Control

by Charlotte Stein

Overview

Will she choose control or just let go?

When Madison Morris wanted to hire a shop assistant for her naughty little bookstore, she never dreamed she'd have two handsome men vying for the position—and a whole lot more. Does she choose dark and dangerous Andy with his sexy tattoos? Or quiet, serious Gabriel, whose lean physique and gentle touch tempt her more than she thought possible?

She loves the way Andy takes charge when it comes to sex. But the turmoil in Gabe's eyes hints at a deep well of complicated emotions locked inside. When the fun and games are over, only one man can have control of her heart.

"If this is your first time crossing the line into the Dark Side of kinky sex and BDSM, then I recommend this book!"—Night Owl Reviews, 5 stars, Reviewer Top Pick

What readers are saying:

"Forget Fifty Shades of Grey...take a look at this and see how long you can stay in control!"

"This is honest to God, hands down, the best erotic fiction I've ever read."

"Highly addictive!"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402289576
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	01/07/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	693,610
File size:	720 KB

About the Author

Charlotte Stein has written over thirty short stories, novellas and novels, including entries in The Mammoth Book of Hot Romance and Best New Erotica 10. Her latest work, Addicted, was recently called salaciously steamy by Dear Author. When not writing salaciously steamy books, she can be found eating jelly turtles, watching terrible sitcoms and occasionally lusting after hunks. For more on Charlotte, visit: www.charlottestein.net.

Read an Excerpt

THE FIRST APPLICANT FOR the assistant job is very promising indeed. He puts his head between my thighs with minimal supervision and almost no prompting.

The only problem is - I don't recall creating an oral presentation portion of the interview. Or, for that matter, a portion that requires the answer: you know you want it. To a question I don't remember asking.

But I guess I must have asked for something, or none of it would have happened. Maybe it was all the staring I did, at the curling many-coloured tattoos all over his heavy-looking arms. Or the way I bristled beneath the weight of his deep blue gaze. I must have leant forward, and asked about his previous job experience in a way that suggested an underlying code.

Job meant sex. Experience meant now.

It was sharp of him, really, to understand. He got a cross in the interview attire column - such a thin, barely-there T-shirt! - but he got a big tick in the "takes initiative” and the "understands subtle instructions” columns.

I don't think I got any ticks, in the "cool, calm, controlling boss” columns, unfortunately. But can't I be forgiven? He looked like liquid sex and I can't remember the last time I had anything even remotely resembling a drink. Or resembling a hard, solid body over mine. Or resembling the scent of someone besides myself, all over me - the slick slide of a tongue against my skin.

It's probable that some of these needs showed on my face. And though I'm sure that some people are of the mind that women who wear neat little pleated skirts and boxy corduroy jackets - the uniform of bookstore owners and librarians everywhere - are bookish and quiet and quite dull, there's probably an equal amount who view said women as repressed cauldrons of lust.

I'm pretty sure he sensed my boiling cauldron.

I think he felt I was a certain type - the type who won't admit they want it, not even to themselves. But when he pressed me up against the door to the back and then shoved me through, I didn't deny anything. My insides shimmied to think of this big handsome man, having me up against something. Just doing it, without columns or questions or things neatly arranged.

Editorial Reviews

11/11/2013
Stein (Deep Desires) serves up a sizzling combination of BDSM and voyeurism. Madison Morris owns a bookstore dedicated to titillating fiction. She’s looking for a shop assistant, and not just one who can fulfill the usual retail duties. When straitlaced Gabriel Kauffman walks in the door and catches Madison in flagrante with forceful Andy Yarrow, Madison knows she’s found her newest employee—not Andy, who would never take direction, but Gabriel, who longs for a firm hand on the reins. At first, Madison enjoys teasing shy Gabriel, trying to see how quickly she can fluster him with naughty tasks such as circling his favorite bits in the erotica lining her store’s shelves and staying naked in her apartment. Then something altogether unexpected happens: she falls for Gabriel, despite still lusting after Andy. While the plot is a bit flimsy and Stein often skims the surface of deep emotion in favor of graphic description, readers will tear through the book in anticipation of the next scorching sex scene. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"If you want a book that will melt your screen, then this might be the one for you." — Long and Short Reviews

"I haven’t read too many beta heroes that I loved and more importantly, made a lasting impression on me. Gabe is one of the very few that I adored!" — Under the Covers Book Blog

"I think it is safe to say that Charlotte Stein is now on my auto-buy list and I have been eagerly purchasing her backlist!" — Book Reviews & More by Kathy

"CONTROL will be a book you cannot forget!" — Fresh Fiction

"If you’re up for something different and quite explicit but incredibly charming, you have to read Control. Really, please do." — Nom de Plume Press

"CONTROL is both a wildly erotic and heart-breaking love story, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s also why I’ll always read everything Charlotte Stein writes." — Seductive Musings

"This takes a super-hot read and makes it even more engaging with characters with heart and solid personalities." — Iam, Indeed

"I would give this 5 stars." — Lost in a Book

"This was my first time reading any of Charlotte Stein's work and certainly not my last. I truly enjoyed her writing style, characters and everything all around! " — Dreamz of Dragons

"The steam factor is high, so if you’re looking for a hot read, this is your ticket. " — RT Book Reviews

"I was riveted from start to finish." — For Your Literary Pleasure

From the Publisher

This book is a fabulously sexy tale that made my palms sweaty and my heart race. I grew to love both Madison and Gabe and, although I didn’t agree with some of the decisions that they made, I wholeheartedly routed for a situation where they could both be happy. 

Scorching Book Reviews

First of all, the title needs to be changed to "The Ultimate Manual of Kinky Sex, BDSM, and Control for Dummies"! If this is your first time crossing the line into the Dark Side, then I recommend this book as a guide!

I fell hard for the hero, Gabriel, who is as angelic as his namesake. I haven't fallen in love with a written hero since...hmm, has it been so long that I have forgotten? So many heroes are cookie-cutter cutouts bulging with muscles and testosterone lacking real brains or even emotions. Romance novel heroes show their emotions by being jealous, over-protective pricks. As if that's healthy! But Gabriel, that man was special! He had a horrific, stickler, prudish past that made me wince in a terrible way! He was mistreated and abused. Whenever Charlotte Stein would delve into his past, I had to clench my teeth just to make it through! But no matter how hard life has been, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel!

Enter Madison, the cutest, most open heroine I have yet to meet! She is a self-described sidekick to the actual straight-laced heroine! The "best friend" who gets into all kinds of kinky trouble but honestly, Madison is the REAL heroine. She is not afraid to express herself sexually, although, she does have trouble with the "L" word--Love. But with all excellent character arcs, she eventually finds herself and becomes completely fulfilled. You go, girl!

I desperately enjoyed this wild romp through erotica even though the heroine wasn't fighting zombies or falling for werewolves. I will warn you, gentle reader, that this isn't a tale for the faint of heart or those who are especially fond of missionary position--this is intense. Every chapter is raging with sex. But this story is more than just sex--If anything, the sexual progression seems to tell the character arcs like "Ballroom Dancing" does with dance.

There is only one thing I had qualm with--the term "arse". It's a UK thing, I guess. I just really like the word "ass" instead. It's so much more hardy! But obviously, that is pure opinion and does not detract from the story!

Night Owl Reviews