Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: All Chained Up (Devil's Rock #1) by Sophie Jordan

Prison hot, a term a friend of mine used once, and when I read Sophie Jordan’s latest, All Chained Up, that term came into clear focus for me. Knox Callaghan is prison hot! Now, I understand the whole convicted felon thing may not be for you, but once you learn how he got there, you may change your mind. It certainly changed mine.

Briar is a nurse. She and her boss are volunteering at the prison till they hire a new doctor. Of course being in that facility and interacting with the convicts can be daunting, but Briar puts on a brave face and does her job. Enter Knox. The physical attraction she feels to him is electrifying, and unnerving. She doesn’t do bad boys. And really how more bad can you get than prison? But damn, she can’t get him out of her head. Especially when he saves her life.

Knox feels the heat between them too. One encounter and the sexy little nurse is under his skin. After overhearing a plan to storm the infirmary and assault the pretty nurse, Knox feels overwhelmed to protect her. Putting his own plan in motion, he guarantees himself a spot in the room when the assault is to take place.

Even as he was hauled off her and dragged away, she felt connected to those eyes, that face, that man.

Knox is soon up for parole, and because of his heroic actions, this time around he’s granted it. He’s now a free man. A man Briar never expected to run into on a quick ice cream run to the local store…at night. The attraction is still there for them. The heat. The sizzle. Her body is at odds with her head. She wants this man, but he was a felon, he was in jail for a reason. Libido in charge, she invites him home with her.

Maybe she didn’t realize that he was the wolf and she the lamb. That inviting him over meant he was going to devour every inch of her.

I have to say this is Sophie Jordan’s hottest book by far. And while the sex between Knox and Briar certainly burn up the pages, there is so much more to them. Real feelings develop. But Knox–sweet, hardheaded man–doesn’t think he deserves a woman like Briar. He thinks he’s tainted. He couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s exactly what she needs and vice versa. They make each other better and stronger. They belong together.

She was his. And he was hers. She felt that, too, even if she couldn’t say it out loud.

This book made me fan myself, swoon, made my heart ache, my pulse race, and in the end left me with a big sappy smile on my face. What a great start to a new series. I need book 2. Now. How much longer till July?

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 . . .

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

ABOUT SOPHIE JORDAN:

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.

LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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Review: Make Me (Broke and Beautiful #3) by Tessa Bailey

“Day one hundred and forty-two of being friend-zoned. Send rations.”

Make Me had my attention from the first two lines. I was sold! Please go on, tell me more.

Russell is a sweetheart. My heart hurt for the guy. He’s in love with Abby. Completely and hopelessly in love. But he has never made a move. She has no clue how he feels about her. He has exiled himself into the self-proposed friend-zone. All because he doesn’t think he deserves her. He has this idea in his head that she’s too good for him. She comes from money. Works in the high-paced corporate world. She deserves more than a construction worker. What could he offer her? Oh dear sweet Russell, you’re not giving Abby enough credit.

Yeah she’s rich. Works in her family’s firm. But Abby is so down to earth and just wants to be accepted. Growing up, she was a bit of an outsider, alone. Even now, as an adult, she’s still ostracized at work. Being the boss’s daughter has that effect. Lately, she’s worked herself into exhaustion, not confiding in anyone the pressures that have been recently placed on her. She finally has a group of people that adore her, including Russell. But she’s very naïve when it comes to men and is blind to what’s been right in front of her.

After a close call to her safety, the two friends have a sort of awakening. Russell sets out to make himself worthy of her. And Abby finally sees him in a different light.

This was such a great read and a complete flip on roles. For once we have the rich girl and the not-so-rich guy. But when it comes to matters of the heart, money does not matter. The only one who had an issue with their financial differences was Russell. He has his reasons though. There was a pivotal point in his life that made him the way he is. He wants desperately to be the guy Abby deserves, not realizing until it’s almost too late that he always was that guy.

Make Me was sweet, sexy, and fun. It’s about two friends who are more than just that and learn to trust in themselves and each other to cross that line.

Review: A McKenzie Christmas (McKenzie Brothers #5.5) by Lexi Buchanan

Spend December with each of the McKenzie siblings as they start their own family traditions and try to keep the romance alive with the stress of the season. 

Michael and Lily struggle to find a private moment together when the twins and new baby constantly need their attention.

Sebastian is aware of something that Carla should have known well before him.

Ruben and Rosie find the spirit of Christmas on the ice, and move forward with their life in a surprise that Ruben has planned.

Lucien is still haunted by ghosts of his past, but with Sabrina’s help, he’s finally able to move past it.

Ramon and Noah spend the evening of their wedding preparing for their honeymoon. (MM explicit chapter)

And the Epilogue, well, you’ll have to read the novella… 

Amazon | B&N

This is a must have for any McKenzie Brothers series fan. I loved revisiting each couple. The whole book is full of warmth, love, and of course tantalizing heat.

Michael and Lily’s family has grown, and as most parents with kids, struggle to find the time to keep the fire alive. They love each other, immensely, but with a set of twins and a newborn, having the energy to devote to your spouse at the end of the day can be exhausting. Thanks to a little grandma intervention, they get that much needed and wanted time together.

Sebastian is usually the goofy one of the McKenzie brothers. He loves life and it’s evident. It’s also killing him to keep his lips shut when he realizes something that Carla really should have suspected. Of course his wife knows he’s concealing something and tries to extract the info from him. Results may not go as she planned, but it’s sure as heck hot to read her attempt it.

Rosie is such a breath of fresh air for Ruben. I think she makes him stop and appreciate life. There’s this innocent quality about her. I can’t help but smile when I read her.

Lucien is struggling with his new life. I swear that man can break my heart. I just want to shield him. He’s completely enamored with his wife and son, but at the same time fears losing it all, and that fear is wearing him down. Sabrina, has to really reach him and show she’s not going anywhere.

Ramon and Noah, oh my! If you’re a fan of M/M, then you are in for a treat. A toe-curling, heart-melting treat. I love seeing those two together, and not just in the bedroom. They are perfect for each other, in every way.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but…the epilogue…Oh, Ms. Buchanan, I do believe you’re giving us a glimpse of things to come and I definitely cannot wait.

A McKenzie Christmas was certainly a special treat and what a way to kick off the holiday season.