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Carolina Girls #1
Hold Me Down
Talia Benson has always been independent, unafraid to go after what she wants, regardless of setback, injury, or failure. But between her father's conditional tuition payments and her mother's nagging concern over her emotional state, Talia's suffocating.
So when Talia meets doctoral student Sean Poole, she can't figure out why she wants him to control her. Why she wants him to boss her around. Why she wants him to hurt her.
Talia learns the hard way that not all control is created equal, and sometimes submitting is the most empowering thing in the world.
So when Talia meets doctoral student Sean Poole, she can't figure out why she wants him to control her. Why she wants him to boss her around. Why she wants him to hurt her.
Talia learns the hard way that not all control is created equal, and sometimes submitting is the most empowering thing in the world.
ebook
First published March 28, 2017
About the author
Sara Taylor Woods
7 books102 followersSara Taylor Woods is the author of Hold Me Down. Her erotic short stories have been featured in Dirty Dates and Best Women's Erotica Volume 7, and her horror has been in The Big Bad and The Big Bad II.
She also writes YA as Sara Waxelbaum, and co-wrote Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl with Brianna R. Shrum, out May 2, 2023 from Inkyard Press.
Sara is represented by Rebecca Podos at Rees Literary Agency.
She also writes YA as Sara Waxelbaum, and co-wrote Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl with Brianna R. Shrum, out May 2, 2023 from Inkyard Press.
Sara is represented by Rebecca Podos at Rees Literary Agency.
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March 22, 2017I am going to write a real review. (And put in TWs when I do.) This is just...a note.
This book shows a kinky woman grappling with anti-kink prejudice and judgment, both things she has internalized and also from powerful and important people in her life. It holds the complexity and difficulty of that experience with a tremendous amount of grace and compassion, and it doesn't pull back from showing how intense and awful that experience can be.
I needed this book so much when I was 15, and for many many years afterwards. I am glad that it exists and will soon be out in the world.
This book shows a kinky woman grappling with anti-kink prejudice and judgment, both things she has internalized and also from powerful and important people in her life. It holds the complexity and difficulty of that experience with a tremendous amount of grace and compassion, and it doesn't pull back from showing how intense and awful that experience can be.
I needed this book so much when I was 15, and for many many years afterwards. I am glad that it exists and will soon be out in the world.
May 3, 2017
I could not even begin to unpack this book, but I will say this: it’s so badly needed in the romance genre. Because oftentimes, BDSM stories just end up romanticizing abuse and showing a super unhealthy relationship. But Hold Me Down was so positive and honest and did a really, really good job at exploring what it means to be in this kind of relationship and also said a big fuck you to those who shame others for what they want in their sex life. And like, I just don’t know why people care so much what others do in the bedroom???? So long as everyone consents and is happy, who the fuck cares???? I adored Talia and rooted for her so hard. She’s been dealing with a lot of people, while understandably worried, telling her that it’s not right and that Sean isn’t good for her. Talia had a lot to work through in this book, and she almost threw it all away because of the negative stigmas attached to kink, but she stood up for herself and Sean and was like: I know myself better than you do. And I’m glad she had this sweet, sexy, and wonderful guy who shows her that what she wants is okay, that their relationship is not “bad” because of it. She needed to ask for it and say yes on her own, but he was there to give her 100% understanding and support. Their romance was great, and I totally believed in them. And I’m so glad this book is out there to counteract the shitty ones and tell people that it’s okay.
Rating: 4.5 Paw Prints!
Rating: 4.5 Paw Prints!
June 7, 2017
Hello, this is me talking about my favorite new book.
I knew a bit about the relationship going into Hold Me Down and I was excited because I have never read any daddy/little miss relationship in my life. Sara Taylor Woods writes an amazing, entertaining, fun, kinky book. It has everything for everyone and it is 10/10
And the relationship is the center of this book. It is developed beautifully. Talia meets Sean at a get together and it begins from there. They got instant connection and flirt/play so much that it's so cute and you die from the feels. They got this going on with cupcakes and they have this easy relationship/dynamic going on that it's so easy for you to just love.
Do beware, it is a romance book about two people who get turn on by pain but it's always consensual. Talia has always thought that liking it makes her weird and "abnormal" but embraces this when she meets Sean because she never thought she would find someone who shares her likes. He treats her like a queen and they are seriously so domestic I died every single time they were together.
TW talking about cutting
I knew a bit about the relationship going into Hold Me Down and I was excited because I have never read any daddy/little miss relationship in my life. Sara Taylor Woods writes an amazing, entertaining, fun, kinky book. It has everything for everyone and it is 10/10
And the relationship is the center of this book. It is developed beautifully. Talia meets Sean at a get together and it begins from there. They got instant connection and flirt/play so much that it's so cute and you die from the feels. They got this going on with cupcakes and they have this easy relationship/dynamic going on that it's so easy for you to just love.
Do beware, it is a romance book about two people who get turn on by pain but it's always consensual. Talia has always thought that liking it makes her weird and "abnormal" but embraces this when she meets Sean because she never thought she would find someone who shares her likes. He treats her like a queen and they are seriously so domestic I died every single time they were together.
TW talking about cutting
March 13, 2021
This book was a revelation. I’m still mulling it over months later. Not only was the prose gorgeous, the character growth was impeccable. Sara Taylor Woods is an incredible writer. Sean and Talia were such distinct characters, so richly drawn that I felt as if I really knew them.
I loved that Talia was Jewish and how her faith played such a big role in her life and it informed her figuring out her sexuality/kink. The intersection of faith and sexuality is a fascinating one and I get so much more out of the way erotic romance explores it compared to the chaste inspirational romance I read growing up. It feels so much more vibrant and alive. Real.
Talia struggles with who she is and what she wants in a romantic relationship. Much of the book is her sorting that out, through her BDSM relationship with Sean and through her therapy session. Her therapist is awful and those sessions could be hard to read about. Her counselor was projecting onto Talia and had no understanding of how consensual a BDSM relationship is. It made me really angry to see the way her therapist treated Talia, the sheer lack of professionalism, and then how this made Talia doubt herself. The arc of this part of the story is strong but I so badly wanted to counter the messages Talia received because that’s not what a healthy therapeutic relationship looks like.
