X+e

The Teachers of Hardwood High #1

by Nina High

Essence Knox knows how to carry the weight of a full life.
After twenty years teaching math at Hardwood High, raising two daughters on her own, and holding down the fort through heartbreak and hustle, she’s staring down an unfamiliar kind of quiet. The kids are grown. The house feels too big. And the past—well, it still lingers in the corners. Selling the home she built her world in should be a fresh start. She didn’t expect it to come with temptation.

Xavier Sharpe moves differently.
Retired military. Smooth voice. New to teaching but already catching eyes in the halls. When he crosses paths with Essence during her transition, the connection is instant—but nothing about it feels rushed. He’s steady where she’s guarded, patient where she’s bracing for impact. Still, Essence has loved hard and lost deeper. Opening up again? That’s not on the lesson plan.

As sparks turn into something more, they’ll both have to confront what they’re holding onto—and what they’re willing to risk. Because love after loss isn’t about starting over. It’s about knowing who you are when everything else gets quiet… and choosing love anyway.

A later-in-life romance about healing, home, and second chances—with just the right amount of heat.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, African American Romance, Black Author

236 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2024

Reviews

[Alisha]

You know when you finish a book and you just sit there and stare off into space, and take a deep breath? Yeah.. this was that for me. It’s just something about two grown ass folks .. acting like two grown ass folks! I loved every second of this and it was such a breath of fresh air from everything I’ve been reading. To see two people who done been through some things simply love on eachother, was just soothing. I’m in the military, so the references to such were spot on and very easy to relate to. I loved the development of both our FMC and MMC and I think I’m a multi-POV girly cause this just did it for me! We got to learn about them individually and then how they just connected with eachother. *Deep breath* .. loved this. I would recommend it to anyone but defly if you’re looking for something full of love <3

[Demetrius]

I enjoyed this book so much! It was such a feel-good read. I will be starting the next book in this series IMMEDIATELY!

[*Ebony I*]

Making room for new love

3.5 stars
This was a cute read. As my book friends would say a good palate cleanser. It's a wholesome read, with some decent sex scenes. However, it's the sexual energy, the tension that is missing.

Xavier and Essence meet at the High School they both work at. Xavier is retired military and is now embarking on his second career as an English teacher. Essence has been a math teacher for over 20 years. Both are also divorced with grown children. They are in their mid 40s, and I always love a couple I can relate to. Essence is learning to navigate life as an empty nester, while Xavier is getting used to having his newly grown, somewhat lazy son full time. Xavier and Essence are fast friends and grow into something more. I loved how no nonsense and protective Essence was.

I had a few call outs...Xavier seemed to have several moments of anxiety, but that wasn't presented around Essence and I'm unsure why? I also wanted to know where Essence decided to live, a small mention of her next step would have added some closure as it was mentioned throughout the story.

[Tulip_OnTheTBR]

What Really Happens Behind These Classroom Doors?! ☕🏫

Who knew the faculty lounge held more drama than the student body? 👀 I never realized how unruly, messy, and downright scandalous these teacher folk could be behind closed doors, but watching the chemistry between Xavier and Essence develop made me an absolute spectator for every single second of it. The way their romance built up was such a satisfying ride, and when this book went open-door spicy, those scenes were hoootttt. Whew, chiiiii! 🥵

I really appreciated the character depth for both the FMC and MMC, and the supporting cast was so much fun to read. However, the pacing felt a bit off at times, dragging in a few spots. My main critique is that there wasn't much of an actual plot; it felt strictly like a high school soap opera. I just wished there was a bit more substance to the story, maybe even another 100 pages, to allow things to lead somewhere concrete and fully bloom.

The Aftermath 🌷:
This was a great three-star read and I really enjoyed Nina High's writing style! While I wished for a stronger overarching plot, the character depth, messy faculty drama, and scorching heat kept me entertained. 🔥 I liked it well enough that I’ll definitely be picking up Janae's story to see how it goes! More to come!

