Control

The Soul of Voodoo #1

by M.C. Lavocat

'Control' is a paranormal romance, about three lives that are thrown together in a desperate battle where love and lust are the catalysts that release a blood voodoo curse so dark that it could alter their destiny, as well as time itself.

******************

After spending three stale, miserable years in a neuroscience doctoral program, Cecelia Milonas throws caution to the wind and walks out; right into the arms of the man who has had the starring role in her panty-melting fantasies for over three years.

Andre St. Clair had never shown any romantic interest in Cecelia or anyone else, so she had resigned herself to the role of fangirl and very willing employee, since moving to New Orleans and into the apartment above his restaurant. Cecelia thinks that their relationship is a fantasy come true, but neither are prepared for a desire that burns hot enough to ignite a hatred, long thought dead.

As if one gorgeous man and deathly struggle aren't enough, in walks Lance Bradley, with whom she has some kind of freaky-deaky, psychic-hotline connection that is determined to pull them together no matter who gets torn apart in the process.

So, nothing is easy in The Big Easy, where the past and the present are caught up in a struggle so dangerous and deadly that it's changing destiny, and possibly time itself.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2013

About the author

I really hate writing a bio, they always sound so lame. Also, I have to admit that I have lost respect for some authors after reading their bios…seriously, if you’re going to wave the dork flag so proudly, you have to expect a little fallout.

So, without further ado, here is my bio…with flair.

I am the 264 year old surrogate mother to a flock of seagulls, an actual flock of birds, not the new wave band from the 80′s. I joined a travelling carnival at the age of eleven, successfully disguising my gender, and serving as an apprentice to the strongman. When my pectoral muscles began to develop at a faster rate than my biceps, I ran away to join with a group of nomadic fortune tellers.

After a few years of living the nomadic lifestyle, I grew tired of the constant travel and decided it was time to move on…which is a bit ironic I suppose.

At that point, I hacked into the department of student services to enroll myself at the Wharton School of Business. Naturally, I awarded myself a full fellowship as well as a stipend for living expenses. I completed the MBA/JD Program at the top of my class in only one year.

After graduating, I took the next seven years off to tour the world in a hot air balloon with six baboons and two llamas. As a side note: baboons and llamas do NOT get along.

I ended my balloon trip in Canada where I was accepted into the Royal Canadian Mountie training program in Saskatchewan. However, I quit the program shortly after beginning because I looked like a complete tool in the uniform. I got my happy ass out of Canada and headed back to the United States.

I moved from state to state, having an exact replica of each tattooed on the bottom of my foot before moving on to the next. Finally, I ended up in the glorious state of Louisiana where I met the man of my dreams and settled down in da bayou to build a nest and raise the best damn flock of seagulls the world would ever know.

Oh, and I wrote a book too.

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved this book in exchange for my honest review. I'd like to add that what you're about to read is, in fact, HONEST. I'm not biased in any way and have zero problem saying I don't like a book. *this review is spoiler free*

I was more then a little apprehensive about reading the first book of an author I've never heard of. You just never know what you're going to get (I feel the same about some of the more well known authors too for that matter.)To say that I was pleasantly surprised would be putting it mildly. This book was excellent and I'm leaning heavily towards 4.5 stars VS simply 4. I even woke up this morning and reached right for my Kindle, only to remember that I finished it last night! Sad, sad morning. :(

The setting of this book is New Orleans and although I've never been there, I've been fasinated with that city and it's unique heritage and culture for as long as I can remember. I think it started with my reading the Ruby series in HS followed later by Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches series. When I read stories that take place in the French Quarter, Garden Distrct, etc, I feel like I can see it. I can smell it. I'm there and Control was no exception. I was completely submerged in the surrounding and drawn in immediately.

I'm going to skip summarizing the book synopsis, as I assume we can all read it just fine (Am I the only one who hates that?) So what you have here is the begining of a series. The vast majority of this book is character building and an extrememly HOT "love triangle." Did I say HOT? Because it really is. The steamy scenes in Control were very well done. Yet, this isn't one of those books with 85% redundant sex and 15% weak plot. All of the characters were very likable, the dialog was believable and surprisingly very funny (I LOL'd several times) I absolutely appreciate that this wasn't a "love triangle" with a wishy washy girl and sneaking around. All of these characters have integrity and I love every one of them. Even the "token" gay BFF, which typically pisses me off in its obvious stereotyping way, was wonderful. His character actually serves a purpose beyond being a sassy wardrobe consultant.

Control is categorized as paranormal romance, but definetly know that it's light on the paranormal. Like I said, this book is heavily relationship and charater building. I expect much more "paranormal" in the upcoming book(s). Also, as per the synopsis, the paranormal element is Voodoo. I have a hard time swallowing the concept of Voodoo but I suppose it should be no less believable then say, vampires, werewolves, fae, and witches. :)

It does end in a cliffhanger, which I HATE, but I loved the book enough that I'm ok to impatiently wait for the next one (I don't say that often.)

If I had to come up with a negative, a reason for my 4.5 stars VS 5, I suppose it would be that the paranormal element comes very quickly towards the end. I felt like I went from an ALMOST normal new adult type book to being heavily submerged in some crazy sh*t within the course of a chapter. That gave it a feeling of being a little far fetched for me.

As a whole though, I can't express enough how much I enjoyed this book. It was EVERY bit as good (and in several cases better IMO) as some of the other books out there that have sold thousands of copies and have raving reviews. The difference being only that Control isn't "out there" yet, which is really a shame. M.C. Lavocat has set the bar awfully high with this first book and I'm expecting great things from her.

If you have any thought that you might like this book, I urge you to give it a chance. I highly doubt you will regret it.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never laughed so hard and I cried so much. M.C. Lavocat has the most wonderful way with words. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much since I first laid my eyes on Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle books. This is how I tell a good book from an okay book: I never read it; it plays like a movie in my head.

From the first word to the last, I could hardly put the book down. Her characters are real, the men are HOT, and I felt as if I was part of their world. The supernatural plot of this story crept up on me so sneakily that I was entirely embroiled in it before I knew it, a lot like the characters involved. Cecelia is an awesomely strong MC. She is a very sexual person without being slutty or perverted; she knows who she is, and she knows how her sexuality affects the men in her life. She never abuses that fact when two men vie for her attention.

What I loved most about this story is the actual writing. It was funny; I laughed out loud at the things Cecelia thought and said. I know the subject of the story is serious enough (the girl was absolutely crazy for the panty-melter) but the story was so warm and told in the way that people speak. There was nothing stiff and proper about the telling! It was real language, real people, real “mumbo-jumbo voodoo shit.” Really, it was…

The only thing I didn’t like about the story was… it came to the end before I was ready. Please, please hurry out with the next story. I realize this is a need to know thing, and trust me, I need to know!

[Caroline Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like to be up close and personal to the characters in a saucy sort of way, as well as have the added bonus of some fun, quirky comedy and dark paranormal goings on, then this is definitely a great book for you! Things are not always as they seem at the beginning of 'Control', as the reader and the characters become more and more drawn to darker sides – leaving us baffled, scared and tense. 'Control' is packed with romance, fun and horror as it opens up to reveal a deep, dark paranormal entity. Due to the passion and horror I would recommend this novel as a more adult read, possibly 16 years+.

The main focus is on Cecelia Milonas. Studying neuroscience for her doctoral program, Cecilia also revelled in a social life and yet was still able to maintain good grades. Many were jealous of her and she had just about had enough of studying and dealing with her fellow students and so decided to leave. However, there is more to Cecilia as she is a 'Foxy Lady' as Jimi Hendrix would say. She has curves in all the right places that any woman would be jealous of and any man would admire.

It isn't too long after leaving her doctoral program that Cecilia begins a hot and saucy, lustful relationship with her landlord, boss and panty-melter, Andre St. Clair. This is a guy she has yearned for but has never thought that anything would become of her feelings for him. Andre was her friend but he didn't date anyone. His mind was in his business. As their relationship grows it becomes more and more intense and passionate and Andre in particular is becoming addicted and obsessed with Cecilia – he is burning for her. It is the intensity and passion here that reminded me a little of Fifty Shades of Grey! Hot! Hot! Hot!

And then there is Lance Bradley. Aside from Cecilia, Lance is my favourite character. Whether it be destiny or a curse, Lance is drawn to Cecilia in ways that he cannot explain. His first introduction with her was so slight and yet he couldn't remove her from his mind and had to follow his instinct to find a way to be with her. He would not force the issue but he was around enough to remind her of him to the point that at times she could not forget about him. (Whereas Andre is the tall, dark handsome type, who appears quite slick and smooth, Lance is very masculine and rugged with an athletic/muscular body.)