Talia’s best friend Mallory is amazing, thankfully. And super funny. I love when female friendships are highlighted like this. It was important for Talia to have someone in her corner, even if Mallory didn’t always get it right. She was worlds better than Talia’s family.
Then there’s Sean, that beautiful nerdy strong man. I loved everything about him, from his academic focus to the way he took care of Talia. I loved seeing them together, for not only the steamy scenes, which were incredibly hot, but how they were in those day to day moments, like when he buys her cupcakes or checks in on her. They are a good balance for one another and while there’s much they have to figure out, their happily ever after was so very satisfying. I adored this one from start to finish and can’t wait to read more from Sara Taylor Woods.
CW: cutting, depression, anxiety, references to racism, references to anti-Semitism, concerns of partner violence
I loved that Talia was Jewish and how her faith played such a big role in her life and it informed her figuring out her sexuality/kink. The intersection of faith and sexuality is a fascinating one and I get so much more out of the way erotic romance explores it compared to the chaste inspirational romance I read growing up. It feels so much more vibrant and alive. Real.
Talia struggles with who she is and what she wants in a romantic relationship. Much of the book is her sorting that out, through her BDSM relationship with Sean and through her therapy session. Her therapist is awful and those sessions could be hard to read about. Her counselor was projecting onto Talia and had no understanding of how consensual a BDSM relationship is. It made me really angry to see the way her therapist treated Talia, the sheer lack of professionalism, and then how this made Talia doubt herself. The arc of this part of the story is strong but I so badly wanted to counter the messages Talia received because that’s not what a healthy therapeutic relationship looks like.
Talia’s best friend Mallory is amazing, thankfully. And super funny. I love when female friendships are highlighted like this. It was important for Talia to have someone in her corner, even if Mallory didn’t always get it right. She was worlds better than Talia’s family.
Then there’s Sean, that beautiful nerdy strong man. I loved everything about him, from his academic focus to the way he took care of Talia. I loved seeing them together, for not only the steamy scenes, which were incredibly hot, but how they were in those day to day moments, like when he buys her cupcakes or checks in on her. They are a good balance for one another and while there’s much they have to figure out, their happily ever after was so very satisfying. I adored this one from start to finish and can’t wait to read more from Sara Taylor Woods.
CW: cutting, depression, anxiety, references to racism, references to anti-Semitism, concerns of partner violence
April 2, 2017
This book has a lot of sex in it and also a lot of heart.
October 19, 2017
Woof, okay. I really liked this.
But first of all, warning for self-harm, emotional abuse between the heroine and her father, and abuse of the patient/therapist relationship.
I want to talk about the last one for a second, because the relationship between Talia and her therapist was very concerning, and unlike the other abusive relationships in the book, the narrative didn't seem to realise how harmful this one was. Talia's therapist doesn't condone or understand her BDSM relationship. She convinces Talia that she is being physically and emotionally being abused by her boyfriend, and on more than one occasion she breaks doctor-patient confidentiality to discuss Talia's sessions with her parents, even though Talia is twenty years old.
YIKES!
So while I really enjoyed this book, I would recommend caution for anyone who has a volatile or complicated relationship with therapy.
The other thing that bothered me about this book is how everyone in Talia's life treated her like a child. It's one thing to see that behaviour from her abusive father, but it didn't really make sense to me coming from her mother and best friend. Everyone was constantly so worried about Talia, and I didn't really get that there was necessarily cause. This isn't at all to undermine how dangerous self-harm is, and maybe part of it is the fault of the narrative voice being so tied up in Talia's head, and the way she downplayed it, but I just didn't get that she was incapable of taking care of herself the way those around her seemed to believe.
However, this is a lot of criticism for a book I really loved. The BDSM relationship between Talia and Sean was excellently done. Even though Talia was new to the scene, it never felt like Sean was patronizing her, or that he was infallible and she wasn't. I really loved .
The relationship feels really balanced between the two of them, which I loved. Even though Sean is dominant, Talia is an active participant in everything they do. Their relationship is negotiated wonderfully, and just in general the chemistry between them is off the charts.
Overall, this was an excellent and engaging read. I'll definitely check out more from this author.
But first of all, warning for self-harm, emotional abuse between the heroine and her father, and abuse of the patient/therapist relationship.
I want to talk about the last one for a second, because the relationship between Talia and her therapist was very concerning, and unlike the other abusive relationships in the book, the narrative didn't seem to realise how harmful this one was. Talia's therapist doesn't condone or understand her BDSM relationship. She convinces Talia that she is being physically and emotionally being abused by her boyfriend, and on more than one occasion she breaks doctor-patient confidentiality to discuss Talia's sessions with her parents, even though Talia is twenty years old.
YIKES!
So while I really enjoyed this book, I would recommend caution for anyone who has a volatile or complicated relationship with therapy.
The other thing that bothered me about this book is how everyone in Talia's life treated her like a child. It's one thing to see that behaviour from her abusive father, but it didn't really make sense to me coming from her mother and best friend. Everyone was constantly so worried about Talia, and I didn't really get that there was necessarily cause. This isn't at all to undermine how dangerous self-harm is, and maybe part of it is the fault of the narrative voice being so tied up in Talia's head, and the way she downplayed it, but I just didn't get that she was incapable of taking care of herself the way those around her seemed to believe.
However, this is a lot of criticism for a book I really loved. The BDSM relationship between Talia and Sean was excellently done. Even though Talia was new to the scene, it never felt like Sean was patronizing her, or that he was infallible and she wasn't. I really loved .
The relationship feels really balanced between the two of them, which I loved. Even though Sean is dominant, Talia is an active participant in everything they do. Their relationship is negotiated wonderfully, and just in general the chemistry between them is off the charts.
Overall, this was an excellent and engaging read. I'll definitely check out more from this author.
March 29, 2017
Full review to come, but for now I'll just say this is a book that would have changed my life had I read it when I was a teenager.
December 27, 2017
This is a really good NA with a D/s relationship, Jewish protagonist, and attractive, bearded, tattooed love interest. If any of those interest you, you should pick it up. (It's only $1.50 right now!)
November 9, 2020
i cannot possibly write a real detailed review without spilling my guts out so just want to say this book meant more than it should've and Woods' writing is great and I need more and Sean Pooley, top 5 romance heroes there are.
TW for discussions about self harm, abusive patient-therapist relationship (honestly this bothered me WAY more than i thought it would, the therapist needs her license revoked), emotionally abusive parenting, kink-shaming (so much of it, its like central to the plot). CW for D/s relationship and related kinks.
TW for discussions about self harm, abusive patient-therapist relationship (honestly this bothered me WAY more than i thought it would, the therapist needs her license revoked), emotionally abusive parenting, kink-shaming (so much of it, its like central to the plot). CW for D/s relationship and related kinks.
July 25, 2017
Daaaaaaaaamn
March 29, 2017
Wow. I one clicked this book without reading even the description and man was I in for a treat. I picked it up on a whim and the first page sucked me in. I couldn't ( and didn't) put this book down. It was sexy and delicious. Even if you don't have the same taste in the bedroom as Talia and Sean, I think there's a lot you can connect too.
Halfway through, I was dreading what the drama was going to be. I was expecting it to follow a usual romance pattern but boy was I wrong. This wasn't "drama" or cheating or he said she said this was a legitimate problem and a legitimate journey that Talia needed to go on. I hope to god there's more to their story.
Halfway through, I was dreading what the drama was going to be. I was expecting it to follow a usual romance pattern but boy was I wrong. This wasn't "drama" or cheating or he said she said this was a legitimate problem and a legitimate journey that Talia needed to go on. I hope to god there's more to their story.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 14, 2022DNF. On paper this should’ve been a slam dunk, in actuality this *really* did not work for me. It’s a combination of things that add up to a text I found nearly repellant. Lots of terribly inaccurate views on kink, policing of sexuality, and a therapist who should have charges brought against them. Beyond all that, I wasn’t feeling the chemistry in the main pairing. Pass.
September 6, 2020
I finally read this because my fated mate Leigh Kramer (please read her review) loves this book, as does other trusted romancelandians. And wow I was really blown away!
A thrilling exploration kink and consent between Talia, a college student, and Sean, a bit older graduate student. It is insta-lust that turns into the sweetest love story (the way Sean cares for Talia whew), albeit one that enjoys their pleasure with some pain and daddy play.
I was really concerned about Talia's therapist who really was trying to make Talia feel like she was damaged and wrong, and that part of the story did make me uncomfortable. I am not knowledgeable to comment about rep, but the way the author portrays it, the reader is fully aware this therapist is not a good fit for Talia and is in fact harming her. So do take care with that if needed.
CW for cutting (in the past, described), depression, gas lighting (not between main characters), and more that I am now forgetting because I read this a bit ago and did not note them down (not doing an official review).
A thrilling exploration kink and consent between Talia, a college student, and Sean, a bit older graduate student. It is insta-lust that turns into the sweetest love story (the way Sean cares for Talia whew), albeit one that enjoys their pleasure with some pain and daddy play.
I was really concerned about Talia's therapist who really was trying to make Talia feel like she was damaged and wrong, and that part of the story did make me uncomfortable. I am not knowledgeable to comment about rep, but the way the author portrays it, the reader is fully aware this therapist is not a good fit for Talia and is in fact harming her. So do take care with that if needed.
CW for cutting (in the past, described), depression, gas lighting (not between main characters), and more that I am now forgetting because I read this a bit ago and did not note them down (not doing an official review).
July 10, 2017
Let's take this review in two parts: The first half, in which our heroine knew what she wanted and passionately went after it; and the second half, in which that same heroine was turned about by her best friend, parents and a psychiatrist who put her on medication she didn't need.
First half: I loved this. We are introduced to Talia Benson, a young woman in an undergraduate degree who reflects on the boyfriend who left her just after she asked whether he would tie her up for her birthday present. She meets Sean Poole, who is described as a Ukranian version of Thor visually. Very nice. And he knows that, although she has these wants, she is inexperienced with the actuality of it and so takes stuff slow.
I, personally, loved this part the most. That teasing that was going on between them, that will-he-or-won't-he? action. When he snapped the elastic band on her wrist and asked her the real reason why she wore it there, I about swooned. A lot of my quoted passages were from that section of the book.
The other thing I particularly liked in this section was the relationship between Talia and Mal, her best friend from school. There were all these little teasing moments between them, such as when Mal first meets Sean, and general well done alluding to the strength of their friendship beyond the start of this book.
Second half: This part kind of devolved into sex that was much less about the temptation and teasing. There was a bunch of more hardcore BDSM now that they had the measure of each other, and it all ended with them in bed or various other furniture.
There was a lot less Mal in this second half, with the exception of when she was being worried about the marks that Talia was coming home with. This surprised me, because she is the same age as Talia and later shows that she's quite capable of using the internet to look up alternate lifestyles. I just wish that happened earlier.
The psychiatrist was an annoyingly preachy presence in the first half of the book, but that was overwhelmed with the positive BDSM rep that was happening. In the end, Talia's refusal to go back to her came too late to be satisfying.
And the whole part where she went on an SSRI? That was never mentioned after it happened. There was no acknowledgement that maybe she didn't need to be on these drugs to curb her masochistic urges. Nothing about her staying on them or else going off them and dealing with those side effects. That was problematic.
Despite the fact that these characters got their happily ever after, the events of the second half of the novel left me wondering how exactly stable that was likely to be long term.
First half: I loved this. We are introduced to Talia Benson, a young woman in an undergraduate degree who reflects on the boyfriend who left her just after she asked whether he would tie her up for her birthday present. She meets Sean Poole, who is described as a Ukranian version of Thor visually. Very nice. And he knows that, although she has these wants, she is inexperienced with the actuality of it and so takes stuff slow.
I, personally, loved this part the most. That teasing that was going on between them, that will-he-or-won't-he? action. When he snapped the elastic band on her wrist and asked her the real reason why she wore it there, I about swooned. A lot of my quoted passages were from that section of the book.
The other thing I particularly liked in this section was the relationship between Talia and Mal, her best friend from school. There were all these little teasing moments between them, such as when Mal first meets Sean, and general well done alluding to the strength of their friendship beyond the start of this book.
Second half: This part kind of devolved into sex that was much less about the temptation and teasing. There was a bunch of more hardcore BDSM now that they had the measure of each other, and it all ended with them in bed or various other furniture.
