She built the future. He came to claim it. But someone else never let go.
A CEO with everything to lose. A Dominant with nothing to prove. A past that wants her back.
Louisa has it all. Power, control, and the CEO title of one of the most cutting-edge Veterinary Practices with a revolutionary new AI. She built her empire by never bending, never breaking, and never letting anyone close.
Until Noah arrives. He doesn’t want her position, he wants her. On her knees. Stripped of every defence, worshipping the edge of pain and pleasure only he can give.
Their chemistry is volatile. Their power play addictive. And when sabotage threatens the project she’s fought so hard to protect, Louisa is forced to rely on the one man who refuses to let her hide behind control.
But someone else has been watching. Someone who knows what she’s really afraid of.
The man who once owned her.
The man who taught her to submit.
And this time, he isn’t just playing games.
🔥 For fans of dark romance, power play, and dangerously addictive chemistry. Soft Control is a story of desire, dominance, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried. 🔥 Dark romance meets high stakes suspense in Raven Frey's explosive debut.
I went into Soft Control by Raven Fray really intrigued by the premise. Louisa is introduced as a ruthless, powerful CEO who thrives on control, and Noah, the quiet and observant cybersecurity contractor, immediately adds an interesting dynamic. The prologue especially hooked me and made me excited to see how their story would unfold.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to continue past around 6%. The book is written in third person, and personally I struggle to connect with stories that aren’t in first person POV. That’s completely a preference thing on my end — not a reflection of the author’s skill or the quality of the writing.
I also felt a little disconnected early on because after the prologue, the story jumps into Louisa and Noah already having history together. It felt like there were missing pieces that I would’ve loved to experience on-page, such as their initial meetings or a clearer time jump to help ground the timeline.
Overall, while the concept is interesting and I can see how this would appeal to readers who enjoy third-person narration and slow-burn power dynamics, it just wasn’t the right fit for me personally.
⭐️ Rating not given due to DNF 📖 Might try again in the future if I’m in the mood for this writing style.
Soft Control is author Raven Frey’s debut novel. After seeing posts on social media about it and even getting the chance to chat with the author some, it sailed to the top of my TBR list.
Soft control has Dom/Sub relationship dynamics woven between a tech/suspense story line.
I loved that the FMC, Louisa, is a strong and independent woman. She’s a CEO in a very male dominated field, but commands the room with no apologies.
Noah is a freelance cyber guy that brings all the tech talk into the boardroom. I loved that Noah didn’t come in and try to take control, instead gave Louisa the reigns and let her shine while he stood back and worked in the background in the office.
While Louisa is in total control at work, it’s Noah who takes the lead in the bedroom. As Louisa’s Dom, Noah calls all the shots in the bedroom giving Louisa a safe place to let go and not be in charge.
The give and take, push and pull of the dynamic shifts between work time and playtime fit seamlessly throughout the book.
I don’t want to ruin anything for readers so I’ll end with, Soft Control has it all, spice, suspense, and girl boss vibes.
So glad I found Raven’s page and got the opportunity to read this story.
If you’re into BDSM—business development, sales, and marketing—then congratulations, this book already speaks your language. (Yes, the joke stays.)
Soft Control doesn’t flirt around the edges. There’s no slow burn, no endless buildup. It dives straight into intensity—emotionally, intellectually, and yes, very much physically.
But what really makes it hit is how deliberate the power dynamics feel. This isn’t control for control’s sake. The story keeps questioning where power actually lives—inside the bedroom, outside of it, and in the moments where choices get uncomfortable. The interplay between authority, desire, ambition, and risk stays sharp and genuinely compelling.
There’s a constant sense that something bigger is unfolding. Decisions carry weight. Desire comes with consequences. The story has real bite and never slips into anything shallow or throwaway. Sharp, bold, extremely hot, and surprisingly thoughtful.
And that ending? Absolutely criminal. I need the next part immediately. Highly recommended.
Firstly, thank you to the author, Raven Frey, for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.
Please make sure you read the warnings as this book is not for the faint hearted 😉.
I really enjoyed this read, it was a big plus for me that the FMC was a strong independent female CEO who commanded respect in a male dominated environment and bossed this!
I liked seeing how Noah and Louisa's relationship played out and the excitement surrounding this (no spoilers but 🌶🌶🌶). There's a good plot involved too and I was engrossed when this took centre stage.
