When Olivia McGovern, productivity consultant meets Derek Gilman in a stalled elevator, it's the meet cute neither expected, especially when they end up working for the same charity, Village Hearts. Olivia is a successful, well-off businesswoman with a life plan. Derek is a divorced father of two, taking things as they come one day at a time. It's an opposite attracts romance that was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I really liked how they had to figure out a compromise to be together for the long haul. Olivia has to realize that as her goals change her plan has to change too. And Derek has to come to terms with how he feels about her money and higher standard of living than he is used too. Derek and his ex-wife Amber also have a positive relationship which was great to see, and especially important for Olivia who came from a not so pleasant experience with her own divorced parents. Combine great characters with sexy scenes and wonderful secondary characters and you have another well written and enjoyable romance in the Boston Fire series.

UNDER CONTROL - Shannon Stacey

#4 in the Boston Fire romance series

HOT! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Although they have an instant chemistry, Derek is a divorced father of two kids and a little leery about starting a new relationship. And Olivia, a professional with bad feelings about her divorced parents, is having a hard time figuring out how Derek might fit into her hard-and-fast plan

Writing - 4 stars - Stacey caught my attention right from the first page. She builds characters that are familiar and strong individuals that would be great to hang around with. And the setting of a fire department adds some elements of danger and excitement as the firefighter respond to calls.

Characters - 4 stars - As always, Stacey creates characters who are strong, independent, but very approachable people. Derek is a family man, both as a great dad to his kids, a friend to his ex-wife and her new husband, and a solid member of his firefighting team. He's definitely a blue-collar guy from the "old neighborhood" and feels most comfortable in that setting. Olivia, on the other hand, is a single woman who has built a solid business, so she feels free to spend money when she can and enjoy her life as a single professional. She feels most comfortable in her Back Bay setting, which is totally different from Derek's blue-collar neighborhood. But because their values are the same, and they have similar goals in life they are willing to work together to find a compromise.

Title - 4 stars - Good reference to a firefighting term, as well as the relationship between Derek and Olivia.

Cover - 4 stars - Similar covers to other books in this series. Nothing wrong with a sexy male back.

Overall - 4 stars - As with all the other books in this series, Stacey has created a wonderful world surrounding the firefighters in a Boston station. I love Derek and his strong love for his family, both his kids and his firefighting guys. He doesn't have a lot of money, but he gets by and is happy with his choices. Olivia, from the other end of the financial spectrum, is professional and successful, but she doesn't flaunt it. But it's definitely an issue between the two of them as their relationship deepens. I admired the fact that they could (mostly) talk about it and be willing to find compromises.

I choose to read Shannon Stacey novels because of her usually complex characters and her spot on dialogue, as well as her gift for portraying all kinds of relationships. The overall story of Under Control is good. I was interested in the hero's interactions with his ex and his children. The heroine left me a little disappointed. Though she is by trade, an Organizational Skills Trainer, she quirkily doesn't practice what she preaches. I wanted her to show more growth as the story progressed, and for me, it just took too long for too little. As a part of the Boston Fire Series, Under Control read more like a novella than a full book. It does stand alone, and there are of course, appearances by other characters in the series, but none I would call spoilers. As a series reader, I am satisfied by the story, and I look forward to the next installment.

4 star

The story has laughs, twists & turns, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first
Heat Exchange (Boston Fire, #1)
Controlled Burn (Boston Fire, #2)
Fully Ignited (Boston Fire, #3)
Hot Response (Boston Fire, #4)

This is Olivia and Derek’s story. Derek has all he can handle on his plate right now. He is moving shifts, so he can spend more time with his two kids and still working the job he loves. When he meets Olivia, she is stick in an elevator. The chemistry is off the charts, but they come from two completely different worlds. She is a planner and has planned her life out and she is achieving all her goals. When she meets Derek, she is drawn to him. When they meet again it’s like fate. They need to decide if they want to try for anything with all the differences in their worlds or just let each other go.

I loved these characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.

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.

I adore Shannon Stacey and her Boston Fire series! Derek and Olivia's meet-cute was absolutely perfect.

The last thing single dad firefighter Derek Gilman was looking for was a relationship. But after surviving a broken down elevator incident with one Olivia McGovern neither one of the them can stop thinking about the other. Being a self-made business woman with a plan, Derek's life is pretty much the opposite of everything Olivia stands for, having a job where you never know what to expect and with children who are generally constantly little surprises, it's quite a shock to Olivia's system when they start dating. Olivia has worked hard in her job and she's reaped the benefits, but Derek isn't used to what he considered the "fine life". Despite both feeling a bit out of their elements, the attraction they feel for one another is genuine, but in the end, will it either of them be able to alter the plans they have for the future?

I was really interested by Derek and Olivia's story. Shannon Stacey did a great job of highlighting the differences between the two, but, like Derek oftentimes ruminating on Olivia earning more money then him, this wasn't something that was concerning to Olivia. They were differences built up in their own minds, their own insecurities, that tried to thwart the wonderful relationship they were trying to build. Such as Olivia's impression of Derek being divorced. Olivia's parents are divorced and it's still something that is very difficult for her because it was a toxic environment. But Derek and his ex are very amicable and friendly, they co-parent their children wonderfully, and this is an idea that Olivia finds difficult to wrap her head around based upon her own experiences.

The dynamic between Olivia and Derek was very interesting and I loved how everything eventually played out in the end. Seeing the complexities of family and relationships and what it takes to make them work, or not, was interesting and Under Control showcases it all very well.

There's a pretty big tease included in this one as to what to expect in the next book, and I have to say, I've been hooked, I can't wait to see where Shannon Stacey takes the story next.

Who says we can’t have it all?

I love this series based in Boston and centered on the lives and loves of the firefighters who serve there. Derek is a firefighter, a job he loves, but he is much more. He is a dad and his two kids are everything to him. He’s shaped his life around their wants and needs as well as his desire to remain a big part of his life while they live with his ex-wife. It’s a juggling act but one he is happy to make. Olivia is single, successful and devoted to her business and her (seemingly inflexible) five-year plan. She is also busy staying on top of everything she has to juggle.

“They lived two very different kinds of lives…”

They make seem like opposites on the surface, but dig a little and it is clear that Derek and Olivia have a lot in common. Their outlook on career and life mesh really well, if only their calendars would do the same! They lust after each other, sure, but their relationship also has respect, fun and a healthy fear. Fear of letting family, co-workers, clients – and themselves – down… Something has to give and it all leads to tough conversations and a climax that will make or break them.
New characters to embrace and already loved ones meant this return to Boston Fire was a warm hug read. I hope there are more in this series!

Hot, hot, hot! Love Shannon Stacey! This series is wonderful, set in Boston, my home turf and she doesn’t disappoint.

This was my first Shannon Stacey book! I've heard about her for years, but never pulled the trigger. I totally wish I had read her before. This was a really good book.

I'm not sure I've ever read a firefighter story before. I liked it. The firehouse kind of creates a found family. That is one of my favorite things to read.

The romance was well-paced and well-written. Olivia and Derek have demanding careers which they really care about. They have to navigate that work-life balance. That felt very natural and realistic-sometimes romance novels ignores those realities of life.

Derek is divorced and has kids. I don't particularly like stories with kids, but this one worked. Again, I liked that Ms. Stacey addressed the difficulties of dating after divorce and dating someone that has kids.

I really enjoyed these characters and the world. I immediately borrowed the other books in the series from the library. And I can't wait for the next one in the series.

A lukewarm but pleasant romance about re-examining your expectations and pursuing love with purpose. It's clear that the characters like each other, and it's nice that there's no real drama--but the overall story line was un-engaging.

Excellent, mature love story about actual adults!
Derek and Olivia may seem like opposites on the surface but those are just circumstances.
Olivia has spent her entire adult life building her business and professional reputation, leaving no time for love. Derek by contrast, has a job he loves as a firefighter but also has 2 children he shares with his ex wife.
Speaking of the ex wife, she is a good, supportive friend to Derek. Finally a book where the ex isn't at war with the new woman and doesn't use her children or her new husband as weapons. Here is a couple who simply fell out of love with each other but work together to successfully raise two happy, well adjusted children.

I really enjoyed this storyline, both are cautious but willing to work on building a relationship. Even the inevitable bump in the road isn't dragged out unnecessarily. I believed in their love.

This was my first book by Shannon Stacey but it won't be my last.

A fun read with just enough heat to flame the path through each chapter.
This couple is hit by attraction as strong as the cables holding the elevate the meet and get stuck in. Rescued before they can swap information, fate brings them together for charity.
I like that the author does not throw them together in a glass slipper fit, but in stead more or less shoehorns their lives together.
She's a successful, single organization expert who moved cross country to escape her divorced parents very ugly sniping and fighting. He's a firefighter with two kids and an ex-wife whose remarried, expecting a baby and his BFF.
Her life is precise, scheduled to the minute in multiple color coded charts and calendars, no room for clutter. His is constantly changing to fit each new situation, sometimes minute to minute -- the definition of a happy mess.
These two lifestyles do not easily combine. There's bound to be some serious obstacles crop up, no matter how great they are together un bed or how much they begin to care about the other.
It's real. It's messy. It's life. Well done Shannon Stacey.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance

This is a story about finding yourself and truly being happy. I thought that Derek embodied hotness. He was calm and collected under pressure and he was great with his kids when necessary. Despite his family situation being what it was, his adjustment was spot on. He loved his kids and was best friends with his ex-wife.

Olivia is all about organization and streamlining the options. She teaches others how to plan and organize their life. When she gets stuck in an elevator with Derek, she has a slight panic attack. But once she realizes that she was stuck with a very attractive man, she kind of kicks herself.

These two dance around each other for a while. I haven't read a ton of books in this series, but this seemed more focused on the relationship between Derek and his family than the relationship with the firehouse and the other brother's in his life.

This had great potential, but for me, it just was a little long-winded. For Olivia being an organization teacher, she is not very organized in her personal life. I also thought that she was somewhat whiny. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but felt that these two characters didn't have great chemistry.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
What happens when a sexy firefighter and a sexy self-made businesswoman get stuck in an elevator together? The firefighter is calm and calls for help while the woman starts to panic because she is going to be late for her next appointment. And her business is teaching people how to make their work life more efficient and it wouldn't look good for her to be late.

Derek Gilman loves being a fireman, and changing shifts so he can have Saturdays off to be able to spend more time with his kids makes his life almost perfect. Being stuck in the elevator with the sexy businesswoman makes him want to spend more time with her. But his fireman buddies are quick to rescue them, and she is walking away quickly, almost running away. He can't believe he didn't get her number.

Olivia McGovern is a planner, it is her business. From the time she gets up and until she goes to sleep, her day is all planned out. So, getting stuck in an elevator was not part of her plan. And neither was meeting the sexy fireman named Derek. Oh well, he can star in her dreams because she will not see him again, he isn't in her plans. She never thought she would find Derek at a charity she had offered to help out. Her planning expertise will get the charity on track and get them the best money and sponsors.

Can Olivia give up her planning and let Derek into her life? What happens when she learns he is divorced and has two kids? Can Derek make room for Olivia without feeling like he isn't good enough for her?

This is the first I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. I would have liked to have more from his firehouse family, but I guess I would have that from reading the rest of the series. This couple has enough heat to set off a three-alarm fire and their love is what will either make them or break them. So, if you are into hot firemen and strong women, then you need to read this one. And yeah, start from the beginning, I should have.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth in the series – and I have to admit the first I have read... but I have put the earlier ones on my to-read list as I really enjoyed this book. I can guess at some of the previous romances but will still happily read how they came about!

Derek and Olivia come from very different families, have different views on life, live on the opposite side of town, have a very different income bracket, and Derek has an ex-wife and children... they, however, find that the chemistry between them is pulling them together regardless. Can all those issues really be so easily overcome – and who will break first?

I really liked the way this story unfolded. Both of them have opinions based on their pasts and societal norms, but will they be able to overcome their issues to give love a chance? The author has cleverly used side characters to make some pointed comments, and to make these two realise what is and what isn't important. Derek's children have some of the very best lines, both in stating things as they are, and in order to lighten the moment.

Who would have thought being stuck in a broken lift could lead to such a bright new future? Sign me up now!


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book, it’s an unpredictable story and that made it very interesting. Olivia is a control freak who has her life planned down to the second and doesn’t know how to handle it when Derek storms into her life. Derek is a firefighter and divorced father of two that knows exactly what he wants and that’s Olivia. Olivia didn’t plan for Derek in her life and that makes it difficult for her at first, their story is definitely not a paved road. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters and especially between Derek’s kids and Olivia.

I love that the author does such a fantastic job bringing this story to life, I was invested from the very first page. This story just felt real, there weren’t things in it that had you saying, “yeah, like that would happen” and I find that impressive. It’s well written and has a great pace that made it hard to put down. This is the first book in the series that I’ve read but it definitely won’t be the last!

I've had my ups and downs with this series, and I think that it's a case of me not fitting with the author's writing style. I found this installment to be somewhat weak and boring.

This was clearly a case of opposites attract, but Olivia was a little too stuck up and unreachable for my tastes. She came off as a haughty rich snob to me, and I could understand Derek's feelings on the situation. That being said, Derek wasn't easy to connect with either. He was too aloof, and made too much out of the fact that Olivia made more money than he did. He came across as shallow, and that made me dislike him a bit.

The plot really didn't hold my attention, as evidenced by how long it took me to read the story. All things considered, I doubt I will continue with the series or author.

I cannot express just how much I loved this book. I was drawn into the story from the first chapter and I read the entire book in just one sitting. I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for more to come from this amazing and talented author.

this book was a lovely read. It was your typical opposite attract kind of love story.

When Derek and Olivia meet in an elevator you can feel the sexual tension between them. Soon they are romancing each other. But Olvia strict life plan doesn't allow for flexibility and chaos which pretty much details Derek's life as a firefighter and single dad.

Both soon realize in order to make their relationship work they will both have to compromise.

I really enjoyed this sweet and spicy romance. I was a little disappointed to learn it was one of many as there were some references to characters and backstory that I didn't feel privy to but overall a good read.

Shannon Stacey is back with more Hot Firefighters. *sigh* I read this book from start to finish in one sitting. It will totally keep your attention and the attraction between Derek and Olivia is really hot. *fans self*

This is the 2nd book in the series that I read and I read it out of order. The book can be a stand alone but it was nice to see some of the past characters appearing in this story. Derek is a single dad and has put his time into work and his kids. He has a good relationship with his ex, so his time is not spent fighting with her. They have both moved on from their marriage.
Olivia is well off and can do things and travel as she likes. However, she is very wary of divorced couples because her parents got divorced when she was young and she is still dealing with their nonsense as an adult. There is no way she is ever putting herself in the middle of another divorced couple. However, not everything goes according to plan when there is some major attraction going on. Will Olivia and Derek give into the sizzling chemistry going on between them? (my answer is always YES!!!) They characters in this book are responsible, motivated and driven people. But they have to be able to take a chance on each other.
I would totally recommend this as a fun weekend read. If you love romance, you will love this book.

Under Control was a great evening read, one that grabbed and held my attention and had me rooting for Derek and Olivia with each turn of the page.

Derek's a firefighter with an ex wife and two kids and though his divorce was amicable and he and his ex have remained friendly, it's still a lot to juggle. He didn't expect to want to move on in a new relationship anytime soon and yet when he meets Olivia - he can't help but wonder what could be between them and how he could fit a relationship into his life.

Olivia knows first hand how nasty divorce can get and what it does to people, she's lived it for half of her life since her parents split and she's still dealing with their antics. She never wants to be put in the middle like that again. She's also a woman with a plan - all the time - if it's not in her planner it's not a set goal or plan but something about the firefighter she met has her bending a little.

With amazing chemistry, great rapport and just enough in common to keep them finding each other around, things are looking up for these two, if they can let fate do a little leading for them. I really enjoyed watching as Olivia let things happen that weren't to her plan and I also liked Derek trying to figure out how to fit a new romance into his life without trying to let anyone down. This story was unique in his plot, the problems weren't the usual drama and that made it a bit more compelling.

My rating: 4.5 Stars

Opposites attracting by accident - this is the first thought I have as I am writing this review. Olivia McGovern is rushing between appointments and then gets stuck in an elevator with Derek Gilman, a firefighter. Upon first glance, they each took a hard look at the other - both liking what they saw. It should have been a fleeting moment, but a stalled elevator changed things quickly. Nonetheless, life went on. However, they run into each other again at a charity function. This time, neither of them plan on just being passersby. Their attraction sparks and they decide to see where things go.

Olivia is well-off, and is extremely busy with her well-organized business. She runs her life with a planner in hand. Derek is divorced with two children and knows that he is not quite at her level. She is all about power suits and heels and Derek is most comfortable in jeans. But, their connection is real, and as it turns out, they do have some things in common. A determined Olivia is confident that a relationship with Derek will not change her fast-moving lifestyle. Beyond the pull that he feels for Olivia, Derek keeps his kids foremost in mind. Can he have both the wonderful responsibilities of fatherhood as well as a chance with Olivia?

Under Control was a touching read. It is a book of love, responsibilities and compromise. The character development was wonderful in this book. I felt a strong connection to both Olivia and Derek. This is the fifth book in the Boston Fire series by Shannon Stacey. I hadn't had the opportunity to read the previous titles, but I felt comfortable with the other characters who had roles in this book. The problems relating to the growth of this relationship had a strong sense of realism. This book delivered a great afternoon read. Next is Grant's story. I truly enjoy the author's writing style and do look forward to reading more from her.

Many thanks to Harlequin and Pure Textuality PR for this ARC to review in exchange for an honest opinion.