Format Read: eBook

Number of Pages: 256

Release Date: June 16th 2009

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Formats Available: eBook, Trade Paperback(Print Release: April 6th) 

Purchasing Info: GoodReads, Author Website, Book Depository

Book Blurb:
This professor’s final exam includes a spanking.

Warning: Explicit sex, spanking, light bondage, a crazy old lady who talks to ghosts, and one lethal pink parasol.

Our Thoughts:


Why did you start reading DSIY?
The HEA Lover: I started reading DSIY because it  was highly recommended to me…by my own book pusher: YOU! I kept hearing you telling me how amazing this book was, how could I resist?

The Geeky Lover: Yeah I kind of HAD to pimp that one out. I originally found Joely Sue Burkhart on twitter and because of a great review she got from Pearl. I was so curious that I just had to get the Free Prequel Letters first and then immediately bought it and I finnished it in under 24 hours.

Did you read Letters before you started DSIY?
The HEA Lover: I listened to your advice and I read Letters to test the waters and see if I would like to read more. I loved it so much I couldn’t wait to read DSIY. Letters is just perfect. I read it at my Internship (I know Bad Bad me) and I kept blushing all the time. It’s difficult to look aloof and not guilty when you’re reading something so HOT. I’m not a big fan of short stories usually but this is the perfect prequel to a novel. I wanted to know more about the characters. You can see I absolutely loved it. And I discovered how being spanked could become very erotic, make you wish you were a naughty girl 😉

The Geeky Lover: Totally agree. I’m not a short story person myself because the characters always seems to be not deep enough for my taste but it was totally different with this one. I had to know how the story will continue. How cool would it be to have such a professor? (okay I didn’t say that) The most surprising thing for me was that I liked or better said loved the poetry. I’m usally not a real fan of poetry but OMG now I love it. Perhaps the reason for this are all of the naughty things I connect with them now? And the letters seem so real. Okay I will stop about that now cuz I will gush about those later. LOL
The HEA Lover: Ahah Joely forever changed our view of poetry. Now I only have to find a Conn to ‘teach’ me more *wink *
The Geeky Lover: Oh yes…where is he hidng? Behind Rae for sure. =(
The HEA Lover: I was gonna say in Joely’s closet
The Geeky Lover: You think? I will ask her . 😉


What did you expect of DSIY after letters?


The HEA Lover: I was hoping I’ll get the HEA I was waiting for! You know how I love HEA. I wanted to see Conn and Rae exploring their BDSM relationship together, I was already thinking about all the possibilities lol. I was craving for Conn to teach her all about Dom/Sub! What about you? I know you have a kinky mind!

The Geeky Lover: I didn’t expect the book to start so much later(5 years!!!) and I thought it would get more kinky cuz I always want that. *blush* But I was surprised that  the relationship developed in these tiny baby steps- one small step at a time. That’s the reason why I think DSIY is a great start if you are not sure if you would like BDSM. It describes the whole relationship perfectly and it shows what all this stuff is really about. Very refreshing and oh so good. *wink*

The HEA Lover: Oh I already knew It took place 5 years later, because I had read reviews (I can’t stop myself). I agree completely with you, It’s perfect for Vanilla girls like me! I am fairly new to the BDSM world and  I felt like Conn was reassuring ME everything would be alright. I wanted MORE too…I guess we are very impatient girls 😉

The Geeky Lover: That’s exactly what I mean. It’s a good book to get rid of these prejudices concerning the whole D/s relationship. After all it not all about spanking and beating. And for sure it’s not about degrading the sub. But okay, Joely explains all that really great through Conn.

What was your first impression of Rae in Letters and did it change in DSIY ?
The HEA Lover: At first I saw Rae as a very curious person, even daring! She was very straight forward with what she wanted, I know I would never have taken a class in poetry to be close to a teacher, even as HOT as Conn lol. I loved that she seemed to embrace being a sub, so I was a bit shocked at her reaction after THAT final scene. In DSIY, I found her a bit too scared. Well she has her reasons, but it felt like she was always ready to run. I wanted to tie her up to the bed so she would stop trying to flee (well I’m not the only one that thought of that *wriggle eyebrow* ). Did your view of her changed from Letter to DSIY?

The Geeky Lover: Exactly what I thought. I would never have taken such a step. It’s after all a major poetry class. She was so brave in letters at first but I could totally understand why she was afraid at the end. I think she changed so much cuz of the 5 years between letters and DSIY. So many things happened in that time, most of them not good at all. She just had her memories and those always change with time. She morphed all the things she had with Conn into something that was not really there at the start. But I think this whole change is very believable. I’m not sure I would have still been that brave after the marriage she had. But still wanted the tieing up. LOL


Talking about letters: Your opinion on the opening letters of each chapter?

The HEA Lover: The letters in DSIY are very important to the story, I loved that Rae wrote him letters throughout the 5 years they were apart. Of course she never sent them but reading them gave me a good idea of what she was going through.  Did you enjoy reading her letters? I felt like I was reading her private diaries, it was very intimate.

The Geeky Lover: The letters make this book into something really special. As you said, it’s like reading Rae’s diary but only one entry at a time. The present story is developing and you still don’t know all the things that happened in these 5 years. I love that. I’m  a bit nosy and that really held my attention. I HAD to know why Rae did that or why not. I wanted to know it all. Her letters are really emotional. I totally understand why she didn’t send them. She bares her soul and all she is in them. They felt so real. They broke my heart sometimes and I wish someone would write such wonderful letters for me.

The HEA Lover: I wish so too! Heat-breaking is the right way to describe those letters.

What was your first impression of Conn in letters and did it change in DSIY?
The HEA Lover: Conn… *drools*  Sorry about that, Conn is just perfect. When I read Letters I was intrigued by him. He had so much power about him, he really is a Dominant. I was under his spell! I still am in fact. I loved him even more after reading DSIY, he’s perfect! He took his time to explain everything to Rae. And such a wicked mind!! Spank me Conn Spank ME!! Oh I wouldn’t mind him teaching me stuff too lol I’m not saying that I’m sharing him with you (I’m not) but what about you?

The Geeky Lover: Conn in Letters was just wow Dominant wise. This one is just…*need some time to form coherent thoughts here*…I so agree about being under his spell from the start. I have to say I was so happy how he took the whole Rae running away thing. He worked through her issues in a great way. He didn’t want to force her although he knew she would like it. I don’t like it when heroes do that in books. He always wanted to assure her, told her what to expect and how to handle things. He showed so much love and concern it was just great. He’s such a caring and emotional character besides being a Dom. I loved his pop quizzes- that was like kind of an extra thrill cuz I felt like being in school and all. Made me feel so naughty.
There’s a thing Rae thinks about him and in my opinion it sums him up really good:

“She’d sit and watch the paint dry, if he was there and asked her.”

I just adore him and I don’t want to share him either. *gets in cat fight position*

The HEA Lover: You be aware that I’ll play dirty to get him! lol Ohhh yes the Pop quizzes were a lot of fun. There is one scene in Letters that felt very erotic to me while nothing really happens, It’s the scene at the lecture where they are both seated next to each other surrounded by teachers. I loved how Conn made the whole scene very erotic, the sexual tension left me panting. *wipes drool*


How would you describe the relationship development from Letters till the end of DSIY?
The Geeky Lover: This question is a tough one. Or perhaps it’s just for me. In letters their relationship was rather sweet and you felt the whole time that Conn is the teacher. They tried to keep it non sexual while he still was Rae’s teacher. That made the sexual tension nearly unbearable. In DSIY this border isn’t there any longer. They had this last naughty “test” at  the end of Letters and so many things changed. Conn still is the teacher cuz he totally is into the whole D/s scene but Rae is an adult now too. She matured and her view of life changed drastically. She wants to stay herself. She’s afraid about losing her free will more than ever. Conn is more determinent to get what he wants and he wants Rae with all his heart. They talk more in DSIY and their connection grows. It felt like watching a flower grow. Now, I’m getting all poetic on you. Perhpas I should just stop before I start speaking in rhyme. LOL

The HEA Lover: That would be funny! I agree with you in Letters they nearly never speak, the sexual tension is as you said unbearable. We are left to imagine what COULD happen, because of the whole Student/professor taboo they can’t act on it. In Letters it felt that Rae was the one who wanted more, right now she was very active in the relationship. In DSIY, Conn is the one in charge completely, I love how he tries to make her trust him in everything. I understand why Rae wanted to get her freedom but I wanted her to submit to Conn.

What about the sidecharacters? A favorite?
The HEA Lover: This is the easiest question to answer. I LOVE Miss Belle. How can you not love Miss Belle? She is Conn’s Grandmother but she is SO funny. I was having a lot of fun whenever she was near. I laughed a lot when she tried to open the door when Conn and Rae where…huh…busy. Such a funny Grandma, talking to ghosts and making innuendos about Conn’s sex life. And we share the same ability to cook LOL. Tell me you loved her too!

The Geeky Lover: Yep I did. She is such a great character. Love how she always seemed to be a little crazy and then you thought perhaps she is not crazy and all this ghost stuff is really happening. Her comments about Conn were hilarious and I’m so happy that she is in this story. She made the story more light

You favorite scene?
The HEA Lover: My favorite scene in Letters is the one when they are both at the lecture as I told you before. In DSIY, my favorite is when Conn lets Rae go down on him *blushes* That was just SO hot. *go sit on ice* I think what made it special was that this was the ultimate turn on for Conn, what would make him loose control! *fan self* What’s your favorite? I’m guessing it’s a naughty one too! lol

The Geeky Lover: OMG I can’t decide…I loved the scene when Conn is in his leather outfit at the fair.  I’m such a sucker for these things. You so have to read the FREE sequel Take Me. But back to DSIY my absolute favorite is the one with the white box under the bed and what comes after unwrapping it. *wink* And I loved the scene when they rescue his best friend and the talk in the car and at his house after that! SO emotional intense. It showed how much Conn cares for the ones he loves. Great scene. As you can see I can’t decide and I’m so not above cheating.

The HEA Lover: Ohhhh Yes the fighting in leather pants *drools*. I just checked but there’s no white box under my bed, dust bunnies yes but no white box *wink.

The Geeky Lover: I have many boxes under my bed but unfortunately no white one there either. *pouts*

What’s your overall impression? Final words you have to get of your heart? Who should read this book? Okay so that are 3 last questions. o_O


The HEA Lover: I want to say: Go read it!! This is an amazing story, and if you are, like me, a newbie to BDSM you will enjoy the ride. The characters are so attaching I didn’t want to leave them. Letters is a Free read, every one should at least try to read Letters. If you love letters you will love DSIY.  You won’t regret it, I am VERY happy I listened to Susi’s recommendation, it was a perfect book for me. I cannot wait for Victor’s book to be out, I’m so excited *bouncing* I feel like I didn’t do justice to how amazing this book is.

The Geeky Lover: Agree with all the above. If you alway thought you are to vanilla for BDSM this book will change your mind. It’s such a lovely emotional story that will take your hand and approach this topic in a way that will leave your heart touched and body overheated. Take a look at Letters if you are unsure and believe me, you won’t regret it.

***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.

About Susi

Susi is a geeky vegetarian from Gemany. She just finished university and now works as a civil engineer in steel construction. Besides her reading addiction she also knits like a maniac while listening to audiobooks. Susi also blogs at the Secret HEA Society.

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