Review: Axel (Corps Security #1) by Harper Sloan

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?

I'm having some mixed feelings about this story. On the one hand I'll probably read the rest of the series, because all these guys sound amazing. On the other hand I almost felt a bit disappointed with the way Axel turned out. It was definitely different than what I expected.

Isabelle's husband was not a good guy, but in the end she manages to escape from him. It's been two years since, and her life is slowly picking back up. She has some great friends that helped her through, and are always there for her. But when her ex-husband is causing some problems, her friends call in help. Who she never expected to see again was Axel.

I was kind of surprised how Isabelle handled the whole situation with Axel. Before she was more meek and compliant, but now she's full on angry. I liked that Axel was able to bring out more emotions from her, still her anger at times felt misplaced to me.

Axel also never expected to see Isabelle again. The last time he knew, she was happily married. In all those years he never stopped caring about her though, so now that she needs his help, he's there for her. As in, he takes over her life kind of, and leaves her no choice about it. While I certainly liked his possessive alpha male side, it didn't quite work in my mind, when he would all mushy around Isabelle. The guy is actually pretty romantic and has no problems talking about his feelings.

It's that whole contradiction in those characters that had me confused at times and made it more difficult for me to get really into it. Somehow it made the story less believable. So while the two main characters were kind of all over the place, the secondary characters were pretty great. We only get them to know a little, but I liked what I saw and that's probably why I'll be giving this series another shot.

2.5 stars

Corps Security - Reading order and purchase links

    

    

The Author

Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand.

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Review: The Marine's E-Mail Order Bride (The Heroes of Chance Creek #3) by Cora Seton

If Gunnery Sergeant Zane Hall wants to save his family’s ranch, he’ll need to fix up the buildings, stock the spread with cattle—and find a wife. The first two are easy with the help of his brothers, but getting hitched is proving more difficult. When he meets mountaineer Kenna North through an online ad, she seems like the perfect fit—at least in her e-mails. She wants the same thing he does: a temporary marriage to secure an inheritance. But when Zane meets Kenna, she’s nothing like he expects, and Zane finds himself changing his priorities, fast.

If Storm Willow wants to save her family’s seaside cottage, she’ll have to keep her boss happy—which means taking Kenna’s place and marrying Zane when Kenna is detained out of the country. As long as Storm acts her part, no one will know that she’s an imposter. But when she falls for the handsome Marine, Storm begins to wonder if holding onto the cottage is worth giving up on love.

Can a fake marriage lead to real happiness? Or is disaster just a heartbeat away?

By now you kind of now how the story goes. Man seeks woman to marry, though not really, but in the end they fall in love and live happily ever after. To me this is not a spoiler, as the plot has been told over and over again in this series. Still I very much enjoyed reading this book.

Zane takes things a bit further than his brothers though. He actually has a contract with a woman who's in the same predicament as him. Kenna needs a husband for a year and he needs a wife for a year. Things turn out quite different when Kenna is stuck abroad, and she requests her assistant Storm to take her place. Now usually this is way above her pay grade, but when Kenna offers a big bonus Storm accepts the role of bride.

What she didn't expect was her attraction towards Zane, and neither did he expect to feel so intense about her. They hit it off really well, and things develop between them at super speed. No hesitation, just full on ahead. This makes Zane wonder if he won't be able to change her mind to stay longer, maybe even permanent. What he doesn't know of course is that Storm is not Kenna, and Storm doesn't know how to tell him.

So certainly plenty of drama, sexy scenes and some humor. The plot line isn't original, but still an entertaining read. I really liked the chemistry between Zane and Storm. She's actually such a sweet girl, with not a bad bone in her body. To do this, is quite out of character for her, though her intentions were never bad. She did this, because the money would help her family. When things exploded, she stood her ground, no matter how difficult. Zane, like his brothers, is used to getting his way. He doesn't deal well with the lie, but he can not deny his feelings for Storm.

The Heroes of Chance Creek - Reading order and purchase links

*All books can be read as a standalone*

      

The Navy SEAL's E-mail Order Bride: My review - Amazon

The Soldier's E-mail Order Bride: My review - Amazon

The Marine's E-mail Order Bride: Amazon

The Airman's E-mail Order Bride

The Author

Cora Seton loves cowboys, country life, gardening, bike-riding, and lazing around with a good book. Mother of four, wife to a computer programmer/eco-farmer, she ditched her California lifestyle eight years ago and moved to a remote logging town in northwestern British Columbia.

Like the characters in her novels, Cora enjoys old-fashioned pursuits and modern technology, spending mornings transforming a neglected one-acre lot into a paradise of orchards, berry bushes and market gardens, and afternoons writing the latest Chance Creek romance novel on her iPad mini.

