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There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for the only woman he’s ever loved. Even if she’s now married to another man.

Growing up with absent parents, the only family Archer Bennett has ever known were his sister and her best friend Thea. And he was certain that no matter what path his life would take, he’d always have them by his side.

But life doesn’t always go as planned.

And instead of living the life he dreamt of with the two people he loved most, he walks away from his family and ends up working for Locked Security, a firm that specializes in hostage situations and personal protection.

Thea Barlowe learned from an early age that to survive, she had to do whatever was necessary. When she gets an offer that would change her life, she jumps at the chance. Even if it means marrying a man almost double her age.

When Thea is in danger, her husband hires Locked Security to keep her safe. And her new bodyguard is someone she knows well. Archer.

When they meet again, their chemistry is impossible to deny. But as long as Thea belongs to another man, they have no future together.

This is the third book in the Locked Security Series and can be read as a standalone.

Note from the author: My characters like to get it on and (sometimes) swear. All my books have a HEA and there’s no cheating.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2023

1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Peis

26 books99 followers
I love the written word in all forms and shapes and if I'm not glued to a book I'm attempting to write one.

I’m a frequent blonde moment sufferer and still trying to figure out how to adult. I live in Melbourne, Australia, with my two little humans, the holder of my heart and two furry demons. I love to hear from readers so feel free to get in touch.

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
527 reviews4 followers
January 28, 2023
A high 2 stars

This book is a little hard for me to review. I liked it quite a bit, but it felt a little like a few separate books spliced together, with only a couple of them resolving. And I was disappointed by the end, which seemed rushed and too pat. Don't get me wrong; the author promises her books all have HEAs, and she delivers on that promise. I just felt a little deflated by the last 25 or 30 percent.

Charge is third in the Locked Security series, but it was my first. It worked okay as a standalone, but I suspect that at least the previous book (Archer's sister Everleigh's book) might have answered a few of my questions about what happened to Archer prior to the start of Charge.

So the spliced-together thing. One angle is about kids with crappy home lives becoming each other's family. The book starts in the past when Thea, Archer, and Everleigh are kids. Thea has an abusive mother, so she frequently escapes to stay with her BFF Ever and Ever's little brother Archer (seven years Thea's junior). Ever and Archer have parents who ignore them, but it was never really clear why and the parents never make an appearance.

Then we jump to the suspense angle, seven years in the future. This angle should have been the predominant theme, but it seems more like a vehicle to get Thea and Archer in the same physical space. Thea and Archer apparently grew apart when Archer went off to college, but we never really see the events that led to that. We just learn that Thea stopped all contact with Archer (though she stayed besties with Ever). Anyway, Thea is now married and in some kind of danger (related to her husband's business dealings) and Archer works for a hostage rescue/security company and comes to her rescue in a pretty dire situation.

Next up is the second chances angle, where Thea and Archer get their sexy time. It's emotional too, and I rather like them together, though I would have liked a little more wonder at the beginning. (I also needed him to be older than 24 because that's still a baby... But I'm older than dirt, so my perspective may not count.) Anyway, the suspense part kind of fizzles out here as the book turns into a pretty straightforward romance, compete with a rather awkward Big Misunderstanding that only served to make both of them (but especially Thea) seem a little immature.

I expected a big climax at the very least, but it never really came. It just sort of...ended.

What would have made it better for me? As hard as the topic of child abuse is, I think we needed to see a little more of teenage Thea's home life, and we needed the mother to be a little less of a charicature. Why? I needed a better understanding of why Thea made the decision to cut Archer out, and why she really needed to marry William.

Then, I needed the suspense to be more fleshed out OR (dare I suggest) cut out entirely. There's no real there there.

Finally, I needed the conflict to be more than the aforementioned Big Misunderstanding. It needed to relate to the suspense, perhaps even tying Thea's mother, always manipulative, in with the Russians.

All this is, of course, just my opinion, and I'm sure others will adore Charge. And to be clear, I really liked everyone: Aside from Thea, Archer, and Ever, I enjoyed the scenes with Ever's daughter, as well as the ones with William and especially Ciel. I just thought they deserved a more polished story.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the author and BookSirens. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!
Profile Image for Reading by Deb.
1,182 reviews33 followers
February 14, 2023
Archer was part of Locked Securities' Falcon Team and they were checking their gear before jumping out of a plane and into the frigid water for a hostage situation on a yacht. They had no idea what type of situation they were running into as they took the leap.

What he didn't expect was to recognize the woman who he was helping off the floor after she had been beaten by the men they had just taken down. Thea...his sister's best friend who cut all contact with him when he left for college and who he had worshiped growing up.

