Whipped Dreams

by Emily Klepp

My anxiety is tortuous and is constantly interfering with my life. It is always stopping me from what I want in life… My bosses. I have been taught from a young age to not be the temptress who invites unwanted attention, so I stay in the shadows. That doesn’t mean I don’t see how they look at me. Their little smirks are fuel for my fantasies. Everything escalates with one webpage I forgot to close out of. One wrong purchase for everything to peak and for me to finally find my happily ever after. That doesn't stop the dark forces from finding their way into my life. It doesn’t stop the invasions of memories. When put into a position where I can finally walk away from a lifetime of neglect and silent pain… will I take my chance? Will I free myself from their grip, or will I allow them to belittle me back into submission?

This is a darker-themed, 33k-work novella about a woman's journey into the world of BDSM to combat her anxiety. This story has triggers for sexual assault, mention of extreme childhood trauma, and fertility issues. Please read with caution.

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2023

About the author

Visit my Linktree here -> https://linktr.ee/emilykleppnovels

Emily Klepp is a Western North Carolina native residing in eastern Tennessee with her loving husband and two beautiful children. She has been writing since she was fourteen years old as a way to cope with her anxiety. She hopes to help others be able to speak their truth by writing about topics that are considered too taboo for societal norms.

Reviews

[Talia Wisecarver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I felt the main character was very relatable with her anxiety and I love that she is encouraged to work on her anxiety through many different avenues (trying not to give too many spoilers)!! I really enjoyed this one! Go give it a read! Cannot wait for more from Emily!!!

[Charlotte Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow 🥵🥵🥵🥵 so hot loved every minute of this book, this woman can write wow

[Cheyanne Haskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

STOPPP 🥹❤️‍🩹 i freaking loved this book.. spicy and fluffy 😻👏🏼 such a quick and absolutely beautiful read ❤️

[Denise Huddleston · Rating 3 out of 5]

***SPOILER WARNING***
I received this book as an ARC. This book wasn't a bad book but I have some issues. I read a lot of dark smut and haven't found a trigger warning yet that bothers me but I feel it's super important for the trigger warnings to be accurate for those that it would bother. This book felt light and had a Lily Gold vibe (whom i love) and there's absolutely nothing wrong with throwing in some darker flakes with the childhood abuse and all the trauma from that, cool cool. BUT out of nowhere a main character was attacked and raped right on the page, in pretty explicit detail, it felt very out of no where. I wish the author would've included main character on page rape as a trigger warning. But other than it went back to mostly upbeat and lighter. I really liked how the author showcased the FMC's anxiety bc so many real people deal with anxiety on a daily basis. It was really nice to see someone dealing with actual anxiety and not just the watered down version that some books portray. I really appreciated that.

[Ariel Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

STORYLINE 5⭐️

I loved this audiobook!

Octavia, our FMC, is a major introvert and has such bad anxiety, but it's all due to repressed trauma.

Our MMC's own a BDSM club and introduce Octavia to the lifestyle. Funny thing is, Octavia is so introverted, that she literally didn't know that her bosses owned and managed a sex club!

This book has some great spice, but is also so fluffy and sweet! I absolutely adored it! I'd love to know more about her bestie and her brother because religious trauma aside, their characters also had me wondering about them and their stories and quirks. I can't wait to hear more about these characters!

PERFORMACE
4⭐️

I loved the narrator's accent, the southern-sounding belle made me a little giddy! The only thing I would have liked is more emotion behind her storytelling. I felt like in some places, she sounded a little monotonous but overall, I liked her pace and the clarity of her accent and voice.

[Sauieh Noushin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick HOT and Delicious read!!
MFM, big pierced peens, HOT Doms, lots of different aspects of BDSM and growth.
Octavia has a horrible childhood. She grew up with shitty parents who were super religious and protected her rapist uncle. Blaming everything on her starting at age 5 to 10. Her best friend Sami is the shit!!
She works for 2 hot DOMS as their assistant who own a company that runs clubs. They have all liked each other and it finally comes to a head.
They let her explore their world and she loves it. She is smart, loving and strong.
She has to deal with some work jealousy that turns bad. But her friends, brother Max and her men are there for her.
The truth comes out about EVERYTHING and it's all for the best. Octavia gets her collaring ceremony and 2 Doms.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new coping mechanism

I've been reading Emily's books for a while and this was my first of hers that is so far back and I can see how much she has grown as an author over the years.

I really like a good MFM romance. We also got to add in workplace romance, smex club, and BDSM.

I love the way the men took into account all of he FMCs anxiety and insecurities before, during, and after showing her all they could offer.

I was definitely surprised by the grape scene that came out of nowhere though it is not a trigger for me people should check their warnings.

Good story and use of BDSM to help her overcome trauma as well as anxiety.

[Dee Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of lucky onea that got to read this as an ARC. I absolutely enjoyed Octavia's story. Many shorter books tend to cut out back stories and character building. But Emily did not miss the mark. I was very happy with how the story developed and how there was substance and detail.

Highly suggest double checking the triggers, because there are several hot topics that are touched on.

Can't wait for Emily's next book.

[Karen Weir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book is a great short read.
For being a shorter book the character and story development is spot on.
Anxiety is something that can cripple most of us at times and it was great to see this as a focus of this book, seeing how the MMC works with the FMC to overcome her anxieties and blossom into the confident woman she can be.
Well worth a read and Emily writes beautiful works about things not many folks would write about.

[Tenessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless! 🥵

I'm gonna be honest... I'm not exactly sure how to put the words together to describe this delicious book! It was intoxicating and exhilarating to say at the least! I was sucked in so fast and could not put it down until I finished! If you like dark 😈, sexy 😻, with a big splash of kinky 🌶 x5..this book is hands down written for you!

[Books & Hooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends to lovers, why choose, BDSM, anxiety, family issues, trauma, this book has it all plus more. This was a quick read for me, but it wasn’t lacking anything. It did touch on some darker themes, but it was a lighter read for me and I really enjoyed it. I felt Emily did a great job showing how anxiety can affect a person and that BDSM can be an outlet for some people.

[Sarah Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC and i have to admit. It’s pretty good. Check the trigger warnings because they are all in there. But it’s written really well, great story line and the characters are great. 5 stars from me.

[Sylvia Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good and interesting. There was great character growth with the fmc. The bdsm aspect was explained and executed phenomenally. It was great to see how supportive the mmcs were of the fmc throughout. Definitely check trigger warnings.

[Kourtney Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read the first paragraph and think you’re the main character you know it’s going to hit the spot! Absolutely loved the story! If you like the spicy reads, this will give you the spice! Looking forward to more books from Emily!

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!

I love this book so much! I couldn't get enough of this story ! I absolutely recommend this book to all my dark romance bookie girls out there!
P.s. Check the trigger warnings because your mental health matters!!!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'all Emily has been literally kicking axx at her books. Her stories are on point and never disappoints . I have pretty much read most her books. Each chapter kept my attention. Give it a go :)

[Keely Parlato · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s fast paced but has every delicious detail needed. I swear my jaw was dropped for half the story and all the events that occured.

[Robbi LeLeaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, quick friends to lovers why chose story. Still a trauma based story so check your TW.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was so easy to place myself in the main character's shoes. Klepp really makes you feel for the characters in such a short book!

[Terisa Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whipping dreams

I loved this story and hope there is more to come in a religious area is hard to find the person you love...😇

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been awhile since I've read an Emily Klepp book. It was a good quicker read I absolutely could of read more with no complaints.