Can't Control

by A.J. Hotz

Delaney has put in the work to heal from her past trauma, and moving states is only one of the many steps in her road to recovery. As a busy woman rebuilding a life entirely her own, she doesn’t expect any kind of blessing to come her way.

So, when a blessing in the shape of four handsome gentlemen drops into her lap, she’s unsure what to do with it. And when two of those men, Trennen and Alexius, ignite a dormant desire in her heart, she’s entirely thrown for a loop.

Alexius, Trennen, Vestar, and Kellan have been contract killers for years. As a tight-knit group, nothing can disrupt their chosen brotherhood. Except a certain new bartender at their regular establishment. Trennen and Alexius butt heads over their Schatzi, but neither can deny their unwavering loyalty and attraction to Delaney.

Just when things get heated between the three, both Delaney’s past and the men’s work threaten their little slice of happiness. Intrigue, heartache, violence, sex, and gut-wrenching emotions weave the story of lovers and friends. But when the past comes knocking on everyone’s doors, they’re given the option to overcome or succumb.


This romance contains dark themes, including graphic violence and sexually explicit scenes and mentions of sex-trafficking.

Genres: Dark Romance

466 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2023

About the author

The written word has always been close to my heart, reading it and writing it. I’m fueled by my imagination and a thrill for storytelling with a dash of decaf to keep me going. I'm also a freelance writer who specializes in narrative, expository, and technical writing.

My inspiration for fiction comes from music and my own mind, but I like to keep non-fiction in the mix as I have a healthy obsession for real life mysteries that have no real answers. In addition, I love teaching others about the innerworkings of the Internet and cybersecurity.

My debut novel Can’t Control is a blend of romance and suspense, bringing my readers through everything life gives us, including love, loss, and trauma with a happy ending, as I always look to the bright side of what life sends our way.

Before delving into fiction, I wore a different hat: I was a technical trainer, breaking down complex topics into smaller bytes. I like to believe it’s no different than telling a story in a compelling and understandable way for those looking to pursue Security+ certifications. To this day, you can find me browsing the likes of tech news online and listening to the CyberWire Daily.

Reading is about more than simply entertainment; we learn every time we read, regardless of the genre or context.

Reviews

[Janae Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG

What a roller coaster of emotion, action, and romance!!! The characters are so real and the two love interests are perfectly balanced!!! The FMC is a total badass but has soft moments to round her out. It’s a dark romance for sure, but the glimmers of comedic relief really make the story shine. I smiled, I gasped, I laughed, I cried, I recoiled at the gore. It was such a fun book and touched on so many real problems people face. And I loved not having to choose between the two love interests!

[Amanda Crossman · Rating 4 out of 5]

slightly confused w/spoilers

So it’s more of a MFM. The other two men mentioned are just friends but still somehow allude to one joining later in life maybe? Idk confusing. The outside the circle POV was misleading. Also what was the point of the whole gf thing, yes the reviews stated it was a misleading style plot twist but I felt slightly wronged by it. This book makes me think there’s more stories to come but this book also made me not wanna read more of this style. Smut was good tho 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Kailey Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start!, this was the first book I read by AJ Hotz, it’s so hard not to go into detail about how in love I fell with this book. Between the dark web plot, and the male characters!. It was a book that was so hard to read in certain chapters cause I could relate to it much!. I’ll keep it somewhat short and sweet. Aj your talent in writing, and making scenes come to life is phenomenal!. Keep up the good work!. Definitely 10/10.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave off Mr. Robot feels but make it dark romance. It took me a while to get acclimated to the authors writing style, but I loved these guys and their love for the FMC, and the spice was blush worthy. The story was action packed from start to finish and just a fun read.

[Shawnee briggler · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful

Absolutely beautiful book! I was in such a reading slump and this book brought me out!! I’ll definitely be recommending to everyone!

[Chloe Fabbri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!! The author was able to give all of her characters so much personality which made me connect with them on an emotional level! Trennan is my favorite character, he is such a sweetheart!! The book is hefty but didn’t have any parts that dragged which made it easy to read through! This is a dark romance so keep that in mind. Some trigger warnings I would give would be sexual assault, physical abuse, torture, drug abuse,trafficking and gore. The smut in the book though was amazing! I loved it! Definitely recommend!!!