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Tarnished Souls #1
Learning from Isaac
It’s hard to break out of a rut. For years, Nathan submerged himself into his job at St. Genevieve’s. He enjoys teaching, hates faculty meetings, loves his science and has committed himself to the cycle of college life. Along the way, he's become resigned to being a gay man in a straight culture, a Jew among Catholics, and single in a world of couples. Then the brilliant Isaac Wolf appears in his classroom. Isaac’s a few years older than his fellow students, gorgeous, self-composed and Jewish. Isaac has his own secrets, which Nathan finds out at the racy new club downtown where the boys who dance out front can be bought in the back room. Nathan thinks he’s about to get a lap dance, but behind the beaded curtain the man on his knees turns out to be Isaac. Nathan's mind isn't the only thing Isaac blows. Afterward, Nathan can't stop thinking about that night. The question is whether Nathan can let himself fall in love with a student, much less someone with Isaac’s checkered past. Is it too late for a student to teach his professor the true nature of love and respect? This is a revised, author’s edition of the first Tarnished Souls story, originally published in 2012 by Loose Id.
179 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2012
34 people are currently reading
566 people want to read
About the author
Dev Bentham
25 books127 followersDev Bentham believes in the transformative power of true love. She’s the author of many gay romances, including Moving in Rhythm, August Ice and the Tarnished Souls Jewish Holiday series.
Over the years, she’s lived in way too many places and had far too many jobs, but she’s finally settled in frozen northern Wisconsin where she draws on her former lives to write enduring love stories in which wonderful men find each other. Her restless feet take her globetrotting whenever she gets the chance, but most of the time she’s tucked up in her office in the woods dreaming about romance.
Over the years, she’s lived in way too many places and had far too many jobs, but she’s finally settled in frozen northern Wisconsin where she draws on her former lives to write enduring love stories in which wonderful men find each other. Her restless feet take her globetrotting whenever she gets the chance, but most of the time she’s tucked up in her office in the woods dreaming about romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
February 4, 2016
**2.5 stars**
I can't quite explain why I didn't like this one. I liked some parts, but others didn't work at all.
Note that my knowledge of Jewish customs or aquatic/environmental studies is close to zero, but this had nothing to do with not liking the book.
The writing put me off at first. The first person POV was monotonous and the dialogue was almost non existent. It got better later, but I never managed to fully connect.
The story is told exclusively from Nathan's, the professor, POV. I really needed Isaac's POV. Nathan was not a reliable narrator. He carried too many baggage from previous relationships and frankly, he didn't always make sense.
For someone who didn't want to get involved with a student, he didn't try very hard (and believe me, I'm not one of those people who think a teacher-student relationship is a always a no, as long as everyone is an adult and there is consent).
I understand having problems with Isaac's profession but his hissy fit was way too immature.
And, like another reviewer pointed out, it seems that all Chicago's gay population had visited this club. Every single time Isaac left the house, he would bump into a customer:/
I don't know, maybe it's just me. But for the most part of it, this story didn't work for me.
I can't quite explain why I didn't like this one. I liked some parts, but others didn't work at all.
Note that my knowledge of Jewish customs or aquatic/environmental studies is close to zero, but this had nothing to do with not liking the book.
The writing put me off at first. The first person POV was monotonous and the dialogue was almost non existent. It got better later, but I never managed to fully connect.
The story is told exclusively from Nathan's, the professor, POV. I really needed Isaac's POV. Nathan was not a reliable narrator. He carried too many baggage from previous relationships and frankly, he didn't always make sense.
For someone who didn't want to get involved with a student, he didn't try very hard (and believe me, I'm not one of those people who think a teacher-student relationship is a always a no, as long as everyone is an adult and there is consent).
I understand having problems with Isaac's profession but his hissy fit was way too immature.
And, like another reviewer pointed out, it seems that all Chicago's gay population had visited this club. Every single time Isaac left the house, he would bump into a customer:/
I don't know, maybe it's just me. But for the most part of it, this story didn't work for me.
April 5, 2012
3.5 stars
Hmmm, technically, I can't find something wrong, however, emotionally, I'm not feeling the story as much.
I do appreciate the idea of having Isaac, the student, working as rent-boy. It gives the twist of the teacher/student trope. But, considering that this is a 1st person narration, everything I need to care about the story, including the relationship, depends on Nathan's voice ... and , I don't know ... I feel like Nathan is taking the fact of Isaac's profession, with such a stride, slightly lack of emotion.
I like Isaac, though, he's not wallowing his situation, or being defensive, or too angsty. He is working himself for something better. Maybe if I get his voice as well, instead of just Nathan, I can get connected to the story better.
Hmmm, technically, I can't find something wrong, however, emotionally, I'm not feeling the story as much.
I do appreciate the idea of having Isaac, the student, working as rent-boy. It gives the twist of the teacher/student trope. But, considering that this is a 1st person narration, everything I need to care about the story, including the relationship, depends on Nathan's voice ... and , I don't know ... I feel like Nathan is taking the fact of Isaac's profession, with such a stride, slightly lack of emotion.
I like Isaac, though, he's not wallowing his situation, or being defensive, or too angsty. He is working himself for something better. Maybe if I get his voice as well, instead of just Nathan, I can get connected to the story better.
Want to read
May 27, 2016Kindle freebie 1/19/16
December 20, 2014
In this era of endless series and sequels, it's refreshing to find a whole swag of standalones.
It means the author has to come up with fresh characters, plot and setting each time. Not easy. But very rewarding when it is done well.
While on the surface this is a series because at least one of the heroes is Jewish and the observance of religion at some point touches on the story, the only other connecting link is that the world they live in is loosely interlinked. So if characters from other books make a cameo appearance, it's more wondering how they got together as a couple or what their story is. Hence the books can be read in any order. In fact, the last in the series actually began first.
They are not cut and paste jobs either. Each story is unique and the characters are quite different.
There are no MM stereotypes or cliches.
Sure older professor and student has been done before, and if that is all you see in a story then you might not agree with me, but I love the detail the author has painted around that central premise.
These feel like real people, not story book characters. I liked the way the author took her time to establish their personalities, because this is what makes each rendition of this religious holiday theme different.
Nathan, a professor of ecology, is painfully aware that his youth is slipping away and fears that he is destined to spend the rest of his life alone. At first, the constant attention of a young good looking student is flattering, but Nathan is a stickler for the rules so he ensures lines are not crossed. Isaac is smart. He keeps pushing at this barrier, feeling correctly that they can meet each other on equal terms one day.
But they're not equals in other ways. Isaac is a student having difficulty paying for his education. Nathan is comfortably off.
Isaac was thrown out by his family when he came out. While Nathan comes from a supportive family. He even noted that Isaac, being Jewish and attractive was exactly the sort of boy his mother woud approve of.
