“Stacey’s gift for writing easily relatable characters will hook readers and leave them eagerly waiting for the next installment.” –Publishers Weekly From New York Times bestselling author SHANNON STACEY Meet the tough, dedicated men of BOSTON FIRE–and the women who turn their lives upside down When faced with the opportunity to change shifts while staying in the same house, veteran … while staying in the same house, veteran firefighter Derek Gilman jumps at the chance. His new schedule means not working Saturdays, which means more time to spend with his two kids. His divorce may have been amicable, but being a firefighter and a single dad is a lot to juggle. And when fate brings a gorgeous, wealthy woman into his life, he’s pretty sure he can’t handle more than he already is.
Olivia McGovern loves plans. She planned to start her own business and planned its growth. It’s earning her seven figures now, but her personal life simply doesn’t exist. Getting trapped in a broken elevator figures in exactly nowhere, and freaking out in front of a sexy firefighter definitely isn’t on the agenda. Especially not one with two kids and an ex.
What would have been a random incident with an attractive stranger becomes something more when a charity event brings them back together. They’re from different sides of the tracks, literally–with friends, family and careers to consider. But as Derek and Olivia are discovering, chemistry doesn’t allow for plans, and love doesn’t bother with logistics.
Don’t miss the entire Boston Fire series by Shannon Stacey! Heat Exchange, Controlled Burn, Fully Ignited and Hot Response are available now!
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Very slow romance. This was a good book but it did start to feel a little repetitive in the middle before she met the kids. I really liked how smart and successful Olivia was
I’ve had my ups and downs with this series, and I think that it’s a case of me not fitting with the author’s writing style. I found this installment to be somewhat weak and boring.
This was clearly a case of opposites attract, but Olivia was a little too stuck up and unreachable for my tastes. She came off as a haughty rich snob to me, and I could understand Derek’s feelings on the situation. That being said, Derek wasn’t easy to connect with either. He was too aloof, and made too much out of the fact that Olivia made more money than he did. He came across as shallow, and that made me dislike him a bit.
The plot really didn’t hold my attention, as evidenced by how long it took me to read the story. All things considered, I doubt I will continue with the series or author.
Ever since I read my first book by Shannon Stacey she has been one of my top favorite authors. She engages my mind with the deep and raw emotions in the realistic, life-like romance stories about regular people with rambunctious yet loving families and all the mess that goes with living and loving fully with no reservations. There is humor, there are tears, there is heat, and there are sweet, swoon-worthy moments that makes me smile and sigh and be glad that I found her books in the first place.
Under Control is an ardent story that I easily related to. The past hurt and disappointments sometimes make us hold on to the little control we can actually have in life. Compromises are not always easy, the risks of trusting and loving with your whole heart can be scary, and veteran firefighter Derek Gilman and businesswoman Olivia McGovern learn their lessons the hard way.
Derek and Olivia live in different worlds, on the opposite sides of the town. But it is not only the physical distance that is a challenge in their relationship, they seem to be the opposite in every possible way. Yet, the attraction between them is a sizzling, tangible force that keeps pulling them together, despite everything that is pulling them apart.
I loved the energy between Olivia and Derek. I loved the honesty they shared, the connection between them had this aura of trust, flirtiness, and adoration that just pulled all the feels to the surface. I loved that Derek was such a loving, caring father and that the relationship between Olivia and his kids took time to develop, like it does in the real world, as well. I loved that while the story is realistic, it has that magical, whimsical wonder of falling in love, utterly, helplessly, and completely out of our control.
Under Control was an unputdownable, emotional, intense, and fervent story that kept me up late at night. It is a story about family, second chances, giving up the tight hold of control we sometimes hang on to too long, learning to make compromises, and risking it all to fall utterly and completely in love.
A wondrously enjoyable tale
~ Five Spoons
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Derek Gilman must do training in order to keep up to date on procedures. Olivia McGovern has one of those jobs that have a big title but most of us wouldn’t understand what it means – thankfully she lets us in on that. Our author did a great job creating a secondary character that knows Olivia very well and her name is Kelsey. She helps Olivia just a little by not taking everything in life so seriously. Plus she may get you to chuckle a time or two.
As I get to know our main characters, I realized that it would probably be easier to be friends with Derek than with Olivia – he’s more easy going and she likes order to just about everything. Full disclosure, there was a time or two where Olivia surprised me and that had me thinking that maybe, just maybe, we could actually get to know one another.
What I liked about this book is that I didn’t have to follow the series in order to enjoy this one. I also liked that it takes place in my home state. Makes it easier for me should I want to go visit a few Boston firehouses. And all the times I have been to Boston I’ve never been to the Back Bay – I hear there are some great restaurants in the area and I do love seafood.
