I have chosen not to review this title. My apologies for the delay in responding to this and advising you of this, especially as it is likely obvious I have chosen not to review, I thought I had sent in all of my DNF titles.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity.

Laura

**My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Although i liked this book, it was not as good as the previous one. Kellan lost his way a little too much after discovering that he was seeing his best friend Sabrina as more than just his friend.

Sabrina was a good strong character and did not back down from either getting her task down or from Kellan's sudden change with the way he was treating her. She just had a little wobble at the end where Kellan had to 'man-up' and chase for what he really wanted from Sabrina.

There are certainly a few twists and turns in the story, but nothing that i had not already seen coming but we did get a good HEA.

Can't wait to see what happens next, but i am guessing that the next story in the series goes to Jacob Night and Faith.

I loved this book. Read cover to cover because I couldn’t put it down at all. Lol. Characters were well written and developed and the plot was exciting and just spectacular. I definitely recommend this book and this author to all book lovers out there

Somehow I missed book one of this series, which is surprising considering how big a fan I am of this author. I was able to jump right in with this book though and caught up pretty quickly. Kellan is former military now 11th Hour. When his organization uncovers evidence that his father may be involved in illegal activities, Kellan and his best friend Sabrina are tasked with the investigation. Sabrina has been in love with Kellan and fiercely protective of him for a long time. She is all in on the mission, but Kellan wants her nowhere near it. He doesn't get his way, and they are paired together for what turns into more than he bargained for.

The story has all the action, intrigue, and spice you know to expect from Jackie Ashenden. I loved the characters (although Kellan was difficult to like at first), and I definitely can't wait to learn more about the mysterious Jacob Knight.

Net Galley provided an ARC.

Unfortunately, I had to re-read other people's reviews to even remember the plot of this book. Even the description provided by the published didn't ring a bell. Having said that, I did enjoy the book - although it was a little superficial, it was fast-paced and romance-filled. Jackie Ashenden has written other books that I liked much more.

This is an emotional, suspenseful and steamy romance. Kellan is bold, stubborn, and oblivious. Sabrina is smart, caring, naive and vulnerable. She's always loved him but knew nothing would ever come of it, he only thought of her as his best friend. Until they have to pretend that they're engaged, and they end up sleeping together. On a mission to get evidence against his father, Kellan aims to prove his father's innocence while Sabrina prepares to offer comfort when he discovers the truth, and neither is prepared for his altered way of thinking about her. Lies, secrets and promises soon make a hard job even harder, and threatens to tear them apart. I loved the storyline, but Kellan took a while to like, he was just too blind and cold in the beginning, but he did redeem himself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

I am loving this series and MS Ashenden has bought new meaning to the word awesome in this one, can I say WOW what a story, I could barely put this one down, a fabulous friends to lovers story with gun running criminals to be caught and helicopter pilot Kellan Blake and IT expert Sabrina Leighton teaming up to catch them, but they have to have a story to arrive at Kellan’s home and a fake engagement is just the thing although Sabrina is none too happy.

Kellan is an ex SEAL after being injured and given a release from them, he now works for semi legal 11th Hour group doing what he does best catching the bad guys, but when he is told to check out his own father he is not happy and is determined to prove his boss Jacob Night wrong, and he is not happy either that they are teaming him up with Sabrina who has been his best friend forever to help with the mission, emotions are going to run riot on this mission.

Sabrina works for 11th Hour as the best computer hacker there is, she is smart, quiet and has been in love with her best friend Kellan since she was ten years old, you see she lived with Kellan’s family after losing her mother and brothers in a terrible accident and the her father walked away and the Blake’s took her in. She has secrets that she has kept for a long time and now that she is back there as Kellan’s fake fiancé chasing bad guys can she keep her feelings intact or will she be hurt?

