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teresajluvs2read's review against another edition
3.0
**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 alson.
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.
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 alson.
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.
timitra's review against another edition
4.0
Total Control was awesome. It was right blend of suspense and naughty. It's friends to lovers and centers around Sabrina and Kellan. I loved going on this journey with them and watching them deal with both internal and external conflicts. I also loved that a piece of the overall story arc was revealed it has so excited not only about it but also the illusive Mr. Night. I cannot wait to see where the author is taking this revelation.
I recommend this to lovers of romantic suspense.
ARC provided by publisher through Net Galley in exchange for a honest review
I recommend this to lovers of romantic suspense.
ARC provided by publisher through Net Galley in exchange for a honest review
mags_louise's review against another edition
4.0
This was an enjoyable story. That had a nice mix of family drama and romance. Along with a little sprinkling of suspense and I liked how all of it blended together.
Yet I did find the story a little slow at times, particularly during the first half. And if I'm honest, I would of liked a lot more action. But then again, Kellen is investigating his own dad who is something of a hero to him. So I do understand why this story isn't action packed and I did really enjoy the romance between best friends Sabrina and Kellen. As it had heat, sweetness and angst.
And I also never once felt at a disadvantage having not read the first book in this 11th Hour Series. But I'd certainly check it out and I would happily recommend this story to others.
**I was kindly provided with an ARC by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Yet I did find the story a little slow at times, particularly during the first half. And if I'm honest, I would of liked a lot more action. But then again, Kellen is investigating his own dad who is something of a hero to him. So I do understand why this story isn't action packed and I did really enjoy the romance between best friends Sabrina and Kellen. As it had heat, sweetness and angst.
And I also never once felt at a disadvantage having not read the first book in this 11th Hour Series. But I'd certainly check it out and I would happily recommend this story to others.
**I was kindly provided with an ARC by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
nikkisbooknook's review against another edition
3.0
This was a 3.5 star if I'm honest. I'd read the third book, loved it. Found the first book, loved it but this one just seemed a bit off. I'm not sure if it was because Kellan seemed a bit manipulative at times or because of Sabrina's total lack of self-worth. Don't get me wrong I'm a big old bag of lack of self-esteem myself but Sabrina just couldn't see that her skills made her awesome not Kellan's interest in her as anything other than a friend!
Kellan's history as a former SEAL and helicopter pilot had little to do with the plot really other than as an entry point for the investigation into his family. Sabrina Leighton is like uber-hacker girl and I just felt that she was completely manipulated by those around her. 11th Hour at least respected her as a hacker and agent, even with her lack of field experience. But as Kellan's quasi foster-sister she was as good as wallpaper, she barely existed to them!
The whip-lash speed of Kellan's changing passion towards Sabrina and the very repetitive nature of some of the descriptions just made this a bit...wanting. It won't put me off reading any other works by this author but just felt a bit underwhelmed.
Kellan's history as a former SEAL and helicopter pilot had little to do with the plot really other than as an entry point for the investigation into his family. Sabrina Leighton is like uber-hacker girl and I just felt that she was completely manipulated by those around her. 11th Hour at least respected her as a hacker and agent, even with her lack of field experience. But as Kellan's quasi foster-sister she was as good as wallpaper, she barely existed to them!
The whip-lash speed of Kellan's changing passion towards Sabrina and the very repetitive nature of some of the descriptions just made this a bit...wanting. It won't put me off reading any other works by this author but just felt a bit underwhelmed.
allingoodtime's review against another edition
4.0
There is so much history between Sabrina and Kellan and I love it. It’s amazing how two people can see circumstances entirely differently from one another. They, for the most part, grew up in the same home. For Kellan, it was his home with his mother and father. For Sabrina, she was the abandoned young girl Kellan’s family took in. While Kellan always believed Sabrina was treated the same as he was, that wasn’t the case.
Because of the way Sabrina was treated by Kellan’s parents, and the fact that he allowed himself to be blind to it, left a lot to be unpacked in this relationship. While Sabrina never held Kellan at fault, he is the type of man who has a sort of hero complex so it doesn’t sit well with him. Especially when his parents are less than welcoming to her in the present day.
I’m a huge fan of friends to lover and fake fiancée stories, so this one seemed made for me. Oddly enough, I have a bit of an issue with the person in the friends to lovers trope that is the clueless person in the scenario; the one that doesn’t even realize the chemistry and connection they have with the other person. And to say Kellan was clueless is a huge understatement. Huge! So while I love the trope, I hate the inevitability of feeling one character has something over the other.
The author does a great job instilling tension into the narrative. From the feelings Sabrina is trying to hide from Kellan, the mission they’re both hiding from his parents, the secrets both Sabrina and Kellan are keeping from each other, the tension is palpable.
This story seems to be the start of something big in this series. There is a lot uncovered and a lot that still needs to be learned. The Sabrina/Kellan arc is concluded, but there’s so much more to come.
My last note, I believe I’ve said it before but I’m going to repeat myself. Jackie Ashenden really knows how to write sexy scenes. Kellan “interrogates” Sabrina at one point and it is raw and angry and hot and wrong and oh so right all at the same time. Fire!
This review can also be found at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/21/total-control-book-review/
Because of the way Sabrina was treated by Kellan’s parents, and the fact that he allowed himself to be blind to it, left a lot to be unpacked in this relationship. While Sabrina never held Kellan at fault, he is the type of man who has a sort of hero complex so it doesn’t sit well with him. Especially when his parents are less than welcoming to her in the present day.
I’m a huge fan of friends to lover and fake fiancée stories, so this one seemed made for me. Oddly enough, I have a bit of an issue with the person in the friends to lovers trope that is the clueless person in the scenario; the one that doesn’t even realize the chemistry and connection they have with the other person. And to say Kellan was clueless is a huge understatement. Huge! So while I love the trope, I hate the inevitability of feeling one character has something over the other.
The author does a great job instilling tension into the narrative. From the feelings Sabrina is trying to hide from Kellan, the mission they’re both hiding from his parents, the secrets both Sabrina and Kellan are keeping from each other, the tension is palpable.
This story seems to be the start of something big in this series. There is a lot uncovered and a lot that still needs to be learned. The Sabrina/Kellan arc is concluded, but there’s so much more to come.
My last note, I believe I’ve said it before but I’m going to repeat myself. Jackie Ashenden really knows how to write sexy scenes. Kellan “interrogates” Sabrina at one point and it is raw and angry and hot and wrong and oh so right all at the same time. Fire!
This review can also be found at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/21/total-control-book-review/
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