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*

Whew! What great chemistry Olivia and Derek have. From the moment they step on an elevator together, there are sparks flying through the air. Their lives are so different and would, in most cases, never even cross. Not only do they meet in an elevator, but they end up working with the same charity organization…that’s fate.

Olivia lives her life by her planner. If it’s not in her planner in ink, it’s not going to happen. She has a one-year plan, a five-year plan, a ten-year plan, etc. As far as Olivia’s concerned, nothing can change those plans since she wrote them down. Plus, this is what has been working (and working well) for her most of her life.

Derek is a divorced dad of two young kids, as well as a firefighter. Any plans he makes go out the window within an hour. He rolls with the punches and doesn’t see how anyone can live such a structured life. Yet Derek and Olivia fall head over heels for each other…they just haven’t thought out the long-term and the sacrifices that would have to be made.

Although Derek is an awesome father, a wonderful ex-husband, and a caring boyfriend, he also seems to borrow trouble. Instead of talking certain things out with Olivia, he assumes he knows how she’s feeling. She is very rigid with her time, so he assumes she resents when he has to disrupt her usual schedule to ask for a favor. Never bothering to ask her how she feels, just assuming she’s mad and doesn’t enjoy the time she spends with his children. For her part, Olivia often judged Derek on her own parent’s divorce…which was not amicable. She just didn’t understand the true friendship Derek has with his ex-wife. Since she also felt like a pawn in her parent’s divorce, she assumes she will always be the one to sacrifice, the one shoved aside.

Eventually, all of their bottled up feelings would have to explode. And they did. I love when Shannon Stacey has the friends of the hero and/or heroine give them the facts. They don’t let them hide in their woe. It’s how we should all talk to our friends when we see them making bad decisions.

Once again, the author did a great job. This series is just amazing and I anxiously wait for each new book.

This book starts out with Olivia and Derek meeting when they are trapped in an elevator together. After they get rescued, Olivia rushes off to her meeting and never gets Derek's number. Derek has the same problem -- he didn't get Olivia's number either and both of them can't stop thinking about each other.

That is until fate brings them together via a charity organization. It's really cute that they both want each other and it doesn't take long for them to move the relationship forward even though they have many obstacles to deal with. Derek is a devoted father and Olivia is a dedicated career woman and they live on opposite sides of town making their opportunities to be together a challenge.

I really liked how they both had to decide what they were willing to compromise on for love. The ending of Under Control hit many emotional notes for me and I absolutely loved it.

Under Control works well as a standalone and drops quite a few names from the previous books in the series that made me want to reread them again. That's a good thing.

Overall, I liked this. It's a sweet, adult romance that deals with some real-life issues in a very realistic way.

An ARC was provided for review.

Under Control was a great 4 star read and book five in the Boston Fire series.

Derek and Olivia initially meet when they get stuck in an elevator together. Derek’s unit were doing some training in Olivia's office building. Sparks literally fly between them, but Olivia quickly runs off after their rescue and Derek isn’t sure how to get in touch with her.

Fate of course steps in and they both are brought together again during a meeting with a non-profit organization. They start to develop a relationship after Derek gets Olivia to agree to a date with him, she eventually meets Derek’s children and his ex-wife, I have to say that meeting the ex was a LOL moment for me. Not the way I would want to meet the ex, that’s for sure.

We do get some steamy moments from them. At times Derek feels like he isn’t good enough for Olivia because of her status and job. Olivia also wonders if she’s good enough to be around his kids. Can these two get past their doubt’s and have a HEA?

This is my first read from Shannon Stacey, I was pulled right in with her writing and couldn’t wait to see how Derek and Olivia’s story would end. The secondary characters were great. I was very happy with the ending and I can't wait to read more from this author. This book can be read as a stand alone, however I plan to go back and catch up.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club

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.

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.

Back to the Firehouse in Under Control, from Shannon Stacey’s Boston Fire Series. Derek is a single dad, who is amicably co-parenting with his ex. He’s happy yes, but wishing he had what his buddies are finding. Olivia is a driven, highly successful business owner who has made order everything. When the two meet while stuck in an elevator, neither can stop thinking about the other. Once together they both experience a happiness they hadn’t realized they were missing, or at least this is true for Olivia. But Derek is decidedly blue color while Olivia is blue blood, and doubts start to creep in. Seeing if they can both come to terms with their differences and embrace their happy? Yeah it kept the pages turning for me.

Olivia McGovern is a productivity specialist and getting stuck in an elevator is the last thing she needs, especially when it threatens her carefully crafted schedule. Although, the hot firefighter who calms her panic in the stranded elevator is sure easy on the eyes. Olivia is late for a meeting and she rushes off before Derek can ask his gorgeous companion for her number. He figures it’s for the best, because she’s out of his league with her expensive business suit, professional appearance and all-business attitude, so imagine his surprise when Olivia walks into a meeting for the charity where Derek volunteers.