Then something happens that neither can prevent, and the attraction that had been simmering explodes to the surface. Once there and acknowledged, they need to work through the ramifications as it pertains to their lives.
As the author states in the acknowledgements, the religious context comes from Passover, and the fact that it celebrates the freedom from bondage.
Religion per se isn't so much present as an observance of religion. This mirrors Nathan's observance of the rules pertaining to relationships with students and men much younger than himself. It also allows us a glimpse into the lives of others. And isn't that one of the reasons we read?
Dev is gradually re-editing these books as they come of out of contract and reissuing them. Chronoligically, it was the second book she ever wrote and like most authors, her skills have developed since then, allowing her to see flaws and places where it could be improved. I have only read the latest version and it is more than fine.
It means the author has to come up with fresh characters, plot and setting each time. Not easy. But very rewarding when it is done well.
While on the surface this is a series because at least one of the heroes is Jewish and the observance of religion at some point touches on the story, the only other connecting link is that the world they live in is loosely interlinked. So if characters from other books make a cameo appearance, it's more wondering how they got together as a couple or what their story is. Hence the books can be read in any order. In fact, the last in the series actually began first.
They are not cut and paste jobs either. Each story is unique and the characters are quite different.
There are no MM stereotypes or cliches.
Sure older professor and student has been done before, and if that is all you see in a story then you might not agree with me, but I love the detail the author has painted around that central premise.
These feel like real people, not story book characters. I liked the way the author took her time to establish their personalities, because this is what makes each rendition of this religious holiday theme different.
Nathan, a professor of ecology, is painfully aware that his youth is slipping away and fears that he is destined to spend the rest of his life alone. At first, the constant attention of a young good looking student is flattering, but Nathan is a stickler for the rules so he ensures lines are not crossed. Isaac is smart. He keeps pushing at this barrier, feeling correctly that they can meet each other on equal terms one day.
But they're not equals in other ways. Isaac is a student having difficulty paying for his education. Nathan is comfortably off.
Isaac was thrown out by his family when he came out. While Nathan comes from a supportive family. He even noted that Isaac, being Jewish and attractive was exactly the sort of boy his mother woud approve of.
Then something happens that neither can prevent, and the attraction that had been simmering explodes to the surface. Once there and acknowledged, they need to work through the ramifications as it pertains to their lives.
As the author states in the acknowledgements, the religious context comes from Passover, and the fact that it celebrates the freedom from bondage.
Religion per se isn't so much present as an observance of religion. This mirrors Nathan's observance of the rules pertaining to relationships with students and men much younger than himself. It also allows us a glimpse into the lives of others. And isn't that one of the reasons we read?
Dev is gradually re-editing these books as they come of out of contract and reissuing them. Chronoligically, it was the second book she ever wrote and like most authors, her skills have developed since then, allowing her to see flaws and places where it could be improved. I have only read the latest version and it is more than fine.
September 12, 2012
I'm a sucker for rent boy stories, what can I say? :)
This one is a bit different since Nate is Isaac's teacher at the University.
They find each other attractive but know that at least as long as they are student/teacher nothing can come of it.
Well.....they meet again at Isaac's place of work and Nathan's moral hesitation flies out the window.
The story was written well but I was missing something. I don't think I ever really cared about either of the two MC's very much and I really wanted too.
I didn't like Nathan, at at least two different times in this book I really wanted to give him a piece of my mind.
He is at least 15 years Isaac's senior yet acts very immature and hypocritical at times.
It was also amazing that in Chicago Isaac can't seem to go anywhere without running into clients! I liked Isaac but since the story is told from Nate's POV I didn't really get to know him as well as I would have liked to. I'm sure I would have liked it better from his vantage point. Nate's mother was great, I liked her!
I'm not sure why, but George Michael's 'Teacher' kept running through my head while reading this book and I guess that played a role, because for me at least the song conveyed more than this story did.
I will read more from Ms Bentham, because she writes well and I liked her Moving In Rhythm book.
This one is a bit different since Nate is Isaac's teacher at the University.
They find each other attractive but know that at least as long as they are student/teacher nothing can come of it.
Well.....they meet again at Isaac's place of work and Nathan's moral hesitation flies out the window.
The story was written well but I was missing something. I don't think I ever really cared about either of the two MC's very much and I really wanted too.
I didn't like Nathan, at at least two different times in this book I really wanted to give him a piece of my mind.
He is at least 15 years Isaac's senior yet acts very immature and hypocritical at times.
It was also amazing that in Chicago Isaac can't seem to go anywhere without running into clients! I liked Isaac but since the story is told from Nate's POV I didn't really get to know him as well as I would have liked to. I'm sure I would have liked it better from his vantage point. Nate's mother was great, I liked her!
I'm not sure why, but George Michael's 'Teacher' kept running through my head while reading this book and I guess that played a role, because for me at least the song conveyed more than this story did.
I will read more from Ms Bentham, because she writes well and I liked her Moving In Rhythm book.
May 22, 2017
***** This is a delight, gentle and heartwarming. ***** Two very different men, 42 yr. old Professor Nathan, and 25 yr. old student Isaac, both gay and Jewish, meet at school.
They are drawn to each other but Nathan won't breach the school rules and date a student. Isaac is working hard to graduate. This unlikely pair is so cute, sexy, and adorable, as the tension builds, and after graduation they act on their desires.
Each has had hardships, and through conversations they get to know each other. Isaac worked at a gay strip club. Nathan's family is open and accepting. Isaac doesn't have contact with his family, because they threw him out after finding he was gay. Remarkable tenderness, loving, understandings, and self evaluations. The world dishes out obstacles.
After the note about the author, there is a segment you don't want to miss. It is like an epilogue, but not. But it's important ! :)
Highly recommended !! ENJOY !!!
===============================
They are drawn to each other but Nathan won't breach the school rules and date a student. Isaac is working hard to graduate. This unlikely pair is so cute, sexy, and adorable, as the tension builds, and after graduation they act on their desires.
Each has had hardships, and through conversations they get to know each other. Isaac worked at a gay strip club. Nathan's family is open and accepting. Isaac doesn't have contact with his family, because they threw him out after finding he was gay. Remarkable tenderness, loving, understandings, and self evaluations. The world dishes out obstacles.
After the note about the author, there is a segment you don't want to miss. It is like an epilogue, but not. But it's important ! :)
Highly recommended !! ENJOY !!!
===============================
May 27, 2015
Well that was a pleasant surprise! This book was not even on my radar until today. I needed a book with a scientist or inventor for BINGO and couldn't find anything that interested me. I ended up picking this one because it was the shortest one on the list that still met the 100 page min requirement. Funny thing is, I really liked the book! It was very well written and hit a lot of my hot buttons: teacher-student, age difference, rent boy. There was a bit of drama, but it was resolved quickly. Overall, a very good read! I will definitely check out more from this author :)
April 5, 2012
The umpteenth version of professor falls in love with his student.
