Laura’s Review of Locke (Corps Security, #4) by Harper Sloan

If you have read and enjoyed Deacon (Unfinished Hero, #4) by Kristen Ashley, Can’t Shake You (River Bend, #1) Molly McLain, and Her Forbidden Hero (The Hero, #1) by Laura Kaye, then you are going to LOVE this book!

Synopsis

Darkness is the only thing I see. Ever since the day my life changed. The day that everything and everyone I held close to me ceased to exist. The day I lost it all and the demons of my past consumed my every waking moment.

I tried to keep others at arm’s length. Tried not to let my darkness taint them. Ruin them. Harm them. And whether I want to admit it or not, as much as I wish I could keep them locked out, they refuse to leave. Refuse to let me suffer alone.

If I hadn’t been so focused on keeping those demons from flying free, I wouldn’t have missed how one perfect angel was able to sneak her way under my skin—refusing to let go. Making me want things I don’t deserve.

She consumes me. Her beauty knows no end. The love she promises tempts me every time she’s near. But that pure heart that makes her MY Emmy is the one thing I’m convinced I’ll destroy if I ever let her close.

I’m a broken man. A broken man with too much darkness in his soul to ever let her light shine upon me. But even that doesn’t stop me from craving her with every single breath in my body.

What I Loved

           

         For me, this was the most anticipated book in this series.  From the very beginning Maddox grabbed my attention; he intrigued me, scared me, made me smile and broke my heart.  And this was all before his story was even out!  Locke was everything I knew it would be; lots of drama, lots of darkness, and some pretty hot sex.  What I absolutely loved about this book was that not only did the darkness live inside of Locke; it lived inside of Emersyn as well.  Emersyn never really peaked my interests so much, I loved how much she loved Locke but I never really questioned her character or past, but my oh my what a life she has lead! 

            Once again Harper Sloan kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading, and left me with tears in my eyes.  We follow Maddox and Emersyn through their journey of find their happiness and finding each other, and watching that all unfold before our eyes.   This story gripped my heart from the very beginning, and didn’t get go till the very end.  I love every second of this story, there were times I blushed, times I smiled and of course plenty of times I cried.  I love books filled with drama, darkness, and love and Locke did not disappoint.

Not So Much

                I really don’t have tons of negative things to say about this book, which is why I gave it five stars, DUH!  But I will say which is my main complaint when it comes to this series, is that I wish there was more background details in the story.  I wish I got to see more of what Locke’s apartment looked like before Emersyn, and what it looked like after Emersyn.  I would’ve liked to have seen how they had made him apartment a home and how it reflected on their relationship. 

This Book Was…

                Very moving and amazing all at once.  I couldn’t wait to finally get my hands on Locke, he was the one character from the very beginning that held my attention and I just wanted so badly for him to have a happy ending.  I didn’t know what his past was about, what kind of person he was or anything else about him but I was his number one fan anyway.  I thought I loved Locke before this book began, but I am so absolutely head over heels in love with him after reading it.  This book travels somewhat into his dark past, and you finally see all the demons that have haunted him for so long, and why.  We also get to travel into Emersyn’s past and see what kind of world she was raised in, and just where she gets all her amazing strength from.  Not only do you get to experience Locke and Emmy’s love for each other, but you get to see Locke’s raw sexual power and boy oh boy does he know how to use it!  Although each one of these men in this series is truly a hero, and Locke probably embodies that most of all.  To me though, Emmy was the hero in this story, she pulled Locke out of the hell he was living in and shined a light on him that no one else was able to do.  She made him face his demons and you get to see how she never took no for answer from him, I love everything about her.  What a great way to end such an amazing series, I will never forget these people and I can’t wait to see what other creations Harper Sloan produces.

Laura’s Review of Cooper (Corps Security, #4) by Harper Sloan

If you have read and enjoyed Raid (Unfinished Hero, #3) by Kristen Ashley, Fighting to Forgive (Fighting, #2 ) by J.B. Salsbury, and A Reason to Breathe (Reason, #1) by C.P. Smith then you will LOVE this book!

Synopsis

         Do you take me seriously? Because I don’t. I use my jokes and easygoing personality to hide the pain I’ve felt since he took his last breath. I’m adrift without my partner in crime, my best friend…my brother. I can taste the vengeance just within my grasp.

          Until she barges into my life. Promising me happiness and a peace I’ve been craving for years. She is the sun to my darkness, the happy to my despair.

           But she holds secrets. Just like I do. She holds hers close, where I just pray mine don’t rock the walls we’re trying to build.

           Now I’m stuck at a crossroads between my desire for revenge and my craving for her and the life we could have together—and I have no idea which road I should travel.