After reading the other books in this series I was happy to read an advance copy of this book. Stacey imbued the big city setting with the same small-town feel of her Kowalski series, and the sense of family and community is strong and heartwarming. This book was interesting because, in addition to a hero and heroine who were completely opposite and seemingly mismatched, it showed two vastly different views of divorce. Derek has a friendly relationship with ex, which is a foreign concept to Olivia after dealing with the continuing acrimony of her parents’ divorce.

I appreciated the authenticity of these characters, and the challenges presented by Olivia's white collar profession and lifestyle versus Derek's firefighting career and family certainly kept things interesting. I was disappointed that Olivia remained so rigid throughout most of the book and a bit irritated when they both sabotaged things. It’s one thing if the conflict is brought about by external forces, but I have little patience for self-sabotage by otherwise logical, mature adults. But Olivia and Derek finally got it right, and their story was an easy, entertaining read.

*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

Can't stand the heat? Don't get to close to the fire house. What begins as an ember sparks quickly out of control for a couple of lonely hearts. Stacey tackles themes like social class, single parenthood and loneliness with an identifiable voice. Derek and Olivia are on the cusp of forever, but are they willing to reach out and grab their happy ending? Under Control mixes sweet moments with salty behavior and electric attraction.

Shannon Stacey has written another hot firefighter romance with a solid plot. I liked how she incorporated the firefighter elements in the story. Good characters and dialogue moved the story along nicely.

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...

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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>

Firefighter stories are a go to storyline for me. Love it. Added a BOSTOn Firefighter and you have my full attention. Now, saying that, I am not a huge fan of when the lead characters are divorced. I admit, that is my own personal issue to deal with. Just not for me.

In a total meet-cute moment, Olivia and Derek are introduced to one another while stuck in an elevator. Although it’s not for a long time, it’s long enough to feel the pull of sexual attraction. On paper, these two are complete opposites, but you know what they say about opposites… Olivia is driven: an only child and product of a nasty divorce, she lives a well-structured life according to her own plan. She’s started her own highly successful business and lives in the nicer end of town. She isn’t rigid, and doesn’t freeze up if there are changes, but instead she deals with changes by planning more. On the other hand, Derek, firefighter and divorced father of two young kids, knows life is messy and plans are fluid. He is working class, and lives near his kids and the firehouse. He’s convinced that Olivia is “out of his league.”

I really like how Under Control plays out. It’s an HEA-romance that feels gritty and real without being overly dramatic. There is attraction followed by action between the pair, and then once they realize how good they are together, they individually consider how their lives will change if things keep moving forward.

Derek spends a lot of time contemplating what a future together would look like and what it means to his world. Normally I don’t care for the “what ifs,” as the characters play out scenarios in their heads rather than being decisive and taking action. But the fears and concerns that play out in Derek’s mind are genuine, and they add value to the story. Derek doesn’t know what will happen so he questions the paths his future may take.

Spending time together, the pair fall in love, and they truly want to make things work. The problem is each has only considered their own perspective on a future together. So when Derek and Olivia finally talk about their future - it’s painful because they both go into thinking it has to be a certain way. The conflict is emotional and genuine, leaving everyone involved, including myself, heartbroken. But this is a romance… so don’t worry too much!

Under Control is a sweet romance, filled with sexy times and authentic emotions. Falling for one another after an immediate attraction, Olivia and Derek go the distance to make it work, and I enjoyed following them on their journey.

My Rating: B, Liked It

Olivia meets Derek when they stuck in an elevator together and they are both daydreaming about each other until fate once again put them together when they both work together for a charity. Of course, sparks are flying and they start spending more time together. But is har because they are from the different part of the city, they both have their jobs, and Derek has kids. Derek's insecurities escalate and their love is on a point take it r break it. A lovely story with great realistic struggle, and family drama. Both Olivia and Derek are great likable characters, I felt sorry for Derek when he felt not worth of Olivia because all the bling that she had she was down to earth person, not a snob and very kind. Another lovely read from Boston firefighters.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

This book and I didn't click. Which is a shame, because I loved Stacey's Kowalski series and I've always really liked her writing and characters.

And the blurb really sounded right up my alley, other side of the tracks and opposites attract romance? Sign me up.

And I did really like both Olivia and Derek. They're both kind people who've already lived a little bit, and brought a lot of baggage to the table I could very much relate to.

And I sympatised with their apprehension about their developing relationship so much. I understood that Derek loved his kids and couldn't easily make changes in her life. I understood that Olivia had worked very hard to where she got and wasn't quite ready to step off the plan she had made for herself.

It's just that they both spent a lot of time thinking about all the reasons why they shouldn't and couldn't pursue the relationship, and those worries didn't quite align with what I would worry about in a similar situation. I don't know if it is the cultural difference (I'm not American), or if it's just that we have different outlooks on life, but sometimes it felt like they both gave a lot of thought to something I wouldn't think twice about, while ignoring the thing I was hearing alarm bells about the whole time.

I also felt, that once they did start talking about their concerns, they suddenly kind of switched sides? In that suddenly they were each worrying about the thing the other person had been worrying about. And I got that we as a reader had been in Derek's and Olivia's head for a long time and got where they were coming from, but the conversations tended to start somewhere in the middle, which made me wonder how they even got there.

I did really enjoy how absolutely into each other they were. They're both smitten from the get go, and it made their romance very believable. Unfortunately, for me, that didn't quite compensate for the other things that didn't mash for me.

Olivia McGovern is a business woman constantly on the go. If it's not in her planner then it is not important.. This leaves no time for a personal life. Derek Gilman is a firefighter and between work and his two kids, he doesn't have a lot of time. When they get stuck in an elevator together, there is an instant attraction but once they are rescued, they leave without exchanging phone numbers and will probably never see each other again. Olivia offers to volunteer to help with a children's charity. It will help with networking and give back to the community. When she walks in, there's Derek. It must be fate. They talk to each other and a relationship begins. She is living on the good side of town in an expensive condo, whereas Derek is living in an apartment driving a beat up car to be close to his kids. Can love conquer all? Will his kids like Olivia.? Can she give up her lifestyle and make room for Derek and the kids? So many complications and work. will have to go into this to make it work. Loved this book. It has today's real problems and shows that things can be worked thru with enough love. I received this book from Net Galley and Harlequin - Carina Press for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.

Everything about this series so far has worked for me and divorced single dad, Derek’s romance with career-focussed, Olivia keeps up that trend.

“...for the first time in her life, she was very tempted to make out with a total stranger in an elevator.”

This was such a departure from many stories containing a divorced couple sharing custody of their kids, and rather than taking the clichéd, yet often all too realistic route of exes at war, Derek and his ex-wife have a great relationship focussing on their kid’s happiness. And when Derek meets Olivia, his kid’s feelings naturally factor, but not before he and Olivia really get to know one another.

“There’s nothing sexier than a woman with a plan.”

Of all the books so far, this is the one which resonated hugely with me as I once walked a very similar path to Olivia—a single woman in a corporate world who fell in love with a divorced dad with two kids. And myself and my hubby followed a path almost identical to Olivia and Derek in how I became involved in their lives, so as far as I’m concerned Shannon Stacey has done a superb job in bringing that element of real to her romance, with a natural feel to how things unfold.

“She’d found the man she’d share a water bottle with.”

With likeable characters, the right balance of romance and passion, and conflict on the lesser end of the drama scale, Under Control does lacks the firefighting action of its predecessors, but is another engaging, enjoyable addition to the Boston Fire series and with a lead in to Grant and Wren’s story, I’m looking forward to Flare Up.

3.5 Stars rounded UP

Out of the “Boston Fire” series, I think “Under Control” comes across as smooth and mature chronicle of Engine 59 and Ladder 37 crews’ romance. There was barely any ripples in the budding attraction between Derek and Olivia, mostly both characters’ over-thinking and self-doubting the difference between them. Even the people around them didn’t stir trouble or muddy the water for them. I confess to get a bit antsy waiting for some kind of lightning strike, like: come on, there’s got to be some climatic turning point here, right. Just do it already! But nope, the couple proved to be quite the responsible and understanding adults about their life. And just when I began to think they’d get away scotch free the setback struck!

I’m not crazy about the timing and cause of disagreement between Derek and Olivia. The ease with which the whole story built - the pace and plot - screeching to a halt close to the end of the book was unbelievable. The hero and heroine then forced to sprint toward the finishing line while finding some compromise and middle ground to solve their issue and be happy together. After wading through all the difference between them - even unexpected child sickness that was not part of the bargain at that stage, mind you - to have this pair just up and walked away... it sucked!

But let me tell you why this book still works for me: I like the characters. Sometimes it takes no more than acceptable characters for me to enjoy a book. Derek and Olivia were decent persons that I wouldn’t mind to have as friends IRL. The author did implied (in the conversation between the MCs and their friends) that either one was a fine specimen of human being. Heck, most of “Boston Fire” men and women were described as attractive. But both were mere humans who carry baggage that shaped how their view relationship realistically, in their own way. And - despite my huffing and puffing of the swift change and small window Derek and Olivia had to rush through and saving their budding romance - the steps they took about it were sensible, reasonable, and adult thing to do.

“Under Control” is definitely a feel-good read with little to no angst. I think the only gloom that rivaled a blip that Derek and Olivia experienced was set to make way for the next installment in the series; another entry that I really look forward to read.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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, 5 star 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.)