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Melanie has spent her entire life working her way up in the world. By day, she studies at law school, and by night, she serves drinks at an exclusive club to afford her tuition. But the hard-working Melanie will never admit her true desire: to escape from her fast-paced, high-pressure life, if only for a moment.

When Melanie meets Vanessa, a glamorous executive and a regular at the club, she is drawn to the enigmatic black-haired woman. Vanessa is relentless in pursuing what she wants—and what she wants is Melanie. Soon, Melanie finds herself caught up in Vanessa’s sensual games of submission, power and control.

Melanie insists that her affair with Vanessa remains purely physical. But as her limits are tested, so is the line between lust and love. When ghosts from the past reappear, both women must face their deepest fears. Can Melanie surrender her everything to Vanessa, or will old wounds prove too great?

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2018

About the author

Anna Stone

20 books1,322 followers
Anna Stone is the author of lesbian romance bestsellers Being Hers, Tangled Vows, and more. Her sizzling sapphic romances feature strong, passionate women who love women. In every one of her books, you’ll find off-the-charts heat and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Anna lives in Australia with her girlfriend and their cat. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found with a coffee in one hand and a book in the other.
Subscribe to Anna's newsletter to receive an exclusive free novella and short stories. Sign up at annastoneauthor.com/newsletter

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5 stars
1,324 (36%)
4 stars
1,115 (30%)
3 stars
884 (24%)
2 stars
237 (6%)
1 star
88 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
Profile Image for Sprinkles.
193 reviews322 followers
November 6, 2020
Ooo-wee. Just when I wondered when I'll find a thoroughly hot story without contrived melodrama, I click on this. Apparently its sample has been staying warm in my Kindle list unnoticed and I apologize for this.

Sexy femme leads? Yes. Domme-sub dynamics? Yes. Kink, but not so much that I'm lost? You bet.

Really, more than once, I've had to stop and collect myself. I'm a big fan of sex talk in love scenes, making me realize I should search more through BDSM-themed books. Sexual communication are essential for those and that's steamy.

Mel, the main character, was pretty chill and relatable without being boring and pollyanna. And Vanessa--my, my Vanessa--she's reminiscent of SwanQueen's Regina Mills. She's what sexy dreams are made of. Tell me what to do, too, Vanessa!

Five stars. And this is a series? Thank you, Anna Stone.
Profile Image for gloria .☆゚..
523 reviews3,184 followers
May 10, 2023
➥ 1 Star *:・゚✧

“Melanie,” Vanessa said between breaths. “I want you inside me.”
“Yes, my Queen.”(lol what)


━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━


YAWN — there are many reasons why I feel this was just badly executed, so I'll just drop a list here. This was supposed to be a smutty bdsm sapphic novella.

1) Very BDSM-lite as some call it (Vanilla but a little stronger flavour? Slightly?). Which I can obviously enjoy when it's done well but this just led to a snooze fest.

2) Vanessa (dominant) = 🥱😴🙄🥴

“The only sounds I want to hear from you are cries of pleasure.” (OK??)


3) Melanie (submissive) = 🙄😬👎😒 (+second-hand embarassement, +boring)

Like the way this would go was *Vanessa tells Melanie to do something* *Melanie:* "Yes, Vanessa." And that's it. No banter, no cheekiness, no brattiness. I mean ffs can someone spice this up a little? 🙄

4) "My pet" nickname 😪🥴😬 (out of every option there is?)

5) Filler > Sex Scenes

6) All 3 Sex Scenes = 😴

7) 3rd act miscommunication 🙄👎 (in a smutty novella for fucks sake)

8) OW/ex-sub drama 🍅🍅🍅

9) No dreamy affection/sweet touches 😒 (what? I like some adorableness too 🙄)

10) Very little physical contact even during the sex scenes?

11) Bland, unmoving, unswoony aftercare

12) How do you even make a strap scene that fucking boring?? 🚨🙅‍♀️

13) Hopped right to it, no sexual tension, no will-they-won't-they, no teasing etc. 😒

14) 'I love yous' didn't feel genuine/earned (is there need to have ilys in a smutty novella?)

15) Dialogue so dull and bland 🍞🍞🍞

16) Vanessa sending Melanie gifts to wear was so meh to me

This wasn't horrific or anything, but I'm just so indifferent toward it I can't even bring myself to give it more than 1. Like I can't list anything that I felt was done really well. No chemisty, nothing sexy. Even the BDSM itself felt somewhat cheaply written - very vague establishment of safewords etc. I guess this author just isn't for me? I know many others love her though, so I think she'll be okay 🤭.

━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
Profile Image for Alexis.
510 reviews623 followers
May 15, 2019
Oh boy, this has me once again wondering if I read the same book as other reviewers. Why does this have such a high rating?

Admittedly the book started off well enough and even though the writing felt very simplistic, I was hooked. In fact I was burning through the pages until once the 'relationship' between Mel and Vanessa had been established, the book took on tele novella levels of angst and drama.

Several things felt off in this book. One major issue I had was Vanessa's age. At 31 to have the real estate portfolio that she has just feels very unrealistic. There are quite a few other things that just didn't add up. I won't list them all because that would give away too much but this book to me feels like a 'what not to do when it comes to BDSM.' The book ends with a disappointing rating of 2,5*.

This just really wasn't for me. When it comes to BDSM done right between two women I would recommend The Sunstone Series even though it's a graphic novel.
Profile Image for Corrie.
1,584 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2019
Being Hers (Irrisistibly Bound Series #1) by Anna Stone is what I would call glamour BDSM or faux BDSM. Frilly knickers, a riding crop, a blindfold and a safeword is all well and good but it does not mean much if the author hasn’t got a clue. This domme had no real conviction.

I’m sorry, if you want to read an author who has a real understanding for writing kink I suggest you look for Anastasia Vitsky’s Mistress Series, Rebekah Weatherspoon’s At her Feet, Laila Blake’s Polar Shift. Paisly Smith’s Honkeytonk Angels Series or Harper Bliss’ Once in a Lifetime.

f/f explicit

Themes: overcooked drama dipped in a bland BDSM sauce, not my cup of tea.

2.6 stars
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
240 reviews75 followers
May 9, 2023
I'd give it a 3.5. BDSM is definitely not my thing, but I found this book to be informative and a little interesting, actually. The story was okay, the steamy scenes were plentiful, but the narrator wasn't the best choice, in my opinion, some of the inflection was just a bit off for my taste. I'd give the narration a 3.5/5, which is not significantly detrimental to the experience, but it's not an audiobook I would have purchased if Chirp didn't have it on sale.
Profile Image for Joc.
762 reviews188 followers
March 20, 2019
This is a very slick and shiny romance with very little reality but it worked just fine. Melanie has worked hard for every thing she has and she's still working hard. She's paying her way as a law student by working in an exclusive bar and she has no time for anything other than college and work. One of the executives who frequents the bar catches her eye and it's her dominant and commanding aura that draws her in. Vanessa is a self-made woman of wealth who admires Melanie's drive and strength.

I quite liked the characters and they had enough depth to be more than cardboard cutouts. There is BDSM in the story but it is much more about the power exchange, bondage and desire to submit than pain and humiliation. They have an emotional connection rather than just one that is contractual or sexual. The scenes are steamy but there is also more to the story than just that.

Often the difference in financial status becomes the over-riding issue in rich girl/poor girl stories and I was relieved to find that it wasn't made into an issue at all. Their conflicts were about them as people rather than status.

Easy, sexy, quick read.
Profile Image for Michele.
155 reviews30 followers
Read
September 11, 2019
DNF. Jeez should’ve taken more notice of the less than stellar reviews. Schmaltzy, eye rolling dialogue. Yawnful sex scenes...even with the light BDSM thrown in. 😴 Basically it’s mediocre erotica stretched out into a dull, shabbily written story.
Profile Image for Dee.
1,992 reviews87 followers
July 9, 2018
3.5 stars round up to 4

This was a reasonably enjoyable story. As a reader who is constantly seeking out F/f BDSM stories I downloaded it based on the tags. Those parts of the story did not disappoint. The power exchange was exquisite, the Shibari (rope bondage) an unexpected bonus.

What didn't work for me was the conflict. To me it felt so contrived I lost interest after the 65% mark, the final sex scene/emotional connect is what made me bump this up to 4 stars.

NOTE - Although this didn't factor into my rating, the story could do with a final lick of polish.
Profile Image for Les Rêveur.
461 reviews140 followers
November 12, 2019
A great way to start a new series! Looking forward to what’s next.

I always enjoy a good erotic romance, especially when I know that it is part of a series of erotica books. The pace was just right and I actually loved the back story of both character as it gave them both more substance.

I would have like to have read Vanessa’s point of view because her back story played a large role in Mel and Vanessa’s dynamic, and I think it would have been good to hear her thoughts during the process of their relationship.

Kudos to Anna Stone. I think she has created a book that even people not familiar with the BDSM community would enjoy.

FOR FULL REVIEW FOLLOW LINK BELOW:
https://lesreveur.com/2019/11/12/bein...
Profile Image for Starsandsun18.
258 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2019
This is my first from the author and I kind of have mixed emotions towards this one but I ended up liking it.
If you’re looking for a hard core BDSM you will not get it here. It’s pretty much light.

I admit Vanessa and Mel got good chemistry.
Nice secondary characters, I like Jess and James.

The only prob I have with the book is that the conflict felt forced.
And also between Vanessa and Rose past.
I would have bought Kim and Mel but not them.



3.75
Profile Image for Leo.
4,663 reviews497 followers
November 17, 2021
This was my first female Dom book I've read/listened to and it Will definitely not be the last. I loved the chemistry between the couple and their dynamic was captivating to listen to. It had some of miss communication throne in it but was definitely handled in an acceptable and good way with out being to draged out or ruining the story. I highly recommend the audiobook for this as it was a great reading experience. Need to listen to the next in the series before the year ends
Profile Image for Bree Hill.
929 reviews575 followers
January 5, 2020
I really respected the insight into a world different than my norm. The author worked in how the roles of Doms and Subs should be done correctly with this relationship between Melanie and Vanessa. Total eye opener for me. Very steamy. Vanessa says in the beginning ‘this kind of relationship is all about communication.’ And that quote really sets the tone for the entire book. I loved it!
Profile Image for hubsie.
591 reviews80 followers
December 31, 2021
So, the audiobook of this book just doesn't have the right narrator. The narrator is a wonderful speaker, but in this case came off as clinical and void of emotion. MC Vanessa sounded like a school marm giving instructions in front of a classroom, not a dominant 30 something year old passionate femme. Unfortunately that was one big strike against it and affected the whole experience.

The other strike is that these two didn't make sense. I understood the attraction MC Mel had towards high powered Vanessa, but not the other way around. Mel wasn't all that complex, just a 23 year old law student who came across as a little shallow. Again, not a great voice given to her on audio.

The writing wasn't strong, it was very *lite BDSM, and was pure fantasy, lacking real depth. Very unrealistic that Vanessa had all these real estate deals and was filthy rich at such a young age, but whatevs. I tried to roll with it but really struggled. 2.25/5.
612 reviews18 followers
November 15, 2018
I enjoyed Being Hers more than I like Behind Closed Doors. The book flowed better and I liked the subject matter better. Maybe it's that I liked the hot steamy sex more so. Okay let me be serious. I felt this book was just a better written novel. It did move fast, but it worked. I would probably rated this a 3.75....so I will round up to 4.
Profile Image for Guerunche.
566 reviews37 followers
January 9, 2022
I've read books that contained light BDSM in the past and I kind of wish I'd read this one first. It's almost an intro to BDSM type of book that explains some basics and gives a few details about the practice that I don't remember seeing in other stories. And it's like that because one of the main characters is new to the scene. That's not to say that this reads like a textbook or anything - not at all. But it provides some detail where others have focused more on playing scenes out.
This is also a good book for people to read (say for the Sapphic Bingo Challenge) that may not be comfortable with the subject because it's non-threatening and stresses safety and consent. There's nothing too graphic here.
While I have read others that I've found a bit more titillating, I appreciated what this had to offer. It's not strictly about sex or the practice of it, it also has two strong leads that have interesting backstories. Yes - this is definitely fantasy material with Vanessa being an ultra-wealthy woman with unlimited resources who falls for a law school student who serves drinks at an exclusive club to help pay her way through school. But there's also heart to it. I've had Anna Stone's books recommended to me several times and this was my first. I'm glad I've finally taken the plunge and will definitely be reading more.
Profile Image for Julie.
115 reviews
July 11, 2018
Being Hers is like a manual to bdsm world. After reading all f/f bdsm submissions on literotica I thought I knew everything but I managed to learn a few new things from this book.
It has everything I want to see in lesfic with bdsm elements and it is really perfect for my tastes: no face slapping as many books have, no hard or strange stuff. Throughout the book the author shows the importance of trust and communication.
What I liked a lot were mind games which are not often presented in lesfic.
It is also important to describe everything well and Anna Stone did a great job here.
As you can imagine the book is full of sex scenes but they don't seem repetitive, boring or excessive.
The book is well-written, is quite educational, has real and interesting characters and beautiful romance.
What seemed strange to me was Vanessa's age. In my opinion, she was supposed to be at least in her late thirties (31 didn't suit her). And the reason for their break up at the end didn't seem valid to me.
Vanessa is like a sex goddess, a perfect domme! I'm afraid I developed a huge crush on her 🙈 and would definitely re-read this book again and again... 😊
Looking forward to reading more books by the author, with the same amount of bdsm elements, I hope!
Profile Image for Tara.
783 reviews356 followers
December 2, 2018
I liked both characters and was able to connect with them pretty easily. The book is told from Mel’s perspective and I appreciated that Stone gave us enough of Vanessa’s perspective through her dialogue and other people’s observations that we weren’t left lacking or wondering who she is as a person. Both women had interesting character arcs, and it was particularly satisfying watching the girl-next-door Mel thaw the ice queen that is Vanessa.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/bein...
Profile Image for Lara.
20 reviews
April 5, 2021
I cannot really decide whether I liked the story or not. On the one hand, I didn't like the plot that much and some things were kinda unrealistic and on the other hand I enjoyed the development of their relationship.
Anyway. Since the story didn't caught me that much I can only give 3 stars. Sorry for that!
Profile Image for Paula.
71 reviews21 followers
February 7, 2019
BEST SERIES EVER!!
Again, Anna Stone brings us an amazing story, with a lot of love, smut and BDSM, but it's not just that, you can't just stop reading, super addictive, like the others.
My favorite series, and I CAN'T WAIT TO READ ANOTHER BOOK FROM ANA STONE ❤️❤️
Profile Image for Kathryn.
466 reviews80 followers
April 2, 2019
I liked this story despite the BDSM angle. I felt the need the two MC's had for each other and when they were apart they didn't seem complete until they were together again. That was very sweet and kept me reading.

This didn't seem like a debut novel. It was well written and thoughtful. I might even read more of this series in spite of it being BDSM. ;)
Profile Image for Karin A.
153 reviews18 followers
May 17, 2019
After a pretty long stint off slow burn or lesbian content novels, I was craving something hot and spicy. And I was rewarded. Well written, really enjoyed it, my cheeks grew hot at several points in the book.
The book contains bdsm, not the edgy stuff, so don’t hesitate to pick it up. If you haven’t read anything in that particular genre, I can recommend this one as a good start.
Profile Image for Chelisa.
92 reviews35 followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 26, 2020
so I might have gotten like 40% of the way into this book, and frankly, I was just bored. The writing and emotions of this book were so simple and laid right there for two seconds before moving on, no time spent or spent well to actually make me feel anything. The lust to love that was developing wasn't believable for me. Felt nothing, no chemistry. The plot was just a bit too contrived, like set up of the tragic back story leading to their relationship a bit too well.

I really wanted to like this cause I'm finding it hard to find f/f romances, but I just couldn't push through. Since it was so simple, there was no tension (at least to me) and it was so tame for a bdsm book, which isn't inherently bad, but I wanted the same level of passion that I've been finding in m/f romances. It was pretty informative tho instead going solely on raging arousal; it was smart with it. I did read some reviews saying that it picks up eventually, but I don't think I care enough. Can't even recall their names, much less any reason to want to read their story.

it bummed me out cause I was staying up reading this book waiting for something good to happen when I could've just been sleeping.


all that being said, if you wanna try the book, go ahead. I wish you better luck

dnf 40ish% - 1/17/20
October 23, 2022
This was a bit of a surprise for me because I thought things went hot really fast physically but the chemistry in the book held well throughout. I really loved the leads together. Romance + Spice= perfection
Profile Image for Dawn.
139 reviews7 followers
December 10, 2018
Nothing like a little bit of hotness on a cold winter night!
Profile Image for Kirsty✨.
129 reviews5 followers
May 25, 2023
This book is Hot. I loved everything about this book.

I get a very strong feeling that I am going to love this series. I mean, the first book has been a great hit with me.

There was not a single bit in the book that I didn't enjoy. I loved the chemistry and dynamic between Melanie and Vannessa and feel as if that made the book a great hit.

Don't let me get started on how much I loved Vannessa. She was perfect in every way.

On to book #2!

Trigger Warnings:
Improper BDSM practices, Parent with alcoholism mentioned, Asthma attacks mentioned, and Stalking by an ex-partner mentioned.

Rating:
5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews

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