Title: Axel
Author: Harper Sloan
Published 2013

This is book 1 in the Corps Security Series

So Harper Sloan is a new author to me. She was recommended to me by the lovely Golden Czermak, and what a great recommendation that was! She has loads of books out so plenty to be going through, which is always a good start. I have started with Axel as it is the first book that came up on the list … there really isn’t any more justification than that unfortunately, it was completely luck of the draw!

There is a warning in the beginning of the book, there is a scene that may be difficult for some people to read. There is enough information that we get what she has been/is going through without having to drag all the dirty laundry out to air.

We meet Izzy lonely, broken and frightened. She has been through hell and made it out of the other side. She is feeling defeated and yet finds the strength within herself to carry on. With her two best friends she picks up, puts up and moves on. Or so she thinks. Life has not dealt her a very fair hand but again and again she rallies and goes forward.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to get on with Izzy’s story, there are bits that resonate with me on a personal level, unfortunately not all good bits. It definitely allowed me to enter into the world easier, I could see my decisions in the story and really get a feel for what was going on with the characters.

I loved relationship between Izzy, Dee and Greg and the twists and turns within it. They really are like a family. Being able to recover a friendship after having to do the right thing, even when the person doesn’t want it, is a skill all of its own. To be able to translate that to text and authentically deliver it is a much greater skill but Harper Sloan absolutely knocks it out of the park!

Of course this is also the story of the wonderful Axel. Our captain caveman! I swear if he could beat his chest, throw her over his shoulder and lock her in the bedroom he completely would have! Even within this group of amazingly hot (no surprise there 😉 ), stacked, alpha males he somehow manages to come out as more, he is like super alpha! Unfortunately this doesn’t always win him points and over the course of the book he has to learn to school his thoughts. It’s like we can see him growing within the pages.

I really enjoy reading dual point of view, which this book is, as it really helps to engage with both characters. It was fairly easy for me to join along with Izzy and I really enjoyed being able to see things from Axel’s more male point of view.

Their lives have twisted and turned and they have been brought back together again to fight another day. I love a second chance romance and this is one of the best ones that I have read for a while. I am really looking forward to heading off into book 2 🙂

Blurb

Fate hasn’t always been friends with Isabelle West. In fact, fate has been a downright bitch.

Isabelle has learned the hard way how hard life can be when fate isn’t by your side. It can hand you dreams on silver platters, but it can snatch them right back and hand you nightmares. One thing Isabelle knew for sure fate was consistent with was taking away everything she ever loved.

For the last two years Isabelle has been slowly clearing the clouds of her past. Happiness is finally on the horizon. She has a thriving business, great friends, and her life back. All she has to do is jump over the last hurdle…her ex-husband.

When problems start causing her to fear her new life, and memories that are better left forgotten start rushing to the surface the last thing she needs is a ghost from her past to come knocking on her door.

Axel never thought he would look into the eyes of Isabelle West again, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to now. He’s carried his anger for so long he isn’t sure he can just turn it off, but when he is faced with protecting her and an unexpected desire to have her again, life gets a little more complicated.

How will Axel and Isabelle deal when all their cards are put on the table and everything they thought was true blows up in their faces?