          All I know with crystal clear certainty is that the past has the power to destroy it all.

What I Loved

                There is so much to love about this book I hardly know where to begin!  First of all let me just start out by saying how much I love Chelcie.  She is definitely the type of female character that I can latch onto emotionally and never want to let go.  The same totally goes for Cooper, and I love that the story goes back and forth between the two so I can fall in love with them both! 

                My heart absolutely broke when Coop died in the last book, and Chelcie was left pregnant and alone.  Although it’s so wonderful watching Chelcie move on with her life and fall in love with Asher.  Coop’s presence is evident on every single of page and at certain points I had this knot in my throat from just wanting to cry from truly missing him so much.  Harper Sloan has a way of sucking you completely into the plot, so much so, I felt like I lost Coop myself.  There is so much love between Asher and Chelcie and they preserve Coop’s memory so well it was just very touching.  I also loved that not only did we get Asher’s point of view, but we get parts of Coop and Asher’s past, and finally understand why Coop was the way he was.  You don’t only get Asher’s story, you get Coop’s as well, giving this storyline a certain kind of closure.

Not So Much

                I really have a lot of negative things to say, this book and this series as a whole is just so amazing I cannot get enough of it.  I guess I just wish there was a little bit more background detail as the plot moved on.  I didn't really get a great description of what Chelcie’s apartment looked like; there was no reflection of her personality in her own place.  The only thing that got that full type of description was the baby’s nursery, which was a little disappointing.  Other than that though I absolutely LOVED this book!

This Book Was…

             

          Unbelievably awesome!  There was a lot emotions going into starting this story, I just loved Cooper so much and I knew this was going to be emotional.  I wasn’t wrong but I was totally fine with that, in a way I got to say goodbye to Cooper too by the end of the book and it was definitely bitter sweet.  Things definitely come full circle by the end and once again Harper Sloan has made it possible for me to fall completely in love with another boy from Corps Security.  There is definitely tons of hot sexy scenes to enjoy on top of all the drama going on which just adds to the amazingness of the plot.  I love that we not only get to see the character development of Chelcie and Asher, we get to see everyone else’s stories move forward too.  It’s so great to see Dee and Beck happy together, and watch Melissa and Cage take of their twins.  You don’t just fall in love with the main characters in this series you fall in love with entire group of people that all you want is for them all to be happy.  I cannot wait to get my hands on Locke, and whatever Harper Sloan writes! 

Finally Us (True Love, #3) by Harper Bentley Release Day Celebration!

Finally Us

True Love #3

By Harper Bentley

Out June 30, 2014

The Rundown

They wanted forever… but is forever really their destiny?

When misunderstandings and unsavory characters get in their way, Ellen and Jag call it quits after nine years of being together. Now they find themselves in places with which they’re unaccustomed: Ellen is trying to get used to the idea of dating another man, having never gone out with anyone other than Jag, while Jag is coping with an injury and the loss of baseball, a game he’s played for most of his life. Neither is sure how to handle their new situation, but they’re dealing.

When a surprise trade lands Jag right back in the middle of things and right back into Ellen’s life, new boyfriend and all, can he keep his cool and prove to her that what they once had is what's right? Does Ellen still carry a torch for her first love or has she already fallen for her new baseball player, making it too late for them to start again? 

The fight is on as Jag goes head-to-head with Ellen’s new love interest as he tries proving to her that their love deserves another shot. Can he win her back or is their dream of a perfect forever gone for good?

This is the third book of the True Love Trilogy.

Due to language and sexual content, this book is not recommended for readers under age 17

Buy Finally Us Now

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Meet Harper Bentley

Facebook   Twitter   Goodreads  Website

Harper Bentley has taught high school English for 22 years. Although she’s managed to maintain her sanity regardless of her career choice, jumping into the world of publishing her own books goes to show that she might be closer to the ledge than was previously thought. 

After traveling the nation in her younger years as a military brat, having lived in Alaska, Washington State and California, she now resides in Oklahoma with her teenage daughter, two dogs and one cat, happily writing stories that she hopes her readers will enjoy.

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Laura’s Review of Uncaged (Corps Security, #3.5) by Harper Sloan

Uncaged is not a standalone.  It is a continuation of Cage.  It is recommended that you read the first 3 books in the series before Uncaged.

Basic Summary

            Greg Cage’s life is more fulfilling than he ever could have imagined.  He’s married to the love of his life, has an amazing son, and him in a few short months, his family will grow again with the birth of his twin girls.

                The past year has been a tough one for the Cage family, but they are now on the road to healing by learning to let go of the past and looking forward to their future.

