New Ink on Life by Jennie Davids

Quiet does not equal weak…

Leaving a dependable job to apprentice as a tattoo artist was a drastic step after surviving breast cancer, but Cassie Fletcher is nearly five years cancer-free. Nearly. She’s not ready to go out on her own until she clears that all-important hurdle. Also off-limits are relationships and sex—something Cassie is sure she’ll never want again.

Struggling tattoo shop owner MJ Flores doesn’t give a damn what people think, but losing Thorn & Thistle would mean losing everything. When her former mentor’s protégé arrives at her door, MJ hires her out of obligation… at first. Cross-stitching goody-goodies are not her type, but Cassie’s business background might just get the shop back on solid footing. They strike a bargain: Cassie will enact new marketing plans and MJ will teach her to find her inner bitch.

Only when clients request to see Cassie—having learned of the beautiful, compassionate tattoos she creates for survivors and their families—does MJ realize all Cassie has endured. And as Cassie’s fears fade, she finds it harder to keep her admiration for her bad-girl boss from reawakening all she’d feared was lost.

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!

Book 1
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Carina Press – Harlequin

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
This is the story of the unexpected connection between a tattoo artist and her new apprentice. It is also the story of two women who are rebuilding their lives and careers after life changing experiences.

So, here’s a big admission. I’m still not sure I actually like either Cassie or MJ. Cassie is too timid for her own good and MJ is a mean girl who seems eager to exploit Cassie’s gentle nature. The women are good for each other in some ways – MJ helps Cassie find her backbone and Cassie smooths a few of MJ’s raw edges – but I found both women frustrating and I’m not sure I’d choose to befriend either of them. I need to love romance leads if I’m going to fully invest in their love story, so it was difficult for me to care about MJ and Cassie’s relationship.

The romance in this book is predictable and pretty slow. The chemistry between these two is complicated because I was never certain about the imbalance of power between MJ and Cassie. There are some sexy scenes but there’s also a whole lot of talk. And angst. And not talking. And assuming… Urgh.

This story wanders at times. The central story is MJ and Cassie’s relationship. But we also get a diversion into MJ’s family life. Another diversion takes us to the relationships between the tattoo artists and MJ’s former business partner. And Cassie’s former girlfriend… Cassie’s cancer and MJ’s business problems are central to the story but there are maybe a few too many plot threads for readers to engage with.

Jennie Davids lives in the Pacific Northwest with her rescue animals that somehow never end up as well-behaved as their bios promise. The sound of the rain inspires her as she writes, or maybe it’s the gallons of hot chocolate she consumes to stay warm in the damp climate.

When not writing Jennie is reading, watching reality TV, or bemoaning how quickly weeds grow back and keep her from reading.

Connect with Jennie

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of New Ink on Life (Thorn & Thistle #1) by Jennie Davids to read and review.