Damn, I should have read the synopsis better next time and not get distracted by the smexy cover!

But then again, I think had I read the synopsis better I wouldn't have made a request for this book because DD/GG ain't my thing and I would have been left out of something good.

The whole DD/GG made me cringe, even now thinking about it. But the story is more than just them roasting their bed sheets.

Again, I didn't know when I made a request to this book, I would end up reading a mess. A good kind of mess that you know you should be disturbed by how real and raw it is, but you can't help but loving every minute of it.

Fair warning, this story could be a potential trigger to some. I wouldn't consider the story as dark romance, but this is not a sunshine and rainbow kind of romance either.

Thank you Netgalley and Brianna Hale for the advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 Bonsai Girl Stars ⭐️

Every day is a battle for Lacey Petrou. Enjoying the simplest things in life is a struggle; the very things that so many takes for granted. Little things like eating and drinking has become emotionally and physically crippling. Every day a journey not to relapse.

“She’s always with me, spitting insults and cruelty and telling me I’m unlovable, fat and greedy.”

Museum Director Stian Blomqvist slash Swedish ‘Viking’ finds himself without an assistant. Known as being controlling and difficult to work with, it is by chance that Lacey finds herself as his new assistant.

Stian is a disciplined man, with enough kindness and patience to offer a form of therapy that could assist Lacey with healing. A relationship formed over mutual respect, trust, control and ultimately submission, it is the perfect combination.

“She trusted me. I like to be wanted, and I fucking love to be needed.”

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Brianna Hale’s works.
Where she is the queen of daddy kink romances with a storyline that always captures your heart, I believe this time around ‘Contol Freak’ will appeal to a broader mass of readers.
YES, our hero thrives on being called ‘daddy’ but its irrelevant. This story was the right amount of character building and sexual heat to be perfect.
The author did an exceptional job dealing with the seriousness of an eating disorder without glossing over it. But it didn’t eclipse the story-line. It made it that more bittersweet.
If you haven’t read a Brianna Hale book before, now’s the time….

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

This was so not what I expected in the best way possible. I thought this was gonna be just another run of the mill erotic romance but it was so much more. Yes there's some erotica in it but it's not the focus of the story which is good. The book tackles a hard subject of anorexia and in my opinion does it brilliantly (I have no first or second hand experience with anorexia so I don't know much about it but it seems that Ms. Hale did an extensive research on it for this book which is commendable). And the characters are likable so you can sympathize and feel with them. This was my first Brianna Hale book but it defenitely won't be the last.

I'm torn with this book. What started out as a sexy, kinky Daddy/good girl office romance quickly escalated into a young women battling the demons of anorexia.
Stian is the control freak this encompasses his professional career and personal life. Lacey needs a little guidance in her life as she's been struggling with depression and anorexia for years. The pair are brought together through their love of art and work well together.
I thought the author does a good job with the age gap relationship, Daddy kink but I wish she would have stuck too the romance between them. It was a bit heavy and not what I had anticipated when I began reading g it.

Wow! This one is steamy! I have been exploring the world of romance, seeing what I like and this one was recommended to me by a friend. I thought the characters were well written and there was a great build up and setting for the story. However, this one probably pushed the limits of the kind of romance I read. Very descriptive!!

This one is recommend for those who like BDSM and domination and submission.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a dirty, sexy read and I enjoyed every bit of it. It was very steamy and hot and also dealt with some very real issues in a healthy, well done manner.

Sizzling romance with all the feels and sensitive subjects handled so great.

I loved this cover first of all. Then after reading the blurb I saw that Stian is a Dom and Lacey a submissive who happens to have anorexia issues and I was afraid this would become something like him helping to cure her by ordering her to eat. I knew that wouldn’t be realistic since Anorexia is all about control over what food is put into the body. So I was very happy to find out that both subjects are handled extremely well in this book.

It was a hot romance between the two main characters, starting out as an office romance and the passion is quite steamy between them. It is not insta-love. Though it does happen fairly fast. The storyline about her disease is pretty awesome but is not what the entire book’s focus is about. It is a romance and I truly enjoyed it. Well done on all fronts to Brianna Hale.

Control Freak by Brianna Hale is an enjoyable, easy read. I finished this book in two sittings but the only reason for that was because I had to sleep. So a very quick read.

This book features Lacey, an recovering anorexic, and Stian, a museum director with a controlling nature. Their relationship starts on a low note with Stian yelling at Lacey for almost falling down a flight of stairs while digging in her purse. She then goes to interview as his new assistant but doesn't realize he is the same man as before. She gets the job and they begin a working relationship. Obviously things progress to a more intimate dom/sub relationship.

I have no personal experience with anorexia and I don't know anyone that has dealt with this disease before but it does seem that the author did a good amount of research for this book. I really could feel Lacey's anguish when she was trying to deal with and overcome her personal demons. It felt realistic to me because it wasn't an easy path for Lacey, she did have set backs and she was fighting for control of her life the whole time.

There are some cringe worthy lines in this book. I'm not sure I like the Daddy aspect of this book but still an good read.

This was a complimentary copy from netgalley - many thanks

I have read some Brianna Hale before so was pleased to be approved to read this

If you like your heroes strong - as in Dom - this is for you

Fast paced, steamy romance with a happy ending

Loved it - highly recommend as a holiday read

This book was a little different than what I usually read. There was some dom and sub going on in the story. My heart went out to Lacey dealing with her anorexia. I learned a lot about anorexia and what people go through dealing with it. I loved how Stian was patient with Lacey during the book. All in all it was a good book!

I loved this book to the depth! It was so hot and my heart legit betrayed me over the hero! Just LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!! ALL THE DETAILS, SCENES, CHARACTERS WERE JUST AWESOME AND I NEED MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE!! BRIANNA HALE Just did it again and never fails to disappoint me. People can learn so much from this book, everything was there, romance, erotic romance, kinky romance!!! I AM WILLING TO BE THE SUGAR BABY IF I CAN GET A DADDY LIKE THE MAIN HERO! He was such a good daddy and I loved how he accepted Lacey, her dreams, wishes, flaws!

Lacey is a strong girl,, and she deserves the world. She is now one of my favorite heroine's. They compliment each other so much and I loved their relationship and chemistry.

Goodreads- Miftahul ♥️MsLovesReading♥️

Stain wants control of EVERYTHING. And when he gets involved with someone that's no different.
Lacey has had a hard life. She struggles to control anything and so she finds unhealthy ways to control the wrong things.
Stain and Lacey might be perfect for each other if their battles for control can withstand life.

This book wasn't what I expected, but in a good way. I was expecting an extremely dirty book basked on the cover and title. What I got was a romance story filled with struggle, hardship, understanding, and hope. Well worth the read.

Is it clear now that after 2 books by Mrs. Hale with the same Leitmotiv, I have daddy issues, but that said, I think she did her homework in regard of anorexia. Still no my cup of tea but at last she didn't underestimate the problem.

Ormai mi é chiaro che dopo due libri della Sig.ra Hale con lo stesso Leitmotiv, io ho problemi con la figura genitoriale, specialmente nel contesto in cui la usa lei, ma a parte questo, devo dire che tutto sommato prima di scrivere di anoressia si é informata parecchio e non l'ha sottovalutata né trattata in modo superficiale. Comunque non é il mio genere....

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Stian holds himself to standards, I like that, “this is very serious to me. If I expect things of you, you can be damn sure I expect them of myself. I’m not saving anything for anyone else. There’s only you..." I liked this book, I liked Stian.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy of Control Freak in exchange for my review.

Stian's patience and understanding for Lacey was so beautiful. This book hooked me from the beginning and I flew right through it. I wish the book was longer so I could feel a little more for the characters. I enjoyed the book but was left feeling like I didn't connect with the character because it was so short.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I Loved Lacey and Stian’s story. It is super hot, like fan myself hot!! On top of the steamy was a great story with a happy ending. Great read, definitely recommend!!!

A very very good book. A little dark and a little kinky but in a good way. Nothing to far out there and it deals with some very deep issues.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. I could not get past the age difference and other questionable subjects in this book. I would however give the author another chance.

These kinds of books are definitely different from my reading genre, but it was still such a fantastic read. Only a few typos, but it kept me engaged in the book. I definitely liked the different perspective and persona of the female character as well as how each chapter was from the viewpoint of both of the main characters.

*review will be posted on my instagram within the week (@bookish.adventurer).

Short, simple and cringe-worthy. That pretty sums up this entire erotica read and needless to say there isn't much to brag about. The characters and storyline were eh. The only good thing about this read is how I was able to get it done within ½ hour.