Brick and Kane (Cooper Construction 1 & 2) by Jen Davis-reviews

BRICK
(Cooper Construction #1)
by Jen Davis
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

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About the book: Release Date February 5, 2019

I’m used to getting my hands dirty. During the day it’s mud and grime on the construction site. At night…it’s the blood I spill. A drug lord’s enforcer does what needs to be done. It’s my obedience, my loyalty to the boss that keeps my family alive.

I know I’m teetering on the edge. I’m losing my humanity, I can feel it. It’s changing me, and it’s only a matter of time before the darkness takes over.

Then I meet her. Liv. The only person who sees past my busted knuckles and brutal exterior. She sees…me. But being with me will get her killed. The only way I can keep her safe is by staying away. Until her own actions catapult her into the center of my world—a world which will swallow her whole.

Now I’m forced to be the ruthless bastard I’ve been for so long. Only this time it’s not to destroy…but to defend.

•••••••••

REVIEW: BRICK is the first instalment in Jen Davis’ contemporary, adult COOPER CONSTRUTION erotic, romance series focusing on the men who work for Cooper Construction. This is twenty-six year old, high school teacher Olivia ‘Liv’ Turner, and construction worker /enforcer Jonathan ‘Brick’ Barlow’s story line.

NOTE: BRICK contains scenes of graphic violence, and implied sexual abuse/torture that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Brick and Liv) with a chapter from Sucre, BRICK follows the forbidden and dangerous relationship between twenty-six year old, high school teacher Olivia ‘Liv’ Turner, and construction worker /enforcer Jonathan ‘Brick’ Barlow. Brick Barlow is an owned man without the ability to walk away fearing threats against the people he loves. Years earlier, our anti-hero, found himself the property of Sucre de la Cruz, property to be used, abused and commanded to perform on demand. Meeting high school teacher Liv Turner, fellow construction worker Will Turner’s sister, gave Brick hopes for the future but a future dashed when Liv is targeted as collateral for future control. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Brick and Liv, and the potential fall-out as Brick struggles with his direction in life, and the repercussions against the people he loves.

Jonathan ‘Brick’ Barlow knows that to get involved with Liv Turner means placing Liv in the direct line of fire. Enslaved by sins of the past, Brick battles between head and heart, right and wrong as a reluctant enforcer for a man whose evil knows no boundaries. Olivia ‘Liv’ Turner fell for the dark and dangerous man who called to her heart; a man whose life experiences all but control every aspect of his broken life.

The relationship between Liv and Brick is one of immediate attraction but an attraction tempered by Brick’s need to protect Liv from the life he now leads. Unable to keep away from the woman with whom he is falling in love, Brick’s need for Olivia threatens any sense of control for a man whose life has been destroyed by someone else. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text…but saying that, the graphic violence and abuse surrounding Brick Barlow may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including construction foreman Xander Karras; Liv’s brother Will Turner, and their sister Izzy; embattled student Devon; Liv’s best friend Carol; fellow construction crew members Kane Hale, Matt, Cyrus and Robby. The requisite evil has several faces including Sucre de la Cruz and Trevaughn Lowry.

BRICK is a story of betrayal, vengeance, retribution and love; a story of struggle, power and control; of one man’s journey into the dark. The premise is raw and gritty; the characters are energetic, broken and strong; the romance is seductive and fated.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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KANE
(Cooper Construction #2)
by Jen Davis
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 26,2019

I know how it feels to lose everything—to watch my world crash down around me, unable to do shit about it. I was a broken man when the Skulls took me in. They helped me pick up the pieces, became my family, earned my loyalty.

Then my past storms back into my life—and onto my worksite—with spiky heels and an attitude to match. Amanda doesn’t just own the company. She owns my heart.

She’ll always own it. Even though her betrayal sent me into hell in the first place

But being together now is not as simple as it was back then. We’ve both changed. After thirteen years, we’re worlds apart. I don’t belong in her world, and she wants nothing to do with mine.

Problem is, I don’t think I can let her walk away from me…not again.

•••••••

REVIEW: KANE is the second instalment in Jen Davis’ contemporary, adult COOPER CONSTRUCTION erotic, romance series focusing on the men who work for Cooper Construction. This is thirty-two year old, MC member and construction worker Kane Hale, and business woman Amanda Griffin-Cooper’s story line.

NOTE: Due to the story line content, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Amanda and Kane) using present day and memories from the past, KANE follows several intersecting paths but the primary focus is on the rekindling relationship and romance between thirty-two year old, MC member and construction worker Kane Hale, and business woman Amanda Griffin-Cooper. Thirteen years earlier Kane Hale’s life spiralled out of control when the woman he loved walked out of his life in the wake of a devastating fire, secrets and lies meant to destroy what was and what would never be. Rejecting his father’s demands to join the Skull’s MC, Kane will eventually succumb and pursue the life of a outlaw as he struggles with the heart breaking loss of Amanda Griffin. Fast forward to present day wherein Amanda, now co-owner of Cooper Construction, comes face to face with her past, a past she will never forget or forgive herself for walking away. What ensues is the second chance romance between Amanda and Kane; the Skulls MC battle to take control of Sucre de la Cruz’s territory; Kane’s continuing personal battle with the MC life; and the potential fall-out as secrets and betrayal come to the surface forcing Kane and Amanda to reconsider their future together.

The Skull’s MC, with the insistence of Kane’s brother Scott, is determined to control the drug trade in Atlanta City by taking over the territory once owned by Sucre de la Cruz. Kane’s reluctance to participate places him at odds with his father’s MC, but the biggest threat comes from the Russian Mob. As Amanda struggles to come up with the finances for a new construction phase, her father continues to push Amanda towards a future with a violent man who is more than willing to control our heroine with more than promises and threats.

The relationship between Amanda and Kane is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between two people destroyed by family, power, control and manipulation. Amanda struggles with the guilt of walking away but walking away was the only choice to protect the man with whom she had fallen in love. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Amanda’s father Mayor Beau Griffin; her half-brother Michael Cooper (co-owner of Cooper Construction) and his wife Cindy : Kane’s brother Scott, their his father Malcolm and their mother Vivian Hale, several members of the Skulls MC, as well as the return of Brick and Liv (Brick #1), Robby, Matt and Cyrus. The requisite evil has many faces including Amanda’s soon to be ex- Nathan Shaw.

KANE is a story of fractured family dynamics; of power, greed, and politics; of forgiveness, revelations, redemption and beginning anew. The premise is thought provoking and intriguing; the romance is provocative and heart warming; the characters are edgy, spirited and energetic. KANE is an animated, fast pace and dramatic tale about the hunger for power, and the resulting ramifications on the way to the top.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy