Stand Your Ground Summary, Characters and Themes
Stand Your Ground by Kandi Steiner is a contemporary romance that blends emotional vulnerability, sexual awakening, and self-discovery. The story follows Carter Beckett, a star hockey player battling deep-seated insecurities born from years of verbal abuse, and Dr. Livia Young, a confident dentist with her own guarded heart.
When Carter hires Livia to teach him how to be better with women, their unusual arrangement soon transforms into a journey of trust, empowerment, and love. What begins as a professional transaction becomes a transformative relationship where both must confront their fears, break old patterns, and learn what it truly means to stand their ground — together. It’s the 5th book in the Kings of the Ice series.
Summary
Carter Beckett, a talented hockey player for the Tampa Bay Ospreys, finds himself at a crossroads. Despite his success on the ice, his confidence off it is shattered.
Years of emotional abuse from a former coach have left him insecure and inexperienced with women. After breaking a tooth during a game, Carter visits team dentist Dr. Livia Young.
Nervous yet determined, he asks her for something unexpected: to teach him how to be confident in bed and in relationships. Livia is initially amused and skeptical, but when Carter offers two million dollars for her help, she agrees — partly out of curiosity and partly because she plans to use the money to freeze her eggs and prepare for single motherhood.
Livia sets strict rules for their arrangement. Carter must follow her every command, remain monogamous, and obey her boundaries.
Together, they draft two contracts — one professional, one deeply personal. Livia creates a safe environment defined by consent and structure, introducing Carter to lessons that test his control, confidence, and ability to communicate.
In their first encounter, she dominates him completely, teaching him about physical touch, sensual awareness, and attentiveness. Though he’s nervous and inexperienced, Carter’s eagerness to learn and his respect for Livia’s authority impress her.
Beneath their professional dynamic, however, an emotional connection begins to form.
As Carter’s lessons continue, he gains not only sexual skill but also emotional strength. On the ice, his newfound confidence translates into sharper focus and stronger leadership.
Yet, his inner voice — the one instilled by his abusive coach — still haunts him. Off the ice, he struggles to reconcile his growing feelings for Livia with the contractual nature of their relationship.
Livia, meanwhile, finds herself torn between control and vulnerability. Her friends tease her about her independence and lack of maternal instinct, unaware that she’s secretly undergoing fertility treatments.
When she lashes out after being teased, it becomes clear that her confident exterior masks deep-seated fears and pain tied to her estranged family.
As the story unfolds, Livia and Carter’s lessons shift from purely physical to emotionally intimate. During one session, she introduces him to submission — reversing their usual dynamic.
Through this role reversal, Carter experiences trust and surrender, while Livia confronts the emotional scars left by her family’s judgment and a painful past relationship. Their connection grows deeper, transforming from mentorship into mutual healing.
Livia begins to rely on Carter’s quiet strength, even as she insists their relationship remain transactional.
Carter’s affection for Livia becomes undeniable. He starts showing up for her outside their arranged meetings — bringing her food, checking on her well-being, and even planning a surprise day out to help her de-stress.
He takes her paddleboarding, creating space for laughter and openness. For a brief moment, Livia lets her guard down, sharing stories about her distant parents and her sister, Lacey, whose upcoming wedding stirs painful memories.
When Carter offers to accompany her, she panics at the intimacy implied and reasserts dominance through physical control. Though she frames it as maintaining boundaries, it’s clear she’s afraid of being vulnerable.
Despite her resistance, Carter continues to prove his devotion. When he senses her emotional exhaustion, he shifts from student to caretaker, showing her that love can mean support, not subservience.
Their relationship evolves into something deeper, blending affection, sexual chemistry, and emotional trust. Even their playful exchanges reveal mutual respect — Carter’s confidence now genuine, and Livia’s control tempered with care.
Their turning point arrives on Valentine’s Day. They spend a quiet day together, surrounded by domestic simplicity — sharing food, watching TV, and caring for friends’ children.
The intimacy of normalcy terrifies Livia, who’s always equated control with safety. When Carter credits her for helping him rediscover confidence and identity, she jokingly calls him “ready to graduate.” Yet neither truly wants their arrangement to end.
Both recognize that their bond has grown beyond lessons and contracts.
Weeks later, Carter plans a rooftop dinner to win her back after a brief separation. He surprises her with a romantic evening, complete with city lights, music, and a symbolic gift: a gold key necklace and a leather collar with a lock.
His gesture represents full trust — his willingness to give himself to her, not out of submission but out of love. Moved beyond words, Livia breaks down and confesses she is pregnant.
Terrified that he’ll see it as a mistake born from their unconventional beginning, she insists she’ll raise the child alone. But Carter’s response is immediate and steadfast.
He tells her he’s thrilled and ready to stand beside her as a father and partner. For the first time, Livia feels truly chosen and safe.
The following months mark a new chapter in their lives. Carter embraces impending fatherhood with joy and purpose, while his career flourishes.
He gains a promotion to the first line and finds peace both as an athlete and as a man. Livia, meanwhile, navigates the emotional turbulence of pregnancy, finally revealing the truth about her family trauma to her circle of friends.
They support her wholeheartedly. When her sister Lacey visits to reconcile and apologize for years of silence, Livia finally finds closure.
Lacey reveals she’s stood up to their parents and exposed the relative who abused Livia in the past. The sisters rebuild their bond, and Livia agrees to attend Lacey’s wedding, no longer burdened by guilt or shame.
By the story’s conclusion, Livia and Carter have built a partnership rooted in equality and respect. They move in together, blending their lives and planning for their future.
Though their path began as an unorthodox contract, it evolves into a love story defined by mutual growth and redemption. At a team celebration, surrounded by friends and newfound family, Livia — now five months pregnant — watches Carter beam with pride and affection.
Their happiness feels earned, born from vulnerability, courage, and choice.
The book ends with Livia and Carter looking toward a shared future, grateful for how far they’ve come. Stand Your Ground becomes more than a title — it’s a reflection of their journey: learning to face fear, embrace love, and stand firm in who they are, both as individuals and as partners
Characters
Carter
Carter, the professional hockey player for the Tampa Bay Ospreys, is at the heart of Stand Your Ground as both a sports hero and an emotionally complex man trying to rebuild his confidence. At first glance, Carter seems to embody athletic success — strong, disciplined, and admired.
However, beneath this exterior lies a deep vulnerability born from years of emotional abuse by a former coach. The cruel words and constant belittlement from that period left him with lingering self-doubt and an almost paralyzing fear of failure, not just in sports but in his personal life as well.
His struggle to reclaim self-worth becomes a central part of his journey.
Carter’s decision to hire Livia for intimate “lessons” reveals both his desperation and sincerity. Despite the unconventional nature of his request, his motivation is rooted in a genuine desire to learn, to connect, and to overcome the psychological scars that have kept him isolated.
Throughout the novel, he grows from a timid, uncertain man into someone capable of emotional honesty and confidence. His transformation is not just sexual but deeply emotional — a rediscovery of his masculinity and self-assurance without arrogance.
Carter’s kindness, humor, and innate respect for others make him more than a typical romantic lead. His willingness to submit to Livia’s authority, and later to care for her when she becomes vulnerable, shows that his strength lies in empathy rather than dominance.
By the end of the story, as he embraces fatherhood and emotional intimacy, Carter embodies the idea that true masculinity comes from vulnerability, respect, and love rather than control or pride.
Livia Young
Livia, a sharp, self-assured dentist, represents independence and emotional complexity in equal measure. In Stand Your Ground, she begins as a woman defined by control — in her career, her relationships, and even her own body.
Her decision to freeze her eggs and her carefully managed personal life symbolize a determination to create safety where the past has denied her peace. Beneath that confident façade, however, lies deep-seated trauma from family estrangement and past abuse.
Livia uses dominance and control — particularly in her sexual dynamics with Carter — as both shield and salve. Through domination, she reclaims the power once taken from her; through teaching Carter, she subconsciously begins to heal herself.
Her evolving relationship with Carter challenges everything she believes about love and vulnerability. What starts as a purely transactional and controlled arrangement gradually exposes her emotional wounds.
Carter’s gentle persistence and sincerity erode her defenses, forcing her to confront her fear of intimacy and the pain of her family’s rejection. Livia’s growth lies in learning to share control — to trust, to accept love, and to believe that she deserves happiness without having to earn it through perfection.
By the novel’s conclusion, her transformation is as profound as Carter’s: she moves from isolation to partnership, from guarded independence to shared strength, and from emotional restraint to openness. Her pregnancy becomes a symbolic renewal, marking both literal and emotional rebirth.
