Olivia McGovern has a plan for her life and she's going to follow it to a T even if that means that life is all work and no play. But then she gets trapped in an elevator with Derek Gilman. It's not love at first sight by any means but he's not exactly disappointed when he sees her again at a local fundraising group.
Derek is definitely not on Olivia's list. Nor are his two kids and divorced wife who he is somehow still friends with. But she's ready to open herself up to the chance, if only he can do the same.
An okay book and I think most readers of the series will be happy with this story.

Olivia never thought holding an elevator for the sexy firefighter would turn into so much more. Being stuck with Derek definitely was not on her schedule and she made a point to never be late for meetings. Owning her own company stressed the importance of being on time. Giving back though a charity she runs into Derek again. Their chemistry threatens to engulf them both in flames. She will change her views and plans of how her life should be structured and he will get another chance at love.

If the smoking hot book covers alone aren’t enough to entice you to delve into this series, my fellow firefighter romance book loving friends, the gorgeous, hunk of burning love heroes contained within the pages should certainly do the trick.

Derek, the good guy, dad to two kids who gets along usually very amicably with his ex-wife, certainly fits that bill. He’s the whole package, on and off the job. Dedicated to his life saving career and being the best dad he can be, he still makes time for friends and charities that serve his community. Olivia seems to be the first woman whose come along since his divorce that makes him want to risk falling in love again.

Olivia, the professional time management heroine, has beauty and brains, but overly regimented and obsessed with her little black planning book. I would have tossed that baby right out the window and grabbed onto Derek with both hands from the get go, folks. It takes awhile for her to realize life happens with every breath you take, not by what you have penciled in a book. Sure, she was sweet, but I found her overly structured way of life and logic somewhat annoying at times. Thankfully, she’s got a best friend to to have her back and give her a push in the right direction.

With a pretty predictable “how are we going to make this work” set-up, this main couple ultimately do find a way to let love win over present and future obstacles that are in their way. Derek once again proves he’ll man up and put his heart and life on the line to keep his lady love.

I am really looking forward to Grant and Wren’s HEA in Flare Up, the next release of this series. It will be a second chance scenario since they were a couple throughout most of Under Control.

Title: Under Control, Series: Boston Fire (Book 5), Author: Shannon Stacey, Pages: 384, stand-alone but part of a great series, very steamy scenes, divorced hero with two kids, professional time management heroine, mild relationship angst, no OM/OW drama, no love triangle, no cheating, romance safe, no major drama, 5 star type hero.

Book 1 - Heat Exchange
Book 2 - Controlled Burn
Book 3 - Fully Ignited
Book 4 - Hot Response
Book 5 - Under Control
Book 6 - Flare Up

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

Business consultant Olivia McGovern and firefighter Derek Gilman find themselves trapped in a stalled elevator. They’d checked each other out right before entering and their attraction was undeniable. They went their separate ways following rescue but days later had an unplanned reunion at a charity meeting. This time they wasted no time in moving forward after having failed to exchange contact information the first time. So what could go wrong?

Olivia’s highly successful and her lifestyle is proof of that. Derek is divorced with two young children and lives modestly. Even though there’s an obvious income disparity, these two have a lot of interests in common and genuinely like and enjoy each other. I liked how Olivia didn’t shy away from the issue, embracing her accomplishments without diminishing Derek and he didn’t fall into that trap of believing his manhood was threatened. They confronted the real issues a single father faces in co-parenting and introducing a new relationship to his children, as well as those fears and concerns a woman would experience walking into the situation. It was refreshing to not see manufactured drama, just the small things that can place strain on a new and developing relationship, figuring out how to communicate and handle them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story about two people from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds (she was from Virginia, he from Boston) who focused on what really matters in a relationship but weren’t unrealistically oblivious to the differences. While both were appealing, they weren’t perfect, had some missteps and behaved maturely and honestly. The narrator seemed to capture their personalities really well and delivered a strong performance. This is one of my favorites in the series.

