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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, In Her Sanctum by Emma Bailey is a sizzling sapphic romance that explores power, submission, and the transformative beauty of unexpected love as Elise and Sierra navigate trust, passion, and life’s hardships.
In Her Sanctum
Emma Bailey’s debut novel, In Her Sanctum, is a gripping sapphic romance that entwines passion, power dynamics, and the complexities of self-discovery, establishing her as a bold new voice in LGBTQ+ literature. This darkly intoxicating love story captivates readers with its magnetic protagonists, Elise Hahnfeld and Sierra Kernan, whose fraught yet deeply passionate chemistry drives a narrative bursting with tension, desire, and a touch of darkness.
Elise, a submissive, high-performing office worker, is trapped in a life of drudgery, her obedient nature making her a doormat for years. Exasperated by a job that demands more than she can give, she craves an escape from the mundane—a path where the unknown is exhilarating rather than terrifying. When desperation strikes and Elise loses everything, she takes an unthinkable leap, surrendering control to Sierra, a dominant woman with a taste for the forbidden.
Sierra Kernan defies the stereotypical image of a Mistress. Masculine, cocky, and undeniably charismatic, she’s a barber-turned-disciplinarian whose commanding presence and sculpted physique could unravel anyone. Yet, beneath her confident exterior lies a woman with a dark past, complicated by her jealous twin sister, Abi, a toughened mercenary intent on stirring chaos. Sierra is everything Elise is not—strong, self-assured, and unapologetically bold—making her the perfect catalyst for Elise’s transformation.
The novel immerses readers in the delicate dance of trust and submission between these seemingly opposite women. Elise, repressing a latent feistiness, finds herself drawn to Sierra’s ability to tame her in ways that feel liberating rather than confining. Their chemistry is electric, but trust is fragile, and Sierra’s hidden vulnerabilities add layers of tension to their dynamic. As their worlds collide, passion ignites, but Abi’s interference threatens to unravel the delicate balance they’ve built.
Beyond its sizzling romance, In Her Sanctum delves into themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love. Bailey’s passionate storytelling captures the complexities of desire, showing how submission can be empowering and how love can flourish in the face of adversity. The novel’s exploration of power dynamics is nuanced, portraying Elise and Sierra as equals in their vulnerability despite their apparent differences.
An exhilarating and stirring debut, In Her Sanctum is a must-read for those craving romance with depth and edge. Emma Bailey’s bold narrative voice and unflinching exploration of queer love mark her as a rising star in the expanding LGBTQ+ literary landscape. For readers seeking a story that balances heart-pounding passion with emotional resonance, In Her Sanctum delivers an unforgettable journey into the beauty of letting go.
In Her Sanctum is available now, inviting readers to lose themselves in a world where love, power, and submission intertwine.
Emma Bailey
I’m an indie author, gamer, cat lover and geek culture consumer. I work as an IT technician. I’m creatively wired and love technology.
I started writing as a hobby, poetry and creative writing, and then I branched out into writing novels. There were a lot of unfinished drafts that never materialised, until I finally found myself, seemingly out of nowhere, writing and fleshing out an entire novel. The ideas flowed, and so too did the words on the page.
Six years later, I have returned with an entirely new direction and narrative style. I focus on writing sapphic, lesbian stories that I feel are often underrepresented in media and especially on bookshop shelves.
Allowing the reader to have the freedom to interpret things in their own mind plays a part in my overall writing style. My writing isn’t always black and white, but symbolic and colourful. I find power in writing strong, capable female protagonists.
–Emma Bailey
Find more from Emma Bailey now:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/43Px99g
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4cuM76I
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