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Breakaway
For as long as I can remember, I’ve never had a place to call home. I spent my childhood gallivanting around the country, forced to tag along on whatever adventure piqued my parents’ interest at the time. I never knew what one day to the next had in store for me, so I learned early on that forming attachments would only end in heartache–to people and places, but especially to the idea of permanency. For years they touted that our vagabond lifestyle was freedom in the purest sense, but that means very little when you have no say in where you go or how often you fall asleep in one city, only to wake up in another.
So it should come as no surprise that when presented with the possibility of settling down, I all but leapt at the opportunity. The day our family was approached by a charismatic man who spoke so passionately about a place free of worldly constraints, it felt like kismet. It was the embodiment of the simple existence I’d always longed for, so I was thrilled when we packed our meager belongings and ventured across the country to join their cause.
I’d thought we’d hit the jackpot, but beneath their pretty veneer was a darkness so impenetrable it leeched the hope from my soul before I could even understand the depth of what was happening. The sanctuary we were promised was nothing more than a prison, and the very people I should’ve been able to trust with my life had entrenched us in something that felt more inescapable with every day that passed.
Betrayal after betrayal, it becomes increasingly clear that my only means of escape is by doing the seeking outside help. It takes months of reconnaissance before I’m able to muster up the courage to actually act on the plan I’ve put into place, but my patience pays off, and the day finally comes when I’m freed from the cage I’ve been confined to for the better part of a decade.
Unfortunately, my newfound freedom is short-lived. The shackles of my past are tighter than ever, and the only thing keeping me sane is the men who’ve come to mean so much to me. When simply getting out of bed becomes a test of mental strength, it’s them I turn to. After everything I’ve endured, I’d lost faith that good men still exist, but they’re constantly proving me wrong. Through every setback and roadblock, their loyalty never wavers, reminding me that I no longer have to face my demons alone.
Raiden–the detective who leads the charge when my captor’s day of reckoning finally comes.
Dayton–the veritable wall of muscle who sparks my anger for no other reason than to let me vent my frustrations.
Colsen–the calm and steady presence I desperately need in the midst of the storms raging around me.
Briggs–the man I never saw coming, but whose darkness matches mine in ways I can’t quite explain.
As the case against my captors grows more precarious by the day, I take comfort in the life we’re building outside of the media frenzy that’s taking place. And though my future is unrecognizable from the one I had spent many sleepless nights envisioning, it’s far more than I could have ever hoped for. Regardless of how we came together, the bonds we’ve forged are unbreakable, and I’m certain we can withstand anything that comes our way.
So it should come as no surprise that when presented with the possibility of settling down, I all but leapt at the opportunity. The day our family was approached by a charismatic man who spoke so passionately about a place free of worldly constraints, it felt like kismet. It was the embodiment of the simple existence I’d always longed for, so I was thrilled when we packed our meager belongings and ventured across the country to join their cause.
I’d thought we’d hit the jackpot, but beneath their pretty veneer was a darkness so impenetrable it leeched the hope from my soul before I could even understand the depth of what was happening. The sanctuary we were promised was nothing more than a prison, and the very people I should’ve been able to trust with my life had entrenched us in something that felt more inescapable with every day that passed.
Betrayal after betrayal, it becomes increasingly clear that my only means of escape is by doing the seeking outside help. It takes months of reconnaissance before I’m able to muster up the courage to actually act on the plan I’ve put into place, but my patience pays off, and the day finally comes when I’m freed from the cage I’ve been confined to for the better part of a decade.
Unfortunately, my newfound freedom is short-lived. The shackles of my past are tighter than ever, and the only thing keeping me sane is the men who’ve come to mean so much to me. When simply getting out of bed becomes a test of mental strength, it’s them I turn to. After everything I’ve endured, I’d lost faith that good men still exist, but they’re constantly proving me wrong. Through every setback and roadblock, their loyalty never wavers, reminding me that I no longer have to face my demons alone.
Raiden–the detective who leads the charge when my captor’s day of reckoning finally comes.
Dayton–the veritable wall of muscle who sparks my anger for no other reason than to let me vent my frustrations.
Colsen–the calm and steady presence I desperately need in the midst of the storms raging around me.
Briggs–the man I never saw coming, but whose darkness matches mine in ways I can’t quite explain.
As the case against my captors grows more precarious by the day, I take comfort in the life we’re building outside of the media frenzy that’s taking place. And though my future is unrecognizable from the one I had spent many sleepless nights envisioning, it’s far more than I could have ever hoped for. Regardless of how we came together, the bonds we’ve forged are unbreakable, and I’m certain we can withstand anything that comes our way.
666 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
M.K. Harper
5 books141 followersM.K. Harper is a military spouse, just trying to escape life's chaos by getting lost in her own imagination. A mother of two and a full-time worker, writing has become a stress relieving outlet. Currently settled in Georgia after three years of living in Italy, M.K. is always looking forward to the next adventure.
Please join the reader’s group for the most up-to-date information: https://m.facebook.com/groups/6430640...
You can also reach M.K. at mkharperauthor@gmail.com
Please join the reader’s group for the most up-to-date information: https://m.facebook.com/groups/6430640...
You can also reach M.K. at mkharperauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 5, 2026
Breakaway – M.K. Harper - ★★★☆☆ (3/5 Stars)
⚠️ Spoiler Warning ⚠️
First of all, I am genuinely happy to see M.K. Harper back after a four-year hiatus. As someone who has loved her previous work, especially Give Me Peace , I was excited to dive into Breakaway . While I enjoyed parts of it and I'm glad it finally made it into the world, I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would.
There are plenty of heartfelt moments throughout the story, moments of pure rage, and even some genuinely funny scenes. Briggs' banter is consistently entertaining, and Blue absolutely stole every scene she appeared in. And a special shout-out to Denvers, once again trying to save one traumatised woman at a time. I see you, good sir. Maybe next time he'll drink some of the "water" and end up in a harem himself. 😉🤷♀️📚
Andi
Honestly, this girl cannot catch a break.
From beginning to end, it's one traumatic event after another. You genuinely empathise with her and want to personally fight anyone who's ever hurt her. The problem is that eventually it becomes too much .
The biggest issue I had with this book is that it desperately needed another round of editing. Not because the writing is bad, but because someone needed to tell the author that Andi had suffered enough.
At times it felt like the story was operating under the philosophy of, "What else can we throw at this poor woman?"
Neglected by her parents. Raised in a cult. Years of abuse. Forced to remain undercover while authorities drag their feet. Kidnapping. Rescue. Pregnancy. Trials. Suicide & Murders. Custody battles. Revenge porn. An evil lawyer. An evil mother-in-law. A traumatic birth. Discovering her parents were alive and knowingly left her behind. More court cases. More family drama.
It just kept piling on.
Eventually, the emotional impact started to diminish because there was simply too much of it. The story would wander into another traumatic side quest before returning to the main plot, and by the end I felt exhausted rather than emotionally invested.
I also struggled with how well-adjusted Andi seemed despite everything she'd endured. I love a strong FMC, but there is a difference between strength and simply not processing trauma. By the end of the book we're expected to believe she's functioning as a mother of two, partner to four men, and productive member of society despite never really dealing with any of the psychological fallout.
And what bothered me most was that her personal ambitions seemed to disappear entirely. She had goals, dreams, and plans at the beginning of the story, but by the end her entire identity felt reduced to motherhood. Children absolutely change lives, but it felt like Andi sacrificed every single thing she wanted for herself.
The Hudson Situation
This is where the story challenged me and I found it difficult to continue.
There is absolutely no universe where social services would have allowed Andi to retain custody of Hudson under those circumstances.
She was deeply traumatised, had very little stability, and was semi-directly connected to the events surrounding his kidnapping and the deaths of his parents. I understand what the author was trying to do emotionally - giving two damaged people a family after everything they'd endured - but it stretched believability far beyond my limits.
Had Royce or Rita stepped in as guardians and Andi remained involved in Hudson's life, I would have bought it. Andi becoming his mother felt more convenient than realistic.
The Things That Really Frustrated Me
The traumatic birth was where I finally threw my hands in the air.
This woman had already suffered enough.
We really needed that too?
Then there was the revelation about her parents. After abandoning her for years, they still somehow felt like they got the easy way out. That entire situation left me incredibly unsatisfied.
But my biggest issue was the ending.
After everything Andi endured in that toxic little town, she stays.
Absolutely not.
No chance.
After all that trauma, all those memories, all that pain, I cannot imagine any reasonable person choosing to remain there. That decision drove me absolutely up the wall.
The Reverse Harem
As a huge reverse harem fan, this pains me to say, but I'm not convinced this story needed four love interests.
Briggs was easily the standout.
Raiden and Briggs carried the romantic side of the story for me, while Dayton and Col largely felt like extra bodies added to fill harem slots.
Raiden
What detective allows his neighbours access to a key witness who is actively undercover inside a dangerous cult?
Raiden is objectively terrible at his job and is even worse at lying lol.
His relationship with Andi could have jeopardised not only her safety but the safety of the other survivors as well. It was completely inappropriate and put everything at risk.
That said, he genuinely worked hard for Andi and did more than most of the men to support her.
Briggs
The best MMC by a mile.
His character was by far the most interesting, and I wish the book had spent more time exploring his story. Instead, it often felt like his struggles were brushed aside despite being some of the most compelling material in the novel.
His dynamic with Blue was fantastic and honestly left me wanting a book focused on them instead.
The ex-fiancée drama also felt unnecessary. It appeared, created conflict, and then fizzled out without adding much to the overall story.
Dayton & Col
Neither worked for me.
Dayton was barely tolerable. Col brought almost nothing to the table.
Both felt more like background characters than genuine love interests, and by the end I still wasn't convinced either relationship had developed enough to justify their place in the harem.
If this had been a love triangle-like vibe focused on Andi, Raiden and Briggs, I honestly think the story would have been stronger.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I liked Breakaway .
I'm happy M.K. Harper is writing again, and there is a good story buried in here. Unfortunately, I think the book suffered from trying to do too much.
Too much trauma.
Too many plotlines.
Too many relationships.
Too many things going wrong simply because they could.
By the end, I didn't walk away thinking, "I'm so glad Andi got her happily ever after."
Instead, I walked away thinking, "Wow... that was a lot."
My feelings are mixed. Not bad, not great - just mixed.
What I did walk away wanting was more Blue and a future M.K. Harper Reverse Harem book starring Denvers as the resident silver fox.
Now that is a story I'd happily read.
⚠️ Spoiler Warning ⚠️
First of all, I am genuinely happy to see M.K. Harper back after a four-year hiatus. As someone who has loved her previous work, especially Give Me Peace , I was excited to dive into Breakaway . While I enjoyed parts of it and I'm glad it finally made it into the world, I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would.
There are plenty of heartfelt moments throughout the story, moments of pure rage, and even some genuinely funny scenes. Briggs' banter is consistently entertaining, and Blue absolutely stole every scene she appeared in. And a special shout-out to Denvers, once again trying to save one traumatised woman at a time. I see you, good sir. Maybe next time he'll drink some of the "water" and end up in a harem himself. 😉🤷♀️📚
Andi
Honestly, this girl cannot catch a break.
From beginning to end, it's one traumatic event after another. You genuinely empathise with her and want to personally fight anyone who's ever hurt her. The problem is that eventually it becomes too much .
The biggest issue I had with this book is that it desperately needed another round of editing. Not because the writing is bad, but because someone needed to tell the author that Andi had suffered enough.
At times it felt like the story was operating under the philosophy of, "What else can we throw at this poor woman?"
Neglected by her parents. Raised in a cult. Years of abuse. Forced to remain undercover while authorities drag their feet. Kidnapping. Rescue. Pregnancy. Trials. Suicide & Murders. Custody battles. Revenge porn. An evil lawyer. An evil mother-in-law. A traumatic birth. Discovering her parents were alive and knowingly left her behind. More court cases. More family drama.
It just kept piling on.
Eventually, the emotional impact started to diminish because there was simply too much of it. The story would wander into another traumatic side quest before returning to the main plot, and by the end I felt exhausted rather than emotionally invested.
I also struggled with how well-adjusted Andi seemed despite everything she'd endured. I love a strong FMC, but there is a difference between strength and simply not processing trauma. By the end of the book we're expected to believe she's functioning as a mother of two, partner to four men, and productive member of society despite never really dealing with any of the psychological fallout.
And what bothered me most was that her personal ambitions seemed to disappear entirely. She had goals, dreams, and plans at the beginning of the story, but by the end her entire identity felt reduced to motherhood. Children absolutely change lives, but it felt like Andi sacrificed every single thing she wanted for herself.
The Hudson Situation
This is where the story challenged me and I found it difficult to continue.
There is absolutely no universe where social services would have allowed Andi to retain custody of Hudson under those circumstances.
She was deeply traumatised, had very little stability, and was semi-directly connected to the events surrounding his kidnapping and the deaths of his parents. I understand what the author was trying to do emotionally - giving two damaged people a family after everything they'd endured - but it stretched believability far beyond my limits.
Had Royce or Rita stepped in as guardians and Andi remained involved in Hudson's life, I would have bought it. Andi becoming his mother felt more convenient than realistic.
The Things That Really Frustrated Me
The traumatic birth was where I finally threw my hands in the air.
This woman had already suffered enough.
We really needed that too?
Then there was the revelation about her parents. After abandoning her for years, they still somehow felt like they got the easy way out. That entire situation left me incredibly unsatisfied.
But my biggest issue was the ending.
After everything Andi endured in that toxic little town, she stays.
Absolutely not.
No chance.
After all that trauma, all those memories, all that pain, I cannot imagine any reasonable person choosing to remain there. That decision drove me absolutely up the wall.
The Reverse Harem
As a huge reverse harem fan, this pains me to say, but I'm not convinced this story needed four love interests.
Briggs was easily the standout.
Raiden and Briggs carried the romantic side of the story for me, while Dayton and Col largely felt like extra bodies added to fill harem slots.
Raiden
What detective allows his neighbours access to a key witness who is actively undercover inside a dangerous cult?
Raiden is objectively terrible at his job and is even worse at lying lol.
His relationship with Andi could have jeopardised not only her safety but the safety of the other survivors as well. It was completely inappropriate and put everything at risk.
That said, he genuinely worked hard for Andi and did more than most of the men to support her.
Briggs
The best MMC by a mile.
His character was by far the most interesting, and I wish the book had spent more time exploring his story. Instead, it often felt like his struggles were brushed aside despite being some of the most compelling material in the novel.
His dynamic with Blue was fantastic and honestly left me wanting a book focused on them instead.
The ex-fiancée drama also felt unnecessary. It appeared, created conflict, and then fizzled out without adding much to the overall story.
Dayton & Col
Neither worked for me.
Dayton was barely tolerable. Col brought almost nothing to the table.
Both felt more like background characters than genuine love interests, and by the end I still wasn't convinced either relationship had developed enough to justify their place in the harem.
If this had been a love triangle-like vibe focused on Andi, Raiden and Briggs, I honestly think the story would have been stronger.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I liked Breakaway .
I'm happy M.K. Harper is writing again, and there is a good story buried in here. Unfortunately, I think the book suffered from trying to do too much.
Too much trauma.
Too many plotlines.
Too many relationships.
Too many things going wrong simply because they could.
By the end, I didn't walk away thinking, "I'm so glad Andi got her happily ever after."
Instead, I walked away thinking, "Wow... that was a lot."
My feelings are mixed. Not bad, not great - just mixed.
What I did walk away wanting was more Blue and a future M.K. Harper Reverse Harem book starring Denvers as the resident silver fox.
Now that is a story I'd happily read.
September 5, 2026
I recently reread Give Me Peace and of course after finishing it, I had to stalk the author to see if she had any updates and lo and behold I discover that she had a new book coming out in just a few days!!
*cue the squealing!!* and I knew I had to read it rightaway.
✨MFMMM
✨Pregnancy
✨Friends-to-lovers
✨Found family
✨FMC escaping from a cult
✨Protective MMCs
Andilyn grew up with parents that were drifters and negligible with her, constantly moving and looking for the next big thing to do when they got pulled into a cult. The leader of the cult targeted them for Andilyn’s heterochromia.
“Because in their eyes, those with heterochromia are Harbingers. Tainted vessels that carry two souls–one pure, one demonic. And if you can’t expel the evil inside you after enduring countless years of Cleansing rituals, then you weren’t worth saving to begin with. A simple congenital disability that has absolutely no bearing on the sanctity of my soul has wrought me more pain and heartache than I ever could’ve fathomed.”
My heart ached for the trauma and pain Andilyn had to endure from the lack of care from her parents throughout her childhood and the torment the cult puts her through on top of that. That is, until she finds an opportunity to eventually escape from this cult.
The men that will forever change Andilyn’s life slowly enters her life.
Raiden, the detective that was in the right place at the right time and Andi’s saving grace.
Dayton, the high school teacher and football coach that provokes Andi any chance he gets.
Colsen, the construction worker who brings calm and light in Andi’s disrupted and chaotic life.
And Briggs, the tormented hero with a recent dark past that immediately claims Andi as his angel.
⚠️ Slight Spoilers Ahead ⚠️
(Not really any real spoilers—in my opinion— but just in case)
The guys and Andi develop a very organic relationship with one another and the guys don’t feel like they have the textbook personalities when it comes to reverse harem. They also have to navigate the dynamics of their relationship which I don’t typically see to this extent in a lot of reverse harems. I loved Andilyn’s soft but strong character. She retained her streak of independence while also learning to lean on the guys when she needed.
However, I will say that I felt there was a bit of an imbalance when it came to the guys. While I loved all of them and they each brought something different to the table, Briggs definitely took a bit of the spotlight.
I think if maybe this were a duet, it could have focused more on an even slower build up with Andi’s relationship with each of the guys. I really think that we just needed more time with them to flesh out the story just right. There was also a lot going on plot wise that was weaved throughout the story, but never really led to anything explosive. It all had amazing potential if only it had more time to develop. Again, I really enjoyed this book the entire time, and I think it could have been even better if it was two books!
P.S. Loved Hudson’s addition to their not-so-little family!
P.P.S. There’s a character that pops up from from Harper’s “Give Me Peace”…
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what else M.K. Harper publishes in the future!
*cue the squealing!!* and I knew I had to read it rightaway.
✨MFMMM
✨Pregnancy
✨Friends-to-lovers
✨Found family
✨FMC escaping from a cult
✨Protective MMCs
Andilyn grew up with parents that were drifters and negligible with her, constantly moving and looking for the next big thing to do when they got pulled into a cult. The leader of the cult targeted them for Andilyn’s heterochromia.
“Because in their eyes, those with heterochromia are Harbingers. Tainted vessels that carry two souls–one pure, one demonic. And if you can’t expel the evil inside you after enduring countless years of Cleansing rituals, then you weren’t worth saving to begin with. A simple congenital disability that has absolutely no bearing on the sanctity of my soul has wrought me more pain and heartache than I ever could’ve fathomed.”
My heart ached for the trauma and pain Andilyn had to endure from the lack of care from her parents throughout her childhood and the torment the cult puts her through on top of that. That is, until she finds an opportunity to eventually escape from this cult.
The men that will forever change Andilyn’s life slowly enters her life.
Raiden, the detective that was in the right place at the right time and Andi’s saving grace.
Dayton, the high school teacher and football coach that provokes Andi any chance he gets.
Colsen, the construction worker who brings calm and light in Andi’s disrupted and chaotic life.
And Briggs, the tormented hero with a recent dark past that immediately claims Andi as his angel.
⚠️ Slight Spoilers Ahead ⚠️
(Not really any real spoilers—in my opinion— but just in case)
The guys and Andi develop a very organic relationship with one another and the guys don’t feel like they have the textbook personalities when it comes to reverse harem. They also have to navigate the dynamics of their relationship which I don’t typically see to this extent in a lot of reverse harems. I loved Andilyn’s soft but strong character. She retained her streak of independence while also learning to lean on the guys when she needed.
