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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although I found this book quite fun to read, I found it weird at how fast things moved between Rose and Martin. I feel like there should have been more conflict with the whole "you kind of took my job" thing and things shouldn't have just moved to "they love each other now" that quick. It had a certain degree of insta love and the conflict that actually occurred towards the end felt sort of weird.
All in all, though, I had a good time reading it and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a quich and entertaining read.
All in all, though, I had a good time reading it and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a quich and entertaining read.
(4.5, probably, rounding down.)
I don't mind cute/cartoonish covers, and it makes a lot of sense with this story and its lightly comic touches, but the clipart for the male figure's face here is just weird and doesn't match well with the rest of the cover for me, or with the description of Martin in the book. This is kind of a silly complaint, especially considering I read this on Kindle, but there it is anyway.
I haven't read this author before, or much contemporary like this (i.e. no one is royalty), but I really enjoyed this book a lot! There's not a lot of conflict, at least not between characters, so if you want romance with high drama, this probably isn't for you. Even the closest thing to a villain in the story doesn't appear very much and is dealt with pretty easily (and mostly off-page, which is a little unsatisfying, but not a big deal). I really like both the main characters, especially that they're a little older (mid-40s, so certainly not ancient, but not young, either) and settled in their careers. I also loved Rose's ex-in-laws and Martin's daughter, who were all a lot of fun, and the weird little side characters, like the all-goth girls' softball team and the English teachers who are just a little bit off (though they're right that Wuthering Heights is NOT a romance). It's not really magical realism, but it's just off enough to add some extra humor and fun. I'll be looking out for the next book in this series for sure!
(2019 summer romance bingo: "someone wears a costume," (twice!) though it would also work for "prom" and possibly a loose interpretation of "sassy grandparent")
I don't mind cute/cartoonish covers, and it makes a lot of sense with this story and its lightly comic touches, but the clipart for the male figure's face here is just weird and doesn't match well with the rest of the cover for me, or with the description of Martin in the book. This is kind of a silly complaint, especially considering I read this on Kindle, but there it is anyway.
I haven't read this author before, or much contemporary like this (i.e. no one is royalty), but I really enjoyed this book a lot! There's not a lot of conflict, at least not between characters, so if you want romance with high drama, this probably isn't for you. Even the closest thing to a villain in the story doesn't appear very much and is dealt with pretty easily (and mostly off-page, which is a little unsatisfying, but not a big deal). I really like both the main characters, especially that they're a little older (mid-40s, so certainly not ancient, but not young, either) and settled in their careers. I also loved Rose's ex-in-laws and Martin's daughter, who were all a lot of fun, and the weird little side characters, like the all-goth girls' softball team and the English teachers who are just a little bit off (though they're right that Wuthering Heights is NOT a romance). It's not really magical realism, but it's just off enough to add some extra humor and fun. I'll be looking out for the next book in this series for sure!
(2019 summer romance bingo: "someone wears a costume," (twice!) though it would also work for "prom" and possibly a loose interpretation of "sassy grandparent")
5 HUGE ENTHUSIASTIC STARS
Olivia Dade gets me.
I needed this book, badly. My stress is up, as my pain is up, so I'm having trouble concentrating. I did not have trouble reading this book.
A seasoned romance, where both MCs are in their mid-40's, where people model enthusiastic consent, where boundaries are respected, that is laugh out loud funny, while being an awesome romance. MORE LIKE THIS, PLEASE!!
Olivia Dade gets me.
Olivia Dade gets me.
I needed this book, badly. My stress is up, as my pain is up, so I'm having trouble concentrating. I did not have trouble reading this book.
A seasoned romance, where both MCs are in their mid-40's, where people model enthusiastic consent, where boundaries are respected, that is laugh out loud funny, while being an awesome romance. MORE LIKE THIS, PLEASE!!
Olivia Dade gets me.
*Actual rating 4.5 stars*
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review, thank you to the author!
When Rose finds out she's losing some of her favorite classes to a new teacher, a man to boot, she's determined to treat him professionally but coldly. She isn't expecting him to be the passionate, excellent educator she discovers him to be as the school year begins. She isn't expecting to like him!
Martin, moved to Marysburg to be near his 18yo daughter before she graduates and goes to college, is mortified when he finds out he's taken Rose's classes, especially so when he sees how excellent she is in the classroom. He's bound and determined to make her life easy, all while struggling to hide his very fervent interest in her.
As these two wounded souls grow to know one another, they find they have more in common than they could have imagined, but also need to work to find out if they can let their pasts go to find a future together.
So soft, so sweet, and sexy! I loved this romance with 40+ characters who have faults, wrinkles, and rolls.
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review, thank you to the author!
When Rose finds out she's losing some of her favorite classes to a new teacher, a man to boot, she's determined to treat him professionally but coldly. She isn't expecting him to be the passionate, excellent educator she discovers him to be as the school year begins. She isn't expecting to like him!
Martin, moved to Marysburg to be near his 18yo daughter before she graduates and goes to college, is mortified when he finds out he's taken Rose's classes, especially so when he sees how excellent she is in the classroom. He's bound and determined to make her life easy, all while struggling to hide his very fervent interest in her.
As these two wounded souls grow to know one another, they find they have more in common than they could have imagined, but also need to work to find out if they can let their pasts go to find a future together.
So soft, so sweet, and sexy! I loved this romance with 40+ characters who have faults, wrinkles, and rolls.
Arc provided to me by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Olivia Dade is a new-to-me author. I will certainly be investigating her backlist with great thoroughness after this.
What an utterly fabulous book, the only way to properly review it is with a list (and I shall try to be as comprehensive as possible):
1. Rose is a 40 something divorced high school history teacher; she had a very tough upbringing, a difficult marriage and divorce, and as a result, she has sheathed herself emotionally in an icy exterior to keep people from being able to truly reach her and therefore, hurt her. I. ADORED. HER. She’s a curvy, confident AF in her own skin, brilliant heroine who knows full well just how fabulous and awesome she is. She owns exactly who she is, unapologetically so, from her impeccably styled, all-black wardrobe to the pointy toed stilettos she wears, almost as an armor. She has an intense love, both for her chosen profession and her students, and a deep, driven desire to improve her pedagogical skills. Her prickly exterior is simply a defense mechanism because, as this book shows time and again, when she loves, it’s wholly and deeply and unconditionally.
2. Martin is a 40 something divorced high school history teacher about to see his beloved daughter, his Sweet Bea, off to college at the end of the school year. He also had a difficult upbringing, a difficult marriage and divorce, but the way he carries himself, his inner strength and fortitude, makes him, to borrow a term from Rose, a marvel. He sees Rose, truly sees who she is and never once expects or wants her to be anything other than exactly who she is. He’s got his own scars to deal with, his own battles to fight but, and this is what I liked about both of these MC’s, they never attempted to excuse who they were or try to change themselves or each other; they simply were who they were and they accepted each other just as they were.
3. This is a grown up love story, in that these are both 40 something adults and as such, they act accordingly. They have responsibilities, to their jobs, their students, Martin to his daughter, etc. There are love scenes, and even then, it’s beautifully rendered, to show their maturity in a way that doesn’t seem heavy-handed. He attempts to hoist her up on the counter during their first sexual encounter and she reminds him laughingly about his back spasms. They have expectations of each other, but more importantly, they also have expectations from themselves, a personal sense of honor and pride that forces them to ask for what they want, what they need, and ultimately, what they deserve.
4. Supporting characters:
Bea, the aforementioned daughter, is written with delightful humor, a teenager who gently ribs her dad but also understands how lucky she is to have him and to worry about what might happen when she goes off to college and he is left all alone.
Annette and Alfred: Rose’s ex-in-laws; it is a very unusual relationship they have with their former daughter in-law but it really works, authentic and genuine and full of love. Their “acting” bits really made me laugh out loud.
Rose and Martin also have some interesting colleagues and students and even when they are only mentioned briefly, they are written with such depth and dimension that I can’t help but hope they show up to star in future books. Bianca, of the goth-minded softball team with her many vendettas and English teacher Candy Albright with her many literary oriented initiatives (Wuthering Heights is NOT a romance was my personal favorite) were particular highlights.
In the end though, the main characters are really what lies at the center of any romance and Rose and Martin make for an exceptional duo, both resilient and tenacious and full of heart despite their many emotional scars. They made me fall in love with them as individuals and root for them as a couple. That, in my book, is a total 5 star read.
Olivia Dade is a new-to-me author. I will certainly be investigating her backlist with great thoroughness after this.
What an utterly fabulous book, the only way to properly review it is with a list (and I shall try to be as comprehensive as possible):
1. Rose is a 40 something divorced high school history teacher; she had a very tough upbringing, a difficult marriage and divorce, and as a result, she has sheathed herself emotionally in an icy exterior to keep people from being able to truly reach her and therefore, hurt her. I. ADORED. HER. She’s a curvy, confident AF in her own skin, brilliant heroine who knows full well just how fabulous and awesome she is. She owns exactly who she is, unapologetically so, from her impeccably styled, all-black wardrobe to the pointy toed stilettos she wears, almost as an armor. She has an intense love, both for her chosen profession and her students, and a deep, driven desire to improve her pedagogical skills. Her prickly exterior is simply a defense mechanism because, as this book shows time and again, when she loves, it’s wholly and deeply and unconditionally.
