Beyond Control by Kat Martin – a Review

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Description:
When Victoria Langford got engaged, she told herself to give love a chance. Six months later, she’s on the run from her angry, abusive ex-fiancé with her four-year-old daughter and nowhere to go.

Seventy miles north of Dallas, the Iron River Ranch is pretty much nowhere. That’s what its new owner, Josh Cain, wanted when he came back from Afghanistan. Big skies, quiet nights, no trouble.

One look tells Josh the pretty redhead with the adorable little girl will give him trouble of the most personal kind. But he’s seen trouble before, and he doesn’t scare easy. Not when “accidents” start happening around the ranch. Not when Tory’s best friend back in Phoenix is abducted and brutalized. Not even when it looks like their current problems are only the tip of the iceberg.

But if he gets too close to fierce, determined Tory, Josh knows his nights are going to be anything but quiet. And that’s one possibility no amount of training can prepare him for . . .

Review:

Beyond Control by Kat Martin is the 3^rd book in her Texas Trilogy series.  As normal with a Kat Martin book, this was an exciting intense story line that had a bit of everything; action, suspense, romance, great couple, and an evil villain.

Victoria Langford (Tory) is on the run with her 4 year old daughter, trying to be one step ahead of her ex-fiancée, who is abusive, controlling and obsessed with her.  Her ex will go to any length to find her and get her back to Phoenix.  Tory has suffered badly, and in her last escape from him, she used a stun gun to enable her get away again.   She ends up in Texas , and when she sees an ad for a ranch hand, Tory applies.

Josh Cain, our hero, is a former marine who is rebuilding his ranch, and needs help.   Josh has two disabled ranch hands who are also former marines,  and when he meets Tory, he turns her down, telling her he wants a man for the job.  Tory claims she is hard worker and begs him to give her three days to prove her worth.  Josh will give in, knowing she would be gone in three days.

Tory does prove her worth, especially since she manages to win over Satan, the horse no one can handle.  There is something about the way Tory talks to Satan, whom she starts calling Star, and slowly the horse allows her to be closer.  Josh gets a neighbor to help with Tory’s daughter, so that she can work more.  Josh also senses that Tory is running away from someone.  This will bring him closer to Tory and her cute daughter, who doesn’t trust men, as she has seen her mother beaten often.

When Tory’s best friend is beaten and shot, she will tell Josh the truth about her violent ex, who will never stop looking for her.  I will say that her ex was a nasty villain, and every time the chapter revolved around him, and the beatings he gave others, I found myself very tense, reading quickly to get past that chapter.  He was very evil, and bad to the bone.   When at the hospital, Josh will see the ex and threaten him to leave Tory alone.  But the villain has no qualms of killing others, and both Tory and Josh will find themselves es in danger.

When things start happening that threatens Tory, Josh, who is falling hard for Tory, will force himself into her life to help her, even if he is afraid of commitment. Their slow built romance will heat up, but Tory knows she loves Josh, but she fears that he will be in danger because of her ex.    The action in this story is non-stop, and always in the forefront, with the romance being sweet and sexy, but not overtaking the story line.  Tory and Josh were such a great couple; I loved them together, as well as the daughter and I hoped that they would find a way to stay together .        

It was nice to see Josh’s family again, and the friends his brother, Linc had to help him find a way to stop the ex, as well some great secondary characters.  I do not want to give any spoilers, as there are a number of tense situations and twists.

If you enjoy action, suspense, intense thriller and a sweet wonderful romance, then you need to read Beyond Control.  Kat Martin has written another wonderful addition to this series, which kept me glued to the book, which I finished in one day.   I suggest you read this series, but Beyond Control does read very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher