Quick Review: A Christmas Proposal - Sherri Hayes

Matthew Andersen knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Cali Stanton. Since she came into his life just five months ago, his world had completely changed for the better. With everything in their lives finally coming together, he was determined to make their first Christmas a memorable one.

Hidden Threat Series:
Hidden Threat
A Christmas Proposal (Short Story)

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information.

Quick Review:
A Christmas Proposal isn't meant to be a stand alone story, it's more of a long epilogue for Hidden Threat so I would really recommend reading the full length novel before picking this up.

If you enjoyed the first story though I'm sure you'll like the chance to catch up with the characters and see how they're getting on a couple of months later as they spend their first Christmas together. The title of the story gives away Matthew's plans for the holidays so it's pretty obvious what you're going to get but this is a sweet little short with a nice Christmas feel to it.

Source: Downloaded for free from the publisher's website

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Hidden Threat - Sherri Hayes

***This book was originally published under the same name in 2010. It has been rewritten, re-edited, and contains over 15,000 words of new content.***

Cali Stanton has one goal in life, being a doctor. She has spent the last two years helping the less fortunate in Africa. It’s a job she loves and intends to do for the foreseeable future. That is until she receives a call from her father saying he’s been injured and needs her back in Chicago. Less than a week later she finds herself behind her father’s desk at Stanton Enterprises, running the family business . . . something she never wanted to do. But how could she say no to her father when he insists that she is the only one he can trust?

Matthew Andersen and his brother, Jason, have spent the last two years managing security at Stanton Enterprises. However, someone is determined to take down the company and with it its acting CEO, Cali Stanton.

Cali and Matthew must work together to find out who is behind the threats to not only the company but to Cali herself while they fight their growing attraction for each other. Can they figure out the hidden threat before it’s too late?

Hidden Threat Series:
Hidden Threat
A Christmas Proposal (Short Story)

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information.

Review:
Please note that this book was originally published in 2010 but my review is for the updated version of Hidden Threat (published in January 2016) which has been extensively rewritten and contains a lot of additional content.

Cali Stanton has never been interested in taking over her father's company, she's much more focused on her own career working for Doctors Without Borders in Africa, she loves everything about being a doctor, especially being able to help people who are less fortunate than she is. However, when she finds out her father was in an accident and will be out of commission for several months she agrees to come home on a temporary basis to look after things for him until he's back on his feet. Cali is really thrown in at the deep end, she knows very little about running a business, so the endless meetings and numerous spreadsheets are completely overwhelming but on top of that she has to try and help her father's security team figure out why the company is being targeted and how so many of their deliveries are being hijacked before they reach their destinations.

Matthew Anderson is the head of security for Stanton Enterprises, Cali's father brought him and his brother, Jason, in to investigate the missing shipments but they're still struggling to uncover exactly what is going on. They have increased security and been able to protect some of the latest deliveries but they know someone fairly high up in the company must be involved somehow and leaking information and it's not easy trying to pin down who. As the threats become increasingly personal and Cali's life is put at risk it is up to Matt to try and keep her safe but can he figure things out in time?

I had high hopes for this novel since I usually love Sherri Hayes' writing so this should have been an instant hit. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to my expectations and although both the main characters were fairly likeable there were too many things that didn't quite fit together for this to become a favourite new story. I think my first issue was with Cali taking over her father's company, it just seemed utterly ridiculous for him to hand the reigns over to her when she had absolutely no clue what she was doing. She may be a brilliant doctor but that doesn't qualify her to run a multinational corporation and it didn't make sense that he would expect her to be able to walk in and just get on with things, especially when he had a member of staff on hand whom he had been training to take over when he retires. As it turned out her father's assistant had to do most of the work for her so it would probably have been better to leave her in charge!

Then you have the attraction between Cali and Matt, I get that they were trying to be professional and not have an employee / employer kind of affair and to be honest I respected them for that but they acted like a pair of hormonal teenagers which irritated me no end. From the very first time they saw each other pretty much all they could think about was how sexy the other person was and how much they wanted them, they practically started drooling whenever they were in the same room with each other and it got incredibly frustrating and quite boring being stuck inside their heads for the same thoughts over and over and over again. It improved a lot when they finally gave into temptation though and I can't deny that they had great chemistry but by that point I was already struggling.

The mystery side could have been really good and there were parts of it that were unexpected but the I'd pegged the main bad guy incredibly early on. It wasn't difficult since there was a very limited pool of suspects, in fact there is only one person I can actually think of! I kept hoping I would be wrong and that there would be some kind of twist to it so I was sadly disappointed by the ending. The book isn't all bad though, there are some very sweet moments between Cali and Matt, I enjoyed getting to know some of the side characters and the story had plenty of humour it was just lacking the sense of anticipation and worry that I normally expect from romantic suspense. This may not be my favourite Sherri Hayes book but I'll still planning on reading A Christmas Proposal, a short story featuring this couple set after the end of Hidden Threat, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for new releases from this author.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Release Blitz: Hidden Threat - Sherri Hayes

Hidden Threat (Hidden Threat #1) by Sherri Hayes

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: January 28, 2016

Book Summary

Cali Stanton has one goal in life, being a doctor. She has spent the last two years helping the less fortunate in Africa. It’s a job she loves and intends to do for the foreseeable future. That is until she receives a call from her father saying he’s been injured and needs her back in Chicago. Less than a week later she finds herself behind her father’s desk at Stanton Enterprises, running the family business . . . something she never wanted to do. But how could she say no to her father when he insists that she is the only one he can trust?

Matthew Andersen and his brother, Jason, have spent the last two years managing security at Stanton Enterprises. However, someone is determined to take down the company and with it its acting CEO, Cali Stanton.

Cali and Matthew must work together to find out who is behind the threats to not only the company but to Cali herself while they fight their growing attraction for each other. Can they figure out the hidden threat before it’s too late?

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Excerpt

“Thank you for coming with me. I don’t know if I would have been able to do what you did.” Matthew smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “At least, not with the same results.”

Cali blushed and Matthew almost lost it. He wanted to touch her, to crush her body against his and kiss her within an inch of her life.

Instead, he backed toward the elevators. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She grinned and began walking to her car.

He hesitated, then shook his head and continued toward the elevator.

As he waited for the elevator to reach him, he heard an engine rev. A small smile pulled at his lips as he thought of Cali heading home.

The elevator dinged right as a squeal of tires caught his attention. He whirled around in time to see a dark blue sedan he didn’t recognize speed up the exit ramp.

His heart pounded in his chest as he took off at a full-out run.

Cali.

Read Chapter 1

Author Bio

Sherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn't good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.

At the age of thirty, all of that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending, and give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished, it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were encouraging her to write more.

Nearly eight years later, Sherri is the author of eight full-length novels, and two short stories. Writing has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. You can find a current list of all of Sherri’s books and sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.sherrihayesauthor.com.

Sherri’s Other Books

Welcome to Serpent's Kiss (Serpent's Kiss 0.5)
Download for FREE.

After losing her husband unexpectedly, Katrina Mayer decided to open Serpent’s Kiss. She wanted it to be a place where she and her fellow kinksters could play and socialize.

Five years after the doors opened, the club is everything she’d hoped it would be. On Friday and Saturday nights, Serpent’s Kiss is filled with men and women who share a similar desire to explore the pleasures BDSM has to offer. The club has continued to grow, and over the years, many of its members have become friends.

The one thing Katrina didn’t expect when she’d decided to open a club was the human drama that came with it. Learning to balance her life as the club mistress has taken some getting used to, but she wouldn’t change a thing.

Burning for Her Kiss (Serpent's Kiss 1)

Beth Davenport has no interest in getting involved with another man for the foreseeable future. To say her last relationship ended in disaster would be a colossal understatement. The only reason she agrees to put in an appearance at Serpent’s Kiss, a private kink club in downtown St. Louis, is because her best friend, Nicole, won’t quit nagging her. When she walks in the door that night, the last thing she expects to do is meet a man who will have her reconsidering her ban on men.

As a captain with the St. Louis Fire Department, Drew Parker is used to being in charge. His crew relies on him to make sure they know what they’re doing and return home to their families after every shift. It isn’t, however, what he wants in a relationship. Drew decides to join Serpent’s Kiss to see if what appeals to him in fantasy is something he wants to explore in the real world. He’s also hoping that he’ll be lucky enough to meet a woman with whom he can explore his desires. The night Beth walks into the club, he is intrigued. Drew has to get to know her better.

After what happened to her, Beth is reluctant to get involved with Drew. It doesn’t matter that he is sweet and charming. She’s been burned before and Beth doesn’t think she can survive having her heart crushed again. Drew, however, won’t take no for an answer. He wants a relationship and is determined to chip away at her defenses until she relents. Will she give him a chance, or did her ex leave her with scars too deep to heal?

Finding Anna Series

or download all 4 books together

Daniels Brothers Series

Happy 4th Birthday to Finding Anna by Sherri Hayes (+ International Giveaway)

I'm a massive fan of Sherri Hayes's Finding Anna series so I'm thrilled to be taking part in the birthday celebrations for Slave today.

Four years ago on July 26th, Slave, the first book in Sherri Hayes' Bestselling Finding Anna Series hit the market.

Genre: BDSM Romance Series

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks

Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death.

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Darren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how.

Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing.

Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

Readers

Have Fallen In Love

Slave now has over 100 4 and 5 star ratings son Amazon.

"Slave was a very intense read for me, beautifully written, and left me wanting more." ~In The Book

"Describing this read is simple- AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I found every aspect of it to be so good. I couldn't put it down." ~AndreaAH

Finding

Anna

Slave is the first book in Sherri's Finding Anna Series. A 4 book serial series that follows Brianna and Stephan through their journey.

"I talk to a lot of readers and the one thing they consistently say is that this is unlike anything they've ever read before. Some see the cover of Slave and assume it's a traditional slave/capture story. That couldn't be further from the truth. Slave, and the rest of Finding Anna, is about a young woman who has to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life after suffering through immense trauma. Finding Anna starts where all the other slave/capture stories end...with the rescue." ~Sherri Hayes

As Brianna comes to terms with the realization that she is no longer a slave, she must figure out what she wants for her life. Forgetting her past isn’t an option. It is an integral part of who she is now, and it will forever shape her view of life. The one thing she knows is that she cannot imagine her life without the man who saved her, but can she be what he needs?

Stephan never imagined falling in love with the woman he rescued, but the thought of her no longer being part of his life is physically painful. The scars from her past continue to haunt her, and he is helpless to stop them. All he can do is try to help her work through the traumas of her past. Can he be everything she needs and help her move on?

The two must figure out how to navigate not only their relationship with each other, but also the outside world. A friend from Brianna’s past shows up where she least expects them, and Uncle Richard continues to enforce his well-meaning agenda to get Brianna more traditional help. As forces, both friend and foe, threaten to tear them apart, Stephan and Brianna have to navigate the turbulent waters and find what they need in each other.

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B&N

iBooks

For the last two months, Brianna has discovered something she never thought she would again. Hope. After the horror of being Ian’s slave for ten months, a fate she never imagined she’d escape, it feels as if she is living a dream. She has freedom she hadn’t expected to have again, and she wakes up every morning not fearing what the day will bring. There is also Stephan. The man who saved her from the daily torture she had to endure at the hands of Ian and his friends. The same man who makes her heart race with just the thought of him. Life is good.

Outside forces are determined to conspire against them, however. When Brianna’s father shows up on her doorstep, it sends her world spiraling out of control. He brings with him new information about how Brianna ended up in Ian’s clutches, but will it make a difference? Will Stephan be able to find a way to make Ian pay for all he made Brianna suffer? As Brianna and Stephan try to find out the truth, their relationship is tested. She is forced to face her past head on, and deal with the ugly reality of what happened to her. Will Stephan’s love be enough to see her through her newest challenge, or will the fragile trust they’ve built come crumbling down around them as the truth makes itself known.

Amazon

B&N

iBooks

Brianna is lost for the fourth time in her life. Each time was unexpected, and each changed the course of her future. The first life-altering event occurred when her mother died, and she moved to Minnesota to live with her father.

The second was when she was kidnapped at the age of seventeen and forced to be a slave. She would never forget those ten months. Brianna thought her life was over.

Everything changed again the day Stephan steamrolled into her life and brought her home to live with him. She had no idea what to expect—what life with her new Master would hold. That first month with Stephan was, in some ways, more confusing than the prior ten. As a slave, she’d known her place. With Stephan everything was new and different. He’d given her freedom and so much more.

Five months after Stephan rescued her, Brianna once again finds her life flipped upside down.

In this fourth, and final, installment of Finding Anna, Brianna must unearth strength she never knew she possessed. Stephan can no longer protect her from the outside world. She must learn to trust herself, embrace who she is, and discover who she wants to be. Only by facing her demons can Brianna find true happiness and peace.

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B&N

iBooks

Finding

Anna Box Set

Download all 4 books for only $9.99.

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Giveaway

Grand Prize - $10 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize - Sherri Hayes Swag Pack

3rd Prize - Set of Signed Finding Anna Bookmarks

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Cover Reveal: Welcome to Serpent's Kiss - Sherri Hayes

I'm a huge fan of Sherri Hayes's Finding Anna series so of course I can't wait to start her new Serpent's Kiss series and am excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for the prequel novella: Welcome to Serpent's Kiss.

Title: Serpent’s Kiss

Genre: Erotic Romance

Author: Sherri Hayes

Expected publication: December 4, 2014

Synopsis:

After losing her husband unexpectedly, Katrina Mayer decided to open Serpent’s Kiss. She wanted it to be a place where she and her fellow kinksters could play and socialize.

Five years after the doors opened, the club is everything she’d hoped it would be. On Friday and Saturday nights, Serpent’s Kiss is filled with men and women who share a similar desire to explore the pleasures BDSM has to offer. The club has continued to grow, and over the years, many of its members have become friends.

The one thing Katrina didn’t expect when she’d decided to open a club was the human drama that came with it. Learning to balance her life as the club mistress has taken some getting used to, but she wouldn’t change a thing.

Add it to GR - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23232400-welcome-to-serpent-s-kiss

About the author:

Sherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn’t good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.

At the age of thirty, all of that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending, and give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished, it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were encouraging her to write more.

Six years later, Sherri is the author of six full-length novels, and one short story. Writing has become a creative outlet for Sherri that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. She is most well known for her Finding Anna series about a young woman rescued from being a sex slave by a wealthy Dominant. The third book in that series, Truth, released July 25, 2013.

Connect with the author:

Website: http://www.sherrihayesauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sherri-Hayes/122511444477280?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sherri_Hayes
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4496779.Sherri_Hayes

Review: Trust - Sherri Hayes

Brianna is lost for the fourth time in her life. Each time was unexpected, and each changed the course of her future. The first life-altering event occurred when her mother died, and she moved to Minnesota to live with her father.

The second was when she was kidnapped at the age of seventeen and forced to be a slave. She would never forget those ten months. Brianna thought her life was over.

Everything changed again the day Stephan steamrolled into her life and brought her home to live with him. She had no idea what to expect—what life with her new Master would hold. That first month with Stephan was, in some ways, more confusing than the prior ten. As a slave, she’d known her place. With Stephan everything was new and different. He’d given her freedom and so much more.

Five months after Stephan rescued her, Brianna once again finds her life flipped upside down.

In this fourth, and final, instalment of Finding Anna, Brianna must unearth strength she never knew she possessed. Stephan can no longer protect her from the outside world. She must learn to trust herself, embrace who she is, and discover who she wants to be. Only by facing her demons can Brianna find true happiness and peace.

Finding Anna Series:
Slave
Need
Truth
Trust

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information.

Review:
I've been a huge fan of this series ever since I first read Slave a couple of years ago so I'm sure you can imagine how much I've been looking forward to reading this final instalment in the series. I was almost scared to start reading this book though, I had such high expectations and I was worried that it might not live up to them. I have to admit that this wasn't my favourite book in the series but at the same time I thought it was a fitting end to the series and I'm happy with the way things have turned out for Brianna and Stephan.

At the end of Truth Brianna was forced to move out of Stephan's house to protect him from any legal issues that might arise from the way he rescued her from Ian. Even though he did it to save her he did technically break the law by "buying" her as a slave, we all know that he did it to set her free but it doesn't look quite so innocent to the police officers who are investigating Brianna's case. As much as I understood why Brianna had to leave I have to admit I was disappointed that they spend the majority of the first half of the book separated. We are also introduced to a new character who reappears into Stephan's life while they are apart and to me it felt like she was just added to cause more drama - I knew from the moment we met her that she would just end up causing trouble for him and Brianna. Thankfully the drama wasn't as bad as I was expecting but I still felt that it was needless and I would have preferred for that part of the storyline to be skipped so we could focus more on Brianna's recovery.

Brianna had started to gain some confidence in Truth so it was sad to see her take a step backwards in this book. It was completely understandable though and since she had come to rely on Stephan for everything it was a good way of forcing her to learn to stand on her own two feet a little more. As painful as the experience was for her I think it did her some good in the long run. I was also extremely pleased that Cal and Jade pushed her into getting professional help. There is no way that anyone who had been through the things Brianna had would make a full recovery without help and one of the few things that had irritated me about Stephan throughout the series was his refusal to make her see a counsellor so I was cheering when Cal and Jade took that step.

The book really picked up for me at the point where Brianna and Stephan were able to spend time together again. I'd missed the interaction between the two of them for the first half of the book so it was good to see them back as a couple and moving their relationship forward. I have to admit I'd expected her role as a submissive to play a larger part in the final book but it was actually good to see that Stephan had no intention of pushing her into anything she was uncomfortable with. Another thing I really appreciated was getting to see Ian punished for his role in Brianna's slavery. It took a lot of guts for Brianna to stand up and say exactly what he'd done to her and I was proud of how far she has come since the beginning of the series.

Trust tied up all the lose ends from the previous books and gives us the chance to see Brianna move towards the future that she deserves. This has been a fantastic series that completely captured my attention from the first book and I'm actually sad that it's over, I know I'll be reading again in the future though!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Truth - Sherri Hayes

For the last two months, Brianna has discovered something she never thought she would again. Hope. After the horror of being Ian’s slave for ten months, a fate she never imagined she’d escape, it feels as if she is living a dream. She has freedom she hadn't expected to have again, and she wakes up every morning not fearing what the day will bring.

There is also Stephan. The man who saved her from the daily torture she had to endure at the hands of Ian and his friends. The same man who makes her heart race with just the thought of him. Life is good.

Outside forces are determined to conspire against them, however. When Brianna's father shows up on her doorstep, it sends her world spiralling out of control. He brings with him new information about how Brianna ended up in Ian’s clutches, but will it make a difference? Will Stephan be able to find a way to make Ian pay for all he made Brianna suffer?

As Brianna and Stephan try to find out the truth, their relationship is tested. She is forced to face her past head on and deal with the ugly reality of what happened to her. Will Stephan's love be enough to see her through her newest challenge, or will the fragile trust they've built come crumbling down around them as the truth makes itself known.

Finding Anna Series:
Slave
Need
Truth
Trust

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information.

Review:
If you've read my reviews for the first two books in this series you'll already know how much I adore these characters. Truth picks up the story immediately after the shocking ending of Need with Brianna's father turning up at their apartment and trying to take her home with him. Now that cliffhanger ending left me desperate to find out how things would turn out so this was probably one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint. It was thanks to Brianna's father that she ended up in slavery so she is obviously terrified when he appears out of the blue looking for her. He claims that he didn't realise what was going to happen to her and that he has spent the last year searching for her but she doesn't know who to believe and is terrified of the thought of going back home. She just wants to remain with Stephan but with the outside world conspiring against them it is going to be hard to make that happen.

My heart still breaks when I think of all the things that Brianna has been through but it is so good to see her starting to gain confidence and learn to stand on her own two feet again. Of course she still has a long way to go but with Stephan's help she is definitely getting there. I love the fact that Stephan is so caring and protective but that he wants to help her build a life of her own. As much as Stephan wants her to stay with him he doesn't want her to do it because he thinks she has no other choice so he encourages her to make friends and to go to college even though it is the last thing she things she can cope with. Stephan is obviously helping Brianna come to terms with what has happened to her but my one complaint with this series is that he hasn't sought out professional help for her. I know he is trying to do the right thing for her but I do think that some kind of counselling would go a long way towards helping her heal.

It's hard to say too much about what happens in this book without giving spoilers but there are plenty of developments both with Brianna's father and also with Stephan's attempts to punish Ian for what he put Brianna through. There are also some fantastic breakthroughs in Brianna's relationship with Stephan and it's very rewarding to see how far they have come as a couple. What I like most about this series is that Sherri Hayes takes her time with the story, she is showing Brianna's recovery at a realistic pace which means it can sometimes be a case of one step forward and two steps back. Even Stephan (who I absolutely adore and am head over heels for) makes mistakes occasionally by pushing her a little too far, too fast. Brianna needs Stephan to push her because otherwise I think she'd happily become a recluse and never leave his apartment but it is a fine line between making her step out of her comfort zone and frightening her. Overall, Stephan is doing a really good job of knowing what she needs but it wouldn't be believable if he didn't mess up sometimes.

The ending of Truth does leave us with unanswered questions but the cliffhanger didn't feel anywhere near as bad as that at the end of Need. I'm still desperate to get my hands on the final book in the series which will hopefully be released early in 2014 though. This is without a doubt one of my favourite erotic / BDSM series, it's hard hitting, thought provoking and at times distressing to read but at the centre of it there is a beautiful love story and the focus is on Brianna's recovery. If you haven't started the series yet then it is essential to read them in order but Slave is an amazing book and I don't think you'll be disappointed if you decide to give it a try.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Truth Blog Tour: Sherry Hayes on her inspiration for the Finding Anna Series

I absolutely love Sherri Hayes' Finding Anna series so when I was invited to take part in the blog tour to celebrate the release of the 3rd book Truth I jumped at the chance. If you haven't come across this series before you might not want to read the blurb for Truth (below) because it does contain mild spoilers for the previous two books. You can find out more about the first book Slave by reading my review here though and it's a series I can't recommend highly enough. You can also find out about Sherri's inspiration for the series below, this is spoiler free for anyone who is new to the series.

If you're already a fan of the series then I'm sure Need left you desperate to get your hands on this new book. I'm in the middle of reading Truth right now and loving it, the story picks up immediately after Need ended so we finally get to find out what happens next. I'll be posting my review in the next few days so make sure you keep an eye out for it.

For the last two months, Brianna has discovered something she never thought she would again. Hope. After the horror of being Ian’s slave for ten months, a fate she never imagined she’d escape, it feels as if she is living a dream. She has freedom she hadn’t expected to have again, and she wakes up every morning not fearing what the day will bring.

There is also Stephan. The man who saved her from the daily torture she had to endure at the hands of Ian and his friends. The same man who makes her heart race with just the thought of him. Life is good.

Outside forces are determined to conspire against them, however. When Brianna’s father shows up on her doorstep, it sends her world spiralling out of control. He brings with him new information about how Brianna ended up in Ian’s clutches, but will it make a difference? Will Stephan be able to find a way to make Ian pay for all he made Brianna suffer?

As Brianna and Stephan try to find out the truth, their relationship is tested. She is forced to face her past head on and deal with the ugly reality of what happened to her. Will Stephan’s love be enough to see her through her newest challenge, or will the fragile trust they’ve built come crumbling down around them as the truth makes itself known.

Finding Anna Series:
Slave
Need
Truth
Title and release date for the 4th book are to be confirmed

Now please give a very warm welcome to Sherri!

********************

Sherri Hayes on her inspiration for the Finding Anna Series:

The idea for my Finding Anna Series came about roughly four years ago. A friend of mine convinced me to start reading some BDSM-themed stories online. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed them. What fascinated me most, though, was the amount of trust and communication that went into the relationships.

Several months after that, the Jaycee Dugard story hit the news. For those of your readers who don’t know, Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped as a young girl, and held hostage for twenty years by a man in his house. The fact that this happened right here in the US amazed and intrigued me.

It was a few days later that I got the idea to combine the two. What if I took a young girl, trapped in a slavery situation, and had a wealthy Dominant buy her to get her out? It led to many more questions like what would she be like when he got her home, and how would he deal with her issues.

After a few days of brainstorming, I penned the first chapter, and sent it off to a friend to read. She loved it, and begged for more.

********************

Author Bio
Sherri is the author of five novels: Hidden Threat, Slave (Finding Anna, Book 1), Need (Finding Anna, Book 2), Behind Closed Doors (A Daniels Brothers Novel), Red Zone (A Daniels Brothers Novel), and a short story, “A Christmas Proposal.” She lives in central Ohio with her husband and three cats. Her mother fostered her love for books at a young age by reading to her as a child. Stories have been floating around in her head for as long as she can remember; however, she didn’t start writing them down until she turned thirty. It has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found helping her husband in his woodworking shop.

Visit Sherri's Website at http://sherrihayesauthor.com/

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Thanks for a fabulous guest post Sherri, I always wondered how you came up with the idea for the series! I think one of the things that makes these books quite so compelling is the fact that Brianna's story is so believable, it is horrific to think that things like slavery still exist - not just in the third world but also in countries like England and the US - but we've all seen enough stories similar to that of Jaycee Dugard's to know that it does still happen. What upsets me most is that the majority of these women will probably never be found and won't be lucky enough to have a guy like Stephan to come along and rescue them.

Winner: Red Zone - Sherri Hayes

With the help of Random.org I am happy to announce the winner of an ebook copy of Red Zone by Sherri Hayes is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations Cindy! I have forwarded your email address to my contact at The Writer's Coffee Shop so that she can send you your ebook. I'd like to say a massive thanks to TWCS for allowing me to host this giveaway for them.

Review: Red Zone - Sherri Hayes

After a case ended badly for Rebecca Carson, she’s losing her mind sitting around her apartment waiting on her superiors to allow her to return to work. Since she was a teenager, the only thing she’d ever wanted was to join the FBI. Now that dream was in danger.

Gage Daniels has made a pretty good life for himself. A nice house. A career he loves. As a professional football player, he’s used to getting almost everything he’d ever want with just the snap of his fingers. This includes women. A well-timed smile is usually all it takes to attract the opposite sex, especially in Nashville.

When a stalker threatens Gage, the team owner calls an old friend, Rebecca’s ex-partner Travis Hansen, to help protect his star quarterback and find the person responsible. Hansen offers Rebecca the job, and she jumps at the chance. It’s work, and it will get her out of her apartment. How bad can it be?

Posing as Gage’s girlfriend, however, isn’t as easy as it seems. The man is relentless. Rebecca must work to protect Gage while staving off his advances. She’s there to do a job, nothing more. The last thing she wants is to be another notch on a hotshot athlete’s belt.

As the stalker continues to up the ante, Rebecca finds it harder and harder to keep her distance from Nashville’s star quarterback. He isn’t what she expected in one of the city’s most notorious playboys. Now all she has to do is keep him safe until they can find his stalker, and hope she doesn’t lose her heart in the process.

Daniels Brothers Series:
Behind Closed Doors
Red Zone
Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information

Review:
Professional footballer Gage Daniels has a bit of a reputation as a ladies man, he works hard but plays hard too and when beautiful women are constantly throwing themselves at him he isn't about to say no. He has had a stalker for months but he never really thought much of it until they changed the game plan and started acting on their threats. Now his football team owner has decided enough is enough and has hired a PI to protect Gage and track down the stalker. Rebecca is an FBI Agent but after her last case ended badly she has been signed off work. Sitting around at home is driving her insane so when her ex-partner asks for help tracking down Gage's stalker she is grateful for something to do. What she didn't realise was that her cover would be posing as Gage's girlfriend and she isn't prepared for the emotions that brings out in her. Gage is the kind of guy who is used to getting what he wants and it doesn't take him long to set his sights on Rebecca. Rebecca is determined to keep a professional distance between them but when they have to pretend to be a couple in public it doesn't take long before the lines start to blur. Can they track down the stalker before one of them loses their heart?

Gage is the youngest of the Daniels brothers and I liked him immediately when we met him in Behind Closed Doors. He loves playing football and works hard to be the best at what he does, he is also a great looking guy so it is no surprise that he can have pretty much any woman he wants. Gage is definitely cocky, he knows how good he is and isn't about to hide that, but he isn't arrogant with it so I loved him. He is the kind of guy that gives 100% to whatever he is doing whether that is working, having fun or his new favourite pastime - toying with his uptight new FBI bodyguard! Rebecca couldn't be more different to Gage if she tried, she is tense and scared to let anyone close to her and the last thing she wants is to become another in a long line of women that Gage has taken to bed. It doesn't take long for her feelings towards him to change though, he infuriates her and pushes her buttons but she can't deny how attracted she is to him. She thinks that it might be best to have a fling with him and get it out of her system but Gage isn't going to be quite so easy to shake off. Once he has seen inside the barriers that Rebecca uses to keep the world out Gage knows he can't let her go.

