Safe Haven

by Beverly L. Anderson

A Bartender seeking Bonds and Understanding.
An Artist seeking Self-identity and Purpose.
An Actor seeking Fulfillment and Connection.
A Doctor seeking Acceptance and Healing.


A Journey through the Winding Paths of
Trauma, Recovery and Truths Laid Bare.


Getting used to being locked up in a safe house, Devan Sullivan finds himself trying to deal with a past he’d rather forget in his attempts to help the young doctor Kieran Sung heal from his recent attack. The group is confined to the large Seath mansion, a house made specifically to protect the mob connected children of Irish Mobster Damian Seath. Things are not what they seem, and connections that were never intended are made between unlikely members of the Seath household and the people they are striving to help protect. Outside, the FBI is scrambling to avoid an all-out war between the rival mobsters Rian Callaghan and Liam O’Brien. However, is everything between the two Family Heads as simple as it appears?


Safe Haven, part two of the Doctor’s Training Trilogy, is a story of healing that examines D/s culture, the complexities of polyamory, and how people often deal with mental and physical trauma. Follow Kieran, Devan, Varick, Carmine, and the rest of their pack as together they navigate a world that rarely accepts people that do not fit in with expectations.

ebook

Published December 17, 2019

About the author

Beverly L. Anderson began writing at eleven; their talent foreshadowed a remarkable future. Their first story, written in spiral notebooks, was about a kidnapping. Even then, countless story ideas featuring fantastic places, monstrous creatures, and forbidden love filled their mind. Unsurprisingly, they now favor the darker recesses of the psyche over its brighter aspects. They immersed themselves in the study of psychology and related fields. They spend most of their days dreaming about stories and deciding how to make the unruly characters do as they tell them. Characters sometimes act independently, defying the author's intent.

Bev’s other hobbies include gaming of all types, including a great love of tabletop. They are an advocate of transgender/LGBTQAI+ issues as well as autism/mental health. They still enjoy writing fanfiction when they can. Their interest in the BDSM community began as a simple curiosity but has led her to the road to finding a place for themself there as a Dominant. They have gone on the journey of self-discovery in the last few years, finally pinning down their identity after thirty years of searching. Coming out as non-binary (bigender), asexual (aegosexual), and panromantic was one of the hardest things they’ve ever done, but it gave them the confidence to become themselves even more. Bev, who is autistic, has ADHD, bipolar disorder, and follows an eclectic pagan path, frequently clashes with what society deems as "normal."

Beverly started their writing journey seriously in 2013 when they found their way to fanfiction. They spent several years writing over three million words in various fandoms. For the last few years, they have been pursuing the adaptation of those stories into original works and publishing them for a wider audience. Finding their publishing home with Phoenix Voices Publishing helped make that dream a reality, one that they help others find.

Reviews

[Keturah Sergeant · Rating 2 out of 5]

2% plot, 98% unrealistic smut... If you want to read a long published fan fiction with too many characters, too much going on and barely any background information: this is for you.

[Gale MR · Rating 5 out of 5]

The continuation of the series has even stronger emotional impact. After the devastating events in the first book , the lives of Kieran, Varick, Devan, Carmine and their friends are irrevocably changed and everything they thought they knew is torn to pieces. But amongst the destruction and suffering there is something new emerging- the bonds between them forged with affection, love, patience and acceptance. Deeply flawed and damaged, they learn how to trust again, how to piece together the scattered shards of their lives and how to simply be themselves without being afraid of harassment, resentment or manipulation. Every page is a peek into the complex process of healing and mental rebuilding of our characters. This isn't just a book about kinky sex and sexual exploration even though there is enough heat on page. It's more about the learning who to trust, how to give up controll but still be in control of your choices, establishing boundaries in personal interactions and that you matter as a person. And all of this blends into unique and interesting BDSM dynamic between all of them.
There are a lot of triggering discussions of previous traumatic events so be aware of that.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Sarah Seelbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This narrative explores the intricacies of BDSM, emphasizing the balance between granting and exercising control in a manner that ensures the well-being of all parties involved. It highlights the importance of placing complete trust in another individual. Varick demonstrates his affection and desire to nurture Kieran. The book is infused with excitement and maintains a captivating pace that compels readers to continue. Both characters, marked by their profound flaws and traumas, embark on a journey to rebuild their trust, reconstruct the fragmented aspects of their lives, and embrace their true selves without the fear of intimidation, bitterness, or exploitation.

[Deb Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a detailed storyline that covers the emotional and complex process of healing. The BDSM dynamic helps the characters explore their sexuality but more importantly shows then how and who to trust with their boundaries which evolves into an interesting BDSM dynamic between all of them. The in depth discussions were at some points quite intense and traumatic but were vital to help us understand the characters.

[Jona Nightingale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Put some respect on Carmine’s name!

Gaawwddd the cliffhanger!

Hold my hand, I’m gonna finish the last book in the series.