Axel (Corps Security) Paperback – Large Print, July 7, 2013

Absolutely positively mouthwatering!!!! I love a good alpha story and this one fit the bill. I love that it's a standalone story and there are more to follow in the series.Full review to be posted on HEA Book Shelf's blog page and Facebook page.Updated review that was posted: Ok....as I am gathering my thoughts about this book, please let me say wowza! I purchased this book and Cage (book 2, review to follow) a little while ago with the intention of reading it....someday. Once Beck (book 3) was set with a release date, I knew I had to catch up on this series so I could jump on that tour (yay me!!). I never knew that it would lead me down this path of giddiness. Yes....it is a well-known fact that I love me some good strong alpha male books.....but this one was super sexy and hot with some action to amp it up.Isabelle (Izzy) West is in love with Axel Reid. Axel Reid is in love with Isabelle West. A love that can make it through anything....a bond worth fighting for and one that will never cease, no matter what the cards dealt are. And believe me, with fate working against Isabelle, there will be a few cards that need to be discarded.We meet Isabelle and Axel while they are still in high school. They have a young love that is so full of affection, tenderness and pure raw emotion. They are making plans for their future and Axel is going to ensure he can take care of them. He enlists in the Marines and ships off. Isabelle does everything she can to keep in touch with him.....after all, they have plans.Well, damn that b!tch named fate.....she has other plans; plans that do not include Isabelle being happy. When everything possible that can go wrong, does go wrong, Isabelle needs to be strong. Life continues on....hearts get broken and memories are pushed away, but Isabelle picks up the pieces and starts all over again. I felt awful!!! Just awful for Isabelle.....all that she dealt with, coupled with the `loss' of Axel, how much can a girls heart take?? The pain she felt....it poured off the pages. I felt her agony and loss as I read it.Isabelle has lost all that was important in her life. Everything. She is going to start over....and her best friend Dee is there to help her. Dee is a great friend. The kind that every gal needs....Dee is there through thick and thin, making sure that she takes care of Isabelle. Their bond is very strong and we see how much Dee protects and takes care of Isabelle. Dee introduces Isabelle to Brandon....and within no time, Isabelle and Brandon are engaged and married. This marriage is very unhealthy and life altering on so many different levels, ones that play behind the scenes and are so well written into the plot and had me second guessing my suspicions on the outcome. I just have to say that even though we all try and guess what is going to happen next....this one had me intrigued and kept me on my toes. I wanted to find out more, but then more twists were thrown in making me have to uncover more truths and lies. I loved that I got to "find out" what was going on as I read it. It wasn't predictable from the beginning how it was going to play out, thankfully. All those `little' intricacies....so well played!The story picks up from here and we start to learn the little ins and outs of the marriage and the dire need to get out and away from Brandon. Dee saves Izzy from this shamble of a marriage, but Brandon will not allow this. He makes her life a living nightmare.....during the marriage and after. Dee introduces Izzy to Greg Cage, and he is the rock she needs to move on with her life. He is the big brother she never had, the protector she needed and the friend she deserved. Their bond is so concrete, so deep and so solid. It is amazing. I loved seeing how protective and caring he was with her. I seriously felt the warmth from this big, bad burly guy.Greg has a security company that he runs, and he is calling in some friends to help out because things are starting to get sticky. Corps Security is definitely the security company I would like to have in case I ever need protection.Read: --> HOT MEN <--We get to meet the crew on Izzy's birthday after a day of pampering and shopping. Her birthday has a different meaning for her, one that she intends to numb and get through without remembering it. But when she has a breakdown on her birthday that leaves her unable to function, Greg and Dee are there to make sure they stop the reminder of a horrible past....and to find out why Greg's new co-worker is causing such an alarming reaction for Izzy.Now....I need to discuss Axel. Clearly the book is named Axel, so we know he will make an appearance eventually, OH MY GOSH, when he does:Panty. Melter.Okay? Are you following me?? Uber sexy, uber hot, total alpha. Pure deliciousness all wrapped up in a Marine. Yes, yummy. We can all thank Harper now....because he is a vision. He is all grown up, filled out and well trained....all makes for a sexy