2. Martin is a 40 something divorced high school history teacher about to see his beloved daughter, his Sweet Bea, off to college at the end of the school year. He also had a difficult upbringing, a difficult marriage and divorce, but the way he carries himself, his inner strength and fortitude, makes him, to borrow a term from Rose, a marvel. He sees Rose, truly sees who she is and never once expects or wants her to be anything other than exactly who she is. He’s got his own scars to deal with, his own battles to fight but, and this is what I liked about both of these MC’s, they never attempted to excuse who they were or try to change themselves or each other; they simply were who they were and they accepted each other just as they were.
3. This is a grown up love story, in that these are both 40 something adults and as such, they act accordingly. They have responsibilities, to their jobs, their students, Martin to his daughter, etc. There are love scenes, and even then, it’s beautifully rendered, to show their maturity in a way that doesn’t seem heavy-handed. He attempts to hoist her up on the counter during their first sexual encounter and she reminds him laughingly about his back spasms. They have expectations of each other, but more importantly, they also have expectations from themselves, a personal sense of honor and pride that forces them to ask for what they want, what they need, and ultimately, what they deserve.
4. Supporting characters:
Bea, the aforementioned daughter, is written with delightful humor, a teenager who gently ribs her dad but also understands how lucky she is to have him and to worry about what might happen when she goes off to college and he is left all alone.
Annette and Alfred: Rose’s ex-in-laws; it is a very unusual relationship they have with their former daughter in-law but it really works, authentic and genuine and full of love. Their “acting” bits really made me laugh out loud.
Rose and Martin also have some interesting colleagues and students and even when they are only mentioned briefly, they are written with such depth and dimension that I can’t help but hope they show up to star in future books. Bianca, of the goth-minded softball team with her many vendettas and English teacher Candy Albright with her many literary oriented initiatives (Wuthering Heights is NOT a romance was my personal favorite) were particular highlights.
In the end though, the main characters are really what lies at the center of any romance and Rose and Martin make for an exceptional duo, both resilient and tenacious and full of heart despite their many emotional scars. They made me fall in love with them as individuals and root for them as a couple. That, in my book, is a total 5 star read.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was fantastic! I absolutely loved Rose, Martin, and Bea. There’s so much to enjoy about this story from the fat rep, teacher rep, slow but steady draw of Rose and Martin to one another, the consent, the fashion, the witty humor, etc.
As a former teacher myself I often find that teachers in books are NOTHING like the real thing, but Rose and Martin and this high school in Marysburg must really exist because Dade did a fabulous job of portraying the day-to-day struggles, worries about students, environment, etc. that teachers have. The authenticity of the characters and their jobs flowed seamlessly into their attraction for one another. But they’re colleagues and have been burned before. Rose was married to a man who didn’t appreciate her, tried to mold him into what he wanted rather than just appreciating her for who she was. Martin, also divorced also had his heart broken after finding some incriminating texts his wife sent someone else. Now he has moved to Marysburg following his ex-wife and his daughter Bea so he can spend one more year with Bea before she goes off to college. What Martin didn’t know was that he was offered a portion of the classes that Rose usually teaches, and that makes for a bit of a rocky start between the two. Not that Rose blames Martin, she knows who is at fault, but she definitely gives Martin the cold shoulder.
There’s so much more to the story though! I highly recommend it and I definitely plan on continuing in the series as soon as I can.
As a former teacher myself I often find that teachers in books are NOTHING like the real thing, but Rose and Martin and this high school in Marysburg must really exist because Dade did a fabulous job of portraying the day-to-day struggles, worries about students, environment, etc. that teachers have. The authenticity of the characters and their jobs flowed seamlessly into their attraction for one another. But they’re colleagues and have been burned before. Rose was married to a man who didn’t appreciate her, tried to mold him into what he wanted rather than just appreciating her for who she was. Martin, also divorced also had his heart broken after finding some incriminating texts his wife sent someone else. Now he has moved to Marysburg following his ex-wife and his daughter Bea so he can spend one more year with Bea before she goes off to college. What Martin didn’t know was that he was offered a portion of the classes that Rose usually teaches, and that makes for a bit of a rocky start between the two. Not that Rose blames Martin, she knows who is at fault, but she definitely gives Martin the cold shoulder.
There’s so much more to the story though! I highly recommend it and I definitely plan on continuing in the series as soon as I can.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes