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Corps Security #5
Locke
Listening length: 6 hours, 22 minutes.
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.
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.
Audible Audio
First published September 24, 2014
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About the author
Harper Sloan
31 books10.1k followersHarper Sloan is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today best selling author. She resides in north Georgia with her three daughters, four cats and one dog. While being independently published is a dream, she also has three traditionally published titles with Pocket Books. When she isn't working hard on her next novel, you can most definitely find her with a book in hand.
**To contact Harper, please email authorharpersloan@gmail.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/harpersloanbooks
Email authorharpersloan@gmail.com
Twitter @harpersloan
Instagram @harper_sloan
**To contact Harper, please email authorharpersloan@gmail.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/harpersloanbooks
Email authorharpersloan@gmail.com
Twitter @harpersloan
Instagram @harper_sloan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,508 reviews
September 23, 2014
☆ I received an ARC via TSOR PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆
3.75-4 stars!!★★★★
"I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her. One smile from her made me fall. So I pushed her away. I told her that she would never be what I need--that I would never want her. God, if she only knew. I crave her and everything she keeps trying to hand me. I crave her and everything she could give me. My very being calls out to her, and I work daily to refuse it. So I pushed. Until she ran. But that ends right now."
Locke was filled with a lot of emotional turmoil and upheavals. Here, you have a man living in the shell of his past and own self-hatred, and, a woman, working through obscurity to secure a bright future.
Maddox Locke,
whom this book is essentially based on, is basically his own worst enemy. With a rocky home upbringing, grievous military background, and betrayal he’s endured, he’s a glutton for punishment. What is his punishment, or form of “penance” (as I look at it) you may ask: Emmy.
Emersyn “Emmy” Keeke
has been one-sidedly (or so she thinks) in love with Locke ever since she came to work for Corps Security. She is strong, loyal, nurturing, yet vulnerable, and really takes it to heart after tragedy strikes the CS crew.
Guilt-ridden and feeling as if she has nothing left for her in Georgia, Emmy suddenly moves state with no trace…. AND low and behold! The very man who rejected her affections, who also happens to be unknowingly in love with her too, is the one to set out on a quest to bring her back!! #Go Locke!!#
What will fate bring these two troubled lovers? Will past hurts tear them apart? And when danger leers its evil eye on Emmy, will Locke rise up to the challenge and ultimately protect and claim what is his once and for all?
Read and you will find out!
My thoughts:
In entirety, the whole reading of
Locke
was simply bittersweet. On one hand, I’m sad that it’s over, while on the other, I’m glad that I finally got to the bottom of all of the Corps Security men. *Woohoo!*
Everything was extremely well collected, came around quite cohesively, and brought all of the characters and themes together very fluidly.
However, and this may just be me, but, did Locke and Emmy’s backgrounds and a few sequence of events that happen seem a bit over the top a little? Just a tad. It kind of fell into the previous trend of some of the previous protagonists in Harper Sloan’s Corps Security series with dramatic character history's and climaxes throughout their individual stories. Seemed a bit surreal to be reality but whatever. This one was still just as good and satisfying.
Other than that, I am happy to say, and come on, this is no secret but…I am definitely looking forward to Unexpected Fate which will focus on Reid and Cage’s two kids getting bit by the love bug! Gah, I am so excited for that!!
Until then, bring on 2015 (the predicted release date of UF)!!
♥ ♥
3.75-4 stars!!★★★★
"I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her. One smile from her made me fall. So I pushed her away. I told her that she would never be what I need--that I would never want her. God, if she only knew. I crave her and everything she keeps trying to hand me. I crave her and everything she could give me. My very being calls out to her, and I work daily to refuse it. So I pushed. Until she ran. But that ends right now."
Locke was filled with a lot of emotional turmoil and upheavals. Here, you have a man living in the shell of his past and own self-hatred, and, a woman, working through obscurity to secure a bright future.
Maddox Locke, whom this book is essentially based on, is basically his own worst enemy. With a rocky home upbringing, grievous military background, and betrayal he’s endured, he’s a glutton for punishment. What is his punishment, or form of “penance” (as I look at it) you may ask: Emmy.
Emersyn “Emmy” Keekehas been one-sidedly (or so she thinks) in love with Locke ever since she came to work for Corps Security. She is strong, loyal, nurturing, yet vulnerable, and really takes it to heart after tragedy strikes the CS crew.
Guilt-ridden and feeling as if she has nothing left for her in Georgia, Emmy suddenly moves state with no trace…. AND low and behold! The very man who rejected her affections, who also happens to be unknowingly in love with her too, is the one to set out on a quest to bring her back!! #Go Locke!!#
What will fate bring these two troubled lovers? Will past hurts tear them apart? And when danger leers its evil eye on Emmy, will Locke rise up to the challenge and ultimately protect and claim what is his once and for all?
Read and you will find out!
My thoughts:
In entirety, the whole reading of
Locke
was simply bittersweet. On one hand, I’m sad that it’s over, while on the other, I’m glad that I finally got to the bottom of all of the Corps Security men. *Woohoo!*Everything was extremely well collected, came around quite cohesively, and brought all of the characters and themes together very fluidly.
However, and this may just be me, but, did Locke and Emmy’s backgrounds and a few sequence of events that happen seem a bit over the top a little? Just a tad. It kind of fell into the previous trend of some of the previous protagonists in Harper Sloan’s Corps Security series with dramatic character history's and climaxes throughout their individual stories. Seemed a bit surreal to be reality but whatever. This one was still just as good and satisfying.
Other than that, I am happy to say, and come on, this is no secret but…I am definitely looking forward to Unexpected Fate which will focus on Reid and Cage’s two kids getting bit by the love bug! Gah, I am so excited for that!!
Until then, bring on 2015 (the predicted release date of UF)!!
♥ ♥
September 25, 2014
5 Broken stars!
Maddox Locke is one of those characters that grabbed my attention from the first time I met him. After each Corp’s Security book, my interest in him only peaked and my desire to read his story grew stronger and stronger. After more than a year of waiting, it’s finally here. Locke . It’s a lot of pressure, I assume, to write the book everyone has been anticipating. I’m happy to say that Harper did an excellent job with Maddox and Emmy’s story. It lived up to the expectations. It was emotional, steamy, heartbreaking and beautiful- just like I had hoped it would be.
Maddox Locke had a terrible upbringing. It’s made him into the broken man he is today. His family is awful. A selfish asshole for a brother, and a monster for a mother. Growing up in that house made him want out as soon as possible. Which is why he joined the service. Once he got out, the things he saw, the things that happened to him, only added on to his feelings of worthlessness.
Emmy’s life hasn’t been much easier than Maddox’s. Her parents are terrible human beings. If it wasn’t for Coop and the Corp’s boys, she would still be living in that hell. But she’s strong. She got out. And she fell in love with an unattainable man. After all the drama that’s gone on, Emmy has to get away. And even though home is the last place she wants to be, that’s exactly where she ends up.
Emmy has always wanted Maddox. And Maddox has never given her any indication he’s wanted her. But he has his reasons for that...
We’ve known a few of Maddox’s secrets, but there is still so much more to learn. A lot has happened in his life to make him the man he is today. He’s the guy who is there for everyone else, but when it’s time for him to find his happiness, he retreats.
Maddox Locke broke my heart. The thoughts that went through his head made me want to simultaneously cry and bitch slap his mother. All Emmy wants is Maddox. That’s all she’s ever wanted. She knows he’s broken. She knows he’s damaged. And she knows he has baggage. All she wants is for him to open up to her. To let her be there for him. To carry some of that load. Maddox can’t seem to do that, but Emmy has to try.
Maddox is a silent and stubborn man. He’s broken and tortured. Emmy is able to bring out other sides of him. With her, he’s caring, he’s loving, he’s passionate and he’s hot as hell!
I loved Maddox and Emmy together. It’s funny that even though both main characters had plenty of their own issues, they were able to be there for each other. To help each other. To heal each other. When Maddox started to come around... my god. There were so many moments that had me sitting in bed with my kindle, hand over my heart, smile on my face and tears streaming down my cheeks.
The Corps Security have been a special bunch for me. I’m so glad we got to get to see some of them all in this book. I love each one in a different way (though BECK will always by my absolute favorite man of hers). Each time I finish a Corps book, I’m just in this happy place. This series has been wonderful for me. Each and every book. I’m so sad their stories are coming to an end, but excited to see what Harper has up her sleeve. I just have this feeling the next generation of my favorite couples might be getting their own stories down the line... one can hope! The writing was top notch, characters engaging and the story captivating, heart wrenching, sexy and spectacular. The epilogue was perfection. A fantastic way to end a great series!
Maddox Locke is one of those characters that grabbed my attention from the first time I met him. After each Corp’s Security book, my interest in him only peaked and my desire to read his story grew stronger and stronger. After more than a year of waiting, it’s finally here. Locke . It’s a lot of pressure, I assume, to write the book everyone has been anticipating. I’m happy to say that Harper did an excellent job with Maddox and Emmy’s story. It lived up to the expectations. It was emotional, steamy, heartbreaking and beautiful- just like I had hoped it would be.
Maddox Locke had a terrible upbringing. It’s made him into the broken man he is today. His family is awful. A selfish asshole for a brother, and a monster for a mother. Growing up in that house made him want out as soon as possible. Which is why he joined the service. Once he got out, the things he saw, the things that happened to him, only added on to his feelings of worthlessness.
Emmy’s life hasn’t been much easier than Maddox’s. Her parents are terrible human beings. If it wasn’t for Coop and the Corp’s boys, she would still be living in that hell. But she’s strong. She got out. And she fell in love with an unattainable man. After all the drama that’s gone on, Emmy has to get away. And even though home is the last place she wants to be, that’s exactly where she ends up.
Emmy has always wanted Maddox. And Maddox has never given her any indication he’s wanted her. But he has his reasons for that...
I’ll taint her. I’ll ruin her. I’ll destroy her.
We’ve known a few of Maddox’s secrets, but there is still so much more to learn. A lot has happened in his life to make him the man he is today. He’s the guy who is there for everyone else, but when it’s time for him to find his happiness, he retreats.
Maddox Locke broke my heart. The thoughts that went through his head made me want to simultaneously cry and bitch slap his mother. All Emmy wants is Maddox. That’s all she’s ever wanted. She knows he’s broken. She knows he’s damaged. And she knows he has baggage. All she wants is for him to open up to her. To let her be there for him. To carry some of that load. Maddox can’t seem to do that, but Emmy has to try.
Maddox is a silent and stubborn man. He’s broken and tortured. Emmy is able to bring out other sides of him. With her, he’s caring, he’s loving, he’s passionate and he’s hot as hell!
“I’m in charge of your pussy, Emersyn. Don’t fucking forget that your sweetness will only be given by me. My fucking fingers. My mouth. And MY cock.”
I loved Maddox and Emmy together. It’s funny that even though both main characters had plenty of their own issues, they were able to be there for each other. To help each other. To heal each other. When Maddox started to come around... my god. There were so many moments that had me sitting in bed with my kindle, hand over my heart, smile on my face and tears streaming down my cheeks.