                When situations beyond his control threaten to take away so much of what Greg holds close to his heart, he has to learn that he doesn’t always have the control he tries to maintain in their lives.  Will he be able to handle the stress of knowing his wife and newborn daughters are beyond his protection?

                Join the Cage family as they embark on yet another one of life’s journeys with a rambunctious four-year-old, pregnancy complications, and the fear of the unknown.

                Will the love that Greg and Melissa share hold true as they fight to overcome the obstacles that face them?

                Uncaged is not a standalone.  It is a continuation of Cage.  It is recommended that you read the first 3 books in the series before Uncaged.

What I Loved

                Well first of all I can’t say enough about how much I love Greg Cage!  He’s freaking awesome, and it wouldn’t be a proper Cage story without hot sex scenes, crazy kids, and wiener rings!  There is plenty of sex in this short story and lots of talk about Greg’s lower appendage that just happens to be pierced in three places.  I’ve always wanted to meet a man with a piercing down there, but now I want to meet a man with three piercings down there!!!

                Not only does this story have lots of hotness and sex but it also throws you for a HUGE loop and there were a couple times where I had tears in my eyes.  Lots of funny scenes countered with tons of tender scenes that had me saying “awwwww” while some scenes had my heart racing and NEEDING to know what was going to happen next like I needed air!

 

Not So Much

                There were times in the beginning that I felt like it was just too much lovey dovey crap.  Don’t get me wrong I adore romances (obviously) but I can’t stand it when every other sentence is about how much you love this person and how lucky you are to have found them.  I get that you’re trying to lay the ground work for where they are in their relationship, but this is a short story that is supposed to a supplementary read so the foundation doesn’t need to be laid out just that much.   Other than that I really enjoyed reading this short story and getting to spend more time with Greg and Melissa, and of course Cohen.

Overall

             I loved that this book not only switched point of views between Greg and Melissa but switched to Cohen a couple times.  I just totally love him and I have since the first time I met him so to have his point of view included was awesome. 

                This story totally had my crying by the end of it, and of course laughing as well.  I love when Cohen talks about Greg’s Weiner rings; it has me cracking up each and every time!  This story has totally got me stoked to dive into Asher and Chelcie’s story and making me even more impatient for the story I have been waiting for since book one, which is Maddox’s story!!!!   It was bittersweet having Cooper in the beginning of the book it’s still raw for me sometimes remembering that he’s gone it just rips my heart out all over again.  The story definitely puts you on edge at certain points and I loved the little treat at the end involving Cohen.  Thank you so much for that Harper Sloan and bringing all these people to life so I get to read all about their wonderful lives!  

Locke Cover Revealed Today!!!!

Cover Reveal

            Today the wonderful Harper Sloan revealed the cover for Locke!!!  Locke is the 5^th installment in her Corps Security series and truly this is the book I have been waiting for, for a very very long time!!!!  LOOK AT THIS COVER!!! Give me some of that please!!!!!!  There is no specific publishing date and Cooper (Corps Security, #4) isn’t out yet either but it is some time this

Click here to go to Locke's Goodreads page!!

Click here to go to Harper Sloan's Facebook page!

Laura’s Review of Beck (Corps Security, #3) by Harper Sloan

If you love The Look of Love by Bella Andre, Rock Chick Reckoning by Kristen Ashley, At Peace by Kristen Ashley, and Hard as it Gets by Laura Kaye then you will love this book!!!!

Basic Summary: Dee: I've always been good at wearing masks.  Not letting anyone see the real me.  I’m content being the happy-go-lucky best friend.  The strong willed boss.  The independent woman who doesn't need a man.

                But the truth is I’m just as broken as the rest of you.  I’m terrified that all it will take is one person to make all my carefully constructed walls crumble into find dust.  So I guard my heart with everything I have.  Determined to never let anyone get close enough to hurt me again.

                All is perfect until HE walks into my life.  No…he doesn't just walk.  He struts his good-looking, sex-oozing self, right into my space and demands that I see HIM.  Making me want what I know I can’t have.So I did the only thing I know how to do.  I run.  But he just won’t let me go.

Beck:  The second I see her.  I know she will be mine.  I see past the gorgeous smiles and heart-stopping laughter.  I see HER.  She doesn't want me to know her secrets or the past that haunt her, but I make it my mission to find out.  To make her mine.

                She can run all she wants, but it will never be far enough to stop me from coming after her.  She’s it for me and she knows it.  She’s just too scared to admit it.