Connect with Cora Seton:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

Review: Crazy Good by Rachel Robinson

Before there were bikers, or fighters, or even good old-fashioned jerks, there were Navy SEALs. They put the bad in badass because, well…it’s their job.

Navy SEAL Maverick Hart has everything. Women want him. Grown men idolize him. Little boys want to grow up and be like him. The job, the glory—it’s all his. Not because it’s handed to him…because he works hard for it. The second his sights lock on something, he owns it—or destroys it. Unfortunately he does both at the same time.

Windsor Forbes only takes calculated risks in her profession and in her personal life. After being left at the altar by the only person she’s ever loved, the very last thing she’s looking for is a relationship—especially the insane brand an arrogant Navy SEAL is offering. Hesitant, yet trusting to a fault, she gives in.

She knew she shouldn’t take the chance, especially a second time, but love is irrational and their love is perfect, infallible. Or so she thought…

The downfall to having everything is you have that much more to lose. A man like Maverick can’t have it all without something slipping out of grasp.

Crazy people perish for love.

Good people live for it.

Love doesn’t die. No matter how many bullets you put in it.

I honestly don't remember when I bought this book, or if I got it from NetGalley or the author or something. Anyway it had been sitting on my device for a while now and last night I wanted to read a light and fun book before going to sleep. I saw this cover and thought it would fit those criteria, as I didn't remember the plot and I was too lazy too look it up. So I started it at 11:30 pm and finished it at around 3 am. Totally worth the lack of sleep by the way and I was completely wrong guessing the type of book this was based on the cover.

Crazy Good is no light and fluffy read, quite the opposite. Within pages I was hooked and stopping halfway through was not an option. I could not put this one down.

I'm having difficulty putting down in words how I feel about this story and these characters. It was exactly as the title says, crazy good. An intense ride on an emotional rollercoaster. There were moments I laughed out loud, there were tears, and everything inbetween.

Maverick and Windsor were real, and flawed characters. Yes, there is that attraction but it quickly becomes so much more. Something which neither were expecting or even wanted. It wasn't an easy start, and the journey along the way also wasn't easy. While it's mostly not outside forces working against them, at times they can be their own worst enemy.

I actually don't want to mention anything else on the plot, because it's so much more intense if you get to discover it yourself. This book is all about the feelings, and I'm having a serious hangover from this one. Crazy Good might have been my first book by Rachel Robinson, but it will definitely not be my last.

4.5

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The Author

Rachel grew up in a small, quiet town full of loud talkers. Her words were always only loud on paper. She has been writing stories and creating characters for as long as she can remember. After living on the west coast for many years she recently moved to Virginia Beach, VA.

Connect with Rachel Robinson:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

Review: It's Always Been You (Coming Home #5) by Jessica Scott

She plays by the rules . . .

Captain Ben Teague is many things: a tough soldier, a loyal friend, and a bona fide smart-ass. He doesn't have much tolerance for BS, which is why he's mad as hell when a trusted colleague and mentor is brought up on charges that can't possibly be true. He's even more frustrated with by-the-book lawyer Major Olivia Hale. But there's something simmering beneath her icy reserve--and Ben just can't resist turning up the heat . . .

. . . and he's determined to break them

The only thing riskier than mixing business with pleasure is enjoying it . . . and Olivia can't resist locking horns--and lips--with Ben. He's got more compassion in his little finger than any commander she's ever met, a fact that makes him a better leader than he realizes. But when the case that brought them together awakens demons from Olivia's past, she will have to choose between following orders--or her heart . . .

Review

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

For this book I do recommend reading the previous one All For You, since the story pretty much starts right after that. The base is cleaning house and fired every commander, which has never been done before. Now new people are put in command and it is up to them to clean up house and get rid of all the bad soldiers. One of those new commanders is Ben Teague, though he actually absolutely does not want the job. His experience with those in charge have always been very rocky and he is afraid to end up like one of those idiots. Ben does not want that kind of responsibility and feels this torn loyalty between his men and the army.

Luckily he does not have to do this on his own. Major Olivia Hale is here to help him and all the other commanders. But when Olivia goes after one of Ben's best friends, tension kind of rises between them. She sees that he does not want this job and is afraid he's just another commander wanting to protect his men, instead of the real victims. Escoberra hit his daughter with the girl needing to go to the hospital, so Olivia is on a mission to get him away from his family. While Ben is convinced his friend would never hurt his daughter.

There are of course other cases, but this one is very near to her heart. In the past she wasn't able to protect someone, but know she will do whatever it takes. Even if this means going over Ben's head. Though seeing the pain in his eyes and the kind heart he has for his men, she might give him the benefit of the doubt.

