Bound by Fear

Dark Sanctuary #1

by Jayce Carter

One night of submission to prove she doesn’t crave it, and three sexy Dominants eager to call her bluff.

Sunny has come a long way in the years since escaping the abusive Dom who made her life hell. Still, when Sunny can’t shake a frighteningly strong need inside her, she decides one night at a local BDSM club, Sanctuary, will prove she doesn’t want that in her life anymore.

Instead, she meets three masked men there who give her pleasure she couldn’t have imagined and twist everything she thought she knew about BDSM. Rather than the proof she thought she’d get, that the lifestyle wasn’t for her, Sunny is further drawn to what had nearly destroyed her before.

When fears that her ex-Dom could be after her again occur, Sunny and the men are forced to confront the dangers of her past and the scars it left behind. Can Sunny risk everything for the men she’s fallen for, or will she let her fears rob them all of a future?

Reader advisory: This book includes scenes of violence to people and a dog and mentions of an abusive relationship. There is a scene involving attempted kidnapping and attempted murder.

Genres: BDSM, Romance, Menage, Contemporary

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 4, 2022

About the author

Jayce Carter lives in Southern California with her husband and two spawns. She originally wanted to take over the world but realized that would require wearing pants. This led her to choosing writing, a completely pants-free occupation. She has a fear of heights yet rock climbs for fun and enjoys making up excuses for not going out and socializing.

Reviews

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was highly entertaining. Sunny is a sweetheart and you feel so badly for what happened in her past that is still affecting her now. When she meets Garrison, Trent and Connor, they really rocked her world. All three men are so totally swoon-worthy, and bring out the best in her as they all have their strengths. There is a bit of drama, intrigue and suspense in this romance that ends on a very positive note. Truly an enjoyable and steamy hot read!

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

[Dhani · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true Jayce Carter style this book brings you into the emotional ups and downs of the main characters, primarily the heroine. Most books this size I can plow through in a couple days, not Jayce Carter books. I become so emotionally invested that I have to step back and breathe (example - panic attack scene described in a way that triggers memories of my own). You want to hug characters, shake and slap them, destroy the bad guys, etc.
Do I recommend this book? Absolutely.

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

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny decides to have one night at a local BDSM club to prove that she doesn’t want that life any longer. She meets three masked men while at the club and sparks fly, they are very different for her prior abusive Dom. Could she really want that lifestyle? What will happen when her previous Dom comes after her? Fast-paced read with loads of drama, suspense and sizzle. I loved it!

[Reed Daylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want them to be my Doms! - Sigh. A girl can dream.

POV: multiple
HUMOR: yes
F BOMBS: yes
STANDALONE: yes
NEW AUTHOR FOR ME: yes
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: panic attacks, BDSM & accessories, PTSD, abusive ex (Tanner Hoult), brutal attack, stabbing, attempted abduction, attempted murder, spanking until tears/runny mascara, prank calls with just breathing, animal cruelty & death, MF, MFM, MFMM, fifth base, no m/m, explicit language

>For mature audiences only due to serious topics

CHARACTERS: FMC Sunny (31) and Dominants Garrison, Connor, and Trent

OVERALL: Great characters - Well-written - Recommend - Will read author's other books

PROS:
1. The safety measures in the BDSM club
2. The Doms are extremely patient with Sunny. It's always her choice.
3. Increased Sunny's self-esteem by having her say the reasons they liked her. Her reward was hot!
4. Realistic: mentioned that just cuz they have sexy times doesn't mean her problems are gone, it just means they'll deal with it later
5. Has it all: serious matter, funny, suspense, sweet, lots of chemistry, sexy/dirty talk, a bit angsty, page-turner

CONS:
1. Multiple POVs and sometimes all in one chapter
2. ARC version had detail left unaddressed, inconsistency, minor typos

NOTEWORTHY:
1. Author took a very serious matter and wrote a very beautiful story around it showing growth in recovering identity, self-esteem, and trust.
2. Line that stood out: " 'Brave girl,' Connor rumbled...and even if she didn't feel like it at the moment, she agreed."
3. After the HEA epilogue, author includes a sample of one of her other books. Bonus!

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

[Amos24601 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning to live again.

What an interesting dynamic this book presented. A woman, haunted by a past abusive relationship, decides to prove to herself that she doesn’t crave submission. I was intrigued from the blurb. Actually meeting Garrison, Trent and Connor just sealed the deal. They were just fantastic; patient, caring, kind and sexier than sin. When Sunny initially meets them, she really is determined to show them, and herself, that this is just an experiment. None of them could have guessed that the ties that bound them would become what grounded all of them together.

Sunny, for her part, was slightly frustrating for me at times. While I understood and sympathized with her past, I didn’t feel is was quite fair of her to continually compare Connor, Trent and Garrison to her ex when they had proved time and time again that they were NOTHING like that. Those men had so much patience with her. Her stubbornness and refusal to just listen to her own heart and mind was nearly her undoing.

One of my absolute favorite aspects of this book was how each man had a part in showing Sunny her worth, each in their own unique way. I especially enjoyed Trent, the sadist, and his lesson for her. We get all four points of view throughout the book and that was helpful in seeing just where all the mindsets were. I really enjoyed this one, with the exception of my slightly irritated moments with our heroine.

Trigger warnings for: negative self-talk, talk of past abusive relationship, intentional injury of dog, attempted kidnapping and attempted murder.

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

[Lauren Erzsebet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny escaped from a traumatic and abusive relationship with a male Dom who has deeply impacted her life.
She enters a bdsm club in order to convince herself the lifestyle is not for her.
Meeting three responsible, patient, caring and proper dominant men has her scared of the truth.
Her life is plagued by panic and anxiety caused by the original Dom in her life which means she now associates everything in this world with his treatment.
The three males only wish to teach her that she really is in control and must use her words to communicate her wishes.
When danger seems to come for her again, these men will not allow anything to damage this woman they adore.

Such a powerful and emotional story of what scars a person can still hold many years after surviving abuse.
This was incredibly well dealt with and I loved the level of depth to this story which was very intense.
I felt Sunny's pain and emotion like a fist to the chest but was so soothed by how these three men care for her.
They know she must realize for herself what she wants in her life and must make the moves.
Such a talented writer has created a perfect yet extreme romance that offers your heart such an experience it will be changed forever.

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

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked a lot of things about this story. I liked how it explored D/s relationships. They are not all the same. We get to see polar opposites in this story. Sunny's ex used the term Dom to excuse his abusive actions. She has been building her life back up, but the one thing she has avoided is getting back into the life. Dating has flopped - absolutely no sparks generated, so she ends up at a club trying to prove to herself that she doesn't want that type of relationship anymore. She finds the complete opposite of her ex at the club and they offer her way more than she knows how to process. Lucky for her and the guys, they find each other again.
These guys provide a how to on being a Dom as we follow their thoughts. What Sunny needs is their first priority. There are so many places where they could have chose what would have been easier, but they continue to put in the work to show Sunny the difference and support her.

It would have been nice to have their relationship be simple, but that is not how life is. Seeing the struggles makes this relationship feel real. It makes the ending pay off so much more by knowing how they worked to get there.

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

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your big idea of realizing you don’t like something backfires, and you realise it’s exactly what you need?

Sunny has come a long way in five years, but not enough to completely be free of her past. So, she decides to confront it head-on. Only she finds three people who treat her in a way she’s never experienced. Although she is unnerved, she finds she likes it.

I thought this was really well-written, with plenty of steamy scenes. Each of the male characters is well-defined and stands alone. They don’t all mingle together in your mind until you can’t remember which one is which. As for Sunny, she is a beguiling mix of strong and confident, and quiet and unsure. I loved how she came out of her shell and the guys were there for her whenever she would accept their attentions and/or help.

Spike though! Ah, man. He was gorgeous! (And yes, he deserves a paragraph of his own!)

The story moved at a steady pace, giving it time to develop without being rushed. I can’t say the confrontation was a surprise, but it needed to happen the way it did, and I was absolutely satisfied with the consequences.

Another winner by this author that is definitely recommended by me.

[Silke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound by Fear is a very aptly named romance which may contain triggers for some, since it deals with the aftermath of domestic and sexual abuse and stalking. Yet I found it very inspirational, since Sunny not only works hard to overcome her fear but manages to do so in the end and is free to live her life the way she wants and needs to. She finds help in not one but three Doms, each with a different story, a different personality, different kinks but united in their need to protect and to help. Each offers a different set of re-assurances and so they help heal a different wound. I rooted for them from the start and loved their happy end. Great that we get everyone's POV, too, which in my opinion always adds depth to a story. The fourth hero is of the four-legged variety and I was so glad about the heart-warming epilogue! This one is a keeper and it's great to know that it is the first in a series about the club Sanctuary. There were at least 3 side characters introduced whose stories I'd love to read!

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

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read and enjoyed Jayce Carter's books before and I have been in a mood for erotic romance lately, so I jumped at the chance to read Bound by Fear. Bonus points: it is the first book in a new series. Woohoo!

Bound by Fear is a fair bit different from the previous books I've read by Carter. I was a little hesitant going in, mostly because of the multiple men situation. While I enjoy a good MFM, I prefer MMF. So I don't really read a lot of reverse harem romance. Gotta say, I really enjoyed it. I love that Sunny, Connor, Trent, and Garrison don't go zero to 60 in less than 4 chapters. In her previous BDSM relationship, Sunny's Dom used the lifestyle to emotionally and physically abuse her. She is very reluctant to enter into a new relationship, much less one with three men. So she goes to Sanctuary to prove to herself that she doesn't need or want the lifestyle. Things don't do quite as planned when she meets the three of them. Together, they show Sunny the pleasure that can be had in a true BDSM relationship. What follows in some sizzling hot chemistry boiling over.

I really enjoyed this one. I love watching Sunny come out of her shell. Watching Connor, Trent, and Garrison teaching how a real relationship works was both endearing and friggin' hot. Toss in the suspense for a fun little extra bonus. I can't wait to see what the series has in store for readers. I'm certainly hopping Kat will have her time to shine.

I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny has worked up to being in charge of the womens shelter, but she still has the PTSD from the damage that her ex did to her. He had called his type of abuse and harassment BDSM, but it was all abuse to the point of killing her dog. After escaping five years ago, she needs to see what BDSM really is so she can clear her mind of it all and close that door. At a private club, she meets Garrison, Trent and Connor, who take her under their wing and start to reinforce the positives to combat the negatives from her past experiences. The characters are strong, determined and deeply caring. The storyline does a great job of showing the torment of some abusive relationships and how some are able to work through the dark times. Panic attacks from key phrases and situations are very real. Loved the chemistry of these four and how they work to support each other. Kat was a true wonderful friend and Spike is awesome. Great ending.

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

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first book by Jayce Carter. You can tell they are a good writer (if I suspect a bit formulaic based on the plots of the other books in this series...) which is refreshing in this genre.

Here's my biggest issue with the plot: I feel like the main character could have changed her name, or attempted to be a little more anonymous when rebuilding her life. When hiding from someone, especially in this day and age where there are so many ways to track someone, I feel like changing your name (even unofficially) would be the first stop. I didn't buy that the FMC ignored possible signs that her ex was around and completely bought that he just let her walk away. It's entirely possible that it was rationalized like that, but it just didn't make a ton of sense to me and seemed more like it was for convenience of plot. Again, this is a personal opinion. I'm sure for every practical person running away from someone there are situations (unfortunately) just like this. But, it still kind of bothered me just the same.

[Haste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:
- Likely a minority opinion but I found it weird that we open with Jordan trying to get with Sunny before his friend Garrison notices her stress cues and stops it. I low key thought Jordan would be part of the harem because he was a good guy, and usually every man outside of the harem is bad. I would have preferred Garrison save her from a guy with bad intentions. Poor Jordan 😅

- I would have liked a longer scene when Garrison found Sunny’s fox mask before he told her who he was

Tw: Brief scene involving animal abuse


📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘📙📕📗📘

Summary:
While trying to prove to herself she doesn’t like the Dom/Sub lifestyle (after being abused by her ex/Dom), Sunny spends a night getting tangled up three doms: with Garrison, Connor and Trent. Although she escapes before they can get her number, they unknowingly run into her the next week and recognize her Fox mask from the night they shared together.

The three men slowly replace Sunny’s ideas that Doms are bad and abusive, and she learns to trust them and love their Dom/Sub relationship.


𝕳𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊 .

[Keema Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is an emotional journey. This book is truly a book full of courage, strength and healing. I have to give it to the author for writing this heartwarming story.We all go through hard times in, but it’s the lessons learned and the recovery process that helps us move forward in life. I must say I love Sunny’s determination and strength, even more I give it to Garrison, Connor and Trent for showing Sunny her true self. Throughout Sunny’s journey she has grown and gotten to a point where it’s better to have your love ones in your daily life than to keep running away. In this process of self worth she has found her true calling, friendship and love. Most of all it’s her love for Spike that truly gives her the courage and strength to fight and go after what she truly wants in life.

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

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down.

Sunny had escaped from an abusive Dom a few years ago, but she still craved BDSM. She goes to Sanctuary for one night, hoping that she will find that she no longer needs it. Instead she meets three masked men who give her an evening that she can't forget. Worried about what might happen next, she leaves out a back door. But then she needs to call a group of men who help provide security for the women's refuge she works at. They are all stunned to find they are the men she met at the club. They start to develop a relationship, but is her old Dom coming after her?

I was most impressed how hard Sunny had worked to put her life back together. I will be looking for more books by this author.

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

[LeMiliere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunny was in a relationship with a man who abused and belittled her, he called it being a "dom" and said she was his "sub" but it was really it was abuse. Fortunately, she was able to escape him and overtime is rebuilding her life. But she's curious about the true BDSM lifestyle and wants to give it one more try despite being quite nervous about how things could go.

She decides to visit a local BDSM club, Sanctuary and is rewarded by finding not only one Dom to scene with but three hot alphas who are all Doms. She Garrison, Connor and Trent, form a great connection and share intense, super hot, chemistry, the difference between these three men and her ex couldn't be more different.

The book is well-written and well-paced, with well-drawn characters and lots of steam, as well as some twists I wasn't expecting.

[Kristine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny had been is a really crummy relationship with her ex Dom. She got tired of him and his abusive and belittling behavior. She left and five years later decides to visit a BDSM club to see if she really wanted that lifestyle. She ends up meeting Garrison, Connor and Trent. The three guys are looking for a sub to scene with and they find Sunny. She's terrified but the guys explain the difference between a good Dom and a bad one. They have a fantastic experience but Sunny isn't quite done with the the ex. There are hang ups, threats, break-in and the guys end up with her again to protect her. The four of them have fantastic chemistry together, super hot steam, and she finds the experience with Garrison, Connor and Trent everything she's ever wanted. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt for the main female character. The aftermath of her abuse was portrayed so well and i thought between the emotions she experienced, her actions as a result, and the way she tried to overcome regardless was done so beautifully. The sex and the various play scenes were hot and steamy of course, but for me i found the tenderness mixed with dominance as they tore down the previous damage left behind from the horrible abuser to be the best part. Every woman needs a guy like that to build her up after being torn apart, and likely vice versa. The edge of excitement and mystery throughout gave it a bit extra plot and overall i loved the book. Would definitely encourage those with triggers to exercise care.

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

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful start to the new year with a wonderful story from Jayce Carter. Her menage stories are always good to read, and to start with a great bang is just great.
Sunny was at a BDSM club and needed to prove something to herself, she wanted one night to prove to herself that she didnt want this anymore after what she had been though.
But then she meets up with three men, who show her differently. Trent, Conner and Garrison are intrigued with this little fox, but she manages to give them the slip, however they soon find her again when a call comes through to them from a womens shelter. This time they wont let her run, but she has a choice and they are the only ones who could possibly help save her from her ex.

Once again a great story and a must read.

[Secret Romance Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, raw and streamy!!

The way Jayce wrote this story had me immersed in Sunny’s fear and underlying desire. She took on two difficult topics and peeled back Sunny’s thoughts and emotions in such an explicit but emotional way that I felt like I was experiencing them myself. Garrison, Connor and Trent may be strong, dominant men but they clearly demonstrate the examples of what a good Dom should model after. Subs set the limits - end of story. But they watch Sunny’s cues and help her heal from an extremely abusive ex and reconcile her acceptance as a submissive. And of course, full out protective alphas! Well done!! Probably the best Jayce Carter novel I have read to date.

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

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story. It had a lot of kink to it, which I love, but was also mixed with a lot of thrill and mystery as well. I knew that Sunny's ex would show up at some point and couldn't wait to see when that would happen. I really thought that she would need Garrison, Trent, and Conner to help save her but she was able to mostly handle it by herself. I am an animal lover so the part about the dog was kind of sad but it all ended happily for everyone, including Spike. This book hooked me from the very start and I can't wait to read more stories like this from the author. I definitely recommend this read!

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

[Goddess of Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She had something to prove, and she’d find someone to help her prove it."


Sunny is sure she understands the dom/sub relationship, now she just has to help her body understand what the rest of her knows, it isn't for her. Garrison, Trent and Conner have been dominants long enough to recognize someone who has been hurt, and that dominant part of them wants nothing more than to help Sunny heal... at least until their hearts get involved.

This done in one story has more depth and heart than a lot of the quick reads coming out right now. This explores the line between consent and abuse, physical and psychological abuse, and the damage/harm that can be done by someone with a mind to twist something that, in another's hands can be beautiful.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a story that really tore at my heart. Sunny had come from an abusive relationship and wanted to test to see if the BDSM lifestyle was still for her. She went to a club where she met three men, Garrison, Trent and Connor. Little did she know that these three men would change your life forever for the better, bringing her peace at heart and a feeling of safety that she had never experienced before. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and there were moments where I cried. It was well worth reading.

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

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunny was in a horribly abusive relationship with a "dom" and has escaped him and was rebuilding her life. But she thinks she may still crave the BDSM lifestyle, so she goes to a local BDSM club, Sanctuary, to find out. But not only does she find one Dom who she has a strong connection with, but 3 hot alpha Doms. Garrison, Trent, and Connor. The chemistry between these 4 is intense, super hot, and these men are super protective. The book is well paced, steamy, has some twists, and more steam. Well paced read

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

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny had been in what she thought was a dom relationship with Tanner. When she got tired of being treated like she was nothing , hurt and belittled, Sunny gathered her courage and ran. Sunny had been gone for five years but was still looking over her shoulder. She wants to try to get BDSM out of her system and goes to a club. Connor, Trent and Garrison are looking for a sub to scene with and find Sunny. Sunny is terrified. They have to try and explain the difference between a good dom and a bad one. Read the book to see how it works out. If you like BDSM books, this is for you.

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

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !!! love Sunny, Garrison, Trent and Connor... this is their story... a fast paced action packed drama...Sunny is bound by fear... she was in a very abusive relationship with a dom... she finally ran but is still terrified of him... she wants to bet the BDSM life style out of her system... she goes to Sanctuary and meets Garrison, Trent and Connor... they have sparks... they have to teach her what's a good dom and a bad dom... but, trouble is coming for her... will they be able to protect her ? what a good story...

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

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny (FMC) is traumatised by her abusive Ex - Partner- Tanner and his version of what a Dom/Sub relationship is. Years later she's still living with the damage that he caused. Which leads her to Sanctuary (a sex club) to have one night submission to prove to herself that she doesn't need or crave it. Meeting doms - Garrison, Trent and Connor and they find out the reason she there they make it there mission to prove her wrong. What I liked about them apart from them being hotter than hell is how genuinely sweet and caring they are towards Sunny. I also liked the relationship they had. Dark I parts but a great read that I enjoyed reading

[Heather Klausing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about triumph over evil at the basis. Sunny has had a pretty traumatic past with her ex and that has caused her to take a certain path in life.

Be prepared for twists and turns, emotions and over coming past traumas in this book. The book really dives into d/s relationships when treated with mutual respect. I loved this take on that lifestyle!

I would love to see more books from this author.

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

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually the first book I read from this author and I so enjoyed it. You could really feel the emotions of Sunny. Right down to the panic attacks. I enjoyed it as it was not only well written, but very realistic for a person who was abused by a dominant before. It was good to be able to see all the emotions she went through while she was learning more about herself in the end. I can’t give this book enough praise in my opinion. I’m so looking forward to reading more from this author!

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

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because of a very traumatic past relationship, Sunny doesn't think she will ever want to be in a BDSM relationship again. It's just not for her. She thinks if she goes to the club one more time and tries it she will get it out of her system. Then she meets black, white and gold. Three delicious dominant man. These three guys just know that they have met the one for them and she's getting away. When she needs their help, they're on it. Now they just have to convince her that Dom isn't a 4 letter word.

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