What I Love About This Book:  I really like this series a lot because I like characters that are a little jaded (or a lot jaded) because it adds a more emotional element to a story and this series doesn't disappoint in that category.  The depression that Denise sinks in is pretty deep and very scary at certain points in this story, and I love that no matter what Beck is just there.  He never leaves her side, even after she pushes him away time and time again.  He never loses hope in her, even after years of her sinking deeper into herself, and him not being able to just love her.

                It’s so weird because after Axel (Corps Security, #1) and Cage (Corps Security, #2) I loved those character so much, but now I kind of hate them and am very mad at them.  Denise is supposed to be their best friend and they have just been too involved in their own life to even know her struggle for two years!!!!! Come on!!!! I wouldn't even count them as friends after a while I would wash my hands of that relationship and move on, no matter how hard I tried to hide that something is wrong a friend is someone who shouldn't be distracted enough to notice I’m going through something.  So yeah they just really pissed me off in this book.

                I love the banter between the guys in this series a lot, when they get together and start to argue like brothers it just has me cracking up!  It’s a great relationship between all of them at Corps Security, and I don’t want to give anything away but after reading this book you really see just how much they mean to each other.  Parts of this book they all make you laugh and there are parts of this book that they will all make you cry hysterically. 

Cons:  At first I felt this book was a slow starter because it begins with the very beginning of their relationship that took place in book one and I didn't want to have to basically reread the same story from a different point of view.  I was glad we finally pushed past that and it wasn’t the majority of the story, but to me it was just a little slow going.

                Also it was weird because the first book really went into detail about the setting of the characters.  I knew what Axel’s house looked like, I knew the layout of his house and the same goes for where Izzy and Denise were living.  But ever since that first book there has been a REAL lack of details about the places around these characters.  I have no idea where Beck’s house is in comparison to Denise’s place.  I don’t even know if Denise is living in a house, or an apartment let alone the lay out the place, how she furnishes the place; nothing!! I need these things in a story because it adds to the character development giving these people depth as well as the plot of this entire book.  I need more details please!!!! All I know about Beck’s place is that he has a table that is breakable, likes to do woodworking out in his garage, but I have no idea what his house looks like and what that tells me about him as a person.  Plus also felt like the details of Beck’s looks were prominent in the beginning of this book, so I was able to get a good image of him in my head.  But the same could not be said for Denise, even though she is a more of prominent person in book one, I can’t remember the details of her description in that one and I shouldn’t have to.  Her description of what she looks like should have been just as prominent as Becks in the beginning of this book, for such a long time all I got was that she had long curly brown hair.  That’s it, I have no idea how tall she is, what her skin tone is, what color eyes she has; nothing!

Overall:  This was a great story, and I absolutely love this series!! I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book because Dee kind of annoyed me in book one with her all her bubbliness, but I actually grew to really like her in this one.  It was also great to get answers for her constant back and forth with Beck throughout the first two books, and it that finally resolved.  There were parts of this book that just ripped my heart out and I was hysterically crying at 2 o’clock in the morning reading this book.  This story definitely kept me on my toes the entire time, and the ending was pretty good and parts of it are very bitter sweet.  Harper Sloan has set up what I think will be the next story in this series involving Cooper, pretty nicely and I can’t wait to read that book.  I love books that pull at my emotions and this book definitely did that, having me laugh one minute and cry the next.  I do wish there was more detail in this book that would’ve helped a lot in character development for both Beck and Dee.  There were times where I felt that Beck was just too good to be true, all his I love you no matter what was laid on a little too thick at certain points but I definitely love him as a character and Dee.  This story kind of turned the first two books on their heads when it came to Dee as a character, and instead of making me love Izzy and Greg even more in this book they just annoyed me in the friend department.  I kind of love this because relationships are mercurial and to see things from a different perspective when reading a book is a great to put a new spin on something you already know.  This story turns out to be very bittersweet for all these characters, I was in hysterics at a certain point and I like that there is a setup of Cooper’s story and Maddox’s as well by the end of this book. 
 

Laura’s Review of Cage (Corps Security #2) by Harper Sloan

If you like Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley, Raid by Kristen Ashley, and Saving Dallas by Kim Jones, then you will love this book!!!!!!

Basic Summary: Greg Cage was born to protect.  While growing up, he has his mother and sister’s shielf against the world…until he failed.  For the last decade, he has carried that guilt and need for vengeance around…until it was stripped from him.  Now, with his friend getting married and no longer needing his protection, he is even more lost, completely adrift, and desperate for some control.   All he has ever known was how to protect: his family, his friends, and his country.  Can he go against everything he has ever known, and give up that control?

