Arc provided to me through netgalley.

This is a story of Stian and Lacey.
Lacey is a young 23 year old who is currently enrolled in the university. She is slowly trying to gain some control over her life . See she has an eating disorder and she is trying to get healthy and have a “normal” life .
Stian is 39 and is the top guy / boss man for a museum. He is very successful and reached it because he is a control freak! He has to have control over everything.

I had trouble falling in love with this book.
It has a good storyline and a good amount of kink - Stian and Lacey development a dom/sub daddy/little girl relationship. I have nothing against eating disorders and don’t mind reading of them BUT how her disorder was played out in this book turned me off and I couldn’t follow . I don’t have much knowledge of any eating disorders, I don’t know anyone with one so I’m not sure if the disorder is commonly a voice in ones head but in this book that is how it is. There is Lacey the “normal” thinking girl who is trying very hard to pick up the pieces of her life then there is Lacey the disorder who talks to her throughout the book brain washing her and telling her mean things. Is not like a subconscious voice in my opinion its more like a voice I would expect in a schizophrenic person. This made me very frustrated the whole time.

There is books out there for everyone this one just isn’t for me. Everything about the book besides that part (which is a very main part) was great..

This story of Lacey and Stian is quite emotional and also offers hope and romance and even humor. It is a very deep story line and packs quite a punch. It took me a while to read it even though it moves smoothly, it is just so intense.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a dark romance and I really liked this one. It tugged at my heart and was difficult to read due to the content but the story was well written and made me think a lot about mental illness.

The book is seemingly about a controlling man, Stian, and his need for order. It goes even deeper than that when you read of Lacey’s struggle to keep control in her life while struggling with anorexia. Brianna Hale did an amazing job describing Lacey’s inner demons even though it was painful to read. It felt very realistic. I also loved that Stian was not her savior but was there for whatever she needed in her recovery.

TW: BDSM, “daddy” age gap, mental illness, anorexia

Enamored by this page-turner of a story!

Completely shattered at how Hale turned a deep, emotional soul-inspiring issue that people to this day battle on everyday basis and she spins it into a deeply romantic novel. Yes, I only rated it 4 stars, b/c I wanted to see more towards the end between Lacey and Stian. More development, more up's and down's and how they would blossom between the dynamics with her disease. There is defiantly more to this story than just romance, and I encourage all who are struggling with anything personal, to read between the lines of this empowering novel and gain the remarkable courage that Lacey develops and also the patience, love and understanding that Stian has for her.

*scroll to the bottom for content warnings*

Trope: Daddy dom/little girl
Cover rating: hawt! And very fitting- accurate including the tattoo! That rarely happens, telling you how detail oriented this author is
Book description accuracy: accurate but a ‘non description’- I picked this one up solely for the cover TBH but I am so glad I did!
General review: Let’s get this out of the way right from the start- if you do not like a daddy dom/little girl story this is not the story for you. That trope is not for everyone and my heart hurts thinking of all the poor reviews this will get from people who aren’t prepared for that! Because THIS. BOOK. IS. AMAZING! I enjoy a good daddy/little every once in a while but they never seem real or draw me in completely- because I wasn’t reading Hale! She writes this trope so well, really giving you the background for why someone finds this emotionally and sexually appealing; the sex scenes are also written as a ‘intro to dd/lg’ helping the reader to understand even more. For anyone who likes a little BDSM and wants to see what a good dd/lg erotica is like but feels weird about the ‘daddy’ thing, I highly encourage you to start with one by Hale. This story was everything I ever wanted from a dd/lg, right down to how controlling Daddy is in the ‘bedroom’ (aka office after hours) *fans self*
I was not prepared for how intense the anorexia storyline is- if this is a trigger for you I don’t think you should pick this book up. There are relapses and deep insights into the therapy and mindset; it is told in first person so I cannot imagine this would be a smart choice for someone in recovery. Despite this I really enjoyed this book and immediately went down a backlist rabbit hole, devouring all I could get my hands on by Hale. I will absolutely be watching for more from her!
Angst style: happens somewhat early, about halfway through; h believing herself wrong for H & anorexia relapse
POV: 1st person, both H & h

Content warnings: BDSM, dd/lg (daddy dom/little girl), anorexia

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. #ControlFreak #NetGalley

Content Warning: Eating Disorders/Anorexia

Whether or not you like this book will probably depend on whether or not you think it's healthy for the anorexic heroine to give over her control to her boss/Daddy as a way of managing her very real (and thoroughly described and explained on page) struggles with her eating disorder.

Do I think people with eating disorders can have healthy romantic partnerships? Yes. Was that what happened here? I don't know, but I didn't like how a lot of it felt. I think if a character in a romance is so ill after their love affair and the impact it has on them that they need to be institutionalized for inpatient treatment for 4 weeks after the 75% mark of a book....then maybe it's okay to just focus on that character's journey towards wellness and not worry about making that a romance. YMMV.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Stian Blomqvist craved being in control in all aspects of his life. He requires perfection from all of those around him. Stian is a museum director and Lacey Petrou works for him as his assistant. Control Freak definitely has lots of daddy kink, it also tackles the seriousness of an eating disorder. The relationship that blossoms between Stian and Lacey helps her deal with her daily struggles. I really enjoyed the slow burn of their building relationship. Great story, but not for the faint of heart. The author has done her research involving an eating disorder, which I really appreciated.