A departure of previous stories from this series with more firefighting action, this was more about that the differences between a couple need not hamper them. With a different economical strata between Derek and Olivia, they were able to make those differences work for them. I felt this was a powerful message to successfully be weaved into an romance story. With a handsome hero and a beautiful, independent and successful woman, this was one story that was hard to put down. I was amused that Cait knocking a firefighter down a set of stairs was worked into the story.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Derek Gilman is a man who loves his family. His marriage didn’t work out, but they stayed good friends. He has two children and they mean the world to him. He wasn’t expecting to meet anyone that would catch his eye, but when he gets stuck in an elevator with Olivia McGovern she pushes all of his buttons.

Olivia has no time in her life for dating. She has a plan and a man plays no part of that. Unfortunately for her plans, Derek gets under her skin and she’s soon having to make adjustments. But can she make enough adjustments to her life to include Derek and his two kids and still live her life the way she wants to?

This was a cute story. I liked Derek a lot. I liked how he was with his kids and also the fact that he was such good friends with his ex-wife - kind of like he was before they got married. With Olivia it took me a while to warm up to her because she was so Type A and had every minute of her day/life planned. She needed some warmth and spontaneity in her life…and Derek provided that.

Olivia and Derek fall in love pretty quickly but neither is willing to compromise their lives for the other. They live 40 minutes away from each other. She makes a lot of money, he makes a fair amount but nothing spectacular. Her job is in downtown Boston, his isn’t. Money and location ended up being an issue between them and that annoyed me for some reason because he wouldn’t compromise and his pride was getting in the way. I mean, I could tell how much they loved each other, and their relationship was pretty good, but the story lacked a spark. Maybe it was because the book was so centered on them and lacked outside issues? IDK.
We got some time with the other guys in the firehouse and characters from past books. We also got, woven into this story, a bit about Grant and his girlfriend Wren. I’m thinking the next book will be their book and it looks like it will be a good one.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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There is a lot to like about the 5th book in Boston Fire and it can definitely be read as a stand alone.

Olivia’s is highly successful women and I love that she didn't downplay that and yet still made Derek feel like he was diminished in any way. I also loved that Derek didn't feel like his masculinity was threatened as happens all to often in books with successful women. There is obviously an income disparity and Derek was a single father which comes with issues of its own.
What I loved was that there wasn't any unnecessary or manufactured drama just two people dealing with the day to day issues of starting a relationship when they come from different backgrounds, have a different socioeconomic status and have children involved. I enjoyed both Olivia and Derek and while neither was perfect they were very likable. In fact this is one of my favorite books in this series.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Net Galley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion

Derek & Olivia's HEA was a rough road. When they each have their expectations based on past experiences and antiquated thinking, it takes some soul searching to find a way to make things work out for both of them. The chemistry was not under control, it was blazing hot, and I absolutely loved the conclusion! I was a little frustrated with Derek's views on Olivia being "out of his league", but he redeemed himself in the end.

4.25 stars--UNDER CONTROL is the fifth instalment in Shannon Stacey’s contemporary, adult BOSTON FIRE romance series focusing on Boston’s first responders. This is firefighter and single father Derek Gilman, and business consultant Olivia McGovern’s story line. UNDER CONTROL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.’

Told from dual third person perspectives (Derek and Olivia) UNDER CONTROL follows the building relationship between firefighter and single father Derek Gilman, and business consultant Olivia McGovern. Trapped in an elevator was never in the plans for Olivia McGovern but trapped with firefighter Derek Gilman made Olivia think about the possibilities of something more. Approached to help with a children’s fund-raiser Olivia is shocked to learn that the fireman starring in her fantasies is also a member of the fund-raising board. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Derekk and Olivia, and the potential fall-out as Olivia struggles to step outside of her comfort zone in an effort to make time for the man, and his family, with whom she is falling in love.