This story takes us on a very sensual and rocky road to a beautiful HEA Kellan is strong and a little bit alpha whereas Sabrina is stubborn, feisty and a little vulnerable and yes they have been best friends forever but Sabrina has loved Kellan for many years and is scared to open up to him and as for Kellan when he finally realizes that he does love Sabrina explosions happen. This story is fast paced, action packed and just awesome it rocks I loved it from the start and the ending fabulous (can’t wait for the next one in the series). Kellan gorgeous fabulous hero and Sabrina beautiful and so very caring are made for each other and MS Ashenden you have left this reader very happy.

Total Control is written by Jackie Ashenden and is the second book in the 11th Hour series. Kellan Blakw is a helicopter pilot who is discharged from the army for insubordination. Surprisingly he then signs up to the elite private 11th Hour Squad. His first mission is to infiltrate his own family to find out hi his father, a high ranking military veteran, is actually part of a gun running plot, Kellan persuades Sabrina, another member of the Squad to pose as his fiancée for the duration of the investigation. Sabrina is a tech analyst and her life is put on the line as they are drawn into their investigations. Will Kellan rescue her in time and realise that he does love her?


Total Control combines suspense, romance and family drama into one novel. Kellan does come across as manipulative, using everything he can, including sex, to get Sabrina to do what he wants. As the daughter of the hired help Sabrina has never been deemed suitable as a possible partner for Kellan and I feel more could have been made about this in the book. I enjoyed the book and will read the rest of the series.


I received this book via Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review

Loved Kellan and Sabrina's friends-to-lovers story! I wasn't sure how things were going to turn out with Kellan's family, but it wove the story really closely. I had fun reading how he finally realized that she was more than just a friend. Can't wait to read the next one!

**I received a copy of Total Control from Jackie Ashenden from Net Galley and Kensington Books in exchange of a voluntary and honest review**

Total Control by Jackie Ashenden is the second book by the author in her 11th Hour series. While I didn't read the first book, I have read books in Tate Brothers and Texas Bounty series. But I have to say I had a very hard time getting into this story. Maybe it was the constant repetition and reminder of Kell's blue and Sabrina's green eyes of the H/h but it just fell flat for me. The story felt rushed at times also..

Kellen Blake misses being a helicopter pilot so when his next assignment involves his father who may or may not be a gun runner even though he's a decorated retired Army General. He sets out to prove Jacob Night who runs 11th hour wrong but balks at Sabrina Leighton included in this ops. He decides that both he and Sabrina should pose as a newly engaged couple and hope that his parents won't ask questions while they compile a case against his father. However what he doesn't know is the Sabrina knows a lot more than she'll tell Kellen especially the secret from his past.

Sabrina Leighton has known Kellen's family most of her life as his family took her in when her gardener father disappeared. She's a computer hacker extraordinaire who know the truth about General Blake and that she'll do anything to protect Kell even keep a secret for years. She has loved Kellen since they were teenagers and wonders if he'll finally see her as a lover instead of a friend. Things will get sketchy and they will need to use all of their skills to find out the truth as well plan to take down his father.

Another great story from Jackie, I'm loving the new series already. The 11th hour group is made up of primarly ex military personnel with a few exceptions, based on their skills and talents. The group is run by a man called Night. He's elusive, no traceable history and serves to correct all wrongs to rights.
This book opens with an angry Kellan, once a SEAL then to an Army helicopter pilot until a crash ended his career. His father was career military and Kellan seems to think the man walks on water. So is surprised to say the least when their next assignment concerns his father and a group of higher ups and wealthy men funneling guns for money into Central America. Guns that are being used to kill innocent people. Briana is the computer whiz with a genius IQ who grew up with Kellan and has always had a thing for him. When Kellan blows his cork about his father's innocence and refuses to take part he feels the need to speak for Bree too and Bree gets angry. So unlike her. Bree knows things about the family he doesn't know. Things she promised his mother she'd protect him from.
All these years later, she's still doing that. She also doesn't believe his father is innocent. When Kellan finally agrees to join in thinking he's going to prove his father innocent, but he'll accept whatever he finds, he and Bree make a trip back to NY as a couple. Not received well by either parent because even though they raised her after her father left her there in their care, she's never been a part of the family. What really struck me was that Kellan never caught on until Bree finally pointed it out and things slowly dawned on him, along with watching the way his parents treated her.
The suspense in this book was stellar and Jackie's writing was perfect. Character driven with a great plot, who could ask for more. I loved Bree, Kellan was a little hard to take at times, even on a good day but he fit his role so well.
As we watch this story unfold the twists just get better and better and I can't wait for the next book!

*arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review**

I was given an arc in exchange of my honest opinion. Total Control will take the reader on a ride to find the true.Jackie Ashenden does not disappoint with any of her books. BEST summer read .

Friends to lovers romance with intrigue, drama and action intertwined throughout the story. What happens when the enemy is your family? What happens when your partner becomes more? What happens when you challenge the authority?

Jackie is one of my favorite authors. She writes superbly and really shines writing Romantic Suspense.” Total Control “is my favorite book by her to date.
Funny thing is, I haven’t read the prior books in the series and it in no way detracted from the story ( still I’m obviously going to go back and read all the books in the series). Read this, it’s worth your valuable time and trust me, I’m a person who gets five chapters into a book and can tell if it’s going to be worth my while and if it’s not, I won’t continue. I read this in one sitting, lucky for me it was my day off.

3.5 stars--TOTAL CONTROL is the second instalment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult 11th HOUR romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for 11th Hour Security. This is former Night Stalker Helicopter pilot and former Navy SEAL Kellan Blake, and IT specialist Sabrina Leighton’s story line. TOTAL CONTROL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Kellan and Sabrina) TOTAL CONTROL follows the friends to lovers relationship between 11th Hour Security team members former Night Stalker Helicopter pilot and former Navy SEAL Kellan Blake, and IT specialist Sabrina Leighton. Sabrina and Kellan were childhood best friends. The daughter of the Blake estate gardener, Sabrina was raised alongside Kellan when her mother’s death and her father’s subsequent abandonment left a ten year old Sabrina with no one else to care. Fast forward to present day wherein, Sabrina and Kellan must work side by side when an 11th Hour Security assignment pits father against son as Kellan must uncover the truth behind the accusations against the father he loves. What ensues is the building physical romance between Kellan and Sabrina; the take down of the man Kellan calls dad; and the fall-out of the relationship and friendship between our leading couple as Sabrina struggles with memories from the past.

Sabrina Leighton has loved Kellan since she was ten-years old but as the daughter of the hired help, Sabrina was constantly reminded that she would never be acceptable for the man that she loved. With secrets of her own, Sabrina knew that to get involved with Kellan potentially meant a broken heart-a heart she had already lost to the man who only saw Sabrina as a friend, and nothing more. Low self esteem and numerous insecurities were always at the forefront of our heroine’s mind. Kellan Blake refused to believe that the man that he loved, his father, was involved in the things of which the 11th Hour Team had accused. With secrets of his own Kellan and Sabrina return to their childhood home, only to come face to face with the dysfunction within.

The relationship between Sabrina and Kellan is a friends to lovers romance that is doomed to fail as secrets and ghosts from the past continue to loom over our leading couple. From unrequited love to the hero’s overprotective alpha personality, the relationship also struggles with preconceived notions and a familial history that continues to eat at our heroine’s heart. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to the 11th Hour Team including leader Jacob Night, ex-Black Ops, owner of a billion-dollar security company; Faith Beasley, Isaiah Graham, and Callie Hawthorne and Jack King (Raw Power #1). Faith and Jacob’s story is next in Hard Night.

There are some issues of repetitiveness and redundancy including 76 mentions of varying eye shades of blue, and 16 comments about the green or green-gold color of the heroine’s eyes. I also had a difficult time accepting the ‘issues’ that eventually tore our couple apart-Sabrina’s explanations and actions just didn’t fly in the face of everything that had happened. Kellan’s quick emotional turn around once he discovers that Sabrina has wanted a relationship for close to twenty years is questionable; and the results of the team investigation that culminated in nothing more than a slap on the hand were unfulfilling and underwhelming.

