I’m used to getting my hands dirty. During the day it’s mud and grime on the construction site. At night…it’s the blood I spill.A drug lord’s enforcer does what needs to be done. It’s my obedience, my loyalty to the boss that keeps my family alive. I know I’m teetering on the edge. I’m losing my humanity, I can feel it. It’s changing me, and it’s only a matter of time before the darkness takes … the darkness takes over.
Then I meet her. Liv. The only person who sees past my busted knuckles and brutal exterior. She sees…me.
But being with me will get her killed. The only way I can keep her safe is by staying away. Until her own actions catapult her into the center of my world—a world which will swallow her whole.
Now I’m forced to be the ruthless bastard I’ve been for so long. Only this time it’s not to destroy…but to defend.
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This is the first book I read on thug romance. I never read books on mafia or other related plots before. Not because I don’t like it, I don’t have time with all the books piled in my TBR.
Brick is the story of a henchman. He works for a ruthless drug dealer, Sucre. Sucre loves to taunt his men. He loves dangling their loved ones in front of them and watch the men suffer as he slowly tortures them to do his bidding. Brick thinks he has no hope. People fear him. But when Olivia walks into his life, he sees hope. Now the problem is Sucre can never know.
Brick…
What can I say? The story hooked me right away. Brick and Olivia are poles apart. But the attraction is immediate.
Olivia is a cancer survivor and a very sensible character. She’s understanding and supportive of Brick. One of the top qualities I loved about her. She doesn’t whine or run for the hills. She thinks things through and handle it in a mature way.
But all good things don’t last forever. The story never lacks the speed and it keeps the anticipation growing deep. I found myself tense and biting nails, wondering when Sucre was going to find out. The tension lasted until the end and it was satisfying.
Sucre was a character I hated the moment I met him. I ended up plotting thousand ways to kill him as I continued to read. He’s everything a villain should be. Though he isn’t present in most of the scenes, you can feel his presence, hanging around like a ghost. If you get what I mean. His presence was always there. Like making you feel the weight of the situation. That’s what I loved the most.
Every character in this book is great. They did their part and it’s not easy to forget them. This story has everything-Family, romance, action, emotions etc., I also must warn you that this shows the ugly side of the underground life, so it’s not all hearts and flowers.
I’m really glad I read this book. Heart felt thanks to the author for giving me sensible characters. They are intelligent, realistic and relatable. So excited for the sequel and the sneak peek is just so good.
Highly recommend this read.Brick
4.5 stars
This is a new author to me and a great way to start off the series. Brick basically lead a double life, loan shark enforcer and construction crewman. He is quite good at both of his jobs but he keeps his two lives separate as much as possible. As a loan shark enforcer he is known for his brutality and not giving a second chances. He works construction to keep him sane and feel normal. He meets one of his crew men’s sister and that’s all she wrote but nothing can come of it because he wants to keep her safe.
Liv meets Brick when she comes to her brother’s construction site to let all of the crew know that she is hosting a birthday party for her brother. Liv brings light and purity to Brick’s otherwise dark life. Brick and her brother know that she can do way better than him but the chemistry and attraction is too intense to let it go. Can Brick protect Liv from the darkness of his life? Can Liv convince her siblings, that already almost lost her once, she is grown and can make her own decisions? I can’t wait for Kane’s book and to see where this series leads!!
WOW!! Loved it! Suspenseful, sexy & dark! My kind of book. Brick is a good guy who got dragged into a bad situation. He works as an enforcer for a drug lord, but works also for a building company. He does what he does to keep his grandmother safe.
In comes Liv who is his opposite in so many ways but they fit together perfectly. I love seeing these two together.
This book had me hooked from the beginning and I can not wait for Kane’s book!
He works on a building site and needs to be tough. At night he must be even tougher still as enforced for the mob. He meets her and he knows he needs to stay away to keep her safe. She ends up in his world and now he needs to fight to keep her safe. Will he? See if he will
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review.