There was a lot less Mal in this second half, with the exception of when she was being worried about the marks that Talia was coming home with. This surprised me, because she is the same age as Talia and later shows that she's quite capable of using the internet to look up alternate lifestyles. I just wish that happened earlier.
The psychiatrist was an annoyingly preachy presence in the first half of the book, but that was overwhelmed with the positive BDSM rep that was happening. In the end, Talia's refusal to go back to her came too late to be satisfying.
And the whole part where she went on an SSRI? That was never mentioned after it happened. There was no acknowledgement that maybe she didn't need to be on these drugs to curb her masochistic urges. Nothing about her staying on them or else going off them and dealing with those side effects. That was problematic.
Despite the fact that these characters got their happily ever after, the events of the second half of the novel left me wondering how exactly stable that was likely to be long term.
July 2, 2017
Initial Reaction: Loved Talia and Sean together, but the last half of the book and almost every supporting character was a drag. I loved that we have a Jewish MC and it's just such a natural part of her daily life and that Sean totally respects all her boundaries. The psychiatrist and her parents are basically the worst though.
Full Review:
There are many great parts to this book, but I'm not sure I can say that I like this book as a whole. The main characters, Talia and Sean, are electric and have ridiculous chemistry together. I love Talia and I love Sean. But boy, most of the secondary characters are the absolute worst. I also don't think I'm a fan of these types of stories, even though I recognize that they're important stories for people to read? I'm not talking about the BDSM D/s relationship aspect, but I just don't like all the invalidation and gaslighting by the other characters towards the MC? It was infuriating and exhausting to read the entire last half of this book. I get that there are people who aren't going to understand the relationship Talia and Sean have, but do I really want to read about it? Some people might and want to experience that journey with the characters, and that's awesome. This book is for you. But, as it is, this kind of story just really isn't my thing.
Trigger warning: This book contains depictions and talk about cutting.
Talia is a junior in college and stuck in a path to getting an MBA as a deal for her dad to pay for her school. It's not what she wants to do with her life and she hates her classes, but she's stuck. She takes anthropology classes as her extracurriculars and after being invited by one of her professors on a lunch outing, she meets graduate student Sean.
There's not much by way of plot in this story. What this book focuses on is the relationship between Talia and Sean. Talia has known from a very young age that she likes pain, likes rules, but she's also remarkably independent and don't know how to merge the two things together in her life. When she meets Sean, he's everything she's ever wanted. He's caring, respects the hell out of boundaries, and is able to inflict the right amount of pain she needs. It's a healthy relationship. It's sexy and kinky and Talia and Sean are so right together. Talia wants to be loved and Sean is there to give it to her.
But the problem is that she had an awful support network and love does not come from anyone else in her life. Not her therapist, not her mother, especially not her father, and not even her best friend. It's awesome that they're concerned about Talia and are willing to show concern that they mistakenly assume she's in an abusive relationship, but they don't listen to her or try to understand where she's coming from. I think this book is great for people of all ages to read and realize that they're not weird, and wanting pain, for wanting someone else to inflict it on them as long as there are boundaries? This is normal and can be attainable with the right person.
I love that Talia is Jewish and that this isn't a plot point, but just who she is. When she tells Sean that she can't do something because of her faith, he listens and respects her decision, no questions asked. We get to see a lot of learning moments about the Jewish customs and faith, and I loved reading about it all.
Talia works out a lot, because she likes pushing herself, becasue of endrophins and the burning musclar pain after a long workout. This story goes around naming muscles like everyone should know what they are? Maybe I didn't pay attention enough back in elementary school PE, but does everyone just drop "trapezius" into everyday conversations? There are just some oddly muscle-naming moments during the sex scenes that took me way out of the story.
I feel like there were some weird moments in this book where it's like scenes were cut? One minute Talia has no idea what age Sean is, and the next, she knew that he was 27. This book also strangely goes into We never hear that she introduced her parents that she was dating Sean, but he's suddenly going with her to family Thanksgiving dinners? Although, this last one might be a result of reading way more m/m romance novels than m/f, but it seems weird that the initial introduction of the boyfriend to the parents is no big deal at all. There's also a random moment where Talia runs into a friend of hers, Brandon, near the end of the book, and it was just weird because she's kind of a mess of feels and he's all, 'say hello to your roommate for me'? Unless, of course, it was a one-liner to set-up book two for Mallory (Talia's best friend and roommate) and Brandon? Who knows?
And SPOILER...there's also the fact that Sean is a TA and he says that it's unethical for him and Talia to be together the semester he's teaching her class. They've broekn up at this point, but if they were still together and she couldn't transfer out of his class, I don't know how that would have turned out? Would it stilll be unethical since they were dating before she winded up in a class he was a TA for? I am just full of questions.
Small things I had to roll my eyes at includes the introduction of Sean's roommate, Brooks Hamada. He's merely said to be "Asian" but is he Japanese? I guess we'll never know. A few pages later, we get an unnecessary description that Sean's bookshelves and desk are from Wal-Mart (like, why would Talia even know that), so why couldn't Brooks ethnicity be clarified? There's also yet another unnecessary throwaway moment where colored dots are assigned to different ethnic groups as part of Sean's PhD dissertation that doesn't sit well with me at all. Yes, I'm probably looking too much into this last bit, but it was also not necessary to include into the book at all, so I'm pointing out this passage anyways, "Communities of color. Red ones are all Cherokee. Purple ones are Freedmen. Blue ones are African-American communities. Green ones are other Native communities. Yellow is filed under 'other.'"
Talia's psychiatrist is awful times a million and should have been fired a long time ago, especially after Talia tells her therapist that her father is emotionally abusing her and the thearpist's professional opinion is to say, "If you know it's coming it should be less effective." SERIOUSLY. There's a lot of moments, like every interaction with Dr. Oliver, that was gross and sounded more like the therapist was on a powertrip than listening to what Talia had say.
