Kane - Jen Davis

Kane by Jen Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I couldn't resist starting this, the second on the Cooper Construction series, after finishing book one; Brick. Although this second book is about a different couple, Kane and Amanda, it still has the same characters as appeared in book one. It also gives a little glimpse at some of the members of the Cooper Construction team that we didn't meet in the first book.
This is the story of Amanda and Kane. In their early 20's they were in love and expected to spend the rest of their life together. Until something, or someone came between them. It isn't clear, to begin with, what it was that caused them to split up, but as the book progresses, their past is explained.
I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters, that they had been together once was believable and for the most part, the reason that they split up worked. Particularly as it didn't present an insurmountable barrier to them being together once more.
Like the first book in the series, there is a very dark element to these books. This time Kane is part of a motorcycle gang. While he doesn't particularly enjoy much of their activity, he is tied up in that world and has to deal with it in order to allow he and Amanda to get together. Amanda's father is also an 'interesting character' and lives a somewhat shady life.
These first two books have been a great start to a new series and I'm looking forward to seeing what book three will bring, as well as finding out who's story it has to tell.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Brick - Jen Davis

Brick by Jen Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is quite a dark romance story, or perhaps that should be romance series as book 2 is also already available. There's something about a bad boy in romance stories and Brick is certainly one bad boy. Used and abused by local crime boss since his teenage years, Brick hates that life that he leads. He can see no way out, while his boss holds the threat of what might happen to his grandmother over his head, so finds himself being the kind of man that would have other people running scared. Olivia, who has just recovered from cancer, is perhaps the ideal woman to take on Brick, as she is all about living life to the full.
The two main characters work really well together. Despite his very dark lifestyle and actions, there is something that is immensely likeable about Brick. The idea of he and Olivia falling in love doesn't seem to be completely impossible and the two of them together work. He worries about how his life might impact on Olivia and how she might be used to control him even further.
Despite the really horrible things that Brick has done and continues to do throughout this book, he is written in such a way that you can't help feel for him and really want he and Olivia to get together. It's easy to have sympathy for his situation and that made this a really satisfying read. I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the next book in the series straight away.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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