Catalyst

by Emma Nichole

Mason Shaw.

He’s exactly what I want and need in a man. He’s also off-limits as the father of one of my students.

I didn’t expect to be wildly attracted to him the moment he walked into my classroom.

Nor was I even looking for this type of… connection.

I’m only supposed to share my mind and knowledge as his son’s teacher. Not my body as his lover.

I’m a professional. Surely I can resist his perfect, blue eyes, work-calloused hands, and that deep timbre in his voice.

Having a temporary tryst with a single father is one thing.

Falling in love with him is another thing entirely.

Especially when I know for certain I can’t give him what he wants, or needs, in life

I want to be his.
I want to explore this.

I just don’t know if he’ll want me when he finds out how broken I truly am.

Catalyst is a single father x elementary school teacher small town romance.
It’s book 1 of the Meadow Lake Series but can be read as a complete standalone.

Genres: Novella, Romance, Contemporary

189 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2024

About the author

After years of living vicariously through so many characters and stories created by others, Emma Nichole has taken the plunge herself.

A Southern girl, born and raised in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains in East
Tennessee, Emma is an avid college football fan, a self-proclaimed true crime obsessive, a lover of horror movies and music of every genre.

But her true love, of course, is creating romance filled worlds for readers to escape inside of.

Whether it’s a small town second chance romance, an angsty, high steam forbidden romance,
or a fun, workplace romp, you’re sure to find something you love in her swoonworthy smut.

Reviews

[Jen ♥]

It wasn't bad, but it's the little things and personal issues that ruined my impression of this novella.


➖ Mason said he's not a fan of the playboy lifestyle, yet since his best friend, lover, and mother of his son died during childbirth, he has never dated anyone else. He only does flings and ONS and wants the physical aspect out of it. So how is this behavior not being a playboy? Is it the timeline, frequency, or number of women for him to consider himself one? With this behavior and reading between the lines, I got the impression that it had only been a few weeks since his last action. WHILE IT'S MORE THAN A YEAR FOR BRYNN! Not a playboy, my ass.

➖ The second issue of mine might be fine for others, and that's okay. But I don't want the MMC to be the taker (iykyk). The first time they fooled around, it was Brynn who did the giving, and I was so pissed and definitely not onboard with that. Between the two of them, he's the more experienced, so why is she doing all the work??? Although he reciprocated, it's not the same anymore. He should've done it first for her, not the other way around. 😑 Again, personal preference: I really want a selfless and giving MMC. 🤷‍♀️

➖ As for the conflict, I know men are clueless at times, but wow, did Mason take it on a different level. Brynn can't have kids because she had a hysterectomy when she was 17, and Mason knew all about it. So when Levi (Mason's son) spoke in front of her class about his wish to have a brother or sister in the future, it hurt Brynn deeply because she couldn't make that wish come true. And Mason was part of the audience, so why TF he didn't realize that's the cause of Brynn's change in mood? The minute that wish came out of his son's mouth, he should've felt something more like a concern or maybe panic about it. Then, he should've reassured Brynn or something because he knew it was one of her insecurities. But nope, none of that happened, and the idiot was still clueless and blindsided by her breaking up with him two days later. 

➖ I know Brynn thought she was doing the right thing by ending their relationship, but girl, have you ever heard of the word communication? And tbf, Mason deserves an explanation even if he's a clueless moron, not just the BS "It's not working for me anymore", wtf was that? These two seriously need to work on their communication.


Anyway, this novella made my head ache. It was honestly good in the beginning, but I lost interest even before I hit the halfway mark, and that had been the case until the end. It didn't work for me; it might work for other readers, though.


Book info:
- Novella (160+ pages)
- Single dad x Teacher
- Insta-love
- No cheating, OPD
- No Vs
- With separation (2 weeks)
- Dead lover
- HFN (in a relationship 🤷‍♀️)

[World Of Books 65 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Emma Nichole's first book ‘Catalyst,' sets the stage for what promises to be an emotionally captivating journey through the Meadow Lake Series. With a delicate balance of heartwarming moments and gut-wrenching twists, Ms Nichole crafts a narrative that resonates with readers long after they've turned the final page.

At the center of the story is Mason, a devoted single father whose unwavering love for his son shines through every page. As he navigates the challenges of parenthood, readers can't help but root for him to succeed, making him a contender for 'book dad of the year.'

Enter Brynn, the compassionate elementary teacher who captures both Mason and his son's hearts. Their budding romance adds layers of depth to the story, but it's far from smooth sailing. Nichole skillfully weaves in obstacles and hurdles, forcing her characters to confront their vulnerabilities and past traumas in order to find their happily ever after.

With its richly drawn characters and poignant storytelling, 'Catalyst' is a compelling introduction to the Meadow Lake Series. Emma Nichole proves herself to be a talented author with a knack for crafting heartfelt narratives that leave a lasting impression. Readers won't be able to resist getting swept up in the emotional rollercoaster of Mason and Brynn's journey."

[Samantha (Millennial Life Crisis Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute story! Brynn is a local elementary school teacher who really feels compassion for her students, especially since she can’t have the family and children that she so desperately desires. When she reaches out to a new parent with concern of his son, her whole world changes. Mason is a single father who relocated to town and is just trying to keep things afloat in both his business and raising his son. When he meets Brynn at a parent-teacher conference, they both can’t deny the immediate chemistry between each other, and as they decide to embark on getting to know each other, the more they fit so well together. My heart broke at Brynn making a stupid decision that she thought was best for them, but in the end, they get the HEA they both deserve. This was a cute read, and I’m interested to see where these characters go with the next installment focusing on Brynn’s sister!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Araya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 3.5 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes:
- Single Father
- Elementary School Teacher
- Small Town Romance
- Hotel $ex
- Standalone with High Heat

Catalyst is a sweet and short single father/elementary school teacher small town romance, that will tug at your heart strings and had the right amount of spice. This was just a really simple and refreshing read and the characters were all enjoyable.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star Review Catalyst by Emma Nichole
 
Emma Nichole is a new author to me. When ai got the chance to read the first book in the series, I jumped at it.

Well written, this story grabbed my attention from the first chapter. The characters were engaging and easy to relate to.

There were moments throughout which had me smiling, crying and cheering our couple on.
 
 

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the series and I'm already in love with Meadow Lake. This book had me at single dad then add in Byrnn is a first grade teacher. Mason's little boy Levi is so precious. He stole my heart. This is a heartfelt story that delivered on the feels. Mason and Brynn are adorable together, but they also have burning hot chemistry. I really like Byrnn's family and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. This was an enjoyable fast read for me. A great way to kick off a new series.

[Daisy Nijs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catalyst is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I can say it was an enjoyable read.
It was a quick read, one evening, small town romance between a single dad and his kid’s teacher.
The blurb is what lured me to this book, and I can say I was not disappointed.
I will reading reading more By Emma Nichole very soon.

[Michele Del Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this single father, teacher romance was so good. These two had such a connection from the beginning and I could not get enough. I loved the cover, then the story took it a step further.

[Maz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma is a new author for me and I was pleasantly surprised by how good this was.
I loved how easy flowing the story was and no other people drama involved.
There was an 3rd act break up, however was resolved within few chapters.
Mason is new in town and he is a single father to a wonderful and shy 5 year old.
Brynn is elementary teacher and I really loved her bubbly and positive character. You can see how passionate she is about her students education as well as happiness.
I liked how when they met for Teacher - Parent meeting, things were sparkling straight away.
I also liked how they both were open and spoke their mind and didn't dilly dallying about their feelings.
Both have a great family and the the banter between them was great. Spice was good too. I am intrigued by rest of Brynn's siblings.
There was some heartache and small drama but it was all good in the end.

However I didn't like how it ended so abruptly. They reconcile and that was it. It would have been nice for bit more and may an epilogue on them rather than on the next main character. I mean I'm excited for it but I feel like their could have been 2 epilogue if a sneak peek was required.

[Sharon Moritz-rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I have never read this author before, But wow this book was SO good. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series because I have fallen hard for the small town of Meadow Lake and the characters.

In this book we meet Brynn, a school teacher with an awesome family but who is single. We also meet Levi, a student of hers with a very HOT and single dad, Mason Shaw. There is a bit of insta lust in this story and I loved these twos connection.

There are some more serious subjects in this book like infertility and how it has affected Brynne and how she views her place in her family. In addition, Mason's ex died at childbirth, and it was a very hard time for him.

This was a great story, and I really loved the characters. There are some really great and hot scenes between Mason and Brynne. If you love single dad, small town romances then this was a really great one.

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Catalyst was a beautifully written story of finding happiness and true love and not giving up. I fell in love with both characters from the beginning, both were complex and had an undeniable chemistry that grew and blossomed into something really special. The storyline was original and page-turning. This book is the first in the Meadow Lake series and created a world and characters that will be exciting and captivating to read in the future. I loved Emma Nichole's writing style; it was vivid and raw. I could feel the emotions the characters felt through her words, and I felt those same emotions. I laughed, cried, and fist-pumped a few times throughout this book. This book is a contemporary romance with a single father who falls for his son's teacher. Bring your tissues and some chocolate, and be prepared to lose some sleep from this page-turning, emotional, and captivating book. 4.5 stars-By Brooke

[Lisa Petty (Book Bangers Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brynn is adorable and I loved her from the get-go. She is a school teacher who is passionate about her students. She makes sure all of her students are loved and have the best time while learning. When one of her students is struggling to adjust to her classroom she figures it's time to have a parent/teacher conference. Mason is just trying to keep afloat and do the best he can for his son and his company. When he meets Levi's teacher for the first time sparks fly, but they know nothing can come with it. As these two spend more time together their feelings become stronger will they cross that line. It may be forbidden, but sometimes love makes it worth it. Find out if they take the next step and fall in love or will their better judgement take over? Fall in love with these two they are adorable.

[Jackie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Emma Nichole but it certainly won’t be last. The Catalyst is a beautifully written love story about a single dad and I believe it will be loved by all romance lovers. It’s a great start to the Meadow Lake Series and it’s one of those reads that will have you laughing, crying and everything in between.
What happens when you are a single dad who falls for his son’s teacher and more importantly what will the small town residents think……
I loved the characters and I loved watching their relationship grow, I was captivated from the first page and there was no putting down until the final word was read. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[I Dont Get Sundays · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brynn and Mason are living life and not even aware that they were made for each other. Brynn feels she has a role within her family and tries to live up to that. She believes she is meant to only teach. She has had a rough go with life and is kinda in a rut. Mason is raising his son and trying to not screw that up. Enters a pretty teacher. These two are cute together and share so many feelings and thoughts. When Brynn believes she makes a decision that will help both she and Mason, she is proven wrong. Mason is a sweetheart and gets the girl.

[Kelly Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Read

This was a nice fun read. It was sweet with a little emotional moment concerning the heroine but loved that there was no back and forth and they just genuinely fell hard and fast for each other.

[Karen Hrdlicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single dad and widower is intrigued by his son's teacher and vice versa. Can it work out? Is it as forbidden as it seems to be? Loved reading this story and watching the couple manage the pitfalls of a relationship.

[Prac Agrl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda boring.