Break Me: A Mountain Man Brat Taming Story

by Rae B. Lake

Break her. Build her. Keep her.

Lexi
Four broken engagements.
Four men who left me with nothing but shame, shattered dreams, and a growing suspicion that maybe the problem… is me.
I’ve always been stubborn, headstrong, a little too loud and way too mouthy. The kind of woman who demands control, and then wonders why no one ever stays.
But when I find that ad on a spoof website, something in me breaks wide open.
A man who can teach you how to be a real woman?
It sounds ridiculous, offensive, even. But I’m out of pride, out of options, and dangerously close to giving up.
So I go up the mountain to a secluded cabin. Ready for whatever comes next. I’m done pretending I don’t want to be handled, claimed, undone.
I’m ready to be broken.
Only Emmett isn’t what I expected. He’s colder. Stricter. Smarter. And when he puts a collar in his hand, I’m not sure whether to run or beg.
But the truth is... I’m already his.

Emmett

The ad was a joke. A cruel dig from my ex after she found evidence of my old life. The floggers, the cuffs, the camera. She didn’t understand, not really. So she put my secrets online for the world to mock.

Let them line up and see what kind of monster you are.
I expected a laugh. A scam. Maybe a warning from the site to take it down. What I didn’t expect… was her.
Lexi.

All fire and flaws, eyes daring me to tame her. Everything I’ve tried to forget about the life I walked away from. She’s not built for this world, not yet.

But she wants it. Craves the structure. The surrender. The pain.
So I make a choice. I take her. Not to punish her, but to mold her. To strip her down, build her back up, and show her what it means to be mine.
What starts as training becomes something deeper. Something addictive. She’s under my skin. In my blood. And I’m not sure I’ll survive walking away.

Because she’s not just a submissive. She’s the one thing I didn’t know I was searching for.
********
Break Me is a standalone novel featuring a dominant man, a bratty submissive, and scorching dark romance.
Warning: Recommended for readers 18+. This intense BDSM romance contains graphic content, explicit power exchange, primal play, and a deeply emotional journey of submission and love.

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2025

About the author

Rae is a daydreamer, nurse, bookworm, nature enthusiast, wife, momma, animal activist and an optimist. She has lived her entire life in NYC and loves to travel with her family. She believes that sweets should have a larger piece of the nutritional pyramid and that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the best TV shows ever invented. When she is not working as a nurse in her community, she can either be found reading, writing, or taking a walk while listening to music. She has been writing books in her mind for as long as she can remember but decided that maybe there were others out in the world that would find joy in the words she would put down on the page.

Reviews

[Mafia Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

After she gets let down again with the suggestion that she is a "little too much" she is starting to wonder if she will ever find a partner to appreciate her or if she has to make some radical changes in her life. During a doom scrolling session she finds a crazy ad, clearly written by an ex but still intriguing. It suggests that he can fix her, help her, tame her, and she gets a wild idea that it might actually be worth a shot. When she shows up at his cabin the hot hunky mountain man is the last thing she expected. When she shows up on his porch smart and sassy, it definitely calls to the Dom in him, but he isn't interested in games and after his last ex he has been keeping a wide berth from women. But this woman is making him change his mind. This is a wild story and I ended up liking it so much more than I thought I would than at the beginning. She is smart and sassy, and has been told to make herself less. He is strong and dominant and not at all intimidated by her. They have incredible chemistry but both have demons from the past that they need to exercise to move forward. They find something in each other that neither saw coming. This was a good story with lots of spice, power exchange, brat, and a little outside drama to shake things up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Break Me: A Mountain Man Brat Taming Story by Rae B. Lake is the kind of book that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very end. It’s raw, intense, and surprisingly emotional, blending scorching chemistry with an unexpected love story that completely stole my heart.

Lexie and Emmett are fire together. Lexie’s sharp tongue and defiant spirit make her impossible not to love, while Emmett’s rugged mountain man presence is all control, patience, and quiet strength. What starts as a clash of wills slowly turns into something deeper, softer, and far more meaningful than either of them expected. Watching their walls come down—especially Emmett’s—was incredibly satisfying and emotionally rewarding.

The tension is delicious, the spice is spicy, and the emotional growth feels earned. Rae B. Lake does an amazing job of balancing dominance with vulnerability, showing that real strength comes from trust and connection. Lexie and Emmett’s journey isn’t just about taming or surrender—it’s about healing, acceptance, and finding love in the most unexpected place.

If you love mountain man romances with strong characters, intense chemistry, and a surprisingly heartfelt core, this book is an absolute must-read. I devoured it and immediately wanted more. 🔥📖

[Danee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a good story with a steamy BDSM twist, then this is one you definitely need to read. We're taken along by Lexi and Emmett. They meet after her boyfriend breaks her heart, marking the end of their relationship. When an ad claims to show how to embrace the womanhood she desires, that's where Emmett and Lexi's journey begins. There's plenty of tension, steam, sizzling moments, exploring their boundaries, what works for them, and much more. Highly recommended!





I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi finds an ad, after being dumped by her latest boyfriend saying she is a little too much, saying that he can fix her. What she does not know is the ad was a joke, posted by his ex when she found out about his past BSDM life style. He never expected who would answer, Lexi, she shows up sassy and called to the Dom in him.

The pair have chemistry from the beginning but will need to get past the damage from their past relationships to move forward together.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi hadnt done well in the love department but when she sees an add for a man to teach her to be a real woman, she heads off to the mountains and finds Emmett. Emmetts ex made a fake add after discovering his particular likes in the bedroom He never expected anyone to answer let alone Lexi. As desires build and Lexi submits will they be able to be more than a teaching fling? Well written engaging steamy desires drama, domination and more.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi is heartbroken once again when her boyfriend ends things. When she sees an ad about making her a real woman she is off to see if it can be done and it starts her path with Emmett. This steamy read portrays BDSM, power exchange and a whole lot more. As these two explore their boundaries will it finally lead them along the path to happiness.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julie Juhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Break Me: A Mountain Man Brat Taming Story by Rae B. Lake

Lexi has had four broken engagements and sees an ad for a man teaching a woman how to be a real woman. She goes up the mountain to a private cabin and meets Emmett. The experience isn't what either of them thought it was. This is one steamy story that you won't want to miss reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of hand over your mouth gasping moments also edge of your seat action that will pull on your heartstrings. Lexi is a force of nature always wanting to be in control and very vociferous that is until Emmet gets a hold of her and teaches her how to let go and become his submissive. What starts out as lessons in control turns into a slow burning and loving romance.

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmet and Lexi are both both looking for something with meaning, something real. They find that with each other, but need to go through a journey first. A read with some dark themes and drama, but plenty of undeniable love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Devlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an enjoyable read with very light BDSM. When lexi ends up with another broken engagement she thinks the problem is with her so seeks out an add that she hopes will bring out her submissive side. Little does she know she could be fighting for her life by the end of the contract.
Great Read that shows there is always a jilted ex somewhere who just doesn't like losing.

[Frances Packingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang! This was crazy good. I didn't want to stop reading. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Lexi and Emmett are great together. I love how he builds her back up every time she doubts herself or the situation. Violet is crazy. This book is hot hot hot.

[A Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Break Me is a scorching dark romance. The story was good and entertaining. The characters were steamy, intense and likable. I enjoyed reading this romance.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author knows how to do naughty and complex and this is above expectations. So many twists and turns. Can’t put into words how exceptional this is.