Slowly Ben gets used to the role of commander. He might not like it, but he will do what must be done. Knowing he can not fix everything, he does what he can to make things better. This mostly means calling on Olivia for advice, since that is her job and well he might like her a bit. When tentatively they give in to each other, their days definitely end better. Ben knows Olivia is holding back some secrets, which he can understand. When she puts up these high walls and pushes him away, that is the straw for Ben. He has been in that same kind of situation and he won't repeat it.

The focus this time was way less on the romance and more on the legal side. Which I found unfortunate. Those legal issues sometimes got a bit too technical to follow really well as a novice and I had trouble understanding them. I could follow it largely, but then it got a bit too boring.

I did like the personal growth Ben and Olivia had to go through before they would be able to work it out. Ben is growing in his role of commander and letting go off his resentment towards the position. While Olivia had to learn that the world isn't black and white, letting go of her past will help her future.

It was once again very well written. A lot of attention to details, though in this case maybe a bit too technical. Ben and Olivia were very interesting characters. I love how real and everyday people they are, making it so much easier to connect with. The romance was a bit lacking for me, but that just made the moments between Ben and Olivia even more sweeter.

3.5 stars

Coming Home - Reading order and purchase links

      

Because Of You: Kindle

Anything For You: Kindle (FREE)

Until There Was You: Kindle

I'll Be Home For Christmas: Kindle ($0.99)

    

Back To You: My review - Kindle

All For You: My review - Kindle

It's Always Been You: Kindle

The Author

USA TODAY Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She's written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and is currently a company commander stationed at Fort Hood.

Most recently, she's been featured as one of Esquire Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.

Connect with Jessica Scott:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

Review: Forgotten Sins (Sin Brothers #1) by Rebecca Zanetti

*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

His Secrets Can Destroy Her

From the moment Josie laid eyes on sexy, mysterious Shane Dean, she was in love. Their desire ignited a passionate affair, and within weeks, Shane had slipped a ring on her finger. It seemed her every fantasy was coming true . . . until her new husband disappeared without a trace. Now, two years and one broken heart later, Josie is shocked by the hospital calls: Shane has been found . . . at a crime scene with no memory of how he got there.

Her Love Can Save Him

Shane can't remember the blue-eyed angel at his bedside—or who he even is—but he knows something isn't right. His hearing is razor sharp, his physical strength incredible, and the urge to protect Josie overwhelming. For powerful enemies are hunting him, and Josie is the key to discovering why. As Shane struggles to unravel his past, dangerous new truths come to light. Can he protect the only woman he's ever loved? And can Josie trust a man she thought she knew—one who carries such a deadly secret?

Review:
Somehow I totally missed the fact that there was going to be a science fictional element in this book, so that kind of took me by surprise. It did give for an interesting angle, though because the element in this novel is so borderline realistic I had a hard time accepting it, making me wonder if it was really necessary.

Now I loved the whole reunited lovers thing they had going on. A whirlwind romance, two month marriage and then a husband who disappears for two years, call me intrigued. Of course I wanted to know why Shane disappeared, what has happened to him and if he and Josie might be able to work it out. Though they were plenty of times during the story which made me doubt that last one.

Josie has always been pragmatic and very reasonable, the one time she did something spontaneous she ended up with a broken heart. Now with Shane back she doesn't know what to expect, but she knows she doesn't want him back. Fool her once, shame on you, fool her twice, not going to happen. Except Shane isn't going to give up on her, even though Josie fights him all the way. She wants to show him she is not some weak and vulnerable woman who needs saving.

I could totally understand her mistrust of Shane. They got married quickly and it didn't last long, so she doesn't really know him that well and the things she is figuring out now aren't that reassuring. What was driving me crazy was the constant switching between not trusting him and lusting after Shane. Her idea of him could switch within a halve page.

Shane is very much an alpha male even going one step further as the usual guys, because this one will kill for his love. I liked how he wouldn't give up on Josie and wanted to be the best man possible for her. Then when it comes to his history and past actions, those kind of get blown over and I could have used more details around that or at least made them more significant.

Besides the love story, there is of course the suspense and mystery. Shane and his brothers are some sort of super soldiers, who have escaped their evil commander and who is now after them. Considering the fact that to be able to make super soldiers, you need to be super smart, the villains were kind of dumb and cliché. Some parts in this were very predictable.

I liked the action throughout the story, even with Josie getting kidnapped like five times or so (really?!). Though it often was overshadowed a bit with the romance. To me the action and mystery deserved more attention and detail.

Overall the writing was good and the other brothers definitely captured my attention. I will be reading their stories as well and see if they can beat their enemies.

Connect with Rebecca Zanetti:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

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