Nina Croft’s latest is a steamy Brazen offering–read all about it!
Title: Out of Control
Author: Nina Croft
Book Synopsis:
She’s a challenge he can’t resist.
Hollywood heartthrob Zachary Hunter loves women—as long as they don’t want more than a little fun in the bedroom. When his most recent movie stirs up the wrong kind of attention, the kind that includes an attempt on his life, he hires a friend’s company to locate the threat. The pint-sized redhead assigned to protect him isn’t what he expects—or wants. Worse, he can’t take his eyes off of her.
After ten years in the army, Danielle Sinclair knows how to handle men. With a new security gig to pass the time until she’s cleared to return to the military, she’s figures her sexy new client will be easy to manage. And then he opens his gorgeous mouth, and she can’t decide whether to kiss him or kill him. His sex appeal may tempt her into his bed, but his sexist attitude is unbearable, and she’s going to make him eat every single word…
Review:
I knew going into this book that it had a bit of literary catnip going on. It had so many of the things I love: one character is a writer, one character is in the army, and there’s dogs. Add to that a fun twist: the hero’s the author (hello, Castle?) and the heroine’s the soldier—and you know it’s going to be a fun ride.
(Plus, when we first see the hero he’s lying naked in his pool. That’s always a good sign, IMHO. ;))
Out of Control definitely did not disappoint. It’s the second in Croft’s Babysitting a Billionaire series, but it can be read as a standalone. The hero and heroine of book one make just enough of an appearance here to make sure you want to read their book as well (sigh…Losing Control’s already in my TBR. Naturally).
The banter between the hero and heroine—even when they aren’t getting along (or maybe especially when they aren’t getting along!) was fantastic.
“Jake said he was sending out some specialist. An ex–army sergeant. This is my specialist?” He waved a hand in Dani’s direction. “Are you telling me Jake sent goddamn Tinker Bell to protect me?”
Tinker Bell?
Dani gritted her teeth under the incredulous stare. Taking a deep breath, she clamped her mouth shut and
counted to ten. It wasn’t nearly enough.
Gary grinned. “Dani’s not actually out here to protect you personally.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” Zach replied.
“Not that I couldn’t,” Dani muttered, her fists clenching at her side, “if I actually wanted to.”
“So what is it she’s here to do?” he asked Gary, almost as if she wasn’t there and wasn’t quite capable of telling him herself.
She should be cool and drop it, but she couldn’t leave it alone. “Is it because you don’t think a woman can protect you? Or because you don’t like the idea?” She kept her voice reasonable, but it was an effort.
“No, it’s because you look like I could push you over with one finger.”
She leaned toward him, eyes narrowed. “Just try it.”
His gaze had dropped to where her robe gaped open at the front, revealing the curve of her breasts, and she straightened abruptly. What was is about this man that put her back up? After ten years in the army, she’d thought herself immune to any sexist comments that came her way, but for some reason he was needling her. She caught the glint in his eyes and had a horrible suspicion that he knew exactly how much he was pissing her off.
Gary peered from her to their boss. Obviously he considered it time to put a stop to whatever was going on. He cleared his throat to get their attention. “Dani’s a dog handler,” he said. “The best there is,” he added for good measure as Zach continued to look skeptical.
“Well that would be really nice…” Zach paused, lounging back against the balustrade behind him, arms folded across his chest, gaze still fixed firmly on her. “If I had a dog.”
“You will tomorrow,” Gary said. “Two, in fact. They’re arriving by plane in the morning.”
“I don’t like dogs.”
“No problem.” Dani gave a careless lift of one shoulder. “I’ll phone up and cancel the dogs, and I’ll get out of here. I’m sure Jake’s got somebody else I can babysit.” She put as much scorn as she could into the word and Gary winced. “Or maybe I’ll stay out here and take a vacation. Move to the coast, find a hotel, lay on the beach somewhere.”
Oh, and bonus—those two dogs? Yeah, they’re named Spike and Angel. Even Mini Moe #2 was impressed by that one. 😉
Overall this was a light and quick read, and very enjoyable. (After all, who doesn’t want a reformed playboy? Especially when he’s tan all over from being naked in the pool?) The writing was fun, the romance was steamy, and there were dogs—the well-behaved fictional kind, of course. My favorite.
Rating: 3 ½ stars/ B
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Author Bio:
Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia, which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of nine-to-five work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain. Nina writes all types of romance, often mixed with elements of the paranormal and science fiction.
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Giveaway:
A $25 Amazon Gift Card
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Another book that I have to have, thanks.
That’s my job! 🙂
Well, my unpaid volunteer mission–to make sure everyone’s TBR is as big as mine!