Will Perry
Will Perry, the veteran goalie affectionately known as “Daddy P,” serves as Carter’s mentor and grounding influence throughout Stand Your Ground. His calm demeanor and steady leadership contrast sharply with Carter’s inner turbulence.
Will embodies the kind of quiet authority that Carter aspires to achieve — self-assured but humble, competitive yet kind. As an older player and soon-to-be husband, Will represents the life balance Carter is still learning to maintain.
His friendship provides emotional stability and a sense of belonging, anchoring Carter when self-doubt threatens to overwhelm him. Though not a central romantic figure, Will’s presence in the story underscores themes of brotherhood, mentorship, and emotional maturity within the hyper-masculine world of professional sports.
Chloe Perry
Chloe, Livia’s close friend and Will’s fiancée, adds warmth and levity to the narrative. Her playful personality and unwavering loyalty provide a counterpoint to Livia’s guarded, controlled nature.
Chloe’s relationship with Will — one built on trust, humor, and emotional transparency — subtly mirrors what Livia and Carter strive to build. She acts as both a mirror and a catalyst, showing Livia that love doesn’t have to mean surrendering power, but rather sharing it.
Chloe’s lightheartedness and compassion also make her the emotional glue within the group of friends, grounding Livia when her fears threaten to consume her.
Maven, Grace, and Mia
Livia’s friends Maven, Grace, and Mia round out the ensemble of supportive women in Stand Your Ground. Each represents a different facet of womanhood and strength.
Maven, the intuitive best friend, is the first to sense Livia’s deeper struggles and offers understanding without judgment. Grace, who later accepts a public proposal from her partner, embodies emotional openness and the joy of being loved unapologetically.
Mia brings humor and perspective, ensuring that even the most intense emotional moments are balanced with camaraderie. Together, they form a chosen family for Livia — a safe haven that contrasts sharply with the dysfunction of her biological family.
Their friendship is vital to Livia’s healing, reminding her that vulnerability does not equal weakness.
Lacey
Lacey, Livia’s sister, is one of the most complex secondary characters in the story. Initially a source of pain and resentment, she represents the unresolved tension of Livia’s past.
Lacey’s passivity in the face of their parents’ favoritism and her silence about Livia’s trauma deepen the emotional rift between them. Yet, her later transformation — confronting their parents, disinviting them from her wedding, and reconciling with Livia — signifies redemption and familial healing.
Through Lacey, the novel explores the difficult, messy process of forgiveness. Her reunion with Livia restores not just sisterhood but a sense of justice and closure.
Zamboni
Zamboni, Carter’s beloved dog, may seem like a minor character, but he plays an important emotional role. His playful, unconditional affection softens both Carter and Livia, offering moments of levity amid tension.
Zamboni’s interactions with Livia — especially her effortless command over him — foreshadow her dynamic with Carter, blending control with care. Later, Zamboni becomes a quiet symbol of domestic happiness and the simple joys that accompany love and family.
Themes
Healing from Emotional Trauma and Rebuilding Self-Worth
In Stand Your Ground, emotional trauma serves as the quiet foundation beneath both protagonists’ journeys, shaping their choices, fears, and need for control. Carter’s struggle is born from years of humiliation and psychological abuse by a former coach who shattered his confidence and masculinity.
His victories on the ice cannot erase the deep-seated belief that he is inadequate, both as an athlete and as a man. The physical strength and discipline that define his public identity contrast painfully with his inner fragility.
His decision to pay Livia for guidance in intimacy is not about sexual prowess but about reclaiming his lost self-assurance. Each “lesson” with her becomes an act of unlearning shame, transforming submission into empowerment and vulnerability into strength.
Livia’s wounds run parallel to Carter’s but stem from different roots. Her trauma is buried in familial betrayal and abuse—experiences that led her to equate control with safety.
Dominance for her is not a game of power but a coping mechanism that ensures she is never at someone’s mercy again. Through Carter, she is forced to confront how her need for dominance shields her from connection.
As their relationship grows, both characters become mirrors for one another’s pain: Carter’s willingness to trust challenges her fear of intimacy, while her discipline helps him rebuild his sense of worth. Healing, in the world of this story, does not arrive through avoidance or denial but through mutual recognition of brokenness and the courage to let someone see it.
The process is raw and imperfect—marked by setbacks, shame, and confrontation—but it redefines what recovery means. Instead of erasing the past, both characters learn to live honestly with their scars, turning their once-destructive coping mechanisms into tools for rebuilding confidence and compassion.
Power, Control, and Surrender
Control, in Stand Your Ground, is never just sexual—it is psychological, emotional, and moral. The entire narrative operates within an ongoing negotiation of power between Carter and Livia, where dominance and submission blur the lines between teaching and learning, authority and vulnerability.
At the beginning, Livia holds absolute command. Her dominance in their sexual arrangement reflects her belief that power is safety, that giving orders is the only way to avoid being hurt again.
Carter, conversely, enters the relationship seeking structure and validation. His submission is not weakness; it is a path to understanding intimacy without fear.
What begins as a strictly defined dynamic evolves into a deeper exploration of equality. As Carter gains confidence and emotional awareness, the balance of power begins to shift.
His growing ability to communicate desire, assert boundaries, and make emotional decisions allows him to stand as her equal. Livia, in turn, begins to relinquish her need for control, discovering that true dominance is not about dictating another’s actions but guiding with empathy.
The sexual lessons become metaphors for emotional growth: every command, safe word, and rule reflects the broader question of who holds control in relationships—and whether control itself can coexist with love.
When Carter eventually takes initiative—planning their date, comforting her through family turmoil, and expressing love without submission—the narrative reframes surrender as mutual trust rather than hierarchy. The interplay between control and surrender thus becomes the story’s moral heartbeat.
It suggests that strength lies not in domination but in the courage to release control, to trust another person without fear of losing oneself. Through that balance, both characters learn that intimacy is not about power over someone, but power with someone.
Redemption and Emotional Intimacy
Redemption in Stand Your Ground unfolds not through grand confessions or apologies but through the slow, deliberate act of learning to connect. Livia and Carter both carry guilt and self-doubt—hers from a past marked by abuse and estrangement, his from years of believing he is unworthy of affection.
Their relationship becomes a quiet redemption arc where forgiveness is earned not through words but through care. Carter’s consistent gentleness toward Livia, even when she retreats behind her walls, redefines masculinity as empathy rather than dominance.
His willingness to love her despite her defensiveness redeems the version of himself that once sought approval from cruel authority figures.
Livia’s redemption is more internal. She begins the story believing that emotional distance equals strength, that to be untouchable is to be free.
But through Carter’s unwavering presence, she learns that vulnerability is not surrender—it is courage. Her journey toward motherhood further symbolizes renewal.
What begins as a pragmatic decision to freeze her eggs becomes an emotional awakening when she conceives a child with Carter. The pregnancy forces her to reconcile with the parts of herself she once buried: the capacity for nurturing, softness, and belonging.
Their redemption extends beyond personal healing—it restores their belief in human connection. The final chapters, filled with domestic simplicity and affection, illustrate redemption not as the erasure of pain but as the creation of a new narrative built on compassion.
They learn that intimacy is not just physical proximity but emotional transparency. In choosing each other fully, flaws and all, they redeem the love they once thought they were incapable of giving or deserving.
The Search for Identity and Self-Acceptance
Every decision in Stand Your Ground is tied to identity—how one defines oneself when stripped of external validation. Carter’s entire existence has been shaped by performance: as an athlete, a teammate, a public figure.
Beneath the surface, he struggles to understand who he is outside of the rink and beyond the expectations of others. His sexual inexperience is symbolic of emotional suppression—the inability to express desire without fear of judgment.
Through his relationship with Livia, he begins reconstructing an identity based on self-awareness rather than perfection. His eventual confidence is not born from mastery but from self-acceptance, the realization that worth is not measured by approval or success.
Livia, on the other hand, defines herself through control and competence. Her career, demeanor, and sexual dominance all serve as armor against chaos.
Yet as the story unfolds, that armor begins to crack. Her desire to have a child, her vulnerability with Carter, and her eventual reconciliation with her sister reveal the woman behind the façade—one who yearns to be loved not for her strength but despite her fears.
Her journey toward self-acceptance is painful but liberating. She learns that identity is not static; it evolves through the willingness to change.
Together, Carter and Livia embody two sides of the same struggle: the quest to define oneself beyond trauma, expectation, and social roles. Their relationship teaches them that identity cannot thrive under suppression—it requires honesty, acceptance, and love without condition.
By the story’s end, both have built identities grounded not in what they were taught to be but in who they’ve chosen to become: whole, flawed, and unafraid to stand their ground.