This time with a rent boy twist but nothing new to really grab me...
This time with a rent boy twist but nothing new to really grab me...
January 15, 2013
“The first rule of ecology is that small shifts beget big change. Everything is connected.” So teaches Nathan Kohn.
And so unfolds the story of a college teacher of aquatic/environmental studies and his student. What is special here is how the author weaves in Nathan’s work and his Jewish background giving his character depth and color. The fact that Isaac, his undergrad student, comes from the same background completes the strong thread that runs through this story. Also welcome is that these two were able to (mostly) respect the teacher/student relationship in their deepening attraction to each other. They have bigger issues to tackle. Nathan must find a way to live with Isaac’s past, taking a big step towards building something together.
I greatly enjoyed this quiet, gentle story though it took a little getting used to the delivery. While Nathan’s first-person point of view is a bit risky -- it is simple and straightforward and he can come across as a bit cold or analytical -- in the end it worked for me. He is, after all, a scientist and a quantitative thinker and it was really in keeping with the character of the story. There were a couple of abrupt transitions between scene changes but nothing too serious. There really isn’t a lot of angst here and what there is seems invented. When Nathan forces Isaac to go dancing at a bar where they encounter some of Isaac’s past sex clients, Nathan ends up picking a fight with Isaac that makes him come off as a putz. Of course he sees the error of his ways, Isaac is a sweet boy after all who had to make hard decisions. Little steps, though. And big changes. It’s all connected, it’s all good.
And so unfolds the story of a college teacher of aquatic/environmental studies and his student. What is special here is how the author weaves in Nathan’s work and his Jewish background giving his character depth and color. The fact that Isaac, his undergrad student, comes from the same background completes the strong thread that runs through this story. Also welcome is that these two were able to (mostly) respect the teacher/student relationship in their deepening attraction to each other. They have bigger issues to tackle. Nathan must find a way to live with Isaac’s past, taking a big step towards building something together.
I greatly enjoyed this quiet, gentle story though it took a little getting used to the delivery. While Nathan’s first-person point of view is a bit risky -- it is simple and straightforward and he can come across as a bit cold or analytical -- in the end it worked for me. He is, after all, a scientist and a quantitative thinker and it was really in keeping with the character of the story. There were a couple of abrupt transitions between scene changes but nothing too serious. There really isn’t a lot of angst here and what there is seems invented. When Nathan forces Isaac to go dancing at a bar where they encounter some of Isaac’s past sex clients, Nathan ends up picking a fight with Isaac that makes him come off as a putz. Of course he sees the error of his ways, Isaac is a sweet boy after all who had to make hard decisions. Little steps, though. And big changes. It’s all connected, it’s all good.
March 7, 2013
If I hadn't lived a student-professor-waiting-for-the-student-to-graduate situation, I probably would have enjoyed this book more. Or maybe not. There's so much that could have been done with that situation, showing the growing intellectual connection over months of office-hours discussions, leading to meandering conversations, developing friendship and emotional intimacy. Then the sexual tension waiting for graduation makes sense.
This story didn't seem to me to show why Isaac and Nathan were so drawn to each other. Physical attraction, sure. But what drew them together so intensely that it was worth waiting for after graduation? Why not just find someone else more convenient and equally attractive?
It seemed far too much like insta-love for no apparent reason to me, so it probably wouldn't have wowed me anyway. And the fact that they actually did have a sexual moment together before graduation? Ick. Ew, ew, EWWWW! No. Uh uh. Not cool, no matter how you frame it.
Add in prose that has a disconcerting tendency to suddenly turn purple at the end of every sex scene, and a few other seemingly random moments, and this made for some uncomfortable reading. And yet, I cared about the characters and enjoyed it anyway.
This story didn't seem to me to show why Isaac and Nathan were so drawn to each other. Physical attraction, sure. But what drew them together so intensely that it was worth waiting for after graduation? Why not just find someone else more convenient and equally attractive?
It seemed far too much like insta-love for no apparent reason to me, so it probably wouldn't have wowed me anyway. And the fact that they actually did have a sexual moment together before graduation? Ick. Ew, ew, EWWWW! No. Uh uh. Not cool, no matter how you frame it.
Add in prose that has a disconcerting tendency to suddenly turn purple at the end of every sex scene, and a few other seemingly random moments, and this made for some uncomfortable reading. And yet, I cared about the characters and enjoyed it anyway.
December 7, 2017
I feel a bit ambivalent about this story. While I like Isaac, and 'seeing' him as a strong person, and young. I didn't feel connection with Nathan. Me and Nathan has no chemistry :)
For a man his age (42), he acted like a teenager. Doubted everything about Isaac.
Well okay, Isaac's 'profession' aside from being a student annoyed him, but not as much. Then why it's bothering him so much after they're in a relationship?
I didn't understand him. He's like two different people.
Isaac is more mature than Nathan at his young age (25). Nathan is definitely need to 'learn from Isaac', big time.
I think the title is make sense after all.
It was an okay read for me, I think. Not that I'm super excited after finished the book, but Isaac is kinda cute and sweet, and I liked him :)
PS.I liked Kenny and George, but still a long way to go. Sigh.
For a man his age (42), he acted like a teenager. Doubted everything about Isaac.
Well okay, Isaac's 'profession' aside from being a student annoyed him, but not as much. Then why it's bothering him so much after they're in a relationship?
I didn't understand him. He's like two different people.
Isaac is more mature than Nathan at his young age (25). Nathan is definitely need to 'learn from Isaac', big time.
I think the title is make sense after all.
It was an okay read for me, I think. Not that I'm super excited after finished the book, but Isaac is kinda cute and sweet, and I liked him :)
PS.I liked Kenny and George, but still a long way to go. Sigh.
April 5, 2012
4.5*. *sigh* I just finished reading and have to say, what a wonderful book! I liked Nathan and Isaac with all their insecurities. I especially liked the insta-atttraction and then the careful building of the relationship. The writing was wonderful and I'm glad that I have already bought the other book by this author:) I hope, she is busy writing more!
April 4, 2012
Beautifully written, with a rich cast of supporting characters. The first-person narrative works really well here, and Nate's "voice" is so appealing. I saw very clearly why he fell in love with Isaac. Bonus points for sex scenes that are genuinely sensual, full of wonder and discovery. I'm a sucker for age-difference stories, and this is a great one.
November 25, 2019
I love this author’s work and have read many of her books. This is a mm contemporary story set in the USA. Age gap and sex worker. Loved it and wish it was longer. Nathan and Isaac are amazing together.
September 26, 2020
Nathan Kohn, 42, a gay Jewish environmental sciences professor at a small Catholic college in Chicago. While Nathan enjoys being a professor his personal life is a dull routine and lonely one. This all changes when his new student walks into his class.
