4.5 STARS
I have been wanting to read this one forever. I'm glad I finally had the time! What drew me to this story was that it is about a hot tattoo artist. And the cover. I mean just look at it. Yeah, I'm shallow like that.

Trent Andrews and his Second Circle Tattoos studio are well known among tattoo artists. He specializes in inking over scars which I found intriguing and way cool. When Harper Connelly enters his studio he is instantly attracted to the sweet, shy and sexy woman. Harper wants a tattoo on her back, covering hideous scars she has to thank her ex-boyfriend for, who is incarcerated for what he did to her. The extent of her scars ensure that over the course of the next weeks Trent and Harper get to know each other.

Trent was the most patient, sweetest man with a healthy dose of alpha-ness. Over the next couple of weeks he became Harper's rock. He was there for her, especially after learning her history he wanted nothing more than to protect her and take her pain away. He gave Harper the confidence and the tools to come to terms with her scars. He was just the best.

Harper had gone through hell, and while that left her marked, inside and out, she wanted to get out of the loop that she let her ex-boyfriend's actions define her. With Trent's help and love she found her sass and backbone again. She was cute, feisty sometimes and so so brave. I loved to see her opening up and trusting Trent.

The Strongest Steel was a complete winner, story-wise and character-wise. It has action, suspense, an insta-love that actually works and some steam. I'm definitely continuing with this series

The story of their instant connection was very well written and it seemed completely realistic, which insta-love usually doesn't to me. It surprised me how much I liked the fast paced romance they had, but everything going on in the story came together so well that it all just worked and made the overall reading experience enjoyable. There were a few things that I wish were resolved by the end of the story but they didn't stop me from loving on this book.

The Strongest Steel left me breathless with a huge smile on my face! This story held my heart captive from the very beginning and refused to let me go. I found myself diving deep into an incredible world that highlighted the sweetness of friendship, the magic of raw and honest love, and the courage to live life on your own terms. I could not get over just how intense and yet natural this story flowed and brightened every part of my heart along the way. My heart started to believe in true and lasting love again. I felt resurrected just as Harper finds herself through the tender and passionate touch of Trent. This incredible book will live in my heart for a long time to come with its deeply heartfelt message of unwavering hope, second chances, and conditional love. What a brilliant masterpiece that was gently and meticulously crafted with deep love and bittersweet hope!

Harper has experienced the darkest part of human nature and now she longs for safety, love, and hope in the most desperate way. Forcing one foot in front of the other, she finds a new place to call home and discovers that life can surprise you in the best of ways when you aren’t even looking for anything. With a heart full of fear, she takes her first steps into a world full of bright lights, an abundance of strangers, and unspoken potential. Trent has built a good life. He has a business he is passionate about, friends who support him no matter what, and an endless supply of beautiful woman. Somewhere along the way, he finds the shine has come off this great life of his. For the first time, he longs for something more – a deeper connection that will set his world on fire and leave it burning for a long time to come. When his next customer is someone he least excepts he finds a rare and precious gift that he doesn’t want to let walk out of his life. How far will he go to fight for what and who he wants? Can he conquer his demons long enough to help her slay hers to claim what is staring them in the face?

It is so easy to relate to Harper on many different levels, and I found myself identifying in more ways then I care to admit. She is a beautiful and strong woman who fiercely cherishes the people and gifts in her life. She takes nothing for granted, and that makes her life that much sweeter and bitter at the same time. When Trent begins to break down the steel walls around her heart she is left helpless to his raw honesty, quiet passion, and unwavering determination. He brings her back to life in so many ways, and she pushed herself to take chances with him to taste the fire in his touch and bask in the strength of his love. Trent stole my heart with how he carefully yet steadily convinced Harper to let him love her and show her that love can heal, transform, and give you wings to fly.

Scarlett Cole is a fantastically talented author who stormed into my world and turned it on its head in the best possible way. She left me yearning for so much more than I have settled for. Her heart has left me feeling raw and cherished at the same time. While life can be dark and ugly is can also be beautiful beyond words and dripping with more love then one person can possibly contain. This is a wickedly incredible start to what looks to be a phenomenal series!

Fell flat for me in multiple ways. While I wish it worked for me, there are MUCH better romances in this particular genre.

Great story of survival from an abusive, vicious relationship! It isn't a fast paced story. Harper slowly learns to feel safe again, and her relationship with Trent changes both of their outlooks on life. Overall it's a decent read and one that will keep you engaged the entire time, staying with you long after it's finished.

Excellent romance with tension, heart, and beautiful tattooing!

I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more in this series. It was a great initial book to the series and set up the "second circle" world and characters very well. This story however revolves around Harper and Trent. Trent is a tattoo artist who specializes in covering up scars and Harper needs someone to cover up the scars left on her back from an abusive relationship that has left her hesitant to socialize with people. Through their one-on-one tattoo sessions, Harper and Trent get to know each other and fall for each other.

The thing that I enjoyed the most about this book is that it wasn't Trent saving Harper. Throughout the course of the novel, Harper becomes stronger and essentially saves herself. The one frustrating thing for me about the book was the POV. I dislike third person limited alternating POV, but that is merely a personal preference.

Of course there was some minor loose ends and questions that I had about the book at the end that I am sure well be delved into later in the series, but this story is a standalone. I definitely recommend it.