Royce Blackstone has one rule: Never get personally involved with his clients.
As the owner of Harper Security Ops, Royce is well aware of everything and everyone inside his building. When he’s about to go in after the biggest lead on latest case that’s landed on his desk, Royce didn’t expect he’d have to abort the mission early.
It might have seemed like Tarryn Hendrix was simply looking to learn some new skills, but dedicating two years of her life to training her mind and body is all part of Tarryn’s plan.
She’s seeking retribution, and she has every intention of getting it.
Unsure if she’s aware of just how much danger she put herself in, Royce lashes out at the woman who’s been training at his facility. But when he realizes just how determined Tarryn is to mete out justice, Royce resolves to get to the bottom of the case before Tarryn gets hurt.
And now that he’s gotten a taste of her, Royce thinks it’s time to break the rules.
A.K. Evans is a contemporary romance author of over twenty published novels. While she enjoys writing a good romantic suspense novel, Andrea’s favorite books to write have been her extreme sports romances. That might have something to do with the fact that she, along with her husband and two sons, can’t get enough of extreme sports.
Before becoming a writer, Andrea did a brief stint in the insurance and financial services industry and managed her husband’s performance automotive business. That love of extreme sports? She used to drive race cars!
When Andrea isn’t writing, she can be found homeschooling her two sons, doing yoga, snowboarding, reading, or traveling with her family. She and her husband are currently taking road trips throughout the country to visit all 50 states with their boys.
Oh, I can’t wait for the rest of this series! If Royce and Tarryn grabbed me this quickly and firmly, I’m sure the rest of the men of Harper Security Ops will do the same.
As I’ve come to expect and appreciate from this author, we don’t get OTT drama and nonsense fluff to distract us from the main goal of the book. Tarryn wants to avenge her sister, while Royce has been unknowingly providing the training for her to feel secure enough in doing so. Once he realizes what’s happening, he shuts it down fast and a tad recklessly. Luckily, Royce isn’t a stupid man, and he changes his approach because he’s decided to break his one rule about women who happen to be clients. And he’s going to make Tarryn his if at all possible. With a few bumps and what could’ve been the death knell to their relationship, these two manage to get back on track to find their forever while Royce works to keep his promises. But I don’t think either of them expected it to go down quite like it did.
I love the fact that we don’t get too much angst and misery here. Instead, we get the perfect amount to make Royce and Tarryn’s happiness that much sweeter. We meet several people I can’t wait to see more of, we get the beginning of Presley’s rise from ash to make herself a new vision of what her life might become, and boy do we get the chemistry between Tarryn and Royce. So now I have to wait to see what Nixon brings because I’m sure it’ll be spectacular.
After her sister was assaulted, Tarryn vowed to bring down those responsible and to make her hometown safe again for her sister and women just like her. Taking self defense and gun safety courses at Harper Security was the first step in her plan to prepare herself physically and mentally to make her move.
Royce never gets involved with clients. Even though he was highly attracted to Tarryn when he helped sign her up for classes, he’s kept his distance for the past two years. but, when he is investigating a case involving drug trafficking for date rate drugs and Tarryn shows up in the middle of it, he knows that rules were meant to be broken!
What follows is a few miscommunications and then a fast moving romance, as Royce and Tarryn work together to make their community safe again while also falling in love.
Broken was a fantastic intro into the new Harper Security Ops series! Tarryn really is a spitfire of a character. She’s smart, loyal and passionate. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to make her sister feel safe again. I loved her with Royce. While she is determined, she also knows her limits and I loved that she trusted Royce to do right by her sister as well. Royce was also a fantastic character. He’s an alpha and wants to care for Tarryn and protect her, but also understands her need to be able to protect herself. He values her independence and her love for her family and they fit together perfectly.
Fast paced, suspenseful, heartfelt and super spicy, Broken ticks off all the boxes. 4 stars!
A.K. Evans Drops a New Series on Us that is Pure FIRE!!! If Royce and Tarryn are any indication, readers are in for one helluva ride with A.K. Evans’s new Harper Security Ops series! Military veteran and HSO owner Royce is a born protector, hot as sin, and honorable to the point of self-detriment. That’s what has kept him from acting on his instant attraction to bakery owner and client Tarryn for two years until a dangerous situation has them crashing into each other’s lives outside of self-defense training class. Once they come together, though…WOW! As with all things A.K. Evans, this book packs the steamy heat, the sizzling chemistry, the twists and turns of suspense, and amazing, relatable characters into a well-developed plot. Seriously awed by what she comes up with each and every time, and I can’t speak enough about Evans’s talent. Unending stars for Book 1 of this new series!
The cover and the blurb drew me in. The premise of the book sounded exciting.
That being said (and I hate negative reviewing) this book was overwhelming with the page after page of the female and male “thinking “. Even during the sex scenes there was page after page of them having thoughts. I found myself turning pages to get back to the dialogue and actual story. I get you need a back story and occasionally knowing the characters thoughts but this was too much and I started skimming.
4 1/2 stars I can’t believe this is the first book by this author that I have read, more like devoured to be truthful. I am so glad I finally gave myself a kick in the pants and did pick up one of her books, now I want to binge read all of them.
Royce is such a stand-up guy, he is a true alpha protector who is loyal and supportive to his friends, family, and those in need. He’s sensible, well, when he isn’t making up strict rules for himself, and very practical too. But over and above this he is a romantic, who’d a thought it? 😄 Such a great character and perfect for Tarryn in every way. Tarryn is a determined, strong-willed woman who is super supportive and loyal to her family, especially her sister, and her friends. She is a friendly people person who enjoys interacting with customers in her business. Tarryn and Royce also enjoy interacting with each other but on a much different level. 😉
The mystery of what’s going on in their hometown is puzzling even though there are some immediate answers. It truly had me guessing until the end. When the action heats up it’s all cylinders firing and very intense, great stuff.
Detailed descriptions and emotive language make for a wonderful romance and while I always enjoy suspense a tad more in a story, this book’s romantic aspect is superb and the reason for the extra half a star. I totally recommend this book to everyone.
What a brilliant and beautiful story. I was intrigued by Royce Blackstone since he appeared in the rockstar and romance series. And I wasn't left disappointed by this story, not even a little bit. It was a case of insta attraction but with rules in place, he refused to act upon it. Years passed and when their paths crossed again, there was no stopping the attraction.
Tarryn Hendrix was an amazing female character and you knew that although she was kick-arse and could take care of herself. But in real romance style, she would somehow need saving and Royce being the man he is can't help but be there for her. It happens to be the right place at the right time. I can't say any more for fear of spoiling it all.
This book is a huge recommendation from me. This series looks like it's gonna be just as great as the rockstars.
Being a big fan of military/security company books, when I saw the opportunity to read the arc for A.K. Evan’s series starter, Broken, book one of Harper Security Ops, there was no way I could pass it up. I’m here to say I’m glad I didn’t. This had a strong female lead in Tarryn, and a sexy, protective Alpha male in Royce. It also introduces us to some great side characters that will be in some great stories to come about Harper Security. Harper Security Ops is run by Royce, and was named after his friend who he was in the military with who died. It was his friend’s idea to start the business, so Royce did, hiring former military to do different jobs. Some focused on kidnapping and ransom, some handled bodyguard and private security, some private investigation, and some that taught self-defense, tactical, and firearms and weapons training. Royce was into private investigation. He meets Tarryn 2 years earlier when she comes in to sign up for the self-defense and tactical and weapons training. He’s intrigued by her, but he has a rule not to get involved with clients. Tarryn is taking classes because she wants to get the people involved with hurting her baby sister and take them down. When working on a case, Royce ends up helping Tarryn out of a sticky situation. He finally realizes that he can’t fight his attraction for her. He also wants to keep her safe from a serious crime spree that doesn’t just involve her sister, but countless other women. As the romance builds in this book, so does the suspense. Royce and Tarryn are great together, and I always love a heroine who takes charge of her life and doesn’t sit back and let the hero do all of the work, meanwhile, letting her man be the Alpha hero that he is! If this is an indication of how this series is going, sign me up! Fantastic read!
What do a donut maker and a private security owner have in common? On paper it might seem like they would be opposites but Royce and Tarryn quickly learn they may be more alike than they think. Tarryn went to Harper Security Ops for one thing: to get revenge for her sister. She trained hard and spent two years making the perfect plan for retribution. When that time came there was one thing she didn’t factor in: Royce Blackstone. Royce can’t believe what he is seeing when he sees Tarryn during one of his investigations. He has been avoiding her for the past two years because of his number one rule: don’t get involved with clients. Life it seemed, had other plans. Sometimes in life rules are made to be broken. As Royce tries to reason with Tarryn they not only struggle with their own agendas but their feelings for each other. Royce must convince Tarryn that some things should be left to the professionals. Will Tarryn’s quest for justice go to far? This book was a great start to the series and although Royce has been mentioned in other series, this book can be read on its own. This book has the perfect mix of drama, chemistry and intrigue. AK’s Evan’s books are an automatic read and this is no exception. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I absolutely LOVE every last book I've read by A.K. Evans, but I will NEVER EVER get enough of her suspense books with super hot security guys, and so I was super excited for this new series. Once again she didn't let me down whatsoever with Broken, and I find myself dying for more NOW! Royce owns Harper Security Ops, and he lives by one rule these days, never get involved with a client. Tarryn hires his company for self defense & weapons training, and Royce has never been so tempted to break his own rule. Fast forward two years, and he's not even interacted with Tarryn but she pushes him to his limit when he's on a case & finds Tarryn in the middle of it. See, she's on a revenge tour to take down every last person who had anything to do with what happened to her sister, and no one is about to stop her despite the fact that she's truly in over her head. At this point, Royce is trying to keep her safe, but with that comes the fact that he won't deny himself any longer & they explode into serious sexiness together which was delicious. Of course this is a suspense romance so the twists are coming in hot with a kicker of other sexy men who I CANNOT WAIT to get their stories. Anyway, don't miss out on all this goodness as I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!
