Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Under Control by Shannon Stacey Narrator: Tatiana Sokolov
Series: Boston Fire #5
Published by Harlequin Audio on August 28, 2018
Length: 6 hours, 32 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
When faced with the opportunity to change shifts 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.
I’ve been loving this Boston Fire series on audio . Some friend was reading or listening to them and they sounded great. I was happy to find them available on audio at the library. I’ve really enjoyed all the couples. The characters are likeable, relatively normal, believable people so I can relate to them. Of course, there is the added benefit of knowing the others in the circle of friends as the stories continue.
Olivia and Derek are both lovely people with good hearts and a few quirks. Their meeting was cute and they are attracted so they start to spend some time together to get to know each other. But quickly, they are having sex. I didn’t feel the attraction with so little time with dialogue so the sex felt too fast. Even though they were honest with each other, the first half of the book felt like too much sex, not enough relationship development. I think this might be because we are told they talk on the phone almost every night but we don’t get many of those conversations where they forge more of their connection.
But then they started to want a more long-term relationship and they started working on their differences and issues. Other friends and family were introduced to their couple-ness. So the second half of the book was great and I really enjoyed it as they grew to adjust their lives together.
The next book Flare Up was set up near the end of Under Control and it sounds awesome. I can’t wait for it to release in January.
Narration:
I have listened on audio to the series and so I am comfortable with the narrator. I am able to use my normal 1.25x speed. The male voices are fine except they all seem to have a heavy Boston accent. Most of the women don’t seem to have it. It’s a little odd. But the performance is the world I know and enjoy.
Listen to a clip:
About Shannon Stacey
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and riding her four-wheeler. From May to November, the Stacey family spends their weekends on their ATVs, making loads of muddy laundry to keep Shannon busy when she’s not at her computer. She prefers writing to laundry, however, and considers herself lucky she got to be an author when she grew up.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2018 Audiobook Challenge
- 2018 New Release Challenge
I’m listening to this now! Wonderful review, Anne.
Thanks! It’s a great series and this one finishes strongly. I enjoyed it a lot.
This does sound good. I just noticed this series last week. I’ll have to check and see about starting from the beginning.
Ha! I prefer sex with relationship development, too, so good to know that it does eventually get there.
Yes it’s odd. That’s why I mentioned it. I don’t remember this issue in any of the other books. I really like this author’s work in this and other series.
Oh I think it’s the firs time I hear about the book and the author!
Well the series has 5 books and more to come. This author did a really great series – the Kowalskis – before this one. Also contemporary romance. It’s one of my favorite series.
I just finished this one the other day and really enjoyed it. I loved how real these characters were to me. I liked the first part of the book as much as the second half but I do see what you are saying. I think that the next book will be really good!
I really have enjoyed all this series. I’m glad you really liked it very well too.
Nice review Anne, thanks. It’s interesting that you felt the sex was too heavy upfront. I felt this story had a very realistic vibe to it – they felt attraction and acted on in, but then stuck around to get to know the other… But I wonder if the missing dialogue was more noticeable in audiobook format.
Maybe so. I’ve listened to the whole series on audio. It just felt like at the very beginning the convos happened on the phone and when they saw each other in person, it was sex. But we were just told they talked not given the dialogue. They were comfortable with it and so I probably should have been. It was just at the beginning; once they had more conversations, and thoughts about things other than sex, it was even better for me.