A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson (A Pound of Flesh #1)
Contemporary Romance/New Adult
Released: June 9, 2015
Gallery Books

Reviewed by Sheena

Their love is forbidden. But won’t be denied… Can true love heal the deepest scars?
For Kat Lane, teaching inmates at a New York prison is her way of upholding the legacy of her beloved father, murdered fifteen years ago. But when new student Wes Carter walks into her classroom, she’s shaken by the strength of her attraction to him. Carter is as handsome as he is dangerous, as mysterious as he is quick-witted – and he ensures people keep their distance. Yet vibrant Kat bypasses his defenses and challenges him to reveal the real man behind the intimidating reputation. As their emotional barriers crumble, their inescapable but forbidden feelings cannot be ignored. But will Kat’s discovery of Carter’s role on the night her father died force them apart…or bind their hearts for ever?

Note: There are some spoilers mentioned in the review below.

Confession.  I happen to be a fan of a prison romance.  Something about the well-meaning, courageous heroine, losing her heart to the misunderstood, incarcerated hero.  If you are looking for a scarred (emotionally and physically) emotionally volleying hero, than look no further than lock-up fiction!   In Pound of Flesh, Kat is a career educator, driven to give back and help trodden upon and disenfranchised after witnessing the violent assault that claimed her father’s life.  Wes Carter is careening down a dangerous path.  No apparent ties to family and stability, ironically, his silver spoon upbringing did not prevent him from being touched by life’s hard knocks. He is an unlikely  career petty criminal, misunderstood and has never been loved. Together they journey to trust and redemption.  It is all tres’ dramatic!

In general-  eh I liked it.  I was motivated to see it though and I find that the plot development and character growth was crafted exceptionally well.  Steadily paced and thoughtful it hit a ton of right notes for me- though it was not without its trouble spots.

Aside from learning Carter was beyond wealthy, billionaire company stake holder at times I grappled with feeling that it was a cop out to make Carter such a wealthy man.  The impact of the story may have been that much more resounding if he had truly been living as a man trying to make it as opposed to a man trying to make it from his Manhattan loft.  However, his emotional baggage despite his financial comfort did make for an interesting juxtaposition and lends itself well to commentary on millions in wealth not being  enough to prevent the scourges of life from reaching you even in the lap of luxury. Author Sophie Jackson also illustrates a nod to how destructive secrets and denied love can warp the best ad worst of us.  Tackling these issues alone and finessing a romance in the midst of so much baggage is what makes this book so readable.

Evenly paced as I mentioned, at times things got a little too new agey/adultish with the drama flairs- not enough to turn me off, per say, but let’s just say I kind of skimmed through some of the theatrics when they became too inane.  Over all as a romance novel, it totally worked.  The sensuality and romance were perfectly balanced with a substantial and meaty conflict. Kat’s mother was a complete snob and heaped her skewed opinions and judgments on Kat without mercy.  Their mother-daughter conflict resolution was integral to Kat’s ability to have a successful relationship where she was not feeling controlled or suffocated.   Aside from the plot twisting familial strains of strife with other characters, the core of the plot,dating your ex-con student is absolutely a conflict of interest and that kind of fraternization had the potential to ruin Kat professionally.  I appreciated that there was genuine apprehension regarding their attraction and decision to give in to their hearts and inevitable love making.  By the time they did wind up in bed I was tightly coiled and ready to spring out of my skin- given all the tension that built up surrounding their passions.

As a stand alone, A Pound of Flesh is unbelievably solid.  As a series, I have some real concerns.  There was literally, only one likable secondary character.  Annnnd that was the kindly grandmother and Kat’s only ally Nana Boo.  The rest of the cast was absolutely unlikable or too far in the peripheral to carry their own story .  The second full book in series was announced and is about Carter’s self-destructive best friend- however, I am wholly uninterested in his tale of redemption. Sadly Jackson did too good a job characterizing him as a spiraling drug abuser. I know he’s been through some seriously tormenting shit but…I developed an apathy toward him that I am not sure can be repealed…and I am not motivated to try, though I will read the upcoming novella following Kat and Carter,  Love and Always).  I suspect there will be a baby, I am all about emotionally wrecked people, healing and having little HEA families in awesome epilogues. Heh.  Fans of prison romance or love stories with legitimate roadblocks and emotionally hard won HEA’s,  if you like to see your characters do the work, and work out their crap – A Pound of Flesh is a good fit for you.  I have no qualms recommending it and am anxious awaiting the upcoming novella.

Grade: B-

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