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The Teacher's Wounded Heart
[Siren Everlasting Classic Erotic Alternative Romance, M/M, HEA] Drew Hamilton is happy living a quiet life. Becoming a teacher was all he ever wanted and up until a few months ago that was enough to keep him content, that was before Cal Saunders moved in next door and changed everything. Drew feels like his life is spinning out of control, but falling for the tattooed god isn't in his plans. Cal knows the well dressed and mild mannered teacher is slumming it to be with a man who makes his living as a tattoo artist. Where he's rough around the edges, Drew is smooth and sweet, everything Cal's ever wanted. No matter how much Drew pushes him away, Cal won't turn his back on what's happening between them. Drew knows he needs to let go of his past and move forward but fear keeps him paralyzed to do anything about it. He needs to figure it out soon before the only man he's ever truly loved walks away. ** A Siren Erotic Romance
- GenresM M RomanceContemporary
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2014
3 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Jarrett
81 books186 followersAJ Jarrett is happily married to her best friend and the mother of four, yes, four children. Born and raised in Missouri and loves the area most of the time, until it snows a ton. She enjoys reading and reads a lot. When not reading she can be found propped up in her favorite spot on the couch with her laptop plotting her next story or finishing one of her WIP.
Can visit her blog or feel free to email her at: aj.jarrett@yahoo.com
Can visit her blog or feel free to email her at: aj.jarrett@yahoo.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 22, 2014
UPDATED August 21, 2014:
It's looking like I'm in the minority with this one! Many GR friends thought Drew (the teacher) was a big fat whiner. He kind of was, but I was able to suspend disbelief and roll with the story. It all had to do with the mood I was in at the time, I'm sure. Be sure to read other reviews before thinking this is a slam-dunk.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I really, really enjoyed this book! I was in the mood for a shorter, low angst read with romance and good sex. This absolutely fit the bill! It did contain a lot of drama but it was all relationship based and gave me a nice, hard, good cleansing cry, but no one died or was shot or was in pain or turned into a mountain lion.
Light and fluffy real-life M/M romance between two men that could very well be your neighbors. How refreshing! Highly recommended if you need a break from from the M/M romance/angst/shifter/dub-con/military/etc/ grind. It's a palate cleanser! A.J. Jarrett has yet to disappoint me.
It's looking like I'm in the minority with this one! Many GR friends thought Drew (the teacher) was a big fat whiner. He kind of was, but I was able to suspend disbelief and roll with the story. It all had to do with the mood I was in at the time, I'm sure. Be sure to read other reviews before thinking this is a slam-dunk.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I really, really enjoyed this book! I was in the mood for a shorter, low angst read with romance and good sex. This absolutely fit the bill! It did contain a lot of drama but it was all relationship based and gave me a nice, hard, good cleansing cry, but no one died or was shot or was in pain or turned into a mountain lion.
Light and fluffy real-life M/M romance between two men that could very well be your neighbors. How refreshing! Highly recommended if you need a break from from the M/M romance/angst/shifter/dub-con/military/etc/ grind. It's a palate cleanser! A.J. Jarrett has yet to disappoint me.
August 21, 2014
My review:
Please see Ana_P's review. I blame her. Why? Because I can.
P.S. Sleeve tattoos and a couple of piercings does not a badass make.
P.P.S. So you got dumped. So a boy was mean to you. Who the fuck hasn't this happened to?
2 stars for the idea of a bad boy and a nerd. Also, I seem to be psychologically unable to give anyone 1 star. I don't know why.
August 21, 2014
Okay, I...I couldn't do this.
DNF @ 33%!
I'm sorry to say, but the tattoos...
were not enough to keep my interest.
The amount of eye rolling I was doing due to the cheesy dialogue and the antics of one of the MCs *cough*Drew*cough* was getting detrimental to my health.
This guy was tiresome to say the least.
He is 25-years-old but hasn't allowed himself to get into a relationship due to one guy hurting him in high school. However, he laments that he is getting tired of not sharing a human connection with anyone, engaging in only hook-ups, and would like to try dating his neighbor. But after tumbling into bed with said neighbor (the hot tattooed god), he doesn't wish to send any "mixed signals" and would like only something "fun" and "no commitments." Uhh...I'm sorry to break it to you, dude (not really!), but you are sending mixed signals up the wazoo!
Also, I couldn't possibly fathom what Cal saw in Drew besides his looks that would make him want something more with this guy. Really, the chemistry between these guys was zero.
2 Stars for the story idea of a romance between a teacher and a tattoo artist, but the final product just failed to deliver.
DNF @ 33%!
I'm sorry to say, but the tattoos...
were not enough to keep my interest.
The amount of eye rolling I was doing due to the cheesy dialogue and the antics of one of the MCs *cough*Drew*cough* was getting detrimental to my health.
This guy was tiresome to say the least.
He is 25-years-old but hasn't allowed himself to get into a relationship due to one guy hurting him in high school. However, he laments that he is getting tired of not sharing a human connection with anyone, engaging in only hook-ups, and would like to try dating his neighbor. But after tumbling into bed with said neighbor (the hot tattooed god), he doesn't wish to send any "mixed signals" and would like only something "fun" and "no commitments." Uhh...I'm sorry to break it to you, dude (not really!), but you are sending mixed signals up the wazoo!
Also, I couldn't possibly fathom what Cal saw in Drew besides his looks that would make him want something more with this guy. Really, the chemistry between these guys was zero.
2 Stars for the story idea of a romance between a teacher and a tattoo artist, but the final product just failed to deliver.
December 17, 2014
The plot revolves around the burgeoning relationship and the ensuing (melo)drama. There’s a precarious balance between being emotional and overemotional, between effective drama and overflowing melodrama. This tale dances on that knife’s edge. At times I felt Drew was being a bit over-the-top, crying all the time. Once or twice in a story is fine; after that it becomes excessive and the man feels, well, less manly.
One thing I found pretty good about the plot twists was that Cal does finally decide Drew has hurt him enough, and leaves. This was a good choice because had he stuck it out with someone who was never going to give him his heart in return would have made Cal far too idealistic in the realism sense. No one really has that kind of patience when heartbroken. For me, that moment was realistic.
I found this story to be immersive, sexy, and emotional, mostly in a good way. I was invested in the characters, and the plot moved forward at a reasonable pace. So I recommend this to all those who love M/M romances with emotional depth and lots of hot and heavy moments.
One thing I found pretty good about the plot twists was that Cal does finally decide Drew has hurt him enough, and leaves. This was a good choice because had he stuck it out with someone who was never going to give him his heart in return would have made Cal far too idealistic in the realism sense. No one really has that kind of patience when heartbroken. For me, that moment was realistic.
I found this story to be immersive, sexy, and emotional, mostly in a good way. I was invested in the characters, and the plot moved forward at a reasonable pace. So I recommend this to all those who love M/M romances with emotional depth and lots of hot and heavy moments.
February 14, 2015
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
The Teacher’s Troubled Heart tells the story of Drew, a high school teacher who lives his life ruled by an event in his teens, and Cal, a tattoo artist who moves next door. The first meeting between these two marks the beginning of scorching encounters that soon turn into something more. Compatible in more ways than the physical, Cal and Drew have a great budding friendship.
However, Drew’s past rejection impedes him to ever try to give himself fully again. And so begins Cal’s battle to show understanding to an event that many would have overcome a long time ago, proving over and over that he is willing to put himself on the line for Drew. But when Drew thinks he doesn’t need help, how far and how long will Cal try without hurting himself in the process?
Thus, The Teacher’s Troubled Heart tells the story of how events affect people differently and that love alone isn’t enough to help them through: people need to want to move on. One of the things that clearly illustrate Jarrett’s idea is the very beginning of the story, where we meet
Drew as he is watching Cal through the window. This scene is a great representation of Drew’s distancing himself from what he wants, putting up a barrier to protect himself: watching from behind his window, connecting but withholding his feelings.
Jarrett’s writing is amazing, making up for the frustration the reader begins to feel towards Drew and his inability to move on. The author describes the characters in a way that make them feel life-like, ruled by human emotions that the reader identifies with. Even when we feel frustrated, Jarrett reminds us that everyone experiences things differently, and we cannot fault them for it. Hence, why the reader can’t put the book down until they find out if these characters have a happy ending or not.
On a personal level, my favorite character is Cal, who struggles through every obstacle Drew throws his way. As Jarrett describes him, Cal is not ashamed of himself even if his « tattoos and piercings might frighten other people». All his ink represents something personal and that’s how he presents himself: open and easy-going. Even after past hurts, he is not afraid to try again, even with someone as skittish as Drew. Above all else, Cal isn’t willing to lose himself over someone else.
The reason why I consider this book worthy of 3.75 Hearts is because, although I really liked the story and it’s well written, it’s not something that will remain with me for a long while.
*see review at https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.c...*
The Teacher’s Troubled Heart tells the story of Drew, a high school teacher who lives his life ruled by an event in his teens, and Cal, a tattoo artist who moves next door. The first meeting between these two marks the beginning of scorching encounters that soon turn into something more. Compatible in more ways than the physical, Cal and Drew have a great budding friendship.
However, Drew’s past rejection impedes him to ever try to give himself fully again. And so begins Cal’s battle to show understanding to an event that many would have overcome a long time ago, proving over and over that he is willing to put himself on the line for Drew. But when Drew thinks he doesn’t need help, how far and how long will Cal try without hurting himself in the process?
Thus, The Teacher’s Troubled Heart tells the story of how events affect people differently and that love alone isn’t enough to help them through: people need to want to move on. One of the things that clearly illustrate Jarrett’s idea is the very beginning of the story, where we meet
Drew as he is watching Cal through the window. This scene is a great representation of Drew’s distancing himself from what he wants, putting up a barrier to protect himself: watching from behind his window, connecting but withholding his feelings.
Jarrett’s writing is amazing, making up for the frustration the reader begins to feel towards Drew and his inability to move on. The author describes the characters in a way that make them feel life-like, ruled by human emotions that the reader identifies with. Even when we feel frustrated, Jarrett reminds us that everyone experiences things differently, and we cannot fault them for it. Hence, why the reader can’t put the book down until they find out if these characters have a happy ending or not.
On a personal level, my favorite character is Cal, who struggles through every obstacle Drew throws his way. As Jarrett describes him, Cal is not ashamed of himself even if his « tattoos and piercings might frighten other people». All his ink represents something personal and that’s how he presents himself: open and easy-going. Even after past hurts, he is not afraid to try again, even with someone as skittish as Drew. Above all else, Cal isn’t willing to lose himself over someone else.
The reason why I consider this book worthy of 3.75 Hearts is because, although I really liked the story and it’s well written, it’s not something that will remain with me for a long while.
*see review at https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.c...*
December 15, 2014
AJ Jarrett’s story The Teacher’s Wounded Heart told of a man fighting to overcome the pain of first love. Drew struggled throughout this book to move beyond the selfish and hurtful way of kids. Instead of growing from the humiliation, Drew decided to build a wall around his heart. He allowed only his best friend close until Cal. His attraction to Cal forced him outside of his comfort zone but only part way. His indecisiveness made me want to smack Drew upside the head several times throughout this story. However, while I struggled with Drew, I adored Cal. I thoughtMs. Jarrett pointed out wonderfully how deceiving appearances can be. Cal had a heart of gold and a wonderful sense of humor packaged in the body of a tattooed bad boy. I loved that this smoking hot bad boy was unsure of how to approach the buttoned down teacher who lived next door. I loved that he was insecure in ways you would not have expected. But what was truly great, at least to me, were his friends. Ms. Jarrett showed what type of man Cal was by the company he kept. She showed that in spite of our outer packaging we feel pain, love and joy the same. I enjoyed this story and the positive message Ms. Jarrett presented without being preachy. While this was the first time I read her words it will not be the last.
Four Twinkling Stars
Four Twinkling Stars
May 29, 2015
Without a doubt the change away from paranormal in my reading felt refreshing.
And this isn’t a bad story. Nothing spectacularly new, but then that’s not necessary anyway. And yes, idealization galore, but that, too, can be okay.
The thing is, the story turned awfully angsty after about half or more. Painfully depressing even. They just kept making things worse with each other instead of manning up to the right thing.
Now, I am not actually complaining about their behaviours since it made sense in its own way and certainly in context of the point the story was obviously going for. But it sure made for a somewhat less enjoyable read.
Especially since reaching the payoff got dragged out longer than I felt necessary, and then it was over abruptly. That’s just a bit quick to go from depressing to happily-ever-after.
And this isn’t a bad story. Nothing spectacularly new, but then that’s not necessary anyway. And yes, idealization galore, but that, too, can be okay.
The thing is, the story turned awfully angsty after about half or more. Painfully depressing even. They just kept making things worse with each other instead of manning up to the right thing.
Now, I am not actually complaining about their behaviours since it made sense in its own way and certainly in context of the point the story was obviously going for. But it sure made for a somewhat less enjoyable read.
Especially since reaching the payoff got dragged out longer than I felt necessary, and then it was over abruptly. That’s just a bit quick to go from depressing to happily-ever-after.
August 25, 2014
“All he knew was that he held the man he loved in his arms and couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with him. True love didn’t come around often but when it did a person had to hold on tight with both hands no matter what. Love was a roller coaster full of ups and downs but so worth the ride.”
Excerpt From: Jarrett, AJ. “The Teacher's Wounded Heart (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove).” iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Wiping the tears away. This book was captivating and pulled to the truth of the heart. No matter how perfect our relationships seem, we, each of us, are gripped with paralyzingly fear that any moment someone or something will rip it apart. Like these boys, we just have to hold onto faith and believe that true love never ends.
Excerpt From: Jarrett, AJ. “The Teacher's Wounded Heart (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove).” iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Wiping the tears away. This book was captivating and pulled to the truth of the heart. No matter how perfect our relationships seem, we, each of us, are gripped with paralyzingly fear that any moment someone or something will rip it apart. Like these boys, we just have to hold onto faith and believe that true love never ends.
November 20, 2014
2.5 stars - Okay read, but I wanted to smack Drew left and right for most of the book.
August 29, 2014
Wow what a boring, even idiotic romance from Drew perspective. A boring plot for an idiotic, weak main character. I truly disliked Drew! He was such an emotional wimp, Blah!!!
September 3, 2014
I did not like the unnecessary angst...
July 15, 2015
3.25 stars
July 21, 2015
For once, Siren Publishing published something that wasn't crap. Color me surprised.
Drew is kind of annoying but the story is enjoyable and a quick read.
Drew is kind of annoying but the story is enjoyable and a quick read.
April 6, 2015
3.5 stars. A very nice hurt/comfort story.
September 11, 2014
2.5 Stars
August 22, 2014
2.75*
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews