Beyond Control by Kat Martin Review. This is the third book in the Texas trilogy and very different. We learned of Josh in Linc’s book. Josh, a marine, had just returned home after being injured in Iraq. He is running the ranch. He has two military buddies helping him on the ranch and I thought they might get their own story.
Victoria is in an abusive relationship. The book opens revealing Victoria’s abusive relationship with her husband. She was trying to take her daughter and leave him. She wakes up in the hospital. She and her daughter are now on the run from him and she finds herself at Josh’s ranch. She begs him to keep her just three days to prove she can do the work. You have to admire her determination. Her daughter was adorable and added a sweetness to the story that was full of violence.

The villain is a lot more demented that I’m used to in a Kat Martin book. There was a lot of violence and the villain beat up his wife and several other women, and kidnapped, raped and tortured two additional women. In addition, there was violence on the ranch. I was not sure the reason behind adding the side story of someone killing the members of the service. It didn’t seem to support the main storyline.

Sexual content 4 several descriptive scenes
Violence – 4 as mentioned above there was a lot of violence
Language – f#ck –12 times, sh*t – 5 times, d@mn – 24. B*tch – 14 times
Drugs/alcohol – responsible drinking,

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Kat Martin is one of my favourite authors and this book is true to her style of romantic suspense. An exciting intense story line that action, suspense, romance, and an nasty villain. Tori is on the run from a controlling, abusive ex-husband with her young daughter in tow. She applies for a job at Josh's ranch and he is reluctant to take a chance on her. He agrees to a trial period and Tori's persistence and hard work as well as her devotion to her daughter Ivy win him over. But he knows she lives in fear of her ex-husband finding them and after a fire on the ranch and a visit by a group of bikers, he feels the need to protect her and Ivy.
I really enjoyed the story and thought they made a great couple.

One of the things I like about Kat Martin’s books is that they are either trilogies or series. I enjoy the opportunity to revisit old friends and meet new ones. In Beyond Control, the reader gets to do just that. While weaving in people we’ve already met – Link and Carly Cain and Beau Reese – she brings in new characters – Tory, Ivy, and Clara, as well as several fellow wounded Marine buddies.

We get to know these characters and what they are made of amidst the chaos and intrigue and just the right amount of “lady” suspense. I say that with quotes because I am not fond of deeply suspenseful novels and there is only so much blood and gore I can take (none). Kat Martin writes straddling this line and mixing in good old fashion love and her books are always fun to read, and the suspense is just enough to keep you up reading until you finish the book.

I enjoyed Beyond Control and the Texas Trilogy and recommend the books.

Texas Trilogy #3, This can be read as a stand alone, the events in this book are loosely connected to previous events but everything that is needed to know for this book is explained. Josh Cain is a retired Marine sniper who left the war behind him and is done with violence and destruction. Victoria Langford is a single mother on the run from her abusive ex-fiance. After months of running, of having Damon tracking her down and harassing her everywhere she tried to settle Victoria found Iron River Ranch and Josh. Josh knew immediately that the young mother and her daughter were running from something and despite his promise to avoid violence he hires Tory on to work as a ranch hand. I love Josh and Tory it was one of those romances where they fight it at first and then agree to a no strings attached even though they both know at that point it's to late for that and when Damon shows back up Josh isn't so willing to let either Tory or her daughter go.

Quite a bit happens in this book on top of Tori's psycho ex someone is trying to kill Josh, they have already murdered two of his friends and now Josh must work with Taggart and the FBI to track down those behind the attacks. Meanwhile they are still trying to to stop Damon from getting to Tory but they have just hit the tip of the iceberg when it comes to just how truly evil and to what lengths Damon will go to get at Tory.

Overall, this was definitely one of my favorites. I knew from the first introduction to Josh in the previous books that his story was going to be good, but then again I do love a good sniper hero and to quote Sally Can't Dance from the movie Con Air, "Ooh. Men in uniform." I love Kat Martin's writing style, this book has good pacing and I love the characters. I really liked where she went with the Damon storyline it was unexpected and a nice touch. The romance between Josh and Tory was one of my favorite parts. Josh being stubborn about it and Tory being reasonably hesitant, especially after her last relationship, but the instant attraction followed closely by lust and then love inevitably to follow.

I love Kat Martin’s writing. She writes great romantic suspense and is one of my go to authors for this genre. This continuation of this trilogy was good, but not one of my favorites.

Joshua Cain is a military hero and now running a ranch and in need of help. Tori is on the run from a psycho abusive ex. He gives her a job and helps her and her daughter out and they end up falling for each other.

Had the book focused on that story alone, I would have most likely enjoyed it more. Unfortunately, there were a lot of minor plots that distracted from the main plot and didn’t really add to the main story or even make a lot of sense to even be part of the story. All the sub plots would have made great novels on their own. But, throw them all together in this book and it feels like a rushed half thought that is never fully developed as it should be.

I hope future books focus on some of Josh’s military friends introduced in this book.

Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

Kat Martin has shown her amazing talent once again in her latest novel “Beyond Control.” Joshua Cain came home to Texas a wounded warrior from the battlefields of Afghanistan, and all he wants to do is create a successful ranch. Tory is a young mom who is trying to hide from an abusive ex-boyfriend who has shown he will do anything to get her back under his control. Tory and her young daughter arrive Josh’s ranch with the hopes of starting a new life, but when she hears that her closest friend has been hurt she knows what she must do in order to keep her daughter safe. This is an excellent novel with true to life characters that make the reader root for Tory to survive. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Nice summer read, I usually enjoy anything Kat Martin writes and this book was no exception. It kept my attention from the first page.

Great third addition to the Texas Trilogy series and I'm sorry to see it end. I loved that all three stories tied so closely together. It was like reading one big book. Fast paced and suspenseful but still with a happy ending. Great read!

In Beyond Control, Kat Martin has crafted a compelling tale with edge-of-your-seat suspense, heartfelt romance, emotionally wounded characters, and a life-or-death battle against a charming psychopath with serial killer potential. This story grabbed me from the breath-stealing first scene and kept me glued to the pages until the very end. While their circumstances are different, Tory, her young daughter, and Josh are all survivors, vibrant and real. I felt compassion and affection for all three while Tory's diabolical former fiancé - and abuser - filled me with rage. Kat Martin sure knows how to create a despicable villain. Thankfully, she also knows how to give him the justice he deserves. Josh's innate protectiveness and gentleness toward Tory and her daughter while dealing with their unwanted intrusion into the solitary ranch life he craved after his service as a sniper in Afghanistan endeared him to me and had me hoping the three of them could find a way to be a family...if they lived long enough.

While some crossover characters make appearances in this book (Josh is the younger half-brother of Lincoln Cain, hero of Book One, Beyond Reason), this third book can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. However, there is a secondary plot in the latter portion of the book that will make more sense and not seem as if it comes out of left field if you've already read the earlier books. All three are fast-paced thrillers, with emotionally satisfying romance, that will have you coming back for more of Kat Martin's outstanding storytelling.
4.5 stars

The Iron River Ranch offers retired war hero Josh Cain the respite and space he needs to lick his wounds and recover. Tory and her adorable daughter are trouble with a capital T but Josh is unable to turn them away even as he knows providing them with a home on the ranch is going to shatter his peace. The story plays itself out amidst the threats of a serial killer, threatening motor cycle gangs, a computer hacker and terrorists to add the necessary color and heart thumping adrenaline.
Once a polished career woman living a good life, Tory is now down to her last resources since she had to go on the run to escape her abusive fiancé. The Iron River Ranch is a watershed for her where she hopes to hide out off the grid and rebuild her dwindling resources. She's determined to succeed despite the challenges that Josh puts in her way. Who knows how it might have turned out if not for her talent as a horse whisperer to an abused horse.
As Tory goes about everyday life making friends and making inroads with Josh the peace and calm is not destined to stay. Between a gang of motor cycle vandals who descend on the property, murdered retired service men and a terrorist threat hanging over Josh, life takes a sinister turn. In the meantime Tory's best friend is kidnapped and brutalized with no memory of her abuser even as the author paints a very graphic picture of the abuse and terror.
The story moves at a rapid clip between Josh and Tory enjoying a sexual relationship that makes Josh determined to keep Tory at the ranch despite her inclination to flee. It's good to catch up with the other characters from the series and meet new people as the story evolves. The author does her usual masterful job at bringing all the threads in the story together to tie them up with a pretty bow at the end.
A little darker than her other books this story brings the Texas trilogy to a successful close.

