Total control. I need it in every aspect of my life. Some would say that makes me an asshole. A freak. But as long as everything’s exactly how I want it I’m completely flexible.
I’m kidding.
I show her the two silver objects on my palm. Nipple clamps. I apply each one, screwing them firmly into place and giving them a small tug so I know they’re secure. I look up and wait a moment, giving her the chance to say orange or red if she needs to.
Her expression is slightly pained, but she doesn’t speak.
I’m not finished yet. I take out two small metal weights on thin silver chain, and I hook each one to the clamps. The tips of her nipples are an angry pink.
‘Do you want to say anything, Lacey?’
She shakes her head firmly, though her lower lip is caught between her teeth and her gaze is fastened on the other side of the room, as if she’s concentrating hard.
‘That’s wonderful,’ I murmur, tracing her nipples with the tip of a finger. ‘You just stay there.’
I go back to my desk and continue with my work. I don’t look at her, but I’m totally aware of her. She’s breathing more sharply than normally so it must hurt.
Good.
Her silent fortitude is like a drug for me. It’s brutish, liking sweet girls in pain, but it fucking makes my dick hard.
MY REVIEW:
I don’t think there has been a Brianna Hale book that I haven’t loved! If you want to dip your toes into the Daddy genre, ‘Control Freak’ is for you!
Once again the author has created two memorable characters in Stian and Lacey. I loved watching these two fall in love (yes, this is a romance!) while exploring their true selves. And this book is emotional! Lacey suffers from an eating disorder and never feels worthy of her smart, older Viking.
Lacey goes to work for Stian Blomqvist as a temp and there is an age gap. But Stian sees something in the innocent Lacey that he must possess. With lots of references to Greek mythology, this story was a sexy, smart and fun read
“There are plenty of people who think they deserve someone saying yes sir and no sir to them, but they have to do something to earn it. Have a presence. Be authoritative. Inspire people to want to do as they direct. Smile at you in a way that makes you want to suck their fingers.”
Their relationship unfolds slowly and Lacey is afraid that she will never be enough for Stian due to her emotional issues. This topic is treated with sensitivity by the author and without unnecessary drama. These two are perfect for each other! But Stian cannot do anything halfway and he is afraid of overwhelming Lacey with his needs.
“Doing thing by halves isn’t my style,” I tell Lacey, loving the feel of her beneath my hands. I can feel how desperately she wants to be happy, and I think I can show her how.
I loved this sexy tale and the writing was, as always, perfection. Brianna Hale writes with intelligence, wit and eroticism and never fails to disappoint! Highly recommend this one
Thank you to the author for an advance reading copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
New Release + Review: The Protégé by BRIANNA HALE
protected me since I was eight years old, the neglected girl he took off the
street and raised as his own. Laszlo can feel what music needs instinctively.
He can tell what I need.
the night of my eighteenth birthday and he still hasn’t forgiven me for what I
did. I’m not asking him to love me, touch me, take me to bed. What I want goes
deeper than that and I have to say this out loud because it’s one thing that
music won’t be able to tell him.
Laszlo can give me. I want to be his protégé again. And this time, I’m going to
be so good for him.
Yes, maestro.
Yes, sir.
Yes, daddy.
“Tell her you’re sorry. For everything. Even the things she doesn’t know about.”
First of all, if are not familiar with Brianna Hale, you MUST read one of her books! I love them ALL. But this one might be my favorite. From the exotic settings to the classical music to the behind-the-scenes workings of a professional orchestra, this story just wowed me!
Brianna Hale really knows how to establish a connection between her main characters. Laszlo is a brilliant, difficult and renowned conductor who takes an interest in Isabeau when she is very young girl. He sees that she has enormous potential but her father is a drug addict and she is living in abject poverty. He takes her under his wing and provides the best musical education possible. She blossoms under his tutelage.
“I’m mesmerized by the sound she’s making and I want to grab passers-by and make them listen until they understand what they’re witnessing. Raw, natural talent. A child’s simplistic style, yes, and she seems to have developed a few bad habits in the way she holds her bow, but these things are easily corrected. As she grows she could get much, much better. She could be world class.”
As Isabeau matures into a brilliant musician and a beautiful young woman, things change between her and Laszlo. They both need each other but Laszlo pushes her away, maybe permanently. But Isabeau is not complete without her maestro and she comes back to see Laszlo for the first time in years.
“My heart bangs like a timpani drum against my ribs hearing his name. Laszlo Valmary, conductor and musical director of the Royal London Symphony Orchestra and my former guardian and mentor. I’ve come straight from the train, luggage and all, to face the man I haven’t spoken to in three years. Now that I’m in London again I feel him on every street I walk down, in every strain of music I hear, in the very air I breathe.”
This book is so romantic!!! Yes, it is also very kinky but it is so beautifully written and the story flows so well that you will become enraptured by these characters and the gorgeous and exotic settings. I finished this book on a long plane ride and I can still hear the characters’ words in my head!! Now that’s a great book.
“There are so many things I want to say to Laszlo. Most importantly that I’m sorry, but also that the happiest time of my life was when I was his protégé. That my musical career has stalled and I don’t know what to do about it. That when I play the music doesn’t even sound like me anymore. That I need him in ways he doesn’t understand and I’m only just beginning to.”
This book is SO erotic that I can’t even begin to quote most of the scenes between Laszlo and Isabeau. He is so dominant but he is afraid to show his true side to his beautiful protégé. Isabeau is perfect for him but must show him that she is ready for his world.
“I’m not asking him to love me, touch me, take me to bed. What I want goes deeper than that. I have to speak it aloud for him because this is one thing that music won’t be able to tell him. I want what only a man like Laszlo can give me. I want to be his protégé again.”
If you are looking for an adult, erotic romance that is beautifully written with memorable characters, then you will love ‘The Protégé’. I really lost myself in this book and did not want it to end. And Laszlo, OMG!! What a powerful main character!
“Being a conductor is all about power and command and I have to rein myself in all the time from going on a massive power trip. I don’t like to rein myself in with you. I want to push you down onto your knees before me. I want to say the filthiest things to you… Make you feel more vulnerable than you’ve ever been in your life. Strip you bare until there’s nothing left for you but me and the power I have over you.”
As you can tell, I adore Brianna Hale’s writing and highly recommend this very sexy, very mature and erotic story. It is pure romance. Happy reading!
“Something in me matches something in you. When I hold you in my arms I feel everything that you are, and this is how I cherish you. You make me feel free.”
alpha male with a super-protective and caring streak, and when she’s not
writing about them she can usually be found with a book, a cocktail, planning
her next trip to a beautiful location or attending the theatre. She believes
that pink and empowerment aren’t mutually exclusive, and everyday adventures
are possible. Brianna lives in London.
Cover Reveal: THE PROTEGE by BRIANNA HALE
protected me since I was eight years old, the neglected girl he took off the
street and raised as his own. Laszlo can feel what music needs instinctively.
He can tell what I need.
the night of my eighteenth birthday and he still hasn’t forgiven me for what I
did. I’m not asking him to love me, touch me, take me to bed. What I want goes
deeper than that and I have to say this out loud because it’s one thing that
music won’t be able to tell him.
Laszlo can give me. I want to be his protégé again. And this time, I’m going to
be so good for him.
alpha male with a super-protective and caring streak, and when she’s not
writing about them she can usually be found with a book, a cocktail, planning
her next trip to a beautiful location or attending the theatre. She believes
that pink and empowerment aren’t mutually exclusive, and everyday adventures
are possible. Brianna lives in London.
MIDNIGHT HUNTER by BRIANNA HALE
Synopsis:
He’s hunting me, and there’s nowhere to run.
East Berlin, 1963. I thought I understood the consequences of trying to flee to the West. Death. Imprisonment without trial. Instead I’m being hunted by the most dangerous man in the city, secret police officer Reinhardt Volker.
Now I’m his prize, no longer a traitorous factory girl but his elegant and pampered secretary. He wants to possess me, body, soul – and heart. I’ll do anything to get away from him, but first that means getting closer.
I want to feel only hatred for my captor but beneath his uniform I discover a man with a past as scarred as Berlin’s.
And if I don’t escape him soon it will be too late.
**A full-length dark romance by Brianna Hale
My Review:
Can Brianna Hale do no wrong? I never thought I’d fall in love with an East German Stasi officer but there you have it. Volker and Evony’s story was completely captivating.
This book completely drew me in and I could not get enough of the setting and the characters. Let’s clear things up – this is NOT the story of a Nazi nor does it in any way, shape or form glorify the Nazi regime. With that said, it is without a doubt a dark romance, set in the bleak world of 1960’s East Berlin.
Evony and her father are planning an escape to the West but their plans are thwarted and she is captured by Volker, a high-ranking member of the East German secret police. He is cold, brilliant and calculating, and has no plans to let Evony go. Ever.
She goes to work for him as a secretary but is constantly planning her escape. Volker is revered and respected by all. His plans for Evony are slowly revealed and the tension and chemistry between them practically jumps off the page.
I am not usually a fan of historical fiction but I loved this book. The author did her research and it shows. The details of everyday life in East Berlin were fascinating. As was the growing relationship and mutual respect between Evony and Volker. What secrets is Volker keeping from Evony? And will he send her to prison when he learns the truth about her?
“Loving Reinhardt means staying here forever, and doing so would eventually drive such poison into my heart that any shred of happiness I might find in his arms would be destroyed.”
This book has thrills, incredible chemistry, and a fascinating story line. I can always count on Brianna Hale to entertain, educate and enthrall me! I never thought I’d love a book about Cold War-era Germany but there you have it. Volker is another unforgettable, uber-protective and sexy character. Highly recommend this one!
“You were meant to be mine. And I will have everything.”
Cover Reveal: MIDNIGHT HUNTER by BRIANNA HALE
I thought I understood the consequences of trying to flee to the West. Death.
Imprisonment without trial. Instead I’m being hunted by the most dangerous man
in the city, secret police officer Reinhardt Volker.
no longer a traitorous factory girl but his elegant and pampered secretary. He
wants to possess me, body, soul – and heart. I’ll do anything to get away from
him, but first that means getting closer.
hatred for my captor but beneath his uniform I discover a man with a past as
scarred as Berlin’s.
escape him soon it will be too late.
not let you go.’ His mouth is close to my ear and he doesn’t need to speak
above a harsh, sinister whisper. ‘You don’t need reminders of your old life as
you are never going back. Do you understand? This is your life now. You’re
mine.’
lay it out so coldly and brutally takes my breath away. I wish his housekeeper
and secretary could see him now. They haven’t felt him ruthlessly hunt them
down, catch them, possess them. Take sadistic pleasure in trapping them, body
and soul. ‘You can’t make me forget who I am. I’ll always remember, and I’ll
always hate you for what you’ve done.’
There’s so much scorn and amusement in that one brief question. His breath is
warm against my ear and I feel him looking down at me, enjoying that he has me
his mercy. He plants a slow, tender kiss on the side of my neck and I feel my
pulse thundering beneath his lips. It’s a kiss that belies the cold cruelty of
his words and the steel of his embrace. It’s the kiss of a lover, soft and sensuous,
and something clenches low in my belly in response.
cruelty, and armed myself against brutality, but I wasn’t prepared for this. I
wasn’t prepared for him to be gentle and I don’t know how to fight it. He
shifts his arms, one hand moving to caress my throat and I draw in a soft
breath of surprise and need. He feels it, and his lips move up to my jaw,
trailing burning kisses.
please, I don’t want this. He can’t strip me of my will to resist him along with everything else. I
will garb myself in hatred for him. I will steep my body in antipathy and rage.
Even so, it takes every ounce of strength I have to speak. ‘I’ll never be
yours.’
comes out as a breathy whisper, not the defiant shout I wanted it to be.
curve into a smile against my throat. ‘Oh, Liebling. Yes, you will.
I have not even begun to try and you are already giving in.’
alpha male with a super-protective and caring streak, and when she’s not
writing about them she can usually be found with a book, a cocktail, planning
her next trip to a beautiful location or attending the theatre. She believes
that pink and empowerment aren’t mutually exclusive, and everyday adventures
are possible. Brianna lives in London.
New Release + Review: SOFT LIMITS by BRIANNA HALE
Synopsis:
Frederic d’Estang: performer, professional villain and my youthful crush.
Graduate student Evie Bell spends her days ghostwriting memoirs and her nights playing out her most intimate sexual fantasies by penning fan fiction. When a famous stage actor bursts into her life, she’s drawn to his dark, sensual presence, despite herself.
He calls me chérie, ma princesse, minette.
In Paris, Frederic takes Evie firmly in hand, leading her down a sensual path neither of them could have imagined, and pushing them both dangerously near their limits.
I call him Daddy.
Evie is wary—fearing Frederic is a villain both onstage and off—but again and again, Frederic draws her in. Yet the closer they become, the more Frederic holds back, wanting to protect Evie from his despicable truth. He isn’t the man she believes him to be, and his secret may very well destroy them.
My Review:
4.5 Darkly Delicious Stars!!!
Adult, sexy and daring. Brianna Hale gets better and better.
“His singing voice can rattle windows with fury or caress with love.”
Ahhhhh….Frederic. Each hero of Brianna Hale strikes all the right notes with me. Having devoured her first two books, I could not wait to read ‘Soft Limits.’ A little darker than her previous books, this story has a little more depth and seriousness and I absolutely could not put it down! There are certain authors I just “click” with and Ms. Hale is one of them. You can count on tons of kink, flawless writing and a superb storyline. And a happy ending! Always.
If you have been wanting to try a little daddy/little girl kink, then by all means get your feet wet with Brianna Hale. I adored Evie and loved her exploration of her darker side. A brilliant writer in her won right, she has always searched for something more….and she finds it with Frederic D’Estang.
“It’s not just that I like make-believe. I crave it. And lately, I crave make-believe about villains most of all.”
Evie is tasked with writing Frederic’s biography. He is a famous performer and is hiding a dark secret of his own, Slowly they begin to get to know each other and realize that they have an almost unbreakable bond. They share the same unusual desires and fit each other perfectly. One thing i love about Brianna Hale’s books is that there is no shame involved with her characters – everything is explored in a heathy and safe way. And I loved the age difference between Evie and Frederic!
“There are a few reasons someone might be a hero, but there are infinite reasons to be a villain.”
There is a slightly gothic feel to this book which sets it apart from the earlier books. All set in London, the city plays a vital role in Ms. Hale’s books. I loved the lush descriptions of the city and of the countryside. I promise that once you pick this book up, you won’t be bale to put it down! And there’s plenty of lightness to balance out the darker elements. All in all, a wonderfully sexy, very adult love story. Highly recommend!
“Frederic isn’t afraid of my vulnerability, he craves it.”
(ARC provided in return for an honest review.)
Other Books by Brianna Hale:
Guest Post + Giveaway: LITTLE DANCER and PRINCESS BRAT by BRIANNA HALE
Favorite Quotes: Princess Brat by Brianna Hale
With a roll of her eyes she opens the front door and flounces outside. I watch the swish of her pleated skirt. Brat.
…
Dieter leans down and whispers in my ear and his voice is silkier, more dangerous than ever. “Don’t ask for things, little girl, if you’re not prepared for the consequences.”
…
It’s too arousing, imagining her obedient and sweet and curled up in my lap. It would take a great deal of work disciplining someone as bratty as Adrienne Westley. Very pleasurable work.
…
I’ve relinquished some control over to him and I…like it? I think about his hands wrapped around my wrists or my throat, and a hot sensation chases through my body.
I’m attracted to my bodyguard.
…
“It’s a goddamn miracle,” he mutters, his hands roving over my skin, “that I haven’t given you the spanking of your life, all the lip you’ve given me.”
About Little Dancer
Release Date: April 17, 2018
About Little Dancer:
Twenty-year-old dancer Abby Williams has only ever felt truly herself while she’s onstage. It’s the one place she gets the firm direction and focused attention she craves to keep her whimsical thoughts in order. Offstage she feels out of place, forced to give up her girlish treasures and bombarded at every turn with adult responsibilities. But one missed dance cue in front of the intimidating theater director could take all this away.
Summoned to Rufus Kingsolver’s office, Abby is terrified the darkly handsome, commanding man is about to end her dream. But Rufus has other ideas. He wants to be her Dom. He wants her to call him Daddy.
