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Devil's Rock #1
All Chained Up
There are bad boys and then there are the men of Devil’s Rock . . .
Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.
Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .
“When the prison doors are open, the real dragon will fly out.”—Ho Chi Minh
Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.
Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .
“When the prison doors are open, the real dragon will fly out.”—Ho Chi Minh
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2016
132 people are currently reading
3050 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Jordan
82 books8,979 followersPseudonym:
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
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March 21, 2016
****Full Review****
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Briar Davis grew up with a violent father, so when her boss asks for volunteers to help him at Devil's Rock, a prison, her hand doesn't immediately shoot up. When no one else volunteers, though, she thinks about the promotion she wants and how she doesn't want to be afraid anymore and suddenly she's passing through maximum security gates. Briar’s first day she meets Knox Callaghan, ripped, sexy, intense, and a convict. Knox has been in Devil's Rock for eight years serving out a murder sentence, his brother and he paid a visit to their cousin's rapist that ended badly for everyone. One look into Nurse Davis' eyes and he finds himself wanting things he knows a convict like him will never have. Even the eight years and bars, however, can't fully change the man and Knox saves Briar from sharing his cousin's fate. Suddenly, Knox and Briar have an opportunity they never thought possible, if only both are strong enough to take it.
The first in a new series, Ms. Jordan starts off with a bang. The beginning tension between Briar and Knox with the forbidden aspect, Briar's physical fear, and Knox's emotional brick wall was fantastic, I flew through the pages. They only have a couple meetings in the beginning but those moments pack quite the punch. Their interactions are drawn out but in a needful way, we see Briar's trepidation around Knox, how his brick wall cracks around her, and how they both can't help poking and reaching out to one another because of the draw they feel. The first 40% reminded me of Michael and Sara (Knox is a little darker than Michael) from the tv show Prison Break and I can see fans of the show really enjoying this part.
After Knox rescues Briar from some inmates, his second parole hearing is moved up and he is released, switching the gears of the story. Now we have Briar and Knox free to act on the feelings they had to try and suppress in the prison. The sexual chemistry that was apparent in the beginning carries over to this second part but almost to the determent of the overall story. We get a lot of sexual situations, they are done really well, drawn out with words that evoke feelings and steam but it became our couple’s whole relationship. Knox and Briar don't so much grow together, as they bang together. There are glimpses of emotional strife with Knox not feeling he is good enough for Briar and dealing with society's perceptions of ex-convicts and Briar convincing herself and her sister that she is not ending up like her mother and self-destructing with a violent man. Heavy topics that if flushed out better definitely could have added a deeper level to their relationship and the story.
Secondary characters flittered in and around the story with Knox's brother North having to survive in prison without him, Briar's sister providing a minor villain role, Briar's neighborhood gal pal that could be future heroine bait, Knox's aunt and uncle humanizing him more, and Reid. Reid ran a powerful gang in prison that Knox and his brother were welcomed into and protected them. Towards the end of the story and interjected in a somewhat awkward way, we get a lead in to Reid's future story as he escapes, makes his way back home, and finds his old gang has kidnapped the President of the United State's daughter. I think this would have worked better as an epilogue, finishing out Knox and Briar's story first, but either way, I can't wait to read it.
Briar's self-imposed sheltered personality and life and Knox's anger, determination not to mess up his life again, and stoicism, made them intriguing characters to read about while their sexual chemistry made it fun and hot. Their sexual relationship was written in a way that would at times remind me of Victoria Dahl and Cara McKenna's writing, which I greatly enjoyed. While at times the emotional aspect peeked through the sexual angst, the second half was missing it a lot. As an introduction to the Devil's Rock series though, All Chained Up has me excited for future characters and books.
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Briar Davis grew up with a violent father, so when her boss asks for volunteers to help him at Devil's Rock, a prison, her hand doesn't immediately shoot up. When no one else volunteers, though, she thinks about the promotion she wants and how she doesn't want to be afraid anymore and suddenly she's passing through maximum security gates. Briar’s first day she meets Knox Callaghan, ripped, sexy, intense, and a convict. Knox has been in Devil's Rock for eight years serving out a murder sentence, his brother and he paid a visit to their cousin's rapist that ended badly for everyone. One look into Nurse Davis' eyes and he finds himself wanting things he knows a convict like him will never have. Even the eight years and bars, however, can't fully change the man and Knox saves Briar from sharing his cousin's fate. Suddenly, Knox and Briar have an opportunity they never thought possible, if only both are strong enough to take it.
The first in a new series, Ms. Jordan starts off with a bang. The beginning tension between Briar and Knox with the forbidden aspect, Briar's physical fear, and Knox's emotional brick wall was fantastic, I flew through the pages. They only have a couple meetings in the beginning but those moments pack quite the punch. Their interactions are drawn out but in a needful way, we see Briar's trepidation around Knox, how his brick wall cracks around her, and how they both can't help poking and reaching out to one another because of the draw they feel. The first 40% reminded me of Michael and Sara (Knox is a little darker than Michael) from the tv show Prison Break and I can see fans of the show really enjoying this part.
After Knox rescues Briar from some inmates, his second parole hearing is moved up and he is released, switching the gears of the story. Now we have Briar and Knox free to act on the feelings they had to try and suppress in the prison. The sexual chemistry that was apparent in the beginning carries over to this second part but almost to the determent of the overall story. We get a lot of sexual situations, they are done really well, drawn out with words that evoke feelings and steam but it became our couple’s whole relationship. Knox and Briar don't so much grow together, as they bang together. There are glimpses of emotional strife with Knox not feeling he is good enough for Briar and dealing with society's perceptions of ex-convicts and Briar convincing herself and her sister that she is not ending up like her mother and self-destructing with a violent man. Heavy topics that if flushed out better definitely could have added a deeper level to their relationship and the story.
Secondary characters flittered in and around the story with Knox's brother North having to survive in prison without him, Briar's sister providing a minor villain role, Briar's neighborhood gal pal that could be future heroine bait, Knox's aunt and uncle humanizing him more, and Reid. Reid ran a powerful gang in prison that Knox and his brother were welcomed into and protected them. Towards the end of the story and interjected in a somewhat awkward way, we get a lead in to Reid's future story as he escapes, makes his way back home, and finds his old gang has kidnapped the President of the United State's daughter. I think this would have worked better as an epilogue, finishing out Knox and Briar's story first, but either way, I can't wait to read it.
Briar's self-imposed sheltered personality and life and Knox's anger, determination not to mess up his life again, and stoicism, made them intriguing characters to read about while their sexual chemistry made it fun and hot. Their sexual relationship was written in a way that would at times remind me of Victoria Dahl and Cara McKenna's writing, which I greatly enjoyed. While at times the emotional aspect peeked through the sexual angst, the second half was missing it a lot. As an introduction to the Devil's Rock series though, All Chained Up has me excited for future characters and books.
October 25, 2016
4.5 Stars
He wasn’t that good or honorable. He wasn’t that strong. If she wanted to play with a wolf, then that’s what she would get.
Another great read done and dusted! Who says I was in the throes of a book slump? Huh?
Book slumps are no joke people, and when you pick up 5 consecutive books and can't get into any of them you start avoiding books all together. All Chained Up by Sophie Jordan goes under my fail safe banner, this ladies and gentleman was a scorching hot read with an alpha ex convict hero that zeroed in on one woman and it stayed like that for the entire book.
Briar finds herself volunteering at the local prison, she's a nurse and the Devil's rock prison is running low on medical staff. Enter Knox Callaghan, resident badass, he's tough, stoic and the last thing he ever expected was for his mostly predictable prison sentence to be overturned by a good girl like Nurse Davis. In the beginning its all seering glanced and accidental touches, but when Briar is badly hurt while on duty everything changes. Knox saves her life and is subsequently released on parole.
As you may well have guessed, Briar and Knox cross paths in the outside world. Where obviously there are no boundaries which catapults them into an addictive physical relationship. But they're time together leads to even more and both realise that sex isn't enough anymore. On one hand Briar is hesitant but willing to take a chance, on the other Knox feels he doesn't deserve happiness.
While Knox is a strong and stoic type, he also carries around a lot of guilt which makes him feel as if he isn't good enough for Briar. I'll play the shrink for a bit and say that having to leave his brother behind in prison lead to even more guilt. Briar wasn't without her hangups either, coming from an abusive home she was rightfully weary of starting a relationship with a man convicted of murder.
He came from a world where you staked a claim. Prison taught him about taking, having. Marking what was his. That was his instinct when it came to Briar.
This book was fire, the H and h had such chemistry I mean it was just a heady experience reading the sex scenes alone. I've read a few historicals by Sophie Jordan but the heat in this contemporary outshined them. Suffice it to say I shall be reading the rest of this amazing series. Reid and the first daughter are bound to blow up the pages!
October 5, 2017
Sigh!!! I love this series!!! Super cute, I’m officially a fan of Sophie Jordan. The story was good, the romance was amazing. All in all a very good book!!
February 5, 2016
Loved. This. Book.
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
All Chained Up by Sophie Jordan
Book One of the Devil's Rock series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: March 29, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
There are bad boys and then there are the men of Devil’s Rock . . .
Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.
Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .
“When the prison doors are open, the real dragon will fly out.”—Ho Chi Minh
What I Liked:
I've read a little bit of everything when it comes to Sophie Jordan - her YA, NA, adult historical romance, and now adult contemporary romance. Her YA books are hit or miss for me, I've only read one of her NA books (I loved Foreplay!), and I've read two of her historical romance novels (one I liked, one I hated). So I'm pretty split with Jordan, but I will always give her a shot, when it comes to her adult books. This new book by her, a contemporary romance novel? Hands down, my favorite Sophie Jordan book to date. I thought I liked Reign of Shadows and A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin, but All Chained Up takes the cake!
Knox Callaghan has been in prison for eight years. Prison has hardened him, driven emotion from him. But the new nurse volunteering at the prison has caught his attention. She's nervous around him, and it isn't entirely because he's a felon. Briar should be staying far away from dangerous men, especially given who her father was. But there is something about Knox that attracts. When a shocking event leads to Knox saving Briar's life, nothing is the same. Both of them have a new chance at life, and neither of them can stay away from each other.
I haven't read too many books that feature an ex-con/felon, but two stand out in my mind - Dare To Run by Jen McLaughlin, and Time Served by Julianna Keyes. I loved both of those! And I love this one too. Knox blew me away, and I adored the sweet yet fiery romance.
Knox is a one-of-a-kind male protagonist, as far as I've encountered. He seems to be devoid of emotion, and all he cares about is surviving prison and keeping his brother alive. Eight years have gone by, and both of them should be up for parole soon. Knox is a hardened, tough man, and he has been spending his prison time working out and bulking up even more (he used to play football). At twenty-eight, he is still ruggedly good-looking and Briar notices.