Isaac Wolf, 25, is a bright student who is paying his way through college. After being disowned by his parents when he came out, he is left with massive student loans. Not wanting to start his adult life with a huge debt, he is force to dance in a gay club and working the back room for extra cash. While Isaac has made his peace doing his job, he isn't open about it either.
But coming in for his next client, Isaac is stunned when that client is no one other that his crush, the sexy science professor.
Learning from Isaac is well written and well paced. I loved how it deals with the different Jewish holidays but it is Nathan's mom who takes the cake. Amazing character!
I was saddened about Isaac's story and even more that he felt that he had to work as a sex worker, even though it was understandable as he wanted to quickly be debt-free.
Overall, a nice story
While part of the Tarnished Souls Series, each can be read as a stand-alone:
May 10, 2015
Ordinarily, I love student/professor stories, add in that the student is a hooker, and this should be golden! Unfortunately, I was kind of bored through a lot of this, and just when I was really getting into it, Nathan did something that pissed me off. I also don't get rimming but not blowing without a condom.
Also, third book this week I've read with a character named Nathan or some variation of it. New trend in book names?
Also, third book this week I've read with a character named Nathan or some variation of it. New trend in book names?
January 21, 2016
A beautiful May-December love story between a college professor and his former student. A perfect story for anyone who enjoys more romance than sex in an MM story.
April 15, 2012
Joint review with Lou originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/05/02/...
Lou: MinnChica and I didn’t have enough good things to say about Moving in Rhythm. So it’s with sadness that I’m writing this negative review about Learning from Isaac. I first want to say that this author is a very talented writer and has a great author voice, but the plot of Isaac and the character, Nathan, left me with a distasteful feeling which I’ll get to later on in the review. Firstly, there is not much pace in this book. It’s very slow and nothing seems to happen, and it was also weak in character development. Nathan is a 40 year something college professor who keeps fantasising about his student, Isaac, who is in his mid 20’s. Isaac returns Nathan’s attraction, but nothing can happen because they are student and teacher. This is where things turned sour for me because of what happens in the club, when Nathan sees that Isaac is a prostitute. Knowing he’s his professor, Nathan still lets his friend pay for a backroom blowjob with Isaac. And from there, the story went downhill fast for me.
MinnChica: I absolutely adored Moving in Rhythm, everything about it was wonderfully done, so when we got the chance to review Bentham’s newest release, I jumped on the chance to joint review it with Lou. I have to admit I was a little leary based off the blurb. There have been very few books in which theme works for me: professor/student. Maybe it’s just because I had older professors, but there is something about the age gap and the their roles that can occasionally set me off. While I wanted to love this book, it just didn’t work out that way for me. I had a hard time connecting with both Nathan and Isaac, and I had an especially hard time once Isaac’s secret for paying for school was revealed.
Lou: Yes, that’s what my major issue was with the book. How Nathan interacted with Isaac just seemed to be too creepy for my taste. In that club scene, knowing that Isaac was terrified, knowing that he had been beaten black and blue not long ago, knowing that he was selling himself which must have caused Isaac agony, Nathan went and had his encounter with Isaac, and afterwards claimed to his creepy friend, Kenny, that it was the most astonishing encounter of his life. It just left me feeling horrible for Isaac’s behalf, and I didn’t understand what Isaac saw in Nathan.
MinnChica: I agree, that scene was not an easy one to read. For me, adding the fact that Nathan was sooooo adamant about them not having any kind of relationship until Isaac graduated, it seemed sleazy to me. I wanted to be able to cheer these two on, to see them overcome and have a decent relationship, but pretty much from the club scene and forward, I had a really hard time believing in them. Like Lou said, I didn’t know what Isaac saw in Nathan, and I didn’t see how Nathan had or ever would come to grips with Isaac’s past. Especially since it seemed as if they never really dealt with it.
Lou: I kind of felt that Isaac was more mature that Nathan. Isaac kept telling Nathan, are you going to be able to deal with what I did if we’re together. Nathan said yes, it’s your past, you can move on. Then what does Nathan go and do? He goes and throws a tantrum towards Isaac, and is incredibly cruel when people recognise Isaac from the club and makes inappropriate comments. I was like, dude, what’s the matter with you. But Nathan wasn’t the only aspect of the book I didn’t get. Some of the descriptions left me gagging because they were really unsexy. The spit dripping down to the knuckles, lips stained greasy from steak, sour morning breath — and the cucumber scene where Isaac jokes if it breaks in half, Nathan can shit it out…I really really wanted to stop reading there and then.
MinnChica: Yeah, the sexy scenes in this book didn’t really work for me, and thankfully, haven’t stuck with me either. I almost forgot about the cucumber scene until you brought it up (Thanks for nothing…). I think the only thing I did like about this book was Nathan’s mother. She was spunky and loved her son regardless of his faults. She also accepted Isaac with open arms, even after he admitted bits and pieces of his past. She pushed for them to move and start over fresh in someplace where they could both have a clean slate and nothing in their pasts following them. Other than that, this book really just didn’t work very well for me.
Lou: Yeah, Nathan’s mom was pretty cool. I liked how she pushed her son, because it was obvious to see Nathan wasn’t very pro-active. I just didn’t buy their HEA. Nathan apologies to Isaac, and it’s all happy ever after. I didn’t see Isaac coming to terms with what he did because it was obvious in the book that it affected him. I also think the age gap in this novel didn’t work for me. Nathan came off as way too slimy for my liking, and I do think Isaac was taken advantage of in that club scene. Nathan is a college professor, and I find it incredibly hard to believe that he would act like he did without any thought or care about the moral repercussions afterwards. All he thought about was ‘sexy’ Isaac. For me, this novel didn’t work, though I’ll definitely read more novels from this author in future. I give Learning from Isaac a D-
MinnChica: All in all while I wanted to like this book, it really fell short for me. I didn’t like the way that Nathan treated Isaac throughout the course of their friendship and relationship. I felt as if Isaac didn’t stand up for himself enough against Nathan, and that the two just didn’t seem to have a really loving and solid relationship. However, I will definitely be willing to try more books by Bentham in the future, given how incredible Moving in Rhythm was.
I give Learning from Isaac a D+
Lou: MinnChica and I didn’t have enough good things to say about Moving in Rhythm. So it’s with sadness that I’m writing this negative review about Learning from Isaac. I first want to say that this author is a very talented writer and has a great author voice, but the plot of Isaac and the character, Nathan, left me with a distasteful feeling which I’ll get to later on in the review. Firstly, there is not much pace in this book. It’s very slow and nothing seems to happen, and it was also weak in character development. Nathan is a 40 year something college professor who keeps fantasising about his student, Isaac, who is in his mid 20’s. Isaac returns Nathan’s attraction, but nothing can happen because they are student and teacher. This is where things turned sour for me because of what happens in the club, when Nathan sees that Isaac is a prostitute. Knowing he’s his professor, Nathan still lets his friend pay for a backroom blowjob with Isaac. And from there, the story went downhill fast for me.
