A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW | Reviewed by: Terri
Emily Brooks is getting ready to graduate with her master degree. She has a job lined up based on her graduating. As she’s usually a straight A student, this normally wouldn’t be a problem except she might not pass one class. This is not the first time Emily has taken this professor. In fact, Emily takes as many of his classes as she can even though she barely passes them. The problem is she is distracted in his classes…..by the professor! Now, she’s got to go ask him for some way to get a passing grade.
Mark Kendall thinks he’s a fair grader and a good professor. He’s shocked that his classes are the only ones Emily doesn’t get an A in. Still, when she asks for a way to get a passing grade, he agrees but with some stipulations he’s sure Emily will not be willing to do. Strangely enough, not only does she agree, but she’s turned on leading Mark to invite her to his house for the weekend.
Emily’s not sure what she’d gotten herself into when Mark informs her that in order to stay at his house she has to be his sex slave. Does she dare stay? Is this just a test? Emily is so confused.
The most powerful thing in this story is the emotions. They are expressed in a way that you feel them, experience them and understand them. This is especially true concerning Emily. Her confusion in what is happening to her and expected of her comes across vividly. The nervousness she has when asking how to raise her grade as well as her nervousness in showing up for a retest is perfect. It’s hard to always get the correct emotion to come across but Ms Sinclair did it.
The characters are very well done, again, especially Emily. There backgrounds are given but even more important their personalities are seen. Emily is very curious and that gets her in trouble. Mark is cautious but with reason. Even though there is very little interaction with other characters, Mark and Emily give the impression of well rounded people.
This story is fairly short, only 45 pages or so. Yet, there is so much in those few pages. When finished, I would have swore that this story was longer due to all the details I had.
The sex is very graphic and some could be considered sexual harassment. While there is definitely a BDSM element, there is also a twist. I was almost to the point of hating Mark due to his lack of care of his sub but due to the occasional glimpse of vulnerability, I was willing to give him a chance. I came away with the impression that the BDSM lifestyle was not the way Mark usually lived but a slight deviation.
This is the first story of Lyla Sinclair’s that I have read but it’s sure not to be the last. The way she is able to bring out emotion is exemplary. I can’t wait to see what she has coming out next. Even more, I can’t wait to see what she can do with a full length novel.
May 25, 2010 | 9781419928338
5 = Rare - Top Pick | 4.5 = I Loved It - Top Pick | 4 = Good Solid Read
3.5 = Enjoyable | 3 Stars = OK - Needs a few changes | 2 Stars = It just didn't click / DNF
Book Blurb for Instructing Emily
Length: Novella
Graduate student Emily Brooks wishes she were going to a romantic rendezvous with Professor Mark Kendall. Instead, she’s heading to his office to salvage her grade-point average, since she was too distracted by his hotness to pass some of his tests. When the professor realizes Emily wants more than a passing grade, he agrees to retest her—while he administers some new, very pleasurable distractions.
When Emily passes, Mark invites her to his house for the weekend and she’s thrilled that her romantic dreams are finally coming true. However, once there, she learns he expects her to be his sex slave. His touch is too exquisite to resist and his demands and dominance become more and more exciting as the weekend progresses. But is this all part of a bigger test? And if she passes, will she get the one thing she’s wanted for years?
Note: Graduate at the head of the class by studying the rest of the kinky curriculum at E.J. Kumm University in Hard on Miss Hardin and Checking Out Audrey, also by Lyla Sinclair.
|