I like Briar! I felt like I really understood her, her anxiety and fear of the prison and inmates, her need to shrink in on herself and protect herself from potential threats. Briar is a strong woman but subtly so - she isn't brazen and feisty and bold. Yet she isn't completely delicate. She's sweet and a little innocent (especially in Knox's eyes), and I like how she softens Knox's hard edges.
The pair together is like fireworks. The first third of the book is spent in prison, with Knox and Briar interacting on occasion. I love how Jordan sets up the seeds for the relationship, but does not have the pair initiating any physical relationship yet. Briar gets to know Knox a little while in the prison health center. But it's when Knox is freed and finally living out of the prison that their relationship explodes. Briar and Knox have shared attraction since day one, but I like that the author kind of avoids the physical nature of their relationship until about two-fifths in.
The chemistry between the pair is intense! There are several super hot scenes in this book, probably the hottest I've seen Jordan write. Knox has had a long time since he was with anyone... and Briar has a difficult time trusting men. So when the pair finally let their own walls down, it's pretty steamy. I like the development of the chemistry! Lots of sexual tension in this book.
But like I said above, Jordan didn't make the relationship physical until about two-fourths in. This builds the emotional side of the relationship, and I liked how Knox and Briar fall in love. They're very attracted to each other, and on paper they don't seem to fit (ex-con + prim nurse), but they are absolutely a perfect match, both physically and emotionally.
This story felt more like a life story, rather than a story that had a huge buildup and a crushing climax or something. If you know what I mean? I mean, there IS a climax, and it is very important to Knox and Briar's relationship. But I like that it wasn't TOO dramatic (well, I didn't find it too dramatic). There are other things going on besides Knox and Briar's relationship, but I won't say anything about them because the other plots are a bit spoilery.
Overall, I am in love with this book! Mostly, Knox, but the story in general. I'm impressed with Jordan's storytelling! I can't imagine it was easy to write in the perspective of an ex-con, especially since Jordan wrote so much of the book's page-time physically in the prison. But she did it beautifully! This book was raw and a little heartbreaking (for Knox, in terms of his prison time and how he beats himself up) and super sexy.
What I Did Not Like:
I have to admit, I wasn't a big fan of Briar's sister! Don't get me wrong, her heart is in a good place. But she seems so controlling! That blind date? Who does that?! My sister would get some choice words. Of course, Briar is more passive than me but STILL. You won't like Briar's sister (I'm not sure if that is the intent or not).
Alsoooo, any romance novel could benefit from one or two BIG intimate scenes! There was one or two, and then there were smaller shorter ones. I personally think there could have been another big one, in this story. But maybe I've just gotten really picky!
Would I Recommend It:
If you're a fan of adult contemporary romance novels, I highly recommend this one. I was a little wary of the content (prison, and then the event in which Knox saved Briar, that was scary), but Jordan wrote the story and subject matter so well. This book is much more raw and intense than Jordan's adult historical romance novels, but in a good way!
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. If you're a fan of Jordan's adult novels, then you should check this one out! It's not a light read, but it's very powerful and very, very steamy. I can't wait to read Reid's book!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
All Chained Up by Sophie Jordan
Book One of the Devil's Rock series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: March 29, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
There are bad boys and then there are the men of Devil’s Rock . . .
Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.
Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .
“When the prison doors are open, the real dragon will fly out.”—Ho Chi Minh
What I Liked:
I've read a little bit of everything when it comes to Sophie Jordan - her YA, NA, adult historical romance, and now adult contemporary romance. Her YA books are hit or miss for me, I've only read one of her NA books (I loved Foreplay!), and I've read two of her historical romance novels (one I liked, one I hated). So I'm pretty split with Jordan, but I will always give her a shot, when it comes to her adult books. This new book by her, a contemporary romance novel? Hands down, my favorite Sophie Jordan book to date. I thought I liked Reign of Shadows and A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin, but All Chained Up takes the cake!
Knox Callaghan has been in prison for eight years. Prison has hardened him, driven emotion from him. But the new nurse volunteering at the prison has caught his attention. She's nervous around him, and it isn't entirely because he's a felon. Briar should be staying far away from dangerous men, especially given who her father was. But there is something about Knox that attracts. When a shocking event leads to Knox saving Briar's life, nothing is the same. Both of them have a new chance at life, and neither of them can stay away from each other.
I haven't read too many books that feature an ex-con/felon, but two stand out in my mind - Dare To Run by Jen McLaughlin, and Time Served by Julianna Keyes. I loved both of those! And I love this one too. Knox blew me away, and I adored the sweet yet fiery romance.
Knox is a one-of-a-kind male protagonist, as far as I've encountered. He seems to be devoid of emotion, and all he cares about is surviving prison and keeping his brother alive. Eight years have gone by, and both of them should be up for parole soon. Knox is a hardened, tough man, and he has been spending his prison time working out and bulking up even more (he used to play football). At twenty-eight, he is still ruggedly good-looking and Briar notices.
I like Briar! I felt like I really understood her, her anxiety and fear of the prison and inmates, her need to shrink in on herself and protect herself from potential threats. Briar is a strong woman but subtly so - she isn't brazen and feisty and bold. Yet she isn't completely delicate. She's sweet and a little innocent (especially in Knox's eyes), and I like how she softens Knox's hard edges.
The pair together is like fireworks. The first third of the book is spent in prison, with Knox and Briar interacting on occasion. I love how Jordan sets up the seeds for the relationship, but does not have the pair initiating any physical relationship yet. Briar gets to know Knox a little while in the prison health center. But it's when Knox is freed and finally living out of the prison that their relationship explodes. Briar and Knox have shared attraction since day one, but I like that the author kind of avoids the physical nature of their relationship until about two-fifths in.
The chemistry between the pair is intense! There are several super hot scenes in this book, probably the hottest I've seen Jordan write. Knox has had a long time since he was with anyone... and Briar has a difficult time trusting men. So when the pair finally let their own walls down, it's pretty steamy. I like the development of the chemistry! Lots of sexual tension in this book.
But like I said above, Jordan didn't make the relationship physical until about two-fourths in. This builds the emotional side of the relationship, and I liked how Knox and Briar fall in love. They're very attracted to each other, and on paper they don't seem to fit (ex-con + prim nurse), but they are absolutely a perfect match, both physically and emotionally.
This story felt more like a life story, rather than a story that had a huge buildup and a crushing climax or something. If you know what I mean? I mean, there IS a climax, and it is very important to Knox and Briar's relationship. But I like that it wasn't TOO dramatic (well, I didn't find it too dramatic). There are other things going on besides Knox and Briar's relationship, but I won't say anything about them because the other plots are a bit spoilery.
Overall, I am in love with this book! Mostly, Knox, but the story in general. I'm impressed with Jordan's storytelling! I can't imagine it was easy to write in the perspective of an ex-con, especially since Jordan wrote so much of the book's page-time physically in the prison. But she did it beautifully! This book was raw and a little heartbreaking (for Knox, in terms of his prison time and how he beats himself up) and super sexy.
What I Did Not Like:
I have to admit, I wasn't a big fan of Briar's sister! Don't get me wrong, her heart is in a good place. But she seems so controlling! That blind date? Who does that?! My sister would get some choice words. Of course, Briar is more passive than me but STILL. You won't like Briar's sister (I'm not sure if that is the intent or not).
Alsoooo, any romance novel could benefit from one or two BIG intimate scenes! There was one or two, and then there were smaller shorter ones. I personally think there could have been another big one, in this story. But maybe I've just gotten really picky!
Would I Recommend It:
If you're a fan of adult contemporary romance novels, I highly recommend this one. I was a little wary of the content (prison, and then the event in which Knox saved Briar, that was scary), but Jordan wrote the story and subject matter so well. This book is much more raw and intense than Jordan's adult historical romance novels, but in a good way!
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. If you're a fan of Jordan's adult novels, then you should check this one out! It's not a light read, but it's very powerful and very, very steamy. I can't wait to read Reid's book!
April 24, 2024
4☆ Shhhhh…just pretend it has an amazing cover.
❦➳ She knew plenty of women were drawn to his type. A bloodied Viking. The Tarzan that dragged Jane into his hut and quickly made her forget that she was a good civilized woman. Raw and seething with power, a shadow of stubble covering his square jaw. She could almost imagine brushing her fingers across that jaw. Almost. If she were crazy and into felons.
*Cough* Yeah, I mean who'd be into THAT? 😂 As Elle Jae said–if you liked the show Prison Break, you’ll probably like this. It doesn't romanticize the horrors and injustices of everyday life in prison, BUT you've got the yummy forbidden dynamic between the rough hunky inmate who is more than what he seems and the reluctantly attracted "good girl" infirmary nurse. Except this nurse starts out quite judgy and making assumptions; she thankfully gets over herself after Knox saves her, is paroled, and runs into her in the candy aisle.
❦➳ She couldn’t forget that day. It wasn’t the horror that stayed with her. It was the memory of him. His raw power. His brutal beauty. The way his entire body had been a weapon. She wanted that weapon. She wanted him to turn it on her. To unleash himself on her.
Their physical chemistry is off the chain, so to speak lol. Sorry. Seriously, Sophie Jordan can write. Some. Sexiness. And Knox stays celibate for months after his 8 years in prison, even though he doesn't know if he'll ever see Briar again. 👏👏👏
❦➳ “Yeah,” he heard himself answering, even though he had no idea what flavor Cherry Garcia was. “I like it.” He couldn’t not go. He wasn’t that good or honorable. He wasn’t that strong. If she wanted to play with a wolf, then that’s what she would get.
But even with their insane hotness, there's a good deal of back-and-forth with the Big Conflicted Feelings. Knox doesn't want to feel so much, lose control, and end up back in hell; he also doesn't think he deserves her. Meanwhile Briar, who comes from a violent household, doesn't find out what Knox went in for until the end. These slightly annoying bits are what lost a star for me.
That said, Sophie Jordan's writing is so engaging and addictive that I couldn't put it down. I read half the series this weekend and forgot about Real Lifing. This and #4 are good. Here's my review of Beautiful Lawman. Two 4-star reads from an author I've never heard of? Not bad, Goodreads Gods, not bad. 🙏
❦➳ She knew plenty of women were drawn to his type. A bloodied Viking. The Tarzan that dragged Jane into his hut and quickly made her forget that she was a good civilized woman. Raw and seething with power, a shadow of stubble covering his square jaw. She could almost imagine brushing her fingers across that jaw. Almost. If she were crazy and into felons.
*Cough* Yeah, I mean who'd be into THAT? 😂 As Elle Jae said–if you liked the show Prison Break, you’ll probably like this. It doesn't romanticize the horrors and injustices of everyday life in prison, BUT you've got the yummy forbidden dynamic between the rough hunky inmate who is more than what he seems and the reluctantly attracted "good girl" infirmary nurse. Except this nurse starts out quite judgy and making assumptions; she thankfully gets over herself after Knox saves her, is paroled, and runs into her in the candy aisle.
❦➳ She couldn’t forget that day. It wasn’t the horror that stayed with her. It was the memory of him. His raw power. His brutal beauty. The way his entire body had been a weapon. She wanted that weapon. She wanted him to turn it on her. To unleash himself on her.
Their physical chemistry is off the chain, so to speak lol. Sorry. Seriously, Sophie Jordan can write. Some. Sexiness. And Knox stays celibate for months after his 8 years in prison, even though he doesn't know if he'll ever see Briar again. 👏👏👏
❦➳ “Yeah,” he heard himself answering, even though he had no idea what flavor Cherry Garcia was. “I like it.” He couldn’t not go. He wasn’t that good or honorable. He wasn’t that strong. If she wanted to play with a wolf, then that’s what she would get.
But even with their insane hotness, there's a good deal of back-and-forth with the Big Conflicted Feelings. Knox doesn't want to feel so much, lose control, and end up back in hell; he also doesn't think he deserves her. Meanwhile Briar, who comes from a violent household, doesn't find out what Knox went in for until the end. These slightly annoying bits are what lost a star for me.
That said, Sophie Jordan's writing is so engaging and addictive that I couldn't put it down. I read half the series this weekend and forgot about Real Lifing. This and #4 are good. Here's my review of Beautiful Lawman. Two 4-star reads from an author I've never heard of? Not bad, Goodreads Gods, not bad. 🙏
July 14, 2016
I have to admit that after such a promising blurb, this book was a disappointment. The first half that took place mostly in the prison was pretty good. The author did a great job conveying how nervous Briar was as she went to help out in the prison as a nurse for the first time, and Knox had all that mystery surrounding him that I like in a hero. But as soon as he was paroled, things took a turn for the worse for this reader. First of all, Briar’s sister was very nervous about her helping out in a prison, and after a significant event happens there, Briar decides not to share with her sister. Ummm…by significant, I mean significant. As in, this stuff makes the news. I have a hard time believing her sister wouldn’t have found out. Second of all, maybe I can suspend disbelief enough to make it through Briar falling into bed with Knox still without knowing why he went to prison, but what I cannot believe is Briar’s friend pushing her toward Knox without knowing why he was put away, not if she’s a good friend. We rely on our friends to be the voice of reason when we lose our heads, and while the reader knows Knox isn’t a dangerous guy, her friends aren’t in the know. And when Briar finally introduces Knox to her sister, she doesn’t seize the opportunity to tell her the ENTIRE TRUTH. Just hey – this guy I’m dating and brought to your family’s home? Yeah…he’s a murderer. Of course her sister is going to freak out! Why Briar didn’t give her sister all the details surrounding Knox’s crime, I have no idea. The whole ‘but you don’t understand’ doesn’t fly in this situation. It was clearly drama for the sake of drama, and it just didn’t work. And I just don’t understand why the author went this way. Even with the details, her sister had a reason to be cautious. But at least give me a heroine who’s going stand up for her man. And Knox – boy, that man is awful quick with the violence for someone who is on parole and always one step away from going back to prison. He was a very cautious character from the beginning, and this just didn’t ring true for me.
What really took the cake for me was that we hit 85%, the hero and heroine haven’t resolved a damn thing, and we get a point of view from a character and this scene doesn’t have a damn thing to do with Briar and Knox! Really? I feel like I needed one of those beepy alerts. **WE TEMPORARILY INTERRUPT THIS STORY FOR A SCENE THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH KNOX AND BRIAR IN ORDER TO SET YOU UP FOR THE NEXT BOOK** That was incredibly frustrating. So then, we finally get back to this book and the most clichéd ending ever. The way Knox ‘proved’ himself to Briar was ridiculous, and in the end, the second half of the story overshadowed everything I’d enjoyed from the first half. Having said all that, I’m reading the second book. Yes, I am. On top of the fact that I’m hoping for the next installment to be more reminiscent of the first half of this book, I really enjoyed the snippets we got of Knox and Reid’s relationship. I at least want to give it a go.
While I gave this story 2 stars, I’d give the narrator, Christian Fox, 5. He had great intonation, and his voice was gruff and sexy as hell, just as I would expect Knox to sound. He did a great job with the female voices, too. It wasn’t too high pitched or soft.
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
What really took the cake for me was that we hit 85%, the hero and heroine haven’t resolved a damn thing, and we get a point of view from a character and this scene doesn’t have a damn thing to do with Briar and Knox! Really? I feel like I needed one of those beepy alerts. **WE TEMPORARILY INTERRUPT THIS STORY FOR A SCENE THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH KNOX AND BRIAR IN ORDER TO SET YOU UP FOR THE NEXT BOOK** That was incredibly frustrating. So then, we finally get back to this book and the most clichéd ending ever. The way Knox ‘proved’ himself to Briar was ridiculous, and in the end, the second half of the story overshadowed everything I’d enjoyed from the first half. Having said all that, I’m reading the second book. Yes, I am. On top of the fact that I’m hoping for the next installment to be more reminiscent of the first half of this book, I really enjoyed the snippets we got of Knox and Reid’s relationship. I at least want to give it a go.
While I gave this story 2 stars, I’d give the narrator, Christian Fox, 5. He had great intonation, and his voice was gruff and sexy as hell, just as I would expect Knox to sound. He did a great job with the female voices, too. It wasn’t too high pitched or soft.
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
April 26, 2018
I feel like all my reads lately have been buddy recs and I am not even a little mad about that! But I was definitely not madly in love with this one.
ALL CHAINED UP started with a crazy amount of intensity that had me so so excited. All I knew about this opener for Jordan's Devil's Rock series was that it was starred a convicted felon hero and had a jail setting. After reading McKenna's HARD TIME I was very into exploring more of this kind of romance buuuut it didn't take long for this particular read to not only lose that initial intensity but also expose some of the ridiculousness of both the characters and plot.
Both protagonists interested me in the beginning, but shortly thereafter Briar lost me with her inane and completely thoughtless comments, and Knox fluctuated between a total closed off dick, who went hot and cold faster than a Canadian spring, and yet also.. I don't know. Acted like someone completely different, which is understandable in his post-prison adjustment period, but it didn't feel like a natural transition. I was initially touched by the sibling relationship, and kinda smitten by the idea of the man who retains his goodness and ability to smile after eight years in jail, as North is stuck in jail finishing out his sentence even his brother is released, but after the way things came to a close in this one.. I have no idea how I feel about him now. Looks like he's going to be just another broody britches by the time he's starring in his own story.
As for the rest of the supporting characters? Meh? Not worth mentioning, really. I'll admit I'm curious about the totally outlandish set-up for book two between the now-escaped felon who lead one of the gangs while locked up, and who had served eleven years of his life sentence, and the President's Daughter who was kidnapped by his brother.. but I'll definitely be going into that one with my wtf threshold on super low.
CHAINED UP is a great idea that fails as a result of the characters. But I'm hoping that the next pairing can carry what's to come.
ALL CHAINED UP started with a crazy amount of intensity that had me so so excited. All I knew about this opener for Jordan's Devil's Rock series was that it was starred a convicted felon hero and had a jail setting. After reading McKenna's HARD TIME I was very into exploring more of this kind of romance buuuut it didn't take long for this particular read to not only lose that initial intensity but also expose some of the ridiculousness of both the characters and plot.
Both protagonists interested me in the beginning, but shortly thereafter Briar lost me with her inane and completely thoughtless comments, and Knox fluctuated between a total closed off dick, who went hot and cold faster than a Canadian spring, and yet also.. I don't know. Acted like someone completely different, which is understandable in his post-prison adjustment period, but it didn't feel like a natural transition. I was initially touched by the sibling relationship, and kinda smitten by the idea of the man who retains his goodness and ability to smile after eight years in jail, as North is stuck in jail finishing out his sentence even his brother is released, but after the way things came to a close in this one.. I have no idea how I feel about him now. Looks like he's going to be just another broody britches by the time he's starring in his own story.
As for the rest of the supporting characters? Meh? Not worth mentioning, really. I'll admit I'm curious about the totally outlandish set-up for book two between the now-escaped felon who lead one of the gangs while locked up, and who had served eleven years of his life sentence, and the President's Daughter who was kidnapped by his brother.. but I'll definitely be going into that one with my wtf threshold on super low.
CHAINED UP is a great idea that fails as a result of the characters. But I'm hoping that the next pairing can carry what's to come.
May 8, 2016
Entertaining and thought provoking. I picked this up after it was chosed as a group read for a Facebook group's "Not-so Old-School" book of the month. I'm a nursing student and the idea of a literally locked up bad boy intrigued me. And for the most part, I really liked this escape into convict love. Knox really is a bad boy, in prison for something that most people would see as a justifiable homicide. He's had to toughen up a lot, so he's beyond edgy. His lady love is a volunteer nurse for the prison and she's intimidated as hell to be around all these lusty, crazy men. Innocence and edgy meet, and it was delicious! I felt like the reason for Knox's incarceration should have been more on her mind. She doesn't find out until well over halfway through the book. I just think that would be something that I would ask straight out. The rest of the book was well done. Maybe a little abrupt at the end, but I'd def recommend this for those of us who dig bad boys who are gruff and tough and haven't been naughty in years.
April 17, 2017
Original review on Julalicious Book Paradise
Rating: 4.5/5
I don't think you know just how excited I was for this book. I was trying to get an ARC to be able to review it but it never seemed to work and Sophie being the amazing person that she is gave me a copy when I met her at Apollycon and I totally devoured this book on my way back from Savannah.
If you know me at all, you know I just love Sophie's writing and she's one of my favourite authors hence the reason I wanted this baby so bad. Plus, for the second time this year, she actually made me want to read again with two of her books so thank you Sophie :)
This review will be general; not because I didn't love it, but since it won't be out before the end of March, I don't want to give too much about the story.
Now, let's finally start this review of this bad boy. When Sophie first introduced us to this story, I was already hooked on the idea of it. I was intrigued how she was going to unravel the story between the two main characters.
Briar is the kind of girl that you notice or you don't. Physically, she seemed like the kind of girl guys would notice, but she seemed so introverted due to a lot about what happened in her past, that it's also easy to just dismiss her. I really enjoyed reading about her and learning more and more about her as I got further and further into the book. I liked that she knew what she wanted even if she sometimes lacked the confidence to go for it, but she changed throughout this book and I really hope we do get some glimpse of her in the future books.
And now Knox (I only kept him after because I know that’s all you want to know about lol)... Oh my... What can I say about the man that I wouldn't mind having for myself? He is really the typical guy you would judge before even getting to know him. I won't say that he's innocent or anything like that, but he is worth getting to know. Things we learn about him throughout the book just made it hard for me to hate him when he was doing something stupid but I had no problems saying that he was in fact stupid for doing those things hahaha Knox had a lot to learn about himself and how to deal with the consequences of his actions. But he also had to accept a lot of things that he couldn’t control and I think that it was probably the one thing he had a lot of trouble adjusting himself to.