[Ashley G.]

It says "later-in-life" but the characters are in their 40s 😅😭

Really enjoyed this. Hoping to get to the rest of the series soon

[Lisette]

Adorable read!

I absolutely devoured this book. As someone that has worked in education for 25 years, I thoroughly enjoyed the shenanigans of being a fly on the wall at Hardwood High. Xavier is such a man's man!
He was gentle but oh so strong. I loved how he was so caring and kind. The floundering at the beginning was so relatable. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, this is actually my first Nina High read but she's definitely on my radar now. This book was written exceptionally well. For a second, at the homecoming game, I thought the story was going somewhere that would ruin the vibe, but it didn't and for that, I'm thankful.

[kiriahsbookshelf]

This was a very cute book! Very refreshing and a reminder that no matter where you are in life it’s never too late to start over.

[Sherri B]

Cute and 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[RNB]

This book was so cute!!!! It was a straightforward romance with no drama — I LOVED IT!!!

[Mandy Edwards]

It was okay. I thought it would be much better. The first few chapters had me excited but it got a little boring through the middle and I didn’t end up enjoying this as much as I thought I would.

[Deirdre Megan Byrd]

Rating 4.5. Such a cute read. Love a good romance and this was unique as it was later in life romance. So cute!

[Renada Boddie]

This was such a cute and refreshing read. Essence and Xavier is a reminder that it’s ok to start over, love again and live your best life.

[Shamoya Reads]

first off loved that this features 2 characters that are in their 40s, and both getting a second chance at love post-divorce.

X & E follows, the FMC Essence, who is a math teacher, getting ready for a new school year, while navigating being a newly empty nester, and the new chapter that is her life. Then you have the MMC Xander who is retired miliary taking on a new career joining the faculty as a new English teacher. Both characters share similarities with being divorced, having older children, being educators but also at different stages of their lives.

Loved all the different reps in this story, the on-page nuances being an educator and what they have to deal with in the schools. The school drama was an added bonus. For Essence she is stuck between letting go of the past completely and stepping into this new uncertain future; While Xander is dealing with coparenting an 18-year-old college student who is having some struggles. Love the way E showed up for X when he was trying to get comfortable with his new class. I do wish there was more conversation surrounding his anxiety that was mentioned and how he is coping as it seem like his son was also dealing with the same. This is low angst and a cute love story can't wait to check out the rest of series.

[Carmen Savage]

I ate this book right on up! I love that Nina High creates MMCs that love their women the right way. It's always a happy ending. Essence Knox is done with dating after being burned in the past. She is now an empty nester and is looking to downsize her life. The last thing she thought she would be doing is adding a MAN! Xavier is a new teacher to Hardwood High. Him and Essence's chemistry is hard not to notice and let me just say, "THAT MAN IS FINE." These characters were so well developed, and I enjoyed seeing their growth. This book touches on mental health a bit as well. I have to say the spice scenes had me giggling and kicking my feet. I truly enjoyed this read and can not wait to read the next one.

[NubianJoí]

Calculated Risks

My first impressions of Author Nina High were a lasting impression. “X + E: The Teachers of Hardwood High” was a good read. I appreciated the calculated risks both Essence & Xavier unwittingly explored which propelled them into new chapters of their lives personally & romantically. …change & waves transport people from stationary contentment to progressive movement 🧐😊‼️“I’m going to show you how to take, how to accept & enjoy without doing any work.” …a great philosophy…well stated… & even better implemented‼️

[Cardi Blue]

Grown

Oh I love a book with grown folks. No major drama and 🌶️🌶️. I was sold. Essence was not playing with her life and what she wanted. I love that Xavier realized his faults and took accountability.

[castinareads]

4.25 ⭐️

This was so cute! I love second chance at love. These two deserved someone they could call their own. No drama between the two, spicy, and the school aspect was funny. Definitely reading the other books.
Highly recommend.

[Arnell Peterson]

Really good. New to me author. A wonderful palate cleanser!

[Nadia]

This was so cute & definitely a feel good mature romance. 🤎🥰
3.75🌟

[VicBeReading]

3.5⭐️
This was a cute grown adult romance story. I would’ve liked for some of the scenes to go a little bit longer. Overall, I’m here for the grown and sexy romance

[Elonda]

Romance, Spice, and Everything Nice!

Romance, spice and everything nice! I enjoyed this love story written by Nina High. I typically don’t read romance or spice, but this book was entertaining.

[Roxy]

3.5⭐️

[Sisireia]

As a former classroom teacher, the premise alone if this series was intriguing to me. I love that the characters Xavier and Essence are older professionals. Xavier is former military, new to teaching. He's already been married and divorced and has an 18 year old son that needs some help figuring things out. The there's Essence, somewhat of a "veteran" in the classroom game. She has 20 years of teaching experience in the same high school that she attended. I came in thinking this would be a fun, cutesy little read and while it was, there was also some grown people doing some grown things. This was a quick read but still has some of the elements of romance that I enjoy. The author introduced us to some memorable characters that hope get their own part in this series. (Aka "Peppermint Patty")

I rated this a 3.5 star read for me because it kept my interest, it was an easy read, it was light and the ending was satisfying. I do plan to read the entire series!

[Reaux]

Cute but boring. I felt like I was leaning in but never got the juice I was looking for.

[Gabrielle]

Finally, another romance novel focusing on a 40+ aged couple! Workplace romances are growing on me for sure and this one did not disappoint. I love that Xavier and Essence were drama-free and knew exactly who and what they wanted. It was a bit refreshing. This is my second Nina High novel and I adore that her couples (so far) don't play any games and get straight to loving on each other. This was a sweet one that I recommend if you need a quick pick-me-up, palette cleanser, or just need a good dose of Black love. Follow The Gabrielle Guide on YouTube for a more.

[Leah the Reader]

Special Book

The level of character depth in this book was outstanding. I laughed, I teared up and I was ready to fight all in one book. The love between Xavier and Essence was special. I like how they complimented each other and understood the position in life they were in. I thought Xavier was going to be one way when the book started and I loved seeing the extra layers underneath the surface. Essence was a bad ass through and through. She had doubts about a relationship but she knew who she was and what she had to offer. Ate this book right on up!

[January]

X+E by Nina High (2024)
The Teachers of Hardwood High #1
Related The Martin Brothers Series
239-page Kindle Ebook story pages 5-222

Genre: African-American Romance, Contemporary Romance

Rating as a movie: NC-17/ or XX

Featuring: Scholastic Setting, Workplace Romance, High School, Teachers - English, Math; Quinquagenarians, Single Mother, Empty Nest Syndrome, Divorcée, College Kids, Dual POVs, Retired Military - Army, First Year, Anxiety, Divorcé, References to The Martin Brothers Series - Overlapping Characters and Setting, Department Heads, Racism, Scholastic Politics, Sex - Detailed, Warm Wet Towels, All Through The Year, Second Chance Trope - Love After Divorce, Downsizing, Drama, Fictional Ambiguous Town in Texas, Preview of B+J Prologue - Chapter 4 Sunday Morning, Link to Next Book, Bibliography for Nina High Martin Brothers Series

Songs for the soundtrack: "Dammn Baby" by Janet Jackson, "Falling for You" by Ashanti, "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé, "I Belong To You (Every Time I See Your Face)" by Rome, "Treat Me" by Chloe Bailey, "Cuff It" by Beyoncé, "Made For Me" by Muni Long, "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo, "Let It Snow" Boyz II Men featuring Brian McKnight

Books and Authors mentioned: Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance by Jason Reynolds, Samira Ahmed, Bethany C. Morrow, Darcie Little Badger, Keah Brown, Laura Silverman, L.D. Lewis, Sofia Quintero, Ray Stoeve, Yamile Mendez, and Connie Sun;

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏫👩🏾‍🏫🧑🏿‍🏫📚➗️➕️🇨🇱

My thoughts: I enjoyed this story my only issue was the continuity. The MC has a son who goes to school in Austin 3 hours away from their location, MMC ex attended the high school where they work, and his ex was his high school sweetheart. It seemed like the author could not decide if he dated her in high school as a fellow student or a teenage Army private. When she asked him where he was from he said Oklahoma and later they referenced driving to Oklahoma as in they're not in Oklahoma, so how could he be her high school sweetheart while living in another state? Besides, if he and his ex were high school sweethearts but attended different high schools why wouldn't he just say, I'm from here? That kind of bugged me but other than that this story was great. I'm looking forward to reading more. Every time a teacher gave their name and mentioned somebody else was cute in school I was trying to see if I recognized these initials as matchups.

Recommend to others: Yes! I'm definitely going to read the entire series and the related series. I'm glad this was recommended to me.

The Teachers of Hardwood High
1. X+E (2024)
2. B+J (2024)
3. P+B (2025)
4. T+E (2025)
5. Q+C (2025)
6. A+J (2025)

Memorable Quotes: It’s time to let go of all these nostalgic things. When I reach the stairs, I tap the screen on my phone to videocall my girls. I know Tanasia will answer, so I call her, confident they’re together. “Hey, Mommy!” My beautiful baby child says as her smile comes into view on my screen. “Hi, baby girl!” I smile back, seeing my joy personified on the screen in front of me. “Mommy!” Jerrica squeals, pushing her way into the frame. “Hey, Boogie! I’m glad you’re together. I called to tell you something.” “You’re not pregnant, are you?” Tanasia asks with alarm in her voice. “What?” “Nasia, she’s way too old to be pregnant. She probably met a man or something like that.” A disgusted frown immediately carves itself on my face. I’m forty-five. Didn’t Janet Jackson and Halle Berry have babies in or close to their fifties? Wasn’t Ashanti flaunting her beautiful pregnant-and-over-forty self online a few months ago? “I’m not pregnant,” I tell them, hoping they can hear my annoyance. I make my way down the stairs and into the primary bedroom. When Brandon and I built this house, it fit every dream of a home. This primary bedroom is my oasis. But in the years before our divorce, this room was anything but a sanctuary. We refused to fight in front of the girls, so we’d come in, lock the door, and have it out. He’d tell me all the ways I was less than, and I’d remind him that he was too busy dicking down every woman at his company to notice what I did and didn’t do at home. “See, I told you. She’s too old.” Jerrica says, rolling her eyes at her sister. “And she hasn’t had a man in a decade.” Now these girls are going too damn far. I almost moved out of the primary room completely after his final act of disrespect. My heart thuds at the thought. I came home early one day when we only had a half-day at school to find his face buried deep in another woman’s pussy. Neither of them noticed when I came in. He did have a magical tongue. I crept up to him and kicked him so hard in his stomach that his teeth nicked her, and she started screaming, scrambling to get out of the bed and find her clothes. I filed divorce papers that day, and he was gone before the girls got home from their after-school activities. He wasn’t going to strip me of my power. He has properties all over the place, and he brought his dirt to our home, to the bed we shared. I wanted to set fire to the room every time I walked into it for over a month. Instead, I redecorated every inch of this room and got a new bed and mattress, and it’s mine now. Untainted. “I’m selling the house.” I wanted to be more gentle, but their asses are roasting me alive. “Why’d you make it sound serious?” Tanasia asks. “Because I thought it was serious, but y'all can’t take anything seriously.” Every damn thing is a joke with these two. They get that from their dad. “It’s not a big deal?” I ask. “It’s a house, Mom. A big empty house you now live in alone. We know you hate cleaning.” “I do. I went into the rooms to dust a few minutes ago, and I walked right back out.” The girls giggle. I used to have them cleaning every Sunday while we listened to Beyonce. I don’t mind doing dishes or even cleaning the bathrooms, but dusting is my kryptonite. “Is Daddy okay with you selling it?” Jerrica asks. “The house is mine. The deed is in my name only.” It’s been ten years, but the image of him in my mind pisses me off sometimes. We co-parent great, but I hold a grudge.

I note that he’s very careful with how he touches people. Essence doesn’t look uncomfortable in his presence. Do they have something going on? I wouldn’t be mad at Dr. Ranley for it, though. She’s worth losing it all based on looks only. “I had a nice break. Sent my baby girl off to college with her sister last week, and I’m seriously considering selling my house,” she answers with a smile. “Those aren’t vacation activities. Did you go anywhere or do anything special? You worked so hard last year and had the best test scores in the district again. Did you celebrate yourself?” She puts her hands on her hips. “With what bonus, Dr. Ranley?” He throws his head back and laughs, then pats her on her shoulder. “This isn’t a charter school. Student council got you that gift card.” This time, she laughs. “You know it was for ten dollars to Sonic, right?” “Half-priced drinks in the app?” He asks, raising his eyebrows. “Dr. Ranley, go bother someone else.” She laughs and starts walking off. “It’s good to see you, Essence,” he calls behind her, chuckling. I quickly look away as Essence walks towards me. She sits at the table next to mine and starts chatting with a short, thick Black woman. The quick exchange she had with Dr. Ranley has me intrigued. Who is Essence, and how can I get to know her?

“Damn, he is so handsome,” Janae whispers to me after Xavier introduces himself. He may have overshared, but he answered a few questions I had about him. Divorced and has a kid. I’m not even going to lie and say he’s not attractive because he damn sure is. I just want to know why he’s divorced. Is he a cheater with community dick? Is he a podcaster who hates women and calls us ‘females’? “He really is,” I reply. “You should–” “Girl, it’s the first day back at school. I’m not thinking about a man right now.” I cut her off. “You’re never thinking about a man,” she protests.

The math teachers start filing in, sitting at the desks they know are for each course. “Is there assigned seating?” Cassidy Cline asks, looking around the room, a deer in headlights. “No, Cassidy. Not really. We’re grouped by the subject we teach. If you teach two subjects, you can decide which group you want to be in.” I place a hand on her back and point out each group: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and advanced math. She thanks me and takes a seat with the other Geometry teachers. The other two new teachers: Jonathan Valley, and Dianisa Suarez get the same explanation and find a seat.

[Jamie Richards]

This was an amazing read . I hadn't picked up a book in a few days and I started this one an I was good to go. Love how they show different aspects of school for teachers and goes to show cliques don't grow up.
I love how disciplined X is .

[Reesy Renee]

3.5⭐️ This was a fluffy read! Like watching a cheesy Hallmark movie lol! Essence & Xavier are two people just trying to piece their lives together after experiencing heartbreaking divorces. It was a little slow for me because it felt like nothing was really happening, but I’m curious to see how the next couple of Hardwood High pans out!

[tre be]

The way I stayed up all night and flew this book to be able to post it today!

This is one of my selections for #indiespinesbookclub Indie month and I’m so glad I read it! I love this cute mature teacher romance! These teachers were giving all types of lessons at Hardwood High - all pun intended.

Xavier and Essence were so stinking cute, cutting to the chase and quickly letting their attraction known. Fun conversations, witty & flirty banter, and bonding over their teaching careers and life experiences!

I loved the focus on both being single parents of new college students / “baby adults”. This was so relatable for me especially since my baby adult will be leaving for college soon. I loved Xavier’s relationship with his son, teaching him responsibility, and encouraging him when making plans for his future. I loved the angle of Essence downgrading to a smaller space since it’s now “just her”. Essence and her daughter’s were also fun, with them constantly roasting their mom. 🤣

I also loved the intricacies of teachers in the classroom, their working relationships with other teachers and getting into a good groove with their students. This is such a cute story, with great heated sex! My honey loves me to read him spicy scenes and this one is up next!! Definitely plan to continue this series!!