Abby is shocked, but the spark of curiosity and taboo desire have her wanting more. Under Rufus’s firm hand, they explore the erotic depths of their unconventional, yet beautiful, relationship. Abby is falling deeper in love with Rufus and the Little/Dom lifestyle, but it’s not long before she comes face-to-face with her darkest fear—judgment from the outside world.
Daddy knows best, but what if, this once, he can’t protect her?
My Review:
4.5 “Yes, Daddy” Stars!!
WELL, HELLO!! Welcome to the judgment-free zone! If you are just the tiniest bit curious about the DDlg genre (that’s “Daddy Dom/little girl”), then please enjoy this absolutely delicious confection by Brianna Hale. I read this book in a few hours and it was one of the most heart-warming, sexy, taboo and romantic stories I’ve ever read.
Abby is a young dancer who comes alive when onstage. She can barely cope with the realities of day-to-day life, but feels completely at ease when she is dancing at the Palais Theatre. Still living with her parents, she is shy, innocent and very inexperienced.
When I’m onstage, and all there is, is the music and the sweet burn of exertion and the glare of the hot lights, I’m me.
Imagine Abby’s surprise (and delight!) when the handsome, stern and very bossy theatre owner Rufus Kingsolver takes an interest in her.
Oh boy. Mr. Kingsolver. He is good at reading people and he knows just what Abby needs. This book should come with a warning label because it is that hot. Abby finally feels that someone understands her and all of her odd habits. She acts like a little girl in many ways, because it soothes and comforts her, and she is PERFECT for Rufus!
“It’s such a relief to know that there are other people like me. I’m not strange, or weird, or stupid.”
THIS BOOK. I loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed every word. Please pay attention to book description and if it turns you off, do not read this. But if you love a hot, quick read, this is the book for you. I was fascinated by the Daddy Dom world and also the way in which Abby grew as a person over the course of the story.
He strokes his thumb over my cheek and it comes away glittery. I’m dropping glitter all over him. “I missed you, little one.”
“I’m so sorry I caused us so much pain and I said Persephone and I wasn’t brave enough.”
“You’re the bravest person I know, babygirl. Look at all that you’ve done.” He pulls a tissue out of his pocket and wipes my tears, and then puts it over my nose. “Blow.” I do. The tissue comes away glittery, too.
“I’m getting glitter all over you,” I say with a shaky laugh.
He presses his forehead against mine. “Please get glitter all over me,” he whispers. “Drown me in it.”
There are BDSM elements in this story but it is surprisingly romantic and tender. I loved it so much that I am diving right into the next book by Ms. Hale, Princess Brat. Because sometimes you just need to escape with a few hours of fun, sexy fantasy!
“Yes. But what I want isn’t important. It’s your body and your decision.”
About Princess Brat
Release Date: June 26, 2017
About Princess Brat:
When Father’s away, with Daddy Dom she’ll play
Throwing tantrums may be childish behavior, but it’s the only way Adrienne Westley feels she can be heard. In the middle of a tabloid scandal, her father cares more about his career than the threats to his mouthy daughter. So when bodyguard Dieter Vanderbroeck enters her home, she’s shocked by his dominant presence.
Try as she might to defy him, Dieter doesn’t give in to her bratty attitude. Instead, he challenges it with a commanding voice and a firm hand. His authoritative tone calls to a part of Adrienne that she’s long kept hidden—and as Dieter begins to unravel her submissive nature, it becomes harder and harder to keep things professional.
Adrienne’s about to find out just where bratty little girls go: over Daddy’s knee. Because he no longer wants to be just her bodyguard—he wants to be her Daddy Dom.
About Brianna Hale:
Brianna Hale couldn’t live without her notebook and an assortment of glitter pens, and when she’s not writing she can usually be found with a book, fighting video game monsters and aliens or attending the theatre. She believes that pink and empowerment aren’t mutually exclusive, and everyday adventures are possible. Brianna lives in London.
Giveaway Info:
Thanks to the team at Harlequin and Carina Press, one lucky winner will receive the following:
★ $25 Amazon gift card
★ eCopies of Little Dancer & Princess Brat