man!Axel is an angry and hurt man, carrying around lies and misunderstandings in his closed off heart for the last decade. By the time he sees Izzy, and realizes who she is, all hell breaks loose. The wires that are crossed and the misinformation they both have plays out so well in this story. The angst and the want for understanding is so evident and so strong between Axel and Izzy, it just makes you want to shake them both! Axel and Izzy tip-toe around the pain and confusion that surrounds their past and how they lost each other until they finally have the necessary discussion. Their relationship is so loving and full-filling....the realization of what happened and the fact that they were able to move on from that was heart-warming. I loved to watch their hearts thaw and their relationship grow. It was rough, but beautiful and hot and so.very.sexy!!! Axel oozes sex appeal and he certainly is swoon-worthy! He makes sure he does whatever he can to get Izzy back into his life. After all....she is HIS. And ONLY his.We have missed so much, wasted so much time. Even though I know how much we still have to work out, and the small detail of reminding her she is mine, I still can't fight the instantaneous contentment that washes over me.I feel whole again. ~AxelI can't help the tears that slowly roll out of my eyes. This connection, this love that is between us has never died. My heart suddenly feels like it might explode. ~IzzyThe time that passes during this book was perfectly stated...it didn't feel like I was jumping from life event to life event. A big pet peeve of mine is a rushed plot or a rushed ending. This one had neither. It flowed so well and I didn't feel rushed at all...I was able to truly enjoy this book from start to finish! This was a well spelled out book that made me smile. It made me hope and wish and dream right along with Izzy, all the while wanting to hug her and comfort her as well. I wanted to root on Axel and see their relationship progress....it was a love story, packed with some action and sexiness. I really enjoyed the emotions that I felt while reading this book and I feel that Harper captured them so well."Never again, Izzy West. I will never again let anyone take you from me, or anything from us." His words hang between us both as a promise and a threat.5 mouthwatering and deliciously sweet stars!

4.5 starsIt was a blend of all the elements I love in a book - protective Alphas, great character dynamics and a beautiful second chance at a once-in-a-lifetime love.Over ten years ago, Axel walked out of Izzy's life and she never saw him again. But she'd never forgotten him or let go of her love. Heartbroken, she is now trapped in a love-less marriage to a vulgar, abusive, controlling husband. Her life is miserable and she craves freedom... but most of all she craves the love that she lost so many years ago."Cut off from those I loved and so terrified of his wrath; I wasn't going anywhere. Those were the years I prayed and prayed for Axel to find his way back to me... but I eventually had to face the facts... my hero was gone."This book starts out with a prologue that, while gritty and horrifying, really sucks you right into the story."That was the same day I decided fate hated me. No, she didn't hate me... she loathed me. People say karma is a b*tch but I have news for you, karma doesn't have anything on fate when she is after your blood. Not a single thing."The story is told from alternating POVs through a mixture of present day and flashback scenes. The beginning is told from Izzy's perspective but once Axel returns to the scene, we get his POV as well.Through the flashbacks, we learn that Izzy and Axel were childhood sweethearts. Inseparable and in love. But he had joined the military and was heading off to basic training and for the first time, they were facing separation. They planned to get through it and knew that they could but through a cruel twist of fate, their paths didn't cross when he returned and they spent the next decade apart. Him angry, her broken-hearted, neither of them knowing the whole story... and the saddest part was how close they came to being able to stay together."You promise to come back to me?" ..."Just try and keep me away."Her friends eventually got her away from her husband's hellhole but he was still refusing a divorce so one of her best friends called in a specialist - an "ex-Marine, bada$$ motherf*cker" he worked with on occasion that he knew would be willing to help. Well... guess who that was? :DOhhh my gosh! The anticipation that build to them meeting again just gave me butterflies and kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for "that moment" - you know the moment I'm talking about... *sigh* I just love second-chance romances!"Seeing his face again is still a punch straight to the gut. It physically hurts to breathe. He looks so different than the boyish face I remember in my dreams, he is still Axel, but he looks harder."But... it wasn't all hearts and rainbows. The real real reason they hadn't connected again after all these years was due to a huge misunderstanding. One that was big enough to keep him away that whole time and it was painful to watch. There was hurt and misunderstandings on both sides to work through but you just knew all the way through that they were just meant for each other.Let's just all take a minute now to swoon over Axel. Just picture someone "tall dark and lickable". He was Alpha, bada$$, unapologetically protective, possessive, with a heart of gold and complete and total love for his girl. *dreamy sigh* I loved his no-bullsh*t, no-games attitude. He gave her space when she needed it but was not going to let her run. He made them face their problems and work through them and even for that alone, I loved him.That being said, there were a lot of miscommunications (and a slight bit of stupid) to work through in this and if I had to make one complaint, I'd say that the heroine was a little... weepy in the first half. I mean, her life seriously sucked and she'd been through a lot but still... it was something I noticed but it still didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. And I loved that when they finally got everything sorted, the swoooooooon and hotness that ensued had me simultaneously fanning myself and clutching my heart. It was HOT. Sweet. Explosive. Scorching. I loved that they talked through it though because by the end, you really felt like their issues had all been worked through."I won't let you go until we figure it out. Not happening. Do you feel it? Every single thing we ever felt for each other, it is still there Izzy and I won't let you push me away. We walked back into each other's lives for a reason... There isn't one goddamn thing that will tear us apart again. Lost too much time already, Princess. Too much time that I should have had you right here in my arms... Not one day went by Izzy that my heart didn't belong to you."This book kind of reminded me of a Kristen Ashley book (especially the Rock Chick series). It had a very similar Alpha male/ uber bada$$ protector vibe to it so fans of that series should definitely check this one out.Plus, there was a whole group of hot guys here, all working for Axel's security team and ohhhhhh myyyyy were they ALL yummy. I want to know more about each and everyone! I hope they each get books! But at the top of my list are Greg (omg LOVE him and his whole protector vibe!) and Maddox (bad$$ with a heart of gold and some serious demons) ... not to mention Beck (him and Dee have some serious issues to worth through!)... ok, clearly this is proving that I can't choose. Fingers crossed that they just all get books.Seriously, for the good of womankind, someone needs to find these guys and clone and distribute them. I mean holyyyyyy *fans self*It wasn't all bada$$ fun though. Remember that Izzy's ex-husband was still out to get her and was a real piece of work so the ending was action packed and intense.This series has me HOOKED!!! Totally hooked. I will be buying the next one the day it comes out.Book #2 will be about Greg Cage. That man stole my heart in this book and seriously gave Axel a run for his money in the swoon department. As Izzy's best friend, his self-appointed role as her protector just turned my insides to mush."He was able to recognize my fear and instead of lashing out, he took it in and turned into my lifeline; my protector."See what I mean??? Yeah... I need his book. Stat.Axel made me fall in love with all the characters, laugh, tear up, and fan myself from all the hotness. Fans of bad$$ Alpha males and second-chance romances should definitely check this out!This is the first book in the Corps Security series. Each book will focus on a different character from the group though so this one has a happy ending and can be read as a standalone."Amor Cincit Omnia... Love Conquers all."4.5 stars

Harper Sloan has written some very sexy men. I mean I think I fancy them all actually.It's best to check the trigger warnings in Axel because it starts off straight in the thick of it with a scene from Izzy's relationship with her ex partner, who does reappear throughout the book and difficult scenes do transpire.Izzy can probably come across as marmite because she sometimes goes off the rails when it's uncalled for or overreacts but I really came around to liking her and her over the top moments when she was enraged. Harper has written some very strong female characters and Izzy's character arc from being the abused house wife to this fiesty, independent woman is amazing to read.Axel had me swooning from the moment they reconnected in the club. He's the perfect combination of protective alpha and sweet boy next door. Now with a lot more muscle. I love how their story reconnects and the drama that occurs from their past. The conflict which split them apart is something that I very rarely read and it was intriguing to see where it went.Highly recommend!