The couple have great chemistry and I loved watching Gage work his way under Rebecca's skin. He certainly knows what he wants and isn't afraid to fight for it but Rebecca isn't going to be one of his usual easy conquests. It takes a lot of effort to knock down her barriers and Rebecca is doing her best to constantly rebuild them but that just makes Gage all the more determined. I have to admit I found myself getting a little irritated with Rebecca at times, I couldn't understand why she was trying so hard to keep Gage at a distance and I was almost shouting at her to just relax a bit and see where things could take them. I think because we didn't have a great deal of information about what had gone wrong on her last case or about her family history it was hard to see why she kept herself so tightly locked up but once we started to find out a little more about her background it was easier to understand where she was coming from.

I loved getting the chance to catch up with Chris and Elizabeth and see how they are doing now, the story picks up straight after their book ends and spans a period of several months so things have moved forward a little for the couple. I do think you could probably read this as a stand alone without giving away too much about the first book (after all what romance do you know of where the couple don't get together in the end?) but I would recommend reading the books in order just because of how great it is to get to know the entire Daniels family. In Red Zone we get to spend thanksgiving with the entire Daniels clan which was something I really enjoyed, I just love the banter between the brothers and the way they all have each others backs. I'm excited to read Paul and Trent's stories in the future, especially since I'm pretty sure we've already met the woman who is going to steal Paul's heart!

I enjoyed the mystery of who was Gage's stalker and trying to figure out what their reasons were. I have to admit I'd guessed who was behind everything fairly early on but I still didn't understand what they were trying to achieve or why they were doing it. Although both of the books in this series have had mysteries going on in the background I'd say that these books are much more about the romance and the mystery comes second, that isn't a bad thing but it is nice to know upfront where the focus lies. Red Zone is another great instalment to this series and has helped cement Sherri Hayes' place on my favourite authors list. If you enjoy romance with a darker feel to it then I'd definitely recommend her Finding Anna series but anyone who likes a sweet, sexy, contemporary romance will love the Daniels brothers.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback:

Red Zone Blog Tour: Guest Post from Sherri Hayes & International Giveaway

It's no secret that I'm a massive fan of Sherri Hayes' Finding Anna series, it was one of my favourite discoveries of 2012 and I can't wait to get my hands on the third book, Truth, later this year. Anyway, as a fan of Sherri's writing I jumped at the chance of taking part of the blog tour for Red Zone, the second book in Sherri's Daniels Brothers series. I really enjoyed the first book, Behind Closed Doors (read my review here) and I loved Gage's story even more (watch out for my full review which will be posted later today UPDATE - you can now read my Red Zone review here)!

Before I hand over to Sherri who is going to tell you a little more about our leading man Gage I want to share a bit more information about the book:

After a case ended badly for Rebecca Carson, she’s losing her mind sitting around her apartment waiting on her superiors to allow her to return to work. Since she was a teenager, the only thing she’d ever wanted was to join the FBI. Now that dream was in danger.

Gage Daniels has made a pretty good life for himself. A nice house. A career he loves. As a professional football player, he’s used to getting almost everything he’d ever want with just the snap of his fingers. This includes women. A well-timed smile is usually all it takes to attract the opposite sex, especially in Nashville.

When a stalker threatens Gage, the team owner calls an old friend, Rebecca’s ex-partner Travis Hansen, to help protect his star quarterback and find the person responsible. Hansen offers Rebecca the job, and she jumps at the chance. It’s work, and it will get her out of her apartment. How bad can it be?

Posing as Gage’s girlfriend, however, isn’t as easy as it seems. The man is relentless. Rebecca must work to protect Gage while staving off his advances. She’s there to do a job, nothing more. The last thing she wants is to be another notch on a hotshot athlete’s belt.

As the stalker continues to up the ante, Rebecca finds it harder and harder to keep her distance from Nashville’s star quarterback. He isn’t what she expected in one of the city’s most notorious playboys. Now all she has to do is keep him safe until they can find his stalker, and hope she doesn’t lose her heart in the process.

Daniels Brothers Series:
Behind Closed Doors
Red Zone
Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information

Now I'm sure you're all dying to learn more about Gage so please give a warm welcome to Sherri so she can tell you all about him!

Sherri Hayes

Character Profile: Gage Daniels

Gage is the baby of the family at twenty-six. He’s also a star quarterback. Both of these things mean that he has no problem with being the center of attention. His mother raised him right, however, and while he is a little on the cocky side, he is also a gentleman.

One of my favorite things about Gage is that no matter how full of himself he seems, he’s never mean, and he doesn’t tear down others to get what he wants. He’s confident in his abilities, and isn’t afraid to let others around him know it. Who doesn’t like a confident man who goes after what he wants in life?

His confidence spills over into his love for women. Being a professional football star, he has women throwing themselves at him regularly. He has a bit of a reputation as a ladies man. Although he’s not averse to settling down one of these days, he’s not in a hurry, and he has no intention of turning down what is offered.

Gage’s first love is football, and he counts himself lucky to be able to play professionally. He enjoys swimming, and spending time with his family. This sexy athlete is also playful, and enjoys letting loose and having fun.

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So what do you think of Gage? Does he sound like your kind of hero? Trust me, he made me look at footballers (just to clarify for my fellow Brit's we're talking about the American kind in this case!) in a whole new light :o)

Giveaway Details:

Now thanks to The Writer's Coffee Shop I have an ebook copy of Red Zone to give to one lucky winner.

• Giveaway is open internationally and one winner will receive a PDF file containing Red Zone by Sherri Hayes.
• The winner's prize will be sent out directly by my contact at The Writer's Coffee Shop (TWCS) so I will need to pass on your email address so they can send your prize.
• The winner will be chosen at random from all entries received.
• To enter please use the rafflecopter below, there are optional extra entries for following or tweeting about the giveaway but these are not required to enter.
• The giveaway will close at 12:01am EST on the 16th of February 2013 and the winner will be announced soon afterwards. The winner's email address will be passed to TWCS so their prize can be sent.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Behind Closed Doors - Sherri Hayes

Elizabeth Marshall spent the last nine years doing all the things she was supposed to do. She went to a good college. Married a man with a promising future. Elizabeth even had a nice house in a respectable part of town. There was even the promise of 2.4 kids in her future. From the outside everything looked picture perfect.

Then one night, the world she lived in came crashing down. Six months later with her husband dead and her friends gone, Elizabeth moves to the small town of Springfield, Ohio to start a new life where no one knows who she is or about her past.

Christopher Daniels enjoys the simplicity of his bachelor life. After his divorce three years ago, he swore off women. He has no desire to change that philosophy.

When Elizabeth Marshall moves into the apartment below his in the small Victorian house, she makes him reconsider the motto he’s lived by for the last three years: women are trouble. She is everything his ex-wife is not, and it doesn’t help that she is his fantasy come to life.

He is determined to resist her charms; however, when someone sends threatening messages to Elizabeth, he finds himself in the role of protector. Can he protect Elizabeth and still resist the pull she has on his body and his heart?

Daniels Brothers Series:
Behind Closed Doors
Red Zone
Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information

Review:
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Sherri Hayes' Finding Anna series so while I'm waiting for the third book to be published I jumped at the chance of making a start on some of Sherri's back list. The Daniels Brothers series is completely different to the Finding Anna books, they are contemporary romance with a side of mystery while the Finding Anna books are darker and touch on difficult subjects like abuse and slavery, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Behind Closed Doors because I really did. This book is a great start to the series and introduces us to 4 sexy brothers who I'm very happy to say will each get their own book eventually, Chris may be the hero of this story but I can't wait to see more of Paul, Trent and Gage!

Chris has a very jaded outlook when it comes to women and romance, the fact that his ex-wife spent years cheating on him before he finally threw her out has left him convinced that relationships are more trouble than they are worth. Instead he has turned his energies to his company, spending long hours building his business into something he can feel proud of. It is only when Elizabeth moves into the apartment below him that he finds himself attracted to someone for the first time since his divorce 3 years ago but Chris doesn't want the added complication of having a woman in his life and is determined to keep away from her as much as possible. When Elizabeth starts receiving threats Chris' protective instincts kick in and he realises he would do anything to keep her safe, but can they figure out who her enemy is before things escalate and someone is seriously hurt?

Elizabeth spent years living what appeared to be the perfect wife, she had a wealthy husband, a nice house and was free to spend her time shopping with friends. What people didn't realise was that the perfect marriage was actually anything but and her husband was abusive which meant Elizabeth spent most of her time terrified of what he would do next. Her life came crashing down around her ears six months ago and now all Elizabeth wants is to find somewhere quiet to lick her wounds and recover in peace. Moving into the apartment below Chris is supposed to give her a new start away from anyone who knows her but when the threats start she begins to wonder if someone from the past has managed to track her down.

I loved both of these characters, Elizabeth has suffered so much and it has understandably made her nervous of others, men in particular, but she has never given in. She desperately wants to build a home for herself and make new friends and she sets out to do just that. She doesn't like to talk about the past but when it becomes clear that she needs help she isn't afraid to ask for it and you have to respect her for that. She is drawn to Chris immediately but she is skittish and wary around him, something that isn't helped by his constantly changing moods around her. Chris himself is a great guy, he cares about his family and friends but isn't interested in getting involved with a woman again and you can't really blame him after the way his ex-wife treated him. The attraction he feels for Elizabeth is more intense than anything he has ever felt before but that just frightens him and makes him push harder against the idea of letting her close. I found it really amusing watching him try to fight his feelings but thankfully it didn't take him too long to give in. The chemistry between them was great but there was also genuine friendship and I loved watching them get to know each other.

Behind Closed Doors is a great romance but I also really enjoyed the mystery of who was trying to cause trouble for Elizabeth. I'll admit that I had guessed who was behind everything but I wasn't sure until right near the end and I hadn't figured out the full reasons for why they were doing it. I loved the family dynamics between Chris and his brothers, they liked to tease each other but they obviously had each others backs and will always be there for each other. The way they stepped up to help Chris protect Elizabeth was really sweet to see, the whole family rallied around for her and it was something she really wasn't sure how to deal with. I'm really looking forward to reading all of the brother's stories, I have a feeling that Paul's will be a particular heart breaker but I know I'm going to fall for them all. Gage's story is up next and I can't wait to get started!

Source: Received from The Writer's Coffee Shop in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Need - Sherri Hayes

As Brianna comes to terms with the realisation that she is no longer a slave, she must figure out what she wants for her life. Forgetting her past isn’t an option. It is an integral part of who she is now, and it will forever shape her view of life. The one thing she knows is that she cannot imagine her life without the man who saved her, but can she be what he needs?

Stephan never imagined falling in love with the woman he rescued, but the thought of her no longer being part of his life is physically painful. The scars from her past continue to haunt her, and he is helpless to stop them. All he can do is try to help her work through the traumas of her past. Can he be everything she needs and help her move on?

The two must figure out how to navigate not only their relationship with each other, but also the outside world. A friend from Brianna’s past shows up where she least expects them, and Uncle Richard continues to enforce his well-meaning agenda to get Brianna more traditional help. As forces, both friend and foe, threaten to tear them apart, Stephan and Brianna have to navigate the turbulent waters and find what they need in each other.

Finding Anna Series:
Slave
Need
Truth
Trust

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information.

Review:
Need is the second book in Sherri Hayes' Finding Anna series so this review will contain spoilers for the first book Slave. I have absolutely loved both of these books so would highly recommend them but if you haven't read the first book then look away from this review now if you don't want spoilers.

Need picks up the story immediately after the ending of Slave, Stephan has just informed Brianna that she isn't his slave - she is free to come and go as she pleases and do whatever she wants with the rest of her life. However, he has also asked her to consider staying with him and giving them a chance at building a relationship. Brianna is confused about her feelings towards Stephan, her experiences with men have made her very wary but he makes her feel safe and cared for and she is frightened by the idea of a life without him. She knows that he is into the D/s lifestyle though and she isn't sure if she can be the submissive he wants her to be.

Slave has to have been one of the most surprising books I have read in ages, it was nothing like I expected it to be but I absolutely loved it and couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel. I was a little bit nervous that Need wouldn't be able to live up to my expectations but I'm glad to say that it was just as good as I hoped it could be. I'm sure anyone who enjoyed the first book will love the sequel just as much if not more. The book is an emotional and heart wrenching read and one that you will devour. Clear the calendar before you start reading because I guarantee you won't want to stop.

To say I had a crush on Stephan after reading the first book would be an understatement but that crush has grown into fictional hero worship of epic proportions and I absolutely adore him now. I want to pull that man out of the damn books and claim him as my very own!! Why, oh why can't I find a guy like him in real life? He really is the perfect guy and I love watching him with Brianna - he is just what she needs to help her recover from her traumatic past. Stephan has to be one of the most patient men I've ever come across, he cares so much for Brianna that he is willing to take things at whatever pace she finds comfortable. He is there for her night and day and drops everything for her if she needs him for any reason but he also pushes her a little more all the time helping her to slowly build her confidence. I love the fact that he isn't just interested in getting her comfortable with having a physical relationship with him - he wants to help her learn to trust other people again, he wants her to get past her fears of being outside and he is encouraging her to go to college and get an education so she can make something of herself. Even if she chooses not to be with him in the long term he wants to give her the skills she would need to survive on her own.

Brianna is someone my heart went out to the moment I met her. She is emotionally scarred by the things she has been through but she has a great inner strength that she is only just starting to realise is there. She suffers with panic attacks and flashbacks but she desperately wants to be normal and to get her life back on track. She still struggles to know what is expected of her and sometimes it's a case of taking one step forwards and two steps back but I think that just makes her recovery all the more realistic. It would be a slow process for anyone who has been through what she has and I'm really enjoying watching her progress.

Need will tug on your heartstrings, it will put a goofy smile on your face and it will have you falling head over heels for these characters. It will also leave you in need of cold shower because although their relationship progresses slowly that doesn't make it any less hot and the chemistry between Stephan and Brianna is off the charts! The ending just about killed me and it's going to be a long wait for the release of the third book in the series. I just want more - more of Stephan, more of Brianna plus more of Logan and Lily. Sherri Hayes is an auto-buy author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Slave - Sherri Hayes

Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death.

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Daren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how.

Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing.

Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

Finding Anna Series:
Slave
Need
Truth
Trust

Visit Sherri Hayes' website for more information.

Review:
Stephan is a Dom but has been single for a while and is waiting to find the right sub for him. The last thing he is looking for is a slave but when his friend tells him about a young woman who is being held against her will by someone with a sadistic reputation Stephan knows he has to help her. Even if it means going against everything he believes in and buying her from her current master. Brianna was sold into slavery when she was just 17 years old and has spent the last 10 months being brutally treated by her owner. She has been through hell and is completely broken, but can Stephan help to heal her so that she has a chance at leading a normal life again?

I have to admit I wasn't too sure what to expect when I picked up this book. The label of erotic romance made me think there would be a lot of sex and I was definitely expecting quite a hardcore BDSM story but I wasn't sure how I felt about the idea of a young woman who had been forced into slavery being bought by someone else, even if he did do it to save her. I was actually surprised to find that there is no sex between Stephan and Brianna but I'm very pleased about that because I don't think there is any way she would have been ready for a physical relationship and I would have felt like Stephan was furthering her abuse if he had come on to her in that way.

When I picked up Slave I wasn't expecting a romance but that is exactly what I got. The story is dark in places, particularly as we see the things that Brianna suffered at the hands of her previous owner, but Stephan was a wonderful hero and so gentle with her. I completely fell for Stephan - he may be a Dominant but that doesn't mean he is mean or a nasty person, he takes the power he has over his submissives seriously and knows what a responsibility it is to have someone else's life in his hands. He genuinely wants the best for Brianna, he comes to care for her deeply as he gets to know her better but he also knows that she may never recover enough to cope with the kind of relationship that he wants so he doesn't try to push her into anything. Stephan doesn't necessarily make the right choices all the time but you can see how hard he tries to do the best thing for Brianna, just because I didn't always agree with his decisions it didn't make me love him or appreciate him any less.

I loved the fact that Stephan is a normal and nice guy. A lot of the BDSM books I've read have made it seem like people who are into this kind of lifestyle have some kind of issue that makes them like that so I was pleased that this wasn't the case with Stephan because I hate stereotyping! (I'm aware that I've not read a huge number of books in this genre and I'm sure there are plenty of other books out there that don't follow the stereotype - I just haven't found many of them yet so was pleased that this is one of them!). This is also helped by the fact that Stephan's close friends Logan and Lily are also in a D/s relationship and both of them are obviously completely normal and very happy with the way they live their lives. I'm really hoping we get to see more of them both as the series continues because they are such a cute couple.

The story is told from both Stephan and Brianna's points of view which allows us to really see what each of them are thinking and feeling. Brianna is terrified when she is first "sold" to Stephan, as horrible as her previous master was at least she knew what was expected of her and now she finds herself completely out of her element again and has no idea what Stephan might be capable of. It takes a long time for her to come to trust him which was completely understandable but I really enjoyed seeing him gradually start to coax her out of her shell. She still has a long way to go and I did feel that she could have benefited from professional help but we still have two more books in the series so I'm sure we'll continue to see her progress. What makes her story all the more horrific is the fact that there are probably young women out there in the world who are in the same situation and they aren't all going to have someone like Stephan who comes to their rescue. Just thinking about that breaks my heart.

Slave was a completely captivating read and I finished it in one sitting, nothing could have made me put the book down so it's a good job I had the morning free when I started it. This story may have been nothing like what I expected but it was absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to read the sequel Need. Sherri Hayes has definitely become an author I want to see more of and I can't wait to continue the journey Stephan and Brianna have started.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle: