From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author K. Bromberg comes a new story in her Everyday Heroes series…
Control is something Desi Whitman abhors. Why live life in black and white perfection when you can messily color outside the lines?
But when she comes face to face with SWAT officer Reznor Mayne, he’s about to show her just how good control can feel.
Every 1001 Dark Nights novella … feel.
Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.
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Desi gets her story! I am a huge fan of the Everyday Heroes series. When we first read about the sexy Officer Grant Malone, we were also introduced to Desi. The firecracker that had you cracking up with her wild free antics. With Control, her whole life is turned upside down and we meet a new and subdued Desi that broke my heart.
When Mr. Hottie himself, Reznor, comes into the picture, you felt the insta connection that these two characters had for each other. Desi reminded me of a skittish cat every time she was near Reznor. My weakness is a man in a uniform, but a SWAT commander, my knees were shaking! I laughed so hard with the haunted house scene, and was swooning after. Control has the heat level on overload! I loved the story and the characters. I was glued to the book and reveled in all the emotions Control gave me. I definitely say this is another book you need to read from K. Bromberg!
“We all have fears, Desi. Even the strongest of us have fears. It’s okay to have one–or many. It doesn’t make you weaker…it makes you human.”
“Everyone has a story to tell…” and Desi and Reznor’s stories meshed together perfectly.
A novella packed full of “flutter, swoon, and sagging”, that has the reader rooting for these two characters from the very beginning. Desi has to learn how to let her guard down enough to let someone in and overcome her fear of relationships. “You’re only pushing me away because you know it’s good–we’re good–and you’re afraid you’re only going to like it more.” -Reznor. “At one point my job was all I needed. But is that still all I need, or am I craving something more? Something else to give me that rush?” -Raznor. Reznor has to find a new kind of “rush” in life, and that just so happens to come in a feisty, sexy package. Some woman are worth the trouble and Desi proves to be just that for Reznor.
As most novellas go, they are too short, but I felt as if this novella lacked in nothing. There was intrigue, a great plot, character depth, lots of emotion, love, and a HEA. Oh and there were plenty of *fan yourself* moments that will have you hot under the collar.
If you read K.Bromberg’s EVERYDAY HEROES series, then you would have met Desi in CUFFED and if you are like me, then you were intrigued with her story. I am SO happy that Kristy took the time to give us her story in this novella.
**This is considered to be a standalone, so you do NOT have to have read the EVERYDAY HEROES series to read this book. Of course, I would recommend checking out the series because I love Kristy’s writing *wink*
“It’s your loss, Desi.”
“What is?”
“That you don’t trust me to show you just how good I am with something wet and groomed.”
And with that parting comment, I flash her a lightning-quick grin before heading to my side of the fence, while she grumbles and curses me out under her breath.
What a wonderful, and beautiful love story. I definitely recommend this book, this author and this wonderful series.
Audio Review from September 2019
I really enjoyed “reading” about Reznor and Desi’s story!
Unconventional and uniquely theirs!
I also loved the little snippets of Emerson and Grant!
Jason Clarke—amazing as ever
Emma Wilder— so talented! Her guy voice is so believable!
I loved it, all of it! The banter had me chuckling at work. This one also reminds me of the characters in Driven by K. Bromberg that I also freaking loved!
Reznor never expects to find a woman like Desi as his new next door neighbor. But when the two come together the reader is taken on a journey that will have them laughing out loud as well as wiping sweat from their faces. A perfect combination of smart and sassy with strong, alpha and hot as hell. It is short and sweet but really packs a punch. This was a enjoyable read.
An alluring, seductive and romantic story. Desi and Reznor are two people who are not looking for anything, but find something unique. I enjoyed this story.
I love the 1001 Dark Nights series because it’s more than just a sneak peek into an author’s series, it’s a splash into that author’s voice and style. K Bromberg is stellar at writing drama mixed with sex and romance. Control is a stunning look into her Everyday Heroes series and shows how two lost people can find happiness with each other.
After a home invasion, Desi’s attitude changed from life of the party to homebody. Every sound and shadow makes her jump but she’s determined to brush it all aside and move on with her life. A self defense class is just what she needs; but it turns out her hot new neighbor is her instructor and he’s set his sights on her. Reznor is built and mysterious but he keeps showing up just when she needs help. The more time she spends around him the more he shows what lies beneath the gruff exterior. And one night of weakness starts a romance she wasn’t prepared to handle.
Reznor is dedicated to his SWAT team but a bad call has left him with regrets he’s not sure he can come to terms with. Some time off in his buddy’s hometown should give him perspective. The unplanned brightness to his time away, his neighbor Desi. She’s spunky and sexy as hell but there’s a shadow in her eyes that he can’t help but want to protect her from. The two of them have undeniable chemistry and after a few nights together, Reznor finds himself opening up to Desi like he never has before and when all he’s known is quick flings, Desi’s got staying power. He just has to help her out of her head and back to reality when it comes to protecting herself.
A stubborn hero meets a hard-headed heroine and sparks fly as tensions turn to romance. Will Desi’s stalker be caught? Will Reznor be able to help her stay safe? This afternoon read is filled with emotion and drama that will suck you in and never leg you go. Mix in some mysterious action with this romance and it’s a WIN.
K. Bromberg has done it again with Desi and Reznor’s story. Control is full of emotion and will keep you enthralled from start to finish. You can’t go wrong with one of K. Bromberg’s books. Definitely a must read.
ok but too short. not fleshed out at all.
A good quick read.
CONTROL is the bonus, or the cherry on the top, to this amazing EVERYDAY HEROES series. A quick read that you will devour as soon as you start it.
I loved this series and I was waiting, not so patiently, for Desi’s story. We met her in CUFFED (1st book) and she had this personality that was impossible not to love instantly. She was the funny, easygoing friend, with a free spirit, and I was eager to know the man who would steal her heart and very possibly mine!
Desi doesn’t do relationships. She doesn’t believe in fairy tales, so she is not ready to settle down. Reznor is “married” to his job, as a SWAT commander, he doesn’t need distractions, so he just does casuals. After a bad experience, he needs a break and now he’s working as a self defense instructor, coincidentally, the same self-defense class that Desi is taking. He quickly realizes that he’s not only there for his own reprieve, but he’s there to help the one who will make him want a forever.
The sexual tension was immediate, they can’t deny their attraction and who better than Kristy Bromberg to make their chemistry explode. I loved how they connected, even though it was a short short story, it was very well developed and you just clicked with this lovely story and characters right away. Of course, my only complaint is I wish this story was longer, but we can’t have all what we want, right? I’m very thankful that Desi got her story and happy ending.
A sweet delicious read with incredible characters,whose chemistry is off the charts,a little angst and witty humor with plenty of romance and heat.
So glad Desi got her story, it’s such a good read-perfect for a novella!!
What a fantastic addition to an already incredible series.
GAH, I wish we could have had more of Desi and Rez because these two had incredible chemistry and it was a pleasure to read it. The story wasn’t overly angsty or comedic, it was just entertaining and good. Desi is the best kind of heroine out there. She knows her mind and doesn’t back down. She’s sassy and fun and really stubborn. Rez was the absolute perfect match for Desi. As a SWAT member, he has the temperament to deal with Dezi’s *walls* and knows how to push to get what he wants.
These two made the story utterly captivating and I just couldn’t stop reading. It was over before I knew it! Looking back, I probably should not have started reading so late at night because I read straight thru to the early morning hours! LOL Lesson learned (probably not) …
What a great story! I have not read any of the other books in this series, but I’m going back to buy them all! The story of the girl who thinks she doesn’t want forever love, but deep down knows that is going to be the best thing to happen to her. The SWAT officer that needs some RNR, but finds the quirky girl with a deep secret living next door to him. Their journey is wonderful.
This is 4.5 delicious Hero stars
The only reason I have marked it down 1/2 a star is the fact that its not a full length novel and I could so read more of Desi and Reznor!! (plus I would have loved to see the other Malone brothers as well as Grant…..Oh how I have missed those Malone boys)
Since meeting Desi in Cuffed as Emmerson’s best friend her quirky fun nature really appealed to me and peaked my interest. I have been hoping for her to get her story since the Everyday Hero’s Series finished. I was looking forward to seeing what brave man would hook Desi.
Again in true Kristy fashion she delivered another brilliant read full of wit, small angst and some serious steam!! She is most definitely one of my top 1-click authors.
No matter what Kristy writes, it’s going to be a hit. Be it a full novel or a quick novella there will be heat. Because that is what she does. Kristy brings the heat.
I absolutely loved the story of Desi and Reznor. The combination of these two are what love stories are made from. She’s searching for peace and he is trying to forget trauma. And in the process, they both experience fear. Fear of vulnerability and love. Fear of gaining and losing happiness. Fear of Control. The thing about fear is it is not so scary if you have someone by your side. Everyone needs a ride or die!
As always Kristy, excellent story and excellent characters!
I read Combust but not Cuffed or Worth the Risk, so Control was a great reminder for me to catch up with the Everyday Heroes series because now I realize I’m missing out! Desi and Rez had such great chemistry and banter and watching her fight the inevitable and him trying to convince her that they were meant to be together AND both of them trying to get beyond their pasts was incredible. I LOVE 1001 Dark Nights books for their ability to rope me in to all new worlds and introduce me to new characters. Control is no exception to that! 4 out of 5 wine glasses.
Control was a great novella, but I kind of felt like we were barely getting to scratch the surface of Desi and Reznor’s story. The story was complete; I just felt like there was so much more to both of them just under the surface. Things that were briefly glossed over but never really explored. I have a love/hate relationship with novellas, and this was a perfect example of why. They’re so much fun when you only have a small amount of reading time, but they always leave me craving more.
Control is the second book I’ve read in as many days where the woman is leery of relationships in general, and the man slowly wears down her walls, and I’ve got to tell you I’m there for it. As much as I love a broody bad boy – and I do, I really do – it’s refreshing to have the roles reversed occasionally. I loved that Reznor was equally unsure about love and domesticity, but he knew what he and Desi had was special and worth fighting for and fight he did.
Desi was not my favorite heroine. She was frustrating and a little hard to love, but she was damn sure of herself and knew what she wanted, so she did have a certain appeal to the part of me that loves a strong woman. There were definitely times I just wanted to shake some sense into her and make her see what was standing right in front of her. For all the frustration I held for Desi, I did eventually understand why she felt like she did, and it broke my heart a little for her.
Control was predicated on some heavier themes, that weren’t delved too deeply into – as is the nature of a novella – but the strongest part of this book was the banter between Desi and Reznor. They were both quick-witted and knew how to get under each other’s skin, which lent a great deal of levity and humor to the story. I did appreciate the heavier moments of the book, when they were actually living and sharing their truths, and would have loved to see more of that.
Control is the fourth book in K. Bromberg’s Everyday Heroes series and can be read as a standalone. There are a few cameos from one of the previous couples in the series, but nothing that spoils their story. Control is written in dual first-person perspective, narrated by Desi and Reznor.