Holy heck! I know the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover", but I made an exception for "Taking Control", and let me tell you, I have no regrets! The purple, almost smoky, font made the title jump out at me. The shirtless tattooed torso was a pleasant addition as well. What I'm trying to say is, the cover of "Taking Control" is hot!
From the second I started reading "Taking Control", I was intrigued. I have always loved the idea of a masquerade ball, but I have never had the pleasure of attending one in person. I loved the mystery that was evident from the beginning.
The way Taylor seemed to literally bump into Zander was a typical love story event, but with an incredibly sexy twist. I couldn't put this book down until I found out what was going to happen next! The love scenes were incredibly hot and passionate, but not raunchy. I'm used to reading stories in which the female protaganist is the one with her guard up, and the guy is the one who tries to break down those walls. It was a great change being able to read a story that was the total opposite. Zander is the one with the walls up, and Taylor tries desperately to break those same walls.
Zander Reed has had a rough past, and it's incredibly difficult for him to trust anyone with even the smallest tidbit of detail about his life. He enjoys a quick hookup, but never expected to connect on a deeper level with any of his sexual partners. Taylor Moore has spent the past few years working for a despicable boss, hoping to work her way up in the company, and land her dream job as a designer. She has been working so hard, that she rarely has time to enjoy herself. She wants a male companion, but she doesn't expect to find him anytime soon, especially at a company party.
"Taking Control" took control of my hormones! I don't even want to know how many doughnuts and Dr. Peppers I consumed while engrossed in this book. Yet, I am perfectly okay with that. I am extremely nit-picky when it comes to books, and I usually find it very easy to find something wrong with a book. I failed miserably when it came to "Taking Control". Danielle Dickson did a phenomenal job writing a book that expertly toyed with every emotion: anger, love, frustration, inspiration, passion, sadness, and so many more. After I finished reading, I was beyond excited to learn that this story will be continued! I can't wait to read the next installment in this series because I am not ready to let go of Taylor, Zander, Damia ("D"), or Kai!