I've read several books by Kat Martin, including in this series, so I felt sure I would enjoy this story. Tory and her sweet but terrified little girl grabbed my heart from the start. The book starts off with plenty of action, and though it slows down at points to focus on the relationships, it keeps the tension at a high level knowing Tory is always looking over her shoulder and ready to run. Josh's ranch with wounded vets as hired hands was the perfect place for her to hide and regroup. Josh didn't want any trouble or any women on his ranch, but he couldn't turn away Tory after he witnessed her desperation and the fear in her child's eyes. Over time, Tory flourishes and she and Josh forget why it's a bad idea for them to get together. Danger comes for them shortly after and from several fronts. Josh know Tory wants to run, but he's ready to make a stand and end it all. Tory just isn't sure if his stand is based on a hero complex or feelings behind friendship for her.

Net Galley provided an ARC.

This is the 3rd book in the Texas Trilogy but it is excellent as a stand alone; however, I enjoyed it so much I want to read the others in the series. Just a heads up for those who prefer romance without some risque scenes. This one is not for you. However, it is sensual without being raunchy.

Your immediately drawn in to Tory, and her daughter, Ivy's dilemna as they are running from an abusive ex-fiancee. They find themselves in the yard of the ranch of Josh Cain. Josh is an ex-marine wounded in Afghanistan looking to recover his life and find some peace. The last thing he needs is a woman in trouble with a 4 year old in tow. But Josh decides to give the desparate but beautiful woman a chance just for a few days, not that she can do the heavy job of a ranch hand.

The few days turn into weeks and both Josh and Tory are drawn to each other and find themselves in a physical relationship that escalates into an emotional one as well.

They find themselves not only in the crosshairs of Tory's ex but also by some terrorist that wants to see Josh dead.

Kat Martin writes excellent suspenseful romances full of angst. This one is a page burner. I received this copy from Netgalley for my honest review

Tori Ford would dearly love to stop running. Her ex is on a mission to find her, though, and she's got her little girl to protect. Maybe a horse ranch off the grid in Texas would be safe, for a little while at least… though the owner, Josh Cain, is sexy enough to pose a serious threat to her peace of mind!

Tori as a battered woman on the run was absolutely believable in her paranoia, and I'm glad the author didn't neglect the childhood trauma suffered by Ivy. Josh’s ranch was a wonderful sanctuary for them, and there were some lovely subtle parallels in the slow rehabilitation of an abused horse learning to trust humans again.

The only thing that bothered me in this book was that there were too many subplots. The terrorist plot felt as though it was shoehorned in to boost the word count; I'd far rather have had more interaction between the three leads, particularly Josh and Ivy building a relationship, which was something that was almost completely omitted. We got some of Josh’s perspective and him ‘telling’ us that feed grown find of Ivy, but there was really no interaction between them to justify that emotion, which made it hard to believe in. It would have been so easy to have Josh sheepishly bringing home a pony with some sort of feeble excuse, and then teaching Ivy to ride; watching the two of them together would have been yet another reason for Tori to fall for him.

Though I enjoyed the romance and the bits with Tori’s ex and his psychosis were very well written, the extraneous subplot at the expense of real character-building mean I can’t give this five stars. It’s well-written enough to be a solid four, though.

I absolutely loved this book!The charactors were so well written I felt as if I knew them,I’m just dissappointed that this is the last book in the series but I have faith in Kat Martin that the next book she writes will be as enjoyable as this series.I love romantic suspense and Josh and Tory had me up past bedtime.I loved the way he protected her and her little girl Ivy.I needed them to have the hea they deserved and Ms.Martin didn’t dissappoint me.A five star rating was well deserved.

I loved this last book in the trilogy and wish it could continue. It was a great suspenseful romance that kept you on the edge of your seat. Kat Martin always does a great job of making believable and relatable characters.

I really like the characters in this series,they are all interesting and have their own back stories.Heroine,hero and bad guy and well woven story.

The final book in the Texas Trilogy is one thrilling read that kept me hanging on the edge of my seat.

Josh and Victoria are two strong, compelling characters that easily draw readers in and they have a strong chemistry that tells readers that this couple belongs together. But the relationship for this couple takes quite a bit of work as Josh holds out which leads to lots of emotional turmoil that has readers empathizing with the characters even while they feel the passion that burns between them. The plot is fast paced and keeps readers thrilled with lots of adrenaline pumping suspense and the story is also full of surprising twists that keeps them guessing as Victoria’s dangerous past stalks her. Be prepared to lose your heart to a four year old little girl as she adds emotional impact and depth to the story.

Once again, Kat Martin has brought another wonderful romance to vibrant life with her well written words and her captivating characters are full of depth and make quite the impact on readers as they feel as if they are part of the story. Altogether, the trilogy is one that readers that holds readers captive from the beginning of the first one all the way to the end of the last one.

I love this trilogy and wish it would continue on! Josh and Tory are perfect compliments of each other. The topic of domestic violence is told in a real life manner and draws the reader's compassion and empathy. Getting another look at Carly and Linc was the icing on the cake. This book is full of suspense and tension with just the right amount of romance. I highly recommend!

Tory was on the run with her little daughter. An abusive ex will not take no for an answer, if he cannot have her then no one else can. And if he ever gets his hands on Tory she knows her life is over. So, they run. She answers an ad on a remote ranch that she hopes is far enough away from Damon’s reach but soon that hope will also be dashed. Her only hope is the growing feelings between herself and her new boss, Josh. He certainly can keep her and her daughter safe, but is her heart safe as well.

I also have to repeat Linda Lael Miller’s cover quote: I do love a Kat Martin book, no matter what genre. It is very easy to get caught up in Beyond Control from the very start of Tory and Josh’s story. This book involves a very real and unfortunately not uncommon problem world wide of domestic abuse. There is danger in this story, accidents around the ranch that make no sense but Tory has suspicions. When the danger gets real and more people become part of Tory’s issues the tensions, and feel of this book changes. It is gripping, turn the page quickly kind of feeling that makes a book truly give you physical shivers at the danger happening. The romance between Josh and Tory is believable, and one sweet, innocent little girl only adds to the feeling of a family being born. There are many layers to Beyond Control, and I enjoyed every single moment in this story. I always believe that any series or trilogy is best read from the beginning to catch all the nuances and threads – but if you cannot do that, then you’ll still find a complete, compelling and enjoyable story in Beyond Control. I believe any reader of Romantic Suspense or Contemporary Romance would easily get caught up in this story.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

A riveting, intense, emotional, ardent, sweet story that enticed my mind, touched my emotions and scared the daylights out of me.
Ever read a romantic suspense story with such vivid images, such a fear factor, that after you finish reading it late at night you go around making sure your windows are locked, and that you are safe inside? Yeah, Beyond Control did that to me, and that does not happen often.
The danger and attacks in the story are coming from more than one source, leaving the protagonists into the dire crossfires, personal attacks, fighting for their lives. No one is safe and collateral damage is not an issue, anything goes. The violence is vivid, and the brutal attacks towards women are detailed, drawn with clear and graphic lines, that enhance the storytelling but can trigger someone unexpectedly. The story is told from multiple points of views, in the third person, and the culprits get his chance to show his wicked, evil mindset as well, his thoughts and actions giving me the chills.
The whole ensemble is filled with fascinating, likable characters, and they contribute to the story, even a secondary love interest is part of the tale.
The hero and heroine, Victoria Langford and Josh Cain, are both complex, deep, well thought out and drawn characters that were easy to like and cheer for. Their stories were heartbreaking yet they had that unwavering will to survive, to make things better, to learn from the past mistakes, and thrive. The adoration and attraction between them were palpable, I loved watching them fall deeper each day, protecting each other, helping each other, and getting to know each other while learning to live with their inner demons and past mistakes. There were openness and honesty, fear and hesitation, even mixed messages and messed up minds, but there was never doubt about their feelings for each other.
With fierce and sharp suspense, brutal and savage attacks and action, adorable and ardent romance, life stories that had me sighing and my eyes burn with tears, the author tells a story that touched my heart and my emotions. While being entertaining and engrossing romantic suspense, the story was also inspiring and compelling, the domestic abuse scenes shattered my heart, but made me want to take action to provide a safe haven for the victims.
A delightfully enticing, exciting, entertaining, and horrid action-packed thriller, just perfectly balanced romantic suspense
~ Five Spoons