And Briar and Knox together... Wow... Their interaction from the start screamed chemistry and a whole lot of sexual tensions. I was ready for them to get down to business since the first moment they saw one another. There was something about the two of them that just clicked. They needed one another without even knowing why they did. But even if I wanted them to do it like bunnies, I’m still happy that’s not how Sophie decided to develop their story. She gave us just enough to keep us entertaining and intrigued and needy. You can only continue to flip each page of this book to see where it will all end.
In this book, a series of events will keep making them run into one another, making it impossible for them to get over the other. Through the good and the bad, they both learned more about one another and sometimes, it set them back, sometimes forward. Their story wasn't an easy one, but in my opinion, it was worth all their efforts.
I still need to talk about the other characters and I will admit that I really want Briar's neighbour to have her story in this series. I don't care if it's a novella or a full book where she also wants some sexy time with some sexy inmate lol She deserves it. I really enjoyed her character so much.
Briar's sister was something else. She's really snob and judgemental. She might have improved by the end of the book, but I still feel some harsh feelings towards her.
North, Knox’s Brother, and Reid, the leader of their gang in prison, aren’t there as much, but Sophie wrote them making me want to read more about their and I’m looking forward to read about them. Knox cares so much about his little brother. He feels responsible for him and I think that this alone dictates a lot of his actions in this book. As for Reid, you can tell that Knox respects him and trusts him as much as he is able to trust other people.
If I was honest, I was really hoping the next book would be about North, but after reading this book, but I’m really happy we get Reid’s story next. He’s quite an interesting character and I feel like we are in for a lot of surprises from him. I'm really hooked on this series and I hope she writes tons of books in it.
I was giving an advance copy of this book by the author in exchange of an honest review.
Rating: 4.5/5
I don't think you know just how excited I was for this book. I was trying to get an ARC to be able to review it but it never seemed to work and Sophie being the amazing person that she is gave me a copy when I met her at Apollycon and I totally devoured this book on my way back from Savannah.
If you know me at all, you know I just love Sophie's writing and she's one of my favourite authors hence the reason I wanted this baby so bad. Plus, for the second time this year, she actually made me want to read again with two of her books so thank you Sophie :)
This review will be general; not because I didn't love it, but since it won't be out before the end of March, I don't want to give too much about the story.
Now, let's finally start this review of this bad boy. When Sophie first introduced us to this story, I was already hooked on the idea of it. I was intrigued how she was going to unravel the story between the two main characters.
Briar is the kind of girl that you notice or you don't. Physically, she seemed like the kind of girl guys would notice, but she seemed so introverted due to a lot about what happened in her past, that it's also easy to just dismiss her. I really enjoyed reading about her and learning more and more about her as I got further and further into the book. I liked that she knew what she wanted even if she sometimes lacked the confidence to go for it, but she changed throughout this book and I really hope we do get some glimpse of her in the future books.
And now Knox (I only kept him after because I know that’s all you want to know about lol)... Oh my... What can I say about the man that I wouldn't mind having for myself? He is really the typical guy you would judge before even getting to know him. I won't say that he's innocent or anything like that, but he is worth getting to know. Things we learn about him throughout the book just made it hard for me to hate him when he was doing something stupid but I had no problems saying that he was in fact stupid for doing those things hahaha Knox had a lot to learn about himself and how to deal with the consequences of his actions. But he also had to accept a lot of things that he couldn’t control and I think that it was probably the one thing he had a lot of trouble adjusting himself to.
And Briar and Knox together... Wow... Their interaction from the start screamed chemistry and a whole lot of sexual tensions. I was ready for them to get down to business since the first moment they saw one another. There was something about the two of them that just clicked. They needed one another without even knowing why they did. But even if I wanted them to do it like bunnies, I’m still happy that’s not how Sophie decided to develop their story. She gave us just enough to keep us entertaining and intrigued and needy. You can only continue to flip each page of this book to see where it will all end.
In this book, a series of events will keep making them run into one another, making it impossible for them to get over the other. Through the good and the bad, they both learned more about one another and sometimes, it set them back, sometimes forward. Their story wasn't an easy one, but in my opinion, it was worth all their efforts.
I still need to talk about the other characters and I will admit that I really want Briar's neighbour to have her story in this series. I don't care if it's a novella or a full book where she also wants some sexy time with some sexy inmate lol She deserves it. I really enjoyed her character so much.
Briar's sister was something else. She's really snob and judgemental. She might have improved by the end of the book, but I still feel some harsh feelings towards her.
North, Knox’s Brother, and Reid, the leader of their gang in prison, aren’t there as much, but Sophie wrote them making me want to read more about their and I’m looking forward to read about them. Knox cares so much about his little brother. He feels responsible for him and I think that this alone dictates a lot of his actions in this book. As for Reid, you can tell that Knox respects him and trusts him as much as he is able to trust other people.
If I was honest, I was really hoping the next book would be about North, but after reading this book, but I’m really happy we get Reid’s story next. He’s quite an interesting character and I feel like we are in for a lot of surprises from him. I'm really hooked on this series and I hope she writes tons of books in it.
I was giving an advance copy of this book by the author in exchange of an honest review.
August 26, 2020
This is an excellent beginning to Ms. Jordan's outstanding Devil's Rock series!
August 6, 2025
3.75 🌟
A BR with my sweetest Lori 🥰
My first time reading a Sophie Jordan book and I have to say I am not disappointed. I have read somewhere that she writes HR and YA books but her CR books from what I've seen in this book are pretty darn good.
What first captured my attention, and I was pleasantly surprised with, is the blurb. It's the first time I read about a convict serving time and the MCs first encounter is actually in a Penitentiary.
Knox is in for murder (accidentally killing his cousin's rapist) and convicted for 8 to 15 years.
Briar, beautiful name if I might say, is a nurse who volunteers to help at the Penitentiary infirmary. Their first meet was a bit lustful. She's never been with anyone who looks as good, as big, as tattooed and as handsome as Knox.
From his part, Knox has been denied female attention for 8 years and interacting with Briar has bloomed a hope in his heart and a desire to be with someone so pure and innocent.
I loved the first part, it was the longing, the conflicted feelings, the attraction and the realisation that there is bond but has absolutely no future or possibility to become something more. I felt so bad for Knox, for though he is a murderer but his intentions where honorable and his actions came from a place of hurt and injustice.
Once he got out I also loved the fact that he didn't immediately impale his 🍆 in every walking talking female he encountered and he did have them aplenty and willing. He was still hung up on his connection with Briar.
And then they met, and they acted on their chemistry and their relationship remained only physical.
This is the part I did not enjoy much.
1. First, he thought he was forcing himself on her and it brought all the ugly feelings he had when his cousin was raped. He did not want to become a rapist. But that guilt lasted only one scene. I felt that in all their physical encounters he was a bit pushy, he was a bit too much and he didn't allow her one moment of clarity to use her common sense.
2. Briar for me was a bit of a push over. Whenever, he touched her she just melted, her body took over her mind and she just melted into a puddle at his feet.
3. Her best friend/neighbour was the typical side character who objectifies the MMC, she even flirted with him openly infront of the MFC (which made me hate her) and she is very sexually liberal. She encouraged Briar to pursue a relationship with the MMC without even knowing or asking what he was in for.
4. The sister was too controlling and pushy as well. Constantly trying to manage Briar's happiness and I did not get why she changed her mind so hastily and abruptly towards Briar's relationship with Knox at the end.
5. Briar let a random man grab her hips and grind himself against her a** just to make the MMC feel jealous. Girl, no need to steep so low to get a man's attention.
6. The MMC was constantly playing the she loves me she loves me not petal picking game. But in this case he was "now I want her, now I don't". Dude make up your mind! First he scratched that bond by becoming physical with her. Then he let her go. Then he needed to have his brother's permission to be happy and sought her again then he let her go. Then his uncle told him to think of a future with a nice family so again he goes after her and then he lets her go. And every freaking time she just forgives him and lets him in. And if not she chases after him.
I felt the author did not invest much time in their romantic relationship as much as their physical one and the ending was very rushed.
📝 ticking another Bingo square
(77) "Title starts with A"
Square Count: 81
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A BR with my sweetest Lori 🥰
My first time reading a Sophie Jordan book and I have to say I am not disappointed. I have read somewhere that she writes HR and YA books but her CR books from what I've seen in this book are pretty darn good.
What first captured my attention, and I was pleasantly surprised with, is the blurb. It's the first time I read about a convict serving time and the MCs first encounter is actually in a Penitentiary.
Knox is in for murder (accidentally killing his cousin's rapist) and convicted for 8 to 15 years.
Briar, beautiful name if I might say, is a nurse who volunteers to help at the Penitentiary infirmary. Their first meet was a bit lustful. She's never been with anyone who looks as good, as big, as tattooed and as handsome as Knox.
From his part, Knox has been denied female attention for 8 years and interacting with Briar has bloomed a hope in his heart and a desire to be with someone so pure and innocent.
I loved the first part, it was the longing, the conflicted feelings, the attraction and the realisation that there is bond but has absolutely no future or possibility to become something more. I felt so bad for Knox, for though he is a murderer but his intentions where honorable and his actions came from a place of hurt and injustice.
Once he got out I also loved the fact that he didn't immediately impale his 🍆 in every walking talking female he encountered and he did have them aplenty and willing. He was still hung up on his connection with Briar.
And then they met, and they acted on their chemistry and their relationship remained only physical.
This is the part I did not enjoy much.
1. First, he thought he was forcing himself on her and it brought all the ugly feelings he had when his cousin was raped. He did not want to become a rapist. But that guilt lasted only one scene. I felt that in all their physical encounters he was a bit pushy, he was a bit too much and he didn't allow her one moment of clarity to use her common sense.
2. Briar for me was a bit of a push over. Whenever, he touched her she just melted, her body took over her mind and she just melted into a puddle at his feet.
3. Her best friend/neighbour was the typical side character who objectifies the MMC, she even flirted with him openly infront of the MFC (which made me hate her) and she is very sexually liberal. She encouraged Briar to pursue a relationship with the MMC without even knowing or asking what he was in for.
4. The sister was too controlling and pushy as well. Constantly trying to manage Briar's happiness and I did not get why she changed her mind so hastily and abruptly towards Briar's relationship with Knox at the end.
5. Briar let a random man grab her hips and grind himself against her a** just to make the MMC feel jealous. Girl, no need to steep so low to get a man's attention.
