Gwen’s review of Next Floor Naughty by Ann Cory
Erotic romance eBook published 18 Apr 07 by Ellora’s Cave

This short novel is about a young woman in a loving but unsatisfying relationship. She decides to explore her darker side at a BDSM party. Her fiance finds out she’s planning this and decides to turn the tables on her by attending the same party and, unbeknownst to her, acts the part(s) of her Dominant throughout the party.

What I liked about this book – it was light. It was a silly little book that touched on some BDSM elements, but was relatively harmless. There was no “darker” side to the book to speak of – a very mild dungeon scene was the extent of it.

Here’s what I didn’t like. Liam was a clueless idiot. Davian was an uncommunicative blockhead. The author hints toward the end of the book that there were darker events in the heroine’s history that locked her down emotionally, but it was too little, too late. This little novel was well-written enough, I just wanted more than the sex and the superficial emotional development it contained.

I am becoming weary of the lack of character development in these erotic tales. Shiloh said it best here. I know it is possible – I’ve recently read short, erotic tales that were very satisfying emotionally. What would it hurt to have three or four more pages of character dev before you get into the nitty gritty? Perhaps a lot of paper is left on the floor after the editors finish with these novels. I’d like to think that, rather than think the author just didn’t bother.

If you’re looking for a titillating little tale, you may like this. I found myself doing a lot of eye-rolling throughout, though.

Grade: C

Davian arrives at a BDSM party, unsure of what to expect. She loves her fiance, but the ongoing lack of sizzle in the bedroom raises some serious questions and makes her desperate for answers. Inside the Bentley Mansion, the atmosphere is charged with lurid sex, reminding her of a twisted adult version of Alice in Wonderland. Shown into a hallway, she is told to ride the Domwaiter, an old dumbwaiter with a kinky flair. Four floors of ultimate satisfaction guaranteed, how could she refuse?

When Liam finds the party invitation under Davian’s pillow, he questions the validity of their relationship. Refusing to let another man touch the woman he loves, Liam gains access into the mansion and makes a deal with the owner of the house. With his identity a secret, Master Liam meets Davian at every floor. His mission is to make all her fantasies a reality and prove once and for all that he is the only man she’ll ever need.

Reader Advisory: Contains light female/female exploration. [Gwen’s edit: very light exploration.]

Read an excerpt