Olivia McGovern is a well-organized and detailed planner; a consultant whose own life is revolves around a schedule of meetings, business appointments, and very little time for personal affairs. Meeting firefighter Derek Gilman throws all of Olivia’s plans into disarray especially where is concerns emergency call-outs, and family considerations. Derek Gilman never again thought he would find love but life proved him wrong falling in love with the woman who stole his heart. Hoping to make Olivia his happily ever after Derek struggles with Olivia’s current life-style, a life-style he believes isn’t conducive to family or a happily ever after.

The relationship between Derek and Olivia is one of immediate attraction; an accidental meeting between two people whose lives go in opposite directions. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line ‘firefighters’ and their spouses play secondary and supporting roles, We are introduced to Derek’s ex-wife Amber, and her husband Jason, and their children Julia and Isaac, as well as Olivia’s PA Kelsey. Firefighter Grant and Wren’s story line is next in FLARE UP.

The world building focuses on the relationship between Olivia and Derek as they must come to terms with their diverging careers. Olivia battles between head and heart while Derek believes Olivia’s career matters more than his kids. Herein lies the conflict when Derek addresses the elephant in the room, a presumptuous elephant that is about to stomp all over Olivia’s heart.

UNDER CONTROL is a story of family and friendships, heartbreak and misunderstanding. The premise is engaging and real; the characters are colorful and charismatic; the romance is passionate and spirited. UNDER CONTROL is a sexy, sassy and animated look at the reality of life and everything it has to offer.

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Some characters grab you as soon as you dive into a book.  You find yourself immediately invested in their lives, feel their emotions as powerfully as your own and while you don't want their story to end you can't help but turn page after page. to find out how their story will turn out.  Derek and Olivia who Under Control is focused on were like that for me.

Derek and Olivia had chemistry from the moment they saw each other and it only intensified as the book went on.  From something as innocent as how Derek rubbed Olivia's ankle in the elevator when they were trapped, to the first time they were intimate it was hot as hell.  There was an intensity to every interaction between them combined with an emotional connection that took each of those moments beyond just the physical (which was hot as hell on it's own).

Both Derek and Olivia's situations were something I think most readers could relate to.  Olivia finds security in her routine and plans is so caught up in doing everything exactly as it's scheduled forgets that the best things in life can't be planned.  Derek is so convinced that he and his kids don't fit in Olivia's world that he sees problems where they aren't any which in the end becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy.  In the end my heart ached for each of them because I knew without a doubt they loved each other if they could just take that final step and get out of their own way.

I adored the role that Derek's ex-wife Amber played in this story.  Without giving any spoilers because it's a scene you should be able to experience yourself, I cracked up at a certain scene here Amber showed up at Derek's house.  I'm not sure who I was more mortified for!  Beyond that entertaining scene, I loved that not only did Derek and Amber have an awesome relationship, but Amber was the one to call Derek out on his BS in a way that nobody else would have been able to.  Props to Shannon Stacey on giving us a former couple that we could actually see being friends.

Bottom line, if you like sexy firefighters and a delightfully sexy story, Under Control should be on your TBR pile.

4 stars

Under Control by Shannon Stacey is a very entertaining and enjoyable read.
The writing is well done, the storyline is well paced and my interest was held from start to end.
I loved watching Derek and Olivia's relationship develop. They made me smile they made me swoon and they filled my heart with love, these two were perfect for one another and I was very happy to have read their story.

Under Control is a great addition to the Boston Fire series, each book can be read as a standalone and I highly recommend them.

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy*

Under Control is an enjoyable 5th entry into the Boston Fire series. After reading the first chapter of Derek and Olivia's story at the end of the previous story, I was looking forward to the rest of the book and it didn't disappoint.

Derek and Olivia are definitely from different worlds. He is a 30-something divorced father of two who loves his kids and his job above all else. Family means everything to him and the Ladder 39 crew has become as much his family as his own flesh and blood. Olivia is an only child who has lived her life by focusing on a life plan, setting goals and knocking off accomplishments one by one. The concept of an amicable relationship with an ex-spouse is completely foreign to her after watching the misery her parents still continue to inflict on each other years after divorcing, not to mention several other close relatives who acted the same way. And when it comes to kids, she has no frame of reference to refer to at all.