6. The MMC was constantly playing the she loves me she loves me not petal picking game. But in this case he was "now I want her, now I don't". Dude make up your mind! First he scratched that bond by becoming physical with her. Then he let her go. Then he needed to have his brother's permission to be happy and sought her again then he let her go. Then his uncle told him to think of a future with a nice family so again he goes after her and then he lets her go. And every freaking time she just forgives him and lets him in. And if not she chases after him.
I felt the author did not invest much time in their romantic relationship as much as their physical one and the ending was very rushed.
📝 ticking another Bingo square
(77) "Title starts with A"
Square Count: 81
🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃76┃44
🔴┃86┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃98┃🔴┃🔴┃85┃🔴
🔴┃51┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴
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November 27, 2018
Fun!
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This is a first time author for me and I must admit, I really like her writing style.
Can't say I absolutely loved the characters for some reason (though they were fun and cute together and all that), but it did make me curious about the next book, so that's a plus.
It's worth reading though, at least to get to "meet" a new, good author.
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This is a first time author for me and I must admit, I really like her writing style.
Can't say I absolutely loved the characters for some reason (though they were fun and cute together and all that), but it did make me curious about the next book, so that's a plus.
It's worth reading though, at least to get to "meet" a new, good author.
January 28, 2016
I was lucky to get an ARC from the author. This was sexy as all get out - I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Can't wait for the next book!
March 31, 2016
Knox Callaghan is danger personified. And he has worked very hard for eight years to portray this image to the other inmates in Devil’s Rock. No one messes with him or his younger brother North. Both of them were convicted for manslaughter, after killing the man who raped their cousin. And they have been paying for it ever since. But finally he has been given parole, after saving the life of the new nurse, Briar, when two prisoners decided to take over the HSU so that they could have Briar to themselves. Knox can’t help being attracted to Briar, even though he knows nothing can come of it.
Briar is a nurse who volunteered to assist her boss, Doctor Walker, in his weekly help at Devil’s Rock. Briar despises violence, and believes all prisoners to be bad men. But despite this, she can’t help being attracted to Knox. But then he saves her life, and she realises that her original view of him was wrong. And now he’s finally out of prison, and she hopes to have the opportunity to thank him.
Both Knox and Briar believes that giving into their attraction would be a very bad idea, but walking away is not an option. So when they cross paths again, neither can resist the intensity between them. But can they overcome their doubts, and realise that what they have is worth fighting for?
I LOVED Knox!! His years in prison has made him a hard and dangerous man, but underneath it all he’s loyal and protective. And he would do anything for those he loves. But prison had damaged him, made him believe that he wasn’t good enough anymore. Especially not for sweet and innocent Briar. My major weakness is a broken man, so of course Knox was fantastic. I loved how he cared for his brother, and how protective he was over Briar. The fact that after eight years in prison he didn’t just have sex with the first available woman once he got out, was wonderful in my opinion. He wanted Briar, and he wasn’t going to settle for anything less than what he felt for her.
The plot was wonderfully done. The prison dynamics was so very interesting. I loved the bromance between the two brothers, how they watched each other’s backs while incarcerated, and I also loved the addition of Reid, who had one of the biggest gangs in Devil’s Rock. The bare glimpses given of him made me very interested to see what his story is. Especially after what happened near the end. I can’t wait to read his book.
My only problem with this book was Briar. The only thing I liked about her was her name. For me she was too judgemental to like. Even after finding out about her childhood and how her dad abused her mother, sister and her, I still couldn’t understand her views of Knox and the inmates. She believed them all to be evil and stupid, and that they deserved everything they got. I HATE judgemental people, so I just couldn’t like her. Yes, by the end she did get better, but for me it was too late.
The sexy times were very hot, and I wouldn’t mind having Knox for myself.
I would have given this book 10 stars, because of my love of Knox and the plot, but unfortunately I can’t because of Briar. But it was still a really good read, and I can’t wait to read this next book. I really hope North will get his own book too.
August 20, 2023
ця книжка витягнула мене із серпневого нечитуна. коли я не читала її, то постійно поверталася думками до героїв. можна сказати впевнено, що вони чіпляють.
історія зацікавила мене відразу з анотації. чи то через нестандартну історію, чи через те, що я читала раніше книжку з подібним сюжетом у Софі Джексон. хоч це було й давно, але я досі під приємним враженням від «a pound of flesh».
Браяр Девіс – медсестра, яка відправляється у в'язницю з лікарем, як волонтери. хоч вона й не хотіла цього робити, бо боялася, але думки про підвищення підштовхнули її. у неї складне дитинство, батько-тиран, невдалі стосунки – все це веде до недовіри до чоловічої статі, а тут вона опиняється між злочинцями, можна зрозуміти її страх. вона мені сподобалась. дуже мила, хороша дівчина, яка відкривалася з кожним разом з нової сторони. до неї я відчуваю лише прихильність.
Нокс Калахен – ув'язнений вже 8 років, він має бути жорстоким та сильним, щоб вижити у клітці звірів, де знаходиться зі своїм меншим братом. його з'їдає провина, але не покидає надія, що він вибереться звідти рано чи пізно. от мені важко підібрати йому прикметники. він проявляє мало емоцій, закритий від всіх, з темною натурою, але при цьому... він все ще хороший. принаймні до Браяр він завжди був добрим і до своєї сім'ї, яка для нього на першому місці. з Браяр він зрозумів, що вартий всього. і те, що він вчинив погано в минулому – ще не вирок. те, що він зробив було не зі злої натури, а на початку з помислів захистити сім'ю, але вийшло так, як вийшло.
я прочитала більшу половину книжки і була повністю захоплена цією історією. я була повністю зачарована їхньою парою, хімією, що вирувала. вони гарячі, пристрасті та ненаситні. я зняла один бал за те, що в другій половині було багато невизначеності. він ніяк не міг прийняти те, що у нього може бути щось більше. те, що він вартий кохання. а коли визнав він, то почала відгороджуватися вона. і так по колу. в кінці мене навіть це почало виводить із себе. а також не сподобався момент, коли вона прийшла до нього у бар і наслідки. тоді я зрозуміла, що 5 зірок від мене цій книжці не бачити, тож так.
точно варта уваги. після цієї книжки, мені захотілося прочитати наступні. тим більше, що в кінці був невеличкий шматочок, який підігріває інтерес до книжки про Ріда. тільки чому цей шматочок був посеред книжки, а не в кінці – не ясно.
4/5
історія зацікавила мене відразу з анотації. чи то через нестандартну історію, чи через те, що я читала раніше книжку з подібним сюжетом у Софі Джексон. хоч це було й давно, але я досі під приємним враженням від «a pound of flesh».
Браяр Девіс – медсестра, яка відправляється у в'язницю з лікарем, як волонтери. хоч вона й не хотіла цього робити, бо боялася, але думки про підвищення підштовхнули її. у неї складне дитинство, батько-тиран, невдалі стосунки – все це веде до недовіри до чоловічої статі, а тут вона опиняється між злочинцями, можна зрозуміти її страх. вона мені сподобалась. дуже мила, хороша дівчина, яка відкривалася з кожним разом з нової сторони. до неї я відчуваю лише прихильність.
Нокс Калахен – ув'язнений вже 8 років, він має бути жорстоким та сильним, щоб вижити у клітці звірів, де знаходиться зі своїм меншим братом. його з'їдає провина, але не покидає надія, що він вибереться звідти рано чи пізно. от мені важко підібрати йому прикметники. він проявляє мало емоцій, закритий від всіх, з темною натурою, але при цьому... він все ще хороший. принаймні до Браяр він завжди був добрим і до своєї сім'ї, яка для нього на першому місці. з Браяр він зрозумів, що вартий всього. і те, що він вчинив погано в минулому – ще не вирок. те, що він зробив було не зі злої натури, а на початку з помислів захистити сім'ю, але вийшло так, як вийшло.
я прочитала більшу половину книжки і була повністю захоплена цією історією. я була повністю зачарована їхньою парою, хімією, що вирувала. вони гарячі, пристрасті та ненаситні. я зняла один бал за те, що в другій половині було багато невизначеності. він ніяк не міг прийняти те, що у нього може бути щось більше. те, що він вартий кохання. а коли визнав він, то почала відгороджуватися вона. і так по колу. в кінці мене навіть це почало виводить із себе. а також не сподобався момент, коли вона прийшла до нього у бар і наслідки. тоді я зрозуміла, що 5 зірок від мене цій книжці не бачити, тож так.
точно варта уваги. після цієї книжки, мені захотілося прочитати наступні. тим більше, що в кінці був невеличкий шматочок, який підігріває інтерес до книжки про Ріда. тільки чому цей шматочок був посеред книжки, а не в кінці – не ясно.
4/5
April 26, 2018
I enjoyed this audiobook much more than I was expecting. It was suggested in a group by a friend and the idea of a prison context interested me. Whilst more of the story is outside of the prison than in, I found that I enjoyed that element more. There are parts of this that might not quite be truly believable but other facets compensate.
The heroine Briar was a grower-on-me type of character but I liked Knox from the beginning. Their chemistry was superb and there was a strong story to tell. A hot, quickish read with sufficient depth.
The heroine Briar was a grower-on-me type of character but I liked Knox from the beginning. Their chemistry was superb and there was a strong story to tell. A hot, quickish read with sufficient depth.
May 12, 2016
Prison Break, only better!
These are not the convicts you cross the street to avoid! Hot men and even hotter love scenes. I can't wait for Reid's story!!!
These are not the convicts you cross the street to avoid! Hot men and even hotter love scenes. I can't wait for Reid's story!!!
April 1, 2016
All Chained Up is the first story in Sophie Jordan’s Devil’s Rock series, named for the prison that is a key part of the setting. When Briar, a nurse, volunteers to go with a doctor from her clinic to treat inmates at Devil’s Rock following the retirement of their regular practitioner, she figures she can handle a few weeks of working in the prison setting, even if it does make her uncomfortable. Reassuring herself that there is security everywhere, she focuses on seeing the inmates as patients needing treatment, not as scary, large men. When she meets Knox, in the infirmary with injuries from a fight, she finds herself both frightened and fascinated by him. They share an electric connection though neither verbally acknowledges it. When Knox saves her life during an attempted infirmary take over, preventing a brutal assault, she sees that his stoic facade, in fact masks a man who cares. Paroled after 8 long years in prison, in part due to his help of Briar and her colleagues during the incident, a chance encounter between them at a convenience store leads Briar to throw caution to the winds and begin an affair with Knox. After locking down his emotions for so long, Knox is determined to make their time together only about sex (and good sex at that). As he adjusts to life on the outside again, will he be able to open his heart to Briar and embrace a new future?
I really enjoyed this story! Knox avenged an assault on his cousin, and when things went too far, he and his younger brother North ended up in prison for manslaughter. For 8 long years, they’ve had each other’s backs, and been under the protection of the ruling internal gang leader, Reid, without whom they’d never have survived. Knox’s sudden probation leaves him out in the world again (with his brother still locked up) and having to adjust to everything that means after years of being strong and in control all the time. He has a parole officer checking on him regularly, rules to follow, and a job bartending at his uncle’s biker bar. Knox is determined never to go back to jail, and will do anything he needs to do to stay out of trouble. Knox’s character is that of a bad boy with a good heart, even if that heart is pretty scarred. He struggles with the idea of having a normal relationship. Indeed, the idea of an actual future with a woman is something he stopped thinking about once in jail, his focus solely on day to day survival. Now that’s he’s free, it’s something he begins to contemplate as he and Briar reconnect outside the prison.
Briar has had her own share of trouble, including an abusive ex-boyfriend and a rocky relationship with her mother, who never left her abusive husband (Briar’s dad). She and her sister are on good terms though her sister worried about her being in danger working at the prison – a worry that turned out to be well founded when Briar was attacked there though Briar didn’t share that news. She’s shocked at herself though for being attracted to Knox who is clearly off limits while at the prison, and part of her worries that, like her mother, she is attracted to violent men. When he saves her from being assaulted she realizes that her assumptions about him were all wrong. And when they meet again on the outside, there is no reason not to act on that attraction. She trusts Knox, and this leads to several steamy scenes between them. Briar is sweet but feisty, and in her arms, Knox finds those humane pieces of himself that he’s had to hide for so long. I loved the two of them together, and how Knox is able to finally let down his guard and expose his feelings to Briar.
The story moves at a swift pace, with a very interesting look at Knox’s life inside the prison in the first part of the story, as well as his re-adjustment to the outside world. Action scenes to go along with the sexy romance make for a compelling read. As well, contrary to the usual setup, there is a chapter in the latter part of the story (but not at the end) that sets up the plot for the next story with a hostage situation that will ensure readers want to pick up the next book to see how it all turns out. No worries, though, Knox and Briar get their happy ending in this one. 4.5 stars for this exciting and sexy read!
I really enjoyed this story! Knox avenged an assault on his cousin, and when things went too far, he and his younger brother North ended up in prison for manslaughter. For 8 long years, they’ve had each other’s backs, and been under the protection of the ruling internal gang leader, Reid, without whom they’d never have survived. Knox’s sudden probation leaves him out in the world again (with his brother still locked up) and having to adjust to everything that means after years of being strong and in control all the time. He has a parole officer checking on him regularly, rules to follow, and a job bartending at his uncle’s biker bar. Knox is determined never to go back to jail, and will do anything he needs to do to stay out of trouble. Knox’s character is that of a bad boy with a good heart, even if that heart is pretty scarred. He struggles with the idea of having a normal relationship. Indeed, the idea of an actual future with a woman is something he stopped thinking about once in jail, his focus solely on day to day survival. Now that’s he’s free, it’s something he begins to contemplate as he and Briar reconnect outside the prison.
Briar has had her own share of trouble, including an abusive ex-boyfriend and a rocky relationship with her mother, who never left her abusive husband (Briar’s dad). She and her sister are on good terms though her sister worried about her being in danger working at the prison – a worry that turned out to be well founded when Briar was attacked there though Briar didn’t share that news. She’s shocked at herself though for being attracted to Knox who is clearly off limits while at the prison, and part of her worries that, like her mother, she is attracted to violent men. When he saves her from being assaulted she realizes that her assumptions about him were all wrong. And when they meet again on the outside, there is no reason not to act on that attraction. She trusts Knox, and this leads to several steamy scenes between them. Briar is sweet but feisty, and in her arms, Knox finds those humane pieces of himself that he’s had to hide for so long. I loved the two of them together, and how Knox is able to finally let down his guard and expose his feelings to Briar.
The story moves at a swift pace, with a very interesting look at Knox’s life inside the prison in the first part of the story, as well as his re-adjustment to the outside world. Action scenes to go along with the sexy romance make for a compelling read. As well, contrary to the usual setup, there is a chapter in the latter part of the story (but not at the end) that sets up the plot for the next story with a hostage situation that will ensure readers want to pick up the next book to see how it all turns out. No worries, though, Knox and Briar get their happy ending in this one. 4.5 stars for this exciting and sexy read!
He approached, stopping an inch behind her, not touching, but she stilled anyway, sensing him at her back. She didn’t turn around, but he heard the change in her breathing. The shallow rasp. Like she couldn’t get enough air.
His chest tightened as he absorbed her warmth. Even this close, it was like a current connected them. All of him felt coiled and ready to snap like a contracting spring.
She lifted her head and stared straight ahead into the cabinets, waiting. Was this it, then? She had invited him over here on the pretext of ice cream, but the first move was his?
He closed the final distance and braced both hands on the counter, leaning in, letting her feel all of him against the trembling line of her body.
He spoke into her ear and caught a whiff of pears. Just like all those times in the HSU. Except they were alone now. No guards. No handcuffs. Nothing was stopping him from touching her. “This is a bad idea,” he whispered.
A shudder wracked her softness and vibrated into the length of him.
He lifted his hand and fisted it into her hair, fingers sinking deep and tangling in the mass, the strands soft as silk against his rough palm. “You should tell me to go,” he growled, fingers delving deeper, searching for the band to free it. She released a soft whimper as he found the thin elastic and tugged it free. The band snapped and broke and the mass of silky hair fell over his hand and arm, tumbling down her back.
Just like that, something snapped in him, too. The last invisible thread that had been holding him together.
“Last chance,” he growled, thrusting his hips, letting her feel him, rock hard against her, letting her know exactly what was going to happen if she didn’t tell him to get the fuck out of here.
He pulled back on her hair and another one of those little sounds escaped her as she arched her throat for him and he pressed his open mouth to the flushed skin at the side of her neck, directly beneath her ear.
She pushed back against him in response, rocking her ass into his hardness.
She might come to regret it, but he had his answer.
August 6, 2025
REVIEW
Rating: 4/5
POV: 3rd, dual
Tropes: Opposites Attract; asshole MMC; Suspense; Forced Proximity
Heat Level:5+/5
Kinks:N/A
Likes:
*The plot felt very unique, not common to come across books where one of the MCs is actually in prison for at least 25% of the book
*The opposites attract trope is very well done - you have a Felon (who went to jail when he was 20) and a small town Nurse.
*I enjoyed there was a heavy focus on the romance with the suspense/thriller aspect of the plot in the background.
Dislikes:
* I didn’t love the FMC. I get that she’s a bit sheltered in a sense but I felt she was a bit closed minded/prudish which I didn’t love. Example when the MMC is still in prison there’s a section where she’s observing the Dr look at the MMCs injury and in her head she says “He treated him like any other patient. Because that’s what he saw. A patient. He didn’t see the caged animal she did.”
Like I’m sorry, but what the fuck? lol
Conclusion:
Good CR/Thriller with a heavier focus on the romance. Also a unique plot since the MMC is in prison for 25% if not more of the book. The sex was also a positive surprise as there was a good bit of it and it was 🔥. Especially the ice cream scene… 👀🥵. There is a 3rd act breakup but I do feel as though the couple had decent communication and was resolved fairly quickly. However the ending of the book did feel a bit rushed.
Thanks for asking me to BR with you Lori and for introducing me to this author! 💕
4/5
Rating: 4/5
POV: 3rd, dual
Tropes: Opposites Attract; asshole MMC; Suspense; Forced Proximity
Heat Level:5+/5
Kinks:N/A
Likes:
*The plot felt very unique, not common to come across books where one of the MCs is actually in prison for at least 25% of the book
*The opposites attract trope is very well done - you have a Felon (who went to jail when he was 20) and a small town Nurse.
*I enjoyed there was a heavy focus on the romance with the suspense/thriller aspect of the plot in the background.
Dislikes:
* I didn’t love the FMC. I get that she’s a bit sheltered in a sense but I felt she was a bit closed minded/prudish which I didn’t love. Example when the MMC is still in prison there’s a section where she’s observing the Dr look at the MMCs injury and in her head she says “He treated him like any other patient. Because that’s what he saw. A patient. He didn’t see the caged animal she did.”
Like I’m sorry, but what the fuck? lol
Conclusion:
Good CR/Thriller with a heavier focus on the romance. Also a unique plot since the MMC is in prison for 25% if not more of the book. The sex was also a positive surprise as there was a good bit of it and it was 🔥. Especially the ice cream scene… 👀🥵. There is a 3rd act breakup but I do feel as though the couple had decent communication and was resolved fairly quickly. However the ending of the book did feel a bit rushed.
Thanks for asking me to BR with you Lori and for introducing me to this author! 💕
4/5
April 11, 2016
3.5/5
This was really good for the most part although I'll admit that I wanted a bit more of the emotional side of the relationship instead of all the sex scenes. Know was a little frustrating at times but overall an entertaining read and I'm looking forward to Reid's book!
----------------------------------------
FULL REVIEW
I was really nervous to start All Chained Up because it features a romance with a convict, not something that I would normally gravitate towards. Having loved Sophie Jordan's previous romance novels though, I was still eager to give this book a try. All Chained Up turned out to be quite the addicting read and mostly what I expected out of the book.
Like I said before, I was very wary of Knox's character at first. The fact that he was a murderer should have made me (and the heroine) run in the opposite direction, but I found myself being very intrigued by his character. As you may have guessed, he was very much rough around the edges, intense and guarded his emotions. He was incredibly difficult to gauge because he wasn't the most open guy when it came to his feelings. Despite his murderer status, throughout the book, I began to grow an understanding of his personality. While his reason for killing was understandable, it still didn't excuse it. I didn't love his character, because I felt really weird rooting for a murderer, but I did feel like Sophie Jordan did a good job at making him redeemable. Briar, the nurse that Knox meets in prison, was a character that I liked overall. She was definitely a bit too innocent and naive for my tastes, but she had her moments where she really shined. Her compassion, dedication and inner strength that she exhibited after a dreadful and terrifying experience at the prison made her likeable.
The chemistry between Knox and Briar was on fire from their very first meeting. Their connection was electric and you feel all that passion that they had between them from the beginning of All Chained Up. Nothing physical happened between them for a bit, but once they started, the two had a ton of steamy scenes together. While I thought Sophie Jordan excelled at the sexy times, I did want to see more of an emotional connection between Briar and Knox. A few more scenes of them connecting in a non-physical way would have been fantastic. Towards the middle, near the end, I did get really irritated with Knox for repeatedly pushing Briar away. I wanted him to get his shit together and fight for Briar and stop with the "I don't deserve her" thoughts. Thankfully, his frustrating behavior didn't last too long.
In the end, I thought All Chained up was a captivating, intense and very enjoyable read. We meet a bunch of secondary characters in this one that I'm hoping will also get their books next. I'm looking forward to more in the series for sure.
