In His Control

by Nina Bruhns

"Enemies by Day..." Paris Police Commissaire Jean-Marc Lacroix is obsessed with catching "le Revenant," a clever high-end thief who is targeting mansions and castles all over Europe. Jean-Marc's by-the-book superiors are convinced his unorthodox methods make him a loose cannon...but he refuses to let the slippery master-of disguise get the better of him. So he starts hunting the man on his own time.

"Lovers by Night..." Little does Jean-Marc realize that the ghostlike man is really a woman-Ciara Alexander, a stunningly seductive American art student whose accidental but sizzling stumble-upon at a nightclub leaves him breathless and hungry for more. That very night, their dangerous game of cat and mouse deepens...determined enemies chasing across Europe by day, intimate strangers by mask of night. That is, until the awful moment when Jean-Marc realizes the truth about Ciara, and must make the terrible choice between honor and duty...and the notorious woman he has unwittingly come to love.

Former titles: The Paris Caper; The French Detective's Woman

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Fiction

238 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2012

About the author

New York Times and USA Today best selling author Nina Bruhns is an avid world traveler and adventurer with two graduate degrees in archaeology -- all great fodder for her stories, giving them broad dimension, vivid settings and characters that are out of the ordinary. In addition to hitting both the NY Times and USA Today bestseller lists, her novels have earned two RITA nominations, and won numerous other awards, including three prestigious Daphne du Maurier Awards of Excellence for Overall Best Mystery Suspense Novel of the Year, five Dorothy Parker Awards, several RT BookClub Awards and a National Readers Choice Award.

A native of Canada, Nina grew up in California and currently resides in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 stars

This book is a joy to read!

And yet, there are some uneven spots that take it down a notch. In the middle, there is an event that causes our Heroine to be captured/arrested; while I understand why what happened happened, and why she allowed it to go down the way that it did, it was unsettling. And it felt very uneven... almost as if we'd been taken to the edge of the cliff and dropped, only to find ourselves with the breath knocked out of us and unconscious, but alive, on another dangerous ledge several feet down.

Then, the ending seems to happen too fast. Too much too quick. Too much planning and too much guessing as to who knows what and is behaving that way because.... The resolution is just too fast. And then BAM! The End. I needed a few more pages or an epilogue or something before the Hero and Heroine fall into one another's arms.

But the genius of this book is a very cat-and-mouse game where the Detective and the Thief are caught in a web of lust and strong attraction. They can't stay away from one another, even though they both know how dangerous it is to be together. And the Detective doesn't even know what's really going on for quite awhile, and yet, his spidey-senses know that all's not right.

I have to say that I hate the subplot - the thing that drives our Thief and her band of Orphans. Beck is despicable and sloppy; how he manages to stay one step ahead is beyond me. But it makes for a good villain and it moves the story along.

Admittedly, I took a break after reading the first few pages. The book didn't compel me until I got past the aftermath of the first exciting scene. But once I got back into the book, I was hooked.

[Luccia Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get it free on 'Digital Books Today', yesterday, and I finished it on one sitting! Started around midnight and didn’t go to bed until early hours of the morning when I finished it! (luckily, yesterday was Friday night, and I don’t work Saturdays :) ). I couldn’t put it down for various reasons. In the first place, I was drawn into the story immediately, right from page one. Secondly the main characters, Ciara and Jean-Marc, are so interesting and authentic that I really wanted to know more about them. The twisting plot is well worth following up, like a Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman/Audrey Hepburn romantic thriller (I can’t help it; I’m an enthusiast of romantic spy thrillers). I really didn’t know what to expect, but I’m really glad I downloaded it. It’s well worth paying for, and I’ll definitely be reading other books by Nina Bruhns. It’s a 5-star for this genre: HEA, romantic, sexy, thriller, good plot, well-written, what better way to spend a Friday evening?

[Mel Teshco · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I found this book in my local library and just had to read it. So much fun! Loved the characters - a anti-heroine thief and a lustful cop - and their push/pull relationship. I enjoyed everything about this book, the action, the suspense, the romance :)

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this for free on my kindle for months now. I usually read ParaRomance, and didn't think this would hold my interest. But as it was free, and I wanted a break from reading my usual stuff, I dived in.
Wow !! From the first page it wad fast pacing and well written.
The chemistry sizzled between Jean-marc and Ciara,
The distrust between them made it easier to read. There were times I wanted to slap the couple, but mainly the hero.
Have read a few things by this author, and will continue to read her stuff.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat different in that it was set in France and I felt like the hero really was more the focus of the story. Ciera could have been more sympathetic of a character if she would have just opened up a bit more to Jean-Marc, but she did grow on me. A few little niggling things that weren't resolved to my satisfaction, but this was still a better than average read. Smokin' hot love scenes bring this up to a near-4 star read.

[Janaki Douillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of the domineering men that Nina Bruhns (or Nikita Black) writes. But adding a To Catch a Thief motif on top was just so much fun. Halfway through I thought I must be nearing the end with such a climax approaching, but much to my everlasting enjoyment there was another half of the book left with more plot twists and excitement. I found myself wishing the book would never end.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was one helluva read, I have to say. I had fun, albeit I found some parts quite not interesting, I still managed to finish the whole thing, so that says something. :)

[Sam Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sexy. I mean, clenching parts of your body previously unknown to exist while you drool level sexy. The characters are compelling and if the author has not considered revisiting them (Coco, Hugo, Sophie and Davie)I think she probably is passing possible diamonds as they all but beg to be displayed. My only complaint would be that the ending was a bit ambiguous. Other than that,I loved every moment and weep to say adieu to these good friends.

[aqsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so fucking good! another fave by nina bruhns

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Very easy to het lost in and likable characters. Will look out for more by this author

[Bernice Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down!

So many suspense episodes, moments that makes the reader focus on “how can a happy, logical conclusion be evolved”. Loved it!

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Maybe she's the thief," Pierre suggested with a big grin at his discomfort.
Jean-Marc rolled his eyes. "Ah, oui. Bien sûr. While she had her tongue down my throat she miraculously nabbed the bracelet. And then she managed to hide it while I stripped her practically naked." He thumped himself on the forehead. "Gee, Why didn't I think if that?"

*Jumping up and down with excitement* - this books was so damn good and unexpected. Before you start: you need a glass of cold water, a fan and plenty of time. I could not stop reading and I actually downloaded it to my Amazon Cloud Reader so that I could sneak in a bit of reading at work (don't tell my boss).

Über sexy possessive French detective - check. Adorable jewel thief heroine - check. Amazing location - check. Grinning factor - high. TSTL heroine - unfortunately yes.

I am torn between 4 and 5 stars but since I have some trouble with books with dysfunctional, destructive relationships I end up with 4 stars. Ciara is the female version of "Thomas Crown" and Jean-Marc is a French hotter version of Pierce Brosnan. There was some BIG obstacles between them, like she's the notorious jewel thief and he is the chief investigator on the case. I couldn't imagine how they could ever get to the HEA and I will spoil nothing although I thought the heroine seriously was TSTL at several points toward the end. However, I will say that the book would have been even better if the heroine could have talked to Zoë in Ordinary Angels.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The French Detective's Woman, AKA The Paris Caper & In His Control, by Nina Bruhns.

Set in Paris, this is the love story of Ciara, a jewel thief, and Jean-Marc, a detective set on catching her.

I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down. That is until about halfway through the book when the characters turned from charming and interesting to plain annoying. Jean-Marc, charming and irresistible in the beginning, became obsessive and it seemed that he cared more about possessing and controlling Ciara then actually genuinely caring about her. And Ciara, a strong and confident thief, seemed to turn into a mindless idiot whenever Jean-Marc was around. At one point Ciara is set up by a dirty cop, and is arrested by Jean-Marc and sent to prison. When she finally gets out he's waiting for her. He basically tells her that he realized while she was in prison that she was set up, but that she was still a thief and, therefore, deserved to do time. Then he expects her to just forgive him. He even attempts to seduce her to get her back...and she falls for it! I'm sorry, but if a guy whom I'm in a relationship with arrests me for a crime I didn't commit, and then stands by his actions even though he knew I was innocent, I wouldn't just fall into his arms. Are you kidding me?

Overall I thought that The French Detective's Woman was a good idea. The story started out strong, but in the end it just fell a little short of the mark for me.

[Nina Bruhns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enemies by day…

Police Commissaire Jean-Marc Lacroix is obsessed with catching le Revenant, a clever high-end thief who is targeting mansions and castles all over Europe. Jean-Marc’s by-the-book superiors are convinced his unorthodox methods make him a loose cannon…but he refuses to let the slippery master-of disguise get the better of him. He starts hunting the man on his own time.

Lovers by night…

But little does the French detective realize that the ghostlike man is really a woman—a stunningly seductive American art student whose accidental but sizzling stumble-upon leaves him breathless and hungry for more. That very night, their dangerous game of cat and mouse deepens…determined enemies chasing across Europe by day, intimate strangers by mask of night. That is, until the awful moment when Jean-Marc realizes the truth about her, and must make the terrible choice between honor and duty…and the notorious woman he has unwittingly come to love.

[Erica Costantino · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kindle edition is actually called The Paris Caper.
Set in Paris, France an American girl with a heart of gold steals from the rich to help some orphans keep off the street to get a chance she never got, help out of gutter, and pushed towards a good future.
As she is waiting for her next mark to show up at the club, she almost gets distracted by the handsome Frenchman who joins her on the dance floor. Instant sparks. But he turns out to be the police officer who is trying to capture her.
She is trying to keep the kids safe and not get caught. while he is fighting his own battles, to trust the girl who has captured his heart.
Amazing book. Well written. Fantastic characters that you fall in love with. Im a sucker for a good cop book and this one didn't disappoint. some thrills and spice and everything nice. ill be reading more from Nina Bruhns.

[Theresa Scarangella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ciara Alexander was at a club without a disguise and she felt something big was going to happen. She had a job to do. The million dollar Princess was on a shopping spree. she was being watched. A man came behind her while she was dancing and grabbed her waist to dance with her. She turned around and he had sounded like her Etienne who had died. He was the police, his name was Jean-Marc. Ciara took the princesses bracelet and dropped it in his jacket pocket. She was able to retrieve it.
This is the story of a thief who takes care of orphans and how Jean-Marc feelings for her and his job of looking for the renown thief, he would not stop looking for him.
This book was part of a boxed set of Dangerous Dozen. l found this story to be well written and kept me interested in the outcome.
I have never read Nina's books before, but I will now. I was not disappointed in this story

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a surprise for me. I read it as a part of the "Dangerous dozen collection" and the plot could have been a bit trite: unfortunate girl turns to stealing for a living to bring up a group of homeless children and becomes a sort of modern Robin Hood, only to be chased by a driven detective who falls for her charm with the help of an immediate and explosive chemistry between the two. However, I appreciated hugely the skill with which the author has been able to create suspence and a sense of compulsion to finish the book. It is a plot deftly devised, a course of actions that is not easy to predict and, I must add, the chemistry between the characters really is fascinating, the romance well written.

[Mimi Barbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuff! Who needed stuff? Especially to buy it when it was easier for Ciara to steal. A man, not handsome - better - a Frenchman who was a cop called Jean Marc edged his way into her solo dance routine on the nightclub floor. That's all she needed when her intentions to steal the princess's diamonds were what brought her out there. Just one of these trinkets would keep her and the orphans in money for quite some time. A flick of her wrist and into the pocket went a bracelet - his pocket!!
What an incredible beginning to a story that just kept hooking me deeper. Plot twists and beautiful writing. What more could we ask for? Hot sex? That's in there also. It just gets better and better!

