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Get Ink'd #1
Daddy Ink
He’s raising a baby, not looking for love …
I don’t want a serious relationship, and certainly not with the single dad next door. But one look at Gordo? I’m smitten. Even though I might be a tough looking tattoo artist, I know that the ink does a lot to hide my own insecurities. It doesn’t matter how much Gordo seems to like me - I can’t bring myself to make a move.
Talking has never come easy to me - and I mean that literally. But Gordo doesn’t seem fazed by my speech problems or the mess in my head, and soon we’re forming a deep connection. But I learned a long time ago that nothing lasts forever … and when a blast from Gordo’s past shows up, it proves that everything was too good to be true.
At least, that’s what the old me would say. This time, I know that Gordo and his little baby are worth fighting for. I’m willing to walk through fire to get what I want. But can a tattoo artist with a checkered past really be any guy’s happily ever after?
Daddy Ink is the first of the Get Ink’d m/m romance series. The Get Ink’d crew are misfits from all walks of life who come together to create amazing art. They’re a family born of love, loss, and ink. In this first in series, ambitious single dad Gordo has met his match in heavily inked Javi, and sparks are ready to fly.
I don’t want a serious relationship, and certainly not with the single dad next door. But one look at Gordo? I’m smitten. Even though I might be a tough looking tattoo artist, I know that the ink does a lot to hide my own insecurities. It doesn’t matter how much Gordo seems to like me - I can’t bring myself to make a move.
Talking has never come easy to me - and I mean that literally. But Gordo doesn’t seem fazed by my speech problems or the mess in my head, and soon we’re forming a deep connection. But I learned a long time ago that nothing lasts forever … and when a blast from Gordo’s past shows up, it proves that everything was too good to be true.
At least, that’s what the old me would say. This time, I know that Gordo and his little baby are worth fighting for. I’m willing to walk through fire to get what I want. But can a tattoo artist with a checkered past really be any guy’s happily ever after?
Daddy Ink is the first of the Get Ink’d m/m romance series. The Get Ink’d crew are misfits from all walks of life who come together to create amazing art. They’re a family born of love, loss, and ink. In this first in series, ambitious single dad Gordo has met his match in heavily inked Javi, and sparks are ready to fly.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2020
936 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
June 22, 2020
DNF at 62% after a FOUR MONTH OLD ATTEMPTED SIGN LANGUAGE.
No, that's not a joke. The author seriously thinks a four month old could do that. We have Google, there's no excuse for anyone to be that ignorant.
This was on top of the constant angsty martyrdom of the two MCs, the borderline abusive interactions between them, and prose that left me scratching my head on more than one occasion.
"The button-down shirt he had on was hugging his muscles like a car hugs curves, promising danger and exhilaration."
"'I was in foster c-care,' he said slowly. 'From when I was a kid.'"
"...my heart still pounding hard as a boxer training inside my chest."
When these two weren't making goo goo eyes at each other, they were constantly berating the reader with self-pitying horse shit. And while I appreciate characters with disabilities, the author gives the impression that ASL is easy to learn. News flash: it isn't. It can take years as it's just like learning any other foreign language, complete with its own set of grammar rules.
And no, a four month old infant isn't going to grasp it.They lack the cognitive and physical maturity to even attempt it.
JFC.
How has this gotten so many rave reviews?
No, that's not a joke. The author seriously thinks a four month old could do that. We have Google, there's no excuse for anyone to be that ignorant.
This was on top of the constant angsty martyrdom of the two MCs, the borderline abusive interactions between them, and prose that left me scratching my head on more than one occasion.
"The button-down shirt he had on was hugging his muscles like a car hugs curves, promising danger and exhilaration."
"'I was in foster c-care,' he said slowly. 'From when I was a kid.'"
"...my heart still pounding hard as a boxer training inside my chest."
When these two weren't making goo goo eyes at each other, they were constantly berating the reader with self-pitying horse shit. And while I appreciate characters with disabilities, the author gives the impression that ASL is easy to learn. News flash: it isn't. It can take years as it's just like learning any other foreign language, complete with its own set of grammar rules.
And no, a four month old infant isn't going to grasp it.They lack the cognitive and physical maturity to even attempt it.
JFC.
How has this gotten so many rave reviews?
dnf
March 18, 2021DNF @ 72%
Why so late you might ask? I kept on holding out wanting to feel the connection between these two. While there were sweet scenes with the baby where I liked their relationship, I never felt like I experienced the development of deeper feelings for them. I got to the point that they were throwing out the L word and I still didn’t get it. There was a ton of inner dialogue and back and forth for both of them. This could’ve messed with my lack of feeling it because I felt like I was just told about their connection instead and confused by their actions.