I loved watching our couple’s attraction grow as the story moves along. Something else I loved was how Derek was not attached at the hip to technology. But how could he possibly go about impressing Olivia? It was watching these two people when they were together that made this a very enjoyable read – as well as a couple of cute kids. I also had a nice treat once I got to the end and it was a teaser for the first book in this Boston Fire Series.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Business consultant Olivia McGovern and firefighter Derek Gilman find themselves trapped in a stalled elevator. They’d checked each other out right before entering and their attraction was undeniable. They went their separate ways following rescue but days later had an unplanned reunion at a charity meeting. This time they wasted no time in moving forward after having failed to exchange contact information the first time. So what could go wrong?
Olivia’s highly successful and her lifestyle is proof of that. Derek is divorced with two young children and lives modestly. Even though there’s an obvious income disparity, these two have a lot of interests in common and genuinely like and enjoy each other. I liked how Olivia didn’t shy away from the issue, embracing her accomplishments without diminishing Derek and he didn’t fall into that trap of believing his manhood was threatened. They confronted the real issues a single father faces in co-parenting and introducing a new relationship to his children, as well as those fears and concerns a woman would experience walking into the situation. It was refreshing to not see manufactured drama, just the small things that can place strain on a new and developing relationship, figuring out how to communicate and handle them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story about two people from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds (she was from Virginia, he from Boston) who focused on what really matters in a relationship but weren’t unrealistically oblivious to the differences. While both were appealing, they weren’t perfect, had some missteps and behaved maturely and honestly. The narrator seemed to capture their personalities really well and delivered a strong performance. This is one of my favorites in the series.
This is the fifth book in the series and a great installment. I do love a single dad romance so I knew this was going be a winner for me. Plus I’m huge fan of Shannon Stacey’s writing. One chance encounter could lead this couple on the path to forever. Olivia sticks to her plans and schedules for a reason, but the day she meets Derek throws a big wrench in her orderly life. This book has great chemistry between Olivia and Derek. I gobbled this book right up because it has a such an easy flow to it. It has a real life feel to it especially with blended families. This is definitely one you shouldn’t pass up on reading.
Olivia owns her own business and is almost obsessive about schedules and planning. Derek is a divorced firefighter with two kids. When they get stuck in an elevator together, the sparks fly. When they are on the same charity committee, Derek sees an opportunity to get to know Olivia better and goes for it.
While trying to find their way through a new relationship, with living on opposite sides of town and her living in fancy, high rise apartment, Derek sometimes feels like she’s out of his league. When they try to figure out where their relationship is going, Derek goofs up and loses Olivia but will he be able to win her back and work through the obstacles in their way?
I really didn’t know how to write this review without telling the whole story. Not for sure if it even makes sense but it’s a good story with firefighters, sex, a goal oriented woman and a little humor thrown in.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *
4 1/2 STARS!
With the next book in the beloved Boston Fire series, we get the story of sexy single dad Derek. It’s always a lot of fun to revisit the characters from the previous books and get updates on how their lives are going. With this one, the characters were quick to grab and keep my attention . A sexy connection between them, and both with strong attitudes and beliefs that lead to a good bit of strife on the way towards their happily ever after. Really enjoyed their story!
Veteran firefighter Derek Gilman is trying to juggle all the aspects of his life the best way he knows how, so when a change in shift will allow him to still stay in the house that he loves but will afford him with more quality time with his kids, he is all for it. He and his ex might have made their way back to a decent friendship in order to keep life cordial for their kids, but he still wants as much time with them as he can manage.
Executive Olivia McGovern has worked hard to get her consulting firm off the ground and though business is going well, she doesn’t have time to sit back on her laurels and let someone else swoop in and snatch her potential clients, so getting stuck in an elevator on the way to a critical meeting is the last thing she needs! Then leave it to her to freak out in front of a sexy firefighter who has the misfortune of being stuck in there with her, and her day is totally shot. On the up-side, wow, what a hunk!
Got interested from the beginning
Being a firefighter and a single dad is a lot to juggle, so Derek Gilman is pretty sure adding a gorgeous, wealthy woman to his life is more than he can handle. Olivia McGovern loves plans so getting stuck in an elevator with a sexy firefighter has freaking out. They’re from different sides of the tracks, literally, but chemistry doesn’t allow for plans and love doesn’t bother with logistics.
The blazing hot chemistry that heats up the pages of this enchanting romance will singe readers as they get to know the strong, compelling characters that easily draw them into their story and charm their way into hearts. The relationship is has a few major obstacles likes plans, distance and insecurities which cause quite a bit of emotional turbulence that tugs at the heart but the romance is sweet and readers can’t help but cheer Olivia and Derek on toward their happily ever after because in a way the characters are very different from each other but at the same time they seem fit and complement each other and what romance reader doesn’t like a real romance with lots of opposition.
The smooth flowing plot keeps readers engaged with lots of emotional and compelling events that adds depth and fascination to the story and the steady pace keeps readers glued to the pages as it builds anticipation. The story doesn’t focus on either of the couple’s careers but focuses on the way that those careers and family issues affect their lives and how they must overcome it. This feel good romance will delight readers from beginning to end as they get know the characters from Boston Fire and ensures that want to come back for more.