I take her lips in a slow, sweet, and intoxicating kiss. By the time I pull back, her eyes are glossy, her cheeks are red, and her lips are swollen. I lean forward, pull her plump bottom lip in my mouth, and nibble lightly, earning a moan from Emmy. “Blessed.” I whisper against her lips.
The Corps Security have been a special bunch for me. I’m so glad we got to get to see some of them all in this book. I love each one in a different way (though BECK will always by my absolute favorite man of hers). Each time I finish a Corps book, I’m just in this happy place. This series has been wonderful for me. Each and every book. I’m so sad their stories are coming to an end, but excited to see what Harper has up her sleeve. I just have this feeling the next generation of my favorite couples might be getting their own stories down the line... one can hope! The writing was top notch, characters engaging and the story captivating, heart wrenching, sexy and spectacular. The epilogue was perfection. A fantastic way to end a great series!
March 23, 2017
***2.75 Unsatisfied Stars***
Four...count them...four books of foreplay waiting for Maddox's book, and did it come close to measuring up to the potential that was there?
We've been reading about Maddox Locke and his Emmy in the background for a long time. I've been curious about what happened between them. Could Emmy finally pull Maddox out of his darkness, help him find his worth and bring him into the light? He's been there as a helping hand to all the other relationships, offering sage advice and being the voice of reason. How would his story play out? Well it didn't, not really.
There was so much push and pull in the first half of this book between Maddox and Emmy that I felt my head spinning at times. They shared their feelings, had angry sex and then shut down...over and over again. And Maddox making Emmy keep telling him how she loved him, yet denying her any part of him felt completely off character.
After a while, his sob story rhetoric of how "blessed" her love is had me rolling my eyes. It become over the top and just made me feel like Harper Sloan was trying too hard. Lots and lots of...
"It would be easy to take what she was so willing to give me. To feel the blessing of her love shining on me."
"My demons, now recognizing her for what she is - their blessing - are restless without her soothing soul."
I never felt a full connection to this crippling fear that Maddox had of his "darkness" tainting those he's close to. Was his past horrible? Hell yes. Was his family despicable? Absolutely! But I needed more than that. More than vile words spewed from his mother and brother (which to be honest, felt completely unbelievable and you guessed it, over the top). More than a war injury. I needed more.
"You're the angel that my demons beg to make fall. The pureness and light that my darkness wants to extinguish."
When we finally got to the part where he would have to face his "demons," we were given a time jump and told that he'd faced most of them with Emmy's help and still had more to go through. And with that we were only given the satisfaction of watching him confront his family. None of the other stuff. No real emotion in watching him realize and believe that his burdens were self-inflicted and watching him release his grief.
And Emmy. Where the hell did her backstory come from??? It felt completely forced and drummed up for the sake of drama. One thing I will say, she was not weak in dealing with her situation or the things that were thrown her way. For THAT I am thankful. All the other heroines in this series tended to crumble and whine when drama landed on their doorstep, but Emmy never let it bring her down. She held her own, fought back and didn't let it break her.
"I could let it put a scar on my mind, but I'm not going to. I didn't fight to live so that I could be scared for the rest of my days. Of course I'm hurt, and I would be lying if I didn't admit that the majority of that hurt isn't the physical reminders...[I] don't want to to give them the power over my future, Maddox, so I'm choosing to live for the blessings I have and heal from this."
"We all have baggage, Maddox. I wish that you could understand that I'm not asking for perfection. What you fail to realize is that I have two arms just begging for you to let me help you carry that baggage."
I would have been perfectly content with this book dealing with Maddox, his issues and him and Emmy working through that. But I felt the biggest anticipation to this story, Maddox and his journey, was rushed.
And to be honest, that is my overall feeling of the book. It felt like it was smacked together too quickly. Too many ideas executed poorly and just thrown together. The promise there in shining moments, but nothing fully developed. And it shows in the writing.
There are grammatical errors sprinkled throughout this book. Too many to overlook and enough to hinder my enjoyment. For someone who is releasing their fifth book, it looked very sloppy.
And the hot sex that I've come to expect from a Harper Sloan book had me rolling my eyes and shaking my head instead of feeling tingly. Too much ass smacking, an overabundance of the word "sass," too many "juices" flowing and just down right over the top raunchiness that again, felt forced. Too many...
"I can feel our combined releases running down my balls, and my spent cock twitches to life inside her."
And some unnecessary visuals...
"I can see her cream coating me...[When] the head of my cock leaves her heat, causing a slow rush of our mixed come to leak from her, I have to grab on to the mattress from the head rush it gives me."
Overall, a book that had promise but suffered from poor execution, underdevelopment and an over the top, rushed story. A true disappointment since while reading I saw brief moments of really great stuff in there.
Unfortunately, this book ended up being a mere shadow of what it could have been. This series started out strong for me, but the last three books left a lot to be desired with the characters and the author's writing. If this is the trajectory of our relationship, it looks like this will be the end of the road for me and this author.
----------------------------------------------
I'm waiting for you Maddox!!
September 27, 2014
FINALLY, Maddox Locke is in my hands ... Harper Sloan I HEART you.
Review to come ...
Review to come ...
Want to read
April 2, 2014 COVER REVEAL - LOCKE by Harper Sloan!!!
This is Book #5 in the Corps Security series!
This is Book #5 in the Corps Security series!
October 29, 2014
2.5 OTT Stars
I have been waiting for Maddox's book since book one in this series. Maybe it was a case of too high expectations or maybe it was a case of my own personal biases working against it? Whatever the case may be, I was really disappointed by this book. I five starred the first 3 books in this series. I loved the big personalities and crazy possessive alphas. Harper tends to take her stories and characters a little OTT and that usually worked for me. But not here.
I LOVE a tortured hero, and I was expecting Maddox to be the OTT tortured that the entire series hinted him to be. And he was definitely that. In SPADES. But then there was the rest of the book, which was OTT on steroids...times 10
Why? Emmy.
What.The.Fuck?! Emmy's backstory came entirely out of left field to sucker punch me with a case of WTF. Was she abducted by the pod people? It's like her character took a complete 180 from the rest of the series or had a personality change. It reminded me a little of Cage, where she's presented one way throughout the series and then had a personality flip in her own book. But while it worked for me in Cage's book, it did NOT work for me here. There were no hints throughout the series to anything of the sort and it didn't add up for me.
In the earlier books she comes across as this quiet, introverted and slightly shy girl. I was half expecting her to be breeding puppies on a farm somewhere where BAM! Stripper.
And not just any stripper, but a tortured one. Now again, I could have STILL looked past all that...had I managed to connect with her character even a little. But her character turned me off completely. She idolizes Cooper, as she should considering what he did for her. But she did not do his memory justice. I won't give any details for fear of spoiling anything, but I will say this; after everything that happens and what he does for her and everything that she went through, for her to CHOOSE to go back to something she couldn't wait to escape from was beyond anything I could understand. Cooper rescues her from that life only for her to go running back there? For all her "YOLO" and gratefulness for Cooper, her actions contradict everything she says. But the hot button for me? I felt the author glossed over a VERY sensitive issue here;. It was painted as such a blaze thing that it actually pissed me off. There were NO side effects (which is completely unrealistic considering it happens times.
I have to say that I did love the chemistry between her and Maddox, and when they come together...it was SCORCHING hot.
Maddox was my one saving grace in this book. He was tortured, brooding, and oh so sexy.
But there was just TOO much drama piled on top of other drama and then sprinkled with even MORE drama and I found myself losing my connection with the story more and more as it progressed.
The one thing that I was really anticipating is more detail about Maddox's past and what's made him the man that he is today, ESPECIALLY with the hints dropped about his military past and .
I thought that the author could have truly given us an emotional scene that will tug at every heart-string had she not mostly glossed over . There were so many different ways it could have been written, but at the end it was rushed and mainly a recap of sorts since the main focus was put on his fucked up family. There was plenty of build up for it, but at the end it really fell short for me.
This could have been a great book had it not tried to bite off more than it can chew. There was just TOO much going on. You had a tortured hero, his fucked up family, a tortured heroine, HER fucked up family, both of their fucked up past, an OTT crazy villain, the MCs constant back and forth with each other, PTSD, survivor's guilt...all of this in ONE book.
I wanted to love it. I went into expecting to love it. But sadly I never did.
Don't get me wrong, it had lots of things going for it, and I did enjoy some parts of it...immensely so.
But unfortunately the negatives outweighed the positives for me in the end. I've been thinking on my rating for weeks since I was so upset about not liking it. I even went back and re-read certain parts thinking maybe it was just a personal bias or maybe I missed something. It breaks my heart to rate the final book in the series as anything less than the 5 stars I rated the other books. Sadly, I just didn't enjoy this one.
But don't let my review deter you from reading it. Most readers really enjoyed this one. My picky ass just seems to be in the VERY low minority once again with my opinion here...
ARC gifted to Dirty Girl Romance blog in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her.
I have been waiting for Maddox's book since book one in this series. Maybe it was a case of too high expectations or maybe it was a case of my own personal biases working against it? Whatever the case may be, I was really disappointed by this book. I five starred the first 3 books in this series. I loved the big personalities and crazy possessive alphas. Harper tends to take her stories and characters a little OTT and that usually worked for me. But not here.
I LOVE a tortured hero, and I was expecting Maddox to be the OTT tortured that the entire series hinted him to be. And he was definitely that. In SPADES. But then there was the rest of the book, which was OTT on steroids...times 10
Why? Emmy.
What.The.Fuck?! Emmy's backstory came entirely out of left field to sucker punch me with a case of WTF. Was she abducted by the pod people? It's like her character took a complete 180 from the rest of the series or had a personality change. It reminded me a little of Cage, where she's presented one way throughout the series and then had a personality flip in her own book. But while it worked for me in Cage's book, it did NOT work for me here. There were no hints throughout the series to anything of the sort and it didn't add up for me.
In the earlier books she comes across as this quiet, introverted and slightly shy girl. I was half expecting her to be breeding puppies on a farm somewhere where BAM! Stripper.
And not just any stripper, but a tortured one. Now again, I could have STILL looked past all that...had I managed to connect with her character even a little. But her character turned me off completely. She idolizes Cooper, as she should considering what he did for her. But she did not do his memory justice. I won't give any details for fear of spoiling anything, but I will say this; after everything that happens and what he does for her and everything that she went through, for her to CHOOSE to go back to something she couldn't wait to escape from was beyond anything I could understand. Cooper rescues her from that life only for her to go running back there? For all her "YOLO" and gratefulness for Cooper, her actions contradict everything she says. But the hot button for me? I felt the author glossed over a VERY sensitive issue here;. It was painted as such a blaze thing that it actually pissed me off. There were NO side effects (which is completely unrealistic considering it happens times.
I have to say that I did love the chemistry between her and Maddox, and when they come together...it was SCORCHING hot.
Maddox was my one saving grace in this book. He was tortured, brooding, and oh so sexy.
But there was just TOO much drama piled on top of other drama and then sprinkled with even MORE drama and I found myself losing my connection with the story more and more as it progressed.
The one thing that I was really anticipating is more detail about Maddox's past and what's made him the man that he is today, ESPECIALLY with the hints dropped about his military past and .
I thought that the author could have truly given us an emotional scene that will tug at every heart-string had she not mostly glossed over . There were so many different ways it could have been written, but at the end it was rushed and mainly a recap of sorts since the main focus was put on his fucked up family. There was plenty of build up for it, but at the end it really fell short for me.
This could have been a great book had it not tried to bite off more than it can chew. There was just TOO much going on. You had a tortured hero, his fucked up family, a tortured heroine, HER fucked up family, both of their fucked up past, an OTT crazy villain, the MCs constant back and forth with each other, PTSD, survivor's guilt...all of this in ONE book.
I wanted to love it. I went into expecting to love it. But sadly I never did.
Don't get me wrong, it had lots of things going for it, and I did enjoy some parts of it...immensely so.
But unfortunately the negatives outweighed the positives for me in the end. I've been thinking on my rating for weeks since I was so upset about not liking it. I even went back and re-read certain parts thinking maybe it was just a personal bias or maybe I missed something. It breaks my heart to rate the final book in the series as anything less than the 5 stars I rated the other books. Sadly, I just didn't enjoy this one.
But don't let my review deter you from reading it. Most readers really enjoyed this one. My picky ass just seems to be in the VERY low minority once again with my opinion here...
ARC gifted to Dirty Girl Romance blog in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
October 14, 2014
2 chin up, Buttercup Stars!
To say that I’ve been waiting for Maddox’s book ever since I read about him in Axel would be a massive understatement. As massive understatement goes, this book was a jumbled mess of purple prose, lol-wut-backstory, cartoonish villains and OTT dialogue.
I wasn’t actually bothered by Maddox’s stubbornness and the back and forth between him and Emmy was totally okay with me. I kind of expected that. I also expected more insight into Maddox’s psyche and how he dealt with I thought this is where the angst was going to come from. I thought Maddox and Em’s story was going to poignant albeit rife with self-doubt and self-loathing.
I won’t bore you with the summary of the story because we know about the will-they-or-won’t-they-dance Emmy and Maddox have been doing since Axel. I will, instead, express why I was disappointed with Locke.
Emmy’s Backstory
Seriously, where the hell did Emmy’s past came from? That was just so far out of left field that it just didn’t make sense. There was no build-up, no clues to her past in the previous books. Did she have a personality transplant between book 4 and this book? I’d really like to know. She was written as this young, innocent, quiet woman and then BAM!! Stripper royalty.
Sorry, but I just didn’t buy it.
And oh, don’t even get me started on why she went back there in the first place. And then after that whole debacle, Emmy just brushed it off and the next day, she was talking about spanking Maddox. What?
And speaking of abused heroines – oh yeah, again, we get another one of those types. I thought Emmy was going to be different. I was so looking forward to reading about a heroine who wasn’t But again, the author just had to go there.
The OTT Villains
Just based off her previous works, OTT villains are to be expected from this author. But the villains in this book just took it to stratospheric level. They owned all the clichéd villainy things that villains from every single Disney, Stallone, Chuck Norris movies combined.
“Oh you really are such stupid boy.” She clicks her tongue. “They’re not telling you because they seem to think you need to be eased into the news.” She laughs. “I would ask how you are, but it looks like that demon seed that made you finally started to nip away at you. Quite literally.”
It was just one ridiculousness after another. The slapping, the snarling, the screeching, and the cackling did nothing to add to the story except to add drama.
Color me purple prose and OTT dialogue
The writing didn’t really work for me this time. One could argue that the previous books were written this way already so I shouldn’t complain. But after 5 books, I was really expecting a lot more. I could tolerate OTT drama, but man, the cheese in this book was really excessive.
Case in point...
“I have so many demons, Emmy. So many that they are woven into my very being, and I’m goddamn terrified that, if I take what you’re offering, even the platform, that promise of love, that you’ve been building won’t be strong enough, and when I tumble down, I’ll take you with me—straight into the pits of hell.”
“I pushed you. I hurt you—God, I hurt you—because I could never live with myself if the demons, the darkness, the evil inside me harmed you.”
Cheesy and overly dramatic. For someone who hasn’t spoken a lot in the previous 4 books, I just found Maddox newly found poetic side hard to stomach. Maddox was broken. We get that. No need to repeat it every single page. There was no need to remind readers about his evil, his darkness, his blackness, his brokenness. We get it.
Maybe it’s my expectation getting the best of me. Again. Maybe I’ve outgrown these types of books already or this author. Most probably. This is just my personal opinion though, but Locke was a big disappointment.
So would I recommend this, you ask?
ARC provided by Harper Sloan via TRSOR in exchange for an honest review.
To say that I’ve been waiting for Maddox’s book ever since I read about him in Axel would be a massive understatement. As massive understatement goes, this book was a jumbled mess of purple prose, lol-wut-backstory, cartoonish villains and OTT dialogue.
I wasn’t actually bothered by Maddox’s stubbornness and the back and forth between him and Emmy was totally okay with me. I kind of expected that. I also expected more insight into Maddox’s psyche and how he dealt with I thought this is where the angst was going to come from. I thought Maddox and Em’s story was going to poignant albeit rife with self-doubt and self-loathing.
I won’t bore you with the summary of the story because we know about the will-they-or-won’t-they-dance Emmy and Maddox have been doing since Axel. I will, instead, express why I was disappointed with Locke.
Emmy’s Backstory
Seriously, where the hell did Emmy’s past came from? That was just so far out of left field that it just didn’t make sense. There was no build-up, no clues to her past in the previous books. Did she have a personality transplant between book 4 and this book? I’d really like to know. She was written as this young, innocent, quiet woman and then BAM!! Stripper royalty.
Sorry, but I just didn’t buy it.
And oh, don’t even get me started on why she went back there in the first place. And then after that whole debacle, Emmy just brushed it off and the next day, she was talking about spanking Maddox. What?
And speaking of abused heroines – oh yeah, again, we get another one of those types. I thought Emmy was going to be different. I was so looking forward to reading about a heroine who wasn’t But again, the author just had to go there.
The OTT Villains
Just based off her previous works, OTT villains are to be expected from this author. But the villains in this book just took it to stratospheric level. They owned all the clichéd villainy things that villains from every single Disney, Stallone, Chuck Norris movies combined.
“Oh you really are such stupid boy.” She clicks her tongue. “They’re not telling you because they seem to think you need to be eased into the news.” She laughs. “I would ask how you are, but it looks like that demon seed that made you finally started to nip away at you. Quite literally.”
It was just one ridiculousness after another. The slapping, the snarling, the screeching, and the cackling did nothing to add to the story except to add drama.
Color me purple prose and OTT dialogue
The writing didn’t really work for me this time. One could argue that the previous books were written this way already so I shouldn’t complain. But after 5 books, I was really expecting a lot more. I could tolerate OTT drama, but man, the cheese in this book was really excessive.
Case in point...
“I have so many demons, Emmy. So many that they are woven into my very being, and I’m goddamn terrified that, if I take what you’re offering, even the platform, that promise of love, that you’ve been building won’t be strong enough, and when I tumble down, I’ll take you with me—straight into the pits of hell.”
“I pushed you. I hurt you—God, I hurt you—because I could never live with myself if the demons, the darkness, the evil inside me harmed you.”
Cheesy and overly dramatic. For someone who hasn’t spoken a lot in the previous 4 books, I just found Maddox newly found poetic side hard to stomach. Maddox was broken. We get that. No need to repeat it every single page. There was no need to remind readers about his evil, his darkness, his blackness, his brokenness. We get it.
Maybe it’s my expectation getting the best of me. Again. Maybe I’ve outgrown these types of books already or this author. Most probably. This is just my personal opinion though, but Locke was a big disappointment.
So would I recommend this, you ask?
ARC provided by Harper Sloan via TRSOR in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2014
Why must the best always be saved for last!
Oh how I love Lock and yes he was worth the wait! I loved watching the two of them figure their crap out, and love each other because of their flaws.
More review to come:D
Oh how I love Lock and yes he was worth the wait! I loved watching the two of them figure their crap out, and love each other because of their flaws.
More review to come:D
September 6, 2015
I'm going to keep this short and sweet, I've been catching up recently so you know after I read Unexpected Fate and fell for Cohen and Dani's story I decided to come back and finish this series I suppose I was a little bummed after I read Beck it wasn't my fav so I delayed moving forward when the others came out, saying that I decided to come back and finish this off.....
This one is very much a heart-breaking story and not when it comes down to the relationship but where you really do feel for them with their life stories and background, yes it was at times a bit OTT but I devoured this one, actually I stayed up till 4am reading this it gripped my every being, I said to myself just one more chapter and that led to another and that's how it went.
Overall I loved seeing Maddox and Emmy get their well deserved special person. Their were moments of slow rehab in them as a couple and as them as people I loved how Harper slowly made us see how Maddox and Emmy needed to heal. Also as a series I loved the family aspect of the plot and seeing them all come as a unit was the icing on the cake~
Overall 5 healing Stars!!!
For more Reviews check out our blog here:
This one is very much a heart-breaking story and not when it comes down to the relationship but where you really do feel for them with their life stories and background, yes it was at times a bit OTT but I devoured this one, actually I stayed up till 4am reading this it gripped my every being, I said to myself just one more chapter and that led to another and that's how it went.
Overall I loved seeing Maddox and Emmy get their well deserved special person. Their were moments of slow rehab in them as a couple and as them as people I loved how Harper slowly made us see how Maddox and Emmy needed to heal. Also as a series I loved the family aspect of the plot and seeing them all come as a unit was the icing on the cake~
Overall 5 healing Stars!!!
For more Reviews check out our blog here:
October 1, 2014
Why oh why is Locke the last book!!!!! God I absolutely love that man.... I will sit and stew until this book is published...
January 20, 2015
Wwwwwooooooooowwwwwwww.
After being less than enthused with other books in this series and then seeing some of my friends' reviews of this after its release, I put this book on the back burner and even considered just skipping it.
I should have continued to listen to myself.
But alas, the appeal of this $0.99 deal was just too tempting for this deal stalker to ignore.
So, in the spirit of thriftiness, I will endeavor to save you my dear fellow reader your own time and money by wrapping this book up for you in the proverbial nutshell:
"Don't love me, Emmy"
"Tell me you love me, Emmy."
"Stay away from me, Emmy."
"Don't leave me, Emmy."
"I'll destroy you, Emmy."
"You complete me, Emmy."
"I fucking hate you, Maddox."
"I fucking love you, Maddox."
"I will never leave you, Maddox."
"I can't stay with you, Maddox."
Drama.
Drama.
Drama.
Shenanigans.
Shenanigans.
Shenanigans.
You're welcome.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
1/12/15: This WHOLE ENTIRE SERIES is on sale now for $0.99!
Can you believe that? Glad I waited to pull the trigger on Locker so now it will only cost me 0.99 in case I hate it PLUS I can re-read the one or two I liked! HA! #winning!
http://www.amazon.com/Corps-Security-...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10/10/14: Still debating if I want to pull the trigger on this...after this I'm not so hopeful...
After being less than enthused with other books in this series and then seeing some of my friends' reviews of this after its release, I put this book on the back burner and even considered just skipping it.
