The Naughty Corner by Jasmine Haynes
Erotic Romance/Contemporary
Paperback, 320 pages
October 1, 2013
Berkley Trade
Reviewed by Tori
Lola Cook never expected to spend her summer watching her nephews while their mother vacations in Europe. Busy with her career, Lola decides to sign them up for football camp in order to get a few hours of peace and quiet every day.
Gray Barnett, CEO and divorced father, teaches summer football camp as a way to give back to the community and rebuild his relationship with his son. Having spent years teaching kids, he is at his wits end with Lola’s misfit nephews. Gray wants to kick them out of the camp, until he meets their sexy aunt Lola. Suddenly, Gray sees his summer looking up.
Gray makes Lola a deal. Her nephews can stay in the camp, if she agrees to submit to punishment whenever the boys misbehave. And Gary expects those boys to misbehave often. Lola agrees, not sure exactly what it entails but is pleasantly surprised by how attracted she is to the notion of discipline from Gary’s hand.
As the summer nights heat up, so does Lola’s punishments. Lola never knew she was such a naughty girl, but she’s having fun finding out just how naughty she can be.
The Naughty Corner is a sexy humorous erotic romance that starts out as a fun way for two people to scratch an itch only to build into an emotional fulfilling relationship. A smooth flowing story with engaging characters and a viable storyline that intertwines romance, kink, family drama, and a few lessons in trust for our MCs.
Haynes introduces our protagonists, allowing us to get to know them while they get to know one another. I enjoyed that both are mature adults (late 30’s/early 40’s) and established in their careers. While each has the usual baggage-past failed relationships and family drama-neither of them are emotionally stunted to the point of being unable to have a normal healthy relationship. Their relationship starts out purely sexual and instantaneous-Lola’s first “punishment” is the same day they meet.
A perfect blending of strength and vulnerability, Lola Cook was a joy to meet. Strong, intelligent, funny, and practical, she has a healthy sense of self that resonates throughout the story. Plus, a snarky dry wit that will leave you giggling with her observations of herself and those around her. Made to feel inadequate by her ex husband, Lola chooses relationships that don’t require any emotional effort on her part. She chooses caution over abandoned. This is one reason she is so intrigued by Gary’s proposition. She gets the chance to play with the sexy coach and indulge in some kinky playtime without risking her heart.
Her whole body was abuzz with the need to know. She wanted to play his game because he attracted her, because he offered her something new and exciting…She was a big talker, but she had to admit she did more looking than doing.
Gary is the perfect blend of arrogance and charm. A sexy delicious alpha who challenges and pushes Lola without attempting to change her. He sees her strength and enthusiasm and it only increases his attraction for her. Gary isn’t interested in an established D/s relationship. He just wants to indulge his kink of spanking and he wants to indulge it on Lola’s luscious behind.
“Spanking an ass like this is a man’s wet dream.”
Gary has some issues that make relationships hard for him also. He’s workaholic whose inability to delegate is the reason his wife divorced him. He also likes to keep his sexual partners carefully separated from his personal life-especially his son.
Lola and Gary are well matched. Some characters just click and you can feel that between connection between them. Heavy chemistry and thick sexual tension gets your heart pumping as these two begin on a whim and slowly emerge as much more. They have a strong sexual connection that is apparent from page one. Gary and Lola both have attractive dominant streaks that allows them to switch control- leading to some very hot scenes with explicit detailing and a strong dose of fun. I loved that neither of them play mind games or were ashamed of their sexual appetites. Neither of them had any problems telling each other what they wanted or getting down and dirty to get it.
She fluttered the scarf at him. “You’ll tie my hands behind my back.” She demonstrated,and the sight of her in that position made his blood roar through his ears. “Then what?” He was surprised his voice didn’t crack. She lowered her voice almost to a whisper.
“Then you’ll force me to suck your cock.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “Isn’t that a perfect punishment?”
Hell yes. Because it was what he was dying for. Her lips wrapped around his flesh, her tongue on him.
“Do you want to blindfold me, too, Coach?” she asked, her voice sweet with childlike innocence.
“No. I want to see your eyes. And I want you to watch as I feed my cock to you.”
“Then you better tie me up really quick, Coach, or I might just take matters into my own hands.” She stroked down the front of his briefs, her fingernail grazing him from tip to base.
He grabbed her finger. “Uh-uh-uh. Not until I say. After all, this is your punishment.” He was supposed to be in charge, yet he liked the turnaround. He liked the games she wanted to play.
As their relationship progresses and their sessions move beyond punishment, a fundamental change occurs. It’s no longer just an secret affair that garners them both intense sexual release from the demands of their lives. They move beyond into something entirely different. Which scares them both. Haynes does a fantastic job of using supporting characters and a tense subplot to break through the shells of protection Gray and Lola have and allows them to be honest with one another and themselves.
“The rule is you’re mine.“
“The rule is we are together.”
“The rule is” -he gasped-”I’m yours, too.”
There were a few issues I had. One, I didn’t like how they jumped immediately into sex the day they met. I think there is something to be said for anticipation. Even if just 24 hours worth. I also didn’t like Gary’s constantly calling Lola a dirty little slut. It’s a derogatory term no matter what context it’s used in. Gary’s use of it seemed to infer that any sexual naughtiness on Lola’s part was being slutty. Case in point, when Gary takes her to a swingers party, he wonders, “…if this was the right crowd to let Lola’s inner slut loose.” It set my teeth on edge and make my slappy hand itch.
Regardless of my issues, I thoroughly enjoyed The Naughty Corner and look forward to more “naughtiness” from Ms. Haynes with Lola’s best friend Charlotte’s book-Teach Me A Lesson-which releases April 14, 2013.
Rating: B+
Recent Reviews:
Paranormal Haven– B
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