Out Of Control (The McCloud Brothers, Book 3) [Paperback]

Shannon McKenna (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 2005

Davy McCloud is a disillusioned private investigator who has had to learn the hard way that, when it comes to women, it's usually not a good idea to follow blind impulses. Much better to play it safe and keep things simple, calm, and free of any messy complications. But when the luscious, mysterious new exercise instructor Margot Vetter shows up at the gym next door, with her endless curves on eye-popping display in neon-coloured spandex, Davy is sorely tempted to make an exception-just this once. Problem is, the background check that he runs on Margot reveals that she's hiding a few secrets-secrets of the dark and deadly kind. Margot is at the end of her rope. As if it weren't enough to be broke, desperate, and on the run after being framed for a murder, she's now being terrorized bya malevolent stalker. She can't go to the police, of course. But she has to talk to someone or go crazy. So she turns to the buff, impossibly gorgeous investigator and kung fu expert Davy McCloud. After all, he looks like nothing on earth could possibly intimidate him. And anyway, she's been looking for an excuse to get a good look at him, up close and personal. Food for fantasy-because the nights are awfully long when a girl is scared to go to sleep. What Margot doesn't count on is Davy's relentless intensity-not to mention his irresistible magnetism. What Davy doesn't count on is the possessive hunger Margot sparks in his soul, a hunger that instantly sweeps away all of his hard-earned professional cool. As Margot's past threatens to catch up with her, Davy feels himself being dragged into a storm of danger. If they are to survive, the two must come together, face their fears, and finally discover what it really means to love and trust another person.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Brava Books (March 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758205627
• ISBN-13: 978-0758205629
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #639,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shannon McKenna is the NYT bestselling author of over ten action packed, turbocharged romantic thrillers, among which are the stories of the wildly popular McCloud series. She loves tough and heroic alpha males, heroines with the brains and guts to match them, villains who challenge them to their utmost, adventure, scorching sensuality, and most of all, the redemptive power of true love. Since she was small she has loved abandoning herself to the magic of a good book, and her fond childhood fantasy was that writing would be just like that, but with the added benefit of being able to take credit for the story at the end. Alas, the alchemy of writing turned out to be messier than she'd ever dreamed. But what the hell, she loves it anyway, and hopes that readers enjoy the results of her alchemical experiments. She loves to hear from her readers. Contact her at her website, shannonmckenna.com, or join the newsletter by signing up at http://eepurl.com/hb3JY.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

136 of 139 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars. Another sexy suspense story from Ms McKenna!, March 26, 2005

By 

baltimore0502 "Hon!" (BALTIMORE, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out Of Control (The McCloud Brothers, Book 3) (Paperback)

I just love the little "club" of friends and family that Shannon McKenna has created with the Mackey/McCloud/FBI crowd. But you better really love rough, tough, alpha males with occasional jerk tendencies or you'll likely not enjoy her books. This one is about eldest McCloud brother Davy, stoic, cool and deadly, former military, martial arts expert and private investigator.

Davy had to grow up quick when his mother died when he was only ten and his already unstable Vietnam vet, survivalist father then declined into full-out paranoid mental illness by the time he was 14. Add to that three younger brothers to raise and you get a man who needs to be in control and is reluctant to show weakness or emotion - to anyone. But ever since he spotted Margo Vetter teaching aerobics in the gym next door to his dojo, he has been practically obsessed with her. She's gorgeous, sexy and not what she's pretending to be. Being a PI, his first instinct was to do a background check on her and what he found made him more than suspicious. Why is she using a fake name and dying her hair? Though he tries to avoid and forget about her, he can't stop noticing her. And his brother Sean is no help when he intentionally sends Margo to Davy for advice on how to deal with a stalker. Davy can't not help her - it's just not in him to leave a woman in trouble hanging no matter how many questions he has about her.

Margot Vetter's life has taken a major slide downhill in the past 8 months. Framed for a murder she did not commit, she's now forced to assume a fake identity, dye her hair and leave her comfortable California home, webdesign business and life behind. She's barely scraping by, working three jobs, living in a dump. The last thing she needs is a stalker! First her porch is covered in rose petals, then a dead dog, then splattered with blood - not to mention the burglary. When she approaches the "scarily gorgeous" Davy, he initially makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her. But the more they talk the more his inherent rescuing tendencies come to the surface and he decides to help her.

But given all she's gone through, Margo is willing to trust Davy only so far and with only so much of her story. Add to that Davy's cool, quiet and stoic nature and you've got two people who are a bit communication challenged. This leads to lots of heated arguments that tend to lead to really steamy sex. Margo is comfortable sharing and showing her emotions and can't stand that he isn't. She pushes and goads him into showing emotions; but he'd rather bury them with meditiation, Kung Fu and the like. While this emotional melodrama plays out when they're alone, they work to discover who is stalking her and why. And they more they learn, the more danger they are both in!

Shannon McKenna does a great job with really creepy psycho villains and this time, she may have gone a bit over the top. Creepy, scary, psychotic - I would never want to fall into their hands! And the body count of hapless, unsuspecting bystanders can be troubling. Her emotionally angst-filled sex can also get a little bit old but it's always steamy! Once again we meet up with younger, lighthearted brother Sean, old friend and security expert Seth Mackey, their protege Miles as well as appearances from Nick Ward, middle brother Connor's FBI associate and the mysterious and dangerous Tamara who once again provides a crucial assist. I hope Ms McKenna can figure out a way to make her a heroine some day, but she's done some seriously bad stuff in her life! My only issues were a predicatably TSTL moment on Margo's part and, given Davy's emotional paralysis, I didn't "feel the love" from him like I have from past McKenna heroes like Seth and Connor. But even with those flaws, still a fast paced, page-turner that kept me glued and up way too late into the wee hours reading!

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love These McCloud Brothers!!!!, May 25, 2005

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Out Of Control (The McCloud Brothers, Book 3) (Paperback)

Ms. McKenna has created one of my favorite sets of brothers. The McCloud brothers are sensitive, sexy, and talented in saving their lady in danger. This is Davy's story and it's red hot and fast paced!

Margot has a problem. A big problem her ex-boyfriend has been murdered and she has been set to take the fall. On top of that she's on the run from a stalker (boyfriends killer) and has no idea what the yahoo looks like or more importantly what he wants. Desperate and running out of options she seeks Davy McCloud's help. She has been watching this sexy ex-P.I. for several days he is more yummy up close. Their attraction is instant and out of control. But will he realize that he cares more for the sassy Margot than he thinks or will a killer get to her before he has a chance to come to terms with his feelings?

Davy McCloud is the oldest of the McCloud brothers and he takes his job of watching out for his brothers seriously. When sexy Margot comes to him with a request for help he can't turn his back on her. She speaks to him in a way that no woman ever has. When snakey the sicko stalker ups the ante he is there watching out for Margot and falling a little harder. Will he be able to protecter her and his heart or will he loose one or the other?

Davy and Margot are both strong characters and this shows in their growing attraction and relationship. Neither is going to back down. Ms. McKenna has created another wonderfully diabolical evil guy and readers will be glued to the pages in order to see what this guy will do next, and what Davy will do in order to keep Margot out of his clutches. This is a fast paced read, and several of old friends from her previous books make a come back so to speak. This is one read that I feel more than comfortable recommending you add to your summer reading list.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Out of Control, March 8, 2008

By 

Kelly "Reviewer for The Sinfully Sensuous" (Littleton, Colorado) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Out Of Control (The McCloud Brothers, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Davy McCloud and Margo Vetter are a wonderful pair. Both have alot of baggage to sort through in order to be together. The erotic scenes are frequent and sometimes rough, but it only adds to the story. Another well done thriller in the series.