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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Axel is the book that started my first binge-read of Harper Sloan books years ago. It also cemented my love for Corps Security, which continues to be an all-time favorite series.
While I rarely do rereads, this summer I felt the need to revisit the books that brought me joy when I first started reading romance. And I loved this book as much as I did the first time I read it.
Axel Reid grew up in foster care. In high school, he met bright and caring Isabelle "Izzy" West. For three years, they are inseparable until he leaves for basic training. But shortly after, Izzy's parents die and, with no family in town, she moves away.
Izzy and Alex's paths cross by chance over a decade later in Hope Town, Georgia. She is finding her footing after being in an abusive marriage. He is opening his business East Coast office. They are not the same people they used to be. But one thing is clear: Axel will never let anyone hurt her again.
The story gives Axel and Izzy a hard-earned second chance. It is an emotional journey, marked by misunderstandings, bad timing, grief, and the wrong people. But it is also about forgiveness, healing, found family, and friendships.
The Corps Security band of brothers is the best, starting with Greg, who became a big brother to Izzy and swore always to protect her. And the side characters, like sparkling hairdresser and Corps Security neighbor Sway, are the cherry on top.
While I rarely do rereads, this summer I felt the need to revisit the books that brought me joy when I first started reading romance. And I loved this book as much as I did the first time I read it.
Axel Reid grew up in foster care. In high school, he met bright and caring Isabelle "Izzy" West. For three years, they are inseparable until he leaves for basic training. But shortly after, Izzy's parents die and, with no family in town, she moves away.
Izzy and Alex's paths cross by chance over a decade later in Hope Town, Georgia. She is finding her footing after being in an abusive marriage. He is opening his business East Coast office. They are not the same people they used to be. But one thing is clear: Axel will never let anyone hurt her again.
The story gives Axel and Izzy a hard-earned second chance. It is an emotional journey, marked by misunderstandings, bad timing, grief, and the wrong people. But it is also about forgiveness, healing, found family, and friendships.
The Corps Security band of brothers is the best, starting with Greg, who became a big brother to Izzy and swore always to protect her. And the side characters, like sparkling hairdresser and Corps Security neighbor Sway, are the cherry on top.
This book had to have the most immature annoying h ever! Story was good though. Almost had a DNF on this one but powered through
I'm a little torn about how to rate this book. Some of the character's mannerisms threw me off a time or two, especially when it came to dialogue. I was also not as convinced that the hero, someone that we're supposed to believe was in special ops & now has all sorts of money and resources at his disposal, had such a difficult time finding "his girl". I'm going with 3 stars because I really enjoyed parts of the story & I'm a sucker for 2nd chance romance stories.
It felt like I was reading a trashy Wattpad story.
I really wanted to like this book. It had all the elements I love in a story, hot alpha, reunion love, interesting secondary characters... However, the big heaping problem I had, was Izzy.
I hated her.
Gah! I haven't disliked a female lead so much since I read twilight! I know her character has "gone through a lot", and she's meant to come off as a survivor, but it just didn't work for me. At all. Instead of being a survivor all I got from her was "victim!". She whines through the whole book! Constantly with the cursing fate and why me blah blah blah. I didn't feel like she was struggling to continue on so much as being forced to live by her two caring best friends while she bitches at them and whines that she wants to lay in bed/get drunk/ stay numb. I almost dnf'd this but I liked Greg so much I soldiered through.
I just can't stand females who need a man to live, which is how Izzy came off. She spends 12 years ( twelve freaking years!) nurturing her pain over the loses she suffered then bam, "axels back! Yay now I have a reason to live!"
Meh.
I hated her.
Gah! I haven't disliked a female lead so much since I read twilight! I know her character has "gone through a lot", and she's meant to come off as a survivor, but it just didn't work for me. At all. Instead of being a survivor all I got from her was "victim!". She whines through the whole book! Constantly with the cursing fate and why me blah blah blah. I didn't feel like she was struggling to continue on so much as being forced to live by her two caring best friends while she bitches at them and whines that she wants to lay in bed/get drunk/ stay numb. I almost dnf'd this but I liked Greg so much I soldiered through.
I just can't stand females who need a man to live, which is how Izzy came off. She spends 12 years ( twelve freaking years!) nurturing her pain over the loses she suffered then bam, "axels back! Yay now I have a reason to live!"
Meh.
Solid 4 from me. WOW!
I had idea what I was going into, besides Alpha Maleness ;) I was quite surprised. I laughed, I cried, I was angry, I was sad, I was happy, and I cried some more.
I will say that I really felt for Izzy in the beginning. I don't know how I would have be if I went through the stuff she did. But, I will say I over feeling for her and ready to throttle the bitch.
All that kept running through my mind when she was acting like a brat.
I get it Iz, but come on! Act like the adult you are AND TALK!!!!!!
I can not tell you how much I love Axel. When we first meet him though I thought he was an asshole. Straight up. I wanted to kick him in the shins, but then I got to see AXEL! Yep, love him. Love how emotional he is and he's not afraid to show it.
I can not wait for Greg's book next. I want to know how the lucky bitch is who gets him. Maddox, Beck, and Coop, yeah you're great too, but Greg kinda stole my heart. But hey, if any of you boys needs a girl?
Overall, great debut by Harper Sloan and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
I had idea what I was going into, besides Alpha Maleness ;) I was quite surprised. I laughed, I cried, I was angry, I was sad, I was happy, and I cried some more.
I will say that I really felt for Izzy in the beginning. I don't know how I would have be if I went through the stuff she did. But, I will say I over feeling for her and ready to throttle the bitch.
All that kept running through my mind when she was acting like a brat.
I get it Iz, but come on! Act like the adult you are AND TALK!!!!!!
Spoiler
Then Greg finally tells Axel and bam, she hates Greg. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I lost it. He was NOTHING by perfect to her and being the friend she needs/deserves and THIS is how she treats him? Ummm...NO!I can not tell you how much I love Axel. When we first meet him though I thought he was an asshole. Straight up. I wanted to kick him in the shins, but then I got to see AXEL! Yep, love him. Love how emotional he is and he's not afraid to show it.
I can not wait for Greg's book next. I want to know how the lucky bitch is who gets him. Maddox, Beck, and Coop, yeah you're great too, but Greg kinda stole my heart. But hey, if any of you boys needs a girl?
Overall, great debut by Harper Sloan and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
There was definitely some nostalgia I felt with this reread. I first read this what felt like sooo long ago. Probably about 8 years ago, to be honest, but a lot has changed in my reading life (and real life) during that time. It was steamy. I think Sloan does sex scenes relatively well. I did find the whole book all together a little bit too dramatic. But I think it’s not necessarily that the plot shouldn’t have that but rather that it would’ve worked better for me if the book had been longer, allowing the characters to be more fleshed out and more detail to be added to the story in general. I’m pretty sure though that this was the author’s debut novel and I did still enjoy the read so I’m looking forward to continuing in this series.
Boy do I love me some Alpha man yumminess and this book was full of it! I really enjoyed Axel and his boys. This book had a lot of emotion and also had some points where it was hard to read regarding an abusive relationship.
“Fate might hate me, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping one day she forgets about her favorite chew toy. When that day comes I hope karma has some fun with that bitch fate”
The book starts out with us getting insight into the past of Isabelle or Izzy as her friends call her. This gives us a glimpse into how she came to be the pessimistic, scared, hallow person she is today. Thanks to Izzy’s greats friends Dee and Cage she is trying to put her life back together. Cage is awesome! He is all Sexy-HOT-Alpha-yummyness! I seriously love him right from the start! He even watches chick flicks with Izzy!! When Izzy comes face to face with the biggest ghost from her past she doesn’t know how she will ever move forward and feelings she thought she was going to finally be able to move past come right to the surface.
“I still love him. This man that I have thought was forever lost to me. If I am completely honest with myself, I never stopped loving him. But, all this knowledge shouldn’t scare me. The teenage love we shared over a decade ago has grown with such a power that it will kill me if I lose it again.”
Axel is stunned when he comes face to face with the one person he thought he would never see again. Axel is Sexy-Dark-Alpha-Possesive-Hotness! I told you this freakin’ book was full of Alpha Yummyness! Axel wants answers from Izzy and Izzy isn’t interested. She wants him to leave it alone and let the past stay buried. Axel isn’t having it!
“Let’s go, we’re talking and we’re talking now. Izzy, hear me this right fucking now, you do not fear me. Ever. Even as mad as you have me, I wouldn’t ever put my hands on you. Do you hear me, would never harm a single fucking hair on your head, Princess.”