Dang 😞
Why so late you might ask? I kept on holding out wanting to feel the connection between these two. While there were sweet scenes with the baby where I liked their relationship, I never felt like I experienced the development of deeper feelings for them. I got to the point that they were throwing out the L word and I still didn’t get it. There was a ton of inner dialogue and back and forth for both of them. This could’ve messed with my lack of feeling it because I felt like I was just told about their connection instead and confused by their actions.
Dang 😞
March 6, 2021
After reading The Hell's Ankhor series by Ali Lyda and Aiden Bates I wanted to read more books by both authors because I fell so in love with the boys from Hell's Ankhor but Daddy Ink kind of let me down. The potential was there for a wonderful story with a single dad who falls for a tattoo artist with a speech impediment and sensitive heart. It wasn't a problem with one or the other it was a problem with the way the communicated or didn't in this case.
Javi had so many demons hidden inside of him that when the possibility of love almost slapped him in the face it was a constant battle of "I'm not good enough" and "No one will want me". This really frustrated me for some reason, I get the issues and his past but at some point, he must come around and see that he is worth it and not at 96% of the book. Gordo was giving him hot and cold feelings which contributes to insecurities but at the same time I felt like Javi could have turned into such a strong character before the end of the book.
Gordo on the hand was kind of a dick. Sorry, not sorry. His husband hurt him, yes. He was left to raise a child on his own which is a hard feat, but his inner monologue was on and on about wanting Javi. Yet, every moment he had Javi right there he would turn into an insecure little dick and take everything out on him. That is not OK, there comes a point in every story that the characters must evolve. Not because they are afraid time and time again of losing that person or because the book is almost over. I wanted more from Gordo, for Javi.
Saying all that which kind of turned into a bit of a rant, I didn't dislike the story enough to not keep going in the series. I feel like with the events at the end of this book it could lead to one hell of a series. The people at Get Ink'd were so incredible to Javi and since the coming books will be stories about them, I am going to continue on with book two and see how that goes. Basically, I just wanted more for Javi because even with my issues with him he was such a sweetheart.
Javi had so many demons hidden inside of him that when the possibility of love almost slapped him in the face it was a constant battle of "I'm not good enough" and "No one will want me". This really frustrated me for some reason, I get the issues and his past but at some point, he must come around and see that he is worth it and not at 96% of the book. Gordo was giving him hot and cold feelings which contributes to insecurities but at the same time I felt like Javi could have turned into such a strong character before the end of the book.
Gordo on the hand was kind of a dick. Sorry, not sorry. His husband hurt him, yes. He was left to raise a child on his own which is a hard feat, but his inner monologue was on and on about wanting Javi. Yet, every moment he had Javi right there he would turn into an insecure little dick and take everything out on him. That is not OK, there comes a point in every story that the characters must evolve. Not because they are afraid time and time again of losing that person or because the book is almost over. I wanted more from Gordo, for Javi.
Saying all that which kind of turned into a bit of a rant, I didn't dislike the story enough to not keep going in the series. I feel like with the events at the end of this book it could lead to one hell of a series. The people at Get Ink'd were so incredible to Javi and since the coming books will be stories about them, I am going to continue on with book two and see how that goes. Basically, I just wanted more for Javi because even with my issues with him he was such a sweetheart.
January 29, 2024
1 eye-rolling stars story.
All of the positive relationship development was off page. All the angst, misunderstanding and make-up was on page. Gordo was annoying as fuck and Javi deserved better. The chemistry between the MCs was lackluster because of how the author executed the story.
All of the positive relationship development was off page. All the angst, misunderstanding and make-up was on page. Gordo was annoying as fuck and Javi deserved better. The chemistry between the MCs was lackluster because of how the author executed the story.
May 6, 2020
This is going to be a banging series...
A wonderful read full of love, misunderstanding, trust issues, pain, heartache and most of all family. The prose make you truly feel for these characters as you journey through the trials and tribulations of their relationship and family dynamics. What a ride!
A wonderful read full of love, misunderstanding, trust issues, pain, heartache and most of all family. The prose make you truly feel for these characters as you journey through the trials and tribulations of their relationship and family dynamics. What a ride!
May 6, 2020
3.5 stars
Tattoist Javi and Gordo, single father of a new born are new neighbors.
Javi was sweet and insecure because of his stutter. He is an amazing tattoist and does great work volunteering at the local youth shelter. I enjoyed that part of the storyline.
Gordo was a bit harder to like. It was uncomfortable the way he treated Javi. It made me sad for Javi.
Slow burn relationship with plenty of ups and downs.
I enjoyed all the side characters. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
Tattoist Javi and Gordo, single father of a new born are new neighbors.
Javi was sweet and insecure because of his stutter. He is an amazing tattoist and does great work volunteering at the local youth shelter. I enjoyed that part of the storyline.
Gordo was a bit harder to like. It was uncomfortable the way he treated Javi. It made me sad for Javi.
Slow burn relationship with plenty of ups and downs.
I enjoyed all the side characters. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
May 19, 2020
Emotional abuse?
The main characters' relationship had too many hot/cold moments. If I was treated as Javi was, in such a short period of time, I would have walked for good. It screamed of abusive undertones. There was no real resolution to Kyle's interference. It also had some spacing issues midway through. Too many problems, with the main characters' interactions, to list. Will not read more from this author.
The main characters' relationship had too many hot/cold moments. If I was treated as Javi was, in such a short period of time, I would have walked for good. It screamed of abusive undertones. There was no real resolution to Kyle's interference. It also had some spacing issues midway through. Too many problems, with the main characters' interactions, to list. Will not read more from this author.
July 20, 2020
Yeah, that was rubbish. Gordo’s character needs a rethink. Some uncertainty and caution is ok, but his hot-and-cold routine gave me a whiplash plus some of his comments to Javi had a mean streak. So yeah but no.
May 19, 2025
He’s raising a baby, not looking for love … I don’t want a serious relationship, and certainly not with the single dad next door. But one look at Gordo? I’m smitten.
Gordo and Javi each have some serious baggage from their past. Gordo his a four-month-old daughter that he's raising alone after his dirt-bag of a husband walked out before she was even born. There was more than enough about "dirt-bag" later in the book. The story is heartfelt and real and crammed full of feelings...both good and bad...but not very much of the bad. Gordo and Javi finally realize that they each had more love to give than they thought. The entire story strongly emphasized that "family" isn't always those who are blood related to you but those in your life that accept you entirely for who you are, who support you and love you unconditionally.
Javi, the tattoo artist, was an absolutely exceptional character. He was great with kids, and supportive of his friends, but he was so hard on himself. You just wanted him to see and understand that he deserved the world. The eventual support and love of his life, Gordo, was his neighbor and a divorced, single dad that was trying to keep himself together while raising an infant daughter on his own. I liked his character also, but it wasn't long before I wished he had been a bit more careful in the way that he treated and spoke to Javi sometimes. He knew how sensitive Javi was. How "aware" he always was about his stutter. While I wasn't always a total fan of Gordo, I did understand what he had been and was still going through also. Gordo, Javi and baby made an adorable little family unit.
This was my first book by this author but certainly is not my last. To date there are 7 books in the series, and I already have the other 6 coming from my best friend, Mr. Amazon.
Gordo and Javi each have some serious baggage from their past. Gordo his a four-month-old daughter that he's raising alone after his dirt-bag of a husband walked out before she was even born. There was more than enough about "dirt-bag" later in the book. The story is heartfelt and real and crammed full of feelings...both good and bad...but not very much of the bad. Gordo and Javi finally realize that they each had more love to give than they thought. The entire story strongly emphasized that "family" isn't always those who are blood related to you but those in your life that accept you entirely for who you are, who support you and love you unconditionally.
Javi, the tattoo artist, was an absolutely exceptional character. He was great with kids, and supportive of his friends, but he was so hard on himself. You just wanted him to see and understand that he deserved the world. The eventual support and love of his life, Gordo, was his neighbor and a divorced, single dad that was trying to keep himself together while raising an infant daughter on his own. I liked his character also, but it wasn't long before I wished he had been a bit more careful in the way that he treated and spoke to Javi sometimes. He knew how sensitive Javi was. How "aware" he always was about his stutter. While I wasn't always a total fan of Gordo, I did understand what he had been and was still going through also. Gordo, Javi and baby made an adorable little family unit.
This was my first book by this author but certainly is not my last. To date there are 7 books in the series, and I already have the other 6 coming from my best friend, Mr. Amazon.
April 10, 2021
Gordo es un gay divorciado, padre soltero de una hermosa niña, pero esta cansado, el quiere a su hija con toda su alma, pero no pensaba que iba a tener que hacerlo solo y eso lo esta desgastando totalmente. Cuando una noche, cansado de no dormir su vecino decide hacer una fiesta, el decide que ya es suficiente y lo enfrenta, solo para encontrarse al hombre mas hermoso y sexy que ha visto en mucho tiempo.
Javi es un hombre gay tatuador, voluntario de un centro de ayuda juvenil, quien intenta por todos los medios sentirse vivo y seguir viviendo, a pesar de querer tener una familia, no cree merecerla y mucho mejor al sexy padre y su hija que tiene de vecinos.
Pero ambos no pueden evitar la atraccion que sienten entre los dos y deberan aprender a combinar sus vidas y comprender sus debilidades para poder tener una relacion completa y sana, y criar a la hermosa hija que tienen ahora.
El libro es bastante romantico, dulce, lleno de muchisimos, muchisimos, problemas de auto-estima, pero tambien mucho de auto-superacion. Conocemos a un par de protagonistas que no son muy diferentes a todos los demas pero que saben llevar la trama a donde debe ir.
