Reviewed by stacey_is_sassy on
A heroine who finds the courage to get what she wants.
I always find it a little awkward writing a review for an erotic book. First, it’s that sign I have to wave above my head saying – Stacey reads kinky books. Then if I actually liked the book I feel like the sign says – Stacey’s into kinky stuff. Let me make myself very clear… If I read about a rock climber, it’s not because I want to rock climb. If I read about a marathon runner, I’m not going to want to go into training (get fit?? HA HA HA HA HA). It’s just another world that I step into, take a walk around in, and see what that world has to offer. In Degrees of Control, I stepped into Charlotte and James’s world walked around and enjoyed the show.
I really, really enjoyed Degrees of Control. It’s not too often I come across a heroine who has actually worked out what she wants, owns up to it and attempts to get it. Charlotte has just broken up from a bad relationship. She’s an Aussie who moved to America to be with her musician boyfriend, and unfortunately, things end badly when he turns into a psycho, possessive idiot. Wanting to move on and finally find someone more suited to her, she admits to her girlfriends that she wants a man to treat her rough in the bedroom. Instead of laughing at her, they decide to help her find someone. One of her friends, Sophia, decides to kill two birds with one stone. She holds her engagement party and invites guys that might suit Charlie. Sophia narrows her choices down to three and one of them is her slut cousin James.
James is an ex-model, football player and a Southern sweet talker, who REALLY gets around. He is introduced to Charlie and is instantly attracted to her big blue eyes, lips and curves. Things get steamy on the dance floor and James is saying all the right things and making all the right moves. Deciding to take things to a more private location, they’re about to leave when James has a brain malfunction (too much alcohol) and she ends up telling him to take a hike. That sort of thing does not happen to James normally and he can’t get the blue-eyed Aussie out of his head. He ends up talking Sophia into helping him get in touch with her.
Charlie is heading back to Australia soon, but wouldn’t mind having some play time with James before she goes back. There are some very steamy scenes with role-playing, dirty talking and a wee bit of slap and tickle. James likes his Fairy Princess, Vegan, Yoga Teacher, Charlotte, and is ready and raring to go. They start to actually like each other and spend more and more time together. James is in unfamiliar territory. He realises that his heart might be starting to get involved and pushes her away.
The angst level in Degrees of Control is not over the top but there are some situations that annoyed me a smidge. James is a borderline alcoholic who’s dealing with the repercussions of a situation that happened to him when he was younger.
Maybe I’m biased because the heroine is an Aussie. Or maybe I just liked her because she was sweet, kind and not a pushover. I really liked the way she handled herself. The sex was on her terms and Charlie knew when her feelings were getting involved and handled it to suit herself. I liked James’s character too. He was definitely not perfect and I wanted to smack him a few times to snap him out of his silly behaviour. James has his issues and I really enjoyed seeing him wake up and get his act together.
This is a standalone erotic tale with a little Aussie fairy and a bossy Southern man, who know exactly what the other needs and gives it to them, in and out of the bedroom.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 17 January, 2016: Finished reading
- 17 January, 2016: Reviewed