MinnChica: I absolutely adored Moving in Rhythm, everything about it was wonderfully done, so when we got the chance to review Bentham’s newest release, I jumped on the chance to joint review it with Lou. I have to admit I was a little leary based off the blurb. There have been very few books in which theme works for me: professor/student. Maybe it’s just because I had older professors, but there is something about the age gap and the their roles that can occasionally set me off. While I wanted to love this book, it just didn’t work out that way for me. I had a hard time connecting with both Nathan and Isaac, and I had an especially hard time once Isaac’s secret for paying for school was revealed.
Lou: Yes, that’s what my major issue was with the book. How Nathan interacted with Isaac just seemed to be too creepy for my taste. In that club scene, knowing that Isaac was terrified, knowing that he had been beaten black and blue not long ago, knowing that he was selling himself which must have caused Isaac agony, Nathan went and had his encounter with Isaac, and afterwards claimed to his creepy friend, Kenny, that it was the most astonishing encounter of his life. It just left me feeling horrible for Isaac’s behalf, and I didn’t understand what Isaac saw in Nathan.
MinnChica: I agree, that scene was not an easy one to read. For me, adding the fact that Nathan was sooooo adamant about them not having any kind of relationship until Isaac graduated, it seemed sleazy to me. I wanted to be able to cheer these two on, to see them overcome and have a decent relationship, but pretty much from the club scene and forward, I had a really hard time believing in them. Like Lou said, I didn’t know what Isaac saw in Nathan, and I didn’t see how Nathan had or ever would come to grips with Isaac’s past. Especially since it seemed as if they never really dealt with it.
Lou: I kind of felt that Isaac was more mature that Nathan. Isaac kept telling Nathan, are you going to be able to deal with what I did if we’re together. Nathan said yes, it’s your past, you can move on. Then what does Nathan go and do? He goes and throws a tantrum towards Isaac, and is incredibly cruel when people recognise Isaac from the club and makes inappropriate comments. I was like, dude, what’s the matter with you. But Nathan wasn’t the only aspect of the book I didn’t get. Some of the descriptions left me gagging because they were really unsexy. The spit dripping down to the knuckles, lips stained greasy from steak, sour morning breath — and the cucumber scene where Isaac jokes if it breaks in half, Nathan can shit it out…I really really wanted to stop reading there and then.
MinnChica: Yeah, the sexy scenes in this book didn’t really work for me, and thankfully, haven’t stuck with me either. I almost forgot about the cucumber scene until you brought it up (Thanks for nothing…). I think the only thing I did like about this book was Nathan’s mother. She was spunky and loved her son regardless of his faults. She also accepted Isaac with open arms, even after he admitted bits and pieces of his past. She pushed for them to move and start over fresh in someplace where they could both have a clean slate and nothing in their pasts following them. Other than that, this book really just didn’t work very well for me.
Lou: Yeah, Nathan’s mom was pretty cool. I liked how she pushed her son, because it was obvious to see Nathan wasn’t very pro-active. I just didn’t buy their HEA. Nathan apologies to Isaac, and it’s all happy ever after. I didn’t see Isaac coming to terms with what he did because it was obvious in the book that it affected him. I also think the age gap in this novel didn’t work for me. Nathan came off as way too slimy for my liking, and I do think Isaac was taken advantage of in that club scene. Nathan is a college professor, and I find it incredibly hard to believe that he would act like he did without any thought or care about the moral repercussions afterwards. All he thought about was ‘sexy’ Isaac. For me, this novel didn’t work, though I’ll definitely read more novels from this author in future. I give Learning from Isaac a D-
MinnChica: All in all while I wanted to like this book, it really fell short for me. I didn’t like the way that Nathan treated Isaac throughout the course of their friendship and relationship. I felt as if Isaac didn’t stand up for himself enough against Nathan, and that the two just didn’t seem to have a really loving and solid relationship. However, I will definitely be willing to try more books by Bentham in the future, given how incredible Moving in Rhythm was.
I give Learning from Isaac a D+
December 3, 2017
To be honest, it was pretty meh. The conflict was too low (and given the circumstances, there was room for a nice little drama) and misplaced, and it got solved far too quickly.
The relationship was not very believable- not to say the characters were incompatible: what with the way Nathan acted immature and Isaac appeared way older than he was, I think they met halfway alright. But still, it was quite weakly presented for me to take it serious.
It could have been a great story, it just... wasn't.
The relationship was not very believable- not to say the characters were incompatible: what with the way Nathan acted immature and Isaac appeared way older than he was, I think they met halfway alright. But still, it was quite weakly presented for me to take it serious.
It could have been a great story, it just... wasn't.
May 2, 2012
Nathan Kohn is a college professor. Isaac Wolf is one of his students and 17 years his junior. It is of course, forbidden for Nathan to have a relationship with a student but it is clear that there is mutual interest and attraction. Isaac is due to graduate in a few months so they plan to wait to do anything about it. After Isaac came out to his family, he was disowned and he is now weighed down by student loans and tuition fees. In order to try to get out from under this mountain of debt, he works at a gay club in the back room. He and Nathan have an encounter there when a friend of Nathan's takes him out to "buy him a boy". In the Chicago area it seems that Isaac is easily recognised and even when he quits being a rent boy, he is constantly recognised and propositioned. The main conflict between the two men is Isaac's sex worker past. Nathan doesn't have a moral conflict with it, but he dislikes being confronted with it all the time. He starts to feel that Isaac has been with almost every gay man in the Chicago area. I liked how this was eventually resolved - with Nathan taking responsibility for his own jealousy and their practical solution made sense. I also liked how not a lot was made of the age difference between the two. At one point Isaac says that it's Nathan's hang up, not his and I think Nathan realised that he would only push Isaac away if he kept on worrying at the issue.
While I was reading the story, I was engaged and enjoyed the characters and the writing but after finishing I realised there were a couple of things missing for me. Early on in the book Isaac comes to class bruised and battered. It isn't made clear but I inferred he'd been beaten by a client. Nothing was made of this in the book at all and I would have liked that explored. The other main thing which I felt was lacking was that I didn't see on the page the reasons that Nathan and Isaac felt so deeply for each other. Part of this might be because it was told from Nathan's first person POV I guess and maybe because it's not a super long story at 99 pages. I saw the attraction and mutual lust but not how that changed into a desire for an long term exclusive relationship. It just kind of happened without me seeing how it had. It's why I've dithered on the grade a bit. It was a B+ when I was reading, but a B when I thought about it later.