En la lectura encuentras momentos bastante duros y llenos de sentimiento, pero tambien encuentras dialogos que son super-divertidos y entretenidos.
En fin, es una buena lectura para pasar el rato, llena de cliches pero entretenida. Voy a continuar con la serie, y ver que es lo que pasa con el resto de los integrantes de Get Ink'd.
Javi es un hombre gay tatuador, voluntario de un centro de ayuda juvenil, quien intenta por todos los medios sentirse vivo y seguir viviendo, a pesar de querer tener una familia, no cree merecerla y mucho mejor al sexy padre y su hija que tiene de vecinos.
Pero ambos no pueden evitar la atraccion que sienten entre los dos y deberan aprender a combinar sus vidas y comprender sus debilidades para poder tener una relacion completa y sana, y criar a la hermosa hija que tienen ahora.
El libro es bastante romantico, dulce, lleno de muchisimos, muchisimos, problemas de auto-estima, pero tambien mucho de auto-superacion. Conocemos a un par de protagonistas que no son muy diferentes a todos los demas pero que saben llevar la trama a donde debe ir.
En la lectura encuentras momentos bastante duros y llenos de sentimiento, pero tambien encuentras dialogos que son super-divertidos y entretenidos.
En fin, es una buena lectura para pasar el rato, llena de cliches pero entretenida. Voy a continuar con la serie, y ver que es lo que pasa con el resto de los integrantes de Get Ink'd.
Read
June 5, 2020Dnf @70%
Gah. This book started at least 3.75 and then descended to dnf because i just can’t with Javi no more.
Javi is always just butt hurt about everything. It’s always ‘I am not worthy blah blah blah no one will find me worthy I am shit because of my past blah blah blah
cue to sad violin music
And his relationship with Gordo is just based on misunderstandings and arguments, all of them petty and easily resolved but they do that? Noooo Javi just runs after every argument instead of communicating like a forsaken adult.
Also Gordo somehow ends up blaming himself after every argument??? Bro??? Unhealthy af.
Anyway couldn’t take more of the maudlin crap. It’s actually a good book if you looked over that, but i just couldn’t.
Gah. This book started at least 3.75 and then descended to dnf because i just can’t with Javi no more.
Javi is always just butt hurt about everything. It’s always ‘I am not worthy blah blah blah no one will find me worthy I am shit because of my past blah blah blah
cue to sad violin music
And his relationship with Gordo is just based on misunderstandings and arguments, all of them petty and easily resolved but they do that? Noooo Javi just runs after every argument instead of communicating like a forsaken adult.
Also Gordo somehow ends up blaming himself after every argument??? Bro??? Unhealthy af.
Anyway couldn’t take more of the maudlin crap. It’s actually a good book if you looked over that, but i just couldn’t.
June 1, 2020
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After reading and loving the Hell's Ankhor series, reading more books written by both Aiden Bates and Ali Lyda is on my to-do list, so when I came across this series I get for it. I know the tattooist M/M trope is overused, but it doesn't get old for me because... well, I just love tattoos LOL
This first book had some lights and shadows for me, making it a good read but also a "could have been better" one.
My biggest issue where the characters personalities. There is something off with them at some point, but particularly with Gordo. Javi is a tattooist with selfconfidance issues caused by a life of foster care and bullying due to his stuttering. He's grown into the idea tha he doesn't deserve true love nor a family.
Gordo is a single partent divorced after six years of marriage. He's overcome with the task of caring for Giuliana alone, not able to sleep and lost the same way every first-time parent is. One day Gordo moves into the house next door and after some late night parties that don't let his one month old daughter sleep, they come accross.
The attraction between them was too fast for my liking. It's not an instalove kind of thing, exactly, because thing between the two of them brew slowly before becoming something more than neighbourly, more the reasong why I don't understand the need to rush the lust between them. But this was not exactly an issue, either.
Their relationship is bumpy because both of them have things to resolve with their pasts and their lives before daring to have a new relationship that involves more than just friendship. I found them to be cute together sometimes, and Giuliana, the little baby, gives the story just the perfect amount of sweetness.
My problem with this story was that sometime the drama felt too much. And with too much I mean not necessary. And the worst thing was Gordo: sometimes he's the best of the characters and then he's just a plain asshole. I get sometime all of us act like idiots, when we are stressed and life is just too much we take our stress onto those who we have near, but Gordo behaves like this a couple of times and the first time I could understand (the time when he's in the hospital with Javi and the baby) but when the ex reappears? Not so much. Doesn't make any sense to me the way he behaves with Javi and, taking into account all his past, it was just mean and inexplicable.