However, I will say that I felt there was a bit of an imbalance when it came to the guys. While I loved all of them and they each brought something different to the table, Briggs definitely took a bit of the spotlight.
I think if maybe this were a duet, it could have focused more on an even slower build up with Andi’s relationship with each of the guys. I really think that we just needed more time with them to flesh out the story just right. There was also a lot going on plot wise that was weaved throughout the story, but never really led to anything explosive. It all had amazing potential if only it had more time to develop. Again, I really enjoyed this book the entire time, and I think it could have been even better if it was two books!
P.S. Loved Hudson’s addition to their not-so-little family!
P.P.S. There’s a character that pops up from from Harper’s “Give Me Peace”…
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what else M.K. Harper publishes in the future!
September 4, 2026
Exceptionally good.
I highly recommend reading this. When I hit chapter 3 I had a thought "holy shit I'm hooked already" by 50% I was sobbing hard. I just finished and now I'm sitting here knowing I M going to struggle with a book hangover here. I saw at the start how the author mentioned not publishing for 4 years and I can confidently state it was worth the wait. Bravo on a fantastic book. Great spice the plot was fantastic and I never got the sense like with some why choose where it was hard to distinguish the MMCs from each other. Thank you for a fantastic emotional read!!
I highly recommend reading this. When I hit chapter 3 I had a thought "holy shit I'm hooked already" by 50% I was sobbing hard. I just finished and now I'm sitting here knowing I M going to struggle with a book hangover here. I saw at the start how the author mentioned not publishing for 4 years and I can confidently state it was worth the wait. Bravo on a fantastic book. Great spice the plot was fantastic and I never got the sense like with some why choose where it was hard to distinguish the MMCs from each other. Thank you for a fantastic emotional read!!
September 6, 2026
She translated the foreign languages!
To begin with, the author added footnotes for the foreign language passages in this book. So thoughtful, I loved being able to just find the star at the end of the chapters versus using Google translate. This authors writing is so good considering the library of books is small at the moment. There were genuine laugh out loud moments and heartbreaking moments. The overall plot was highly enjoyable, even with tropes I don't typically enjoy. Definitely recommend reading
To begin with, the author added footnotes for the foreign language passages in this book. So thoughtful, I loved being able to just find the star at the end of the chapters versus using Google translate. This authors writing is so good considering the library of books is small at the moment. There were genuine laugh out loud moments and heartbreaking moments. The overall plot was highly enjoyable, even with tropes I don't typically enjoy. Definitely recommend reading
September 1, 2026
If you're looking for a book that will make you feel everything while keeping you up all night then you need to read this one! The character building is top tier…you get so invested in their journeys. It’s a total page turner that beautifully balances heavy emotion with a plot that never slows down. I couldn't read it fast enough!
September 4, 2026
Triggers
Definitely check the triggers life is definitely rough in this one. This is a story about true survival and how being strong is sometimes your only option. The dynamic in the group is great and each of the guys are so different which gives her something from each of them. Some twists I didn’t see coming and a beautiful outcome.
Definitely check the triggers life is definitely rough in this one. This is a story about true survival and how being strong is sometimes your only option. The dynamic in the group is great and each of the guys are so different which gives her something from each of them. Some twists I didn’t see coming and a beautiful outcome.
September 3, 2026
Loved it
Stumbled across this book and so glad I did! I loved reading of Andilyn's journey along with sweet Hudson after gaining their freedom. I hope the author one day takes us back to these characters
Stumbled across this book and so glad I did! I loved reading of Andilyn's journey along with sweet Hudson after gaining their freedom. I hope the author one day takes us back to these characters
Did Not Finish
September 6, 2026DNF'd at 23%
Pregnancy from rape is a hard no for me. The author mentions an unwanted pregnancy in the warnings but the fact that it's from rape makes it a no for me.
Pregnancy from rape is a hard no for me. The author mentions an unwanted pregnancy in the warnings but the fact that it's from rape makes it a no for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2026
3.5 stars
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