There has been discussion around the place recently about the portrayal of female characters in m/m romance and how they are often cardboard, eeeevil and/or absent altogether. This is one book where that is definitely not the case. Nathan's flower child mother is a positive force in his life and students Jane and Sue are also positively portrayed. The "villains" in this book are all men.
I liked this one better than Moving in Rhythm and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
While I was reading the story, I was engaged and enjoyed the characters and the writing but after finishing I realised there were a couple of things missing for me. Early on in the book Isaac comes to class bruised and battered. It isn't made clear but I inferred he'd been beaten by a client. Nothing was made of this in the book at all and I would have liked that explored. The other main thing which I felt was lacking was that I didn't see on the page the reasons that Nathan and Isaac felt so deeply for each other. Part of this might be because it was told from Nathan's first person POV I guess and maybe because it's not a super long story at 99 pages. I saw the attraction and mutual lust but not how that changed into a desire for an long term exclusive relationship. It just kind of happened without me seeing how it had. It's why I've dithered on the grade a bit. It was a B+ when I was reading, but a B when I thought about it later.
There has been discussion around the place recently about the portrayal of female characters in m/m romance and how they are often cardboard, eeeevil and/or absent altogether. This is one book where that is definitely not the case. Nathan's flower child mother is a positive force in his life and students Jane and Sue are also positively portrayed. The "villains" in this book are all men.
I liked this one better than Moving in Rhythm and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
April 4, 2021
How is it possible that I've missed reading this author? Ah well, I'm reading her now and enjoying the writing style very much. In fact, it reminds me of a dear friend and author, who also writes wonderfully, about really nice guys. To be honest, I was also intrigued by the fact that this series, 'Tarnished Souls', revolves around the Jewish holy days. My mother converted to Judaism at the age of seventy-two, so I adore connecting with her in another way.
Dr. Nathan Kohn has been a teacher at a small, catholic college for fifteen years. His class, a yearlong survey of ecological sampling techniques, is a requirement for students in the natural resources program. It's a hard class, no doubt about it, but over the years he's had a number of students tell him it was his course which changed their lives. Nathan would like to think his class is partly responsible for the high number of graduate programs his students get into, although his department chair has spent the past five years trying to turn his class into an elective.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Dr. Nathan Kohn has been a teacher at a small, catholic college for fifteen years. His class, a yearlong survey of ecological sampling techniques, is a requirement for students in the natural resources program. It's a hard class, no doubt about it, but over the years he's had a number of students tell him it was his course which changed their lives. Nathan would like to think his class is partly responsible for the high number of graduate programs his students get into, although his department chair has spent the past five years trying to turn his class into an elective.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
April 4, 2012
This is the second book I've read by this author and once again, I really enjoyed the journey. In this story we have a professor and a student, but their relationship does not follow any sort of traditional route. Nathan has a wonderful mother, a good job at the college and a non-existent love life. Then Isaac Wolf walks into his classroom. I felt for Isaac trying to make his way in the world after being disowned by his parents when he comes out. While his choices wouldn't have been everyone's, he did what he thought was best under the circumstances.
I liked the way that Nathan and Isaac were careful with each other while Isaac was a student. And I LOVED Kenny. He was a hoot! Everyone needs that fun, funny, accepting friend that they share a long history with. Kenny is that for Nathan. I also really liked Nathan's mom. She is the kind of mom everyone should have.
I look forward to more stories from this author.
I liked the way that Nathan and Isaac were careful with each other while Isaac was a student. And I LOVED Kenny. He was a hoot! Everyone needs that fun, funny, accepting friend that they share a long history with. Kenny is that for Nathan. I also really liked Nathan's mom. She is the kind of mom everyone should have.
I look forward to more stories from this author.
January 26, 2016
This one took me by surprise.
For some reason I'd convinced myself I wasn't going to like it, I hold my hands up, I was wrong.
The first person narrative isn't one I normally enjoy but I found it worked in this instance.
I liked Nate and his quiet ways and I both liked and felt for Isaac.
It's not a fluffy read, it can be quite tricky in places and I could relate to Nate' anger and jealousy, but also to Isaac's frustration in trying to leave his past behind.
I like Kenny. We all need a friend who's honest enough to tell us when we have our head up our own arse.
For some reason I'd convinced myself I wasn't going to like it, I hold my hands up, I was wrong.
The first person narrative isn't one I normally enjoy but I found it worked in this instance.
I liked Nate and his quiet ways and I both liked and felt for Isaac.
It's not a fluffy read, it can be quite tricky in places and I could relate to Nate' anger and jealousy, but also to Isaac's frustration in trying to leave his past behind.
I like Kenny. We all need a friend who's honest enough to tell us when we have our head up our own arse.
October 10, 2012
3.5 stars for me on this one. It was well written and very sweet. I am also a sucker for rent boys which was what drew me in to this story in the first place. There is a big age gap between the characters, but that didn't bother me much. There were a few things that didn't quite jive along the way or seemed really unrealistic, but, overall, this was a nice, enjoyable read for me.
April 7, 2012
3.5 stars. Good m/m romance about a college professor who's mutually attracted to one of his students (a senior), but they agree not to act on that attraction until after graduation. And then the professor runs into the student in a most unexpected place...
May 10, 2012
When this book started out I thought to myself 'yes, I'm really going to like this'. The writing was intelligently styled but, unfortunately, the characters were not fully developed/3 dimensional which let the book down for me. In my opinion, Dev Bentham has a nice turn of phrase, but it could have been helped by her 'feeling' the characters she laid out here in this book, thus helping their passion and the world they live in seem more realistic.
Nathan Kohn is a professor at a Catholic University. He is still feeling the impact of his last relationship breakdown but otherwise likes his job, has a good mother and a some decent friends. He sees Isaac one day in class and is smitten. Isaac is attractive, smart and Jewish, all positives in the older Nathan's mind, except he's a student. Isaac comes on to Nathan at a field trip but Nathan lets him know he will not break with faculty law(s) that strictly prohibit staff and student relationships.
Isaac is paying his student loans and fees off by prostituting himself out and dancing at a local gay bar/club. He has a passion for his study and his professor. His family have stopped being a part of his life after he came out. One night Professor Kohn ends up as a client, after his BFF Kenny paid for a blowjob. Both Isaac and Nathan are shocked to see each other in this way but Nathan gets what he paid for.
After the bj Nathan decides they must continue in a professional teacher/student capacity and Isaac agrees, with the proviso that all bets are off post graduation. He wants his older professor in his life and vice versa.
There are some nice secondary characters in the mix, including but not limited to, Nathan Kohn's mum, his BFF, Kenny, and Kenny's partner George and two other graduates Jane and Sue.
