I wrote up the contract myself.
Legally binding. Crystal clear. No strings. No feelings.
Just sex — and two million dollars in exchange for my time and expertise.
Carter Fabri may be Tampa Bay’s newest rising star, but off the ice, he’s all Bambi eyes and inexperience. He’s a virgin in desperate need of lessons in dominance, seduction, and everything in between.
And I happen to be just the woman to teach him.
I don’t need his money. But I do need what it can give me.
I’m thirty-two, cut off from my family, and one bill away from drowning in student debt. The fantasy I’ve built around my lifestyle is getting harder to maintain. This pay day would secure the lifestyle I’ve worked too hard to let slip through my fingers and finally give me the chance to save for something I’ve always wanted — something I’ve never told anyone about.
So, I take Carter on as my student. I lay out every rule, every boundary, every carefully controlled term of our arrangement. What I don’t plan for is how quickly he’d catch on — or how much I’d enjoy letting him take the reins.
This was supposed to be a lesson in power. But somewhere along the way, I stopped being the one in charge. I thought I could keep my heart out of it. I thought I’d accounted for every risk. But some consequences you can’t predict — no matter how carefully you draft the terms.
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started Stand Your Ground, but wow, what a phenomenal surprise. It’s entertaining and wickedly sexy, yes, but underneath all that heat lies a deeply emotional story of trauma, healing, and two broken souls finding safety in each other. Kandi Steiner delivers a raw, intimate romance that’s as heart-wrecking as it is heart-healing.
“You want me to stand my ground? Well here I am.”
Carter Fabri is the definition of sunshine with scars. A talented hockey player and consummate good guy, he’s been carrying the weight of a cruel coach’s words for years. Every success comes with a voice in his head waiting to tear him down. He hides behind self-deprecating humor and corny pick-up lines because believing in himself feels dangerous. But when he crosses paths with Livia, a confident, composed woman who doesn’t do “messy”, he senses there’s more to her than her cool exterior. She’s a Domme, controlled in every aspect of her life, and she keeps her heart locked away behind titanium walls.
Their arrangement begins as a transaction. She’ll teach him about dominance and desire; he’ll give her financial stability. What neither expects is how transformative their lessons will become. In Liv’s hands, Carter learns that intimacy isn’t just physical—it’s emotionally and mentally freeing. And in Carter’s presence, Liv learns what it feels like to let go and be truly seen. Together, they discover that consensual, kinky sex can heal wounds that therapy alone can’t touch; it’s not about power, but trust, vulnerability, and reclaiming control.
“I could feel it happening, my grip on control failing me like wet hands trying to hold fast to a pull-up bar. Panic flared in my chest. My heart tripled its pace. But I caught myself before I teetered over the edge.”
This book is S-P-I-C-Y, but every scene has purpose. The power dynamics never feel exploitative or gratuitous—Steiner treats BDSM with such respect and emotional intelligence, grounding every moment in consent, communication, and care. The result is a romance that’s just as tender as it is scorching.
“Give me the part of your world that’s weighing you down right now. Let me carry it for you for the rest of the day. I’m not here to boss you around. I just…I just want to help you breathe again.”
Carter’s golden-retriever energy (and yes, his golden retriever is actually named Zamboni!) balances Liv’s black-cat confidence perfectly. Watching him transform from an awkward, self-doubting rookie into a man who knows his worth is incredibly satisfying. And seeing Liv’s walls slowly crumble as she reclaims her sense of safety and self-love? It’s breathtaking. Steiner doesn’t shy away from heavy themes like anxiety, trauma, and survival. She handles them with grace. Liv’s story as a survivor and the way Carter supports her without centering around his own feelings was profoundly powerful.
“I will not hurt you. I will not fumble this. I will cherish you the way you deserve to be cherished, and I will take whatever sordid route you need me to take to get there…You are, and always have been, in control, Liv. All I ask is that you take me along for the ride.”
Stand Your Ground is more than a steamy hockey romance. It’s a story about courage, self-acceptance, and the power of love to rebuild what’s been broken. Kandi Steiner nailed the balance of spice, soul, and sensitivity, and I loved every page of it.