First Everything

by Kim Hartfield

When up-and-coming journalist Hayley is asked to interview Maya Ross, she's excited to show the world a new side of the president's daughter. But when Maya refuses to open up about anything more than the charity she runs, Hayley becomes determined to unearth her secrets. Once she finds out the powerful older woman takes part in the shadowy underworld of lesbian BDSM, she's dying to write an article. Maya agrees to show her around - on the condition that Hayley submit to her. Despite Hayley's inexperience, she finds herself unexpectedly intrigued. Could the First Daughter be Hayley's first kiss, first domme, first everything?

Genres: BDSM, Lesbian

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2020

About the author

Kim Hartfield is a queer woman who's been writing since she could pick up a pen. Her novels are sweet and steamy, and while they may tackle serious issues, they always end with a happily-ever-after. She lives in a beachside city with her partner and their dogs, Chelsea and Rodent.

Reviews

[Ameliah Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

My First Too
Hayley is a new reporter who wants to interview the president’s daughter but Maya is pretty closed off to most everything she asks. When Hayley discovers Maya’s secret, Maya agrees to the interview and then some but it comes at a price….

What a delightful story!!! It was so good! This drama is full of all sorts of emotions and lots of interesting situations. The writing is everything you could hope for, the characters interesting and believable, the settings well described and oh my, the sexy bits took my breath away and when romance was added I was in heaven. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms Hartfield and I was really, really pleased. I will definitely be looking at the rest of her offerings!

[lauraღ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, it was okay. Definitely less of a success than the other Kim Hartfield books I've read. Mostly because the chemistry was lacking but also for a couple other reasons.

In books with shitty parents I very rarely want to see a happy miraculous reconciliation between parent and child at the end, especially if it's not well written or realistically written. And this was neither. After everything that was described about Maya's Republican president father, his stance on birth control and abortion, his views of poor people, his stance on gay people and then all the horrible things he said when he disowned Maya... I wrote him off completely. I would have been okay-ish if the book just ended with him getting reelected, because that's depressingly realistic, but his fake-ass apology did nothing for me and honestly just made the book overall worse in my eyes. Near the middle of the book when we were first introduced to Maya's parents, I thought the book was actually saying some insightful stuff about right wing politicians who use their gay children for points, the two faces that people wear, and the uselessness of her mother's centrism. But all of that meant nothing in the face of the reconciliation we got at the end, no matter how tentative and chilly it was.

Also the book started off on the wroooooong foot, with the spying stuff. I think the author was trying to play it as light-hearted, hijinks-y, rom-com stuff, but Hayley literally climbing over a wall trying to spy on Maya so she could get a scoop was just... creepy. Not funny or fun. I was hoping a semi-serious conversation would come out of it, but after Hayley's apology it wasn't brought up again.

I liked seeing a relationship between a cute subby baby butch and a hot femme... and that's pretty much all the book had going for it, alas. The BDSM stuff was fine, but again, sort of lacklustre when it came to their actual chemistry. The conflicts were all kinda meh, and the timeskips made the story seem rushed.

I'm kinda laughing because last night I gave myself this big peptalk about no longer reading books that I'm not enthusiastic about, and this is what I immediately followed with. Lol.

Not terrible, I guess. 2.5 stars.

[Queer Quill Enthusiast · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like "First, Two Epilogues" because apparently one wasn’t enough.

The writing wasn’t bad, it actually started off promising. But certain parts of the story kept pulling me out of it. Like the president’s daughter not having Secret Service or an experienced domme teaching a 24-year-old virgin about BDSM without ever mentioning a safe word. To be fair, most of the spice scenes didn’t involve kink, but if you’re going to write about that world, proper representation matters. It just felt like more research was needed on several fronts.

[Cindy Stein · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Hayley is assigned to write a magazine article about the President's adult, openly gay daughter, she's frustrated that Maya isn't very forthcoming. So she sneaks around Maya's home and discovers her in the midst of a BDSM scene with another woman. When the two meet again, Maya agrees to take Hayley to her women's BDSM club as a sub so Hayley can write another article. All of this is the preliminary to the relationship the two eventually forge with Maya as the domme and Hayley as the sub.

There is one major problem with this book. A President's daughter would have Secret Service protection assigned to her that wouldn't have permitted Hayley to sneak around Maya's house. Later in the book, when Maya goes to the White House for Thanksgiving, her mother actually cooks the meal, which would never happen in real life.

The other problem I had was believing that Hayley, a 24 year old butch, was still a virgin, even to the extent that she'd never been kissed.

All of this added up to a book I found difficult to believe and that overall wasn't all that hot. I wish it had been better.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroines is trying to get her subject to open up for the interview but is not making any progress. Once she finally finds a topic worth exploring, it comes with an interesting price.

This is BDSM romance with a FF relationship. The story is well written and easy to read. I have read the prying reporter trope before, but I like how it is handled in this book. I really like both our heroines and enjoy watching their relationship unfold. The plot is generally easy to follow, but not without a few bumps in the road. That just makes their eventual HEA all the more satisfying. Overall, a journey well worth the time.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes

[Edward Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hayley, a mid 20’s virgin journalist, discovers the secret lesbian BDSM world of Maya Ross, the President’s daughter while trying to interview Maya. They develop a liking for each other and Maya leads Hayley, a virgin, slowly into the lifestyle. A poignant developing love story with graceful, not vulgar, intimate scenes and a sad family back story that ends in an HEA.
This is my third book by Kim Hartfield. They are all highly recommended featuring tasteful and entertaining Sapphic love with pleasant thought provoking reading.

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

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read with leads Maya and Hayley - one the CEO of a non-profit organisation and the other a journalist. Hayley is portrayed as an innocent but confident magazine writer while Maya is a powerful executive with an emotionally vulnerable side. The BDSM theme woven into the romance is subdued erotica and blends well with the overall storyline which has angst, drama and well placed sex scenes. As I read, I connected more with Maya as her softer side emerged and I looked forward to a HEA. Ms. Hartfield strikes again with another 5 star book.
I rec'd an ARC from Booksprout and this is my voluntary, un-biased review.

[MissAlice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge BDSM fan and while there is some impact play, a wee bit of humiliation, a munch or two, a couple nights scening in a club, and a Domme loving up her sub, this is a softer side of the Life. I loved it. It was enough for those on the curious side and plenty for those that enjoy some safe, sane, and consensual fun. The MC's are yummy together. The politics aside, both are enjoyable to get to know as they learn to love one another. A 24-year old virgin falling for a Domme? It's just hot. It's a fast read, well written, and steamy. Everything you are looking for in a WLW BDSM foray. Complete with two epilogues and an HEA.

[J.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The President's daughter is a lesbian!

Maya the daughter runs a charity for school supplies for children and unbeknownst to her a reporter from a magazine, Hayley, catches Maya in compromised position with whip in her hand and red rear end on a woman tied to her bed. What follows is an small venture into BDSM for lesbians, being disowned by the President himself when a raid is made on a small club and published and venture into first impressions being wrong! Enjoy!

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hum.

Pretty generic with a bit of BDSM on the side. How that get together was beyond my ability to suspend disbelief - and very irritating; also the most interesting part of the book. And the rest? Well, I soldiered on and finished it - a lot of effort with little reward. Enough reward to put in the effort to finish it. Whew! (If you’re really interested in the BDSM angle check out Anna Stone or Jourdyn Kelly.)

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young reporter has an opportunity to interview the daughter of the president

She’s in for a slew of firsts if she wants to write the article.

Will the lifestyle, the love or the story win out in the end?

Steamy f/f BDSM romance

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

[Gina L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Loved it! There was so much in this book and each wave brought you closer to the hoped conclusion. Maya and Hayley’s chemistry was written so well. Pulling off a virginal character at twenty four has challenges and this author rose to the challenge. BDSM has always been a taboo subject but a loved one in lesfic writing. Handled well. Love Kim Hartfield’s writing.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

I really enjoyed this story. The author takes you on a journey of figuring out love and life while also learning about BDSM. Interesting book.

[Rolande Vien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book looking forward to reading other books by this author. I really enjoy her writing.