I thought it maybe wrapped up a liiiiittle too quickly. There was a fabulous twist at the seventy-five percent mark that I did not see coming at all, and much of the last quarter of the book had me firmly on the edge of my seat. So good and suspenseful. Overall this book was fantastic. Another compelling read that I absolutely could not put down. If you like dramatic suspense, don’t hesitate to check this one out. I love this author’s work.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
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October 8, 2025I should have trusted Heather's DNF because I could not read further than two percent and yes, *solely* because of the writing. I cannot explain why. I just really really did not enjoy this writing style. Even fifty cents I paid for this book did not help.
Here is an example of how our main duo meets.
“Mark took the hand on autopilot, finally looking up from his crap, and the first thing that struck him was how pale the guy was. White-blond hair, light blue eyes. “Nystrom, huh? Scandinavian?” “However did you guess.” The guy kept a straight face that cracked into a little smile after a minute. His face was a carved block of granite, with a small divot in the chin where the chisel had slipped. “Sorry, I’m Mark Eliades.” “I figured. Nice to meet you.” Mark was pulling his chair in as he sat. “You too. You live out in Ballard?””
Here is an example of how our main duo meets.
“Mark took the hand on autopilot, finally looking up from his crap, and the first thing that struck him was how pale the guy was. White-blond hair, light blue eyes. “Nystrom, huh? Scandinavian?” “However did you guess.” The guy kept a straight face that cracked into a little smile after a minute. His face was a carved block of granite, with a small divot in the chin where the chisel had slipped. “Sorry, I’m Mark Eliades.” “I figured. Nice to meet you.” Mark was pulling his chair in as he sat. “You too. You live out in Ballard?””
April 25, 2018
4.5 stars
Synopsis: Mark is a lawyer just out of college working for the public defender. He mostly represents petty crimes, and his clients are almost always guilty. He hasn't been the lead on a case, until they get a client who is accused of murder, and who was stopped for drunk driving. Mark is lead on the drunk driving case, but is helping his boss with the murder charge. Since the firm's investigator is busy with the murder aspect of the case, Mark gets Lukas, who is a private investigator.
Lukas is a private investigator who is trying to get his business off the ground. He wants to do a good job in order to have more cases come his way. He has some friends, but mostly keeps to himself, or is working on cases.
Lukas and Mark are pretty sure that Mark's client is innocent, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Lukas has to do most of the investigating, as the police are sure that they have their person.
What I liked: how professional Mark and Lukas were and how they were all about doing the best job for their client. There was an attraction there, but they didn't act on it and weren't running around being inappropriate, or even really thinking with their hormones.
Mark was inexperienced as a lawyer, and didn't get the big case, even though he was allowed to help on it. He was thorough in doing everything that he could for his client in order to prove her innocence, within the scope of the law.
Lukas is hard working and believes in doing the best job possible. He is in the closet to his friends and family, but really wants a relationship. Even though he knows that nothing will happen between himself and Mark, Lukas admits his attraction to the man.
The legal aspects of the story seemed to be well researched and true to what really happens.
What I didn't like: the writing itself was a little dry and clinical, which made it a little hard to connect with the story.
Overall impression: I read "Fish Out of Water" by Amy Lane before I read this and didn't notice the similarities until I read "Red Fish, Dead Fish" after I read this. Similarities: one MC is a PI and the other a lawyer. Both deal with corruption on some level in the justice system. The PI is definitely not affluent, and not from a family that is well off. However, I liked this story better. I thought that the characters were well developed and the story wasn't told at a frenetic pace.
*I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Synopsis: Mark is a lawyer just out of college working for the public defender. He mostly represents petty crimes, and his clients are almost always guilty. He hasn't been the lead on a case, until they get a client who is accused of murder, and who was stopped for drunk driving. Mark is lead on the drunk driving case, but is helping his boss with the murder charge. Since the firm's investigator is busy with the murder aspect of the case, Mark gets Lukas, who is a private investigator.
Lukas is a private investigator who is trying to get his business off the ground. He wants to do a good job in order to have more cases come his way. He has some friends, but mostly keeps to himself, or is working on cases.
Lukas and Mark are pretty sure that Mark's client is innocent, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Lukas has to do most of the investigating, as the police are sure that they have their person.