[Karen323 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I love this author. This book and Warrior Bride are my favorites by Nina Bruhns. Rich language and the characters had real depth. The cover and title were deceiving to me....made me think I was about to read some fluff. But it was anything but. The only thing I didn't like, and it's minor, was that since the story takes place all over France, there is a line of dialogue here and there in French which I didn't understand. It was not always obvious from the context what the words meant. As I read this book it reminded me a lot of books by Lisa Marie Rice. High caliber romantic suspense done right.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In His Control by Nina Bruhns, A thief in Paris who robs from the rich to pay for rent, food and education for 5 street kids (orphans) goes out undisguised one night at club and unknowingly has a fling with the with the detective that has made it his mission in life to catch the “ghost” thief who he believes is a man. It was quite the game of cat and mouse until he figures out it is her and then he tries his best to catch her in the act. These two were explosive in bed but yet neither would give up their job profession. There is a big caper at the end in the fashion of Ocean’s Eleven that was quite the setup with a twist for the ending. Nina’s alpha men are defiantly like no others..

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thief in Paris who robs from the rich to pay for rent, food and education for 5 street kids (orphans) goes out undisguised one night at club and unknowingly has a fling with the with the detective that has made it his mission in life to catch the “ghost” thief who he believes is a man. It was quite the game of cat and mouse until he figures out it is her and then he tries his best to catch her in the act. These two were explosive in bed but yet neither would give up their job profession. There is a big caper at the end in the fashion of Ocean’s Eleven that was quite the setup with a twist for the ending. Nina’s alpha men are defiantly like no others..

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading alot of French flaired books lately and in an effort to stay in France (reading wise), I found this one on Amazon. It was really very good. Mystery, adventure, romance, and a whole lot more. Sexy French cop vs a very cool modern day female Robin Hood. The author takes you on adventurous ride from stylish clubs in Paris to seedy docks in Marseilles and then some. The characters were well developed and the story line was very good. I am definitely adding Nina Bruhns books to my reading list.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was pretty pretty good . I mean that in a very good way.(He let her wrists go and sheathed himself one -handed as he coaxed every last shiver and wimper from her. When at last her face was a portrait of bliss and her eyes fluttered open, he took hold of her panties and rippped them off. she gave a yelp of surprise,her eyes widening as he stuck the ruined panties in his jacket pocket. " To rememder the occasion," he murmured with a wink, then grabbed her thighs,lifted her to his waist and plunged into her.:) very nice Detective.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book. The characters weren't so over-the-top in love with each other as most are. I wanted to write a book like this once (except perhaps ten times worse, because mine was more like drivel than a book). It's interesting, it's captivating, and I liked it, mostly because it wasn't a run-of-the-mill romance. The characters have serious problems. They love each other, are riveted by each other, but that doesn't stop them from living their own lives.

All in all, a good read.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Nina Bruhns really impresses me everytime I read one of her books. I shouldn't be suprised by now, but I always enjoy her books way more than I think I would. Her writing style is really easy and just goes with the flow, no boring bits.
Loved Jean Marc, amazing alpha man, just adored him. I am going to have to really get into this ladies books. Because like I said, just thoroughly enjoyable!!

[Petula · Rating 4 out of 5]

4**** A very good fast paced story. Our heroine is a very talented thief and our hero an honest cop. The tension between them is great. I loved the theft in the club when they first met. I liked the way neither one of them will stop what they have to do just because they love each other. Plenty of fun and some dangerous games played out. Very enjoyable book.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling ride!

This story is hot in all the right places, full of suspense and intrigue, and brings the reader on a thrilling ride to the end. I don't read contemporary novels much any longer, preferring paranormal, but this one kept my attention with a strong couple and a storyline that was imaginative and fulfilling. I loved it.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! It's a 4.5 rating. A really thin line between love and hate. Never saw the end coming until the very last page and that is very unusual. I seriously struggle not giving this a 5 my only simple reasoning is that it didn't bring me to tears but the sex scenes were great!

[Deidre · Rating 2 out of 5]

the best parts were so not the "romance" but rather the planning and execution of Ciara's capers. There was too much whinging on both parts and domineering and controlling by Jean-Marc. I found myself paging past all the relationship development and the sex scenes. Too overwrought for my taste.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read! A jewel thief meets a cop meets Twenty Shades of Grey... Some steamy sex scenes, but nothing like as sado-masochistic as Christian prefers. Will the thief give up her career? Will the cop catch her red-handed? It keeps you guessing right to the end.