Brick is the first book in the Cooper Construction Series. This book is absolutely amazing. I loved every single second of it. It is dark and gritty and this is one of my favorite kinds of books. Once you start this book you are not going to be able to put it down. Brick is not your average construction worker. He is trapped. During the day using his hands to build things. At night he using those same hands to bring violence down on whoever he is told to. He is seriously afraid that the threat against his family will come true and he can not let that happen. However when Liv enters his life there is not denying the pull between them. However when Live ends up on the drug lords radars all bets are off and you as a reader are in for one amazing read. This book was fantastic. I have never read a book by Jen Davis but I am sure this will not be the last.
Jen Davis is a new-to-me author and wow, did she ever hit it out of the park with the first book in her Cooper Construction series, Brick. If you enjoy dark, suspenseful, dangerous and sometimes brutal romances with more than a few triggers, and memorable, fully-formed characters as much as I do, you need to read this one, because it was all of the aforementioned, and if I could give it more than a 5-star rating, I would.
The novel, which is told in alternating narration, opens with the title character, Brick Barlow. He’s a debt collector and enforcer for one of the sickest, most evil, most controlling, and most perverted villains I’ve encountered in some time–Sucre de la Cruz. Sucre isn’t just a drug dealer, gambler or loan shark–he’s into anything that will make him money, and if that includes prostituting young girls, women, or even boys, he’s just fine with that. As Sucre’s main enforcer, Brick is trying to collect a drug debt, and if he has to beat someone, break a few bones, or even kill someone at Sucre’s orders, he does. His one line in the sand is that he won’t harm children, but Sucre has other enforcers for that. When Brick is not being Sucre’s go-to, he works for Cooper Construction, building new homes, a clean job, and at night he steps into the ring for bare-knuckle fighting, and he already knows the outcome of each fight, because Sucre runs that show too, and the fix is always in, so Sucre makes even more money. Brick considers himself a big, mean and ugly bastard–a stone cold killer, and a monster, but as you’ll soon discover, that isn’t all he is–not even close.
One day, while working at his construction job, the sister of one of his co-workers, Will, gets a surprise giant birthday cookie from his petite, blonde, younger sister, Olivia Turner (Liv), the heroine in this novel. Liv is a cancer survivor who’s in remission, and she and a friend she made while both women were fighting their battles with cancer, Carol, have drawn up a bucket list, one that includes skydiving, cliff diving and bungee jumping, all the life-affirming things they plan to do now that they’ve beaten cancer. Liv is also enrolled in her sister Isobel’s (Izzy) gym, learning Krav Maga, to regain some of the strength she lost to chemotherapy and should she ever need to defend herself.
While I’m not a fan a insta-love, but set in the heat of an Atlanta, Georgia summer, as soon as Brick sees Liv emerge from her car, wearing a white sundress, Brick sees her as an angel, the kind of woman he knows is far too good for the likes of him, but Liv, a dedicated high school English teacher, isn’t put off by Brick’s forbidding appearance, in fact, she’s drawn to it, and when she invites all of her brother’s co-workers to a local bar that Friday night after work to celebrate her brother’s birthday, Brick, for the fist time in possibly ever, has something he’s looking forward to–another chance to be in Liv’s presence.
One of the ways Sucre controls his people is to find someone they care about and threaten to hurt or kill them if his employees don’t follow his orders, or submit to his perversions. There’s only one person Brick cares about, and that’s his grandmother, who is in a nursing home, and Brick’s dream is to save every penny he earns from Sucre, his fighting, and his construction job until he has enough money to get her and himself as far away from Sucre as possible, hopefully forever. Sucre has been controlling Brick by sending him cell phone photos of his grandmother in the nursing home, proof that Sucre can get to her if Brick doesn’t toe the line and follow his orders. But now, Brick has another worry, because he’s as attracted to Liv and she seems to be to him, even though he can’t understand why, he knows he can’t let Sucre even know of her existence. Will Turner tries to talk Liv out of pursuing a relationship with Brick, but she’s a grown woman and ignores Will’s warnings.