                Melissa Larson will never let anyone hold the reins in her life.  She has been the rock in her family for more years that she can remember, and the fight to keep them together is her main priority right now.  She has always been fiercely independent and proud.  The last thing she will ever do is ask for someone’s help.  But when that choice is out of her control, forcing her to rely on others to save her and her family, and pick up the pieces that are left, will she be able to let someone else be her strength?

                The second Greg locks eyes with Meli, he knows that she is someone he needs.  Someone he craves.  Meli know the second she met Greg that he would be nothing but trouble and heartache.  Her life takes an unexpected turn, and that bitch Fate is back to wreak more havoc on another member of the Corps family.

                All hell breaks loose, leaving Greg no choice but to call in a favor.  He hooks back up with his old friend Braxxon Break from the Breakneck MC.  Together, they make sure that nothing threatens anyone Greg loves again. 

What I Love About This Book:  This started out steaming hot, and just gets better from there.  I thought I loved Brian Ross because of apadravya piercing but Greg Cage takes it to a whole other level and when you read this book you will 100% agree!!!!!! There are no words for the sexiness that is Greg Cage.  After reading book 1 in this series Greg Cage was the sweet guy that was like a brother to Izzy, I never really saw him as a sexy character and I was a little hesitant to go on to the next book because of this.  Boy was I wrong!!!! Greg Cage puts a whole new level to erotica and thank you so much for that, Harper Sloan!!!

                I also like the fact that Melissa doesn’t struggle with openly trusting Greg for most of the book, it doesn’t take them long to get together and it’s refreshing to read that.  Most books the trust struggle is ongoing for about 70% of the book, and while that makes for good reading sometimes it can get a little tiring.  It also sets it apart from the first book with Izzy and Axel and I like that even though this is a singular series the stories are very separate and don’t follow the same kind of plot line.

                Probably the hottest scene involves a wall, make up sex, and multiple orgasms.  Each sex scene was beyond hot and I love them but that was probably the hottest in my opinion, thank you very much! After one of the most hilarious scenes I have read in a long time, a devastating heart breaking scene takes place.  I love books that can take me to a high then slam you down low because that just sucks the reader in more and more.  This story at a certain point takes my breath away and has my heart racing.  There are certain points where it’s almost too hard to read, and that’s what I crave from a book.  I want things in a plot that set it apart from others, not just set it apart from other books within the series but from all other books and Cage delivers in every single aspect. 

Cons:  I think I would've liked seen maybe one more scene of girl talk in this book.  I think that’s kind of the only thing that was lacking in the book.  To actually read the conversation where Melissa tells Izzy about Greg’s piercings would've been awesome. 

  

                Also I wish there was more details when describing Greg’s house.  We get the gist of what his bedroom looks like and kind of what his living room looks like but that’s about it.  When reading Axel there was a lot more detail when describing his digs and that didn't happen in this book. 

Overall:  Great story and plot.  There were definitely things in this book I DID NOT see coming at all.  I was definitely hooked the minute the book began and it was definitely a compelling story.  I love Greg Cage, and cannot wait to get to Beck and Dee’s story!!!! 

                There are so many parts in this book that I couldn't help but break out laughing and there were other parts that brought tears to my eyes.  Harper Sloan is an awesome writer and cannot to read the other books in this series!!!!

Axel and Cage Playlists by Harper Sloan (courtesy of Harper Sloan via Spotify)

AXEL

Marry Me - Train

My Songs Know What You Did in The Dark (Light Em Up) - Fall Out Boy

Down With the Sickness- Disturbed

Lego House - Ed Sheeran 

Walk Away - Ben Harper

Stay (Originally by Rihanna) - Shaun Reynolds feat. Laura Pringle

Can’t Hold Us-feat. Ray Dalton Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Just A Fool - Christina Aguilera & Blake Shelton

I Miss You - Incubus

Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band

Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

Stand - Rascal Flatts

Clarity - Zedd, Foxes

Over You - Miranda Lambert

Try - Pink

Sad - Maroon 5 

Mean - Taylor Swift

CAGE

Angel - Sarah McLachlan

Get Lucky - Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams 

Red Hands - Walk Off the Earth

Crazy Bitch - Buckcherry

Rhythm Of Love - Plain White T’s

Lay You Down - Sam Crow

I Want Crazy (Encore) - Hunter Hayes

You Shook Me All Night Long - The Rock Masters

If I Die Young - The Band Perry

#Beautiful - Mariah Carey, Miguel

I Just Want To Make Love To You - Foghat

Scream & Shout - will.i.am, Britney Spears

Good Feeling - Flo Rida

Casual Sex - My Darkest Days

Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran 

Two Is Better Than One - Boys Like Girls, Taylor Swift

The Great Escape - Pink

I Lived - OneRepublic