The epilogue was nice and I loved Talia and Sean together. Their scenes together are hot and I loved that he calls her "cupcake" and that he listens to her. Reading daddy kink isn't really my thing, but it works for Talia and Sean, so it's whatever. The two characters are great, and the story is only told from Talia's POV and I would have loved Sean's, but I don't think we're missing out by not having the story told from his perspective. Talia had a lot of unresolved baggage going into their relationship, so it wasn't a surprise to see that she needed time to process her emotions and find what she's herself and what out what she is and isn't okay with. Sean never tries to control her life (like what she eats or who she hangs out with) and is really a sweet, sexy, and a loving Dom.
Overall, I think Hold Me Down would be enjoyable for readers new to reading D/s books.
Full Review:
There are many great parts to this book, but I'm not sure I can say that I like this book as a whole. The main characters, Talia and Sean, are electric and have ridiculous chemistry together. I love Talia and I love Sean. But boy, most of the secondary characters are the absolute worst. I also don't think I'm a fan of these types of stories, even though I recognize that they're important stories for people to read? I'm not talking about the BDSM D/s relationship aspect, but I just don't like all the invalidation and gaslighting by the other characters towards the MC? It was infuriating and exhausting to read the entire last half of this book. I get that there are people who aren't going to understand the relationship Talia and Sean have, but do I really want to read about it? Some people might and want to experience that journey with the characters, and that's awesome. This book is for you. But, as it is, this kind of story just really isn't my thing.
Trigger warning: This book contains depictions and talk about cutting.
Talia is a junior in college and stuck in a path to getting an MBA as a deal for her dad to pay for her school. It's not what she wants to do with her life and she hates her classes, but she's stuck. She takes anthropology classes as her extracurriculars and after being invited by one of her professors on a lunch outing, she meets graduate student Sean.
There's not much by way of plot in this story. What this book focuses on is the relationship between Talia and Sean. Talia has known from a very young age that she likes pain, likes rules, but she's also remarkably independent and don't know how to merge the two things together in her life. When she meets Sean, he's everything she's ever wanted. He's caring, respects the hell out of boundaries, and is able to inflict the right amount of pain she needs. It's a healthy relationship. It's sexy and kinky and Talia and Sean are so right together. Talia wants to be loved and Sean is there to give it to her.
Honestly? I hated it. I hated how much I loved it. How much I knew I needed it.
But the problem is that she had an awful support network and love does not come from anyone else in her life. Not her therapist, not her mother, especially not her father, and not even her best friend. It's awesome that they're concerned about Talia and are willing to show concern that they mistakenly assume she's in an abusive relationship, but they don't listen to her or try to understand where she's coming from. I think this book is great for people of all ages to read and realize that they're not weird, and wanting pain, for wanting someone else to inflict it on them as long as there are boundaries? This is normal and can be attainable with the right person.
"You're not a freak. You're not weird. You're not broken. Okay? What you want is real, normal, and attainable."
I love that Talia is Jewish and that this isn't a plot point, but just who she is. When she tells Sean that she can't do something because of her faith, he listens and respects her decision, no questions asked. We get to see a lot of learning moments about the Jewish customs and faith, and I loved reading about it all.
Talia works out a lot, because she likes pushing herself, becasue of endrophins and the burning musclar pain after a long workout. This story goes around naming muscles like everyone should know what they are? Maybe I didn't pay attention enough back in elementary school PE, but does everyone just drop "trapezius" into everyday conversations? There are just some oddly muscle-naming moments during the sex scenes that took me way out of the story.
I feel like there were some weird moments in this book where it's like scenes were cut? One minute Talia has no idea what age Sean is, and the next, she knew that he was 27. This book also strangely goes into We never hear that she introduced her parents that she was dating Sean, but he's suddenly going with her to family Thanksgiving dinners? Although, this last one might be a result of reading way more m/m romance novels than m/f, but it seems weird that the initial introduction of the boyfriend to the parents is no big deal at all. There's also a random moment where Talia runs into a friend of hers, Brandon, near the end of the book, and it was just weird because she's kind of a mess of feels and he's all, 'say hello to your roommate for me'? Unless, of course, it was a one-liner to set-up book two for Mallory (Talia's best friend and roommate) and Brandon? Who knows?
And SPOILER...there's also the fact that Sean is a TA and he says that it's unethical for him and Talia to be together the semester he's teaching her class. They've broekn up at this point, but if they were still together and she couldn't transfer out of his class, I don't know how that would have turned out? Would it stilll be unethical since they were dating before she winded up in a class he was a TA for? I am just full of questions.
Small things I had to roll my eyes at includes the introduction of Sean's roommate, Brooks Hamada. He's merely said to be "Asian" but is he Japanese? I guess we'll never know. A few pages later, we get an unnecessary description that Sean's bookshelves and desk are from Wal-Mart (like, why would Talia even know that), so why couldn't Brooks ethnicity be clarified? There's also yet another unnecessary throwaway moment where colored dots are assigned to different ethnic groups as part of Sean's PhD dissertation that doesn't sit well with me at all. Yes, I'm probably looking too much into this last bit, but it was also not necessary to include into the book at all, so I'm pointing out this passage anyways, "Communities of color. Red ones are all Cherokee. Purple ones are Freedmen. Blue ones are African-American communities. Green ones are other Native communities. Yellow is filed under 'other.'"
Talia's psychiatrist is awful times a million and should have been fired a long time ago, especially after Talia tells her therapist that her father is emotionally abusing her and the thearpist's professional opinion is to say, "If you know it's coming it should be less effective." SERIOUSLY. There's a lot of moments, like every interaction with Dr. Oliver, that was gross and sounded more like the therapist was on a powertrip than listening to what Talia had say.
The epilogue was nice and I loved Talia and Sean together. Their scenes together are hot and I loved that he calls her "cupcake" and that he listens to her. Reading daddy kink isn't really my thing, but it works for Talia and Sean, so it's whatever. The two characters are great, and the story is only told from Talia's POV and I would have loved Sean's, but I don't think we're missing out by not having the story told from his perspective. Talia had a lot of unresolved baggage going into their relationship, so it wasn't a surprise to see that she needed time to process her emotions and find what she's herself and what out what she is and isn't okay with. Sean never tries to control her life (like what she eats or who she hangs out with) and is really a sweet, sexy, and a loving Dom.
Overall, I think Hold Me Down would be enjoyable for readers new to reading D/s books.
August 26, 2017
This was a surprisingly tough read for a book whose structure and prose make it seem like it should be a breezy romance. The way the MC has to grapple with her own internalized anti-kink prejudice, while defending against the negative reactions of everyone close to her, is very, um, relevant to the experiences many of us have had or continue to have. I really identified with those aspects of the book. I adored Talia's slightly fucked up but very self-knowledgeable approach to throwing herself into things, and her resilience for when they don't go well. Speaking of which, some TWs: . I really liked the depiction of a MC so invested in kink and so hungry for experience that she goes for what she wants despite the negative pressures she has around it. I loved the way this story explores the gap between amorphous-yet-researched desire and experience, the awkwardness, the space between intent, experience, and reaction and the ways trust, consent, and resilience aren't always enough. It is a surprisingly complex book and as an aside, I loved Talia's unabashed Jewish identity.
February 23, 2020
As a romance novel: recommended. The sex was scorching, the kink was very hot and realistic and self-described, the main relationship was #goals. Overall: A+
HOWEVER. Way too much of the story centered around a heroine struggling with an invasive family and a horrendously unethical therapist, and as a reader, I'm still furious that when her therapist WENT TO HER MOTHER ABOUT HER SEX LIFE, her reaction wasn't to tell her mother to go fuck herself and report the therapist to her regulatory body. And, frankly, if my therapist approached my mother about concerns about my life? I'd expect my mother to be equally angry and to be the first to file a report! If my daughter's therapist betrayed her trust that way (at ANY point, but especially as an adult) I'd be the first in line to file complaints, after making sure that my daughter knew that I supported her and her choices and her right to confidential healthcare and support, what the fuck!!
It's been 2 weeks since I read this, and I'm still furious that everyone got a pass for epically invasive and unethical behavior. I get that the character arc is about her accepting herself, but for crying out loud, no.
HOWEVER. Way too much of the story centered around a heroine struggling with an invasive family and a horrendously unethical therapist, and as a reader, I'm still furious that when her therapist WENT TO HER MOTHER ABOUT HER SEX LIFE, her reaction wasn't to tell her mother to go fuck herself and report the therapist to her regulatory body. And, frankly, if my therapist approached my mother about concerns about my life? I'd expect my mother to be equally angry and to be the first to file a report! If my daughter's therapist betrayed her trust that way (at ANY point, but especially as an adult) I'd be the first in line to file complaints, after making sure that my daughter knew that I supported her and her choices and her right to confidential healthcare and support, what the fuck!!
It's been 2 weeks since I read this, and I'm still furious that everyone got a pass for epically invasive and unethical behavior. I get that the character arc is about her accepting herself, but for crying out loud, no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2017
I really enjoyed a about 90% of this book as I found the main character to be very relatable. the ending bothered me a little but I still enjoyed reading most of the book. I felt the therapist was too judgmental as a social worker we are supposed to accept our clients as they are. the ending felt a bit rushed.
June 23, 2017
I loved this.....and I loved Talia and Sean so much omg. I really enjoyed the way their relationship was explored and how it developed. Their chemistry was top notch and everything I need in a good romance, especially one with kink. Wish I could just read more and more about them, tbh. I've been anticipating this one for a few months now and I'm so happy it didn't disappoint! 💖
April 20, 2017
Whew, man. This was good.
August 22, 2020
I have a lot of feelings with this book. RTC (maybe)
February 23, 2018
Sometimes I like to try and read outside my comfort zone. In this case that decision boils down to a "it's not you, it's me" situation when it comes to the rating.
August 9, 2017
I discovered this book after some glowing reviews on Twitter, and am really glad that I picked it up! A slight departure from my usual fare, but as you have have noticed by now, I really do enjoy reading far and wide. On Goodreads, Hold Me Down is categorised as romance, erotica, and new adult respectively, so if you have any interest in these genres, support an indie author.
The book features strong female friendship, a focus on the importance of communication (in all aspects of one’s life, not just in le bedroom), character growth, and great banter.
“Your social acumen never fails to astonish me.”
“I spend way more time socialising than you do,” she said. “Doing it through an internet connection doesn’t invalidate it as a social experience.”
“I feel like you’ve been waiting to use that line on me for a long time.”
There are two main elements to this book that make it stand out from its contemporaries.
Firstly, the much-needed discussion of BDSM, specifically those who enjoy it, and the lingering feeling, either by those who participate or those look in from outside and judge, that there is something psychologically ‘wrong’ with them.
“I think telling me my tastes are dysfunctional because they’re not yours is overly simplistic.”
There’s a lot of discussion with a not particularly-understanding therapist, family members, Talia’s best friend, and her love interest Sean, working through the intricacies and implications of those who gain pleasure from pain.
Secondly, Talia comes from a Jewish background, and her religious traditions are entrenched in the story. Not in a forced way, like Judaism 101, but rather in a way that feels organic. And this makes such a change, a fantastic part of the growing movement of readers and writers demanding more diverse stories.
This is what I believe: I believe in strength through faith. I believe in compassion and freedom. I believe in the lessons of history, and I believe in learning from mistakes, and I believe in not ignoring what’s right in front of you. I believe in deliverance and second chances. I believe some wonders are undeniable, no matter how hard you try to deny them.
By the end of the book though, Talia seems to be in a much more settled place, having made peace with her inner self, set boundaries between herself and the judgement of her family, and learnt how to express herself when needed with Sean, instead of keeping silent or running away.
“Always talk to me,” he said. “Always be honest with me. Tell me what you’re thinking, what you’re worried about. It’s never an imposition or a burden. I want to be here for you, and I want to support you, and help you where I can, but I can’t do any of that if you won’t talk to me. I’m good, but I’m not a mind-reader.”
The book features strong female friendship, a focus on the importance of communication (in all aspects of one’s life, not just in le bedroom), character growth, and great banter.
“Your social acumen never fails to astonish me.”
“I spend way more time socialising than you do,” she said. “Doing it through an internet connection doesn’t invalidate it as a social experience.”
“I feel like you’ve been waiting to use that line on me for a long time.”
There are two main elements to this book that make it stand out from its contemporaries.
Firstly, the much-needed discussion of BDSM, specifically those who enjoy it, and the lingering feeling, either by those who participate or those look in from outside and judge, that there is something psychologically ‘wrong’ with them.