She had always thought of Archer as her best friend Everliegh's little brother, but that all changed when he turned eighteen. She felt such disgust with herself for her feelings for her best friend's younger brother that she cut off all contact with him hoping it would pass. But, as the grown man helps her off the floor she realizes just how wrong she was. Despite being fully covered in combat gear she knew that voice and the eyes looking at her through the mask...and her attraction is just as strong as it was before.

Everleigh and Archer had been her salvation. Whenever her mother would go into a violent rage, which was often, she would escape through the trailer window and make her way to the nicer side of town to their house until things cooled down. Instead of appreciating Thea working at the local diner in order to make sure the rent and utilities were paid, her mother was doing everything she could to force Thea to work at the local strip club to pay off her mother's debt.

But, Thea would do anything to keep from following her mother's footsteps. Now her life was in danger and her husband has hired Archer to be her personal bodyguard.

I loved this book! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. I have read Sarah Peis in the past but this series is totally different from the rom-com series Sweet Dreams.

Thea grew up with a narcissistic mother from the wrong side of the tracks that had no problem with selling off her daughter to pay her debts. But, Thea had other plans for her life and escaped as soon as she could when she was proposed to by a rich older man. An older man with a secret life.

This book is action-packed from beginning to end. It is full of suspense, danger and smoking hot chemistry. I highly recommend this book and Sarah Peis. Although I loved her rom-coms, this book is hands down the best I have read.
Profile Image for Claudia |✨Cushin Violeta's Bookish Realm✨.
1,625 reviews56 followers
December 23, 2023
𝑨𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓 & 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒂 ❤️

𝑩𝑶𝑶𝑲 𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑳𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺 :📑

💌 Romantic Suspense
💌 Sister's Best Friend
💌 Bodyguard
💌 Friends to Lovers
💌 Second Chance
💌 Sprinkles of Action
💌 Reverse Age Gap ( She's 30 & 7 yrs older than him)

𝑴𝒀 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾: 📝

Archer works for Locked Security and often goes on assignments which include rescuing hostages and high level clientele from dangerous situations.

Right in that first scene, we are smack dab in the middle of a rescue operation and I felt like I too was a secret operative working to rescue the hostages.
I felt the thrill in the face of a dangerous situation but also felt like being the saviour for the innocent people waiting for one.

Archer is part of the team and is extremely shocked to find out, his forever crush and his sister's bestie, Thea present among the captives.

There can't be anything between them as Thea is a married woman and no matter his feelings, Archer could never cross that line.

But things become tricky when Archer is asked to be on bodyguard duties by his firm for none other than for one of their prestigious client's wife, Thea. Archer is left with no option to accept this job because of his circumstances.

Ok, here it could have been tricky but I felt like Ms.kincaid did a spectacular work of writing this story in a way that you will end up loving each and every character even Thea's husband and Yes, as our author promised there is absolutely no cheating involved.

But yeah, the chemistry between Thea and Archer is fire and I could feel their yearning and wanting to be with each other and having to struggle with their unresolved feelings.
Especially for Archer, I could feel his struggles for wanting to separate his job and keeping his forever feelings for Thea aside.

William, Thea's husband was amazing as I really liked how he was with her and the way he always supported and looked out for Thea. Then there's Thea's bestie, Everleigh who was smashing as a friend.

Archer was an 𝖠𝗌𝗌 at times but I get that after going through what he went through, he needed to work out things on his own.

A tale full of Passion & unfulfilled yearnings of a love that you can't ever have and sprinkled with high voltage action made this one a spectacular ride. Loved this one. 💗
Profile Image for Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy.
2,054 reviews65 followers
January 25, 2023
This is another great installment in the Locked Security series. This is the story of Thea Barlowe and Archer Bennett. Archer admired Thea from afar when they were growing up. Thea was best friends with Everleigh (Archer's older sister), so he was always just the little brother. Thea spent a lot of time with their family because she lived in a toxic household with a mother who physically and mentally abused her. The Bennett household was her escape.

Now you fast forward years into the future. Archer has went through personal trials of his own, but it has made him the man he is today. He is now employed with Locked Security. This is a group of elite men that you want on your side. They provide bodyguard services and assist in hostage situations. Thea is married, and her life is in danger. Her husband, William, hires Locked Security to provide security services for Thea. As soon as Thea and Archer meet again, it is very obvious there are going to be sparks between them. Thea is in a marriage of convenience (you will learn more when you read the book), and Archer is a broken man who is running from a past he does not want to address.

This is a romance of second chances between two people who need each other. I love the characters in this book and this series. The men of Locked Security are true heroes. The character of Thea spoke to my heart. She had a hard life growing up, and her mother is literally a piece of trash, but it has made Thea the strong woman she is today. She has persevered. There will be some cameo appearances from others in the previous books in this series. You can read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend that you read them all because they are so good!

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
2,531 reviews42 followers
January 30, 2023
During her seventeen years, to escape her mother’s abuse, Thea spent most of her time with her friends Everleigh and Archer Bennet. When Archer left for college, she moved away and married wealthy William Barlowe. Their marriage is one of convenience, but William’s risky business dealings have made her a target. Archer joined Locked Security, as a security agent, and during a routine rescue he comes face to face with Thea who is being abused by a Russian thug. When she needs a permanent bodyguard, Archer is assigned to protect her. He tries to stay aloof, not become involved in her life, but she is Thea and he has always been attracted to her. William approves of their “friendship”, but Archer knows that he won’t be able to protect her, as he should, due to their intimate relationship. When she decides to divorce William, with his blessing, can she and Archer finally be together? I loved everything about this story, the characters, the suspense and the beautiful emotions expressed between Thea and Archer. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
Profile Image for Christy Davisson.
779 reviews18 followers
February 3, 2023
Best friend's younger brother trope with suspense and twists that will keep you glued till the very end.

I absolutely loved Thea and Archer's story. If you want a little reverse age gap with high emotions look no further this is the perfect book to grab.

Finally we get to dive into who Thea really is and how she and William became married. She has had a rough past which Archer had a front row to it all. Thea might see Archer as more than her best friend's younger brother now but there are so many secrets ti be unveiled.

Archer has had a crush on Thea for a long time and fate has thrown them together once again, as he becomes a bodyguard working closely with Thea. Can they find a HEA this time around?

This one has suspense, forbidden romance feels, and a few surprises that make it unputdownable. I'm loving this series with its action and suspense but this book was definitely my favorite so far. Highly recommend it if you love the intrigue of a mystery with twists that have needing to know what will happen next.
Profile Image for Hayley.
335 reviews5 followers
February 23, 2023
~3.5 stars~

The beginning of the book was a bit lackluster. It took me a while to really get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked. Archer was incredibly romantic and a wonderful alpha male. It was obvious how much he adored and loved Thea. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Thea being married, but that was resolved in a way that I felt comfortable with Thea and Archer’s relationship.

The secondary characters were fabulous as well. Ciel and William were funny and caring, and I loved how protective everyone was over Thea. The conflict between Thea and Archer was a touch contrived, but their reunion was very sweet. While I wish the epilogue was more extensive, the conclusion was satisfying and heartwarming.

Overall, this was a passionate and emotional romance full of friendship. I highly recommend it.

*I received an ARC of this novel. This is my complete and honest review.*
Profile Image for Kathy.
2,613 reviews43 followers
February 6, 2023
This is the third book in the series. They can be read as standalone books. The characters from previous books do make an appearance in the other books in the series. This characters in this book and the characters in the second book are closer than the others. Thea had a horrible childhood and often spent time at Everleigh and Archer’s house. Archer was only 4 when he first met Thea. Now they are grown and things are different. They both have been attracted to each other for some time. But now Thea is married and Archer is her bodyguard. But not everything is as it seems. Thea’s marriage isn’t a normal one. Yes, they love each other but it is more of a business arrangement. Only Thea’s husband has brought trouble to their door by doing business with the wrong people. This trouble seems to only targeting Thea though. Can Thea and Archer finally get their chance? This book was an emotional read. I feel for Thea so much. She was just doing what was right for her in the moment. What she thought would help her in the long run. Archer has been through some things lately and he is finding a new way forward. He wants Thea to be a part of that. This book was a wonderful read. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Wonderful job Sarah.
2,493 reviews18 followers
February 3, 2023
I’m really enjoying all the stories emerging from Locked Security characters. Thea and Archer knowing each other as growing up with less than optimal home situations brought a different perspective of their relationship from the start. Years later many things had changed - some unexpected while others seemed only like a change of setting. I also really liked the wonderful mix of main characters presented and their particular connections/arrangements. I think it was the unique personal relationships that made them made me like them even more. The ongoing threat to William by the Russians kept suspense always present while drawing more of the Locked Security staff into the story. It was also satisfying to see many details addressed resulting in a HEA for several character# while hinting at another crisis elsewhere.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
Profile Image for Sophie Ruthven.
2,332 reviews146 followers
February 4, 2023
This one conflicted me.
I will always adore dark books from this author but to me this one felt a bit rushed at times, skimping on details from the past and a few from the present that I would of loved to know.
Could just be the head space I'm in but I've noticed a couple of other reviews felt the same.
There was a lot going on in this book so maybe the author thought just giving basic info would work with the suspense angle but I'm a greedy reader and need it all.
If you don't mind not having those things then you'll adore this book and have a whole range of feelings for the characters.
I'm still looking forward to the author's next book.
I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
204 reviews
January 29, 2023
No spoilers here. And please read the Author's Note in the description. Thea and Archer each have very sad stories. We do learn some of Archer's story and a lot of Thea's in this book. I wasn't sure if they would ever get a happy ending! Locked Security series is so good and this additon is too. I didn't even know I needed the answers this book provides! I love how the author weaves a story that starts in a previous book, then continues in the new book and blows me away! Yes, they can be read as standalones. But why? A more complete story is always best. I still have some unanswered questions, can't wait for the next book!
Profile Image for Rhonda Boone.
524 reviews8 followers
January 29, 2023
This is an Age Gap-Best Friends Younger Brother/Romantic Suspence.
This story is about Thea and Archer. Thea is married to William and Archer is sent to be a body guard, and he had a crush on Thea when he was younger. This story captivated me from the beginning, it's filled with riveting suspense, action, intriguing drama, mystery, the blend of emotions, steamy chemistry..I just love it when an author brings everything when writing a book and Sarah definitely does in Archer and Thea's story. Highly recommend this read has a few surprises you won't expect..but won't be disappointed😉.

I received this book as an ARC and voluntarily this is my review.
1,135 reviews5 followers
February 1, 2023
'Charge' was captivating. The dynamic plot was filled with suspense, intrigue, a little bit of action, and romance. Thea and Archer, the protagonists, had baggage and/or secrets yet tried very hard to achieve their HEA. Freya, a character from a previous book, made a cameo appearance. What happened to Carter and Gunner in the teaser at the end? And Thea's mama was more than a bit much. She was something else! Nevertheless, I liked the narrative.
I received an advanced copy for free, and I am voluntarily giving my honest review.
Profile Image for Claudete Takahashi.
2,655 reviews37 followers
February 25, 2023
Charge has a good plot, however, it could be shorter as a few parts are repetitive and unnecessary. Thea and Archer were in love long before they became a couple, and both have troubled pasts. She got married to someone else and he went to work with Locked Security where he is a top agent and works multiple cases until he is assigned to be Thea's bodyguard. The story focuses on relationships, lifestyles x society, family ties, and friendship, and provides good entertainment.
I thank the author for the ARC.
Profile Image for Mg Meredith.
515 reviews3 followers
February 14, 2023
Charge was a action packed fast paced book with a unique take on a suspense plot and the authors ability to draw the readers into the characters lives and feel the intensity of emotion that you have as she skillfully ties everyone's past and present together to provide you with a truly wonderful experience as the plot unfolds and gives you the clues needed to unravel the story. I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily
869 reviews3 followers
March 7, 2023
This was a really enjoyable book. Thea and Archer have enough chemistry to build a storm and it’s wonderful to watch unfold. I found their characters personalities to be insightful and deep while their connection was almost tangible. It was quite the page turner and I look forward to the next book in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
778 reviews9 followers
January 26, 2023
This was a good read. It worked as a standalone but I feel like it would have helped to better understand some of the other characters if the previous books were read first. But overall still an enjoyable book even without reading any of the other books in the series.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
2,714 reviews33 followers
February 9, 2023
When Thea's life is in danger, Archer is hired to protect her but these two have history.
Danger, drama and many intense happenings take this book from zero to unlimited in 60 seconds flat. Emotionally charged and fraught with kind of romance although she is married.
Well done and well worth the read, I loved this book and recommend it highly.
This was an ARC and this is my honest review
Profile Image for Sammye.
4,441 reviews30 followers
February 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The plot is well written and held my interest. Archer’s and Thea’s story is emotional and romantic. The story is intriguing and full of secrets, some drama and suspense. *this was a complimentary copy and this was my honest review*
1,760 reviews45 followers
January 25, 2023
Loved this book and the series so much! Sexy and also action packed, emotional, steamy and suspenseful. My favorite kind of read!!!.
1,590 reviews22 followers
February 15, 2023
Well written, full of suspense, intrigue, romance and some steam. Characters in this book are well defined plus you have characters from other books pop in for an appearance. Does have a twist to the plot. Fast paced, keeps you reading till the end and makes you want more.

I am an ARC and leave this unbiased, honest review.
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