TOTAL CONTROL is an interesting and entertaining story line but I struggled with a number of issues. The premise is engaging; the romance is spicy; the characters are dynamic and energetic.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

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5 +++++ Star review
Loved this book -thank you Netgalley for the ARC - happy to leave my honest review!!

I’ve been a major fan of Jackie Ashenden’s writing style since the Circle 9 series & its a given I would happily read anything she writes ..,this book is no exception!!

Kel ( aka Kellan ) & Brie ( aka Sabrina ) are amazingly complicated characters. This is a friend’s to lovers ❤️ story with a TON of angst thrown in !!

These 2 are part of the 11th hour team sent on a mission to investigate Kellan’s Father a prime suspect in illegal arms trading ...

Kellan cannot believe his father would do this -his theory is innocent until proven guilty ..,,

Sabrina is a brilliant computer hacker having spent time working in Silicon Valley due to her expertise & was recruited to join the 11 th hour group. She is specifically selected for this mission & make things look convincing needs to act as Kellan’s FAKE finance ...

This book has everything - awesome story line - humor - snark - plot twists - suspense & super sexy characters that do find their HEA !!

Great read !!!!!

I just went on another thrilling mission for the 11th Hour team. On the Total Control mission, I joined Kellen and Sabrina as they fought their way to discovering the truth about Kellan’s father and Sabrina’s place in his family.

Kellan and Sabrina are strong characters that easily grabbed my attention and I just had to find out what happened between these two because for them achieving their happily ever after is a heart tugging, soul wrenching journey that was anything but smooth or easy. Blindness and a refusal to accept the changing emotions between them keep this couple on an emotional rollercoaster throughout their mission, and let me tell you that I don’t think I have ever been around two more stubborn characters than these two.

The fast paced and thrilling story keeps the adrenaline pumping and the suspense building throughout the story as Kellan and Sabrina go to some elaborate lengths to get at the truth, but there undercover game adds to the tension of their relationship as it starts to change the dynamics of their long standing friendship, so there was never a dull moment to be found.

The second book in the 11th Hour series is quite an emotionally explosive but sexy and daring story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The best friends turning into lovers for this couple was filled with intense emotions and electrifying chemistry that I could practically feel as they poured from the pages. Needless to say, so far I am really liking this series, so I can’t wait for Hard Night to be released in November.

Sabrina and Kellan are a smoking hot couple. This is book two in the 11th Hour series. Must read Raw Power first to fully appreciate the sequence of events. Again Jackie Ashenden writes an intriguing, suspenseful, steamy, and soul searching book. Her stories never fail to entertain. Job well done, again!

Total Control is book two of one of Jackie Ashenden’s best series, The 11th Hour. These are good guys who never could find their fit in the regular military. They are also the guys that you would want on your side if you find yourself in dire straits.

Undercover mission to prove innocence or guilt provides plenty of action in this addition to the series. Add in a best friend romance between helicopter pilot Kellan Blake and tech savvy Sabrina, it is an exciting story. As far as the covert action and suspense goes, it is a wonderful story. I liked Sabrina. On the other hand, Kellan came across too strong and calculating in his treatment of Sabrina. He may have done things for the right reasons but not the right way. Perhaps that is part of the reason for the title. With that aside, it is still an interesting read.

LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED!

This was a change up from the other books I've read by this author and it was a home run for me! I loved the inner struggle that Kellan had in dealing with the mission and his family. My heart broke for Bree and how she was treated as such an outcast by Kellan's family. Being in love with Kellan for years, only to have him think of her as nothing more than a friend was heartbreaking for her. Then being forced to pretend to be his fake fiance? How much more do we want to her this girl?

My only complaint...I don't think the situation with Kellan's dad was ever resolved.

Can we please get Jacob's Knight's story? And why is he carrying at picture around?