"Slave" by Author Sherri Hayes

Years ago, I worked at a state workforce office.  My job was to help other people find jobs.  Many times, I worked with people who had just been released from prison.

One of my customers was a baby-faced kid who was very much terrified to be out in public.  A family member came with him and as I worked with him, every once in a while the family member would say, “It’s ok, man.  I’m right here with ya.”  It was painfully obvious that this former felon had suffered some unimaginable things in prison at a very young age.

After that initial meeting, he came back in a few times.  Usually with the family member who would reassure him that he was right there on the other side of the room if he was needed. 

One day, that same baby-faced kid came in by himself.  He had ear buds in his ears, his head was held up high.  He wasn’t afraid anymore. 

Watching him re-integrate into society after suffering such horrific trauma was one of the most amazing experiences I had with that job.

I felt some of those same emotions again when reading “Slave” by my next Diamond, Sherri Hayes. 

Ms. Hayes takes the topic of human trafficking and women forced into sex slavery, and combines it with a hero that participates in the BDSM lifestyle.  Only here’s the difference…he has purchased her to get her out of slavery and back into society.

Crazy, right?

The psychological aspect is what made this book have such huge appeal for me.  Think about it…if someone has been trained for months or even years as a slave, what kind of shock would it be to have freedom for the first time?  Would it be comforting?  Or would it be terrifying?  Would that person truly understand that they are free?  Or would they always be looking over their shoulder?

Ms. Hayes doesn’t just write about these emotions.  She takes a different twist…can a known and very successful Dom use the skills he has obtained in the BDSM lifestyle to make that transition easier?  Can he build her trust by controlling her first, like she has become used to?

There were several times throughout this book that I found myself thinking, “Oh my gosh, of COURSE she would need that to feel comfortable!  That’s BRILLIANT!”  (One in particular involves a collar.  I still think the concept is ingenious but I won’t say anything else so it doesn’t spoil that surprise for you.)  And here's the best part...HE NEVER HAS SEX WITH HER!!  I know.  It blew my mind, too.

Now, there were a few questions that came up like, “Wouldn’t it have been better to just call the police?”  But frankly, the story was so good, I just didn’t care to think that hard.  I was too busy enjoying the psychological drama of it all.

In all fairness, I haven’t read the rest of the books in the series.  Bur frankly, even if you don’t, you will still suffer a serious book hangover with “Slave”.  It is a wonderfully intense book.  You will never look at BDSM the same.

You can find “Slave” by clicking here.

And don't forget....you have just 2 days left to enter the contest for a SIGNED COPY of the book THERAPY by Kathryn Perez.  Just "like" my Facebook page here and comment below to have a chance to win!