Hot Rom-Suspense delivered in A.K. Evans unique, spine-tingling way. A new series another must-read series is born!
Whether this author is writing Rock star romances, swoon-worthy 2nd chance journey of life stories, A.K. Evans never disappoints, Broken is the start of her new Rom-Suspense series and it was one of those storylines that had everything, I must admit the emotions did run high through this story, but not from the main characters but from Paisley our heroine Tarryn's sister, I am sure I will need a box of tissues when she finally gets her turn. I particularly loved Tarryn and Royce the own of Harper Security's slow-burn hot chemistry, it blended in so well with this story. Tarryn is out for revenge for her sister, and she goes to Harper Security to take self-defence lessons, apart from the one interaction with Royce when she joined two years ago she has had no interaction with the man, but now she feels ready to actually seek her revenge the only issue Royce has just started surveillance on the same people that Tarryn is determined to take down, now the couple are reunited and the gloves are off and the simmering chemistry is unleashed, but the danger is growing stronger and Tarryn is in the firing line.
4 1/2 stars I can’t believe this is the first book by this author that I have read, more like devoured to be truthful. I am so glad I finally gave myself a kick in the pants and did pick up one of her books, now I want to binge read all of them.
Royce is such a stand up guy, he is a true alpha protector who is loyal and supportive to his friends, family and those in need. He’s sensible, well, when he isn’t making up strict rules for himself, and very practical too. But over and above this he is a romantic, who’d a thought it? 😄 Such a great character and perfect for Tarryn in every way. Tarryn is a determined, strong-willed woman who is super supportive and loyal to her family, especially her sister, and her friends. She is a friendly people person who enjoys interacting with customers in her business. Tarryn and Royce also enjoy interacting with each other but on a much different level. 😉
The mystery of what’s going on in their home town is puzzling even though there are some immediate answers. It truly had me guessing until the end. When the action heats up it’s all cylinders firing and very intense, great stuff.
Detailed descriptions and emotive language make for a wonderful romance and while I always enjoy suspense a tad more in a story, this book’s romantic aspect is superb and the reason for the extra half a star. I totally recommend this book to everyone.
Tarryn's opening chapter is brillaint and it sets up the suspense nicely. After 2 years of planning for revenge for his sister, will she be successful...no spoilers. I feel I promise you will not be bored with Tarryn & Royce's love story
Royce owner of Harper Security Op and he trained her on self defence and other skills...no spoilers. He is strong and straight away he sense Tarryn is hiding something. The inspiration behind his company is heartbreaking...no spoilers. I REALLY love how he takes gun safety very seriously and it should be taken seriously do not do your research on the Internet on guns. Which he explains to her and me as a reader
Tarryn was such a little devil to soilder men Royce !! I loved their banter so much and the bound they share
"It seems I'm turning you into a rebel." ... "I did say that rules were made to be broken" ❤️🍩
Once again A.K Evans done it again she balances suspense, action, tug on the heart strings and romance perfectly. Basically a perfect read & I can not wait to wait to return to this amazing world!
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH ONE OF A VARIETY OF SOURCES. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
I had high hopes for this book when I first heard about it, and I'm happy to say that it lived up to the hype for me!
I loved Royce and Tarryn as a couple, and I especially adored Tarryn, both with her caring and determined nature and with her ability to remain calm in a variety of situations. I loved learning more about Royce and his security specialists business, and I especially loved his protective nature! My chief complaint was there wasn't enough of a suspense angle for me to enjoy, despite the fact that the couple met through a case to solve.
All things considered, a great start to the series and I can't wait to read more!
This first story in this series introduces the listener to the owner and members of Harper Security Ops. Harper Security is not only a security firm, but also a tactical and self defense training center. When Tarryn Hendrix’s sister is violently assaulted, Tarryn is determined to take matters into her own hands . For the past two years she’s been training at Haper Security with the goal of taking down those who destroyed her beloved sister. What happens when Royce Harper, owner of Harper Security, realizes what Tarryn is up to? Will he help her understand the danger she’s putting herself in? Will he help Tarryn in her determination to find justice? On a personal basis, will these two act on the attraction? The plot was engaging and the characters likable. Mega Sylvan and James Cavenaugh did a very good job with the narrations. I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
When a bad thing happens to a loved one, what is your first response? For Tarryn, it is sadness that morphs into anger and the need for vengeance. This is a good beginning and I'm thinking perhaps this is going to go the way of the movie - Peppermint. Within a couple of chapters, I learn that Tarryn is heading for a train wreck. One can only hope someone stops her foolishness. I nearly stopped the book at this point but I continued on. I'm glad I did because about halfway through the book, it turns around for me and the ending worked out well.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
Tarryn is determined to right the wrongs of the past and reclaim the people she lost. She has been attending classes through Harper Security to learn the skills she will need to accomplish her task but Royce is turning out to be the one thing she hadn’t planned on.
Royce has been attracted to Tarryn since she started attending his classes but felt she was off limits due to their professional relationship. When he finds out what her true agenda is it changes everything and there is nothing he won’t do to protect her and get her the justice she needs.
Royce has always been a protector and when it comes to Tarryn his feelings are even stronger. Tarryn is strong and resilient and isn’t about to be deterred from her course by anyone or anything as they find out they are the perfect team both when it comes to life and love.
What a treat! A fantastic start to a new series that I’m sure will continue to please.
Our hero Royce is the owner of Harper Security Ops and this is where he first meets Tarryn. She is signing up to join the facility for training when Royce takes over and shows her around. They immediately have an intense attraction to each other but Royce steps back due to his rule to not get personally involved with one of his clients. Fast forward two years, Tarryn has been training this entire time in order to be ready to get justice on the people who attacked her sister. Fortunately this overlaps with a case Royce has just started looking into and he is able to save her from a potentially dangerous situation. When he finally gets the story out of Tarryn, all bets are off and he’s done keeping her at arms length and promises to get justice in order to keep her safe. This story had me engaged from beginning to end, it has suspense and spice and I’m thrilled with this book. 5 stars! Already looking forward to book two.
Oh will this story take you for a wild ride and leave you wanting more! My heart ached for everything that has happened to Tarryn and her trying to help her sister. But that connection her and Royce have is just everything. Raw and intense even though they fought it for two years. The catalyst of their paths crossing at the most insane time to how it all played out. I love that this is a relatively low drama story. Yes there is the backstory as to why Tarryn is all caught up in this but it's honestly one of those stories that will make you feel good and live for the moment. Evans writing flows so beautifully that once you start, you cannot stop. My one hope though is seeing Presley get her own story too!
This is Tarryn and Royce’s story. He has one rule about business never ever get involved with the clients. But Tarryn is making him rethink that rule. Tarryn is out for retribution and knows that she needs to get it to move forward. Royce sees what is happening and makes it his mission to help her out. He knows the kind of danger she is putting herself in and wants to make sure she is safe. He never expected to fall for her. Can he figure out how to help her and keep her safe at the same time?
Since his introduction in the previous series, I have been intrigued by Royce Blackstone. Well, his story is here and worth the wait.
Royce and Tarryn are perfect together. I love her heart, her drive, and boy, is she stubborn. Royce is a protector; will he break his own rules? The attraction is immediate, but she has an agenda and is prepared thanks to Royce’s company. Can he keep her alive? Oh, the suspense….
Now to wait on the next book in the series!
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Cavenaugh and Sylvan are Great as Royce and Tarryn A.K. Evans is one of my favorite writers, and I thoroughly enjoy her stories. Even better, I get to experience them in a new way through audiobooks! “Broken,” Book 1 of the Harper Security Ops series of romantic suspense, is so stinkin’ good! James Cavenaugh is a little stiff as Royce, but it suits the character of a protective former military member, and Meg Sylvan does a great job as Tarryn! Meg brings the emotion and vulnerability that Tarryn needs, and I was swept away by the performance. Looking forward to more as soon as possible!
Kindle Unlimited: [ ]YES [X]NO Stand-alone: [X]YES [ ]NO Author: A. K. Evans Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Spiciness rating: 🌶🌶.5/5 POV: Dual; first person Main Couple: Tarryn & Royce Favorite Character: Royce Tropes: Military romance; revenge
Review:
When something really bad happens to Tarryn’s sister, she decides to take justice into her own hands. However, she knows she has to prepare first and decides to get some self-defense classes in Harper’Security Ops. There she meets Royce (the owner) who has a rule of never getting involved with a client (even if he gets instantly attracted to her). After two years trying to ignore this feeling, he decides to get closer to protect her. Royce was really my favorite! I can’t say one little bad thing about the man. He was just perfect! Tarryn was brave and really protective of her sister, she was just a little naive. My only remark is that I’d like to read a bit more about the investigation aspect and less about Presley. The book focused a lot on her. The rest I enjoyed. I received this ARC and this is my honest opinion.
As the first book in a new series, this book was fantastic. Welcome to Harper Security Ops where there are some familiar faces, and a bunch of new ones. Royce and Taryn are perfect together. The way they understand each other and work towards to a common goal is everything. I love that Royce can be protective and give Taryn room to be the string willed woman she is, just makes me swoon. As usual A K.Evans writes powerful relationships strong emotions and great character's.
Tarryn has an overwhelming need to dismantle the crime network that ruined her sister's life. One bad date led to her sister fleeing their hometown and attempting to overcome her fears in Florida. Tarryn wants her sister back in her life and she says one clear way to do that - get rid of the drugs and their suppliers. She makes a plan and after 2 long years of practice she finally feels ready to take them on. She never expected the owner of her defensive arts studio to get involved!
Royce has made a success of his business through hard work and good connections. He works well with the local police department and he does what he can to pick up any "slack" they don't have the time or resources to undertake. When he finds Tarryn in the middle of a dangerous situation all the banked tension from avoiding her for the last 2 years comes bubbling up and protector mode is engaged.
Royce and Tarryn are a great match. They both have a version of survivor guilt and an innate need to protect their family. I loved their interactions and the way Royce never diminished her need for justice, just the way she went about it. He wanted her safe not cosseted away. Their wide net of friendships and colleagues add to the richness of the world and I'm super intrigued by a few of them.
Presley is about to be a bit of a Phoenix I hope. She really needs to get back to being "her" again. I'm excited to see what Nixon gets up to next.
This is a new to me author and I can’t believe I’ve just discovered her. Her characters are well developed and the storyline is intriguing, suspenseful, action packed and entertaining. Tarryn is taking self-defense classes at Royce’s firm in order to enact her plan of revenge. Royce doesn’t mix business with pleasure and he has spent the last two years avoiding Tarryn. But their path is inevitable and things heat up. Will he break his rules for Tarryn? Will she be reckless and get into trouble on her path for revenge?
He wasn't into commitment. Besides the woman who caught his eye was a client. As the boss, he should abide by his rules--right? He'd avoided her for two years while she trained at his Security company. Seeing her in trouble when he was working on a case, he couldn't do anything but step in to save her. She didn't take well to his interference even though she knew she'd been in trouble. She had a goal to accomplish with no time for a man. Yet, she'd been thinking about him since their original meeting, and now--who knows what will happen.
They begin working on the same case unknowingly and getting to know and care about each other. Can he protect and keep her safe by keeping her from the dangerous men in the case they both seem to be working on? Will she allow him to lead as they begin to find feelings go both ways?
It's a good romance, with intrigue, family, friends, steam, and the start of a good series it seems. Reviewed for Words Turn Me On
Intriguing romantic suspense. Storyline was fast-paced with plot twists. The characters were believable and extremely interesting. Great read. This is first book I've read by the author. I like her writing style.
What a brilliant and beautiful story. I was intrigued by Royce Blackstone since he appeared in the rockstar and romance series. And I wasn't left disappointed by this story, not even a little bit. It was a case of insta attraction but with rules in place, he refused to act upon it. Years passed and when there paths crossed again, there was no stopping the attraction.
Tarryn Hendrix was an amazing female character and you knew that although she was kick arse and could take care of herself. But in real romance style, she would somehow need saving and Royce being the man he is can't help but be there for her. It happens to be right place at the right time. I can't say anymore for fear of spoiling it all.
This book is a huge recommend from me. This series looks like it's gonna be just as great as the rockstars.
The ride that A.K. Evans is about to take us on is sure to be mind blowing and action packed. Especially if Royce and Tarryn's story is any indicator. The push and pull of their relationship was on point. I loved seeing alpha Royce as well. What sold me on it, however, was when he took on her fears and slayed them. Like who doesn't want that in real life? I absolutely can't wait to see what comes next.
I enjoyed the relationship between Royce and Terryn as it develops. The friendships were also great. This had some twists and turns that keep you guessing. I did find the characters internal monologuing a bit lengthy at times.