James is Cecilia's best friend and in many ways he reminds me of the character Lafayette in True Blood. His character provides a great deal of the comedy, especially when mixed with Cecilia and/or Lance. James could quite easily be your best friend as he is very jovial. He knows how to lighten the mood and creates a good vibe. His friendship with Cecilia is so close that he is aware of her emotions and can sense the atmosphere/mood she is in and when something is up with her. However, these senses become a much deeper aspect the further the story goes on.

The story is written from Cecilia's point of view and from Lance's. I love this as the reader can connect to both characters from early on and understand their feelings and decisions. The relationship of Cecilia and Lance is magnetic and whether they want to or not it is almost inevitable that something could possibly happen between them. However, Cecilia is with Andre and even though their relationship can be tense at times she still wants to make it work with him, after all he is the panty-melter and the guy she has been wanting for three whole years.

In many ways the first part of 'Control' can appear to be a romantic love triangle situation but as the reader gets sucked in too, by the spell, we realise that it is so much more; where lives are at stake, time is not as it seems and people's destiny's are affected! There is nothing we can do to prevent it – or so it seems – but we have to find a way! A curse, a spell, voodoo even is considered when darker events take place and the 'control' or lack of it goes to a complete extreme. This is a must-read for those that love dark, paranormal horror, mixed with comedy and romance!

The second novel of the series, 'Power' will be released in the near future and as 'Control' has left me on tenterhooks at the edge of my seat, I simply need to know how the story can move forward.

'Control' was received by myself gratefully, from M.C. Lavocat, in return for an honest and fair review.

[Nicolas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review is mostly from the wife. We read a chapter together in the car while running errands, and I enjoyed Lavocat's writing, but my wife is the one who can actually comment on the story.

Lavocat is a really engaging writer, and has an easy to follow tone in most places, though the "action" parts towards the end had a few muddled sequences. The wife was very happy with the quality of the editing. She noticed maybe 3 errors, TOTAL. For her, this is nothing short of miraculous.

She felt the story was a little weak, though. The opening introductions for the characters were a bit leading, and she found it jarring that it was all first person narration, except for a few scattered sections. I think she would have been happier if the second person had not been written first-person as well, or if the perspective had been cut completely, and worked in other ways, still through the main character's narration.

She found some of the side characters a little confusing and annoying, though that's a personal pet peeve of hers, since she avoids people with those sorts of touchy-feely, mock-demeaning humors, in real life. I would die laughing if one of her friends tried to spank her, or talk to her the way that the bff character, James, does.

Her biggest issue was the pacing of the story. The beginning felt rushed, there was little follow up on one of the main character's earliest big decisions, to drop out of school, and she was surprised that the paranormal element took so very, very long to enter in. I think we'd both expected it to weave through a little more consistently. But, it entered fairly late, and then overpowered the rest of the story in a pretty jarring way. Because of that, she said she enjoyed the first 2/3 of the story much more than the last 1/3, and wasn't satisfied with the ending.

To each their own, though. She said, overall, it was a pretty well done romance, and the writing was much more fluid and engaging than most of the other books she's read in the genre(which is, admittedly, not many.)

My personal pet peeve, in the section I read, was Lavocat's repeated phrases. There's one phrase in particular that appears so very many times in the novel, from so many characters, that the original joke about it gets lost. It sparked a good debate of what other filthy euphemisms for "hunk" could be used instead.

All of this having been said, this is the last time we try to tag-team a novel this steamy at the doctors office. I don't think she stopped blushing and glancing to see if anyone else saw what was on our kindle.

(I received a free copy of Control, in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.)

[Tanya Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book by the author for an honest review and as the debut book for this author, I must say that I really enjoyed this book. This is the first paranormal book that touched on the subject of voodoo and when the author requested reviews, I jumped at the chance to do so.

I loved the writing style and how all of the characters were very down to earth. I really enjoyed Cecie’s character and wished more heroines were like her in other books. I just couldn’t get over the whole “panty melter” and “seducinator” terms associated with Andre – who by the way would be every woman’s dream man. Who wouldn’t want a man that looks good, can cook, and excels in “other activities”!! Not that I’m throwing Lance under the bus because he is sexy in his own way, but a man that’s hot, can cook, and could probably have any woman on their knees begging “PLEASE” just does it for me.

