A Simple Misunderstanding

Corbin's Bend Season 1 #7

by Kathryn R. Blake

Though Arthur and Eleanor Benson have been practicing domestic discipline for three months since their wedding, he insists moving to Corbin's Bend, where domestic discipline is the norm rather than the exception, will revitalize their marriage. Elly has doubts, but since Arthur is the undisputed head of their household, they move. However, once Arthur becomes immersed in a community where spanking is not only permitted, but encouraged, his personality undergoes a dramatic change. Accusing his submissive wife of being lazy, disorganized and disobedient, he employs creative methods of pain and humiliation to mold Elly from the imperfect woman he married into the perfect woman he desires. And Elly finds herself a virtual prisoner in her own home, accountable only to the man who rules her life with a cane.

In his years as a vet, Jerry Douglas has seen what abuse does to animals, and he recognizes those same signs in Elly Benson during her daily escape to the dog park with her tiny poodle. Jerry steadfastly supports the tenets of domestic discipline and enjoys the freedom Corbin's Bend offers its residents, but he remains fiercely protective of anyone in need of a champion. And when he witnesses evidence of harsh handling, his instinct is to rush in and rescue. Problem is Elly Benson is a married and consenting adult who insists all her bruises and welts are nothing more than a simple misunderstanding between her and her husband, until the day Arthur Benson takes his authority and discipline one-step too far, endangering Elly's life.

Genres: BDSM

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2014

About the author

Kathryn R. Blake Lessons in Love is Kathryn R. Blake's sixth novel with Blushing Books, and fifth spanking romance where Domestic Discipline is primary to the plot. Although Kathryn is relatively new to the spanking romance market, she is not new to stories where the hero spanks the heroine. In fact, most of her novels have some sort of spanking in them. However, even in Kathryn's novels where the hero firmly believes in using spanking as a deterrent, he has no desire to cause the heroine injury and takes no delight in hurting the woman of his heart. In fact, sometimes he finds it extremely difficult to follow through on his threats or promises.
To date, all of her heroes are dominant, alpha males who are extremely protective of the women they love. However, part of that protectiveness includes the need for a certain amount of control. They do not suffer defiance or disobedience lightly. Even so, these men aren't infallible, and they do make mistakes, but love and respect will always triumph in the end.
Kathryn has been a member of RWA since the early 1980s and has joined several local and special interest chapters. Besides writing, Kathryn enjoys traveling, reading, attending the theatre, and is a passionate lover of animals, so much so that in 2015 a stray cat adopted her. The stray now sleeps in Kathryn's bed. She has also recently taken up the expensive hobby of making and selling jewelry.
Her personal website, www.kathrynrblake.com, is filled with photos and links to information about her many interests as well as peppered with quizzes, contests, games and lots of other fun things to do and she loves to hear from her readers, so she has an e-mail link at the bottom of every page.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

****This book contains scenes of domestic and sexual violence that may not be for all readers****

Elly Benson, newly married and new to Corbin's Bend, is doing the best she can to live up to the expectations of her husband, Arthur. Arthur loves to discipline her to make her a better wife.

Jerry Douglas is the local vet, who's clinic window overlooks the dog park. He's been intrigued by Eleanor Benson from the first moment he saw her. Knowing that she belongs to another doesn't faze him. He knows that she's off-limits but something about her calls to him.

Getting to know her little by little at the dog park where their dogs play together, Jerry begins to see into the world that Elly is living in. He sees the classic signs of abuse, NOT domestic discipline. He's afraid that Elly doesn't know the doesn't know the difference.

Elly loves her husband, but is not so enamored with the DD way of life that is part and parcel of Corbin's Bend. She's trying to be a good wife, but she can't seem to do everything correctly and keep her husband happy. Feeling like a failure, she does everything she can to submit to his desires.

After a particularly bad punishment session, Elly is hurt both physically and emotionally. Can she survive?

I really enjoyed the story of Elly and Jerry, although I think the romance between them advanced pretty quickly.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~

This is the 7th book in the Corbin’s Bend Series, it can be read as a standalone. Elly Benson is being abused by her husband but denies it as a simple misunderstanding. Local vet Jerry Douglas knows abuse when he sees it, even if he only normally works with animals. Little by little Jerry works but getting Elly’s trust and tries to help her. Will Elly let Jerry help or will she continue to say everything is a simple misunderstanding? Read this book to find out. It wasn’t one of my favorite books in the series but also not one of the worse either.

Characters: well written and easy to connect with

Sex: not very steamy at all

Religious: no

Would I recommend to others: yes

More than one book in the series: yes

Genre: Romance/BDSM

Would I read more by this author: yes

~Wicked Reads Review Team~

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads."

This is a really meaningful book, and although there are places where it is difficult to read, it is well worth the trouble. I've enjoyed all the Corbin's Bend books, and they have been in the main lighthearted. This moves away from the comfortable into the abusive, in a very sensitive way. The recovery and growth thereafter was well done.

At times I felt there was unnecessary description, but it did not detract from the story. I enjoyed that there was suspense without too much drama. The insight we gain into the role of Head of Household through this book is fascinating in its variety.

Another great story in the series.

[JD (on semi-hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tries to distinguish between dd and abuse, but all it does is detail the ways in which this lifestyle -- and, in this case, the community -- often enable it.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

2*

[Angela Goodrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Simple Misunderstanding was the most difficult to read of the Corbin’s Bend books for me so far. Not because of the writing, but because of the subject matter. In this installment in the series, we meet Elly and Jerry. Elly and her husband Arthur moved to Corbin’s Bend a few months ago and she’s learned that she is not fond of the Domestic Discipline relationship she agreed to with her husband. What makes this book difficult to read is that the reader quickly learns that Elly isn’t in a DD relationship with her husband, she is in an abusive relationship with a man who is using DD as an excuse to beat his wife. Reading as Elly takes several beatings and believing that she deserved them is a huge part of why I found this a tough read. What put it over the top for me was that her mother’s actions and responses to her just seemed to reinforce Elly’s notion that she deserved the abuse her husband doled out.

Elly only has two “lights” in her life: her dog Mitzi and the local vet Jerry. Due to his naturally protection nature, Jerry finds himself drawn to Elly and frustrated by his helplessness in her situation. Sadly, it isn’t until Arthur nearly kills her that she finally decides to accept Jerry’s help. While I did indeed find this to be an emotionally draining read, I feel that Ms. Blake handled the topic with care and did an admirable job in helping her characters grow and bond in the short time of the book. That Elly learned her worth and that her neighbors in Corbin’s Bend would support her in her time of need is a message that many women need to receive.

A Simple Misunderstanding is an excellent addition to the Corbin’s Bend series. Ms. Blake’s talent as a writer is obvious as she takes a delicate subject (i.e., abuse in DD and/or BDSM relationships) and handles it with care. Elly and Jerry are wonderful characters and I do so hope that I get a chance to catch up with them in future Corbin’s Bend books.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathryn R. Blake continues the wonderful Corbin's Bend Series with an amazing and insightful book. Jerry Douglas is a gentle Dominant man and the vet in this wonderful town and Eleanor Benson is one of the newest members to Corbin's Bend along with her husband. Elly and Arthur have only been married 5 months - Arthur is a bully and more concerned with appearances believing that Elly needs to get with his program and has kept an extremely tight rein on her.

Jerry has seen Elly daily walking her little dog Muffin in the dog park and he starts to walk his puppy Jack at the same time. Jerry knows Elly is married and he isn't looking to cause problems only to hopefully have Elly become more relaxed and open. The only time he has seen he has seen here out is when she plays with Muffin, otherwise she was home with the curtains closed. He has noticed that over the past weeks she walked stiffly or favored one side over the other. On this day he noticed her bruised wrists. When he asked about them Elly becomes upset and says it is nothing. Even though some of the Dominants are rougher than others, Jerry begins to believe that this situation far exceeds the 'norm'. The story continues from here and delves into issues that effect many women and men while still keeping the reader involved and rooting for this couple.

This book is a wonderful continuation of the series. The emotions that Kathryn Blake's words invoke are stunning. I've said it before and I'll say it again "this is a terrific series and definitely one of my favorites".

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I commend Ms. Blake for having the guts to take a stand and write this story to be included in this wonderful Corbin's Bend Series. Abuse of any kind, be it physical or mental, is abuse. It also points out that even those who consensually adhere to a domestic discipline lifestyle that the head of household can overstep and abuse the rules of "Sane, Safe and Consensual." In this story, that is exactly what Author Benson has done. He has belittle and isolated Elly to his total obsessive control. It wasn't an easy story to read, but needed to be shared. Elly is no pain slut and her husband is definitely no decent man. Dr. Jerry Douglas becomes her advocate and eventual savior. In reality, until a woman is ready to ask for or accept help, she will remain a victim. You cannot blame her mentor or her neighbors when Elly refused to share. In reality, Elly had no support system, not even her own family, how is she to know what the difference is between correction and abuse?

[Marybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hard book to read. Most of the first half deals with the abuse of Eleanor by her husband, Arthur. She believes that she is submitting as a wife should, while her husband knows that he is abusing her. Into this mix comes Jerry, the local vet. He has fallen in love with Ellyn and he suspects that she is abused by her husband. One day, it all comes to a head when Arthur goes overboard in his anger and truly hurts Elly. She ends up in the ICU of the local hospital and Jerry works to protect her and to make her realize that she is being abused. Eventually, they start a relationship and Elly must get over her fear of being disciplined. I really liked this book. It dealt with the abuse of a woman who doesn’t realize that she is being abused. Once she does, she takes steps to build her courage and leave the situation. 5 stars

[Cara Bristol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arthur and Ellie Benson move to Corbin’s Bend to live their DD lifestyle in freedom. But it isn’t DD that Arthur practices, but abuse, pure and simple. When kindly veterinarian Jerry Douglas recognizes signs of abuse, he makes it his personal mission to extract Ellie from her marriage. There is a lot of “meat” to this book, the 7th one in the Corbin’s Bend series. Author Kathryn Blake tackles a touchy topic of infidelity when Jerry puts himself between Ellie and her husband (and at times places Ellie in jeopardy as a result). The Corbin’s Bend powers-that-be do not appear in the best light as they are willing for most of the story to turn a blind eye to Ellie’s plight for a lack of a proof. And later, after all Ellie has suffered, Jerry still insists on a DD relationship (albeit a very mild form). This book offers much to ponder, much to chew on. A great one for discussion.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the fact that the Corbin's Bend series hasn't been afraid to tackle difficult issues. Jerry is the local vet and tries to befriend Elly. But he is concerned about the possibility of abuse. Arthur is not really a head of house hold but an abusive bully. The story is honest about how hard it is for an abuse victim to understand the difference between what they wanted and the reality they have. I love how the whole community rallies around Elly and helps her to feel accepted and ready to move on. She is very brave to be willing to let Jerry be in her life knowing what he wants from a relationship.

[Joanie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked all the Corbin's Bend books, but this one stands out in my memory. It dealt with a difficult situation and was very well done.