My problems with this book - it was flat. It was from Nathan Kohn's POV and he did not come across as a particularly passionate or animated man, so that impacted the others' around by POV association. To be fair he's 42, not getting much action, teaching students over and over plus dealing with campus politics, which can all get rather boring. Also, it seems every second man was gay and had been with or seen Isaac at the club. I understand that there would be a likelihood of some people knowing, but the ratio was too high here in this short read, and stretched credibility. Also Nathan knew what Isaac was, had sampled the wares, but got bitchy about it. On one occasion he got over his jealousy way too quickly and Isaac forgave him equally as quickly, that didn't help. The sex scenes were too clean and clinical for me (I like my sex scenes more down and dirty). That disappointed me as the premise really did lend itself to steamy.
The positives were that the writing was concise and attractive. I could not spot an error anywhere which was nice for the flow of the book. Never once did it read like fanfic, it was a professionally written book. There is much promise in Dev Bentham's writing, but perhaps it will remain too nice for my tastes, that's a personal thing. If you like more of a romantic than erotic read, something nicely put together, with more staid characters for a quick weekend or late night read then there is something here for you. I would read another of Ms Bentham's books just to see what transpires as the writing style in Learning from Isaac was of a high quality.
Nathan Kohn is a professor at a Catholic University. He is still feeling the impact of his last relationship breakdown but otherwise likes his job, has a good mother and a some decent friends. He sees Isaac one day in class and is smitten. Isaac is attractive, smart and Jewish, all positives in the older Nathan's mind, except he's a student. Isaac comes on to Nathan at a field trip but Nathan lets him know he will not break with faculty law(s) that strictly prohibit staff and student relationships.
Isaac is paying his student loans and fees off by prostituting himself out and dancing at a local gay bar/club. He has a passion for his study and his professor. His family have stopped being a part of his life after he came out. One night Professor Kohn ends up as a client, after his BFF Kenny paid for a blowjob. Both Isaac and Nathan are shocked to see each other in this way but Nathan gets what he paid for.
After the bj Nathan decides they must continue in a professional teacher/student capacity and Isaac agrees, with the proviso that all bets are off post graduation. He wants his older professor in his life and vice versa.
There are some nice secondary characters in the mix, including but not limited to, Nathan Kohn's mum, his BFF, Kenny, and Kenny's partner George and two other graduates Jane and Sue.
My problems with this book - it was flat. It was from Nathan Kohn's POV and he did not come across as a particularly passionate or animated man, so that impacted the others' around by POV association. To be fair he's 42, not getting much action, teaching students over and over plus dealing with campus politics, which can all get rather boring. Also, it seems every second man was gay and had been with or seen Isaac at the club. I understand that there would be a likelihood of some people knowing, but the ratio was too high here in this short read, and stretched credibility. Also Nathan knew what Isaac was, had sampled the wares, but got bitchy about it. On one occasion he got over his jealousy way too quickly and Isaac forgave him equally as quickly, that didn't help. The sex scenes were too clean and clinical for me (I like my sex scenes more down and dirty). That disappointed me as the premise really did lend itself to steamy.
The positives were that the writing was concise and attractive. I could not spot an error anywhere which was nice for the flow of the book. Never once did it read like fanfic, it was a professionally written book. There is much promise in Dev Bentham's writing, but perhaps it will remain too nice for my tastes, that's a personal thing. If you like more of a romantic than erotic read, something nicely put together, with more staid characters for a quick weekend or late night read then there is something here for you. I would read another of Ms Bentham's books just to see what transpires as the writing style in Learning from Isaac was of a high quality.
June 4, 2012
3.75
Nathan is a professor of aquatic science, he’s Jewish and gay and so single. Not exactly, the life he wanted but it’s the life he has. The only thing that makes his day a little brighter is one of his students, Isaac. Nathan knows there is no getting dirty with the students but there is no law against looking, and fantasizing. When a class project has him spending some alone time with Isaac on a boat he finds out his attraction isn’t one sided but he’s gotta obey the rules. No loving with his students.
Well rules are meant to be broken, and a run in with Isaac at a club comes as a surprise to Nathan. He never thought his first sexual encounter with Isaac would be at a club, and he never thought he would have to pay for it. Isaac’s late night job keeps the bills paid, and food on his table but will Nathan be able to handle that the man he likes get paid for sex, or is it all just too much trouble. The men come to a decision to keep a relationship from forming until graduation; maybe by then Isaac will have given up his night job?
Things don’t run smoothly for the guys, because Isaac was a pro, men from his backroom dealings keep recognizing him, and it’s putting a strain on the relationship. Isaac fears Nathan won’t be able to handle his life before as a prostitute even though that time is over.
All right, I was really feeling this book, and smiling and loving it. I had no problems with Isaac sleeping with people for money, because sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do. Why the book lost some credit is the fact that men kept recognizing Isaac. I could have dealt with one man in bringing some drama and angst to the story, but after the second, I was deeply annoyed. I’m thinking Isaac was exceptionally good at giving head because he is just one unforgettable dude.
Overall, I really enjoy Dev’s writing; it flows well and knows when to be sweet and all kinds of hot. Just didn’t enjoy the extra drama with Isaac’s old tricks, too many of them for me to really enjoy it. I liked Nathan, but he’s somewhat sporadic his behaviour kept surprising the crap out of me *not always good surprises*. Isaac, I loved! His acceptance of his situation and the fact that his job didn’t make him jaded or an unconfident character was refreshing. He was smart, and accepted his old life and when it was time to move on, he did. Like a boss. I did like the story, just some things really irked, but it was still an enjoyable cute read.
Nathan is a professor of aquatic science, he’s Jewish and gay and so single. Not exactly, the life he wanted but it’s the life he has. The only thing that makes his day a little brighter is one of his students, Isaac. Nathan knows there is no getting dirty with the students but there is no law against looking, and fantasizing. When a class project has him spending some alone time with Isaac on a boat he finds out his attraction isn’t one sided but he’s gotta obey the rules. No loving with his students.
Well rules are meant to be broken, and a run in with Isaac at a club comes as a surprise to Nathan. He never thought his first sexual encounter with Isaac would be at a club, and he never thought he would have to pay for it. Isaac’s late night job keeps the bills paid, and food on his table but will Nathan be able to handle that the man he likes get paid for sex, or is it all just too much trouble. The men come to a decision to keep a relationship from forming until graduation; maybe by then Isaac will have given up his night job?
Things don’t run smoothly for the guys, because Isaac was a pro, men from his backroom dealings keep recognizing him, and it’s putting a strain on the relationship. Isaac fears Nathan won’t be able to handle his life before as a prostitute even though that time is over.
All right, I was really feeling this book, and smiling and loving it. I had no problems with Isaac sleeping with people for money, because sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do. Why the book lost some credit is the fact that men kept recognizing Isaac. I could have dealt with one man in bringing some drama and angst to the story, but after the second, I was deeply annoyed. I’m thinking Isaac was exceptionally good at giving head because he is just one unforgettable dude.