One of Liv’s brightest and most promising English students is Devon, an extremely bright teenager, and Liv wants to help him get a full scholarship and continue on to college, but Devon keeps telling her that he can’t and won’t accept her help, that he doesn’t have a bright future, and when he stops showing up for class, she finds his address and tracks him down in the tenement housing where he and his brother live, in one of the worst and roughest parts of town. Instead of finding Devon, she instead finds his older brother, Tre, whom, unbeknownst to her, is the latest thug hired by Sucre, and he’s being trained by Brick, who sees Tre as a true sociopath, someone who gets pleasure from hurting, raping, torturing and even killing others. When Tre sts his eyes on Liv, he sees his next rape and torture victim, but luckily Brick comes to her rescue, however, once Tre sets his eyes on a victim, he doesn’t give up, nor does he draw the line at stalking his latest victim. When he learns that it was Brick who rescued her, he can’t wait to let Sucre know about their connection, giving Sucre another way to control Brick.
All of this confirms to Liv that Brick is, at heart, a good man, one who was caught up in horrible circumstances, and slowly their relationship grows, as both characters begin to open up about their pasts and upbringing, including Brick’s unfortunate childhood, how and why he fell prey to Sucre’s evil machinations, and some of the horrible things he’s been and is being ordered to do. These two characters, who they are, how they feel, and what drives them, come alive in this novel–Ms. Davis giving them real emotional depth, believable emotions, and adding enough plot twists, danger and suspense to make this one addictive, page-turner of a read. Brick and Liv are both fighters at heart, and although they come from two different worlds, you can’t help rooting for them as the danger escalates and the suspense deepens.
So, is there way for Liv and Brick to outsmart and outwit Sucre and Tre, and finally be free of them both? Is there an HEA ending for these two beautifully developed characters? I don’t do spoilers, so you’ll simply have to experience this gripping novel for yourself. If you can handle the triggers in this novel, including rape, violence, control, abduction, perversion, and just plain evil incarnate, I think you’ll be as eager as I am to read the next novel in this series. Jen Davis has a new fan in this reader.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
“She was light and everything soft and good. He was a stain on the darkest part of humanity.”
It was the cover that caught my attention, but it was the new-to-me author that kept it, cover to cover. I was later intrigued to learn that she started as a book blogger and eventually decided to write her own books. I’m amazed that she killed it right out of the gate, Brick blew me away. I’m also very thrilled to be slightly late to the party so I can immediately start reading Kane. He’s one of the support characters that I loved, and he’s a biker…sigh.
The chemistry between Brick and Liv is instant and intense. But, in spite of Brick’s dark world, and even though he would argue about this, he does still have a heart. The very reason he was pulled into the darkness, to begin with, was to keep his family safe. He’s been a prisoner to a life he never wanted, but he’s damn good at it. He’d resigned himself to just getting by, doing what he had to do, until the angel in the white dress walked onto his construction job site and made him wish for more than just surviving.
Liv has been through some hell herself so she’s not judgemental. She knows how to read between the lines and come up with more than is on the page. She knows Brick has secrets. He keeps pushing her away, but she sees the lust in his eyes. He feels the same way she does. What will it take for him to act on it?
Blood and bullets, lies and betrayal, pain and passion. It’s all there. One-click and get you some!
I have always been drawn to guys that do bad things but it’s because they really have a heart of gold and Brick really feel into that category. He wasn’t a super good guy but his heart was so big that I couldn’t help but love him. I will say that he is my favorite part of this book. The more we find out about him, him opening up to like and then protecting her….. he was just amazing.
With suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat, beautiful descriptions (even if sometimes hard to read, for some readers, I loved it), a beautiful budding (yet strained because of Brick) relationship between Brick and Liz was just the tip of this book. Opposites attract is a favorite theme of mine and the author really did an amazing job with this. Keeping me hooked from the start. I can’t wait to see what’s next. 4 stars #2OCCJD
BRICK is the first instalment in Jen Davis’ contemporary, adult COOPER CONSTRUTION erotic, romance series focusing on the men who work for Cooper Construction. This is twenty-six year old, high school teacher Olivia ‘Liv’ Turner, and construction worker /enforcer Jonathan ‘Brick’ Barlow’s story line.
NOTE: BRICK contains scenes of graphic violence, and implied sexual abuse/torture that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Brick and Liv) with a chapter from Sucre, BRICK follows the forbidden and dangerous relationship between twenty-six year old, high school teacher Olivia ‘Liv’ Turner, and construction worker /enforcer Jonathan ‘Brick’ Barlow. Brick Barlow is an owned man without the ability to walk away fearing threats against the people he loves. Years earlier, our anti-hero, found himself the property of Sucre de la Cruz, property to be used, abused and commanded to perform on demand. Meeting high school teacher Liv Turner, fellow construction worker Will Turner’s sister, gave Brick hopes for the future but a future dashed when Liv is targeted as collateral for future control. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Brick and Liv, and the potential fall-out as Brick struggles with his direction in life, and the repercussions against the people he loves.
Jonathan ‘Brick’ Barlow knows that to get involved with Liv Turner means placing Liv in the direct line of fire. Enslaved by sins of the past, Brick battles between head and heart, right and wrong as a reluctant enforcer for a man whose evil knows no boundaries. Olivia ‘Liv’ Turner fell for the dark and dangerous man who called to her heart; a man whose life experiences all but control every aspect of his broken life.
The relationship between Liv and Brick is one of immediate attraction but an attraction tempered by Brick’s need to protect Liv from the life he now leads. Unable to keep away from the woman with whom he is falling in love, Brick’s need for Olivia threatens any sense of control for a man whose life has been destroyed by someone else. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text…but saying that, the graphic violence and abuse surrounding Brick Barlow may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including construction foreman Xander Karras; Liv’s brother Will Turner, and their sister Izzy; embattled student Devon; Liv’s best friend Carol; fellow construction crew members Kane Hale, Matt, Cyrus and Robby. The requisite evil has several faces including Sucre de la Cruz and Trevaughn Lowry.
BRICK is a story of betrayal, vengeance, retribution and love; a story of struggle, power and control; of one man’s journey into the dark. The premise is raw and gritty; the characters are energetic, broken and strong; the romance is seductive and fated.
Surviving cancer, Liv was done playing safe, she wanted a different future, and to change her life, try new thing, which including jumping from a plane. Seeing Brick at the construction site her brother’s work, her ex had ticked all the boxes, but this man would burn her with the heat between them.
Cooper construction gave Brick the chance to pretend to be a normal guy not the enforcer he was, his goal was to keep his grandmother safe. He couldn’t help but watch the woman that showed at lunch, when she invited them to her brother’s birthday, he knew he would be there.
Brick let himself think perhaps there was a chance with someone like her, but he was beneath her, she didn’t know what else he did, and he wasn’t a good man, walking away.
Liv doesn’t know why Brick said he’s not a nice guy she’d seen for herself he was, then her brother tells her to stay away from him, he’s trouble, but he made her feel alive, and with her new outlook on life, she’s determined to show him she wants him.
Brick finds out one of the other guys are interested in Oliva, and lets him know neither of them are good enough for her, and that her brother had doesn’t like the idea of her and Brick, everyone can see the chemistry, everything is against them, but can they keep fighting what they feel, and but can Brick keep his two worlds apart so the people he cares for don’t get hurt.
Brick “Jonathan” has been controlled by an evil drug boss for fifteen years and now when he finds his angel he wants out but doesn’t know how without hurting Olivia “Liv”. So he stays away to keep her safe but when she crosses over into his world it may destroy everything. This was a great story and I loved the strength of Liv she fought for what she wants which is Jonathan and not “Brick”. I can’t wait to read Kane’s story next!!!
Very interesting.. I absolutely loved this book. It was an amazing storyline. Gripping and intense. Brick is a bad guy with a good heart. He doesnt want to be doing what he is doing but he has no other option. Until Liv comes into his life and makes him realize he does have options. I absolutely love these two together. I love how no matter what Liv sees the good in Brick. This was a book I couldn’t put down. Can’t wait to read Kane.
Let’s start off by saying that this author is new to us and we have to say that we really enjoyed our first read by them.
