ZachShe was innocent.Passionate.Fierce.After Luna Stone and I went from friends to lovers, my only purpose was showing her how worthy I was. But how could I convince her when I didn’t believe it myself?I craved her touch and her smiles but most of all, her heart.I vowed to protect her and show her father that I could be the man for his daughter.I pushed.She pulled.And when all was said and done, … his daughter.
I pushed.
She pulled.
And when all was said and done, I’d have to go through an even higher power to prove that I deserved her…
Myself.
Luna
He was quiet.
Withdrawn.
Intense.
Zach Porter and I had been friends since we were kids, but it had never amounted to anything more than that. Until now.
But as close as we were getting, he was still closed off.
He protected his heart and put up walls, even though he had no reason to.
He shoved.
I grabbed hold and never let go.
If I didn’t fight for what was ours, he’d succumb to his demons and believe their vicious words telling him that he’s not good enough. To give up.
On us.
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An Emotional journey!!
Luna and Zach This book just got better and better. Some was so incredibly sad that it was difficult for me to read. There are so many connections between the characters that there must be lots of great stories ready to be discovered. The only thing I would change was Luna just seemed to be too young and immature. I also kept trying to figure out all the characters ages. It felt like Zach was too young to be taking over his dad’s business and to be negotiating the sale of a building in NYC. Absolutely highly recommend this book.
4*
Zach and Luna are best friends she’s always crushed on him. However Zach is accepting he wants her too. But nothing is going to be easy for them he didn’t have a very good start in life before Brady & Corby fostered him & she has an overprotective father Stone.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and catching up on the characters from the Kings of Harlot mc
I recommend reading For You first if you want the backstory on how Coby and Brogan adopted Zach.
This is Zach and Luna’s story. They have been best friends since they have been kids. Luna has always had a crush on Zach, but been too afraid to act on her feelings.
Zach is closed off, and only really opens up to Luna and his parents. He had a traumatic childhood before he was adopted.
Zach and Luna are explosive together.
I loved getting to see past characters that I absolutely love.
I cannot wait for more of this series.
This is my first read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. I did not realized that this was a spin off of another series. I probably should have started there to get more from this book but that didn’t really stop me from enjoying this book. I loved Zach and Luna. They were just perfect for each other. I’m definitely going to be reading the other books in this and the other series.
This is the first book in the second generation series and wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
I literally could not put this book down! Once I started…there was no stopping. What an awesome friends to lover book! Luna and Zach’s story is packed with all the feels and then some!
If two people were meant to be together Zach and Luna are it! Between Zach’s pushing and Luna’s pulling, I didn’t know which way that tug-of-war was going to end!
I highly recommend! Cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
PS: I loved the Family Tree listed at the beginning of the book. I would recommend reading the King’s Harlots/Hell’s Harlem series to get a better understanding of all the parents/children. Not that you would have to, I just think it would enhance your reading enjoyment.
Luna was innocent, passionate, and fierce. Zach was quiet, withdrawn and intense. Luna and Zach had been friends since they were kids. When they went from friends to lovers, his only purpose was showing her how worthy he was. He did not know how to convince her because he did not believe in himself. He craved her touch and her smile but most of all her heart. He vowed to protect her and show her father that he could be the man for his daughter. He pushed, and she pulled. She already believed he was good enough, but he had to convince himself. – This is a touching romance. Luna and Zach are wonderful characters, and their love for each other was obvious. Zach was always tender when talking with Luna, especially when calling Luna his nickname for her. They have awesome friends, and all the parents are friends. This is a story about friendship, love, control and forgiveness – excellent read.
Zach and Luna’s story was amazing to read! I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
I could not put this down. Zach and Luna had be enthralled in their story and I loved that they were friends first. They had a rough road ahead of them because of Zach’s inner demons. I loved Luna’s determination though and not giving up. This is one sweet, sexy, and enthralling story.
Like any good family, this one comes together to support one another. I’m so in love with the connections of this group. Reading about and getting to know the characters in the previous series has been great! Discovering the personalities of “The Next Generation” is going to be EPIC! I just know it!
This for me was a slow burn that turned into an inferno! It offers us a look into the once children now adults of the Original Kings Harlot! Thank you J.M. for writing this series! I could not put it down. This is one of her best stories and I love all things that have to do with Kings Harlot. It is easy to read and she writes it so that if you have not read anything previously you will not feel like you have missed out. It is a remarkable read and one that I highly recommend. This is going on my to reread list. Great for a rainy day or one that you can take to the beach!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Can I give this 10 stars pretty please? I loved this book and all the many many feelings this one brought out in me. I now need to jump into the next book as this one just blew me away
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Received ARC from BookSprout for Honest Review.
I Gotta Give this book a 3-3.5/5 Star Rating, Listing as 3.
When I read the synopsis I was definitely expecting a much different story, which in some cases its NEVER a bad thing, I love being surprised.
But.
It’s very clear I am missing quite a bit of info, I definitely should’ve taken the ‘Next Generation Series’ a bit more seriously.
Because it’s obvious I should’ve read the series before this one, the books comes off like I should already know everyone and their backstory or at least their parents. Cause I’m not filled in with much backstory/history in this one, which left me confused in certain areas.
I also really wanted to see what the stepmother did rather than being hinted, so my darkness level for this book is going to have to be low.
Without knowing any in-depth detail of his past, I can’t fully understand Zach and some of his behavior.
It seems like the characters always have someone around, which in some areas it feels more like either a filler or just not enough breathing space. I personally wanted more ‘reader & one character moments with (Luna or Zach)’.
HEA(?): Yes.
