CONTROL (Everyday Heroes 3.5 / 1001 Dark Nights) by K.Bromberg-Review and Excerpt Tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 13, 2018
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.
••••••
REVIEW: CONTROL by K. Bromberg is instalment 3.5 (and novella) in the author’s EVERYDAY HEROES, erotic, romance series, and the latest instalment in the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights. This is pet groomer Desi Whitman, and SWAT Team commander Reznor Mayne’s story line. CONTROL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line in the EVERYDAY HEROES series is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Desi and Reznor) CONTROL follows the building relationship between pet groomer Desi Whitman, and SWAT Team commander Reznor Mayne. Reznor Mayne needs a break. When his last assignment went all to h*ll, the SWAT Team leader was ready to pack it in but his commanding officer told him to take some time off in order to re-evaluate his priorities. Heading to Sunnyville, California Reznor volunteered to work the local Self Defense Class. Enter pet groomer and self-defense student Desi Whitman, and the woman with whom Reznor would fall in love. What ensues is the contemptuous relationship between Desi and Reznor, and the potential fall-out as Desi is unable to let go of the past, pushing Reznor out of her life.
Desi Whitman is lost and struggles to move forward with her life. Suffering PTSD from a home invasion, our heroine begins to pull away from family and friends, preferring to remain locked behind closed doors fearing an attack at any moment. Meeting Reznor Mayne brings all sorts of problems including a palpable sexual attraction, an attraction that is in opposition her need to keep all men at a distance. Reznor Mayne knows the struggle of PTSD including the nightly terrors that keep our hero up late into the night but Reznor had no idea he would meet his future in a woman caught up in the memories of the past, a past he is hoping to help her forget.
The relationship between Reznor and Desi is one of immediate attraction but Desi’s need to belittle all men adds insult to injury for an already broken ‘everyday hero’. Desi struggles with her attraction to Reznor Mayne, an attraction that brings out some mean-spirited attitude that doesn’t belong. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.
The secondary and supporting characters are colorful and dynamic. We are introduced to instructor Bear, as well as the return of Grant and Emerson Malone (Cuffed #1) for cohesion.
CONTROL is a story of friendship, love and happily ever after; a tale of struggle, romance, and moving forward. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance struggles in the face of preconceived notions; the characters are colorful and animated but I had a difficult time accepting the heroine’s immaturity and attitude. Desi’s vulnerability is expected but her treatment of others is questionable and disheartening. Sometimes there is no forgiveness when a character’s behaviour is problematic. My enjoyment of the story line suffered with the heroine’s biased attitude.
Previous Reviews and Reading Order
Cuffed
Combust
Worth The Risk
Control
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
CONTROL Trailer:
Direct Link: https://video214.com/play/9JRxe2IYmtdK0H1FpAInVw/s/dark
NOTE: The Excerpt is intended for mature readers 18+ due to content and strong language
“Like who?” she asks.
Gotta keep her on her toes.
“Logan St. Assh*le,” I say. “Guys who have cats—correction, guys who name their cat Pussy—either aren’t getting any or are using the name as a way to state they’re not gay when everyone already knows they are.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep. Why be ashamed of who you are and hide behind a cat? Just live the best life.”
There’s something I say that has her head tilting to the side again. She takes me in a little longer than expected. “It’s the former,” she finally admits.
I shrug. “Why is he an assh*le?”
“The bigger question is how is he not an assh*le?” For the briefest of moments I see a ghost of a smile on her lips, and it reminds me of how pretty she was the other day before the defense class began when she was chatting me up.
“Doggy Style?” I ask.
“That’s the name.”
“But Pussy is a cat.”
“You’re quite observant…”
“I can imagine you attract all kinds of interesting folks with that name,” I say, dismissing her sarcasm.
For the briefest of moments something flickers through her eyes and before I can put a finger on it, the emotion is gone, but it reminds me of what I saw in them the other day after class.
“Just as I’m sure you do working with SWAT.”
“Always.” I look at the cute cottage-style house. “You lived here long?”
We stare at each other in silence, and it’s almost as if she remembers she isn’t supposed to like me. Her expression and posture suddenly stiffen…probably because she realized she was smiling at me.
And f*ck if I know why it turns me on.
“It’s none of your business.”
So that’s how she wants to play it? Fine.
“Then it’s also none of my business that Pussy ran into the house about two minutes ago.” She narrows her eyes and sneers at me again. “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.
I hear her door slam.
I hear her call for Pussy again.
And all I can think about is how damn unexpected she is—and at the same time such a very welcome distraction.
I think I’m going to like my time in Sunnyville.
New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.
A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.
Since publishing her first book in 2013, K. has sold over one million copies of her books and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times.
In April, she’ll release The Player, the first in a two-book sports romance series (The Catch, book 2, will be released late June), with many more already outlined and ready to be written.
She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales: http://bit.ly/254MWtI
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Great review, Sandy. Looks very good. I think it would be interesting to find out which authors never made the 1001 Dark Nights list.
Excellent review and excerpt, thanks Sandy.
Thanks for another great review Sandy.
I also want to thank you for your honesty. I read books where I sometimes wonder if the reviewer and I read the same thing !
Thanks Alicia. I completely understand what you are saying. I too, have thought…..did we read the same book???
Another wonderful review and excerpt, thanks Sandy.
Fantastic review. Thanks for the excerpt.
Sounds very good, Thanks, Sandy.
Looks amazing, thanks Sandy. Congratulations to Kristy
Thanks for another great and honest review Sandy. Wonderful excerpt.
Great review, Sandy. I like the story line.