I love me a good second-chance romance, but Book 3 of the Jackson Brother Series delivered something even deeper: a second chance at life. Isaac Jackson, the Jackson family’s black sheep, is known for his endless cycle of bad decisions and jail time. His brothers have grown used to it, and his reputation is cemented as the one who can’t seem to get it right. But this time? This time is different. Isaac walks out of prison determined to make it his last trip behind bars. He’s working at his brother Taurus’s company (even if data entry is slowly killing his spirit) and trying to keep his head down. But let’s be real — you can only fake contentment for so long before something has to change. Isaac wants more, and I was so rooting for him to get it.
Enter Azalea Davis. She’s everything Isaac isn’t — bright, perpetually optimistic, and almost annoyingly cheerful. She’s the kind of person who finds silver linings even on the rainiest days. I loved her spirit, even though sometimes I wanted to shake her and be like, “Girl, it’s okay to be mad sometimes!” 😂 Azalea is also Isaac’s probation officer, which makes things very complicated. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and that tension? Whew! I was practically fanning myself. Azalea tries to keep it professional, but Isaac’s rough edges and raw honesty start to chip away at her walls. The pull between them is undeniable, and you know it’s going to lead to trouble. (And it does, but we’ll get to that…)
Isaac has never met a rule he didn’t want to break, and his attraction to Azalea is no exception. What I loved about them is that they challenge each other — she forces him to look beyond his past mistakes, and he makes her confront the fact that life isn’t always sunshine and daisies. Their banter is electric, and I loved watching them try (and fail) to resist the connection sparking between them. Even when Azalea is fighting it with every professional bone in her body, you can tell it’s only a matter of time before she caves. Isaac’s confidence and that smirk of his? Whew, I couldn’t blame her.
Okay, I have to get this off my chest. Azalea’s sister was working my last nerve. She’s judgmental to the point of being rude, constantly side-eyeing Isaac for his past and pushing Azalea to cut him off. Look, I get the whole protective sibling thing, but this woman was out here basically trying to sabotage Azalea’s happiness out of fear and prejudice. Her whole attitude had me grinding my teeth. Like, sis, I get you want to protect your family, but chill out. Sometimes, people deserve a second chance, and she was out here acting like Isaac’s name was written in flames on a “Do Not Enter” sign. I wanted Azalea to stand up to her way sooner, but hey, better late than never!
Of course, this wouldn’t be a Jackson Brothers book without some drama. I’m not gonna lie, Azalea made a questionable choice at one point, heavily influenced by her sister. It frustrated me because I was rooting for her to fully trust Isaac and their connection, but I get it. Old habits and fears die hard. The good news is, when the dust settled, they handled it like grown-ups. No unnecessary back and forth, no petty misunderstandings — just two people who made mistakes and then talked it out. 🙌 I really appreciated the maturity with how they dealt with the fallout. It was messy, but it was real, and it showed that love is sometimes about working through the bumps, not avoiding them.
What I loved most is that Isaac’s story isn’t about just getting the girl. It’s about getting his life back. He’s always been the mess-up, the one no one could count on, but in this book, we get to see Isaac truly try. Not just for Azalea, but for himself. By the end, I was so proud of the man he was becoming — more focused, more determined, and finally understanding his own worth. That growth hit me right in the heart, and I closed the book feeling like I’d just watched a man rise from the ashes. This is what second chances are all about.
Book: Lock You Down
Author: Shae Sanders
Genre: Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🥵🥵🥵