Heat: 3-3.5/5
Romance: 3-3.5/5, this one is a bit wonky cause it seemed to fluctuate, it should be a 4/5, but I can’t list it as such.
Drama: 5/5
Suspense: 3-3.5-4/5, This is another wonky one, cause while reading it was suspenseful in some areas, but I never get any true answers to them.
Dark(?): Darkness IS Hinted but that’s it, so I can’t list it as dark. But 0-1/5.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When I saw this being the next generation from a series of hearten military men and their biker women, I was thinking that this would also be a form of the same concept with the bikers, but sad to say the only time there was a ‘biker’ brought in was Zack’s cousin Jaron Mercer for about a page worth. This is basically about the fight Zack has to face to prove to Luna and /or her father that he’s good enough for Luna. Or the fight Luna faces to get Zack to finally take her V-card to get the man she’s always loved from a far. We get that Zack was abused as a kid (see below) and the hell he’s been through but it gets repetitive in almost every chapter of Zack’s POV, or the fight Luna has to make sure Zack is there for her and for him to reassure Luna his deep feelings For her and bring up his past lovers. Is she in her 20s or is she still a teenager to keep bring but the other women a lot. Zack will kiss another women ( Clare) after his big fight with Luna about Stone..some will call it cheating but since his ‘body’ didn’t react to Clare even forcing the kissing on her before Clare pushes him away, then he’s remorseful…he’s not even drunk on alcohol but rage! But you be the judge on this… I like how the main characters have known each other for years. Plus some darkness.
Zack was adopted by Brogan and Coby when he was 10 (Brogan had a miscarriage and couldn’t carry to term so they stopped trying so they found Zack and adopted a broken child. Trigger warning for him will be how his stepmother (his real father died from cancer leaving Zack with an abuser) his name became ‘toy’ She’s starved him, he wasn’t allowed to be clean, she also probably raped him of his innocence and mentally. Took Coby and Brogan years to get Zack to trust them and opening up.
Luna is Stone’s daughter but her mother is not Creena, who actually became her stepmother when Luna was 6 months old. Her long time crush has been on Zack for as long as she could remember. Watching him become a revolving door with women in high school and years later. She believes the rumors of his sex life and knowing she would never have a shot at the broody guy. Until one day skin connected and his Moonbeam unknowingly got under his skins and stayed. But he’s got obstacles in his path, a blind date, a male friend and a overprotective big retired Navy SEaLs father who’s keeping a watchful eye on his daughter and keeping the bad new Zach away with warnings and threats.
Control Us (Next Generation #1) is a inescapable read suffused with an avalanche of angst, and love. Luna and Zach’s friends to lovers romance is beautifully created with infinite heaps of passion.
Absolutely love the fact we get to know the kids of some of my favourite character’s in this awesome world. I so missed the parents so much and was so wired to revisit them.
I only wish we could have learned more about Zach’s history as it was not as detailed and just glossed over his past.
A page turner novel that will leave you craving more.
Looking forward to reading the next novel in this heart-stopping series.
Ahhh the kids!
What a brillant start to a new series!
Although I think the author was lulling us into a false sense of security with less suspense than normal from her.
So nice seeing much loved characters back and now their kids have grown, will be interesting to see if they can cause as much trouble as their parents. Not seeing it quite yet, hence thinking the author has something up her sleeve.
THE best friends to lovers story I’ve read!
Most of the books I’ve come across in this genre usually do not have and real conflict in them.
Unless it has to do with the actual relationship.
Not this book!
Zach has so much turmoil brewing in him.
He has trust issues and lacks confidence in himself when it comes to relationships.
All his emotional issues comes from a deep childhood betrayal.
While he is an exceptional son,a good friend and confidant businessman.
Zach doesn’t see his true worth.
Because of the words and deeds he lived through.
I loved Luna.
I thought she was a doll.
She’s a fantastic friend,great daughter and gives of her time freely.
She’s compassionate and caring.
I absolutely adorned her loyalty and patience when it came to Zach.
Luna never pushed for more than he was willing to say or give.
She stayed by his side no matter the circumstances.
Zach and Luna’s dynamics are very intense for many reasons.
His early upbringing,her overbearing father and just life situations.
But most especially because of the feelings they have harbored since they were kids.
From the first kiss they shared they are explosive together.
I loved this beautiful love story.
It is filled with pain,anguish and uncertainty.
It shredded my heart and soul to pieces.
But bit by bit this truly talented author started to mend me back together again.
An incredible story of strength to survive,strength to heal and the strength to love!
Luna and Zach have been best friends since childhood and Luna has always had feelings for him. She has waited anxiously and patiently for the day when he would finally let her in and return the same feelings. When that day finally happens, Luna lets him in to her heart, but Zach still keeps himself closed off, because of his past demons that he can’t let go of and his beliefs that he doesn’t deserve anyone good in his life and that he will get hurt or hurt her along with some other obstacles, such as her very overprotective father, who thinks no one is good enough for his daughter. Zach winds up being his own worst enemy and pushes Luna away. Zach starts to realize that in order to gain Luna’s love back he needs to prove his love to her and believe he is worthy of love. This was an amazing start to the series and I loved how the original characters were still involved in the story.
Heart breaking story. Zach has had a lot done to him as a boy and close to the story of Coby Porter (ex seal). He and his wife Brogan adopted Zach and even in his 20’s he’s still coping with what happened to him. He loves Luna (Stone’s daughter) but doesn’t feel he’s good enough for her. He has too many demons. The world isn’t pretty, so beware when you read this book. HEA
Great read, exciting characters, alluring friends to lovers plot. Although this book is the first in the series, I can’t help but feel I should already know the characters, or at least the parents. Probably my fault since it’s been a while since I’ve read anything by this author.