REVIEW: Under Control by Shannon Stacey

Under Control by Shannon Stacey: What is that saying? Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.

Olivia always has a plan. She has a journal and she writes out everything she is planning, from day to day ideas to long term goals. She always sticks to her plan, rigidly so.

But, when she meets sexy firefighter, Derek Gilman, life and love upset her carefully constructed plans.

Derek is divorced and the father of two beautiful children. He’s on excellent terms with his ex, who has now remarried. His career is demanding, so he spends most of his free time with his children. Fitting a relationship into the equation doesn’t’ even enter his mind, until he meets Olivia…

Olivia and Derek have a ‘meet cute’ when they share an elevator that gets stuck. They both regret not giving the other contact information once their brief ordeal is over. But, as fate would have it, they meet again at a charity planning event. While they are worlds apart from each other in so many ways, the chemistry between can not, will not be denied.

But, reality soon rears its head, as Olivia tries to win over Derek’s children, and work out the geographical distance between them, while learning that not everything in life can be controlled by careful planning. Sometimes you gotta go off script and ad lib to make things work.

Olivia’s financial mobility is a stark contrast to Derek’s. This is an issue, he struggles with mightily. He also feels pulled in every direction and must take his children under consideration in making any major life changes, which could become a problem if he and Olivia plan on living under the same roof someday.

Who says romance novels aren’t realistic? I felt like Olivia and Derek were real people, facing real life issues and dealing with them like real people often do. Derek has insecurities, and Olivia is carrying some heavy baggage that explains why she needs to feel in control of her life and destiny. Like many couples, when they first start dating, Olivia and Derek know there are problems, but they can’t stay away from each other or keep their hands off one another. But, once the initial infatuation dies down and they start to get serious, the issues they’ve been bypassing must be faced, which is where the relationship is really tested.

I admit I was completely engaged in Olivia and Derek’s story. There were some funny parts, some awkward moments, some super sexy time scenes and heartwarming moments with Derek’s kids, as well as some heated conflict. The one thing about reading romance novels is that they often showcase life’s unpredictability, highlighting adversity and challenges we face in real life. Okay, perhaps they are exaggerated a bit sometimes, but the goal is to resolve conflicts, which always requires compromise. You have to do the work, but the reward is a well -deserved happily ever after. This story was very refreshing and reminded me of why I love romance novels!! Well done!
 

Book Info:

Publication: 8/28/18 | Carina Press | Boston Fire #5

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.