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caseroo7's review against another edition
3.0
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
I'll be the first that I am a sucker for the friends to lovers trope. I just can't help myself when it comes to stories that have friendship as the basis for the relationship. I was really looking forward to Losing Control by Nina Croft because not only was it a friends to lovers story, but it was the opposite of most. In Losing Control the guy is actually the one who has been pining away for the girl and is ready to commit. I was really interested to see how that played out, and I had a good time reading Jake and Kim's story.
After an abusive marriage, Kim has taken back control of her life. Vowing to never let anyone else try to dictate anything about her life she sets out to advance her career as a bodyguard. Only problem is that she works for her best friend Jake, and he refuses to promote her or assign her any case that are possibly dangerous. She begins to think that maybe she needs to have a no-strings-attached affair to loosen her up and decides that the new guy at work Steve is just the man for the job. However Jake has other ideas for her. Jake has been in love with her for awhile but refuses to tell her, thinking that she will run away. After a passionate hook-up, Jake sets out to convince Kim that they can have a future together as more than just friends. But after being hurt in the past Kim is reluctant to have anything serious with anyone she cares for, and she is scared to lose her best friend Jake. But once they have been together, all they can both think about is being with the other person. Can Kim give up some of her control and let Jake in or will she continue to keep him at arms length to avoid the possibility of being hurt?
I really liked Jake. I was interested in this story first and foremost because of him. Any man who can admit he loves a girl, wants to commit to her and her alone, and continues to fight for her despite being turned down is always a hero I will root for. He was patient and kind and knew when to push Kim and when to give her some space. I really thought that he was sweet and charming. Kim was stubborn and strong all at the same time. I found myself slightly annoyed with her over the course of the book because of her being so stubborn. There were times that she seemed to do the exact same thing over and over and it just seemed to me that she was a little immature. She definitely had some growing up to do and it was nice to see that she did eventually see that she had been running and needed to take a risk in order to grow. I couldn't understand why she would constantly run and think she wasn't a good match for Jake when it was clear to see that they already had such a great foundation and friendship. Their connection was realistic to me and I thought that they were really sexy together.
Overall, this was a quick, fun, and sexy read. Despite the few times that I had some problems with Kim's character, I really felt that Kim and Jake belonged together. Their relationship was very believable and I was glad that they got their HEA. It was nice to read a friends to lovers story with a twist on the same old trope! This is a book that I think most fans of contemporary romances will enjoy. I am looking forward to reading more in Brazen's new Babysitting a Billionaire series, and I will be looking for more stories from Nina Croft in the future.
**ARC provided by Publisher**
I'll be the first that I am a sucker for the friends to lovers trope. I just can't help myself when it comes to stories that have friendship as the basis for the relationship. I was really looking forward to Losing Control by Nina Croft because not only was it a friends to lovers story, but it was the opposite of most. In Losing Control the guy is actually the one who has been pining away for the girl and is ready to commit. I was really interested to see how that played out, and I had a good time reading Jake and Kim's story.
After an abusive marriage, Kim has taken back control of her life. Vowing to never let anyone else try to dictate anything about her life she sets out to advance her career as a bodyguard. Only problem is that she works for her best friend Jake, and he refuses to promote her or assign her any case that are possibly dangerous. She begins to think that maybe she needs to have a no-strings-attached affair to loosen her up and decides that the new guy at work Steve is just the man for the job. However Jake has other ideas for her. Jake has been in love with her for awhile but refuses to tell her, thinking that she will run away. After a passionate hook-up, Jake sets out to convince Kim that they can have a future together as more than just friends. But after being hurt in the past Kim is reluctant to have anything serious with anyone she cares for, and she is scared to lose her best friend Jake. But once they have been together, all they can both think about is being with the other person. Can Kim give up some of her control and let Jake in or will she continue to keep him at arms length to avoid the possibility of being hurt?
I really liked Jake. I was interested in this story first and foremost because of him. Any man who can admit he loves a girl, wants to commit to her and her alone, and continues to fight for her despite being turned down is always a hero I will root for. He was patient and kind and knew when to push Kim and when to give her some space. I really thought that he was sweet and charming. Kim was stubborn and strong all at the same time. I found myself slightly annoyed with her over the course of the book because of her being so stubborn. There were times that she seemed to do the exact same thing over and over and it just seemed to me that she was a little immature. She definitely had some growing up to do and it was nice to see that she did eventually see that she had been running and needed to take a risk in order to grow. I couldn't understand why she would constantly run and think she wasn't a good match for Jake when it was clear to see that they already had such a great foundation and friendship. Their connection was realistic to me and I thought that they were really sexy together.
Overall, this was a quick, fun, and sexy read. Despite the few times that I had some problems with Kim's character, I really felt that Kim and Jake belonged together. Their relationship was very believable and I was glad that they got their HEA. It was nice to read a friends to lovers story with a twist on the same old trope! This is a book that I think most fans of contemporary romances will enjoy. I am looking forward to reading more in Brazen's new Babysitting a Billionaire series, and I will be looking for more stories from Nina Croft in the future.
**ARC provided by Publisher**
sanna678's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
syndi3's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I am actually a fan of Nina Croft especially Handle with Care. But her other books, its a miss for me. Losing Control is another miss for me. What really does not work is the heroine character, Kim. She is so immature and somehow contradict with her job. She seems very smart woman but when it comes to her social life, she becomes the dumbest person alive.
I also do not know why Jack is obsessing making Kim his wife. We do not have this insight from jack. So their love story becomes very confusing. Its more like insta love and insta lust. Too many sex scenes, unnecessary drama etc. And all of this has nothing to do with the development of the story nor the character development.
Overall I do not like this book.
I also do not know why Jack is obsessing making Kim his wife. We do not have this insight from jack. So their love story becomes very confusing. Its more like insta love and insta lust. Too many sex scenes, unnecessary drama etc. And all of this has nothing to do with the development of the story nor the character development.
Overall I do not like this book.
allisonbree's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
seahomie's review
Cliche cliche cliche
Not like other girls
Doesn’t know she’s beautiful
Anti- animal rights activists
Not like other girls
Doesn’t know she’s beautiful
Anti- animal rights activists
kelic's review against another edition
4.0
I discovered this little romantic gem through the Chapters interactive app! I was only playing that app to get diamonds for another game I play. Anyway, I just opened up the first story Ii saw, which happened to be their interactive story "Under Cover" based on this book. I really wasn't paying much attention in the beginning, I just wanted my gems. But their version hooked me, even with the annoying interactive bits. I paid real money just to get more of the story. It only told half the story! I had to know how the rest played out, so I bought the book.
You know a book has got to be a four star book if the interactive app interpretation gets you to buy it. Nina Croft did not disappoint. The characters were believable and engaging, and story was hot and sweet. It's up there with Penny Reid's Elements of Chemistry for me.
You know a book has got to be a four star book if the interactive app interpretation gets you to buy it. Nina Croft did not disappoint. The characters were believable and engaging, and story was hot and sweet. It's up there with Penny Reid's Elements of Chemistry for me.
bookgurl488's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This book started off well enough but ended on a really sour note for me. The premise of this book was that Kim(our mc), wants to have sex; while Jake(our hero) was looking for a relationship. The hero and heroine main goals never matched in the first place. My biggest issue with this book was the execution of the story.
Kim was still healing from a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. She made horrible decisions throughout the novel. I am not really sure why Jake believed she was ready for anything permanent in her life.
She spent most of the novel avoiding Jake and her attraction to him.They ended up having sex on his desk at work and this lead an unexpected pregnancy.
My biggest problem with this story is that you can not browbeat a person into a relationship. Jake basically attacks and browbeats Kim into his vision for them. He does not care about her feelings or thoughts as a person. This is not the way to a healthy and long lasting relationship. Kim needed therapy and help with her lack of self esteem. She had way to many doormat tendencies for a healthy relationship at the time.
Jake does not love her. He believed he did but that was possession. A person who truly loved you would give you the time to heal; they would want you to be the best version of you. Sex does not fix emotional problems in a relationship. She needed to go out there and explore who Kim was first before she could be with someone. The ending was wrap up in a neat bow however I could not believe or accept it.
I would not recommend this story.
Kim was still healing from a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. She made horrible decisions throughout the novel. I am not really sure why Jake believed she was ready for anything permanent in her life.
She spent most of the novel avoiding Jake and her attraction to him.
My biggest problem with this story is that you can not browbeat a person into a relationship. Jake basically attacks and browbeats Kim into his vision for them. He does not care about her feelings or thoughts as a person. This is not the way to a healthy and long lasting relationship. Kim needed therapy and help with her lack of self esteem. She had way to many doormat tendencies for a healthy relationship at the time.
Jake does not love her. He believed he did but that was possession. A person who truly loved you would give you the time to heal; they would want you to be the best version of you. Sex does not fix emotional problems in a relationship. She needed to go out there and explore who Kim was first before she could be with someone. The ending was wrap up in a neat bow however I could not believe or accept it.
I would not recommend this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting