Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Series: Hope Town, Book 1
Author: Harper Sloan
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5 Sweltering Keys
Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever felt like you were living your life for a future that was predetermined? Like there was some bigger picture you just prayed you would someday see clearly? That picture has been crystal clear to me since I was old enough to recognize it for just what it was.I'm an avid Goodreads stalker, which means I visit at least 2x per day and have to check out what my favorite authors are working on at least 1x per week. When I saw that Harper Sloan was going to be releasing a new book and it featured Danielle and Cohen's story, I think I might have fallen off the bed in my excitement and maybe just maybe hurt myself! Anywho, I immediately put Unexpected Fate on my "to read" list and waited for an inking of how I could get my hands on an ARC. Well with TRSOR Promotions posted that they would be coordinating the blog tours I thought.....We're in!
Or I should say recognize him for who he was.
I’ve loved Cohen Cage since I was a small child. He’s been my everything for the last twenty-two years. I’ve loved him through every girlfriend he’s ever brought home. Through his college years and then mine. I’ve loved him through two deployments. And ever since the day I told him how I felt, he’s acted like I’m a stranger.
My name is Danielle Reid, and it’s time for me to get my man.
Our future is an unexpected fate, and no matter what our parents, siblings, and friends say…it’s going to be worth every second of the fight to make it happen.
I read Unexpected Fate straight through on a Saturday afternoon and loved every minute of it. Cohen Cage stole man heart when he showed up on Caged and remained one of my favorite characters throughout the Corps Security Series because you could never really predict what might come out of his mouth. Well he's all grown up and making the family proud, especially Greg and Melissa.
Danielle Reid has loved Cohen for her entire life. When she was very small she told him that one day he would belong to her. Throughout the years, her crush remains and now that she's 22, she's hoping he will finally notice her back. Being best friends with Cohen's twin sisters and the fate that their parents are best friends has definitely given her the inside on what's going on with Cohen but she hasn't been able to make him see her....or so she thought. When Dani gets sick and Nate tells Cohen, all bets are off because he shows up to take care of her.
Unexpected Fate is the epitome of love, family, friends and fate. and Dani and Cohen are at the center of them all. Harper Sloan allows all the original characters to make an appearance without allowing them to overshadow the overall story lines. It was great to see Sway was still up to his crazy antics and I loved loved loved Axel's overprotective craziness when it comes to Dani. It was interesting to see that each of the kids have sort of forged their own future and not necessarily gone right into the family security business. Even more, I was glad to see Greg and Cohen still held each other in a high regard and were close.
**Sighs** Unexpected Fate was everything I hoped for in Dani and Cohen's story; love, a bit of angst, a creepy stalker, and strong family cohesiveness! If you haven't had a chance to check out the Corps Security Series, don't worry because Unexpected Fate can be read as a stand alone but really you should make some time to get caught up. I'm giving Unexpected Fate 5 Sweltering Keys!
Excerpt:
“Dani-girl.” His voice, that rich rumble of masculine excellence, washes over me and I shiver again before cursing under my breath. The rumble of his low laughter tells me that he definitely didn’t miss that little move.Kill me now.
“Hey, Coh,” I say with a smile. “What brings you in? Last minute, I might add.” I pat the chair before wal
king around and holding the back while he sits down.
When his scent hits my nose, I almost come on the spot. Lord, he smells good. I wonder what he would smell like while his body covered mine, all sweaty from hours of good lovemaking. I run my fingers through the longer lengths on the top and feel my cheeks heat slightly, thinking about doing the same when his face is buried between my legs.
“…needed a trim.”
Shit. I missed what he said because, naturally, I was thinking about him naked. Naked and thrusting into my body. Naked and feasting between my spread thighs.
“You feeling okay? I thought Nate said you were better?”
“Uh, I’m fine. Just—is it hot in here?” I fan my face and avoid his eyes.
He’s silent, so I take that as a sign that it’s safe to bring my attention back to him.
Big mistake there. His knowing eyes are boring right into mine. The chocolate depths sparkling in a way that makes it clear he has a good idea about where my mind was going.
“Did you hear what I said, Dani-girl?”
“Of course I did, Cohen. What, did you think I was standing here daydreaming?” I joke.
“Well, yeah, that’s exactly what I think.” His eyes darken and he smirks a devilish grin. “Did you know you talk in your sleep, Dani?” he asks, and I drop my comb.
Oh, God. Shut up, shut up, shut up. This is not happening. No way.
“No, I don’t,” I childishly snap.
“Dani, you do. So, yeah, I do think you were standing there daydreaming. Want to know why?” He uses his booted foot to move his chair so that he’s facing me, and then he leans in so that his face is dangerously close to mine. Even when he’s seated, his head is almost level with my own. Curse my horizontally challenged self. “While you were zoning off into space with your fingers running through my hair, you had this smile on your lips. The same smile you had the other day when you were dreaming. About me, Dani. And don’t deny it, because you don’t moan my name if you’re dreaming about another man. Yes, Dani, you very much do talk in your sleep.” He smiles again before leaning back and looking down to his phone. “Clean up my neck please, cut the length off the top, and give me a buzz on the sides. Other than that, you’re clear to continue with your thoughts.”
I must have been standing there like an idiot because he looks up from his phone, laughs to himself, and, with one tan hand, reaches out and pushes my mouth closed.
“You’re going to catch flies that way, Dani-girl. One day, maybe you can clue me in on what those dreams are about.”
Drives me insane, the control he has over me. There isn’t a single person in the world, other than Cohen, who can turn me into a ridiculously stupid, sputtering fool. My normal confidence disappears. And clearly, he isn’t as oblivious to my feelings as I originally thought.
How in the hell am I supposed to handle this?
Wait a minute. Cohen or not, I’m not going to let him pull my strings when I know he is just doing this to make me feel uncomfortable.
So, time to call his bluff.
“Why? You planning on doing something about it?”
He looks up sharply, clearly not having expected me to actually say something in return since he was going for shock value.
“Try me,” he demands, his voice thick and even deeper than normal.
I throw my head back and reach out to run my fingers thought his hair again, just barely suppressing the shivers. Curling my fingers slightly so that I can grab a good hold, I lean in and pull his head back at the same time. With my nose just a hair away from his and our breaths mingling together, I say, “Cohen, you couldn’t handle the truth of my thoughts when it comes to you and we both know it. So how about you let me know when you’re ready for me to clue you in.” I give his hair a light tug and smile when he swallows loudly and shifts in his seat. “Ready for that trim?” I ask with a wink, and I’m rewarded with his groan.
“Dani-girl.” His voice, that rich rumble of masculine excellence, washes over me and I shiver again before cursing under my breath. The rumble of his low laughter tells me that he definitely didn’t miss that little move.
I have no idea how I do it, but I manage to get through his cut without coming unglued. I can see Lyn trying to get my attention from across the room. Stella had to leave after she overheard my words to Cohen because her giggles were getting the best of her. Cohen has remained silent the whole time. His eyes though… They’re speaking louder than his words ever could.
They haven’t left my reflection in the mirror since I started. I can feel them every time I shift. When I stopped to go grab another comb after I dropped my fourth one, I felt his gaze follow me across the room to Stella’s station. The few times I stopped cutting to meet his eyes, the heated promise written all over his face almost did me in. I almost just said ‘fuck it’ and climbed on his lap to have a go regardless of the people watching our every move.
I finish the last buzz of my clippers around his right ear and move to brush all the stray hair off. “All done,” I say softly and unclip his cape.
He stands, shoving his phone in the back pocket of his jeans, and walks over to stand in front of me. I continue to pretend I’m busy with the cape I just removed, brushing stray hairs off here and there, when his hand comes up, his finger and thumb hitting my chin, and my face is lifted until I have no choice but to look in his eyes.
“Do not tease me, Dani. It’s not a game you want to play if you don’t intend to follow through.”
“I-I wasn’t… I wouldn’t,” I stammer.
“You did, and I have no doubt you’ll have the brilliant idea to do it again. The next time you allude to those dirty thoughts I know you have about me, don’t think for a second that I won’t drag you to the closest bed to show you just how fucking dirty they’ll get.” He leans close, his scent hitting my nostrils, and I involuntarily inhale deeply, earning me a rumbled chuckle. “What you don’t know, Dani—because contrary to what you think, you don’t know me well enough to assume what having me would really be like. But I promise you this: every little thought that you have had that causes you to moan my name while scissoring those perfect legs back and forth, praying for completion—it would be so much hotter than you could ever imagine.” He gives me a soft, sweet kiss against my temple that has fire racing from that spot all over my body until it ends in the awareness that I’m pretty sure I just came in my pants.
About the Author:
Harper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from
her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the
house they dubbed 'Estrogen Ocean', much to her husband’s chagrin. Harper has a
borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with
her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her
favorite kind of hero--the super alpha kind!
Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the
house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect
way to just relax. It didn't take long before a head full of very demanding
alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.
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