I Will Not Beg (Mountain Masters & Dark Haven) Paperback – June 19, 2019

I tend to read sub-genres in waves. I get the urge to read romcoms, or dark, or sci-fi (etc, you get the idea) and binge on them until the next urge comes up. I had overdone my BDSM binge a bit ago and hadn't kept up with the latest books but saw that Cherise Sinclair had a new one and cut short my friends-to-lovers binge to pick it up. For me, Cherise is always a great read and I Will Not Beg is no exception. Book #9 in the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series revolves around Dom Sir Ethan Worthington and Piper Delaney. Years before, words spoken by Ethan at a party released Piper from years of abuse by a sadistic Dom. She moved away, got help and started a business of her own. Fate takes a hand in putting Ethan and Piper together at another party and the two find that fate is not satisfied with them just meeting, it expects more from them.What I liked most about this story is that while the situation Piper ran from and eventually has to deal with is explained but isn't given in minute detail. The details, I feel, would have set the story on a different path than what it turned out to be. The prologue gives the circumstances and the main part starts five years later. Piper has had time to heal, to work through some of her demons and to find her balance. Once an abused slave who thought she has no recourse, Piper has gained knowledge. She is at the point where she can start to find out what attracted her to the lifestyle in the first place, to set a better course for herself. Ethan is a confident, skilled dom but a less confident man. Experiences with less than honest lovers leave him purposely alone yet lonely. When Ethan and Piper recognize their connection and Ethan becomes her non-sexual Dom, allowing them to grow and explore together.The BDSM scenes interspersed within the plot are scorching and the subplots of Piper's stepbrother and his schemes, as well as the return of the sadistic ex, makes for a well-rounded read of rebirth, trust, growth, and love. Cameos from Cherise's past characters such as Xavier and Abby, Simon and Rona, and Zander and Lindsey allow for Piper's integration into Dark Haven surrounded by friends. A side story of playful Dixon and his Homeland Security lover, Stan enhances this book even more. A great addition to the Sinclair library.

Piper Delaney was born to a single mom who loved her and then she married and her husband disapproved of her being born out of wedlock. He tolerated her and eventually that is all her mother did too. She was starved for affection and when her stepbrother introduced her to Master Serna she thought she finally had love, then it all turned to a harsh reality. Master Serna abused her and treated her like a dog, sometimes literally.Then one day Piper had had enough. Someone had saved her by telling her indirectly that a master and slave contract isn't legal, especially is he keeps her against her will. Piper digested that and ran. Years later she is healed from the physical abuse but not the mental cruelty she endured. She had a great life know and owns her own business. She lives across the hall from Stan and Dixon and I absolutely love Dixon.She meets Sir Ethan at a party that Dix and Stan are having and she misinterprets something going on between "his" slave and himself. She tries to help not knowing the situation. Ethan admires that but can she that he scares her. He hires her and from there he tries to help her overcome her fear of Dominants. She is afraid but attracted to them none the less.Sir Ethan is rich and had lost people before due to betrayal and when her brother comes asking for money and she refuses, he sets his sights on Sir Ethan. Both are stuck in flashbacks when the scene unfolds and Ethan rips both of them to shreds. She must find the courage to fight the demons that he unleashes especially when her old Master comes to claim his "property".This is a story of forgiveness and finding one's inner strength to fight for love and fight old demons. Sir Ethan and Piper realize they have met before and from there they begin a journey of healing. The story broke my heart at times and Dixon made me laugh. The support that her friends give both of them, well we should all have friends like that. I loved these characters and we caught up with old ones and met some new ones that I hope will get books of their own. This is a wonderful series and I am so glad that I stumbled upon it.

It had been a while since I read anything in this series. I enjoyed being back with the Dark Haven characters. This one had an English dominant that had relocated to San Diego, and a submissive that had to run from an abusive relationship. Ethan saved Piper more than once. I thought this one was sweet. He treated her lovingly from the beginning. Her only family sells her out to the master who abused her. She has a great core group of friends, and Ethan sees her worth. I really liked being back in this world.