This was my first book by Brianna Hale and I'm certain I'll be reading more from her! Loved this book and would absolutely recommend it to a friend!

This is an amazing emotional and steamy read. Stian is a control freak and Lacey is his new assistant and recently out of treatment for an eating disorder. Soon sparks fly between Stian and Lacey and a daddy dom relationship begins. Lacey’s emotional issues come out and Stian does his best to help her with her issues and showing how much he loves her. Will it be enough? Fast-paced read with amazing characters who have so much depth. The story is very emotional and it really drew me in, I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved it!

The cover caught my attention. Let’s be honest it’s hard to not notice and appreciate that cover.

So I read the blurb but I just didn’t really fancy reading a book that featured an eating disorder.

But the reviews were so good. So many of my friends had read and loved it.

So I decided to give it a try.

Lacey suffers from anorexia and it’s crippling. It completely controls her. Every minute of every day. She’s not living, not really. She’s merely existing from one day to the next.

She gets a summer job working for Stian Blomqvist. The job or rather Mr Blomqvist gives her an element of peace and control.

It wasn’t easy reading at times. I was surprised how large a part the anorexia actually played. But it was handled with great sensitivity.

Stian was an amazing character and the way he treated Lacey was beautiful.

“Not so hard. I keep them small and perfect and give them everything they need, and they seem to thrive.”

And how I wanted Lacey to thrive.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.

3.5 stars
Interesting office romance, age gap and heartbreaking story but lovely and hopefully at the same time.
It's a good written story, with two characters that are so different but so well matched up together, it's heartbreaking at times but also hopefully and even if it has darker moments, it's still a love story. Everyone has their own opinions and feelings and tastes, we should not judge them for it and if someone finds love in a situation where others can't understand I always appreciate them.

Control Freak is a deep, emotional read that pulls at your heart strings and although at times it does get a little dark and a whole lot heartbreaking, it was also hopeful, sweet and romantic. Lacey and Stian were a great couple that I couldn’t help but love and root for. They definitely have real life obstacles to overcome but their love and devotion to each other was the highlight of the story.

This love story has a beautiful message of hope, of love and commitment and never giving up. It was a really sweet love story. The D/s and Dd/lg elements were there but didn’t overwhelm the main plot. I liked that Lacey and Stian counter balanced each other and their D/s roles seemed natural to them both. Stian as a Daddy Dom and Lacey as a Little just clicked and added another layer to their relationship. It wasn’t all rainbows and fluffy kittens. Its was gritty and raw but no less beautiful.

Would I recommend? I liked this sweet story, it was hopeful and romantic and unique. It definitely gave me all the feels and I loved the ending *sigh* Definitely recommend it.

“This is something that’s all mine, and it’s filled with pleasure and more than a dash of naughtiness.”

This is my third book from this author and I really enjoy it!It was a quick and sexy read but it wasn't only this!Lacey and Stian have control issues and through the story we see how Lacey recovering and how she and Stian trying to find balance was interesting.

"I'm rough with your body sometimes, but I'll always be gentle with your soul.She bruises far more easily. "

“This is something that’s all mine, and it’s filled with pleasure and more than a dash of naughtiness.”

This is my third book from this author and I really enjoy it!It was a quick and sexy read but it wasn't only this!Lacey and Stian have control issues and through the story we see how Lacey recovering and how she and Stian trying to find balance was interesting.

"I'm rough with your body sometimes, but I'll always be gentle with your soul.She bruises far more easily. "

Control Freak starts out as what seems like an office romance but turns into something fiery, yet cathartic. The decedent cover drew me in initially, but the story within was insightful, well-paced and showed emotion as well as passion. This could have been a run of the mill BDSM story, but Stian and Lacey’s D/s relationship is so much more. This story’s main focus was Lacey’s body image issues and the very real consequences of Anorexia. I truly enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking for more from this author.

This was my first read from this author and it won't be my last. It's a well written "daddy" book but it's also more than that. There's definitely heat and don't get me wrong the chemistry and kink scenes were FANTASTIC! But for me the highlight of the book was the genuine affection that develops between the two characters and watching them grow together. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Brianna Hale, a new-to-me author, gave me pause. While Control Freak has plenty of daddy kink for all of us dirty readers, it tackled an issue that isn't commonly broached in romance books. It made me think, sympathize, and hope for a future not even the heroine could imagine. Lacey suffered from anorexia and it completely ruled her life. While other girls were worried about boys and parties and sex, she struggled with her inner voice. See, that voice was loud and prevented her from truly living. She lived under a cloud of doubt, insecurity, and feelings of inadequacy. Although it was obvious that she had no reason to feel that way, getting her to believe it was something else. That is until Stian came along...

I loved how the author created Stian. Yes, the entire age gap romance, daddy/little girl theme, and his inherent dominance were hot, but this man sincerely cared about Lacey's welfare. He wanted her to feel whole. He researched her illness and found ways to combat it. He gave her the freedom to feel at peace with herself and challenged her to escape her personal boundaries. He allowed her to taste some of the things she had denied herself and he gave her hope. He was incredible!

I do think that Lacey's eating disorder took up a lot of space and overshadowed the kinky fukry I was looking forward to, but it was handled with a ton of sensitivity. It made me realize how serious this issue is, mentally and physically, and the way it was woven in with the romance was something I don't see often. I enjoyed this author's writing and I would definitely read something from her again.

'Control freak' is aptly titled romance in more than one ways. The aspect of total control is breached on a deeper level by Ms Hale. Whether it is the fight to achieve total control over one's demons or losing it to feel free.
I was sucked right in the story. To be honest, I finished it in a single setting. The writing and mainly, plot was that engaging. Although, it was not an easy or fun read in any aspect. I haven't encountered anyone battling from eating disorders in my life. So safe to say, it worked as an eye opener. The strength and determination it takes to overcome the problem was awe inspiring.
"ARC kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review"

(TRIGGER WARNING: Eating disorders, medical concerns, BDSM, explicit language, sexual scenes)

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the ebook copy of Brianna Hale’s newest Romance novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Compared to other books I’ve read recently, this is very different. I love romances and erotica don’t get me wrong. I read Fifty Shades along with the rest of you. I’ve just been on a YA Contemporary and Fantasy kick lately so I haven’t done an Adult Romance in awhile. It was nice to get out my box for a few hundred pages.

I finished this book all in one day. I tend to gobble romance novels up very quickly – they are just so easy to read. I couldn’t put this one down, for several reasons.

This story took a young woman struggling with anorexia and placed her in the path of working as the assistant for an older, very attractive man. She has very deep-seeded mental health issues stemming from her battle with anorexia – so she is pretty vulnerable at this point. You get a very good sense of how hard she is struggling. but also trying to beat her demons. She describes her eating disorder as they other voice inside her head, that convinces her she is too overweight to be lovable. It can be a lot, especially if you struggle with something similar (as I do).

Frankly, I thought the author depicted anorexia well. I do not suffer from it, but I could relate to the body dysmorphia aspect and having that voice inside your head telling you that you aren’t good enough. It was fairly cathartic actually – but could be triggering for other.

Then you add in the aspect of a BDSM sexual relationship. Now, I’m not well versed with this, but I found that Hale did a better job of depicting it in a healthy way than Fifty Shades was. The book followed Lacey’s journey in recovery and entering into this relationship well. Obviously, there has to be a downside moment before the big ending, but I think it was done well.

Time for critiques. I docked this book 1 star for these reasons: I felt the relationship between Lacey and her boss happened too quickly and without a lot of lead up or transition. It was very quick and I feel like it could have been described better. Also, having been educated in the mental health field, I wasn’t entirely thrilled with how Lacy’s therapist’s character was portrayed. It was definitely better than most – but could be improved upon. For these reasons, I gave it a 4/5.

Happy reading, book friends!

I'm speechless.
It was a hot romance between the two main characters, starting out as an office romance and the passion is quite steamy between them.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a sexy read and I enjoyed every bit of it. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

"Yes, everything. I'm a control freak, remember?"

Okay, I confess, it was the hot cover that caught my attention. I've never read Brianna Hale before, but once I read the synopsis I was too intrigued to pass up Control Freak. I'm so glad that I gave it a chance, I loved it. I'll most definitely be keeping an eye out for her future works.

I was surprisingly very interested in the demons that Lacey faced hourly, not just daily. She struggles to cope and with trying to live life as expected by others. She's surviving, but just barely. She remembers what it used to be like to smile and be happy but doesn't expect to ever feel that way again.

Lacey is drawn to her new boss almost against her will. He's beyond sexy in a suit, and those tattoos, and that accent...sigh. "I start to become distracted, because while he's a jerk he's kind of a gorgeous jerk, with a sculpted face and a generous, surly mouth. I like the way he says dis and dat instead of this and that." Distraction is good, right? Something else to focus on that's not her.

He's an asshole in the very best of ways. At least to her. It's obvious to him that she seems to like it when he's bossy. She's putting ideas in his head that might not be the most productive in the workplace. He watches her and sees more than she wants him to. Not just her beauty, but her struggles as well. Maybe a control freak is exactly what she needs, huh?

I'm surprised at how much content was packed into this story. I learned so much and became quickly attached to the characters. It's much more than just a short sexy office romance, it went deeper and touched my emotions. It made me think outside the 'box' and gave me a new understanding about a situation that I'd not given much thought to previously. I'll most definitely be looking forward to whatever the author has for us next. The line forms here...