If we forget these two moments, the story is pretty nice to read, with many characters that love Javi so much and make a true effort of making him understand that he's good, he's beautiful, he's worth of having nice thing in life and of being loved. I absolutely like the stuttering plotline, and alongside it Andrew's (a deaf teen) plot. I found it to be beautiful and sad and so important to have this kind of characters and issues shown in books.
I'm intrigued by Dane's and Chris's story. Their realtionship started pretty smooth and then something happened that we don't get to discover. I'm dying to read about who Jason really is and what happened between the couple, so I'm directly getting into the next book. I hope for it to be a little better. Fingers crossed.
After reading and loving the Hell's Ankhor series, reading more books written by both Aiden Bates and Ali Lyda is on my to-do list, so when I came across this series I get for it. I know the tattooist M/M trope is overused, but it doesn't get old for me because... well, I just love tattoos LOL
This first book had some lights and shadows for me, making it a good read but also a "could have been better" one.
My biggest issue where the characters personalities. There is something off with them at some point, but particularly with Gordo. Javi is a tattooist with selfconfidance issues caused by a life of foster care and bullying due to his stuttering. He's grown into the idea tha he doesn't deserve true love nor a family.
Gordo is a single partent divorced after six years of marriage. He's overcome with the task of caring for Giuliana alone, not able to sleep and lost the same way every first-time parent is. One day Gordo moves into the house next door and after some late night parties that don't let his one month old daughter sleep, they come accross.
The attraction between them was too fast for my liking. It's not an instalove kind of thing, exactly, because thing between the two of them brew slowly before becoming something more than neighbourly, more the reasong why I don't understand the need to rush the lust between them. But this was not exactly an issue, either.
Their relationship is bumpy because both of them have things to resolve with their pasts and their lives before daring to have a new relationship that involves more than just friendship. I found them to be cute together sometimes, and Giuliana, the little baby, gives the story just the perfect amount of sweetness.
My problem with this story was that sometime the drama felt too much. And with too much I mean not necessary. And the worst thing was Gordo: sometimes he's the best of the characters and then he's just a plain asshole. I get sometime all of us act like idiots, when we are stressed and life is just too much we take our stress onto those who we have near, but Gordo behaves like this a couple of times and the first time I could understand (the time when he's in the hospital with Javi and the baby) but when the ex reappears? Not so much. Doesn't make any sense to me the way he behaves with Javi and, taking into account all his past, it was just mean and inexplicable.
If we forget these two moments, the story is pretty nice to read, with many characters that love Javi so much and make a true effort of making him understand that he's good, he's beautiful, he's worth of having nice thing in life and of being loved. I absolutely like the stuttering plotline, and alongside it Andrew's (a deaf teen) plot. I found it to be beautiful and sad and so important to have this kind of characters and issues shown in books.
I'm intrigued by Dane's and Chris's story. Their realtionship started pretty smooth and then something happened that we don't get to discover. I'm dying to read about who Jason really is and what happened between the couple, so I'm directly getting into the next book. I hope for it to be a little better. Fingers crossed.
August 10, 2023
I wanted to love this one. I really did. But this one fell flat for so may reasons for me.
I absolutely HATE the miscommunication trope. This book was riddled in it from beginning to end. Not just once, not just twice, but over and over...ugh.
Gordon's worries and concerns on being a single father were understandable, but Lord have mercy, it was the whole book. God, at what point does a character pull their big boy panties up and stop complaining and start acting like one should?
I felt for Javi the whole book because man Gordo was a hot mess. I'm not sure if I want to continue with this series or not. I'm not sure if this was a one off, or if this is the author's writing style, but I can't read another one like this.
I absolutely HATE the miscommunication trope. This book was riddled in it from beginning to end. Not just once, not just twice, but over and over...ugh.
Gordon's worries and concerns on being a single father were understandable, but Lord have mercy, it was the whole book. God, at what point does a character pull their big boy panties up and stop complaining and start acting like one should?
I felt for Javi the whole book because man Gordo was a hot mess. I'm not sure if I want to continue with this series or not. I'm not sure if this was a one off, or if this is the author's writing style, but I can't read another one like this.
Read
July 18, 2025no rating
I really was expecting to like this but...Gordo was just so mean to Javi?? especially after Kyle showed up at the party. Like, i know he was under a lot of stress but i felt like him lashing out at Javi and then apologizing happened too often for me to be able to root for him as a character.
I really was expecting to like this but...Gordo was just so mean to Javi?? especially after Kyle showed up at the party. Like, i know he was under a lot of stress but i felt like him lashing out at Javi and then apologizing happened too often for me to be able to root for him as a character.
May 15, 2020
Javi and Gordo were both so sure that they knew the right thing and what they should be doing. Too bad they really should've actually talked to each other. I thought hat Javi was just about the sweetest thing ever, and I would love to get to know him more.
July 31, 2020
1.5 Stars
The added half star is only because I liked Javi and his story of realizing his self worth for the most part (other than being too forgiving toward Gordo).
Ugh, I could not stand Gordo. He was a complete asshole and not at all good enough for a sensitive soul like Javi.
The added half star is only because I liked Javi and his story of realizing his self worth for the most part (other than being too forgiving toward Gordo).
Ugh, I could not stand Gordo. He was a complete asshole and not at all good enough for a sensitive soul like Javi.
May 11, 2020
*Received A Copy To Review From The Author*
Nice read. Though the back and forth got a bit annoying. And there always being some drama. It felt like everything was thrown in this story and there was enough built in angst that all the extra wasn't really needed in my opinion. I liked the family time that Gordo and Javi spent with Little G. That was where it shined. I loved seeing them become friends, and then shift into more. I liked seeing Javi with Andrew as well. A good read and I'll for sure read the second book, since it's set up so well here.
Nice read. Though the back and forth got a bit annoying. And there always being some drama. It felt like everything was thrown in this story and there was enough built in angst that all the extra wasn't really needed in my opinion. I liked the family time that Gordo and Javi spent with Little G. That was where it shined. I loved seeing them become friends, and then shift into more. I liked seeing Javi with Andrew as well. A good read and I'll for sure read the second book, since it's set up so well here.
July 13, 2021
I wish Kyle would have had a little more of a backbone and played a little harder to get. Gordo was a jerk some of the times. Regardless, good start to a series.
May 27, 2020
Enjoyed. 4.5. Review to follow. FYI, this is a book about a single dad; it's not Daddy kink.
May 2, 2020
4.5 Stars!
Daddy Ink, the first book in the Get Ink'd series, is a beautiful hurt/comfort and neighbor romance. I found myself sucked into the writing style from the start.
Gordie's a single dad who's struggling with those early newborn days (and nights.) It doesn't help that his neighbor keeps throwing loud parties.
Oh, Gordie and Javi's first meeting is awesome, definitely entertaining to the reader, but confusing to Gordie. What follows is a fun journey full of awkward times and attraction, fears and hesitation. And a whole lot of character growth!
Ends up his neighbor Javi isn't anything like Gordie is expecting. Javi's a tattoo artist who doesn't talk much because of a severe stutter. His entire life has been shaped by this speech impediment.
I love these two complex men. Gordie's a man who has been burnt by his ex and is struggling to open his heart again. And then there's Javi. My heart instantly went out to the vulnerable Javi. He's been a victim of bullying, he volunteers teaching ASL, and his backstory is horrible. But in the end, it's so beautiful how he naturally knows what to do with the baby and easily steps in to help the exhausted new dad.
Yes, I fell hard for Gordie. And I guarantee you will too!
Written in alternating 1st person pov, the reader is fully brought into the characters' heads. Every doubt and fear, every moment of attraction and want, every single feeling is well developed. I couldn't put this book down.
Daddy Ink is an complex, yet adorably sweet story with a sweet ending. Everything about this Ali Lyda book worked well for me and I look forward to seeing what the future books in this series are like.
Daddy Ink, the first book in the Get Ink'd series, is a beautiful hurt/comfort and neighbor romance. I found myself sucked into the writing style from the start.
Gordie's a single dad who's struggling with those early newborn days (and nights.) It doesn't help that his neighbor keeps throwing loud parties.
Oh, Gordie and Javi's first meeting is awesome, definitely entertaining to the reader, but confusing to Gordie. What follows is a fun journey full of awkward times and attraction, fears and hesitation. And a whole lot of character growth!
Ends up his neighbor Javi isn't anything like Gordie is expecting. Javi's a tattoo artist who doesn't talk much because of a severe stutter. His entire life has been shaped by this speech impediment.
I love these two complex men. Gordie's a man who has been burnt by his ex and is struggling to open his heart again. And then there's Javi. My heart instantly went out to the vulnerable Javi. He's been a victim of bullying, he volunteers teaching ASL, and his backstory is horrible. But in the end, it's so beautiful how he naturally knows what to do with the baby and easily steps in to help the exhausted new dad.
Yes, I fell hard for Gordie. And I guarantee you will too!
Written in alternating 1st person pov, the reader is fully brought into the characters' heads. Every doubt and fear, every moment of attraction and want, every single feeling is well developed. I couldn't put this book down.
Daddy Ink is an complex, yet adorably sweet story with a sweet ending. Everything about this Ali Lyda book worked well for me and I look forward to seeing what the future books in this series are like.
July 3, 2020
2.5 stars. The first 50% was a bit of a slog for me as the book was all telling with very little showing. The characters were heavily immersed in their heads and it was endless internal monologues for a while.
Eventually, the story picked up, but it was so angst ridden that I just sighed and kept on with it. Many, many readers adore heavy angst, so this is 100% my issue, but it was just too much for me. I love emotive, character driven stories, but this one had me skipping parts and bored in places being talked at so much by the characters. And jeeez they were freakin whiny sometimes.
The ending was a set up for book two, which focuses on another couple, but I definitely will not be continuing with this series/author because...angst. Angsty, drama-llama angst.
Eventually, the story picked up, but it was so angst ridden that I just sighed and kept on with it. Many, many readers adore heavy angst, so this is 100% my issue, but it was just too much for me. I love emotive, character driven stories, but this one had me skipping parts and bored in places being talked at so much by the characters. And jeeez they were freakin whiny sometimes.
The ending was a set up for book two, which focuses on another couple, but I definitely will not be continuing with this series/author because...angst. Angsty, drama-llama angst.
May 11, 2020
DNF'd at 70-75%. I just can't take Gordo being a douche-canoe. Just because you're a single dad, doesn't give you some leeway to be an a-hole to others. He really came off as self-serving and ALMOST as bad as Kyle. Although I was almost done, i felt i would be more enraged to read about them being 'happy together', with Javi just forgiving everything Gordo did/didn't do so easily. The 3 stars is for Javi, because i love him
April 27, 2020
[I received a copy for an honest review]
Daddy Ink is the first book in the Get Ink'd series by Ali Lyda. A romance between a single dad and a tattoo artist with a stutter.
I enjoyed this story and it's cast of characters. It strongly emphasized how family isn't always those who are blood related to you but it's those in your life that accept you fully for who you are, support you and love you unconditionally. I loved everything about tattoo artist Javi, he was great with kids and supportive of his friends. I only wished that he hadn't been so hard on himself all the time because he deserved the world. Then we have Gordo, single dad trying to keep himself together while raising an infant on his own. At first, I really liked his character but it wasn't long before I was not on board with his selfishness and the way he would treat Javi sometimes. While I wasn't a fan of his, the three of them made a cute little family unit together.
Plot wise I was entertained and it kept my interest. The writing was decent but there was more than a few editing slip up where the wrong pronoun was used but I don't want to hold that against the book. I also really liked all the side characters and with the way this one ended for a certain couple I am dying for the next book.
Daddy Ink is the first book in the Get Ink'd series by Ali Lyda. A romance between a single dad and a tattoo artist with a stutter.
I enjoyed this story and it's cast of characters. It strongly emphasized how family isn't always those who are blood related to you but it's those in your life that accept you fully for who you are, support you and love you unconditionally. I loved everything about tattoo artist Javi, he was great with kids and supportive of his friends. I only wished that he hadn't been so hard on himself all the time because he deserved the world. Then we have Gordo, single dad trying to keep himself together while raising an infant on his own. At first, I really liked his character but it wasn't long before I was not on board with his selfishness and the way he would treat Javi sometimes. While I wasn't a fan of his, the three of them made a cute little family unit together.
Plot wise I was entertained and it kept my interest. The writing was decent but there was more than a few editing slip up where the wrong pronoun was used but I don't want to hold that against the book. I also really liked all the side characters and with the way this one ended for a certain couple I am dying for the next book.
April 6, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the bonding moments with Andrew and all those emotional moments that made me cry. The way Javi used his art to help the center was amazing. Javi was amazing, even if he couldn't see it.
It was an emotional rollercoaster where both MC's spent a lot of time hurting each other and running from each other instead of communicating. The running before getting hurt or lashing out because I'm stressed can be a lot when reading. Is it realistic? Yeah, people do it all the time. It was just a lot of hot and cold, I was getting whiplash. Considering Javi has the most reasons to be crappy at relationships, I thought he'd be the one that'd suck but Gordo seemed to be worse. I found Javi really endearing, Gordo less so. I hated how he lashed out at Javi. Yes, he was stressed but it was completely uncalled for.
I did not like the ending. It's supposed to entice the reader to read the next book but it just made me angry. Another manipulative scumbag. Yay? Sounds like the same type of guy that tried to sexually assault Javi earlier in the book. That is not a happy ending. Will not continue the series.
It was an emotional rollercoaster where both MC's spent a lot of time hurting each other and running from each other instead of communicating. The running before getting hurt or lashing out because I'm stressed can be a lot when reading. Is it realistic? Yeah, people do it all the time. It was just a lot of hot and cold, I was getting whiplash. Considering Javi has the most reasons to be crappy at relationships, I thought he'd be the one that'd suck but Gordo seemed to be worse. I found Javi really endearing, Gordo less so. I hated how he lashed out at Javi. Yes, he was stressed but it was completely uncalled for.
I did not like the ending. It's supposed to entice the reader to read the next book but it just made me angry. Another manipulative scumbag. Yay? Sounds like the same type of guy that tried to sexually assault Javi earlier in the book. That is not a happy ending. Will not continue the series.
April 30, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and was hooked from the start. Who doesn’t love a single dad who’s sexy, adorable and gay right?!?!
Enter Javi the gorgeous, quiet, tattooed next door neighbour 😍 I really loved how we were introduced to him believing he’s this big bad tattooed guy but he’s actually sweet, shy and extremely loveable.
The only reason I haven’t given 5 stars was Gordo did get a little annoying in the middle of the book, I kind of wanted to slap him a little for the way he spoke & acted, but he redeemed himself 😍
Really food start to a new series, looking forward to reading the rest 😊
Enter Javi the gorgeous, quiet, tattooed next door neighbour 😍 I really loved how we were introduced to him believing he’s this big bad tattooed guy but he’s actually sweet, shy and extremely loveable.
The only reason I haven’t given 5 stars was Gordo did get a little annoying in the middle of the book, I kind of wanted to slap him a little for the way he spoke & acted, but he redeemed himself 😍
Really food start to a new series, looking forward to reading the rest 😊
May 17, 2020
Put together a incredibly sweet, insecure tattoo artist Javi and a newly single father Gordo — you get a perfect slow burn and with a romance that is guaranteed to make you swoon.
I loved these two together. Javi was so easy to adore from the very beginning. Gordo annoyed me a bit at times especially with the miscommunication that went on between the two BUT I do think the two fit one another so perfectly. When I wasn’t frustrated over the lack of communication...I was busy smiling so big.
I am so excited for this series and I will be definitely be reading the next one!
3.5 stars
I loved these two together. Javi was so easy to adore from the very beginning. Gordo annoyed me a bit at times especially with the miscommunication that went on between the two BUT I do think the two fit one another so perfectly. When I wasn’t frustrated over the lack of communication...I was busy smiling so big.
I am so excited for this series and I will be definitely be reading the next one!
3.5 stars
May 14, 2020
I really wanted to like this book a lot. In the end it was lukewarm for me. That’s on me because I really don’t like miscommunication books where it happens with every encounter. And they are so predictable.
Javi is adorable. He has overcome a lot of trauma in his life to get where he is. His accepting his disabilities and how he manages them in his daily life is awesome. The fact that he has a huge heart, genius level talent help you to love him even more.
Gordo is harder to warm up to. He was married to an evil, selfish man but somehow managed to let all that go by. He has a newborn daughter (that the EX was supposed to be there for) and he is learning to take care of her on his own. He has all the new parent stresses and worries. However, he constantly lashes out without thinking saying hurtful things.
The apologies are just constant. They eventually get themselves on the right track. In some places the book is too wordy and I had to trudge through. The writing is good but the flow stops and starts.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Javi is adorable. He has overcome a lot of trauma in his life to get where he is. His accepting his disabilities and how he manages them in his daily life is awesome. The fact that he has a huge heart, genius level talent help you to love him even more.
Gordo is harder to warm up to. He was married to an evil, selfish man but somehow managed to let all that go by. He has a newborn daughter (that the EX was supposed to be there for) and he is learning to take care of her on his own. He has all the new parent stresses and worries. However, he constantly lashes out without thinking saying hurtful things.
The apologies are just constant. They eventually get themselves on the right track. In some places the book is too wordy and I had to trudge through. The writing is good but the flow stops and starts.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 25, 2020
Rating: 4 stars
While not perfect, I really enjoyed this first installment in the Get Ink’d series. I really liked both Javi and Gordo, but I must say they both got on my nerves at times. They spent a lot of time apart due to “needing space” and I am not a big fan of the “Big Misunderstanding” trope either. I didn’t particularly like that the author used it here. Still, I was invested in both of the MCs and was glad that they got their HEA at the end. All in all, an enjoyable read.
While not perfect, I really enjoyed this first installment in the Get Ink’d series. I really liked both Javi and Gordo, but I must say they both got on my nerves at times. They spent a lot of time apart due to “needing space” and I am not a big fan of the “Big Misunderstanding” trope either. I didn’t particularly like that the author used it here. Still, I was invested in both of the MCs and was glad that they got their HEA at the end. All in all, an enjoyable read.
May 2, 2020
single daddy and a tat artist.. love love love.. it was so much fun.. it was sexy it was interesting and the emotions and personalities made me feel with them. the writing sucked me in. it was very good and icant wait for the next one.
May 21, 2020
Worth it
I liked this story. It had a nice build-up and characters were strongly developed. Javi was very insecure and Gordo was trying to find his footing being a single father. Javi had a strong support system and I liked the make shift family at the shop.
I liked this story. It had a nice build-up and characters were strongly developed. Javi was very insecure and Gordo was trying to find his footing being a single father. Javi had a strong support system and I liked the make shift family at the shop.
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