Despite all that, neither Derek nor Olivia can deny the attraction between them from their very first meeting. When they cross paths again a few weeks later, they decide to take a chance and a sweet, sometimes hot, romance is born. But Derek is still cautious about introducing someone new to his kids' lives and something will have to give if they have a chance at a future. Can a person who lives a very structured life with the illusion of control find a way to take a chance on a man who lives moment to moment with the chaos of his job and his 8 and 10 year old little whirlwinds?

Under Control has some familiar faces from the prior books in the series but it can absolutely be read as a standalone so feel free to dive in if this one sounds like your kind of read!

Derek and Olivia meet when they are trapped in an elevator together. They make it work for them...I can't say anyone who is trapped in an elevator with me will still want anything to do with me by the time we are freed....but that is not the point.

Olivia has a plan. For everything. Ever. And, it's written down, as it's not an official plan until it's written down.

Derek, well, he has kids. So, less of a plan and more of a list of things he hopes work out on his days off and while the kids are in school or with their mother.

These are not people who should work. Their attraction shouldn't be one they are unable to forget, it shouldn't keep them awake at night thinking of the other, knowing that they won't ever see one another again. Until they do, at a meeting for a charity Derek is involved with and Olivia has just started volunteering for.

Sparks fly (I had to make at least one fire reference, I just had to) and the relationship moves more quickly than either of them planned. Well, Olivia planned it, as she schedules EVERYTHING.

But, their lives don't work well together. He has kids, she lives in the city. He can't afford to live where she does, and won't allow her to pay for their home. So, where do they go from this point?

In life, and in a romance novel, things happen that reset your expectations. And, when those expectations change, you find yourself a little more open to the things you thought would never work but are so worth it when you manage to figure out a way to balance everything.

I thought the balance of the story, the 2 people coming together, and wanting to be together, and being willing to figure out what needed to be done felt authentic. And, for me to be willing to believe in the happily ever after for the characters, I need to believe in the connection being stronger than anything struggling to pull them apart. I believed it here.

I recommend this story.

Fantastic book! I love this series and Under Control is a fantastic addition to it. Derek Gilman is a single dad with a crazy schedule at the firehouse and too little time but somehow he's making it work and seeing his kids as much as he can. Time for a relationship - no way, even if the woman in question is beautiful, kind and sexy. Granted being stuck in an elevator with her isn't the greatest way to meet but she definitely made an impression. Olivia McGovern couldn't be more different from Derek if she tried. She's planned, organized, and orderly. He's fly by the seat of your pants chaos. She's downtown, he's the burbs. Different as night and day. Love doesn't always stick to the rules though. Can these two find a way to make their differences work for them?

Very entertaining read that I highly recommend.

<strong>Under Control</strong> is the fifth book in the Boston Fire series by Shannon Stacey and it features firefighter Derek Gilman and newcomer Olivia McGovern as they fall in love with each other. Their story starts when they're stuck in an elevator together and Derek helps Olivia with her not quite but maybe a little ankle injury. There's an attraction on both sides but nothing comes of it because Olivia had to rush off after she was saved and Derek was still in the elevator but luck would be on their side when she shows up for a charity meeting and Derek is there too.

One of my favorite things about this series is that Shannon Stacey is writing romances for the everyday person and I'm so here for it. I mean sure, Olivia is a little richer than anyone that I know but I thought that her relationship with Derek, who has money worries and problems that I can totally relate to was a good one. I loved seeing them figure their shit out together. Olivia has issues with divorce and the baggage that comes with it, which is completely understandable given her family dynamic and seeing her try to figure her way through dating a man who shares custody of two kids with his ex-wife made for an interesting romance.