Overall if you want a book with some action, great characters and a good dollop of spice then give Soft Control a go!
Soft Control was unlike anything I’ve picked up before. The story launches straight into high gear, diving headfirst into the darker side of romance without wasting a moment. The spice level sits comfortably at a 4/5, and the scenes come at you from every angle, ie. the bedroom, office, even the woods! Let’s just say it definitely expanded my imagination. The chemistry between the MFC (Louisa) and the MMC (Noah) were off the charts (in a dark way).
What really surprised me, though, was the underlying corporate mystery woven through all the heat. The author balances modern, culturally relevant themes, including AI, with a plot that stays engaging from start to finish. The ending was what surprised me the most because it seems like it is not the end for Louisa's journey.
If you’re looking for something bold, fast, and a little bit wild, this one delivers. 5-stars all around!
This review is going to be short and sweet. This is an impressive debut release from Raven Frey. I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy early on and it’s a book that’s been on my mind ever since. Basically, this is a book that’s has intrigue, tons of spice, thrilling situations, and a strong female lead. Louisa is amazing. Love her! Girl boss goals! And the backstory is woven in beautifully rather than huge info dumps which I prefer honestly. If you enjoy spicy thrillers with Dom/sub relationships and a strong, courageous female lead, you’ll enjoy this book!
I enjoyed this story it follows Louisa a CEO and Noah a cyber security freelancer. The FMC is a strong woman and I loved that she didn’t take any BS from anyone. The MMC was definitely swoon worthy. I don’t want to give too much away but double check the trigger warnings before getting into this one. This book has all of the spice! It was a fun read. A bit of action and the plot was very interesting and thought provoking. If your looking for an interesting more spicy story I would give this a go!
WOW!!! This was an amazing book! I devoured it and wanting more. Fast paced corporate espionage with a very driven corporate executive, Louisa, who behind closed doors Subs to her Dom, tech genius, Noah. I felt all their fire and passion and by the end I was screaming, “Yes, Sir.” also. IYKYK! Be warned I never really did find the “soft control” and learned a few new things. New character towards the end, Savannah, is going to be interesting in book 2. Bratty me is gonna grab book 2 without permission as soon as it is released!
Reading Soft Control: Tech Meets Temptation by Raven Frey felt like diving into a high-stakes game where power, desire, and ambition collide. I was pulled into the world of a brilliant woman who created the future and a man determined to claim it, and I felt every moment of their tension and longing. The emotional stakes were just as high as the technological ones, and I closed the book feeling exhilarated and totally immersed. A must read!
I read this book in 4 days! It gets right into the 🌶️ which was a really refreshing change! I do love a slow burn but Louisa and Noah didn’t mess around, they knew what they wanted and both got on the same page sharpish 😂 Really enjoyed their dynamic and learning more about them as the story went on. Definitely recommend!
A clever contemporary storyline with a good mix of spice, tech and a few twists in the plot. I adore Louisa, she is powerful and well written. Then there is Noah. Oh my. I keep rereading his scenes i may have a crush. A good example of dom and sub relationship written well. I do hope there is a second book. And could someone give Noah my number?
I enjoyed the book however it seemed like it jumped a lot from situation to situation which made it a little difficult to follow. With that being said there were a ton of moments that I truly did love like the cabin scene for example! Perfect and definitely needed!
Thank you to the author who reached out to me on tiktok for reaching out and asking me to read this!
This books adds so many different layers with the workplace romance to a dom/sub relationship. The dynamic works really well throughout the entire book. Only thing I felt was missing was a little more lead up to the start of their relationship. However, the spice was top tier and gave so many delicious scenes !
I really liked it! The plot kept me hooked from start to finish. The “good girl” moments had me grinning every time. I wasn’t sure about the whole AI thing, but I found myself actually really enjoying it. Can’t wait to read more of Raven’s work!
Terrific book, loved the mix of dark romance with the tech side. The AI was a good touch and something different. Had some twists and turns, great cliff hanger ending- looking forward to seeing what happens next
Wow, this is an impressive debut! Loved the spice, the dom/sub relationship between Noah and Louise and the unique plot with its many twists and turns.
Kept me on the edge of my seat as I devoured this very exciting and detailed smutty romance. I love a strong and independent FMC. The control and trust it takes for these connections is intense.