Customer Reviews

Dear Sir, I'm Yours (The Connaghers)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

STORY BRIEF:
College professor Conn and his student Rae have been drawn to each other all year but didn't act on it until the last day of class. She visited him in his office, and he gave her an erotic spanking that turned her on. She was so frightened of her desire, that she ran from him, quit college, and married someone else. She was trying to forget about Conn. Five years later Miss Belle hires Rae to be property manager of her Bed and Breakfast. The amount of money offered was too good to turn down, so Rae signed a contract. Soon after, Rae discovers that Belle is Conn's grandmother, and that Conn lives in the cottage next door. Conn has been pining for Rae for five years. Now he has a chance to win her back. His style of love is bondage, spanking and pain. She loves to be his submissive, but she thinks she is flawed because of it.

Side stories involve Rae's abusive ex-husband, her father who was injured on the job and needs Rae's help, Belle's chef is having domestic problems, a ghost lives in the house who talks to Belle, and Belle solves others' problems with her psychic knowledge.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
The main story is Rae thinking something is wrong with her because she likes pain during sex and being a doormat. After she and Conn get together, she wants to leave because "she's afraid she'll drag him down." During her five years away from Conn, she wrote letters about her love for Conn and her fears. During the story we read these letters as flashbacks. The effect of this was too much time pondering her fears. I would have preferred fewer letters and more action. For most of the story, she's a frightened mouse he's trying to soothe. I didn't get to see much of his dominant side. He was always being so gentle with her, trying to make her feel safe.

The conflict about Rae's fears wasn't a good enough story for me. Actually, the side stories sound more interesting, but none of those were developed enough.

Conn was pining for Rae for five years. Why he didn't track her down? She was still living with her parents and working in her dad's business. I also didn't understand why Rae left Conn (a dominating guy) and married another dominating guy.

Not enough attention was paid to character development or dialogue. Sometimes that's ok when the purpose of the book is sex. But the sex scenes didn't have enough emotional punch for me. I wasn't drawn in.

The characters quoted a lot of poetry during sex. This was more distracting than enhancing.

I am annoyed with the cover picture. It shows a woman tied with red yarn. In the book, Conn used scarves and white silk rope, not red yarn. I know this is the publisher's fault not the author's. It just bothers me when the publisher doesn't care enough to match the content.

DATA:
Story length: 248 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 8. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 35. Setting: current day Missouri. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic contemporary fantasy romance.

If you like sweet, happily-ever-afters that make you laugh, blush, and get more than a little bit aroused, then you're going to love Dear Sir, I'm Yours.

Rae Jackson, a subcontractor better known as the Fix-It-Lady, is lured to Beulah Land to interview for the job of historically restoring the lovely vintage mansion belonging to Miss Belle Healey. Rae knows that taking the job could mean running into Dr. Verrill Connagher, because the grandson of the home's owner is the man who spanked her into an orgasm on the last day she ever attended college. Nevertheless, both a desire to see Con again, and an honest need for the work combine to seal a deal between Rae and Miss Belle.

Verrill Connagher relishes the ruthless streak in his grandmother. The old lady discovered who he'd loved and lost and decided to bring Rae back into his life by hiring her to restore the Victorian house Miss Belle lives in.

Dear Sir, I'm Yours is a revisit to the sweetness of first love, carnal discovery, and a delicious taste of erotic dom games as Con teaches Rae how to trust enough to let herself fall in love (with him of course).

This is a great story to curl up and enjoy. I will recommend Dear Sir, I'm Yours, to my friends and am looking forward to reading the next book that Ms. Burkhart writes.
[...]

Dear Sir, I'm Yours by Joely Sue Burkhart
Erotic Contemporary Romance- Apr. 6, 2010
4 ½ stars

Dear Sir, I'm Yours is about a young woman named Rae Jackson who flees college after her professor spanks her to the best orgasm of her life. Afraid of her wanton feelings for him and what he did to her, she leaves, only to return five years later to restore his grandmother's house. When Conn sees her after all those years, he is reminded of how much he has always wanted her... in every way.

This book had me hooked from the very first page, which rarely ever happens. The author tells various parts of the story through letters written by Rae, to her professor, helping the reader to understand the past, present, and hopeful future of the relationship.

You don't have to be a dedicated fan of erotica to enjoy this book. As the first full-length erotic novel I've read, I am pleased with the timing and pace as the relationship unfolds. I also enjoyed getting to know the character Rae. Her surprising fascination with light bondage and her crush on her professor seem to be among a lot of young women's secret thoughts. I could have done without Conn's constant "darlin'" because it was in every single sentence.

Burkhart wrote a hot blooded story that even the most inhibited reader is sure to enjoy. I plan on keeping this book on my top shelf

Reviewed by Ashley from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

This came to me as a recommendation and I didn't know what to expect as I've never read anything by this author. I liked this story. I have to admit my very first thought after I finished was, "for a bondage book there wasn't much bondage" but then I really thought about it. This was a story of new love even though the characters had loved one another for 5 long years. It seemed right after finishing it and thinking about it, that they wouldn't just jump into a hot and heavy bondage relationship so new were they to finally being together after being apart. What thrilled me then was the knowing of what was to come for Conn and Rae. Even though the book ended their story didn't end in my mind.
Conn is a wonderful loving man, alpha and dominant but also tender and patient. Rae has serious issues with control and being controlled as she had a jerk for an ex. She both runs to and runs away from Conn for these reasons.
I loved how Conn talked to her about his control and how keeping himself from her the way he really wanted to be made him a better man and most likely a better master.
The scenes where spanking and bondage was involved were very tasteful and loving and it made both the hero and heroine genuine, believable and likeable characters.
I loved how Rae loved her Dad and I loved how despite his injuries and limitation he was still a father to her, looking after her, loving her.
I will definitely be on the look out for further works of Joely Sue Burkhart for sure!

Sadly, I only thought this book was okay. I never really felt bad for Rae. As much as I tried to really like Conn as a "Dominant", he seemed too sappy! All the other characters were touched upon superficially. I would have liked to know more about Mason and Belle. I also thought a lot of the poetry in the book was a bit off-putting. Especially in the middle of a very erotic love scene. No real depth to the story...I was expecting so much more from this book.

This book is a touching, sweet and fiery love story I would recommend to anyone looking for poinent romance. The characters that inhabit her world are sweet, strong and complex. From Miss Bell, the grandmother that would open a bed and breakfast to bring her grandson's lost love home decked from head to toe in bright pink, to Rea who has spend five years running from her life and her fears while taking care of her family, to Conn the sexy English professor in history and devoted lover whose pined five years for Rea and will keep waiting for her as long as she needs to feel safe and loved in his arms.

The BDSM elements in this novel only serve to heighten the romance and loving affection between these two characters. This lifestyle, depicted through the eyes of a committed and loving couple, never appears tawdry or over the top, but instead appears the natural progress of these two people in love. The lifestyle is portrayed truthfully, detailing the most important aspect not as sex, but truths and communication.

All in all this is a book you can't put down, characters you can route for, a love and filled with a sweetness and fiery heat only Joely Sue Burkhart could deliver in such stunning equality and sincerity. If you have the opportunity to pick this book up you will not be sorry but what you find within its pages.

Dear Sir, I'm Yours is a red hot contemporary romance with depth and some wickedly awesome characters. Passionate does not even begin to describe it. You might want to have a fan near by for this one, or schedule in a cold shower afterwards.

Dr. Hotnes-er, Dr. Connagher, that is, certainly had me squealing just about every other line. I would add to the warning that this is not for the faint of heart, nor the prudish. Me, closet pervert that I am? Adored it. There's a little bit of something for everyone here. The depth of Conn and Rae's love will appeal to romance readers, the HOTHOTHOT romance scenes for the erotica readers, even a touch of paranormal, which I wasn't anticipating but greatly appreciated.

Which reminds me, I want to be like Miss Belle when I grow up. Pink parasol and all, but minus the cooking skills, or lack thereof.

While the excerpt gives a great overview of what the storyline is about, it completely fails to explain the emotional aspects that are front in center in this story of two people learning what it means to be in a Dominant/submissive relationship. The intensity of the emotions that each of the main characters experienced between one another - while in a Professor/student relationship - is something neither were prepared for, nor understood how to deal with. When the moment of heat and desire came crashing upon them, actions were taken that broke a silent understanding and faith in their delicate relationship. Actions that would catapult each of them into five years of distress, and unforeseen character growth.

Ms. Burkhart does an amazing job at showing this pain and the process of coming to understand ones self through multiple ways: the use of third person, and uniquely starting off nearly every chapter with a letter from Rae to her Professor over the years. Letters that were never sent, but described her raw emotions towards events taking place in her life and her feelings towards what submission felt like to her -- especially with him.

The character development is phenomenal. I loved the unfolding of the emotional journey between the main characters -- watching them learn about themselves, their pasts, and coming to understandings of their future. Rae Lynn experiences the most character growth within this story. At 21, she doesn't fully understand who she is, what she's feeling, and how to analyze and come to terms with those emotions. Instead, she makes an impulsive decision to run from the one man that could help her -- Conn-- and entered into a dangerous and destructive relationship that further destroyed her trust and self worth.

Five years later, her new occupation has put her in daily contact with Conn, who happens to be her new employers grandson. Together, Conn and Rae Lynn, learn what it truly means to need one another and what trust encompasses. Like I've mentioned, emotions and growth are the true aspects of this story. In fact, while there is sexual tension right away, and some occasional friskiness and sexual banter, no sexual intercourse takes place until 3/4 of the way into the story! And, again, at this point, Ms. Burkhart does another amazing job at detailing the intimacy and meaning of this act to each of the characters.

While there is spanking and bondage in this story, I can not stress enough about the amount of describing what a Dominant/submissive relationship is all about, that takes place in Dear Sir, I'm Yours.

Conn, imo, is the perfect Dom. He knows what he wants - control and complete and utter happiness and trust from his sub -- Rae Lynn. He's always loved and wanted her back, so after she ran, he, too, went on a personal journey of learning how to master his control. He's attentive, caring, protective, and wants more than anything for Rae to submit to his control and give him her trust, all while quoting, Shelley, Lord Byron, Blake, and Shakespeare. *swoons* Seriously, a sexy hot, dominate Professor who can quote classic poetry while licking your inner thigh? Just sayin'.

Rae Lynn is another great character, who is so emotionally confused to the point of tragedy, that you feel for her. Although, towards the end, I wished she displayed more confidence in herself. But, then again, her emotional baggage is what carries an importance in the relationship which is described through Conn's explanation at the very end. However, one thing I wish she would have done, is made a more powerful ending to the main aspect that caused her so much self destruction over the years. I can't tell you what that is though for spoiler reasons.

Ms. Burkhart's writing style is filled with ease and great pace. A range of emotions are displayed by the characters which only testifies to the fantastic character development that has taken place. While Conn and Rae Lynn may be the main characters of the story, the secondary characters are just as easy to love -- and loathe. Conn's grandma, and Rae's employer, is an amazing old lady. She's feisty, outspoken, funny, and a little controlling herself! Mason is Conn's dearest friend and colleague, but also comes with a painful and tragic past that soon has you wanting to reach out and comfort him. As for the loathe part.. you'll see what I mean - I just don't want to give any spoilers.

Obviously, this is an adult category book based on sex and language. There is a lot of spanking, some bondage - ropes and scarves, and that's about it. There's a lot of conversation and premise of other situations, but not acted upon. Like I said, this book was all about learning and gaining trust. However, you must be okay with BDSM before reading this book - because it's there and it's hot!

I loved the emotional journey that these characters embarked on, and the reunion of two people who were clearly meant for one another. I'm looking forward to the upcoming book, Hurt Me So Good, which is Victor's story -- Conn's brother -- who was only introduced through conversation in this book.

Im going to make this a short and sweet review, because if I go on about how much I loved this book you wont get me to shut up.

I found the characters relatable, specially Rae. You beging to understand, right along with her, how her relationship with Conn works. What she's afriad, and why she should be afriad of certain things, but not be afraid of being a "submissive" to Conn. Its hard to understand, but what it boils down to is that Rae is afraid of giving a man control, afraid that he will hurt her. Shes scared to death of her relationship with Conn because she (Rae) is WILLING to give him control- what she struggles to understand a good portion of the novel, is that Conn wont abuse her trust like her ex-husband.

The BDSM in this book is really quite light, you understand the intimate and trust working of a BDSM relationship...MINUS all the seterotypical props of a SM relationship. Whips? Paddles? Butt plugs? Not in this book. Light bondage and the occasional spank, and thats towards the end. Great romance scenes, steamy! So dont let the mention of BDSM in the book take you away from it. The book highlights the trust factor, giving control to your partner. Im not heavily into the BDSM themes, and I found the book enjoyable (and actually helped me understand the BDSM lifestyle a little more)Conn was a to die for male lead, Rae was a relatable female lead, and the secondary cast was well developed enough that I enjoyed having them in the story.

All around solid read and really awesome read. Comes highly recomended!

It was nice to read a BDSM book that had a more romantic flair to it. There was well thought out character development. I certainly would have gotten better grades in college had Conn been my professor ; )