We really enjoyed the story as it was one of those stories that keeps you on edge the entire time as you never know what is going to happen around the corner.We really loved almost all the character’s in this current story especially all those mysterious hot construction guys .The sick ones well-“I wanted to be planning their deaths right along him!” lol
Brick was my favorite character this time around as he had so many sides to him and always kept you wondering one how he never broke for all he has had to endure and two how could this dark and dangerous man just melt when in the presence of Olivia.
“It was rather sweet!”
I found Brick to be sexy as sin,tall,dark,dangerous,deadly,possessive,
protective yet compassionate,had a conscience even with all the bad deeds he has done,loved the sacrifices he made for his grand-mother but, most of all you could not help but love the broken man.
“Definitely a man you want at your back!”
My heart broke time and time again for Brick at what he was forced to do in order to keep his grand-mother alive.Who uses your grandma as leverage against you to do your sick bidding ? Poor Brick lived like this for 15 years under some sociopaths thumb never having a life of his own who controlled your life 24 hrs a day.
“Heart wrenching!”
Olivia ends up being his one bright star in his very dark world.Olivia we loved her from the onset of the story from the moment she dropped by the construction site throwing around her sass.We found Olivia to be loving and caring and a little bit of a rebel,was fiery as well as sassy but, also compassionate at helping those who just need to know that someone out there actual gives a fig about others.
We love this forbidden romance between Brick and Olivia and the struggles they dealt with trying to navigate two worlds.We loved how Olivia fell head over heals for Brick and no matter who he was past or present she loved the man buried under all the armor and facade.
We loved this story from cover to cover it was intriguing suspenseful and kept you engrossed and turning the pages the entire time.
The romance between both of Olivia and Brick was precious and sweet but, the heart wants what the heart wants and Olivia wants the tall dark and dangerous broken man and nothing will stand in her way to get him and Brick longs for something he knows he should never lay claim to.Are the consequence of their love worth the risk to both of them?
We loved how the story played out but rest assured that the monster you have created will use all that is in his arsenal to protect the thing he cannot live without…..
Recommend to read to all! So looking forward to Kane’s story next.
If you like those suspenseful mafia reads this story is the perfect fit for you!
Wow what a great plot! This is a wonderful story about survivors and the effect they have on others. Brick is tough but has a gentle side that he rarely gets to show. Liv brings this side of him to the forefront as she sees more in him than anyone else does. There love has ups and downs, twists and turns as we move through the plot. There is a lot of darkness and violence but there is also something sweet and needy. A great read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a new author for me, but I was very intrigued by the blurb, it sounded quite dark and up my street – boy was it a good read, I was pulled into the story right from the very start, I really did love it, a great story!!
Brick is an enforcer for a loan shark, he has been in this game a long time, not by choice, but as a means to keep his family safe, he does whatever his boss tells him to do without asking questions and is renown for his brutality. To keep his sanity he also works for a construction company building houses, here he can just be himself, be normal.
Liz is a teacher who wants to make a difference in her students lives, trying to give them choices. She is also a survivor looking to make the best of her life after a medical scare. She meets Brick on the construction site as her brother works there also. They have an immediate connection with each other, even though they couldn’t be more different.
They both try to deny their attraction to each other, Brick feels he is unworthy of her and so tries to keep away, yet Liz wants him anyway and tries her best to show him this. Others around them also feel they should not be together being from completely different worlds, her brother being one as well as Brick himself. But some things cannot be denied, some things just fit, if you will only open yourself up and let yourself feel, but at what cost?
A brilliant storyline, dark and violent at times, full of drama and intrigue, angst and suspense, you were never quite sure what would happen next. Great characters, I really loved Brick and Liz, they were perfect together. Their romance is a slow burn, gradually building until it detonates in magnificent style. Other side characters really added to this story, some you love, some you hate! I can’t wait to read more in this series – highly recommended reading!!
HOLY HADES SWEET BABY JESUS is what I was saying while I was reading this book. Man Jen is an amazing break through author that I have never heard of so of course when I want to know about a book and its author I stalk them on facebook, twitter, instagram, Main&Bites, Bookbub you get the picture right…… Well I stalked the hell out of this author and book and I could not wait to read it. I just knew I was going to love Brick and I was not wrong. I have to say God Damn I would love a Brick in my life. He has become one of my favorite book boyfriend in 2019. He is one bad arse mother effer and he is loyal and true and everything you want in a man.