Overall, I really enjoy Dev’s writing; it flows well and knows when to be sweet and all kinds of hot. Just didn’t enjoy the extra drama with Isaac’s old tricks, too many of them for me to really enjoy it. I liked Nathan, but he’s somewhat sporadic his behaviour kept surprising the crap out of me *not always good surprises*. Isaac, I loved! His acceptance of his situation and the fact that his job didn’t make him jaded or an unconfident character was refreshing. He was smart, and accepted his old life and when it was time to move on, he did. Like a boss. I did like the story, just some things really irked, but it was still an enjoyable cute read.
November 30, 2024
I think this book accomplishes what it sets out to do, let's start there. The characters were surprisingly nuanced and the love story was compelling. I was not expecting this book to be as sexual as it was. I picked it out thinking it would be a nice, casual read for Thanksgiving at my in-laws and it was far more graphic in those areas than I anticipated. Not complaining, but I was just taken aback...especially since I would consider this my first book of the genre. Though, I will say, it had more plot and character development than I expected from the genre. Not sure if I will read the others in the series, but overall, glad I read this one.
September 30, 2012
Well it seems that once again I'm not on the same wavelength, as most of the readers )))
I for one, loved Nathan a great deal. I loved his part self-ironical and part self-deprecating POV, I loved his attitude about his profession and his relationships with the students. He's definitely a good guy in my books, but he has flaws, he's not perfect, obviously, but that makes him interesting as a character.
I didn't blame him for his first 'encounter' with Isaac in the club. He was drunk and lonely, he'd actually fought with his feelings for Isaac for quite some time before that night and well he's a human, so he gave in to the temptation. And that's not like he raped Isaac or something, so I honestly don't see a problem there.
I also don't understand what's so awful in Natan's aborted attempt to jerk off in the middle of that night. I mean, reading reviews I thought he'd like exposed himself in the middle of the class or something, but here there's been a couple of fumblings in the dark and then he went to the restroom to finish. The students weren't underage, he's been discreet, I can't see this episode as more than a little indiscretion.
It took me longer to connect with Isaac, since I usually have a hard time to believe in the whores with a golden heart and I don't think it's that easy to compartmentalize your usual daily routine and having to have sex with strangers at night. I mean it's hard to remain a normal person in that circumstances. But still Isaac was so sincere and wholesome I really liked him too.
I thought Nathan had every right to flip having to see for himself all these Isaac previous customers, it would've been totally unrealistic if he wouldn't at least once, but I think he recovered pretty fast and I'm glad he thoroughly apologized and Isaac forgave him fast and relatively easy, it was good not having this particular plotline drawn out.
The ending was satisfying and believable at the same time, so I enjoyed this book very much!
I for one, loved Nathan a great deal. I loved his part self-ironical and part self-deprecating POV, I loved his attitude about his profession and his relationships with the students. He's definitely a good guy in my books, but he has flaws, he's not perfect, obviously, but that makes him interesting as a character.
I didn't blame him for his first 'encounter' with Isaac in the club. He was drunk and lonely, he'd actually fought with his feelings for Isaac for quite some time before that night and well he's a human, so he gave in to the temptation. And that's not like he raped Isaac or something, so I honestly don't see a problem there.
I also don't understand what's so awful in Natan's aborted attempt to jerk off in the middle of that night. I mean, reading reviews I thought he'd like exposed himself in the middle of the class or something, but here there's been a couple of fumblings in the dark and then he went to the restroom to finish. The students weren't underage, he's been discreet, I can't see this episode as more than a little indiscretion.
It took me longer to connect with Isaac, since I usually have a hard time to believe in the whores with a golden heart and I don't think it's that easy to compartmentalize your usual daily routine and having to have sex with strangers at night. I mean it's hard to remain a normal person in that circumstances. But still Isaac was so sincere and wholesome I really liked him too.
I thought Nathan had every right to flip having to see for himself all these Isaac previous customers, it would've been totally unrealistic if he wouldn't at least once, but I think he recovered pretty fast and I'm glad he thoroughly apologized and Isaac forgave him fast and relatively easy, it was good not having this particular plotline drawn out.
The ending was satisfying and believable at the same time, so I enjoyed this book very much!
April 12, 2012
I really like books that have a major age difference (as long as both characters are legal) and I'm big on the professor/student angle so I knew when I saw the description that this was my type of book. I also like the fact that Isaac was a prostitute working to pay his way through college. All of that was good and it was a very good story.
But......
What I did not like about the book is Nathan. He is a college professor who doesn't exactly teach something that I personally would call overly exciting. He's 42 and Isaac is not quite 25. I get that Nathan is quite older and he is what I would consider stiff (no pun intended). He knew exactly who (and what) Isaac was but yet he still lashed out at him over something that was not Isaac's fault. Isaac had tried to get out of that particular situation before it started but Nathan insisted. The resolution of that issue happened quite quickly and I felt that Isaac should not have been quite so forgiving. But that's just me.
I loved Isaac and would have liked to have seen his particular point of view, not just Nathan's. I loved Nathan's really cool and accepting mother. Kenny was amazing, as were George and Jeremiah. I pretty much liked all of the secondary characters. Nathan grew on me (some) before it was over so it wasn't all lost as far as he was concerned.
This was a good story and I am glad that I read it. I only wish there would have been more "feeling" between Nathan and Isaac. While it was cool to read about, I didn't quite FEEL it, if that makes sense. I would have liked to have seen where they went from there.
Overall a good book. The only reason I can't quite go with the 5 stars is because of what I mentioned above with Nate. He just didn't really do it for me.
But......
What I did not like about the book is Nathan. He is a college professor who doesn't exactly teach something that I personally would call overly exciting. He's 42 and Isaac is not quite 25. I get that Nathan is quite older and he is what I would consider stiff (no pun intended). He knew exactly who (and what) Isaac was but yet he still lashed out at him over something that was not Isaac's fault. Isaac had tried to get out of that particular situation before it started but Nathan insisted. The resolution of that issue happened quite quickly and I felt that Isaac should not have been quite so forgiving. But that's just me.
I loved Isaac and would have liked to have seen his particular point of view, not just Nathan's. I loved Nathan's really cool and accepting mother. Kenny was amazing, as were George and Jeremiah. I pretty much liked all of the secondary characters. Nathan grew on me (some) before it was over so it wasn't all lost as far as he was concerned.
This was a good story and I am glad that I read it. I only wish there would have been more "feeling" between Nathan and Isaac. While it was cool to read about, I didn't quite FEEL it, if that makes sense. I would have liked to have seen where they went from there.
Overall a good book. The only reason I can't quite go with the 5 stars is because of what I mentioned above with Nate. He just didn't really do it for me.
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