I didn’t know what to make of James and during the book because I wasn’t sure if he was the one behind the whole voodoo curse affecting Cecie, Andre, and Lance.. But I did come to like his character very much when it was clear that Cecie’s safety was his priority throughout the whole book. I won’t give away anything, but there is a cliffhanger and we will just need to wait for the next one!

This was a great read and I give 4 out 5 stars. Big thanks to MC for giving me a copy of this book for a review. I really enjoyed it and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

[Marcus Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

To many of us the whole Voodoo thing is suspect, but its existence is apparently a fact of life.
This book is well written in an easy readable style, and though some may find it lustful at times, it is actually quite funny. The boundary between the normal and the supernatural is cleverly concealed in this book, insofar that things that could be accepted as normal are actually not. The Voodoo connection is not hinted at till late in the book, even though, on hindsight, the reader will realize that something was wrong from much earlier on. I think that in its genre this book is one of the best.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A total must READ! You won't be disappointed.
The cover sparked my interest and it sounded like something I would enjoy once I read the synopsis. The characters are cleverly developed, extremely funny and engaging. The book evolved from light and romantic to a slightly dark and paranormal. Right up my ally....
It takes you in slowly and keeps you. You can't let go, you are hooked. I pray there is more to come. Like maybe a series??
This is a book I would highly recommend especially that it is only .99

[The Urban Book Thief · Rating 4 out of 5]

This contemporary romance has me running in circles like a wild dog chasing it’s tail. Do I like it? Don’t I like it? I just don’t know… conundrum.

You see, the writer is awesome, the story is slow moving but well written, and yet I found the characters so incredibly hard to like I wanted to round ‘em up like a cowboy and give them all a good spanking. Even the token gay character.

The strange thing is… this book entertained me and I want to read the next one to find out what happens next.

Cecelia


Cecelia is snark personified. She’s aggressive, smart and not above using her femininely wiles to get what she wants. She also seems to think that she has magical tatas (go figure…). Cecelia is also selfish, a pain in the ass and has some interesting double-standards when it comes to romancing the men in her life. But on the other hand, she can be sweet, affectionate, hilariously funny and an altogether cool chick-a-dee to be around.

You see my quandary?

The story is set in b-oo-tiful New Orleans. It was nice for once to read a book based in this famed paranormal dwelling and feel like you were actually there. So many top-selling paranormal book series are set here, yet from the limp descriptions you’re given could in fact be anywhere in the entire world. But this one -ooh mama. This was New Orleans. Kudos, bags and bags of it Ms. Lavocat.

Andre


Cecelia is a hottie with a brain. Studying neuroscience, she has become pretty disenchanted with her career and colleagues so decides to kinda drop out. Luckily for her, she has a restaurant supervisor job waiting in the wings courtesy of her landlord and boss, the panty melter himself Andre St. Clair. He’s super cajun, super hot and has the power to turn the insides of a woman to mush in under three seconds flat. Sigh!

Andre is the son and heir of a super prominent New Orleans family. They’re old money and own the most exclusive eatery in the city. That didn’t stop Andre from setting up one of his very own though and being successful in his own right. He’s focused, organised, dons a suit everyday and even though he has buns so tight you can bounce a penny off – he doesn’t have time for women. Until that is, Cecelia embarrassingly admits her own crazy attraction for him. Their relationship starts off fab-u-lously, but there’s something off about their behaviour. they’re just a little too crazy for each other. Dangerously crazy.

Lance


So Ms Milonas has a fine new boyfriend and a fine new job. Now my mum brought me up to believe that good (and bad) things come in threes. So (of course), it’s not all that long before Lance Mr McHunky pants turns up. Farm boy turned city, he’s not afraid of a little hard work, whether that be it building a fence or waiting for his crush Cecelia to get over Andre and hop on board the Lance Love Boat. They share a connection and that’s not just the one they feel in their pants. Whenever they’re near one another their bodies seem to hum a strange melody. Spooky huh!

And when I say spooky, I mean voodoo, and frankly – there just aren’t enough romance voodoo books out there on the market today. Just saying. Not that things got spooky until 85% of the way in. And boy, did it take a long time to get there. I feel a little apprehensive about calling this a paranormal book, because really… it’s not. But seeing as book 2 is coming our way fairly shortly, I imagine that things will heat up in this ole department.

Read more book reviews with The Urban Book Thief here

[Cari Ayres · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a born and raised Louisiana native, I was immediately drawn to this book when the word 'voodoo' made its presence known in the series title. I was even more drawn in when the word 'paranormal' came wafting into the mix while reading the synopsis. The promise of a feisty love story sealed the deal, and the book was downloading onto my iPad before the water came to a boil in my tea kettle.

Before I launch into my opinion about this book (which I realize the general masses could probably give two figs about), I must say that writing a review for something so subjective as a work of nonfiction is....well, subjective. What attracts one person to a story---or the characters within its pages---may be the very element that causes another person to mutter "Nah, this is a bunch of hooey" and place it in a box headed to the nearest Goodwill. Such is the beauty of artistic expression---whether channeled through music, a paintbrush, a sculpture, or the written word....it most definitely lies within the eyes of the beholder.

While perusing some of the reviews for this book, I came across one in particular in which the reviewer seems to have misplaced "the plot" and seems quite agitated and befuddled as to the mystery of its whereabouts.

Hmm, strange.

I, myself, shared numerous intimate conversations with more than one plot line throughout this book---plot lines of which I found juicy and wickedly delicious.

But that's just me.
Again, the key word here is 'subjective'.

Lavocat's superb depiction of Andre, Cecelia, and Lance made me want to meet and hang out with them. They felt real to me, which only served to pull me in deeper. I felt woven into the humanity and heartache of their experience. I laughed with them. I cried with them. I celebrated with them. I got goosebumps when Lavocat's expert storytelling hooked me up with an IV drip of adrenaline---leaving me panting and hungry for more. Well, truth be known---that wasn't the only time I was left panting while reading this book, but I'll keep those delightful little nuggets of yummy to myself, thank you very much. ;-)

I also feel compelled to point out that 'paranormal' does not automatically necessitate that the story take place in another world. Nor does it dictate that the characters exist in worlds other than our own and have names like Zarnack and Laxitopia. Quite frankly, I do not appreciate other reviewers being so presumptuous and arrogant as to speak as though they are an expert on the subject of what "is" and what "isn't". I kindly request that you not speak on my behalf or turn your subjective opinion into factual expert commentary.

As readers, we are certainly entitled to our own opinion. However, if we don't like it---or even if we despise it---it's my opinion that we should still show respect to the author, and to the other readers who may find it to be quite fabulous. If you feel the need to regurgitate your unsolicited, unnecessary negativity, may I suggest you do it elsewhere.

That being said, I personally loved that the paranormal elements of this story felt like they could happen within the reality of my own world. I loved that the author built the foundation, brick by brick---and just when my heart was about to combust from the gut-wrenching journey of these three characters---WHAM! I'm catapulted into dark, treacherous events that found me holding my breath in heart-pounding anticipation.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to this sort of thing. There is merely subjective opinion, and this is mine.

KUDOS to you, M.C. Lavocat.

You left me breathless. You left me simultaneously laughing and weeping. You left me reeling with a hefty dose of the "warm and fuzzies". Above all....you left me wanting more...more...MORE.

So thank you---and I can't wait to see what you have in store for me next!

[☺~Tina~☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to be honest; this was a hard book to review. I gave it 4 stars because in the end it really is a good story. What made me hesitate with the rating is the book is labeled as a paranormal, but you are going to have to be patient to get there. There are hints sprinkled in and you know something is up but you can’t quite figure it out. Of course the title has voodoo, so I was thinking it would be in your face voodoo but the mystery of it all made it so much better. I finally just said forget the paranormal and got wrapped up in the hard-to-witness love triangle between Cecelia, Andre and Lance.

I loved all the characters and that is what made Cecelia, Andre and Lance’s situation so hard to watch play out. I went back and forth with hating Cecelia but she was a good person, shoot with Andre and Lance I would have been stuck between those two rocks too.
James is the comic relief in the story. It wasn’t laugh out loud humor for me but I liked James’s personality even though he is full of secrets.

There is a lot of sex in the book and I like sex. After about the first two times, I didn’t even really care about that sex. I wanted to get on with the story so I can try to get more clues to what is going on with all of these people.

If you are a person who does not like the story to end with cliff hangers or you have to have all the secrets reveal, that does not happen in this book. I still don’t understand what is going on with this story. All the answers that were given only made you ask more questions.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because it was described as a paranormal romantic comedy and I needed to have a good laugh. There were a couple of funny parts, but I wouldn't describe the book that way. My rating is a 3.5 which I rounded up to a 4.

I found the book disturbing but in a good way. The heroine, Cecelia, has been in lust with her boss for three years but he is cool and professional toward her. Then all of a sudden, things change and they start a hot and heavy affair. At this same time she meets another guy who "makes her soul sing." There is an attraction and connection there that is hard to resist. I was both fascinated and repelled by the love triangle. The affair with the boss becomes frenzied and addictive. The supernatural element is introduced about 3/4 way through the book and has elements of horror to it. The book's tone changed from snarky in the beginning, to erotic in the middle part to horror in the end. I'm not sure how others will feel about this - it disturbed me but at the same time I was compelled to keep reading. Other readers will probably either love the book or hate it.

I was disappointed to find that book is a serial and now I have to wait to see what is next!

[Kaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a read and review, from Goodreads Advanced Review Requests. I was intrigued, as this book was described as a paranormal romance, and I am a big fan of this book category. As far as following the book description, I was a little disappointed. The paranormal part was not a big factor in this book until the very end. You do get a few hints about Voodoo throughout the book, but the ending kind of drops a Voodoo bomb on you. I had to laugh at myself, throughout the book, I kept thinking,"This author must be a man", at the way, the main character's body and mind were described. Then I would read a little further and think, well, maybe not. I really loved James's character, and the "sonnet" part had me laughing out loud. The character's are all easy to relate to. The romance scenes were steamy. I found myself pulling for Lance out of the love triangle, but after reading the ending, I'm hesitant to make a decision until I read the next installment of The Soul of Voodoo. And yes, M.C. Lavocat, you had me at "Coming Soon: Book 2..."

[Kate Flynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given the book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Control is told from two perspectives, Cecelia and Lance. Cecelia strikes up a steamy relationship with, drool worthy, Andre. When she runs into Lance, a connection between them unfolds. They are immediately drawn together and throw in Andre, it turns into a mad dash for control.
I thought this book was a fun read. As hot as Andre sounded I found myself rooting for Lance. The love scenes were plentiful and feverish. The dialogue was not one I was familiar with, it was central to the location of the book, but I didn't have trouble following because of the quick explanations here and there. The writing did feel a bit chaotic at times, some phrases felt out of place. I would re-read sections to make sure I had the right idea. It might have just been me.
The paranormal was a slow build in the story and piled on quickly in the end. Overall, this book was a fun read.

[Sharon Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of the book for honest review. 'Control' is the amusing and erotic tale of busty student Cecelia's crazy love life.

The wild sense of humour is apparent right from the start and I loved Cecelia's voice, it really brought her character to life and kept me reading. Some of the phrases that get used a lot were kind of annoying but this is a minor complaint for a style that is so sparky and fun to read.

So plot-wise, basically there's this hottie Cecelia has had a crush on for three years and then there's this new guy she's got a freaky connection with. Who will she end up with? There is a spooky voodoo twist to this and there's certainly conflict, a lot of steamy scenes and plenty of laughs to be had. The plot gets pretty tense towards the end of the book and chances are you'll be left wanting more!

Overall this is something different and fun in the genre. Highly recommended reading for fans of paranormal romance.

[James Loftus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up front I will say I know the author, who interviewed me for my book. However, this is an honest review. I do admire her talent which works on so many levels. Reading Control I would describe Lavocat as a great writer. She is technically very good using descriptives that put you into the action and amidst the flaming passions. Lavocat very engagingly book is great fun. The subject matter and places mentioned, university campuses in the west of the USA, the social context that exists there amongst the young and spunky I found fascinating. The central character is engaging, a bit self absorbed but what young, beautiful, intelligent, and switched-on emotionally girl would not be. Often as a bloke you wonder what goes on in the minds of the opposite sex. I think I know now and thanks Lavocat for the insight.

[Sassy Beta Reading & Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of beta reading both Control and Voodoo and loved both!!