“I think telling me my tastes are dysfunctional because they’re not yours is overly simplistic.”
There’s a lot of discussion with a not particularly-understanding therapist, family members, Talia’s best friend, and her love interest Sean, working through the intricacies and implications of those who gain pleasure from pain.
Secondly, Talia comes from a Jewish background, and her religious traditions are entrenched in the story. Not in a forced way, like Judaism 101, but rather in a way that feels organic. And this makes such a change, a fantastic part of the growing movement of readers and writers demanding more diverse stories.
This is what I believe: I believe in strength through faith. I believe in compassion and freedom. I believe in the lessons of history, and I believe in learning from mistakes, and I believe in not ignoring what’s right in front of you. I believe in deliverance and second chances. I believe some wonders are undeniable, no matter how hard you try to deny them.
By the end of the book though, Talia seems to be in a much more settled place, having made peace with her inner self, set boundaries between herself and the judgement of her family, and learnt how to express herself when needed with Sean, instead of keeping silent or running away.
“Always talk to me,” he said. “Always be honest with me. Tell me what you’re thinking, what you’re worried about. It’s never an imposition or a burden. I want to be here for you, and I want to support you, and help you where I can, but I can’t do any of that if you won’t talk to me. I’m good, but I’m not a mind-reader.”
September 14, 2021
THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK
2019 Edit: I read this book at least once every 2 months. When is Sara Taylor Woods going to put me out of my misery and add a sequel?
2021 Edit: I’m never going to get tired of this book.
2019 Edit: I read this book at least once every 2 months. When is Sara Taylor Woods going to put me out of my misery and add a sequel?
2021 Edit: I’m never going to get tired of this book.
February 5, 2018
This review was copied from my romance novel review blog: romanticallyinclinedreviews.blogspot.com
Hold Me Down by Sara Taylor Woods was everything I never knew I needed.
Talia Benson has always been independent, unafraid to go after what she wants, regardless of setback, injury, or failure. But between her father’s conditional tuition payments and her mother’s nagging concern over her emotional state, Talia’s suffocating. So when Talia meets doctoral student Sean Poole, she can’t figure out why she wants to control her. Why she wants him to boss her around. Why she wants him to hurt her. Talia learns the hard way that not all control is create equal and sometimes submitting is the most empowering thing in the world.
If you read romance, then there’s a good chance that you’ve come across Fifty Shades of Grey. I don’t want to start a riot or anything, but we all know that Fifty Shades is not the most stellar rendition of a health BDSM relationship. I’ve read many books that were good examples, but as someone not familiar with the BDSM world there has often been questions I’ve had regarding the relationships and ins and outs of this particular kink. Hold Me Down is the book to answer all those questions and more.
Hold Me Down should be the book you read before you go down the BDSM bunny hole. It’s a wonderful, informational book regarding BDSM that also delves deep into the shame associated with certain kinks. Watching Talia struggle with her desires and others perception of those desires was a painful experience, even for someone who doesn’t live the BDSM lifestyle. For those who do live the lifestyle I’m certain that Talia’s struggles would be reminiscent of much of what they had to go through from the judgmental public. In fact, after I read this book I went straight to Goodreads to see what others had to say and found a good number of readers wishing that they had this book back when they were struggling to identify and normalize their own kinks.
I love an author who doesn’t take long to get to the point and that’s the case here. Sean and Talia meet mere pages into the book and the connection is immediate and explosive. He’s patient and understanding while she tries to sift through her desires, emotions, and outside pressures. The perfect alpha male in my eyes. Talia was frustrating at times, but it was more because I wanted to help her than anything. I wanted to give her a hug and tell her not to bother listening to those whispering in her ear about things they don’t understand. Watching her slowly discover and become sure of herself was quite the rollercoaster of emotions for me.
This book did a really wonderful job of spelling out a healthy dominant/submissive relationship. Anyone who has ever read Fifty Shades of Grey should also have to read Hold Me Down to balance out the inaccuracies with a healthier alternative. I learned a lot about the BDSM kink and I positively adore this book. Not only was the writing spectacular but the message behind it was as well. If you’ve ever struggled with accepting your kinks and who you feel you are then I strongly suggest you read this book. This novel is a welcome addition to the erotica genre.
Hold Me Down by Sara Taylor Woods was everything I never knew I needed.
Talia Benson has always been independent, unafraid to go after what she wants, regardless of setback, injury, or failure. But between her father’s conditional tuition payments and her mother’s nagging concern over her emotional state, Talia’s suffocating. So when Talia meets doctoral student Sean Poole, she can’t figure out why she wants to control her. Why she wants him to boss her around. Why she wants him to hurt her. Talia learns the hard way that not all control is create equal and sometimes submitting is the most empowering thing in the world.
If you read romance, then there’s a good chance that you’ve come across Fifty Shades of Grey. I don’t want to start a riot or anything, but we all know that Fifty Shades is not the most stellar rendition of a health BDSM relationship. I’ve read many books that were good examples, but as someone not familiar with the BDSM world there has often been questions I’ve had regarding the relationships and ins and outs of this particular kink. Hold Me Down is the book to answer all those questions and more.
Hold Me Down should be the book you read before you go down the BDSM bunny hole. It’s a wonderful, informational book regarding BDSM that also delves deep into the shame associated with certain kinks. Watching Talia struggle with her desires and others perception of those desires was a painful experience, even for someone who doesn’t live the BDSM lifestyle. For those who do live the lifestyle I’m certain that Talia’s struggles would be reminiscent of much of what they had to go through from the judgmental public. In fact, after I read this book I went straight to Goodreads to see what others had to say and found a good number of readers wishing that they had this book back when they were struggling to identify and normalize their own kinks.
I love an author who doesn’t take long to get to the point and that’s the case here. Sean and Talia meet mere pages into the book and the connection is immediate and explosive. He’s patient and understanding while she tries to sift through her desires, emotions, and outside pressures. The perfect alpha male in my eyes. Talia was frustrating at times, but it was more because I wanted to help her than anything. I wanted to give her a hug and tell her not to bother listening to those whispering in her ear about things they don’t understand. Watching her slowly discover and become sure of herself was quite the rollercoaster of emotions for me.
This book did a really wonderful job of spelling out a healthy dominant/submissive relationship. Anyone who has ever read Fifty Shades of Grey should also have to read Hold Me Down to balance out the inaccuracies with a healthier alternative. I learned a lot about the BDSM kink and I positively adore this book. Not only was the writing spectacular but the message behind it was as well. If you’ve ever struggled with accepting your kinks and who you feel you are then I strongly suggest you read this book. This novel is a welcome addition to the erotica genre.
July 20, 2017
5 stars.
So, I was recommended Hold Me Down via this great blog post by The Book Voyagers, and I was not disappointed. It was such a great, funny, heartbreaking, and careful read that I think deserves more attention in the New Adult / Romance genre.
Some things that I loved about this book (and I really had to narrow it down because I loved a lot of things):
Talia’s character development is placed a the center of the story. Her character voice was a great perspective to read from: she was smart, funny, and insightful. I loved reading about her religious relationship with Judaism, and about her friendship with Mallory. As other reviews’ have noted, this book deals explicitly with Talia’s internalized shame and guilt because of her sexual preferences. I was pleasantly surprised to read such a sensitive topic being written about with attention and sensitivity. Talia's conflict was nuanced: intersecting with her family relationships, mental health, and her personal values, and it is a perspective that I think was needed in romance.
In terms of Talia’s relationship with Sean, there were multiple scenes of healthy negotiations of rules and boundaries between the two main characters. Sarah Taylor Wood really centered Talia and Sean’s romance on trust and communication. Sean in general was a great surprise. Having read a good amount of romance, a lot of times it feels like romance authors cannot separate the “dom” personality of their characters from the “regular” personality. There is a very clear distinction in this novel between the two. While Sean does enjoy kink and domination, he is also a regular person with a regular life outside the scene. Also, Sean has the aesthetic of “lumberjack, tattoo Thor”, so there was that.
Overall, there was a great respect given to the characters, their identities, and the subject matter. A great summer read (or anytime read, really).
TW: a BDSM relationship which focuses on pain, age difference (Talia is 20, Sean is 27), description of a past episode of self-harm (cutting).
So, I was recommended Hold Me Down via this great blog post by The Book Voyagers, and I was not disappointed. It was such a great, funny, heartbreaking, and careful read that I think deserves more attention in the New Adult / Romance genre.
Some things that I loved about this book (and I really had to narrow it down because I loved a lot of things):
Talia’s character development is placed a the center of the story. Her character voice was a great perspective to read from: she was smart, funny, and insightful. I loved reading about her religious relationship with Judaism, and about her friendship with Mallory. As other reviews’ have noted, this book deals explicitly with Talia’s internalized shame and guilt because of her sexual preferences. I was pleasantly surprised to read such a sensitive topic being written about with attention and sensitivity. Talia's conflict was nuanced: intersecting with her family relationships, mental health, and her personal values, and it is a perspective that I think was needed in romance.
In terms of Talia’s relationship with Sean, there were multiple scenes of healthy negotiations of rules and boundaries between the two main characters. Sarah Taylor Wood really centered Talia and Sean’s romance on trust and communication. Sean in general was a great surprise. Having read a good amount of romance, a lot of times it feels like romance authors cannot separate the “dom” personality of their characters from the “regular” personality. There is a very clear distinction in this novel between the two. While Sean does enjoy kink and domination, he is also a regular person with a regular life outside the scene. Also, Sean has the aesthetic of “lumberjack, tattoo Thor”, so there was that.
Overall, there was a great respect given to the characters, their identities, and the subject matter. A great summer read (or anytime read, really).
TW: a BDSM relationship which focuses on pain, age difference (Talia is 20, Sean is 27), description of a past episode of self-harm (cutting).
December 7, 2018
Os últimos tempos tem sido muito corridos, com muitas leituras para o mestrado e coisas me atrapalhando a levar as outras adiante. Então decidi ler um livro mais tranquilo para relaxar. E esse realmente é uma daquelas leituras que engatam e vão rapidamente. Mesmo não estando muito acostumado a ler romances desse gênero, dá para perceber que os clichês não são poucos. Seja pela descrição da aparência dos personagens (um mocinho loiro genérico que não sabe se vestir) até a estrutura que conta com uma separação no meio para desembocar num "final feliz". Isso, no entanto, não quer dizer que seja um romance bobo. Apesar de o BDSM ser um tanto idealizado e higienizado nesse livro, o ponto forte de verdade é o conflito da protagonista, em conciliar seus desejos com com suas crenças, em resistir ao preconceito sobre esse tipo de relação, em descobrir seus limites e descobrir a diferença de fetiche e relacionamento abusivo. Em todos esses aspectos, é um ótimo romance, que vale muito a leitura. E tem uns momentos bem quentes também que tornam a coisa toda ainda melhor :D
February 26, 2022
This book is so necessary for the world. It really helps non-BDSMers to understand what it's all about. I almost wouldn't call this a romance novel. It's more like a psychological study, although there definitely was plenty of heat.
It's interesting to me that all of the relationships that were bad for the MC seemed pretty normal. And by that I mean they weren't blatantly abusive (physically or emotionally). But they WERE. So not only was the story a lesson in managing family and friends' reactions to a BDSM lifestyle, but it was also a lesson in the more subtle forms of abuse. And, man, some parts of this were gut-wrenching.
Sara (author) did a good job balancing the 2 sides of the equation (is BDSM abusive or not) but I wish she would have given even more focus to the NOT side. About 3/4 of the book is all the negative responses received about the lifestyle but maybe only 1/8 of the book balanced that with the opposing viewpoint. She made enough of a point. But I wanted it made even stronger. :-)
It's interesting to me that all of the relationships that were bad for the MC seemed pretty normal. And by that I mean they weren't blatantly abusive (physically or emotionally). But they WERE. So not only was the story a lesson in managing family and friends' reactions to a BDSM lifestyle, but it was also a lesson in the more subtle forms of abuse. And, man, some parts of this were gut-wrenching.
Sara (author) did a good job balancing the 2 sides of the equation (is BDSM abusive or not) but I wish she would have given even more focus to the NOT side. About 3/4 of the book is all the negative responses received about the lifestyle but maybe only 1/8 of the book balanced that with the opposing viewpoint. She made enough of a point. But I wanted it made even stronger. :-)
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