I loved seeing Derek try to find a balance in the early days of his relationship with Olivia and being there for his kids and their insecurities about their Mom's big news. There was a lot of internal things these characters battled in this book and I thought Stacey did a wonderful job of weaving Derek's life with Olivia's and I love a straight up contemporary romance, which is what this was.

It was so easy for me to fall right back in with these characters. I enjoyed seeing the guys from the other books and seeing the girls get their gossip on with each other so that was fun though there were times when I thought a bunch of guys at a Red Sox games talking about buying engagement rings was a bit cheesy. Still, this book was a great addition to the Boston Fire series and I'm super excited for Grant's book. This is what I look like, waiting on Grant's book...

<center><img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/5zop54R7PBtW8y6FCT/giphy.gif" /></center>

Overall, this was a solid romance and it left me satisfied that Derek finally got his happy ending. Olivia was a great match for Derek and I was super thrilled with how things turned out for them. I enjoyed getting to know Derek's kids, seeing all of my other Boston Fire friends and there's still much to look forward to so woot, you did great Shannon Stacey!

<strong>Grade: 4 out of 5</strong>

Another awesome hot firefighter romance by Ms. Stacey. Truly an excellent romance with interesting main characters. I totally loved it!

After Reading Boston Fire 4 with its mystery I thought why not try Under Control. I do not like Romance stories they are all predictable and sappy.

This story starts off with a chance meeting with a control freak who has her life planned out from the second she wakes to the second she falls asleep. The man Derek is a fire fighter who life is always up in the air with kids and an ex wife.

Shannon Stacey is able to bring to life these two characters that struggles with their differences from life style to life choices. Every character has a purpose and a reason for being in the story. The characters feel real and the struggles will have readers feeling the characters pain.

The story slows down with sex scenes but several have very humors moments.

What I disliked was how the story seem to come to an end a little to abrupt.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Carina Press for the Advance Copy of Shannon Stacey Under Control.

Under Control is another great addition to Shannon Stacey’s Boston Fire series about the men of Ladder 37 and Engine 59. This story is about firefighter Derek Gilman.

Derek is on his way down a high rise building when he asks a woman to hold the elevator for him. Just moments after the doors close, the elevator stops and Derek finds himself stuck with beautiful Olivia McGovern. But once they are rescued, Olivia scurries off to a meeting, and later they both regret not getting more than a first name of the person they were stuck with on the elevator.

A week later, Derek is attending a meeting for a non-profit organization he volunteers with, and as luck would have it, Olivia’s company has been brought on to help with the upcoming fundraising event. Under the guise of working on foundation business, Derek secures a dinner date with Olivia. And the rest, as they say, is history.

There are so many things I’ve loved about this series, and about this book. I love that these people have relationships that begin organically. No insta-love, no jumping into bed right away. These people actually develop a friendship before becoming romantic. Derek and Olivia aren’t coy or ambiguous about their feelings. They have a mature relationship.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t have obstacles to work through. Derek is divorced with two children, which is always a situation that has to be dealt with using sensitivity. However, I appreciated that the author didn’t go the usual route, with a messy divorce and vilifying the ex-wife. The crux of Derek and Olivia’s issues dealt with whether or not they could make the compromises necessary to blend two lives that were working fairly well on their own, and answering the question “is love worth making sacrifices.”

This whole series has been really good. The writing is excellent, and I’ve loved the characters. The heroines are strong and smart, and the heroes are kind and manly - without that over-the-top ridiculous, alpha male behavior you’d expect from a series about firefighters. And when the author could use the cliched, overused storylines, she never does and it’s so refreshing. While the stories do sort of build on each other, they could be read out of order - you’re given just enough background information on each of the previous couples to sort of know “what their deal is” but nothing that would ruin their stories if you go back to read them (these are romances, after all, so I don’t think anyone will be surprised when the couples end up together!). I have thoroughly enjoyed all five of the Boston Fire books, and am anxiously awaiting book six!

* thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Carina Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The fifth book in the Boston Fire series, Under Control is a well written addition. Derek is a great character and Olivia is independent and engaging. I like this story and look forward to many more

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!