I should have continued to listen to myself.
But alas, the appeal of this $0.99 deal was just too tempting for this deal stalker to ignore.
So, in the spirit of thriftiness, I will endeavor to save you my dear fellow reader your own time and money by wrapping this book up for you in the proverbial nutshell:
"Don't love me, Emmy"
"Tell me you love me, Emmy."
"Stay away from me, Emmy."
"Don't leave me, Emmy."
"I'll destroy you, Emmy."
"You complete me, Emmy."
"I fucking hate you, Maddox."
"I fucking love you, Maddox."
"I will never leave you, Maddox."
"I can't stay with you, Maddox."
Drama.
Drama.
Drama.
Shenanigans.
Shenanigans.
Shenanigans.
You're welcome.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
1/12/15: This WHOLE ENTIRE SERIES is on sale now for $0.99!
Can you believe that? Glad I waited to pull the trigger on Locker so now it will only cost me 0.99 in case I hate it PLUS I can re-read the one or two I liked! HA! #winning!
http://www.amazon.com/Corps-Security-...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10/10/14: Still debating if I want to pull the trigger on this...after this I'm not so hopeful...
September 15, 2014
I feel hard for Axel Reed. I will never forget our first time.
I dived head first in love with Greg Cage. He will forever be my trifecta GOD and fuck that man can lay pipe.
I lusted after John Beckett. We tore some shit up together while in the throws of passion. The bruises spoke for themselves. **wink wink**
I sold my soul to Asher Cooper. He showed me that my past made me stronger and gave my hope and love for the future. He helped me heal just as I helped him heal. We are each others saviors.
I found a love so real, so raw, so perfect with Maddox Locke that I am forever changed by it. He is no longer a mystery to me and he finally opened his beautiful heart to me.
Harper Sloan is an author that I will never question reading. She is someone I will pimp for the rest of my life. She is that amazing.
But this book is on a whole other level. It's like she took her writing and made it EVERYTHING. She mastered the art of taking a person and pulling them inside the book so that you live the story while you read it. You can't put it down, UNPUTDOWNABLE.
Writing this amazing, this brilliant, this out of the world nothing like it writing, should win an award.
There is a reason she saved Maddox Locke for last and that's because
HE IS ONE OF A FUCKING KIND
I dived head first in love with Greg Cage. He will forever be my trifecta GOD and fuck that man can lay pipe.
I lusted after John Beckett. We tore some shit up together while in the throws of passion. The bruises spoke for themselves. **wink wink**
I sold my soul to Asher Cooper. He showed me that my past made me stronger and gave my hope and love for the future. He helped me heal just as I helped him heal. We are each others saviors.
I found a love so real, so raw, so perfect with Maddox Locke that I am forever changed by it. He is no longer a mystery to me and he finally opened his beautiful heart to me.
Harper Sloan is an author that I will never question reading. She is someone I will pimp for the rest of my life. She is that amazing.
But this book is on a whole other level. It's like she took her writing and made it EVERYTHING. She mastered the art of taking a person and pulling them inside the book so that you live the story while you read it. You can't put it down, UNPUTDOWNABLE.
Writing this amazing, this brilliant, this out of the world nothing like it writing, should win an award.
There is a reason she saved Maddox Locke for last and that's because
HE IS ONE OF A FUCKING KIND
October 4, 2014
I have gone on a business trip with my hubby! Will be back Monday and I will do my review then!! I will miss you all my GR friends!
I will say this about the book..... It was a let down, I didn't hate it but I wasn't blown away.. Take care and I'll catch up when we get back!
I will say this about the book..... It was a let down, I didn't hate it but I wasn't blown away.. Take care and I'll catch up when we get back!
September 29, 2014
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.**
Title:Locke
Series:Corps Security #5
Author:Harper Sloan
Release Date: September 29, 2014
Rating:3.5 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA:
My first thoughts immediately after reading this was that the series was tied up quite nicely and I really liked it a lot. But as I sat down and started to think about the book for my review, I started to realize there were a couple issues I had and the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. In the overall scheme of things, I still thought that this book didn't disappoint after the huge amount of anticipation and hype that it garnered. Sometimes when your hopes are too high they come crashing down the hardest. Thankfully, that's not the case here.
Fans of this series have been panting for Maddox, the ultimate tortured, sexy as sin hero.
I'll taint her. And in the end, it will destroy her. One smile from her made me fall. So I pushed her away. I told her that she would never be what I need-that I would never want her. God, if she only knew.
He's always had that brooding intensity in all the other books and my imagination ran wild over what would finally happen when he finally gave up his resolve to stay away from Emmy. He clearly had strong feelings for her. Would all that pent up desire that he kept locked down cause an even bigger explosion once it was released? His refusal to get close to anyone stems from his sad upbringing and a tragedy that he blames himself for while he was in the service. For many reasons he believes he's like poison to anyone he touches.
Now, Emmy I had issues with. I started out liking her. In the beginning, we're told about her childhood (also horrible) and how it was so bad she literally escaped in every sense of the word when Cooper found her. When I realized the life she left, all I could say to myself was, why in the hell did she go back?! That made absolutely no sense to me that she went back into a situation that was dangerous for her. She was so depressed she just give up on life? Because that's pretty much what going home is equivalent to.
When Maddox comes to collect Emmy and bring her home, I thought he was ready to let go of his fears and claim her. Boy was I wrong.
And Emmy? She was done with it. And I mean D.O.N.E. She'd passed the point of no return into anger and resentment. But no matter what she told herself, her brain wasn't connecting with her heart. Maddox continued to draw her in no matter how bad she knew he was for her.
I felt like the intensity I was hoping for was there, I loved how they were together once the were finally "together".
"Let. Me. In," she pleads. "Please let me in.
"God, Em. You've always been in."
I just had two things that kept popping up in my mind when I started analyzing what I read. Both of them I consider a spoiler, so if you don't want to know about it, move on down.
The most enjoyable part for me was when they finally connected for good and they both helped each other come to terms with their pasts.
"We all have baggage, Maddox. I wish that you could understand that I'm not asking for perfection. What you fail to realize is that I have two arms just begging for you to let me help you carry that baggage."
Emmy was like a warrior, fiercely protecting him and helping him realize that the only poison in his life was the one that his mother injected into him with her constant, mental abuse of him and her betrayals. Once his eyes were finally opened, he was set free from his past and his fear of commitment was gone for good.
"You made me whole again, Emmy. You drove those monsters and nightmares from my mind and sould and replaced them with something so unbelievable that I'm not sure if I understand the enormity of it's power.
The last bit of the book really picked up for me-I really enjoyed all their interactions and getting to see all the previous characters again and all the growing families. There was some inconsistency in the characters and that one plotline had a lot of issues for me, but all in all, Maddox Locke was pretty much what I was expecting him to be. Strong, dominant, and super intense with a soft spot for one woman.
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
Title:Locke
Series:Corps Security #5
Author:Harper Sloan
Release Date: September 29, 2014
Rating:3.5 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA:
My first thoughts immediately after reading this was that the series was tied up quite nicely and I really liked it a lot. But as I sat down and started to think about the book for my review, I started to realize there were a couple issues I had and the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. In the overall scheme of things, I still thought that this book didn't disappoint after the huge amount of anticipation and hype that it garnered. Sometimes when your hopes are too high they come crashing down the hardest. Thankfully, that's not the case here.
Fans of this series have been panting for Maddox, the ultimate tortured, sexy as sin hero.
I'll taint her. And in the end, it will destroy her. One smile from her made me fall. So I pushed her away. I told her that she would never be what I need-that I would never want her. God, if she only knew.
He's always had that brooding intensity in all the other books and my imagination ran wild over what would finally happen when he finally gave up his resolve to stay away from Emmy. He clearly had strong feelings for her. Would all that pent up desire that he kept locked down cause an even bigger explosion once it was released? His refusal to get close to anyone stems from his sad upbringing and a tragedy that he blames himself for while he was in the service. For many reasons he believes he's like poison to anyone he touches.
Now, Emmy I had issues with. I started out liking her. In the beginning, we're told about her childhood (also horrible) and how it was so bad she literally escaped in every sense of the word when Cooper found her. When I realized the life she left, all I could say to myself was, why in the hell did she go back?! That made absolutely no sense to me that she went back into a situation that was dangerous for her. She was so depressed she just give up on life? Because that's pretty much what going home is equivalent to.
When Maddox comes to collect Emmy and bring her home, I thought he was ready to let go of his fears and claim her. Boy was I wrong.
And Emmy? She was done with it. And I mean D.O.N.E. She'd passed the point of no return into anger and resentment. But no matter what she told herself, her brain wasn't connecting with her heart. Maddox continued to draw her in no matter how bad she knew he was for her.
I felt like the intensity I was hoping for was there, I loved how they were together once the were finally "together".
"Let. Me. In," she pleads. "Please let me in.
"God, Em. You've always been in."
I just had two things that kept popping up in my mind when I started analyzing what I read. Both of them I consider a spoiler, so if you don't want to know about it, move on down.
The most enjoyable part for me was when they finally connected for good and they both helped each other come to terms with their pasts.
"We all have baggage, Maddox. I wish that you could understand that I'm not asking for perfection. What you fail to realize is that I have two arms just begging for you to let me help you carry that baggage."
Emmy was like a warrior, fiercely protecting him and helping him realize that the only poison in his life was the one that his mother injected into him with her constant, mental abuse of him and her betrayals. Once his eyes were finally opened, he was set free from his past and his fear of commitment was gone for good.
"You made me whole again, Emmy. You drove those monsters and nightmares from my mind and sould and replaced them with something so unbelievable that I'm not sure if I understand the enormity of it's power.
The last bit of the book really picked up for me-I really enjoyed all their interactions and getting to see all the previous characters again and all the growing families. There was some inconsistency in the characters and that one plotline had a lot of issues for me, but all in all, Maddox Locke was pretty much what I was expecting him to be. Strong, dominant, and super intense with a soft spot for one woman.
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
October 20, 2014
I’ll keep this short and sweet.
I think we all have been anticipating Maddox Locke’s story. As the books in the series unfold Maddox became the sexy, broken guy with a past that had us all wondering what broke him. For me I placed him on a pedestal of sorts, forming my ideal story for him. My anticipation was building, my expectations were high.
What saddened me about Locke….
It was early on in Locke that things started to fall apart. It really wasn’t just one thing. Maddox’s story started to teeter for me and it just came up a bit off the mark. Part of it was the disconnect that happened with Emmy. It was like we got a completely different person and I struggled with believing who she was in this book. What we got from her past just didn’t make sense to me. The Emmy we got in the series up to now was just too different.
I knew that Maddox had a past that haunted him. I knew he had his demons that he struggled with. When things come to the surface, pieces of it made complete sense but the delivery of his past with his family just drove me batty. I just wanted things to be brought down a notch. Mother dearest was promoted to the utmost level and then add in the brother and Mercedes….UGH all of this seemed a little over the top for me.
Everything was all over the place, a jumbled mess and it just didn’t come together for me.
What made me a little happy….
