Brat

by Kim Hartfield

Sara's landscaping business is her pride and joy - but her latest client is unexpectedly difficult. Emery is a rich, spoiled, utterly gorgeous former child actress... who keeps trying to coax Sara into bed.

Emery likes what Sara's doing to her yard, and she's dying to find out if her authoritative attitude extends beyond closed doors. But that doesn't mean she plans to submit sweetly. Once she gets Sara between the sheets, she'll tease, talk back, and misbehave as much as she pleases.

Can Sara learn to tame this brat? And even if she does, who's really in charge?

Genres: BDSM, Romance, Lesbian, Erotica, LGBT

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2021

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

[lauraღ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’ll obey me?”
“Sure, I will.” She let out an unexpected giggle. “If you make me.”

3.5 stars. Exactly what it says on the tin, and I loved that about it. A sexy f/f novella about a spoiled, bratty former child actress, and her new landscaper who takes her in hand... or does she? It's sexy, sweet, and there's a little subplot about versatility/switching that I ended up really liking. Emery really is a brat, from head to toe, and she's constantly trying to goad Sara into action, constantly trying to push her buttons, and she ends up being the catalyst for them exploring their relationship and taking it deeper. I'm not sure if I love brats in BDSM romances, but it was really fun how they clashed, but also fit together. Some parts of this were a little silly, a little unrealistic (staged convos for the paparazzi?) but it was also so mellow and relatively angst-free and I couldn't help but really like it. And I wouldn't call this slow burn, but there was some excellent tension at the beginning. This might be my favourite thing I've read from Hartfield! I'll have to remember to come back to this author again.

Content warnings: emotionally abusive parent, BDSM elements, bondage, spanking, dominance

[Bárbara Sousa · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 25%… I really liked the description of the book, but then when I started reading it, I felt weirded out, but kept on pushing until I couldn’t read anymore… They legit don’t know each other and Emery comes on so strong and practically harasses Sara who keeps telling her she wants to keep things professional, but then doesn’t but keeps on fighting her desires… but, they still don’t know each other lol they don’t talk, and then suddenly Emery wants Sara to dominate her lol how did she even know Sara would like that? So yeah, that bothered me and I couldn’t kept on reading :(

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an appropriate title. From the first meeting there's recognition of the hidden brat between Emery and Sara. Sara wants to get more completed landscaping jobs under her belt before the winter slow down and Emery has a job that could pay very well. The side characters of Sara's parents and best friend Justine mesh nicely with the plot as did the aspect of Emery's personal and emotional growth and recognition of childhood trauma. Very quickly, Sara and Emery's working relationship reveals dominant, submissive characteristics and the game is on. Landscaping theme aside, the storyline leans heavily on the development and subsequent maturing of a healthy domme/sub connection and switch up, culminating in a HEA.

On a side note, a book about Justine should be interesting!

I rec'd a copy through Booksprout and this is an unbiased and voluntary review.

[MissAlice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with accepting Sara as a Domme and Emery as a bratty sub. The dynamic was a bit ... puerile. A pseudo-attempt at fantasy role play. Don't get me wrong, I love a BDSM read, I don't mind brats, I don't mind subs topping from the bottom, but Sara had zero control from the get go and that pervaded through the book so accepting her as any sort of authority over Sara... never happened for me. If it's going to be a BDSM dynamic I always wish that a fair amount of truth to be woven into the give and take. For those that love a little spank fic or brat exposè or glimpse into D/s, this might not be the best fit for you. If you are jus wanting a smutty quick read- this is your ticket.

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

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine tries to be professional, but our other heroine just won't let things stand. Seems she needs to be taught a lesson or two in manners.

This story is a F/F romance with a side order of D/S. The story is well written, easy to read and delivers more than a simple story. The characters are well developed and given realistic personalities that bring the story to life. The characters have a real chemistry between them, but it takes a bit to draw that out, which works very nicely. It also doesn't hurt that we get a bit of steam along the way. Overall, a very pleasant read, well worth the time.

Highly recommended.

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

[Cindy Stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sara is a landscaper contracted to work on the backyard of a mansion recently purchased by Emery, a former child actress of a hit TV show. There's an immediate attraction and very intense flirting by Emery with Sara trying to remain professional. Pretty soon the two enter into a D/S relationship with Sara a committed domme. But Emery's teasing manner is cute, infuriating and bratty. Can the two really make this work?

Since the MCs come together pretty early on, the rest of the book mostly charts the course of their relationship, especially the D/S aspects. It's a decent erotic romance, without a lot of tension.

[Gina L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lust and Love What A Combination!

A story about Sara, a landscaper who is doing an outside job for Emery Silas, a child star who lives in this big mansion. From the start, Emery is flirting with her and she is trying to keep things professional. No matter what Sara tells Emery, her brattiness and flirting is constant and Sara is losing her resolve. It is just sex, control the brat and then she can finish this job. But was it just sex? The need to have Emery as a sub was winning the war inside. Some where this casual relationship was turning into more and Sara was holding her domme position tightly. Great read !

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Domme Sara is a hard-working landscaper. Trying to get her house together and make a success of her business. Her new job includes the very rich, very spoiled, very much a brat child star Emery. Emery looks at Sara and all she can think is yum. A Domme and a Sub who likes to top from the bottom. All Sara knows is she is not a Sub and she's not going to play that little game with Emory. She's in charge or else. Hot read

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

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is the gardener and her client was a child actress who might just want to get her into their bed. She is really doing their gardens well. What will happen between them? Will they end up in their bed? See just what will happen

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

[Todd Bliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun enemies to lovers romance that starts out slow and slowly over time builds up to a fantastic ending

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

[Carole Damoci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. It was enjoyable. I wouldn’t want to date either of these young women but they seem to fit with each other. And I always love a HEA.

[Doug Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main characters in this tale spend most of their time experimenting with various takes on a domme-sub relationship. There is little emotional development and not much plot. Overall a low-angst read with lots of sex.

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

Wow fantastic storyline I loved the main characters chemistry and their journey through the tough times was written incredibly congratulations

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lack of understanding between top/dom and bottom/sub I think. And while these characters could be d/s they do not come off as such within the confines of this story

[R.A. Alyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flipping loved this book. It speaks to my inner brat so much.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.2