This was my first read by this author and I have to say it won’t be my last. Axel was such an emotional read, more so when you can relate to the character and Harper Sloan covered the sensitive issue of domestic abuse with compassion and understanding. It was evident to see that Izzy loved Axel from a young age, their life experiences had bought them closer and seemed to show the love they shared was unbreakable. Leaving to join the Marines for six months and promising to come back to Izzy, Axel said his goodbyes at the bus stop, leaving the love of his life behind, never foreseeing that fate was on route to tear them apart, and that his last image of her would forever be ingrained in his memory. Heartache was intent to follow Izzy with a vengeance, losing both parents, she left word with Axel’s foster parents as she gets uprooted to go live with her grandparents, taking her further away from Axel. Izzy lived in hope that he would return to her, until one day all her dreams and everything she cherished slipped from her grasp, leaving her to begin a new journey that would forever see her seeking safety. Izzy’s character was amazing I loved her, she showed so much courage and strength through the darkness that daily shadowed her as she tried to reclaim her old self, until ghosts come back to haunt her. I loved the chemistry between Izzy and Axel, it was intense, sexy and hot. Axel is one swoon worthy alpha male who loved his woman. I have to say I totally loved all the sexy Corps Security men, but hands down to my man Cage, I know he messed up but I still loved him lol, the guy was just too amazing. We get a glimpse into Cage’s life and get to understand why his relationship with Dee and especially Izzy meant the world to him, showing them love, and the need to protect them. A beautiful story of love finding its way back to Izzy and Axel. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series!

Axel is book #1 in the Corp security series I grabbed this book as an amazon freebie but it’s sat on my Kindle for ages.I was desperate for a proper alpha man book and this authors name just kept coming up so I decided to give it a go.Oh boy this book is like alpha overload in the best possible way!!!This book has a bit of everything, a second chance love, loads of hot sex and enough hot ex marines to have me melting into a puddle of turned on goo.Izzy is a cool girl; she was a lot stronger than she gave herself credit for. I hated when she became a fearful mess, but her snarky attitude was hilarious!!!Axel was bl@@dy perfect, he was alpha, alpha, alpha and he worked for me in every way!Branden was a class A psycho, he was a great antihero and I honestly love it when they get a proper comeuppance in the end.I’m assuming that each guy will get a book and I can’t wait to read them all!I really enjoyed this book it was just what I wanted from an alpha man bookAxel gets 4 stars from me.

Such a very sensitive subject but handled well. This is bk 1 of 6 (6th will be out later in the 2014 covering Maddox). I am really enjoying this series. I started off reading bk 5 and loved that so much, ordered the others, and am now starting at the beginning. The author, Harper Sloan really gets down to the nitty gritty of each subject. But at least you know that things get better, of course, as this is a romance series at its heart, but each story line is different and well covered, and the characters certainly go through the mill. The men, all being ex military have a 'barrack' sense of humour and language which spills to the women, which I find quite surprising as they are all meant to be professional women. I would be horrified to hear women speak like that... however, their men seem to like it in these novels, and as its fiction they can get a way with it. I do think their own security needs to be tightened up though! ha ha.... loved Sway....especially around those hunky guys.... Wait until you read these novels, you will love him too. Truly enjoyed this authors work.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept me going back for more.I do have a few small, very small issues.One is how Axel seemed to be too possessive over Izzy, especially given her issues regarding how her ex-husband had been with her. He seemed to want to control her and he really didn't like her friendship with Greg, although he did eventually come round to accepting it. I understand they have a past but they are also different people than they once was. It's just some of Axel's actions are a little questionable.Most of the book was fast paced up until about the last 15% of the book, yet i am glad that all the loose ends are tied up...... well most of them. I do wonder why Dee started acting strange and being a little cold towards Izzy.I think i will read the others in this series