Book #Review: Need (Finding Anna:Series Book 2) by Sherri Hayes .@Sherri_Hayes

Book Title: Finding Anna # 2: Need 
Author: Sherri Hayes   |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Smith Publicity --The Writer’s Coffee Shop
Format: Ebook 

Cost: $8.49

Pages: 231

How I got it: NetGalley 
Series/Standalone: Series Book 2
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: July 2012

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Synopsis:

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.

This is a Repost from my now defunct blog, I still stand by my review and I still love the series.  

I have to gather my thoughts on this book. Clearly there is a book before it, and I need to read it, and now there is a book after that I have to read to get some serious answers.This is one of the first times I have actually read a book and thought to myself "hell I should have read the first one". Most times the author writes the book so there is a chance for you to know the story without feeling like you missed out. In this instance you can read the book, but you won't really get some of the references or the true real reason why Briana is the way she is.

I wasn't sure how to feel about the book for a while, as it was hard to get into the characters beyond feeling extremely sorry for Briana.  I do get why the Uncle thinks Briana needs help, it does kind of smack of Stockholm Syndrome that she is relying on him so much and not seeking help.  She has been free for only two months and she hasn't known anything but violence; so the little piece of happiness she does have she is going to cling to. 

I think Stephan needs to let her seek help from someone who knows about the BDSM lifestyle and knows how this can work to aide her in getting over her past. There are psychologist who are alternative lifestyle friendly, so he should look into that (I'm saying this like he's a real person, but I mean that the author should maybe setup the next scenario as him adding this into his little bag of tricks).

I like that the author shows how BDSM can help people heal, and the difference between abuse and true BDSM relationship.  I did love the characters though, I loved that the author use simple bare writing to carry the tale, instead of giving details that we wouldn't need.  For a man of only 24, Stephan seems to have it all together, it wasn't until I was reading someone else's review that I found out that Briana was only 18, which makes her story kind of both heartbreaking and sad, considering how she ended up where she did.

I'm not sure how to feel about their relationship developing so soon after her rescue, it makes me wonder how much of it is her trying to stay safe, or how much of it is truly her being happy to be there.  Everything that happens seems to point to her being a natural submissive, and then you think about how she was 'trained' and you have to wonder if it isn't just that training coming through.  His punishment for her transgression was pretty fair, considering it wasn't until the end of the punishment that she got the message; which I thought was pretty funny. I'm trying to understand how no one thought that it was wrong that she was under aged and being used that way, then of course I woke up and remembered what world we live in.  

There really wasn't a lot of full on sex, which doesn't make this a true 'erotica'.  She handled the scenario well, evoking some serious emotions for the characters and their plight and really left in a place where I was like. "Where is the next one" Sadly rumor has it that it doesn't come out until summer 2013. BOOOO!!

★★★☆☆

It's a pretty good read, well written, flows well. Characters are fully fleshed out, although it's taking a little while to know Briana.  I'm off to get the other book to read so I can catch up on their story. Happy reading & Be blessed.