Liv man oh man she is my kind of girl who does not take any crap from anyone including her family. She is loyal and fierce just like Brick and when she sees him on the job she knows that she wants a taste of that scrumptious man. Only thing is that once you have a bite of the apple you need to finish it and boy oh boy the trouble that ends up at her door steps causes Brick to fight and defend her to the very end. Can these two have a relationship while Liv is in the thick of things or will it destroy them both?
The song Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus is Liv and Brick’s song https://youtu.be/My2FRPA3Gf8
Being this is the first time I had read this author I looked forward to seeing and meeting the characters and escaping into this story. The double life persay that this guy lives is what slowly pulls you to the edge along with him. You also become anxious for him wanting to be the one to save him. Brick is all alpha with charisma to grab your inerds. Liv is the glue in this but will also keep it flowing. Life will explode with them in the midst and us with our noses in it all. Reving our motors to see where it lands you are given one that delivers and satisfies.
I am volunteering to leave a review of this ARC book from Enticing Journey. I enjoy joining new sites that introduce readers to new authors. Jen Davis is one of my new authors, and I thank Enticing Journey for the introduction. I received Brick late in January, and devoured it! This book mixed many of my favorite romance genres: dark, suspenseful, steamy! I could not wait for this book to be released to tell you: This is a MUST READ! I’ve told my reading friends, and I want to be sure, you don’t miss it! FANTABULOUS!
Fan of dark , twisted, intense, gritty, suspenseful romances?? Look no further because this is the book for you.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book and I was pleasantly surprised with what I read. I was going to say that this was a wonderful introduction to a new to me author but then I got on here and it looks like this is Jen’s debut novel. AHHH what??? What a smashing debut. Jen has won me over with this read and I will definitely be making sure I get my hands on this authors work.
Brick and Olivia’s story had me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t know if I was coming or going with all the twists and turns in this book. I wasn’t sure who was going to live if anyone would survive or what would come next. I love a book that has me not knowing what is going to come next. This book had some dark and twisted scenes and it was perfect for the life these characters live in.
This isn’t your sweet romance so if that is what you are looking for then keep on going. This is for those like me that like to get their hands on the dark and twisted romances. If you are like me than I highly recommend this one for you. I can’t wait to get my hands on Kane’s story next!!!
I really enjoyed Brick such a lot: it has such an overall feel-good vibe to the whole entire experience.
I adored Brick and really appreciated the fact that he wasn’t your usual pretty boy.
He defiantly lives up to his name in size as he is built like an actual shed: so definitely a big fellow.
Which certainly comes in handy when he is doing his job for a local loan shark as his top enforcer: a job he dislikes but has no choice in as his employer has leverage that keeps brick compliant and in line.
To keep himself sane and for his own enjoyment Brick works a day job at Cooper Construction.
It is here that he runs into Olivia a workmates sister.
Liv is everything he thinks he is not and though the attraction is certainly mutual he knows to keep her safe from his associations he needs to stay far far away from her.
But Liv is not prepared to take no for an answer and what follows next was such a warm and engrossing journey of love and acceptance.
With Liv, (Jonathon) as she decides to call him, is a gentle giant and he finds in her something he has never quite experienced before a person to call home.
As liv Pushes: Brick Pulls right back: scared of contaminating what he perceives as her light with his filthy stained hands.
Because of life’s lessons, Olivia isn’t scared to now go after what she actually wants and this was ever such a refreshing quality.
I especially adored that Brick wasn’t a man-whore and that at times when it comes to the romantic side of things he seemed a trifle shy and unsure of himself: now that was very endearing indeed.
I felt that the action and suspense here was just the right balance and this didn’t go overboard: it felt authentic and real to the whole situation.
In conclusion, this was a fabulous and thrilling introduction to what looks to be a great new series.
Really enjoyed myself here and am happy to give this a big thumbs up.
On a side-note the dark in this story is mainly Bricks Job this is more gritty dark than dark, dark: the romance itself here is super sweet.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of Brick (Cooper Construction, #1).
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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