When Izzy finally lets her guard down and Axel finally gets the full scoop about what went down years ago, the steam filled my Kindle in full force! Wow can Axel talk dirty and he freakin’ calls her Princess! Sign me up!! The man can seriously do some damage to your panties!!
“Hmm…can’t speak, huh baby? Just think how good it will feel when I bury my cock deep inside that warm pussy, when I fuck you so hard you will feel me for days. Going to make you drown in pleasure, fuck you so good, so fucking good.”
I’m so glad that Izzy and Axel get their HEA in this book! You can’t help but have a huge smile on your face and just be giddy happy for them with all they have gone through!
“This isn’t the heavy fast sex we had earlier. This is pure love making. This is two souls that have been adrift for too long finally coming home to each other. This is healing.”
I really loved Axel and Izzy’s story and I can’t wait to get the stories of the rest of the Corps Security crew! Cage is going to be awesome! Seriously can’t wait for Maddox though, I suspect he will be my fav!! I am going to close this with one of my favorite Axel quotes:
“Making my dreams come true, Princess. Making my life worth living. Love you so much, baby.”
“Fate might hate me, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping one day she forgets about her favorite chew toy. When that day comes I hope karma has some fun with that bitch fate”
The book starts out with us getting insight into the past of Isabelle or Izzy as her friends call her. This gives us a glimpse into how she came to be the pessimistic, scared, hallow person she is today. Thanks to Izzy’s greats friends Dee and Cage she is trying to put her life back together. Cage is awesome! He is all Sexy-HOT-Alpha-yummyness! I seriously love him right from the start! He even watches chick flicks with Izzy!! When Izzy comes face to face with the biggest ghost from her past she doesn’t know how she will ever move forward and feelings she thought she was going to finally be able to move past come right to the surface.
“I still love him. This man that I have thought was forever lost to me. If I am completely honest with myself, I never stopped loving him. But, all this knowledge shouldn’t scare me. The teenage love we shared over a decade ago has grown with such a power that it will kill me if I lose it again.”
Axel is stunned when he comes face to face with the one person he thought he would never see again. Axel is Sexy-Dark-Alpha-Possesive-Hotness! I told you this freakin’ book was full of Alpha Yummyness! Axel wants answers from Izzy and Izzy isn’t interested. She wants him to leave it alone and let the past stay buried. Axel isn’t having it!
“Let’s go, we’re talking and we’re talking now. Izzy, hear me this right fucking now, you do not fear me. Ever. Even as mad as you have me, I wouldn’t ever put my hands on you. Do you hear me, would never harm a single fucking hair on your head, Princess.”
When Izzy finally lets her guard down and Axel finally gets the full scoop about what went down years ago, the steam filled my Kindle in full force! Wow can Axel talk dirty and he freakin’ calls her Princess! Sign me up!! The man can seriously do some damage to your panties!!
“Hmm…can’t speak, huh baby? Just think how good it will feel when I bury my cock deep inside that warm pussy, when I fuck you so hard you will feel me for days. Going to make you drown in pleasure, fuck you so good, so fucking good.”
I’m so glad that Izzy and Axel get their HEA in this book! You can’t help but have a huge smile on your face and just be giddy happy for them with all they have gone through!
“This isn’t the heavy fast sex we had earlier. This is pure love making. This is two souls that have been adrift for too long finally coming home to each other. This is healing.”
I really loved Axel and Izzy’s story and I can’t wait to get the stories of the rest of the Corps Security crew! Cage is going to be awesome! Seriously can’t wait for Maddox though, I suspect he will be my fav!! I am going to close this with one of my favorite Axel quotes:
“Making my dreams come true, Princess. Making my life worth living. Love you so much, baby.”
I met my husband when I was 14 years old as a high school freshman. It took a few years for me to hook him, but we've been together ever since. The story of finding your soulmate, and love and loss, is absolutely beautiful. Putting myself into their shoes made me connect with these characters in a way I haven't in the pass.
As for Axel and Izzy, holy hotness. Gimme some alpha any day.
As for Axel and Izzy, holy hotness. Gimme some alpha any day.
I've found a new series! This book had the right amount of everything! Loved Axel and Izzy and can't wait for the rest of their stories.