Control the Burn by A.K. Evans

Get ready for an emotional ride

If you’re looking for an emotional ride, where your heart feels so much within the span of a few pages, then this is the book for you.  Control the Burn is the start of a new series by A.K. Evans, called Hearts and Horsepower.  It does have some characters that some readers may be familiar with from her other work (she is a new author to me so I wasn’t) but you can still totally read this book as a standalone.  I was instantly drawn into Evans’ emotional world and felt deeply for her characters right off the bat.

In Control the Burn, Kendall meets Logan at his birthday celebration and the sparks between them are intense.  She goes home with him - something completely out of character for her - and they share an incredible, passionate night.  She gives him her phone number and he promises to call, and she believes that what they shared was special to both of them.  Only, Logan doesn’t call.  And we feel everything that Kendall is feeling so powerfully.  Evans captures the feelings of hurt, and loss of self worth and the sting of rejection so perfectly.  It takes a few weeks, but finally, Kendall feels she has to move on. Only, that’s when Logan comes back into the picture.  There were circumstances that stopped him from calling and now he wants a second chance.  Can Kendall put herself out there again or is she too afraid to get hurt?  And if she does give Logan another chance, will the spark between them ignite to the point where she can no longer control the burn? Is she destined to get hurt again, or is Logan worth the risk?

I felt so much with this book, and I loved that.  I was rooting for both characters at the same time - so much so that sometimes I was at odds with myself.  The only thing negative I can say is that all the car talk was a bit lost on me.  But if you’re into that sort of thing, you’ll love it.  It definitely leant a dose of realism to the book.  I was definitely happy to have been introduced to A.K. Evans and I can’t wait to stalk her and find her other work.  Not in a creepy way, mind you. In a Logan way ;) Control the Burn is out now. Thank you to the author and to Give Me Books Promotions for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.