Review: a realistic expectation of BDSM
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 8, 2014
This book was so refreshing in the midst of billionaire boyfriends, weak heroines, and trilogies and beyond.  This dual POV story is of self exploration of a woman into the realm of BDSM.  All by accident of course.  :)Emily McNamara is a woman who just finished defending her dissertation to a panel so that she could receive her PhD in statistics.  She is bone weary and just wants to drink her cup of coffee and relax for a few hours by reading her books filled with erotic fantasy.  Professor Jake Ballard who was behind her in line congratulated her on her passing her exam and she became a bumbling mess.  His good looks had her tongue tied and she forgot to get her money together to get her coffee which irritated him as well as the cashier and others. As she searched her pocketbook, she set her Kindle down on the counter. The Professor paid for her drink because she took too long and walked off in arrogrance.  She shrugged off her irritation and was going to welcome her reprieve from reality with her Kindle when she realized that the Kindle she beheld was not her own, but that of Professor Ballard's.  This begins her journey into exploring her submissiveness when she goes to reclaim her Kindle.I thought that the best part of the book was Emily's strength thoughout the whole book.  She was no simpering weak woman. She had a doctorate education and she actually displayed her intelligence throughout the book.  She didn't lose her sense of self in the book and she challanged and conversed with the Professor when they were not in a scene.  On the otherhand, the Professor was the consummate teacher, pushing Emily's boundries, while still respecting her limits.  He introduced her into this whole new world in which he was very much in control, but he wasn't controlling.  Dr. Ballard encouraged Emily to speak her wants, desires, and thoughts.  He told her he wasn't a mind reader and needed to know what she liked and didn't like.  He is a Dom that every woman who wants to explore should be lucky enough to have.These were two characters that didn't possess any traumatic flaws. Two professionals that enjoyed the lifestyle that BDSM afforded them, but didn't have any PTSD of sorts that attracted them to this alternative lifestyle that is found in so many books.  The trust and emotional bond that grew with them throughout this book through conversation and playing, made their scenes that much more erotic because of their reliance upon one another.  The book mainly focuses on the different scenes, but the dialog between Emily and the Professor gave insight to them as individuals.If you are looking for extreme emotion such as anger, crying, frustrated face slapping, you aren't going to find it in this book.  If you are looking for a true depiction of what a real D/s relationship w/instruction can be between normal people, then this book comes highly recommended.  This is a solid 4-4.5 stars.A copy of this book has been given to me in exchange for an honest review from the author.