Need, by Sherri Hayes

Format: ebook

Published: July 26, 2012

Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House

Back cover blurb:

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.

My review:

Excellent sequel to Slave, in which Brianna and Stephan continue to develop their relationship slowly as she recovers from her time as a sex slave. This book has more intimate scenes than the first, as Brianna gradually becomes more comfortable with Stephan’s advances, but I think I enjoyed the intrigue even more. The mystery surrounding Brianna’s past deepens and becomes less clear-cut, and I began to suspect many other characters may have had a part in her abduction. The ending is a perfect cliffhanger, setting up the third installment due next year.

My rating: 5/5