April 3, 2016
Really loved this book! Not a romantic trope that you see much of. Knox is a convict in Devil's Rock and he makes no apology for the murder he committed. He has been in for 8 years and has been denied his first parole. Briar, a nurse, has agreed to volunteer one day a week out at DR until a permanent solution can be found. Her first day of course her and Knox get to meet. Although Blair is scared of the situation, she has a background of abuse, she stays with it. A situation occurs that shines a light on Knox's true character that gains him his parole. Even though he has to leave his younger brother behind, he takes it.
Briar and Knox end up meeting on the outside and thus begins their relationship. Knox blames himself for what went down with his family because of his actions that night, so he has a lot of guilt to contend with. Can he let go of the guilt and allow himself to be happy with Briar? The scene with Reid and Grace...OMGOSH...I want that book now!! This was a great kick off to the series and I am more than looking forward to the next one.
Briar and Knox end up meeting on the outside and thus begins their relationship. Knox blames himself for what went down with his family because of his actions that night, so he has a lot of guilt to contend with. Can he let go of the guilt and allow himself to be happy with Briar? The scene with Reid and Grace...OMGOSH...I want that book now!! This was a great kick off to the series and I am more than looking forward to the next one.
January 18, 2016
HOLY FREAKING CRAP OF WONDER!
I'm going to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, but it will be really hard. This was an amazing read. I am a big fan of Sophie's and when she offered me a chance to read All Chained Up, I was stoked. Starting this book at 4:30 today, I flew through the story, devouring the hot, gritty sexual tension between Briar and Knox. And the suspense. There was one scene where I was literally about to come out of my skin if I didn't get to the end of it! And there is this adorable moment that made me laugh out loud (and of course, my husband looks at me like I'm insane) and the whole book was just an intense, whirlwind of emotional awesomeness. I highly recommend this book if you like suspenseful, gritty contemporary romance.
I'm going to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, but it will be really hard. This was an amazing read. I am a big fan of Sophie's and when she offered me a chance to read All Chained Up, I was stoked. Starting this book at 4:30 today, I flew through the story, devouring the hot, gritty sexual tension between Briar and Knox. And the suspense. There was one scene where I was literally about to come out of my skin if I didn't get to the end of it! And there is this adorable moment that made me laugh out loud (and of course, my husband looks at me like I'm insane) and the whole book was just an intense, whirlwind of emotional awesomeness. I highly recommend this book if you like suspenseful, gritty contemporary romance.
April 27, 2016
"We're two consenting adults. What's wrong with this?"
June 5, 2022
3.75 rounded up to 4
May 10, 2016
Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole.
Yikes…just……yikes. I’ve read some of Sophie Jordan’s YA works, but this one was the first adult book of hers that I’ve read. I was really looking forward to it, because I’ve heard such positive reviews over it. It also had a really good premise that I was really interested in reading about. Unfortunately, this one just fell flat….
The fist 22% of All Chained Up is really awkward and a little uncomfortable. It’s basically the same scenes over and over and over and over and on and on and on and on. Briar goes to work at the prison, Knox comes into the doctor’s unit at the prison to get looked at, Briar acts like a weak little mouse, they barely have any interaction, but yet they feel a huge magnetic pull. BLAH. They didn’t really have any special moments that really tied them together. So, it was super underwhelming when Knox eventually gets released from prison and they start up this relationship like they’re super in love. They didn’t have that chemistry in prison. I just didn’t get it.
I HATED Briar. Like….HATED. She was very timid, weak, quiet, non-confrontational, blah, blah, blah. Don’t get me wrong, I can read about submissive females in a book and love them. I wouldn’t really call Briar submissive, though, she was just plain. Like, if you had a box of fruit loops, she would be the random beige fruit loop in a bowl full of color. I just didn’t like her.
I. HATE. WHEN. BOOKS. PROMOTE. SEX. WITHOUT. CONDOMS. Ladies, please let me inform you that you need to have sex with a condom. I don’t care if it feels good. I don’t care if you “trust” the guy after knowing him for… a couple weeks? ESPECIALLY if he just came out of PRISON. When a guy says “I’m clean, do you trust me?” YOUR ANSWER IS NO. You put on the condom and you power through it. YOU GET TESTED. Not only do YOU make the GUY get tested, but YOU also get tested and show HIM your results. This is not something to be taken lightly. This is not a game. This is your life and his life and you treat it with care and respect. I’m getting really sick of books advocating sex without condoms and treating it like it’s totally normal. I’m not okay with it. Even if I really like the book, I do acknowledge when that happens, and I dock down the rating. I can’t stand it. You know, it’s perfectly A-Okay if you’re in a commited relationship and decide to make that choice as a couple. That is fine. But don’t advocate it for a couple that just starts sleeping together, whose not even in a relationship. THAT IS NOT OKAY.
Overall, this book was boring and lame. The characters and the plot were underdeveloped and not planned out very well. I thought that this book could have really gone places, it just wasn’t executed very well. Pass.
Yikes…just……yikes. I’ve read some of Sophie Jordan’s YA works, but this one was the first adult book of hers that I’ve read. I was really looking forward to it, because I’ve heard such positive reviews over it. It also had a really good premise that I was really interested in reading about. Unfortunately, this one just fell flat….
The fist 22% of All Chained Up is really awkward and a little uncomfortable. It’s basically the same scenes over and over and over and over and on and on and on and on. Briar goes to work at the prison, Knox comes into the doctor’s unit at the prison to get looked at, Briar acts like a weak little mouse, they barely have any interaction, but yet they feel a huge magnetic pull. BLAH. They didn’t really have any special moments that really tied them together. So, it was super underwhelming when Knox eventually gets released from prison and they start up this relationship like they’re super in love. They didn’t have that chemistry in prison. I just didn’t get it.
I HATED Briar. Like….HATED. She was very timid, weak, quiet, non-confrontational, blah, blah, blah. Don’t get me wrong, I can read about submissive females in a book and love them. I wouldn’t really call Briar submissive, though, she was just plain. Like, if you had a box of fruit loops, she would be the random beige fruit loop in a bowl full of color. I just didn’t like her.
I. HATE. WHEN. BOOKS. PROMOTE. SEX. WITHOUT. CONDOMS. Ladies, please let me inform you that you need to have sex with a condom. I don’t care if it feels good. I don’t care if you “trust” the guy after knowing him for… a couple weeks? ESPECIALLY if he just came out of PRISON. When a guy says “I’m clean, do you trust me?” YOUR ANSWER IS NO. You put on the condom and you power through it. YOU GET TESTED. Not only do YOU make the GUY get tested, but YOU also get tested and show HIM your results. This is not something to be taken lightly. This is not a game. This is your life and his life and you treat it with care and respect. I’m getting really sick of books advocating sex without condoms and treating it like it’s totally normal. I’m not okay with it. Even if I really like the book, I do acknowledge when that happens, and I dock down the rating. I can’t stand it. You know, it’s perfectly A-Okay if you’re in a commited relationship and decide to make that choice as a couple. That is fine. But don’t advocate it for a couple that just starts sleeping together, whose not even in a relationship. THAT IS NOT OKAY.
Overall, this book was boring and lame. The characters and the plot were underdeveloped and not planned out very well. I thought that this book could have really gone places, it just wasn’t executed very well. Pass.
March 1, 2023
4 stars (On second reading, their relationship is pretty lust-based, so went from 4-4.5 stars to 4 stars)
Thanks to Lubnaa for this great recommendation; can't wait to read the rest of the series! I loved Knox and Briar and their entire story. Granted, it's very unconventional—prison inmate falls in love with the temporary prison nurse—but all the better; when one reads a lot of romances, it's difficult to find an unusual storyline that hasn't been done a thousand times.
I adored Knox, who was just as delicious as could be; we know of course that he's a good guy at heart, and he is—he was trying to avenge his cousin, but I appreciated that even knowing that that guy was a total asshole, he acknowledged that he had taken a life, which he would always regret, and he allowed that the people who cared about the douchebag (and of course didn't want to believe the worst of him) were hurt and would hate him for taking that person away from them. (Clearly, I can't remember the guy's name, in case that wasn't obvious).
I loved Briar and their matching together; she's presented as the light to his darkness, the purity to his ... ummm, pollution? Hahaha crap, can't think of the word. Anyway, you get the picture; the exchanges between them are fun and all the more amusing for this contrast between the two of them; when she invites him, this hardened criminal, over to eat ice cream it's absolutely priceless.
The chemistry is singe-worthy and leaps off the pages; I could have done with a little less constant awe over his body; this seems to be a more recent annoyance of mine, I don't know whether I'm only now running across it or only now noticing it, but just as I get annoyed when a hero drones on and on (in their mind) about the heroine's looks, I feel the same way when the situation is reversed. We get it—he's got a hot, rockin' bod that you want to jump into next week, there's other attractions though too and when there's SO much focus on the physical, it makes it seem like it's all lust-based.
A really great and quick read that I highly recommend!
Devil's Rock Series
Book 1. All Chained Up (4)
Book 2. Hell Breaks Loose (4.5 stars)
Book 3. Fury on Fire (3.5 stars)
Book 4. Beautiful Lawman (4 stars)
Book 5. Beautiful Sinner (4 stars)
Thanks to Lubnaa for this great recommendation; can't wait to read the rest of the series! I loved Knox and Briar and their entire story. Granted, it's very unconventional—prison inmate falls in love with the temporary prison nurse—but all the better; when one reads a lot of romances, it's difficult to find an unusual storyline that hasn't been done a thousand times.
I adored Knox, who was just as delicious as could be; we know of course that he's a good guy at heart, and he is—he was trying to avenge his cousin, but I appreciated that even knowing that that guy was a total asshole, he acknowledged that he had taken a life, which he would always regret, and he allowed that the people who cared about the douchebag (and of course didn't want to believe the worst of him) were hurt and would hate him for taking that person away from them. (Clearly, I can't remember the guy's name, in case that wasn't obvious).
I loved Briar and their matching together; she's presented as the light to his darkness, the purity to his ... ummm, pollution? Hahaha crap, can't think of the word. Anyway, you get the picture; the exchanges between them are fun and all the more amusing for this contrast between the two of them; when she invites him, this hardened criminal, over to eat ice cream it's absolutely priceless.
The chemistry is singe-worthy and leaps off the pages; I could have done with a little less constant awe over his body; this seems to be a more recent annoyance of mine, I don't know whether I'm only now running across it or only now noticing it, but just as I get annoyed when a hero drones on and on (in their mind) about the heroine's looks, I feel the same way when the situation is reversed. We get it—he's got a hot, rockin' bod that you want to jump into next week, there's other attractions though too and when there's SO much focus on the physical, it makes it seem like it's all lust-based.
A really great and quick read that I highly recommend!
Devil's Rock Series
Book 1. All Chained Up (4)
Book 2. Hell Breaks Loose (4.5 stars)
Book 3. Fury on Fire (3.5 stars)
Book 4. Beautiful Lawman (4 stars)
Book 5. Beautiful Sinner (4 stars)
November 23, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Briar is a nurse that when asked to volunteer at the prison since they were short staffed, she never realized what she was getting herself into....or the man that was sexy and dangerous and scary as hell and she wanted him, heaven help her. Knox is a inmate who has been in prison for eight years, doing everything he can to be tough and a survivor and helping his brother stay on top of the ladder. What Knox doesn't expect is to find himself so protective over Briar, a woman who is timid and reserved but shows the depth of her strength in the way she stands up to him. Knox knows that Briar is way too good for him, too good and innocent but he is drawn to her in a way he can't explain and is willing to fight for her. Knox and Briar will learn that love has no bounds, and it leaps up on you when you least expect it to...but will they be able to find a happy ever after despite how different they are from each other.....
The Hero
Knox did what he had to when his cousin was attacked and both he and his younger brother found themselves in prison. Knox only regrets the pain that he caused his family from his actions and for putting his brother North in the system. But Knox has learned not to dwell on the past but to focus on the future and to stay alive. Staying alive in prison is not easy by any means, and with his brother's help they have learned to be tough as steel and not let anything or anyone put a kink in their armor. Now Knox was quite the hero and not what I expected but was quite thrilling at times.
His character is full of mystery in many ways, he is very alpha but not with a woman he loves. I really liked how protective he was of Briar but also didn't override her.
The Heroine
Briar (weird name but I like that its unique and different) never imagined that she would end up volunteering at a prison as a nurse. Not exactly the kind of atmosphere she would prefer to find herself in. In fact, Briar regrets it the moment she arrives...until she meets inmate Knox. The type of man she has no idea how to deal with, and is out of her league. But Briar is a woman that doesn't back down from a challenge no matter how intimidating that challenge may be. What I really liked about Briar is though she seems a bit timid in the beginning, she definitely has hidden depths. And I really liked seeing how strong and courageous her character turns out to be.
Plot and Story Line
I have no idea why I haven't picked this series up because right now I feel like *banging my head against the wall*. It was quite idiotic to delay reading this book, and I think the biggest reason was the mixed reviews I found on these books. But honestly I LOVED this one ladies and gents....just LOVED it so dang much. I have just realized how talented Sophie Jordan is and she has come out with a bang with this new genre and series of books. Now Jordan has always been a personal favorite of mine, for years I have respected and fallen in love with her books. But All Chained Up was different and thrilling and unique and had a blast with it!!! Now a romance that develops in prison.....never read a book like this one before and I soaked it all up like a sponge. Honestly I couldn't get enough of it. I really liked seeing these two together and the way their relationship builds. At first they treat it like a fling, but their connection to each other has always run deeper than just sex since they first met. I enjoyed the way they work through some hurdles in their relationship and what Knox does for Briar at the end was priceless and I love the way they are willing to sacrifice for each other.
They both mistakes and it just made the story seem so much more realistic and our characters human and easy to relate with. And we got a bit of a teaser for book 2, and honestly I can't wait for Noah's book.
The Cover
Sexy and HOT!!!! Love that they put in the dragon tattoo.
Overall View
All Chained Up is a sexy and fired up romance that will curl your toes and keep your hungering for more!!! A WINNER OF A READ!
Click To Buy On Amazon
[foogallery id="24074"]
Summary
Briar is a nurse that when asked to volunteer at the prison since they were short staffed, she never realized what she was getting herself into....or the man that was sexy and dangerous and scary as hell and she wanted him, heaven help her. Knox is a inmate who has been in prison for eight years, doing everything he can to be tough and a survivor and helping his brother stay on top of the ladder. What Knox doesn't expect is to find himself so protective over Briar, a woman who is timid and reserved but shows the depth of her strength in the way she stands up to him. Knox knows that Briar is way too good for him, too good and innocent but he is drawn to her in a way he can't explain and is willing to fight for her. Knox and Briar will learn that love has no bounds, and it leaps up on you when you least expect it to...but will they be able to find a happy ever after despite how different they are from each other.....
The Hero
Knox did what he had to when his cousin was attacked and both he and his younger brother found themselves in prison. Knox only regrets the pain that he caused his family from his actions and for putting his brother North in the system. But Knox has learned not to dwell on the past but to focus on the future and to stay alive. Staying alive in prison is not easy by any means, and with his brother's help they have learned to be tough as steel and not let anything or anyone put a kink in their armor. Now Knox was quite the hero and not what I expected but was quite thrilling at times.
He wasn’t that good or honorable. He wasn’t that strong. If she wanted to play with a wolf, then that’s what she would get.
His character is full of mystery in many ways, he is very alpha but not with a woman he loves. I really liked how protective he was of Briar but also didn't override her.
The Heroine
Briar (weird name but I like that its unique and different) never imagined that she would end up volunteering at a prison as a nurse. Not exactly the kind of atmosphere she would prefer to find herself in. In fact, Briar regrets it the moment she arrives...until she meets inmate Knox. The type of man she has no idea how to deal with, and is out of her league. But Briar is a woman that doesn't back down from a challenge no matter how intimidating that challenge may be. What I really liked about Briar is though she seems a bit timid in the beginning, she definitely has hidden depths. And I really liked seeing how strong and courageous her character turns out to be.
Plot and Story Line
I have no idea why I haven't picked this series up because right now I feel like *banging my head against the wall*. It was quite idiotic to delay reading this book, and I think the biggest reason was the mixed reviews I found on these books. But honestly I LOVED this one ladies and gents....just LOVED it so dang much. I have just realized how talented Sophie Jordan is and she has come out with a bang with this new genre and series of books. Now Jordan has always been a personal favorite of mine, for years I have respected and fallen in love with her books. But All Chained Up was different and thrilling and unique and had a blast with it!!! Now a romance that develops in prison.....never read a book like this one before and I soaked it all up like a sponge. Honestly I couldn't get enough of it. I really liked seeing these two together and the way their relationship builds. At first they treat it like a fling, but their connection to each other has always run deeper than just sex since they first met. I enjoyed the way they work through some hurdles in their relationship and what Knox does for Briar at the end was priceless and I love the way they are willing to sacrifice for each other.
" I lose you." His voice choked up a little then. "I would never heal from that. I can't lose you, Briar."
They both mistakes and it just made the story seem so much more realistic and our characters human and easy to relate with. And we got a bit of a teaser for book 2, and honestly I can't wait for Noah's book.
The Cover
Sexy and HOT!!!! Love that they put in the dragon tattoo.
Overall View
All Chained Up is a sexy and fired up romance that will curl your toes and keep your hungering for more!!! A WINNER OF A READ!
Click To Buy On Amazon
[foogallery id="24074"]
June 26, 2017
All Chained up is the first book in the Devil's Rock series. I enjoyed the story of Knox Callahan and Briar Davis. Briar is a nurse who has been asked to work one day a week on a temporary basis at Devil's Rock prison helping heal sick and injured inmates. As fearful as she is, Briar is also intrigued by one of her first cases, Knox Callahan. On one of her days at the prison, a couple of inmates take over the health center. Hearing of their plans, Knox gets into a fight with his brother in order to get placed in the health center. He saves Briar's life along with the others in the health center, and is promptly paroled for his actions.
It isn't long before he and Briar meet outside the prison and act on their attraction. Briar questions her own feelings and Knox doesn't believe he is good enough for Briar. Will they find a way to bridge their fears and have a life together?
This was a light but enjoyable story. The character development was minimal but adequate for this type of book, and the plot unrealistic, but believable enough to be entertaining. Overall a good quick read for a Saturday night.
It isn't long before he and Briar meet outside the prison and act on their attraction. Briar questions her own feelings and Knox doesn't believe he is good enough for Briar. Will they find a way to bridge their fears and have a life together?
This was a light but enjoyable story. The character development was minimal but adequate for this type of book, and the plot unrealistic, but believable enough to be entertaining. Overall a good quick read for a Saturday night.
May 2, 2017
Une romance un peu plus brut de décoffrage qui m'a fait penser à Prison Break dans son contexte, même si ce n'est pas du tout la même histoire.
November 7, 2015
3.75
ARC from Edelweiss and Publisher for honest review.
I liked the romance between these two and that it's not often that you read a romance that involves prison.
Knox has been in Devil's Rock prison for eight years now. He meets Briar, a nurse who's at the prison temporarily as a fill in, when he comes in hurt due to a fight that ensued. There are sparks immediately between the two but Briar is also afraid of who Knox represents and what she experienced in her past.
At one point during her time at Devil's Rock Briar encounters trouble. Briar is taken by some inmates as a hostage and Knox comes to her rescue. This then helps Knox in getting released from prison early and Briar realizes she'll probably never see Knox again.
We then shift from prison life to Briar and Knox's life in the outside world. Briar lives a quite, sheltered life that she's satisfied with, kinda. Knox is determined to work and never allow or do anything to put him back in prison. These two meet up again by accident and realize that they can't fight their attraction. The to embark on a relationship based on sex only. Briar comes to realize she feels more but Knox is determined it's sex only, because he's not good enough for her. This is where I had some issues with both characters. Knox repeatedly ends things with Briar and then comes back. Briar is determined that no more Knox but always accepts him back. There is a lot of sex (and it's hot). But what I really struggled with was seeing hardly any real development of a relationship between the two until the end. The ending was a little too quick and abrupt for my liking. We have secondary characters that will be future books I'm sure. I love this authors writing and enjoy her books. This was good but found I need more development in their relationship as a couple.
ARC from Edelweiss and Publisher for honest review.
I liked the romance between these two and that it's not often that you read a romance that involves prison.
Knox has been in Devil's Rock prison for eight years now. He meets Briar, a nurse who's at the prison temporarily as a fill in, when he comes in hurt due to a fight that ensued. There are sparks immediately between the two but Briar is also afraid of who Knox represents and what she experienced in her past.
At one point during her time at Devil's Rock Briar encounters trouble. Briar is taken by some inmates as a hostage and Knox comes to her rescue. This then helps Knox in getting released from prison early and Briar realizes she'll probably never see Knox again.
We then shift from prison life to Briar and Knox's life in the outside world. Briar lives a quite, sheltered life that she's satisfied with, kinda. Knox is determined to work and never allow or do anything to put him back in prison. These two meet up again by accident and realize that they can't fight their attraction. The to embark on a relationship based on sex only. Briar comes to realize she feels more but Knox is determined it's sex only, because he's not good enough for her. This is where I had some issues with both characters. Knox repeatedly ends things with Briar and then comes back. Briar is determined that no more Knox but always accepts him back. There is a lot of sex (and it's hot). But what I really struggled with was seeing hardly any real development of a relationship between the two until the end. The ending was a little too quick and abrupt for my liking. We have secondary characters that will be future books I'm sure. I love this authors writing and enjoy her books. This was good but found I need more development in their relationship as a couple.
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