What I liked: how professional Mark and Lukas were and how they were all about doing the best job for their client. There was an attraction there, but they didn't act on it and weren't running around being inappropriate, or even really thinking with their hormones.
Mark was inexperienced as a lawyer, and didn't get the big case, even though he was allowed to help on it. He was thorough in doing everything that he could for his client in order to prove her innocence, within the scope of the law.
Lukas is hard working and believes in doing the best job possible. He is in the closet to his friends and family, but really wants a relationship. Even though he knows that nothing will happen between himself and Mark, Lukas admits his attraction to the man.
The legal aspects of the story seemed to be well researched and true to what really happens.
What I didn't like: the writing itself was a little dry and clinical, which made it a little hard to connect with the story.
Overall impression: I read "Fish Out of Water" by Amy Lane before I read this and didn't notice the similarities until I read "Red Fish, Dead Fish" after I read this. Similarities: one MC is a PI and the other a lawyer. Both deal with corruption on some level in the justice system. The PI is definitely not affluent, and not from a family that is well off. However, I liked this story better. I thought that the characters were well developed and the story wasn't told at a frenetic pace.
*I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
April 10, 2018
3.75 stars rounded up
Sometimes you need the RIGHT moment to read a certain book. I actually DNF'ed the first book of this author -- I got the ARC, but I found it boring, so I didn't review it.
But then this week, I am in the mood for books that are less romance-y ... and I have also finished a couple of murder mystery, so I thought, heck this one was about a lawyer and a private investigator who works the case, and my friend said that the romance was not up and front... why not, right?
And I was right. Because I found this to be HIGHLY enjoyable. Sure, the romance is not very strong, but that's what I want! I enjoyed the mystery part -- we have a dead body, ladies and gentlemen!
Mark Eliades is a young public defender who works on a case where his client is charged with DUI but then also roped into a felony-arson that results in someone being dead. Lukas Nystrom is a P.I. who is asked to help the public defender office -- as in Mark's case -- with more information about the client.
I enjoyed the process of the case, I especially thought the courtroom scene to be spectacular -- Perry Mason, indeed! Plus I love the banters/humor in between, whenever Mark, Lukas, or their friends are together.
The only thing that stopped me from making this a solid 4* was this particular part with Lukas' "in the closet" status ... I need that information to make this a true HEA.
In any case, MAYBE I will get back to this author's first book. Who knows, I am able to finish that one with the mood I am in :)
Sometimes you need the RIGHT moment to read a certain book. I actually DNF'ed the first book of this author -- I got the ARC, but I found it boring, so I didn't review it.
But then this week, I am in the mood for books that are less romance-y ... and I have also finished a couple of murder mystery, so I thought, heck this one was about a lawyer and a private investigator who works the case, and my friend said that the romance was not up and front... why not, right?
And I was right. Because I found this to be HIGHLY enjoyable. Sure, the romance is not very strong, but that's what I want! I enjoyed the mystery part -- we have a dead body, ladies and gentlemen!
Mark Eliades is a young public defender who works on a case where his client is charged with DUI but then also roped into a felony-arson that results in someone being dead. Lukas Nystrom is a P.I. who is asked to help the public defender office -- as in Mark's case -- with more information about the client.
I enjoyed the process of the case, I especially thought the courtroom scene to be spectacular -- Perry Mason, indeed! Plus I love the banters/humor in between, whenever Mark, Lukas, or their friends are together.
The only thing that stopped me from making this a solid 4* was this particular part with Lukas' "in the closet" status ... I need that information to make this a true HEA.
In any case, MAYBE I will get back to this author's first book. Who knows, I am able to finish that one with the mood I am in :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 15, 2018DNF
June 17, 2018
A well written story about Mark, a fairly new public defender and Lukas a private investigator who is helping the public defender office. It is more procedural and less on romance. But I never felt it while reading because the MCs honesty, ethics and belief in what they do comes across so wonderfully. And when they do take their relationship forward, there was no disbelief on my part. The courtroom aspect seems true (to my very meagre knowledge). Just that it kept me focussed on page. As my friend put it in her review- "this is book where the MCs think with their brains and not with their dicks". No TSTL scenes or scenes where the characters get on with sex when they should actually pay attention to what is happening around them.
I recommend this book for those who love books where sex does not overwhelm the plot.
I recommend this book for those who love books where sex does not overwhelm the plot.
March 14, 2019
Smart and interesting. New favorite author.
January 21, 2018
There was not enough romance in this story. I felt that the emphasis was more on the investigation with just too much details. The romance between the two characters was very plain. The pace was too fast.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review that is all my own.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review that is all my own.
March 25, 2018
Despite the title, this is *NOT* about vampires. Or werewolves.
A recent law school graduate is starting his career working at the Seattle Public Defender's office; he meets a PI who is doing contract work for the PD's office; they fall in love but oh noes! CANNOT be together because... reasons, mainly. Anyway, the plot resolves itself, never worry, and it's a nice HFN at the end. I really liked the author's evocation of place in the book. It had that quality of the best mysteries in that way.
I was surprised that the PI character is closeted -- that's not a super-common choice in m/m books anymore, and the resolution to that in the epilogue was too quick (you can't set that up as a plot point and then ignore it). Also, given that the PD is not closeted, you shouldn't have him *perfectly* okay with that.
Anyway, I learned a lot about public defenders, so there's that! Like for instance -- did you know that in most states, even indigent defendants are charged fees to be represented by PDs? I suppose that's just one of those privilege things that had never occurred to me, but yeah, our systems are so broken. :(
I liked the characters, liked the setting -- and you definitely want them to get together.
A recent law school graduate is starting his career working at the Seattle Public Defender's office; he meets a PI who is doing contract work for the PD's office; they fall in love but oh noes! CANNOT be together because... reasons, mainly. Anyway, the plot resolves itself, never worry, and it's a nice HFN at the end. I really liked the author's evocation of place in the book. It had that quality of the best mysteries in that way.
I was surprised that the PI character is closeted -- that's not a super-common choice in m/m books anymore, and the resolution to that in the epilogue was too quick (you can't set that up as a plot point and then ignore it). Also, given that the PD is not closeted, you shouldn't have him *perfectly* okay with that.
Anyway, I learned a lot about public defenders, so there's that! Like for instance -- did you know that in most states, even indigent defendants are charged fees to be represented by PDs? I suppose that's just one of those privilege things that had never occurred to me, but yeah, our systems are so broken. :(
I liked the characters, liked the setting -- and you definitely want them to get together.
March 5, 2018
This was delightful! It’s not exactly what I was expecting, but I was quite happily surprised. While I wouldn’t exactly call either character “hard-bitten,” I think the title does set the tone for a riveting legal procedural mystery.
Mark, a fairly new public defender in Seattle, is excited when one of the senior defenders invites him to help her with a case since their defendant is the same – a woman who was initially pulled over for a DUI (Mark’s speciality) and then later charged with setting fire to her former place of employment and killing her ex-boss. While Mark’s client is undeniably a train wreck, things aren’t quite adding up, and they hire Lukas, a private investigator, to help dig out the truth. Lukas’ good looks – “Super Scandinavian. He looks like you could buy a kit for him at IKEA” – and Mark’s sense of humor initially draw them together as friends, and after an is-he-gay/isn’t-he-gay dance, their developing attraction is hard to ignore. But, with Mark’s insistence on not sleeping with a witness – and as PI for the case, Lukas will definitely be one – can they be friends without benefits, or will this case end their relationship before it begins?
As a warning – this is an extremely slow-burn romance, and there’s a lot more focus on the murder investigation than the romance itself. I still enjoyed the romance, and I thought the tension was maintained well, but this definitely reads more as a legal procedural / mystery with a hefty dose of romance than a straight-up romantic suspense. And by extremely slow-burn, I mean that it takes the majority of the book before the characters get together, though they have an extremely good reason, as it could jeopardize the case if it’s found out they’re in a relationship. At first, I was vaguely skeptical of how that would happen, but Ms. York worked in a conversation that laid out, exactly, how badly a cross-examination could go if there was even a hint of impropriety. Luckily, they have a few slip-ups along the way that helped keep the thread of sexual tension running throughout the rest of the plot. Also, thankfully, the mystery was engaging, and I was fascinated by the descriptions of life as the new guy public defender and an established private investigator. I loved Mark and Lukas’ banter together, from arguing over what kind of snacks to bring on a stake-out to teasing Mark about his complete lack of knowledge of how to paint a room. It was the perfect mix of two people who were interested in each other but still wanted to remain professional, and they both had amazing senses of humor. The secondary characters were also fun, from Lukas’s football buddies to Lena, the other public defender, and provided more insight into Mark’s and Lukas’s backgrounds.
In terms of cons, it’s mentioned that Mark is out of the closet – there was actually an article written about him being an openly gay legal student – while Lukas is not, and while they both talk about it with each other, I’m not certain exactly why Lukas being in the closet was emphasized so much. In the main part of the book (there is a short epilogue), they barely get into a relationship before the book ends, so I wasn’t expecting a big “coming out” scene. The best I can guess is to show that Lukas has very little experience with relationships, as compared to Mark (who reminisces about kissing the football tight end under the bleachers). It’s quite possible that cishet me is completely missing the point!
Overall, this was a riveting, enjoyable read. Recommended for anyone looking for a suspenseful legal thriller with a dose of romance!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Mark, a fairly new public defender in Seattle, is excited when one of the senior defenders invites him to help her with a case since their defendant is the same – a woman who was initially pulled over for a DUI (Mark’s speciality) and then later charged with setting fire to her former place of employment and killing her ex-boss. While Mark’s client is undeniably a train wreck, things aren’t quite adding up, and they hire Lukas, a private investigator, to help dig out the truth. Lukas’ good looks – “Super Scandinavian. He looks like you could buy a kit for him at IKEA” – and Mark’s sense of humor initially draw them together as friends, and after an is-he-gay/isn’t-he-gay dance, their developing attraction is hard to ignore. But, with Mark’s insistence on not sleeping with a witness – and as PI for the case, Lukas will definitely be one – can they be friends without benefits, or will this case end their relationship before it begins?
“‘I can’t—you can’t ask me to stop being what I am.’
‘And what is that, exactly?’
‘I believe in the letter of the law. It’s what I do. It’s all I do, and I’m good at it. Finding, finding compromises, sure, but I can’t—violate it, and still do what I do. I can’t sit there and know I’m doing the wrong thing.'”
As a warning – this is an extremely slow-burn romance, and there’s a lot more focus on the murder investigation than the romance itself. I still enjoyed the romance, and I thought the tension was maintained well, but this definitely reads more as a legal procedural / mystery with a hefty dose of romance than a straight-up romantic suspense. And by extremely slow-burn, I mean that it takes the majority of the book before the characters get together, though they have an extremely good reason, as it could jeopardize the case if it’s found out they’re in a relationship. At first, I was vaguely skeptical of how that would happen, but Ms. York worked in a conversation that laid out, exactly, how badly a cross-examination could go if there was even a hint of impropriety. Luckily, they have a few slip-ups along the way that helped keep the thread of sexual tension running throughout the rest of the plot. Also, thankfully, the mystery was engaging, and I was fascinated by the descriptions of life as the new guy public defender and an established private investigator. I loved Mark and Lukas’ banter together, from arguing over what kind of snacks to bring on a stake-out to teasing Mark about his complete lack of knowledge of how to paint a room. It was the perfect mix of two people who were interested in each other but still wanted to remain professional, and they both had amazing senses of humor. The secondary characters were also fun, from Lukas’s football buddies to Lena, the other public defender, and provided more insight into Mark’s and Lukas’s backgrounds.
“Lukas turned his back to Mark and bent down to put the beers in the fridge. His jeans were worn so thin (full! of! holes! Mark’s brain unhelpfully supplied with great emphasis, circling them and underlining like sports commentators drawing plays on the video of the field, arrows, skin visible here) that very little was left to the imagination, and his shirt was long-sleeved, but painfully tight.”
In terms of cons, it’s mentioned that Mark is out of the closet – there was actually an article written about him being an openly gay legal student – while Lukas is not, and while they both talk about it with each other, I’m not certain exactly why Lukas being in the closet was emphasized so much. In the main part of the book (there is a short epilogue), they barely get into a relationship before the book ends, so I wasn’t expecting a big “coming out” scene. The best I can guess is to show that Lukas has very little experience with relationships, as compared to Mark (who reminisces about kissing the football tight end under the bleachers). It’s quite possible that cishet me is completely missing the point!
Overall, this was a riveting, enjoyable read. Recommended for anyone looking for a suspenseful legal thriller with a dose of romance!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 4, 2018
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Hard Bitten was a good 4 star read.
Mark is a public defender who has an opportunity to take his career to a higher level with his current case. Lukas is a private investigator who is contracted to work on the arson investigation and helping Mark is a great change that he has needed for awhile.
While investigating they discover some secrets their client had failed to share. Lukas does some undercover work to try and get some more information. As they work together feelings start to develop. Can they keep things professional? Will they find out the truth and help their client?
We get some mystery, suspense and a light amount of romance. The secondary characters added a good element to the story. I did find myself skimming pages at times and I would have liked to have seen a little more on the romance part. The ending was good and the epilogue leaves you at a good place, I can’t help but wonder if we will be seeing more from these two.
This is my first read from M.K. York. I look forward to reading more from her.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
March 12, 2018
A suspenseful story.
Hard Bitten is the second book I've read by M.K. York and I enjoyed it. I'd call this more of a suspense/mystery story with a romance thrown in, rather than a romance, but I liked it all the same.
Mark is a public defender and Lukas is a Private Investigator who is helping to gather information to help Mark's client. I found some of the dialogue a bit stilted at times and the two MCs (main characters) didn't really interact that much outside of the working relationship before falling for each other. It was still a good story but a bit more attention to the romance would have made it even better.
Some might call this a slow-burn romance – the first real sex scene doesn't happen until page 354 (out of a 395-page book) – but once the sex comes into play it's pretty hot.
While Hard Bitten (not sure how they came up with that title – it sounds like a shifter book) won't ever be a favorite of mine I did enjoy reading it and will watch for other stories from this author.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Hard Bitten is the second book I've read by M.K. York and I enjoyed it. I'd call this more of a suspense/mystery story with a romance thrown in, rather than a romance, but I liked it all the same.
Mark is a public defender and Lukas is a Private Investigator who is helping to gather information to help Mark's client. I found some of the dialogue a bit stilted at times and the two MCs (main characters) didn't really interact that much outside of the working relationship before falling for each other. It was still a good story but a bit more attention to the romance would have made it even better.
Some might call this a slow-burn romance – the first real sex scene doesn't happen until page 354 (out of a 395-page book) – but once the sex comes into play it's pretty hot.
While Hard Bitten (not sure how they came up with that title – it sounds like a shifter book) won't ever be a favorite of mine I did enjoy reading it and will watch for other stories from this author.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
July 5, 2020
A very good story!
I really liked both characters: they are hard-working, with a profound sense of integrity, and smart. I liked that both of them are just beginning in their chosen career and that neither of them is a superhero.
The romance between them develops slowly and credibly. And god! It's such a nice change to find two men who aren't driven by their dicks! I can't tell you how grateful I am for that *laughs*
The plot of the story is very well constructed, and I enjoyed following the clues with the characters, wondering about the suspects and seeing the investigation done from the lawyer's side which is very different from a police investigation. Particularly as Mark is a public defender, not a part of a big firm.
And Lukas is also very different to you classic PI. He mostly chases leads through Internet (catfishing, LOL!) and doing very boring stakeouts.
And I love how different they are, and yet, how similar when it comes to the things that are important.
And damn! The story made me go looking for recipes of Kouign-Amann, and now I want to bake some!
A new author for me, and one that I most certainly will keep reading.
I really liked both characters: they are hard-working, with a profound sense of integrity, and smart. I liked that both of them are just beginning in their chosen career and that neither of them is a superhero.
The romance between them develops slowly and credibly. And god! It's such a nice change to find two men who aren't driven by their dicks! I can't tell you how grateful I am for that *laughs*
The plot of the story is very well constructed, and I enjoyed following the clues with the characters, wondering about the suspects and seeing the investigation done from the lawyer's side which is very different from a police investigation. Particularly as Mark is a public defender, not a part of a big firm.
And Lukas is also very different to you classic PI. He mostly chases leads through Internet (catfishing, LOL!) and doing very boring stakeouts.
And I love how different they are, and yet, how similar when it comes to the things that are important.
And damn! The story made me go looking for recipes of Kouign-Amann, and now I want to bake some!
A new author for me, and one that I most certainly will keep reading.
March 6, 2018
I liked this story by new to me author M.K. York. Mark is a Public Defense Attorney who is handed a case that is complicated. Not only was she charged with a DUI, she is also being charged for murder. Things aren't adding up and PI Lukas is tasked with finding out what really happened. Their attraction is evident but since Lukas works for Mark, they can't cross that line. Once the case ends...can they work on a relationship or are the risks too high? For myself the slow burn is too slow. There is more focus on the investigation which is fine but I would of liked more romance intertwined with the story but that is my personal preference. It was an enjoyable read and I would recommend.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book from Netgalley.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book from Netgalley.
January 11, 2026
Mark and Lukas shouldn't be even considering each other outside of work, but heh, life and love happen. Mark's case load shouldn't even bring Lukas anywhere near him as he's usually stuck with DUIs. That is until one of his DUIs is also the prime suspect in a murder/arson case as well. Mark needs the help of a PI to look into multiple aspects of the case. Lukas is the hunky PI who's called in to assist. The more the two work together the more convoluted the case becomes and the more important that they keep their hands to themselves despite their growing attraction. A very interesting investigative mystery and slow burn romance. I'd very much enjoy a sequel that would follow these two as they work well together even when they should be hands off.
January 11, 2019
4.5 stars - After reading this author's first book, I definitely wanted to read more, and I'm so glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Lukas, private investigator, and Mark, public defense attorney, who end up working together on a complicated murder case. Their collaboration gets in the way of their slowly evolving interest in each other, but I liked the pace - a slow build, without angst, and when finally possible, explosive chemistry. The murder investigation, trial prep, and trying to figure out whodunit also kept my interest. I still want to read more by this author.
May 30, 2019
I don't even know where to begin. This was incredibly boring, long, and managed to focus on the case too much and not enough at the same time. I also found the dialogue between the adult males to be very... odd. There just wasn't a good balance between plot of the book and the characters.
March 24, 2018
4 'I liked Mark and Lukas, the progression of their relationship and the background setting of the murder mystery kept me intrigued' stars.
April 8, 2018
Excellent read by a new to me author. I wish there were more books like this. Mystery /suspence with a dash of romance thrown in.
August 26, 2020
Pleasant enough but lacked pace.
March 13, 2018
I've only read one other book by M.K. York - actually I think that Necessary Medicine and Hard Bitten are her only two books. I liked both, but I feel the need to warn anyone who is thinking about picking either of these books up that they were each a super slow burn romance. If you've read Necessary Medicine, you know that the romance between Eli and Neal spanned years. The time span of Hard Bitten wasn't nearly as long, but for a lot of reasons, the romance between Mark and Lukas had to wait - but it was worth it ;)
I really liked both Mark and Lukas. They were both trying to make a difference in their own way. They also worked well together. In some ways, too well. The attraction was mutual, but neither one of them wanted to risk the case. Watching these two work through the growing attraction while keeping each other at a not so comfortable distance kept the pages turning.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author. ;)
I received Hard Bitten in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I really liked both Mark and Lukas. They were both trying to make a difference in their own way. They also worked well together. In some ways, too well. The attraction was mutual, but neither one of them wanted to risk the case. Watching these two work through the growing attraction while keeping each other at a not so comfortable distance kept the pages turning.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author. ;)
I received Hard Bitten in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 2, 2018
M.K. York is a new author and I have to admit even though the romance was lacking in this book I still liked it.The mystery/drama part was good but I did not feel the connection between Mark and Lukas but that could just be me.
August 11, 2024
I loved this SO MUCH. The pacing on both the legal thriller and romance were perfect, the leads felt real, and the obstacle in the relationship was legit, not a communication failure. One of the best romances I've read in years.
May 8, 2020
This was not really my cuppa--murder mystery, PI stakeouts, dodgy bad guys--but I still love the way M.K. York writes.
will-not-finish
March 5, 2018DNF @4%
Sadly, the formatting is bad and there seem to be only dialogues and barely any descriptions. I tried but I can’t.
Sadly, the formatting is bad and there seem to be only dialogues and barely any descriptions. I tried but I can’t.
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