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The Need

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Stood up by her boyfriend, she goes home with a woman…

Straight-laced coed Angie has never felt daring enough to…experiment. Until tonight. The skin around Heather’s lips is soft, unlike the stubble Erik lets grow in, and the night unfolds like an erotic dream, tapping into an unexplored part of Angie’s body and mind.

But Heather’s seduction turns into a nightmare when Angie wakes up tied to the bed and is told she can’t leave. Alternately seduced and tormented by her lover-turned-captor, Angie is pulled ever deeper into a twisted world of pain-for-pleasure and voyeuristic exploits. As the stakes rise, both women give into a desire for connections neither has had, and Angie’s struggle to escape becomes a bigger dilemma: Would she leave if she could?

Winner of the Golden Palm Contest for New Adult Romance, this erotic thriller dares to explore the darker side of our fantasies and their sometimes unintended consequences.

228 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2015

3 people are currently reading
476 people want to read

About the author

S.L. Hannah

8 books149 followers
S.L. Hannah is a romance author known for writing fierce, flawed women treading unchartered territory. S.L. Hannah was born in Poland, grew up in Canada, and moved to Southern California to pursue her love of single-engine airplanes. When she's not writing fiction she continues to solve the aviation problems of the world.

She is excited to be part of the To LA With Love anthology. Check out her short story, Special Teams, in that anthology.

Her latest release, Baller, is about a successful, divorcing woman who finds a life reset in a younger, hot professional beach volleyball player.

The Need is her first erotic thriller; a story about a woman struggling to free herself from her lover’s physical and emotional binds.

Hard Trigger, is a rogue romance about a reckless and hardened heroine who finds herself entwined with a lover on the opposite side of a bloody feud.

Her Sex, Life, and Hannah chick lit series chronicles one woman's insistent quest over one year to find "The One" (www.sexlifehannah.com).

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Michele.
155 reviews31 followers
April 8, 2019
A very well written Angela Peach-esq, bat shit crazy, psycho sexual, twisty tale. Another one of those “don’t let the book cover fool you type reads.” If you’re looking for a sweet romance, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a sensual, erotic read...sorry, but again, look elsewhere. There certainly is much sex, erotica, and bdsm in this book but I was too filled with dread, waiting for the other shoe to drop to feel anything but nauseatingly wired through the entire read.
Profile Image for EroticaAfterDark (Lilith).
2,780 reviews957 followers
September 19, 2015
bdsm

This book has all the premises to get five epic stars for me:
☑ an insecure narrator, whose character develops, finds herself and becomes a self-conscious, badass woman
☑ a mislead, vicious, erratic, sensual, strong, possessive opponent
☑ a captivating, intriguing, intelligent narrative
☑ incredibly hot and diverse sex scenes
☑ mind-games
☑ suspense



I'm still not able to give it 5 stars, and I can't round up my 4.5 stars to a full five either. The biggest reason of all of this is the ending. I won't write spoilers here, because I don't want you to read them and then regret reading them. And I'm sure that other readers might love it, but I can't. And I'll write my opinion in spoiler tags.




This is S.L. Hannah's first novel, and considering this, it's incredibly written. I love her style, her ways of describing things and I will definitely read more of hers in the future.
Therefore it is also understandable that the story had a few weaknesses and felt bumpy now and then. As in: I became impatient with the story and plot-twists or re-directions felt choppy. But I'm complaining on a high level here.
The inner monologue of Angie lacked a bit, she didn't question enough as someone who has hours for herself to do so. There are a few things an highly intelligent woman could or maybe should have realized. Yet, again, this is just me.
After all, all the 'complains' stated above wouldn't be enough to deny Miss Hannah her deserves 5 stars. It's indeed the ending that disappointed me too much.



ARC
Profile Image for Demi.
185 reviews89 followers
December 6, 2015
*Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.*

The Need is my first f/f erotic thriller novel, and it was definitely an interesting one. It's enthralling and twisted, I finished the book in one sitting! I had a love and (mostly) hate relationship with Angie and Heather. I did like that Angie was learning more about herself during the whole situation with Heather, but there were times when I really just wanted to smack them both. The ending was a bit of a shocker to me as well, I was totally not expecting it to end the way it did.
Overall, aside from a few little issues that I had, for this being S.L. Hannah's first novel I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would definitely read her future books.
Profile Image for Mindy (Book Snitch).
746 reviews228 followers
February 7, 2016
Heat Level: 3 out of 4 flames
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Naughty Book Snitch: Mindy
See Mindy’s Blog Review Here

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SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! Holy shit that was an intense and crazy ride! I do love a good psychological thriller and this one did not disappoint. This is an exciting and very well written story and I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a book that makes your heart pump fast for many different reasons. This is an author you will want to keep on your radar.

The Need is a thrilling story about an insecure young woman who discovers things about herself that are brought to the surface in the most unexpected, unusual and sometimes terrifying way. This book will have you on the edge of your seat and wanting to read faster to find out what happens next. This is truly a prime example of a "page turner".

description

Angie and Heather's characters are very well developed and interesting. To me they felt like real people and I was right there with them on their crazy journey. Thank goodness I really wasn't but I did feel what Angie felt. I felt her anticipation, love, fear, hate and confusion about what was happening to her. Heather helped these feelings along because she is a manipulator, deceiver and in my opinion a complete psychopath. However, at times I think Heather wanted the "normal" and she saw that in Angie. She wanted and yearned for someone to love her for who she is and all her faults. She wasn't loved by her mother and her father left when she was young. So Heather has her own self esteem and trust issues.

"We are all victims of circumstance-until we make a conscious decision not to be.


description

This isn't my first f/f book and most certainly not my last. The sex in this book is really good, terrifying, fascinating, complicated and very erotic. It's very well done and given the circumstances of the story, nothing like I've read before. To me, each scene has a purpose in both Angie and Heather's character development. There are a couple of scenes that make me wonder if Heather had set them up prior or if they really were unexpected. Example, the City Inspector and cop? Is she really that much of a mastermind manipulator?

"You don't hate me. You chose to let me do that to you because it gave you something you needed."


description

Some of the things I questioned or didn't understand are; Angie is supposed to be super smart and highly educated. So it surprises me that she can even consider falling in love with someone who lied and tortured her. I get that you do what you need to survive but in my opinion that is an extreme case of Stockholm syndrome and that girl needs some therapy. I also know that years of low self esteem and believing your own truths has a tremendous effect on you.

description

There is also a part that confused me, but maybe I just read it wrong or something. Heather uses a phrase with the "city inspector" that calms him down and then Angie turns around and uses the exact phrase on Heather. Wouldn't Heather recognize what Angie is doing? There is also a little bit of Heathers back story that I may have misunderstood. Again, it's totally possible that I missed something. I thought that her mom got a new boyfriend? But then she ended up getting kicked out? Sorry people, I cannot elaborate on that question. Also, at the end of the book, what happened to the "other people" involved in the story? Was Stone Media set up like a snuff film or something? What happed to the company and all the videos? I can't ask too many questions because I don't want to give anything away. The ending did not go in the direction I expected which makes it much more interesting but left me with a lot of questions.

On a side note, I need to mention that every time I hear Iron Maiden... all I can think about is Bill and Ted. This really has nothing to do with the book, it's just something that popped in my head almost every time I read it. :D

description

My overall experience of The Need is a full 5 stars, but the ending and the few things I questioned make me take it down half a star. Although that ending was not what I expected or wanted, this is not my story to tell. This is Angie and Heathers story told through the eyes of S.L. Hannah and it really is an exciting story. I highly recommend trying this out for yourself.

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Profile Image for Jen .
73 reviews6 followers
July 20, 2015
Favorite quote: "We are all victims of circumstance-until we make a conscious decision not to be."


I honestly did not know what to expect when I started reading this, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. If I was to describe this book, I would say that it is an interesting psychological look into the darker aspects of the human condition.


This book has it all. Romance, hate, deceit, creepiness, lust, love, violence, and even a bit of a complex sort of Stockholm syndrome relationship. From beginning to end I did not know what to expect. There was so much mystery and suspense in this book. The story centers around Angie and Heather and they are two complex characters. Angie is kinda having a stale moment in her relationship with her boyfriend, while Heather is this more sophisticated and mysterious woman who kinda lures Angie into all sorts of things. And the story does get crazy.


What is surprising though, is that despite the extreme topics covered in this novel and how complex it is, it is a quick read. I thought it was gonna take me a while to read it and I breezed through it. I would say that that is due to the great writing in this book. The author really put me in the mindset of the characters and the world the story was taking place in.


Another interesting aspect of this story and why I say it has a bit of a Stockholm syndrome situation going on is that while Heather holds Angie captive in some ways, there is a power struggle between them. It would be easy to assume that Angie is a victim of Heather's since she lures her into her world and secludes her from the world, but Angie is not just any girl. Though she is struggling and learning about herself in this extreme situation Heather puts her through, she challenges Heather and uses her intelligence to survive the situation and in the process learns a lot about herself. Angie is no pushover. There is also a relationship that develops between these two women amongst the violence in this book of a more romantic nature. Angie gets lured to Heather's world under false pretenses, but it's because there is something about the way Heather carries herself that lets her get swept away. What started off as a night of experiments for Angie, turns into something much more. And it makes Angie bring out the deeper aspects of herself that she suppresses.


In this book, you get an insight into the past of both of the two main characters, Angie and Heather. Angie's mother is the absolute worst and such a cold woman. I can see why Angie struggled so much with herself when she was a kid and as a young woman trying to live in the world. And Heather really has a twisted history which kinda explains why she is all types of crazy. Now, Heather does have a lot of vulnerability hidden under her dominant personality and creepiness. And it's not like she excuses her behavior or you feel too much sympathy for her. She is straight forward and unapologetic and I kinda though that was a cool way to develop her character because I hate when author's try to excuse the behavior of the resident villain of the story. Not that she is a complete villain, but she's not a good person either.


The ending was shocking to me. I did not know if Angie was gonna play it safe and go back to her life with her boyfriend or stay around Heather. But let's just say Angie grew in this novel and definitely became a woman sure in herself. And she changed A LOT. She did things that shocked me to the core!


This book is an erotic thriller and there are very dark themes and scenes in it, especially the sex scenes. Can be classified as BDSM-ish in nature. But the scenes do not distract from the story. The story is still very psychological and complex.


My Rating: 4/5

Profile Image for Cassandra (Thebookishcrypt).
589 reviews58 followers
November 3, 2015
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

This was the first book I have read of this genre and I liked it a lot. I liked how the main character was finding out who she really was while being in an uncomfortable situation. It was an interesting journey to say the least. The relationship between Angie and Heather was one I've never seen before. They took care of each other in ways I never expected them to. I had a love and mostly hate relationship with Heather. Ugh, there were so many times I just wanted to punch her where it hurts the most.
At times I felt like some things were a little too coincidental but I didn't pay much mind to them. The thrilling aspect of it wasn't there for me but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Especially the last part of the book. It was a definite page turner and super unexpected. I was rooting for a certain someone but oh, well!
Profile Image for Carrie Renteria.
257 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2015
This is one of those novels that leaves you speechless in the end and asking you what in the hell just happened there? S.L. Hannah is seriously a genius this novel is definitely one erotic thriller you do not want to miss. I'm still reeling from the ending of this novel it literally keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering where this book is going and what is coming next.

You have everything from romance, sex, Stockholm Syndrome, lust, you name it and its in this incredibly amazing book. This book was full of suspense from the very beginning and it continued all the way until the very end and it just got better and better as the story progressed.

The story is about Angie who goes to meet her boyfriend at a club and turns out she gets stood up and she ends up going home with a chick named Heather who ends up holding her captive. The story progresses incredibly fast from there and we find out some incredibly disturbing and crazy things really fast about Heather's past and learn a lot about Angie along the way as well.

I will say this book is not going to be for everyone so be warned going into it, it is a little dark and twisted so if thats not your thing move right along and go onto a book that you can handle. Now if you can handle a darker erotic book by all means jump right in because this book was amazing and you do not want to miss it!!
Profile Image for Kim.
140 reviews8 followers
August 30, 2015
Wow!!!! This book was one twisted, messed up, torturous and gripping story!
Angie is a naive young woman in a relationship with Eric, one night she meets Heather at a bar when she was expecting to meet Eric for an evening out. Everything that happens next is a bizarre twist of fear, lust, desires, deceit, suspense and edge of your seat thriller! I had it all wrong, one moment I was sure I knew what was next and then the next I was blown away. This story made me think, wonder about the human psyche. What makes a person do certain things and how would you react or behave in certain situations that may seem strange to one person but perfect and heaven to another? Dangerous and complicated to one, but exactly what you desire to another? What and how things that happen to us and how that can affect us. I was stunned, wowed and certainly captivated by this tale. I won’t lie, it made me think about certain things for myself. I am giving this book 4.5 stars, but that is only because “I” wish it was longer, I felt that this story needed a bit more. Despite that, I would certainly recommend this book to my friends.
Profile Image for Michelle (Bookaholic Banter).
773 reviews161 followers
October 16, 2015
*I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.*

This book sucked me in from the very first page. It started off interesting enough to keep me reading. It was a quick read. Very easy to read in one sitting. This is not my normal type of read but I did enjoy reading it. This erotic thriller was dark, kinky,creepy, and at times very disturbing, yet I could not put it down. This book explores pain and pleasure, and a relationship between two women that you don't read about too often. Fans of Fifty Shades of Gray would really enjoy this read! In my opinion this book has better writing and a more interesting and captivating story. People meet strangers in bars and go home with them all the time. This book explores what can happen when you do. Will Angie find her one true love in Heather, or will she get much more than she bargained for?

I think maybe the book could have been a little longer to get a little more in depth with a certain aspect of the story that wasn't fully explored and left me a little confused but other than that this was an enjoyable read. A guilty pleasure.
Profile Image for Julie Daniels.
179 reviews33 followers
December 3, 2015
This book was so much more than what I would expect of an erotic thriller. S.L. Hannah is truly a gifted writer. I fell in love with more than just the twisted yet sad tale. It was the manner in which she spun it that I loved most. Some would say that Angie was a weak character(and I had moments where I wanted to strangle her) but I think she found herself in the end. The antagonist, Heather, in my opinion, was a victim herself. Angie becomes the strong one and helps her. I don't want to give too much away. There were definitely a couple of loose ends with the ending that nagged at me a bit but not so much so that it detracted from the ending or overall story. The ending brought tears to my eyes and I definitely wasn't expecting that. This is a very thrilling, entertaining read yet it makes you think about the true definition of strength. I would definitely recommend it.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
567 reviews10 followers
January 29, 2016
Complimentary copy provided by author for an honest review.
Three days ago the writer asked me Will you be able to review the book within a month from receiving , at first I found it a strange question off course after you read a book you write asap the review but then after reading this Thriller I understood why.

Angie gets pulled deeper by the beautifull and confident Heather, I understand the reaction because when you start reading you also get pulled deeper in the story. At one time you love both characters and the other time you just hate them.

So how to describe this story without spoilers
° sensual - erotic
° dark - creepy
° suspense
° addicted
° mind games

And a last an ending you will not expect!! So don’t wait and start reading this amazing Erotic thriller.

Great first book from this writer and I hope the read more from her!!
Profile Image for Anne Bollmann (Annelise Lestrange).
702 reviews77 followers
February 5, 2016
Review originally posted on The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange :)

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks again, Hannah! Let's go ;D

The Need is the story of Angie, a very insecure girl that has a fight with her boyfriend and is left alone to wait for him in a club. After more than an hour waiting for him and observing a beautiful woman on the dance floor, Angie engages in conversation with the object of her attention. Heather seems a strong and wild woman and Angie finds herself accepting to go to her house, tired of waiting for Eric.

After a good and passionate night, things start to go very wrong with Heather when Angie tries to go home and finds herself drugged and tied up to Heather’s bed. A new deal is on the table: Angie must stay a week in Heather’s hands and then, if she still desires to go home, Angie was free to go.

However, a week in the hands of the most amazing and terrifying woman that Angie has ever met is a journey to self-discovery – will Angie be able to walk away without a broken heart?

Now, the best part: analysis! Just remembering that this is just my opinion and impressions of the book :)

I was very excited to read this book, as I’m a big fan of LGBT romances and the fact that this was a thriller romance only spiced things up (also, the cover is breathtaking <3). The book was a good passing time, but I expected more. I rated it 3 out of 5 stars because I had some issues with Angie – the narrator character – and I got so excited and happy with the end’s twist just to be disappointed by the end itself :/

I tend to have problems with first person narratives because I get too angry at the narrator’s actions and can’t take a break from their thoughts, besides the basic problem that no one never knows everything that is happening or will happen with everyone – which leads to inevitable holes on the story.

The narrative had a good pace – the book is a fast read, easily finished in one sitting (it took me more time because I buddread it with some Instagram friends <3). Angie is very accurate on details, sometimes a little too much, as she lives a true horror story in the hands of Heather, haha! You can feel her fear, her force and her excitement through the pages; you connect with her and want to help her. And because I wanted her to see reason is that I got angry. Angie edges between a Stockholm Syndrome and the acceptable since the moment that Heather locks her up and it tired me a little. It all happened too fast to justify it, you know?

The plot is freaking awesome. The idea was very original and Hannah executed it very well, leaving the reader in the edge of tension, not knowing until when Angie will survive or if Heather will push her to the point of no return. You keep asking yourself in Angie will leave the apartment in one piece, literally! I admit that, in this aspect, the first character narration worked perfectly, as it intensified the reader’s feelings as well as Angie’s. We feel what she feels: you get confused, agonizing, scared, everything. And, at the same time, there’s all Heather’s complexity, her contradictions, her humanity – this last one is defied until the very last moment, haha! But I can’t with the end of the book. No spoilers, easy now, but I really found the way things turn up very inconsistent. The story was too fast for the characters relationship to grow as it did, in the way it did, you know? Even being an insane and crazy experience, in the sense that normality just pushed itself from the window, the end was too much for me… :/

Moreover, we never find out what happened with Heather’s company, with Eric, with Angie’s parents and, to be very honest, I’m not even sure of what happened with Angie and Heather. Maybe that’s me, I do have a closure problem, haha!

Now, let’s talk about characters. Hannah has such rich describing powers, it’s amazing. She builds each person of the book for her reader and we can feel the reality of it all – from abilities to insecurities, from looks to small habits (like Heather’s one, to chew her nail when she got unsure about something). For the first time in a really long time, I felt during the whole book that I was dealing with real people all the time. Even with all the mental sickness of everything that happened in Heather’s apartment, I felt the human essence of each character, in kindness and evilness. You can understand even uncle Johnny and Rachel’s need of being there. All the time, each character needs something, is moved by a stronger force of desperate desire that can’t be full filled – even Angie herself and Eric, the worst boyfriend ever, haha! Hannah plays with her reader from beginning to end, trying to break them as Heather tries to break Angie. What’s real? We don’t know and so doesn’t Angie.

However, the book key is the breaking. In the story, Heather uses a metaphor about the butterfly that leaves its cocoon. The break of the cocoon is the real start of the butterfly’s life and it applies to all characters. While they are at their comfort zone, they are not really living. They are not getting any satisfaction, just like The Rolling Stones, they can’t be truly happy. This was ingenious.

Another strong aspect of The Need is the sex scenes. I admit that I kept questioning myself how on earth could Angie feel any pleasure in some acts, but it’s because of personal beliefs and views – I have a strong feminist trace in my personality, haha! In quality, form and intensity matters, the scenes were unique and perfection.

Overall, the book was good and got my attention in a high level, but my personal problems with Angie and with the book’s end were too high for a totally fair rating and I’m sorry for that – this is the shit of having strong opinions, haha! Still not giving any spoilers, but I would like to leave a reflection here. If Hannah’s intention is to make Angie grown into a real woman, capable of fending for herself and sure of her desires, why does Angie have to choose between Heather and Eric? There are 7 billion of people in the world. She is not trapped with only two people and gained the capacity of seeing what’s good and what’s bad for her after this insane week.

That’s it, guys! Thanks for reading this review and thanks again to S. L. Hannah for sending me this, it was a very interesting book!
Profile Image for S.L. Hannah.
Author 8 books149 followers
July 23, 2015
The Need is a wild and thought-provoking story; one I never thought I would write, but when I read my husband’s screenplay, one I couldn’t stop thinking about and talking about with my friends. Was Heather a psychopath? Was Angie struggling to come out as a lesbian all her life? Was the entire experience a set up by Heather to finally escape her twisted world?

There are a lot of provocative themes in this book, but what drew me into the story, and what I believe will draw others in the most, is the developing romance between Heather and Angie; albeit a very dark romance. From the beginning there is a dance; a roller coaster of emotions. In one moment you're rooting for Angie to escape, and in the next, you're hoping they will both overcome their greatest trials to be together.

This erotic thriller dares to explore the darker side of our fantasies and their sometimes unintended consequences. Even though it does this by taking the reader to many extreme and taboo places, there are over-arching topics we can relate to: overcoming our fears, not being victims of circumstance, and being true to our sexuality. Many of us live our lives doing what we are supposed to do and what we have been conditioned to do, instead of being true to ourselves and living authentically. Sometimes it takes an extraordinary situation to break through those barriers.
30 reviews1 follower
January 16, 2016
This book has it all, cheating, lies, sex, pain, love and hate. I have to admit I am not a prude in any fashion I did find myself blushing reading some of the scenes. This is the first book by SL Hannah and I hope it will not be her last. Written very good in the ways it pulls you in. I felt the main character Angie could have been any plain Jane girl out there just not confident about herself or her desires. She quickly realizes some of her wants and needs have been hidden but never fully forgotten. I liked how this was based off of two women and not the typical man/women romance books. This has thought, power and in the end love. The ending was NOT what I expected at all. If you are the millions of fans of 50 shades of grey then buy this book! You will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Lindsey Lynn (thepagemistress).
372 reviews80 followers
August 22, 2015
3.5/5 stars

This book started off quickly and just nose dived into horror. I understood and appreciated the uniqueness of this story. However, the weakness shown by the main character confused me a little. She is intelligent and decently level headed but its almost as if Stockholm syndrome came into effect really quickly. Don't want to say too much due to spoilers. But I did love the LGBT aspect of it. The ending threw me and I think that's what swayed my decision because there were a lot of questions left unanswered and was very abrupt. Overall, I would recommend this book to adult audiences. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1 review
December 6, 2015
This book finished too quickly for me. When I first sat down to read it, I was half way through before I put it down. It was very easy to read but almost too easy and I felt it was over before it began. I appreciated the accurate and realistic sex scenes as they helped my imagination to flow however, some parts were a little tricky to understand exactly what was occurring. This book appealed to my darker sexual side and made me want to experience a similar, uninhibited way of life. It made me analyse what society's expectations are in regards to sexuality as well as examine my own sex life. Overall....nicely done S. L. Hannah!
Profile Image for Savannah.and.Abby.
6 reviews2 followers
August 13, 2015
This is a phenomenal book, with an exquisite writing style.  Completely captivated, you enter a dangerous and luring world between two women. The plot is clever and it really has a story that you want to follow. Brilliant! A fun and horrifying book to read. The author is very talented and I'll probably be purchasing more of her books sometime, but The need is completely riveting.
Profile Image for daniel sinclair.
13 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2022
outstanding topic. communicates well on sensuality relationship and sexuality in a 210 page book.

I will give partial information/not a spoiler.

the protagonist is frustrated to a certain degree with her boyfriend different aspects that are communicated in the book.

and like many he does XYZ she likes but other things she does not like and he's usually late to meet.

so heather (female) sees an attractive bartender female at the bar she's supposed to meet her boyfriend at. she seen her before and thought she was nice and pretty.

but on this evening the bartender comes over and was much more direct and forward of the "umbrella" of plans she wanted for that evening.

the book a narrative takes off from there with evening #1.

one can say if someone opens the door to "a" fantasy.. :

"exit the same door you came in on... and enter, this time without the lights on, "again".
Profile Image for Books Laid Bare.
2,275 reviews38 followers
August 9, 2015
Rating - Almost 4 out of 5
I did that thing again that means that this book caught me unawares- I didn’t read the blurb!
And in a way I am pleased I didn’t because had I read it, I don’t know that I would have opened the cover, the subject matter is not something that I usually read,
But having now I have finished, I have to say that I have had my eyes opened and this an author is one that I will look for in the future.
The story covers everything from love to hate and everything in between.
It was a complete roller-coaster… no scrap that it was much more of a ride than that, it was like taking on Thunder Mountain without the safety restraints.
The story had a strong undercurrent of mystery and intrigue and it really kept me guessing the whole way.
Angie and Heather are the main characters in the story and I have to say that I actually liked Angie, while on the other hand Heather had the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention, she was little on the creepy side for me.
Angie’s relationship with her boyfriend has taken a turn for the worse, and she is at a loss as to what she should do and how she feels about it all.
Heather on the other hand knows exactly what she wants and at this present time that is Angie.
The story then begins to weave its way through all manner of craziness and I had to pay close attention in order to follow the flow.
Now, I sort of understood the fact that Angie allowed herself to be captivated by Heather and in doing so she almost became subjugated by her. But eventually we get to see that the tussle cut both ways, Angie has more input in the events that transpire than I had anticipated but then again she was experiencing things that she had never considered before, or perhaps she had but had repressed them.
Heathers world is not for the faint hearted, it is harsh and violent but Angie learns that it’s a sink or swim scenario and by taking things into her own hands she finally understands more about the woman she not only is but can be.
The story covers so much that picking out what to put in this review is not an easy task. But I have to say that the author illustrated enough of a history for each woman that it made understanding them slightly easier.
Angie was a product of her upbringing – or moreover the product of a selfish, abhorrent mother who gave not one ounce of love and affection to her child. Heather on the other hand, well let’s just say that having read her history I now fully understand why the woman is fifty shades of batshit crazy!
I think if I had to categorise the book I would say it was a dark erotic thriller but I would have to add that neither of the characters were easy to find completely appealing, both had aspects of their character that I found hard to take too.
Heather, well to be honest she was neither here nor there for me, she sort of levelled out – as evil as she could be, she had aspects that were less reprehensible and because of that I was left feeling just a little cold about her.
Angie on the other hand, I have everything crossed that she goes back to her boyfriend and gives Heather a wide berth from now.
But what I can is that is book and its characters surprised the heck out of me.

Profile Image for Sandra.
145 reviews5 followers
November 17, 2015
Original review @ http://sandrathebookworm.blogspot.com...

The author was very kind and send me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.

Angie has been stood up by her boyfriend so, when the woman she’s been staring at all night comes up to her and buys her a drink she doesn't decline. After a few drinks she decides to go home with her something she has never done. They have an amazing night, but when Angie wakes up to go home she is met with a completely different version of the woman she met at the bar; as she tries to leave she begins to feel dizzy and faints when she wakes up again she is tied to a bed and her lover turned captor refuses to let her go.


This was the first erotic thriller I've ever read and it was very enjoyable and creepy, but I did have some minor problems with it. I'm going to start with what I enjoyed and work our way to what I didn't like so much. I really liked the LGBT in this book, the way Angie was finding herself and getting to know this new part of her that she was never brave enough to explore by herself. I also really liked the way Heather and Angie took care of each other of course when Heather wasn't being a complete psycho. The one thing that bothered me the most was that Angie didn't fight heather much when she found out she was holding her against her will, it’s like she immediately felt sorry for her captor and started making excuses for her behavior and the reason she was keeping her there. Also Hannah hit me with a twist that I was not expecting and I really liked that, it explained so much of Hannah's behavior, but then she hit me with another twist in the ending that left me with some unanswered questions. Overall it was a very enjoyable read that kept me in the edge of my seat until the very end and Hannah's writing keeps you turning the pages.


-SandraTheBookWorm
Profile Image for Liz Gavin.
Author 104 books757 followers
June 8, 2016
5 Flaming stars for this Sexually charged page-turner

** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

The title for my review doesn’t do justice to the book in the sense that it’s so much more than my title suggests. You’ll find hot sex, mind games, plot twists, complex characters, lust, trust issues, dark feelings, kinks, and a lot more stuff in-between. I generally don’t spoil books when I review them and I’m not going to start now. I’m just going to say you will not see it coming until it hits you in the face.

As an avid reader and a writer in the erotica genre, I know how rare it is to find good plots so I was thrilled to get to know Hannah’s work. And what an introduction this was!! She hooks you in right from the first scene and weaves the story skillfully, balancing out the ups and downs so that you’re never bored or overwhelmed. Fair warning – there are dark and disturbing scenes, which might cause discomfort to some readers. Again, not giving any spoilers.

However, I can say that the way Hannah’s written her main characters’ interactions speaks volumes about her ability to tell a story. She slowly unveils their personalities to the reader through these interactions. At the same time, you keep second guessing your own conclusions about the two women as Angie and Heather seem to discover things about themselves. Plus, the author did a great job building Angie and Heather’s relationship.

I recommend this novella to readers who enjoy highly well-written stories, which lean towards the wild side but are impossible to put down.
Profile Image for Kaylin Beach.
161 reviews11 followers
June 16, 2016
"It's easy for someone who looks as good as she does in black lacy underwear to talk like that. She doesn't understand that girls like me always have limits, and always will."

The Need by S.L. Hannah is extremely amazing in a seriously creepy, disturbing way. I couldn't stop reading.

Right away we are introduced to Angie, who is waiting for her boyfriend, Erik. Angie ends up going home with a mysterious woman named Heather. Angie finds herself lusting over this woman and agrees to spend the weekend with her. When Angie wakes up, she is tied to the bed and being held against her will. Heather introduces Angie to many different types of sex toys and many different ways of pleasing someone. Angie loves it and hates it. Angie wants to escape but Angie wants to stay. What about Erik? Angie learns that Heather is up to something fishy. Heather isn't just keeping Angie her for pleasure, there's a deeper meaning. Why is Heather always filming? Is Heather keeping more women here? Is Erik here? Why would Heather want Erik?

"Erik's face swims in her eyes."

S.L. Hannah knows exactly how to grab the reader and pull them into the book with the characters. As I said above, I could not stop reading. I knew this book had more to it. I just couldn't figure it out. I couldn't figure out what Heather was up to. But when I did, it blew my mind!

If you like to be kept on the edge of your seat, always wondering what will happen next, then this book is for you! Just keep in mind, it is a erotic thriller. Erotic.
1 review
November 19, 2015
The Need Review


Heather is the kind of girl you hate to love. You want to look the other way, but your curiosity is peaked. Filled with tantalizing sexual tension. This is one erotic fantasy you don’t want to miss. Simply because it’s entertaining, a page-turner and the writing is all that.
Not since 9 ½ weeks has there been more enticing, erotic, sex scenes. I want to see this on the big screen, and I can imagine it will be.
The Author was able to capture in detail every nuance of business in the bedroom, without missing a beat. I found myself caught up in the moment and in the world of Angie and Heather.
This is S.L. Hannah's first novel, and considering that, it's incredibly well written and thought out. I invested in these characters and clearly had a connection with them. From the first page, my emotions flip flopped and I was wagering for more. At times I wanted to throw the book across the room in frustration. I felt I was had. The character's dark cat and mouse game were well played. S.L. Hannah was deliberate in her character development with Angie and Heather. As frustrating, and at times, very disturbing, I couldn’t put it down.
If you’re looking for a book that opens the doors to a ride through an erotic fantasy, add this to your collection. You won’t be disappointed.

Profile Image for Erin.
109 reviews
January 22, 2016
I really enjoyed the book "The Need: An Erotic Thriller". I love romance thriller books and this one does not disappoint. The story line reels you in from the very beginning with a woman named, Angie, who is having some difficulty in her current relationship. Angie then encounters, Heather, who literally changes her life in more ways that one. Being with Heather makes Angie's head spin in so many different directions, she is no longer sure how to feel about life or her boyfriend. The story really picks up and is very sexual but not too much that it bothered me, especially since I knew what type of book I was getting myself into.
S.L. Hannah, let me say you are an amazing writer. It's rare that you read of book that keeps you completely enthralled from beginning to end. This book isn't just you're typical erotic thriller, there is so much more than that. I literally couldn't put the book down, mainly because of how descriptive Hannah's words are and the fact that I just couldn't wait to see what happened next in this twisted story. This book is for mature adults only due to the descriptive nature of this book.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
14 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2016
S.L. Hannah's book, The Need: An Erotic Thriller is a complex serving of sexually charged entertainment. Every page felt enticing, like a voyeuristic dare to follow the lives of Heather and Angie. "The Need" was so enjoyable because it had the earnest pace and unraveling plot one would expect from a first novel. This theme is further highlighted with Angie's exploration, and eventual struggle for freedom from bondage as well as from her own self. It is with this new freedom into the unknown that we see a bit of our selves with every turn of the page.

There is a tenderness to our characters that creates a sense of lust and intrigue. As I became more invested in their well being, I was surprised at how dark and twisted this story was headed. It never felt forced or jarring. If anything, it created an overall blanket effect of human nature, desire, and exploration. Loved the ending, certainly a unique read worth downloading.
Profile Image for Jo.
356 reviews4 followers
October 1, 2016
How many of us look at someone and want a bit of what they have or want to know their secret? Angie appears as that uncomfortable wannabe,her head turned by Heather. Whether you want to read about girls attracted to girls or not you need to challenge your perceptions and opinions. This book is like an onion that peels off one layer after another as the characters unfold and the rollercoaster of a story spins in so many directions you question Angies thought processes and sanity and yet we all know an Angie or an element of her and we all know that person who blinds us,Heather. The evolving roles of the uncle,Erik and Rachel make you wonder what the hell has been happening all along and what kind of person Heather actually is. This is thought provoking,excellently written and draws you in. The ending is a slap across the face that you don't see coming. A must read that will take you an age to get your head around. Wow
Profile Image for Michelle Mccormick.
23 reviews4 followers
January 22, 2016
Wowzers!!! Angie is a naïve, sheltered college student. She's uncomfortably waiting at a club for her boyfriend when she becomes mesmerized by a sexy blonde woman on the dance floor. After some flirting and small talk, she ditches her inhibitions and ends up at the woman's loft. Heather is sexy, carefree, and mysterious and totally seems into Angie. She seduces her and makes her feel things she has never felt. What starts as an exploration into her sexuality, turns much more dark and she finds herself in a situation that is both scary and exciting all at the same time. I don't want to give too much away as this is definitely worth the read but be prepared to be not only disturbed at times, but also strangely excited. I really think that Mrs. Hannah has done a great job of writing an exhilarating and naughty novel and I will definitely be checking out more from her in the future!
7 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2016
Angie is your typical introverted, loner college student whose mind explores various dimensions, but anything beyond ordinary thoughts are ones she keeps to herself. While waiting for her boyfriend at a club one night, she can't keep her eyes off one particular female dancer. This does not go unnoticed. Heather introduces herself before Angie leaves; she gets her a stiff drink and ends up convincing her to return home with her. One night of romance turns into entrapment where Heather's sweet, sexy spell turns into a dominatrix- without Angie's consent. Torn between enjoyment and pain, Angie experiences emotions she never imagined. I enjoyed this novel since it pushed fantasy to the edge and piqued my interest through the end. I would gladly read subsequent publications from Hannah.
Profile Image for Caitlin Garrison.
24 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2016

This book is darker than some of the other Erotic stories I have read. It took me awhile to get into the story. It was a little disturbing and I had a hard time reading the book for more than a chapter at a time. I wasn’t sure what to expect when reading the synopsis of this thriller. Angie was a likeable character and I am still not sure how I feel about Heather. The ending is still kind of baffling to me. I’m not sure if I was so caught up with what was going on with Angie and Heather that I was completely blindsided. If I had more time, I probably would reread this book. There’s a lot of dark scenes along with abuse, so this isn’t for the faint of hearts. Overall, the writing and plot wasn’t bad; this book is just not something that I would normally read.
Profile Image for TN Book Lover.
14 reviews14 followers
Read
January 12, 2016
This book was not what I expected, but in a good way. It definitely fit the description of “erotic thriller”. It was a complex, hot, intense, and dark psychological experience.

The story was interesting and disturbing at the same time. In addition, it had mystery and suspense that kept the reader engaged and on the edge of his/her seat. The writing is pretty good, especially for a first time author. There were parts that did not flow as well, but I was so engaged in the story that it was easy to overlook.

This book delivers a complex and psychological punch that will leave the reader speechless. It is a quick read and captivating story.
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