Maddox and Emmy certainly had their moments. The sex was hot and they shared a level of tenderness for each other that will make your heart melt. Maddox and all his hotness and Emmy with her sexiness created some pretty sensual moments. Together they are explosive.
I wanted them to have the happiness they deserved and at the end I was “okay” with where they landed. I just wish a few things were a little different. I wanted to love Maddox Locke’s story and I am sad that I ended up only liking it. :(
Even though Locke was only a ”like” for me I always love reading epilogues. This one was kind of sweet. :)
I think we all have been anticipating Maddox Locke’s story. As the books in the series unfold Maddox became the sexy, broken guy with a past that had us all wondering what broke him. For me I placed him on a pedestal of sorts, forming my ideal story for him. My anticipation was building, my expectations were high.
What saddened me about Locke….
It was early on in Locke that things started to fall apart. It really wasn’t just one thing. Maddox’s story started to teeter for me and it just came up a bit off the mark. Part of it was the disconnect that happened with Emmy. It was like we got a completely different person and I struggled with believing who she was in this book. What we got from her past just didn’t make sense to me. The Emmy we got in the series up to now was just too different.
I knew that Maddox had a past that haunted him. I knew he had his demons that he struggled with. When things come to the surface, pieces of it made complete sense but the delivery of his past with his family just drove me batty. I just wanted things to be brought down a notch. Mother dearest was promoted to the utmost level and then add in the brother and Mercedes….UGH all of this seemed a little over the top for me.
Everything was all over the place, a jumbled mess and it just didn’t come together for me.
What made me a little happy….
Maddox and Emmy certainly had their moments. The sex was hot and they shared a level of tenderness for each other that will make your heart melt. Maddox and all his hotness and Emmy with her sexiness created some pretty sensual moments. Together they are explosive.
I wanted them to have the happiness they deserved and at the end I was “okay” with where they landed. I just wish a few things were a little different. I wanted to love Maddox Locke’s story and I am sad that I ended up only liking it. :(
Even though Locke was only a ”like” for me I always love reading epilogues. This one was kind of sweet. :)
May 25, 2017
4.5 sassy stars
*Spoilers*
OMG I was so worried when I started this book I have read a lot of mixed reviews on Locke, and after Cooper let me down, I was hoping it wouldn't fall flat. I almost put off reading it, but my OCD got the best of me and I had to finish the series. I am glad I did, because this book just worked for me. I was not disappointed. I loved this book! Damn but I love me some broken, tortured, heroes!
This book is number 5 in the Corps Security Series and it is the long awaited book of Maddox Locke. Maddox has been Pushing Emmy away for years now, He knows he is a broken man with demons that won't let up, and he doesn't want to consume her light and sweetness with the darkness of his past. Emmy has been fighting for Maddox to let her in and let her love him for years now, after the death of Coop she just runs. Now Maddox is coming to bring Emmy home, but is it to late?
"I know what she wants, but I won't let my demons hurt her. Not my Emmy. Since day one, she has been my greatest temptation, but I refused to take everything innocent that is Emmy and let my blackness take her. Because that will happen. It will wrap around her soul and slowly choke the life out of her. Just like every other person I've allowed in.
I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her."
Maddox:
Maddox is one hott mess. In this book we finally get to see Mad's past and what makes him the broken, tortured, man of few words that he is today. He has been told his whole life that he is evil and destroys everything that he gets close to. He has been used, abused, and betrayed by his mother the evil bitch, his brother the total bastard, and his whore of a ex-fiance. Add that with survivor's guilt from when he was in the military and you have my heart bleeding for Maddox Locke!
"I'll stand by her side until I'm no longer wanted-and then, if that day ever comes, I'll throw her over my shoulder and carry her the rest of the way."
"No, Em, I don't expect you to believe me like that. But let's get one thing straight - it doesn't matter if you have any fight left in you because I'm going to fight hard enough for both of us now, angel. It's time for you to hand over all of that strength and maybe give me a few pointers, but it's time.... time to let me fight for us."
“Please don’t give up on me,” he whimpers
Emmy:
OMG Emmy was just as broken and messed up as her man. We get to see how Emmy is saved by Coop so when Coop died protecting her again she can't deal with the guilt and she runs back to her old life. One thing I really loved about Emmy is that she was a fighter, sassy as hell and strong.
"We all have baggage, Maddox. I wish that you could understand that I'm not asking for perfection. What you fail to realize is that I have two arms just begging for you to let me help you carry that baggage."
"I know exactly what I'm talking about. I know because my soul recognizes it's mate. It's kindred spirit. We both have our pain, Maddox. We both have the shame of our past and the fear it holds on the future. The only difference is you let that pain and fear rule your heart. And the difference in me is that I am willing to risk it all day in and day out for just a second of your love."
This book was angry sex heaven..... They were burning up my kindle! Their love story was beautiful the way they fought their demons together, and when Mad woke and decided to fight for him and Emmy Damn, but I swooned.
I loved how all the ladies were there for Maddox in the hospital being his strength, like he had been there for each of them at some point... There was just a few little things that I felt were a little over the top and that is why I rated this one a 4.5 instead of a 5 star book , like the fact that and I feel like there was way to much spanking going on just saying!!!
I really enjoyed this series and I feel like this book was a great end to the series, The epilogue was epic and I can't freaking wait for
Coming out feb. 17th it's a spin off of this series picking up the stories of the children. Unexpected Fate is Cohen Cage and Danielle Reid!!!!!!
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
*Spoilers*
OMG I was so worried when I started this book I have read a lot of mixed reviews on Locke, and after Cooper let me down, I was hoping it wouldn't fall flat. I almost put off reading it, but my OCD got the best of me and I had to finish the series. I am glad I did, because this book just worked for me. I was not disappointed. I loved this book! Damn but I love me some broken, tortured, heroes!
This book is number 5 in the Corps Security Series and it is the long awaited book of Maddox Locke. Maddox has been Pushing Emmy away for years now, He knows he is a broken man with demons that won't let up, and he doesn't want to consume her light and sweetness with the darkness of his past. Emmy has been fighting for Maddox to let her in and let her love him for years now, after the death of Coop she just runs. Now Maddox is coming to bring Emmy home, but is it to late?
"I know what she wants, but I won't let my demons hurt her. Not my Emmy. Since day one, she has been my greatest temptation, but I refused to take everything innocent that is Emmy and let my blackness take her. Because that will happen. It will wrap around her soul and slowly choke the life out of her. Just like every other person I've allowed in.
I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her."
Maddox:
Maddox is one hott mess. In this book we finally get to see Mad's past and what makes him the broken, tortured, man of few words that he is today. He has been told his whole life that he is evil and destroys everything that he gets close to. He has been used, abused, and betrayed by his mother the evil bitch, his brother the total bastard, and his whore of a ex-fiance. Add that with survivor's guilt from when he was in the military and you have my heart bleeding for Maddox Locke!
"I'll stand by her side until I'm no longer wanted-and then, if that day ever comes, I'll throw her over my shoulder and carry her the rest of the way."
"No, Em, I don't expect you to believe me like that. But let's get one thing straight - it doesn't matter if you have any fight left in you because I'm going to fight hard enough for both of us now, angel. It's time for you to hand over all of that strength and maybe give me a few pointers, but it's time.... time to let me fight for us."
“Please don’t give up on me,” he whimpers
Emmy:
OMG Emmy was just as broken and messed up as her man. We get to see how Emmy is saved by Coop so when Coop died protecting her again she can't deal with the guilt and she runs back to her old life. One thing I really loved about Emmy is that she was a fighter, sassy as hell and strong.
"We all have baggage, Maddox. I wish that you could understand that I'm not asking for perfection. What you fail to realize is that I have two arms just begging for you to let me help you carry that baggage."
"I know exactly what I'm talking about. I know because my soul recognizes it's mate. It's kindred spirit. We both have our pain, Maddox. We both have the shame of our past and the fear it holds on the future. The only difference is you let that pain and fear rule your heart. And the difference in me is that I am willing to risk it all day in and day out for just a second of your love."
This book was angry sex heaven..... They were burning up my kindle! Their love story was beautiful the way they fought their demons together, and when Mad woke and decided to fight for him and Emmy Damn, but I swooned.
I loved how all the ladies were there for Maddox in the hospital being his strength, like he had been there for each of them at some point... There was just a few little things that I felt were a little over the top and that is why I rated this one a 4.5 instead of a 5 star book , like the fact that and I feel like there was way to much spanking going on just saying!!!
I really enjoyed this series and I feel like this book was a great end to the series, The epilogue was epic and I can't freaking wait for
Coming out feb. 17th it's a spin off of this series picking up the stories of the children. Unexpected Fate is Cohen Cage and Danielle Reid!!!!!!http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
September 29, 2014
Title: Locke
Series: Corps Security, #5
Author: Harper Sloan
Release Date: 29th September, 2014
Rating: 3.75 "Blessed" Stars
Cliffhanger: No
HEA:
Let me start with some truths... I've dipped in and out of this series and I haven't necessarily loved every one BUT I've known from the first book, Maddox Locke's story was one I had to hear.
Maddox and Emmy have a long and complicated history, there is a deep connection they cannot deny but with the constant push and pull and final rejection from Maddox, Emmy decides to leave. They both have had awful upbringings, with less than deserving parents. In some the retellings I have to confess, it was more distressing than I had anticipated and as stubborn as they both could be in not opening up to the other, more so on Maddox's part; it was understandable if not frustrating.
The future that they have worked so hard for, comes under threat from the past they have both tried to bury. With there new found understanding, they are able to overcome insecurities and slowly put the broken pieces back together again. Their reuniting is a slow, sometime torturous, cleansing but altogether sweet process. They are fierce in love, attraction and how protective there are of one another.
I enjoyed the Epilogue and am happy about the way things ended up for these two, they definitely do deserve a happy ending. Also we get a nice sneak peak into the next chapter and generation Corps Security Clan. I may not have taken part in the whole journey with the Corps security Crew but it was quite the ride.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you~
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
October 26, 2015
5 oh you knew this was going to be goooooood STARS
Important things first...note the quote above...we are dealing with a dirty talker...I say again DIRTY TALKER! I know some of you don’t need anything else to add a book. You’re welcome.
So I went in completely blind...didn't even read the blurb. And damn, that's just the way to go. Pretty much from page one my jaw was somewhere around my feet and my eyes were all wide and I was scaring my man screaming things like...'where the fuck did that come from?'...'I didn't see that coming!'...'what the fuck just happened?'
Yes, I was screaming most of the time. LOL. There is one thing in particular I didn't see coming and I went back to book one where I thought I had read something about it and ....
I knew I was going to love this book because of Locke, but I had no idea what kind of story Em would bring....and holy shit did she deliver.
Of course if you read some of the other books before you know who Locke is. If you haven't let me give you a little ‘nut shell’ summary.
Maddox Locke is the technical specialist for Corps Security and he is one tough cookie...also very good on the eye, but that's a given at Corps Security.
We've known for a long time that he has some very dark demons in his past, raging nightmares and maybe a little thing for Em. Unfortunately said 'thing' is something he fights with every fibre of his being. I wonder why?!
Emersyn “Emmy” Keeke was the secretary for Corps Security until the day that Coop was murdered. The pain and guilt drove her away, back home...or if that's what you want to call it. Also, she couldn't deal with the constant rejection by our one and only brooding hero Locke.
So, the damsel runs, the hero is in hot pursuit and what he finds is not what he or I expected. Everything after he finds her is a bit more boring dealing with their relationship stuff, but insanely hot too. Yup.
As you see I'm being all vague and shit, but you won't hear anything from me...read the damn book if you want to find out more. ;P
“I’ll be spanking that ass until it’s bright pink and you’re begging for me to make you come. Then I’m going to eat you until you’re screaming for me to let you come. When you think you can’t take a second more of just the mere thought of the pleasure that I’m going to give you, only then will I think about giving that to you, but it will most definitely be after I spank the sass out of you.”
Important things first...note the quote above...we are dealing with a dirty talker...I say again DIRTY TALKER! I know some of you don’t need anything else to add a book. You’re welcome.
So I went in completely blind...didn't even read the blurb. And damn, that's just the way to go. Pretty much from page one my jaw was somewhere around my feet and my eyes were all wide and I was scaring my man screaming things like...'where the fuck did that come from?'...'I didn't see that coming!'...'what the fuck just happened?'
Yes, I was screaming most of the time. LOL. There is one thing in particular I didn't see coming and I went back to book one where I thought I had read something about it and ....
I knew I was going to love this book because of Locke, but I had no idea what kind of story Em would bring....and holy shit did she deliver.
“Chin up, buttercup.”
Of course if you read some of the other books before you know who Locke is. If you haven't let me give you a little ‘nut shell’ summary.
Maddox Locke is the technical specialist for Corps Security and he is one tough cookie...also very good on the eye, but that's a given at Corps Security.
We've known for a long time that he has some very dark demons in his past, raging nightmares and maybe a little thing for Em. Unfortunately said 'thing' is something he fights with every fibre of his being. I wonder why?!
Emersyn “Emmy” Keeke was the secretary for Corps Security until the day that Coop was murdered. The pain and guilt drove her away, back home...or if that's what you want to call it. Also, she couldn't deal with the constant rejection by our one and only brooding hero Locke.
”I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her. One smile from her made me fall. So I pushed her away. I told her that she would never be what I need--that I would never want her. God, if she only knew. I crave her and everything she keeps trying to hand me. I crave her and everything she could give me. My very being calls out to her, and I work daily to refuse it. So I pushed. Until she ran. But that ends right now.”
So, the damsel runs, the hero is in hot pursuit and what he finds is not what he or I expected. Everything after he finds her is a bit more boring dealing with their relationship stuff, but insanely hot too. Yup.
As you see I'm being all vague and shit, but you won't hear anything from me...read the damn book if you want to find out more. ;P
September 18, 2014
Preorder link for amazon - http://amzn.to/1srpwtc
February 6, 2017
Maddox Locke is super hot.
Emersyn Keeze has luvd Maddox Locke since she first set her eyes on him. She just didn't know that she would have to fight for years to get her man. They have both been through a lot growing up. Both of there parents were pretty crappy to them. Putting them through hell and mentally abusing them. These two characters were just meant to be together everyone could see that but Maddox.
Maddox past wasn't good. Things happened in his past that haunt him literally. He doesn't let many people into his life. He has his Corp family and that's enough. He doesn't want to let Emmy in cause he doesn't want his black soul to effect her. He had to fight everyday to keep Emmy away. He wanted her so bad and he would do anything to keep her within reach. She just didn't know why he kept her at arms length.
I luvd this book and was dying for it since I first got to meet Maddox in the first book of this series. His character is so deep but so luvin at the same time. He will do anything for the people he luvs and that means Emmy. I thought I mite of got a lil annoyed with the storyline with the whole push and pull between Emmy and Maddox but I didn't I luvd it. My heart broke for both of them so much. Once Maddox walls started to break these two were so hot together. They both had a dirty side and it was great. I luvd the sass that Emmy would throw at Maddox and the hot threats he would throw back. There just a great couple.
I really enjoyed this book and series. I can't believe I only read this now but so glad I read it. I would highly recommend this book and series. I can't said enough great things about it. It's become one of my favourite series.
Emersyn Keeze has luvd Maddox Locke since she first set her eyes on him. She just didn't know that she would have to fight for years to get her man. They have both been through a lot growing up. Both of there parents were pretty crappy to them. Putting them through hell and mentally abusing them. These two characters were just meant to be together everyone could see that but Maddox.
Maddox past wasn't good. Things happened in his past that haunt him literally. He doesn't let many people into his life. He has his Corp family and that's enough. He doesn't want to let Emmy in cause he doesn't want his black soul to effect her. He had to fight everyday to keep Emmy away. He wanted her so bad and he would do anything to keep her within reach. She just didn't know why he kept her at arms length.
I luvd this book and was dying for it since I first got to meet Maddox in the first book of this series. His character is so deep but so luvin at the same time. He will do anything for the people he luvs and that means Emmy. I thought I mite of got a lil annoyed with the storyline with the whole push and pull between Emmy and Maddox but I didn't I luvd it. My heart broke for both of them so much. Once Maddox walls started to break these two were so hot together. They both had a dirty side and it was great. I luvd the sass that Emmy would throw at Maddox and the hot threats he would throw back. There just a great couple.
I really enjoyed this book and series. I can't believe I only read this now but so glad I read it. I would highly recommend this book and series. I can't said enough great things about it. It's become one of my favourite series.
September 25, 2014
STARS - 4.5
POV – Maddox & Emmy
HEA -
RELEASE DATE – 29 September 2014
PRE-ORDER LINK: http://amzn.to/1srpwtc
First off I need to say that I am very sad that this series has come to end, and what a perfect ending. This is the last book in the Corps Security Series. And I suggest that you first read the other 4 books before reading this book.
I think a lot of people have been looking forward to reading Maddox Locke’s book.
This book begins where the previous book ended.
I’m using the cover model as my Maddox , because I think he fits perfect.
This is my Emersyn aka Emmy
Emmy has been after Locke for so many years but she has finally made up her mind that she is done with Maddox Locke.
So I pushed. Until she ran. But that ends right now
She is sick and tired of wanting him and he is just not interested. Something happened in the previous book and this made Emmy run. (If you have read the previous books you will know why she runs).
Maddox is a broken man. And I fully understand why. His family, the war, he’s ex girlfriend. All of this made him the man he is today. His mom is an absolute asshole I don’t know how you can treat somebody this way
Maddox has been keeping a secret from all of us. (I didn’t know about it).
Emmy wants save Maddox Locke but will she be able too?
Let me tell you guys this book was hot! And the chemistry between this two was electrifying.
This was one of my status updates during the book:
My walls clamp down This two is so hot I think my walls just clamped down :P
This book was very different from the rest in the series. I think each book just got better and better. There was one thing I was sad about we didn’t get much of the Corps Security Team.
FAVOURITE LINES / QUOTES
I’ll taint her. I’’ ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her.
I’m not a dog, Maddox Locke. I don’t come on command
- 1st book in the Series
- 2nd book in the Series
- 3rd book in the Series
- 3.5 in the Series
- 4th book in the Series
An ARC received in exchange for an honest review
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ijustlovetoread1
Blog: www.ijustlovetoread.wordpress.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/justlovetoread1
POV – Maddox & Emmy
HEA -
RELEASE DATE – 29 September 2014
PRE-ORDER LINK: http://amzn.to/1srpwtc
First off I need to say that I am very sad that this series has come to end, and what a perfect ending. This is the last book in the Corps Security Series. And I suggest that you first read the other 4 books before reading this book.
I think a lot of people have been looking forward to reading Maddox Locke’s book.
This book begins where the previous book ended.
I’m using the cover model as my Maddox , because I think he fits perfect.
This is my Emersyn aka Emmy
Emmy has been after Locke for so many years but she has finally made up her mind that she is done with Maddox Locke.
So I pushed. Until she ran. But that ends right now
She is sick and tired of wanting him and he is just not interested. Something happened in the previous book and this made Emmy run. (If you have read the previous books you will know why she runs).
Maddox is a broken man. And I fully understand why. His family, the war, he’s ex girlfriend. All of this made him the man he is today. His mom is an absolute asshole I don’t know how you can treat somebody this way
Maddox has been keeping a secret from all of us. (I didn’t know about it).
Emmy wants save Maddox Locke but will she be able too?
Let me tell you guys this book was hot! And the chemistry between this two was electrifying.
This was one of my status updates during the book:
My walls clamp down This two is so hot I think my walls just clamped down :P
This book was very different from the rest in the series. I think each book just got better and better. There was one thing I was sad about we didn’t get much of the Corps Security Team.
FAVOURITE LINES / QUOTES
I’ll taint her. I’’ ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her.
I’m not a dog, Maddox Locke. I don’t come on command
- 1st book in the Series - 2nd book in the Series - 3rd book in the Series - 3.5 in the Series - 4th book in the SeriesAn ARC received in exchange for an honest review
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ijustlovetoread1
Blog: www.ijustlovetoread.wordpress.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/justlovetoread1
October 2, 2014
2/10/14 - downgrading from 3 to 2 stars. I think the 3 stars I originally gave it was a guilt ridden 3 stars - since I hated book 2-4, and sort of knew I probably would not like this, I felt unfair reading and reviewing it. But on second (and third and fourth) thoughts, I am actually really angry about how certain issues in this book were dealt with.
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Contemporary Romance
Series : - 5th in the series - Advised to read the rest in the series first
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Probably not
Rating - 2
★Review★
Ok, so yes, my expectations for this book swung from being really high to really low. I loved the idea of Maddox from book 1, but after having had issues with most of the books in the series, I doubted it would be good.
We jump right into this book, with the history of Maddox and Emmy - some we guessed at - we knew Maddox had a tortured past, some came out of the blue and for no other reason I could see other than shock factor - ie - Emmy's past.
Both had such over the top ridiculously nasty evil families, they were almost laughably cartoonish in their villainy. If they had started flying around on brooms and giving poisoned apples to people I would not have been at all shocked.
So Emmy has a pretty awful life, and apparently, the reason we had no hint of this before really, or why she seems almost unaffected by it and can
Oh and the same tactic is used to explain away any lingering trauma from her having shot someone in the last book as she can barely remember it and it was like an out of body experience - the end, lets not mention it ever again.
If you want to put these sort of awful situations in a book, then at least give it the bloody page time and emotion it needs.
The first 50% was too much back and forth, on every page it felt like both Maddox and Emmy, kept changing their mind about if they could give the relationship a go.
The second half was better, although the Corps security guys once again make me question how the heck they make a living, as someone always gets beaten up or killed in these books. But once they stopped fighting, and Maddox committed to trying the book improved.
But, overall, not as good as I wanted, but by no means the worst in the series.
Not enough page time is given to important issues, they are just brushed away with a single sentence, too much time given to the characters wallowing in self pity.
I still wish Coop had not been killed off - he was the one character that seemed happy, even with his childhood, he is the only one who actually managed to not wallow in self pity and sadness, so clearly that is why HE HAD TO DIE!!
So basically, I will finish with the one lesson I have learned from reading this series.
Review for:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
30/9/14
Ok - reading it.
28/9/14 - Ok, I pre ordered it!!
2/9/14
hmm.. have a date for Locke!
Not sure if I want to put myself through it or not!
Please please be good!!
oh, and for the issues I have had with book 2, 3 and 4, please see here:
Review for Cooper - Book 4
However I really loved book 1, hence why I retain a very very small tiny spark of optimism that Locke may well be awesome and live up to the potential.
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Contemporary Romance
Series : - 5th in the series - Advised to read the rest in the series first
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Probably not
Rating - 2
★Review★
Ok, so yes, my expectations for this book swung from being really high to really low. I loved the idea of Maddox from book 1, but after having had issues with most of the books in the series, I doubted it would be good.
We jump right into this book, with the history of Maddox and Emmy - some we guessed at - we knew Maddox had a tortured past, some came out of the blue and for no other reason I could see other than shock factor - ie - Emmy's past.
Both had such over the top ridiculously nasty evil families, they were almost laughably cartoonish in their villainy. If they had started flying around on brooms and giving poisoned apples to people I would not have been at all shocked.
So Emmy has a pretty awful life, and apparently, the reason we had no hint of this before really, or why she seems almost unaffected by it and can
Oh and the same tactic is used to explain away any lingering trauma from her having shot someone in the last book as she can barely remember it and it was like an out of body experience - the end, lets not mention it ever again.
If you want to put these sort of awful situations in a book, then at least give it the bloody page time and emotion it needs.
The first 50% was too much back and forth, on every page it felt like both Maddox and Emmy, kept changing their mind about if they could give the relationship a go.
The second half was better, although the Corps security guys once again make me question how the heck they make a living, as someone always gets beaten up or killed in these books. But once they stopped fighting, and Maddox committed to trying the book improved.
But, overall, not as good as I wanted, but by no means the worst in the series.
Not enough page time is given to important issues, they are just brushed away with a single sentence, too much time given to the characters wallowing in self pity.
I still wish Coop had not been killed off - he was the one character that seemed happy, even with his childhood, he is the only one who actually managed to not wallow in self pity and sadness, so clearly that is why HE HAD TO DIE!!
So basically, I will finish with the one lesson I have learned from reading this series.
Review for:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...30/9/14
Ok - reading it.
28/9/14 - Ok, I pre ordered it!!
2/9/14
hmm.. have a date for Locke!
Not sure if I want to put myself through it or not!
Please please be good!!
oh, and for the issues I have had with book 2, 3 and 4, please see here:
Review for Cooper - Book 4
However I really loved book 1, hence why I retain a very very small tiny spark of optimism that Locke may well be awesome and live up to the potential.
December 5, 2014
Oh man. Where to begin??? This book had SOOOO much potential. The basis of the story was great. It was just poorly executed. It kills me that something with the makings of an amazing story fell so flat. This series could have been truly great but I feel like she rushed each book more and more that it really hurt the quality of the stories. I'm in the minority on this it seems.
I was really hoping Locke would be amazing. I haven't really been impressed with any of the books following Axel, they seemed to slowly decline with each release. I still held on hope for Locke because he was our mysterious, damaged bad boy. It's hard not to anticipate a story where the most damaged of them all will finally get his HEA. Unfortunately, this book fell way off the mark of amazing. I struggled to finish it. I wanted to give up at 75% but I pushed through.
My first complaint is the really poor editing. The entire book is riddled with careless mistakes. You can see where Harper wrote a sentence and decided to slightly change it up because the original word she wanted to replace wasn't deleted. I don't understand how a book that has beta readers and an editor, not to mention it being the 6th release from the author, can have so many silly mistakes. It really took away from the story because I was either rereading the sentence to get it to make sense or I was mentally editing it.
Second, how in the world did the shy, sweet little Emmy completely flip the script completely and become the total opposite of how she has been described the entire series?
When we FINALLY learn of the "demons" Maddox has, it turns out to be very anticlimactic. Yeah, he had a shitty upbringing. Yeah, he went through something horrible during his time in the military. But nothing that really warrants the broody damaged man he was portrayed the whole series. His mother comes across as a horrible fairytale villain. The little speech she gave was laughable almost, I was expecting her to have a sinister laugh when she was done. Just way too cheesy/over the top/embellished.Then to go along with that, we barely get to dive into him fighting these demons. It's all the sudden better with no real description of the process of him overcoming these major issues he's had. Suddenly 2 months later he is seeing a psychologist .. The alpha, brooding, bad ass Locke is just going to see a psychologist now?! Not only is that not believable but Harper didn't even TRY to sell that to us. It's just mentioned with no explanation or fanfare to it.
I also have a big problem with one part of Emmy's past/present.
My last complaint will be the sex scenes. They were just bad. There wasn't a slow burn, no build up to it, nothing to anticipate it coming. It seemed to just be "BAM, and now we are gonna fuck like gorillas". I ended up skimming over most of the sex scenes. Add to that the roaring and screaming ... Yeah, just didn't work for me. Maddox likes to roar at his climax. And Emmy? Well, Emmy screams at just about any slight contact with her lady bits. Barely tapping her clit? Scream. Just pushing into her? Another scream ... All that screaming just screams fake to me.
I finished the book. That's more than I can say for some books. I love Harper Sloan, I don't want this to make it seem like I don't have respect for her. She's amazing to her fans and still very down to earth. I just wish someone had slowed her down a bit to keep her from rushing through the series like she couldn't finish it fast enough.
I was really hoping Locke would be amazing. I haven't really been impressed with any of the books following Axel, they seemed to slowly decline with each release. I still held on hope for Locke because he was our mysterious, damaged bad boy. It's hard not to anticipate a story where the most damaged of them all will finally get his HEA. Unfortunately, this book fell way off the mark of amazing. I struggled to finish it. I wanted to give up at 75% but I pushed through.
My first complaint is the really poor editing. The entire book is riddled with careless mistakes. You can see where Harper wrote a sentence and decided to slightly change it up because the original word she wanted to replace wasn't deleted. I don't understand how a book that has beta readers and an editor, not to mention it being the 6th release from the author, can have so many silly mistakes. It really took away from the story because I was either rereading the sentence to get it to make sense or I was mentally editing it.
Second, how in the world did the shy, sweet little Emmy completely flip the script completely and become the total opposite of how she has been described the entire series?
When we FINALLY learn of the "demons" Maddox has, it turns out to be very anticlimactic. Yeah, he had a shitty upbringing. Yeah, he went through something horrible during his time in the military. But nothing that really warrants the broody damaged man he was portrayed the whole series. His mother comes across as a horrible fairytale villain. The little speech she gave was laughable almost, I was expecting her to have a sinister laugh when she was done. Just way too cheesy/over the top/embellished.Then to go along with that, we barely get to dive into him fighting these demons. It's all the sudden better with no real description of the process of him overcoming these major issues he's had. Suddenly 2 months later he is seeing a psychologist .. The alpha, brooding, bad ass Locke is just going to see a psychologist now?! Not only is that not believable but Harper didn't even TRY to sell that to us. It's just mentioned with no explanation or fanfare to it.
I also have a big problem with one part of Emmy's past/present.
My last complaint will be the sex scenes. They were just bad. There wasn't a slow burn, no build up to it, nothing to anticipate it coming. It seemed to just be "BAM, and now we are gonna fuck like gorillas". I ended up skimming over most of the sex scenes. Add to that the roaring and screaming ... Yeah, just didn't work for me. Maddox likes to roar at his climax. And Emmy? Well, Emmy screams at just about any slight contact with her lady bits. Barely tapping her clit? Scream. Just pushing into her? Another scream ... All that screaming just screams fake to me.
I finished the book. That's more than I can say for some books. I love Harper Sloan, I don't want this to make it seem like I don't have respect for her. She's amazing to her fans and still very down to earth. I just wish someone had slowed her down a bit to keep her from rushing through the series like she couldn't finish it fast enough.
November 23, 2014
4 Broken Stars.
Maddox Locke lives surrounded by ghosts. He’s still haunted by his past and can’t move on. He finds himself haunted and feeling undeserving of happiness.
He knows how Emmy feels about him. He want her just as badly, but he doesn’t want to taint her with his ghosts so he tries to push her away in order for her to find the happiness he believes she deserves. A happiness that doesn’t include him or his baggage. Until she runs away… and he finally sees what an idiot he has been.
Now he’s decided to fight for her and get over his traumas. But this time Emmy has a word to say. After all, how many times can a woman’s heart be broken, before she refuses giving it?
Rating: 4 Stars.
Storyline: Another awesome book in a not-to-miss series for everyone who loves a good steamy romance with an irresistibly broken alpha-male.
Writing Style: First person. Dual POV. Sexy, emotional and addictive.
Character Development: Maddox was probably the most awaited character in this series. And believe me, the expression “save the best for last” completely applies here. Yes, he was broken and it took him a while to finally stop being stubborn but he was fierce and loyal and amazing. Emmy was also pretty good. I loved how she didn’t stop fight for him, even when he tried to push her away. Again, it was very nice to see more of the previous couples.
Steam: Hot.
HEA:
Maddox Locke lives surrounded by ghosts. He’s still haunted by his past and can’t move on. He finds himself haunted and feeling undeserving of happiness.
He knows how Emmy feels about him. He want her just as badly, but he doesn’t want to taint her with his ghosts so he tries to push her away in order for her to find the happiness he believes she deserves. A happiness that doesn’t include him or his baggage. Until she runs away… and he finally sees what an idiot he has been.
Now he’s decided to fight for her and get over his traumas. But this time Emmy has a word to say. After all, how many times can a woman’s heart be broken, before she refuses giving it?
Rating: 4 Stars.
Storyline: Another awesome book in a not-to-miss series for everyone who loves a good steamy romance with an irresistibly broken alpha-male.
Writing Style: First person. Dual POV. Sexy, emotional and addictive.
Character Development: Maddox was probably the most awaited character in this series. And believe me, the expression “save the best for last” completely applies here. Yes, he was broken and it took him a while to finally stop being stubborn but he was fierce and loyal and amazing. Emmy was also pretty good. I loved how she didn’t stop fight for him, even when he tried to push her away. Again, it was very nice to see more of the previous couples.
Steam: Hot.
HEA:
![Profile Image for [~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ .](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1388500902i%2F22427047._UY200_CR8%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Read
September 27, 2014DNF at 20%
ARC provided by the Author
ARC provided by the Author
July 1, 2015
Like Axel, Cage, Beck and Cooper, Locke is getting a 4-star rating from me. Like with the other books, I'm pretty much rounding up from a 3.5. Rounding up because despite the issues I have, I always enjoy them.
Harper Sloan has an irritating habit of doing this:
Seriously, she skips over stuff she seems to think we don't want to/need to know or she doesn't want to even challenge herself to write those scenes. But I personally feel like she shouldn't have Yada, Yada-ed over Maybe these details aren't huge in the lives of these ultra-cool security folks, but to me...they seem worth talking about.
Next: Emmy took a turn. I was all about Emmy. I knew Emmy was going to be a worthy heroine for the fucked-up-but-loveable Maddox Locke. Strong. Smart. Tenacious. But...Harper Sloan had to go for the sick, shock value and make Emmy do something out of character. Not going say what, but I can't believe anyone that read the last 4 and a half books would swallow that Emmy left home to go where she did. No. Way.
It nearly ruined the book for me, actually. There's ZERO reason for her to do that. Sorry. Uh-uh. I don't buy it.
All in all, this wasn't a total let-down, nor was it as epic as I had hoped. But it's a solid 3.5 just like the rest of the series. At least she's consistent.
Tomorrow! I'm praying that it won't come to this:
UPDATE: MADDOX LOCKE WILL BE HERE SEPTEMBER 29TH!
I love when authors so generously donate their proceeds to worthy charities, it warms my heart and makes me honored to be buying and reading their books. Buy up, ladies. You get sexy Maddox Locke and your $ will be helping out our heroes.
October 10, 2014
3 ½ -- Good But It Could’ve Been Better -- stars – Contemporary Romance
I’ve been eagerly awaiting broody Maddox Locke’s story ever since he first appeared in Axel, and his role in the previous books has been one of my favorite parts of the series. I enjoyed this, but it wasn’t nearly as good as I’d expected/hoped.
The book got off to a really shaky start for me because the H/h both had horrific, abusive, soap opera crazy, unbelievable pasts. Locke’s family was like some bad, overdramatic Dallas TV show remake and Emmy’s background seemed contrived and just too implausible.
I couldn’t understand Emmy’s stupid, WTF actions early on. “Little does he know, I’m the only one in control of my life.” Oh really?!?! Then why the f*ck did she willingly ?!?! And it seemed ridiculous to me that a strong, intelligent man like Maddox Locke would continually believe he had
The constant push-pull between Maddox and Emmy was exhausting and went on for far too long. She was annoyingly aggressive and exasperatingly sassy and didn’t even seem like the same Emmy from the previous books. I was also pretty disappointed with the hot but unemotional sex scenes.
Thankfully, the story got much better about halfway through and the ending and epilogue were fabulous and made up for a lot. So I did like this, but I didn’t love it. And I was somewhat letdown and underwhelmed considering how much and how long I’ve been wanting Locke’s turn to be in the light.
I’m really excited that she’s writing a book for Cohen and Dani, Unexpected Fate, and I hope she has stories planned for the other Corps Security kids, as well.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting broody Maddox Locke’s story ever since he first appeared in Axel, and his role in the previous books has been one of my favorite parts of the series. I enjoyed this, but it wasn’t nearly as good as I’d expected/hoped.
The book got off to a really shaky start for me because the H/h both had horrific, abusive, soap opera crazy, unbelievable pasts. Locke’s family was like some bad, overdramatic Dallas TV show remake and Emmy’s background seemed contrived and just too implausible.
I couldn’t understand Emmy’s stupid, WTF actions early on. “Little does he know, I’m the only one in control of my life.” Oh really?!?! Then why the f*ck did she willingly ?!?! And it seemed ridiculous to me that a strong, intelligent man like Maddox Locke would continually believe he had
The constant push-pull between Maddox and Emmy was exhausting and went on for far too long. She was annoyingly aggressive and exasperatingly sassy and didn’t even seem like the same Emmy from the previous books. I was also pretty disappointed with the hot but unemotional sex scenes.
Thankfully, the story got much better about halfway through and the ending and epilogue were fabulous and made up for a lot. So I did like this, but I didn’t love it. And I was somewhat letdown and underwhelmed considering how much and how long I’ve been wanting Locke’s turn to be in the light.
I’m really excited that she’s writing a book for Cohen and Dani, Unexpected Fate, and I hope she has stories planned for the other Corps Security kids, as well.
October 1, 2014
4.5 stars
I've been waiting for this book since i read the 1st book of the series.And i loved it.
The ending was PERFECT.
So sad that this series is over,but excited for the spin-off.
******************************************************
September,29th 2014
Currently reading.
Please be good.
*****************************************************
Febrary,16th 2014
No,No,No,No !! Why does Maddox's have to be last ?? WHY ??He's my favorite !! *sobsob* I really,really need this book !!
I've been waiting for this book since i read the 1st book of the series.And i loved it.
The ending was PERFECT.
So sad that this series is over,but excited for the spin-off.
******************************************************
September,29th 2014
Currently reading.
Please be good.
*****************************************************
Febrary,16th 2014
No,No,No,No !! Why does Maddox's have to be last ?? WHY ??He's my favorite !! *sobsob* I really,really need this book !!
April 14, 2023
5 Luscious Locke Stars
Originally read in 2014.
Oh...I don't want this series to end. These characters are just FABULOUS. I have wanted Locke's story for a long time and it didn't disappoint. Emmy's backstory was sad too. She seemed quite different somehow in this story. Still a good character though. Loved the epilogue. Loved the series. Axel was one of the first books of this genre I ever downloaded. So glad I did. Thanks to Ms Sloan for these truly scrumptious alpha heroes and their women....and their children.....oh, and Sway!!
2021 Re-read via audiobook with awesome narration by Sean Crisden & Abby Craden.
I love this series. Is it total alpha male rescuing the heroine? Yes. But it’s also the heroine rescuing the Hero and utterly delicious passion , drama and friendships that make this one of my favourite ‘go to’ comfort reads.
2023 Re-reading the whole series since The Long Way Home has been released and I read that and fell in love with all these characters all over again. It was so good to be back. Maddox Locke is the alpha male that ticks all the boxes for this romance junkie. There really is something incredibly heart warming about the relationship between all the Corps Security men. Gets me right in the feels every time!
If you’re a fan of Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Until Series then try these books too.
HEA? Yes
Cheating? No
Originally read in 2014.
Oh...I don't want this series to end. These characters are just FABULOUS. I have wanted Locke's story for a long time and it didn't disappoint. Emmy's backstory was sad too. She seemed quite different somehow in this story. Still a good character though. Loved the epilogue. Loved the series. Axel was one of the first books of this genre I ever downloaded. So glad I did. Thanks to Ms Sloan for these truly scrumptious alpha heroes and their women....and their children.....oh, and Sway!!
2021 Re-read via audiobook with awesome narration by Sean Crisden & Abby Craden.
I love this series. Is it total alpha male rescuing the heroine? Yes. But it’s also the heroine rescuing the Hero and utterly delicious passion , drama and friendships that make this one of my favourite ‘go to’ comfort reads.
2023 Re-reading the whole series since The Long Way Home has been released and I read that and fell in love with all these characters all over again. It was so good to be back. Maddox Locke is the alpha male that ticks all the boxes for this romance junkie. There really is something incredibly heart warming about the relationship between all the Corps Security men. Gets me right in the feels every time!
If you’re a fan of Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Until Series then try these books too.
HEA? Yes
Cheating? No
September 23, 2014
★★ SPOILER FREE REVIEW NOW POSTED ★★
A WONDERFUL END TO ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SERIES!
I was both happy and sad to see this book pop up on my kindle. I started off with Axel sometime last year and have counted down the days to each release. These Corps Security boys had taken over my life with their love and passion for the women in their lives and that need to protect was just so. damn. hot.
Locke was a beautifully told story of our broken man so in love with the women he has tried for years to push away. It answered every single questions we had accumulated over the past 4 books in this series. I know I had about a million. Maddox Locke made my heart hurt, my eyes water and my soul cry and I loved every minute of it!!
"Six weeks. It's been over a goddamn month since Emmy ran from me.
Just gone."
Maddox Locke is a broken man. The situation with his family is heartbreaking and incredibly sad. He has been made to believe that from the day he was born, he was the reason things fell apart. He destroyed everyone and everything. His mother blames him for everything she has lost over the years and it has deeply affected his ability to love.
"I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her."
Emersyn Keeze has her own past she's running from. Also from a family who has broken her soul, Emmy is slowly trying to piece herself back together. She has been in love with Maddox Locke for almost the entire time we have known her and has been continuously heartbroken by Locke's decisions to push her away.
If you've read the other books in the series you know that Emmy packs up and moves away. After losing Coop, she takes a lot of the blame and it's breaking her. She heads back home to where she feels like she belongs. Locke is the one that goes after her and their story begins with Locke tracking her down and bringing her home. The revelations that follow are ones to be discovered on your own. They need to be felt to really understand him. To understand them and the train wreck of a situation they're in.
"She doesn't want to be found. I know that, but damn if I'm going to let her run off and get away for good. I've pushed and pushed her away. Every bone in my body has screamed at me to take what she's been offering for years. I've seen her, I know what she wants, but I won't let my demons hurt her. Not my Emmy"
It would not be a Corps Security book without action. Although this one isn't quite written around the action like the others. It goes deeper into their pasts and them working together through each others insecurities and honestly, it was a breath of fresh air in this series.
"I see you," she whispers. "All of you."
Harper Sloan has written a wonderful book that has truly done our Maddox justice. It also ends with a wonderful epilogue that has me just a teeeeeny bit impatient for what is to come!!!
4.5+ Stars
A WONDERFUL END TO ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SERIES!
I was both happy and sad to see this book pop up on my kindle. I started off with Axel sometime last year and have counted down the days to each release. These Corps Security boys had taken over my life with their love and passion for the women in their lives and that need to protect was just so. damn. hot.
Locke was a beautifully told story of our broken man so in love with the women he has tried for years to push away. It answered every single questions we had accumulated over the past 4 books in this series. I know I had about a million. Maddox Locke made my heart hurt, my eyes water and my soul cry and I loved every minute of it!!
"Six weeks. It's been over a goddamn month since Emmy ran from me.
Just gone."
Maddox Locke is a broken man. The situation with his family is heartbreaking and incredibly sad. He has been made to believe that from the day he was born, he was the reason things fell apart. He destroyed everyone and everything. His mother blames him for everything she has lost over the years and it has deeply affected his ability to love.
"I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her."
Emersyn Keeze has her own past she's running from. Also from a family who has broken her soul, Emmy is slowly trying to piece herself back together. She has been in love with Maddox Locke for almost the entire time we have known her and has been continuously heartbroken by Locke's decisions to push her away.
If you've read the other books in the series you know that Emmy packs up and moves away. After losing Coop, she takes a lot of the blame and it's breaking her. She heads back home to where she feels like she belongs. Locke is the one that goes after her and their story begins with Locke tracking her down and bringing her home. The revelations that follow are ones to be discovered on your own. They need to be felt to really understand him. To understand them and the train wreck of a situation they're in.
"She doesn't want to be found. I know that, but damn if I'm going to let her run off and get away for good. I've pushed and pushed her away. Every bone in my body has screamed at me to take what she's been offering for years. I've seen her, I know what she wants, but I won't let my demons hurt her. Not my Emmy"
It would not be a Corps Security book without action. Although this one isn't quite written around the action like the others. It goes deeper into their pasts and them working together through each others insecurities and honestly, it was a breath of fresh air in this series.
"I see you," she whispers. "All of you."
Harper Sloan has written a wonderful book that has truly done our Maddox justice. It also ends with a wonderful epilogue that has me just a teeeeeny bit impatient for what is to come!!!
4.5+ Stars
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