Off Limits

by Eric Morgan

Off Limits is a work of literary social commentary written as a modern romance. It’s as provocative intellectually as it is sensually. A high heat, professor-student romance with its characters struggling against today’s American university sexual politics, it unabashedly explores the ethics, motivations and consequences of modern day anti-fraternization policies, of issues of consent, of the social status of women and of modern feminism. It is set in 2014 in a small southern university and holds a firm footing in reality—no larger than life alphas, no extraordinary events, no ridiculously rich and famous characters, nothing you can’t imagine happening just down the road in Anytown, USA. Off Limits is written to highlight the extraordinary of the mundane, without fluff or fantasy, and without apology. It is sweet, funny, controversial, smart, and sexy as hell. Dr. Christopher Thomson is a forty-three year old European History Professor in a small but growing university in the coastal town of Layton, South Carolina. He is passionate about his job and takes great pride in identifying and shaping intelligent young minds. He’s very introspective, and a little theatrical, but overall very much just a normal guy. Upon grading the first papers of his History 102 class, he begins to notice Anna Gills, a smart and cute redhead with a head for numbers, a cocky wit and an arrogant confidence. He finds himself fascinated by her in a way he can’t shake and ends up inviting the freshman to join his upper-level Women’s History course, justifying it to himself that it’s really all about building his department and earning tenure. Anna Gills is an eighteen-year old Biology major who hates history and any subject that requires a fundamental understanding of how people think. She likes science, and mathematics, and facts and well-thought out and organized plans. On day one of college, she develops a cliché as hell but completely innocent schoolgirl crush on her captivating history professor which, much to her annoyance, only grows as the semester progresses. After an intense and spontaneous almost-kiss which makes Anna realize that her professor is also harboring feelings for her, Anna and her best friend Phoebe hatch a plan to ‘see what might happen.’ What follows is a hot and heavy tale of two people who know better making bad choices with great chemistry. It explores a relationship that goes from professor-student to friends to flirtations to a deep intellectual, emotional and physical connection that both end up ultimately benefiting from and wanting to fight for, each in their own way. Fans of May/December or older man, younger woman romances, those interested in a dialog around women's studies, the sociology of sex, and the basic idea of when protection should end and individual rights begin, will also find Off Limits to be a stimulating read.

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2017

Reviews

[Paulina Nowicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I read so many teacher/student books, some bad, some less bad, a couple if times i even gave a 4 star rating, but there was always something lacking. I found it here.

While still sexy, this book actually makes you think, makes you care about the characters not just about how good they are together but also how hard it is for them to be together.

I fell in love with both main characters, they are not perfect, but they are so relatable. They struggle, they make choices, not always the right ones, but choices that we all at some point have to make. Follow your heart or follow your head.

It's not easy, but that's why the book is so wonderful, it's not a piece of meaningless smut.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

Honestly, I skipped more than half of this book. It was too lengthy and I felt like I never really knew either of the characters. I felt like it ended just so abruptly.

[Crystal N · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I enjoyed the academic discourse throughout the book. I did find it heavy handed at times, but essays are by their nature meant to be "proving a point". I liked both of our main characters, in particular Anna who is at once both mature beyond her years, but also very youthful. The chemistry between our two leads was sizzling as they were gravitationally pulled together.

I'm curious to see the fallout from this relationship, particularly what both of the lover's families have to say. There were a few errors -- "wonder was used in place of "wander" a couple times -- and sometimes words got overused -- every time he put on a condom his junk was "sheathed". That last one is just a nitpick.

Anyway! If you're a fan of this particular trope and enjoy a bit of light research to boot, give this one a go. If you aren't a fan of academic writing, give it a pass.

[Dana Dube · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cant even

I want to start by saying I hated the kind of cliffhanger ending but I absolutely loved the entire story. Such strong and honest writing, raw and in your face love and truth of life and love. I cant wait to read more by Eric morgan, he surprised me with this and I sincerely hope he continues because a talent like that should never be wasted

[Mahsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

did I like this book? yes, did it hurt like a motherfucker that it was only 271 pages? yes it did, did I feel robbed by the ending? yes, I did but it was much better than other HEA endings I've read before.

I'm a person who is attracted to intelligence and can basically get off by any form of intellectuality, and this book did it for me, it was the perfect book for someone like me who is constantly craving for new information, I always felt like I was wasting my time by reading other eroticas bc they were mainly porn( I'm not against it, women should embrace and stick to their sexuality and take pride in it) but for someone like me, there was always a piece missing, I know Penelope Douglas and Eric Morgan aren't similar in any way but they somehow gave me the same gratification and satisfaction, one by a rich plot, and one by general information within the plot.

power isn't always gained through mafia, it can be attained through charisma and character, and this book fully captured that, Chris might not be a mafia boss but he was as much as powerful, and the same goes for Anna, we always get somewhat eager as soon as it is mentioned that the h is a virgin or unexperienced , we think that it wouldn't be special if it was some other way, but Anna didn't come off like that, she had some experience as her age permitted but her "unvirginty" didn't make us any less intrigued.
it was nice to see how the epiphany had dawned on Chris right before Anna came to his house and how he made love to her, and he constantly kept saying he was sorry, it was a nice change to see the vulnerability and the lost sensibility in a man and not in a woman.

[AMC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and intelligent read

I'm glad I came across this book, all by accident. It is a mind stimulating, intelligent and indeed very balanced erotica. It just have enough intimacy to spice things up as it happens in real life.

The book tackles taboo subject of erotic relationship between professor and his student who is 25 years younger than him.It is very realistic and believable story with characters mature (Anna more for her age) and loveable. It does provoke one's thoughts and way of thinking, not accepting stereotypes.

I could not praise the author more for their story idea. Simply brilliant. I have read several other books with the same or similar story concept but this one is the whole package. My only
objection would be the story length which I thought was not enough to fully develop the storyline. The book stops really unfinished without conclusions or insight into Anna and Christopher life together. There is no cliffhanger just no conclusion. Hopefully this gap will be filled in the future.

[Shaztwirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning - This book is not a standalone.

Observations rather than a review:

One might consider this book a bit "high brow" due to the inclusion of so much historical content; lectures, and whole essays, as well as sociological commentary. For that reason, it's particularly galling to discover an author who cannot differentiate between "wander" and "wonder." Even more startling is the use of "irregardless."

2. Nowhere at the beginning of this book is there any indication that it is part of a series. It isn't until the note to readers in the back matter that the "5 books" are revealed. Or in my case looking at how much was left in terms of reading time and knowing it was impossible for everything to be satisfactorily concluded within that timescale. As such, that ending was horrific.

Do I want to know what happens next? My natural curiosity tells me I do. Do I NEED to know and will I be finding out? Alas, no.

[Isabella Harron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Read

I enjoyed the book and I agree immensely with the author that just because your characters engage in sexual activity they should have a brain. But the in depth history sections left me feeling a little cold. Maybe if during those times the paragraphs were interrupted by one of the characters wayward thoughts as a good portion of either sex who are in a professional location but who are attracted to one another. I loved the characters and found no problem with the age difference. I look forward to the next book.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teacher student done right

This was done right. The age gap, the characters, and the story all done well. Now I can't wait for more. So many teacher student romances have been high school which usually leaves not big enough age gap for my liking. So being in college and the teacher being older to my liking, I like to see it be a real struggle for them. Now only if he may have been married would this be exceptional. Yeah I like all the forbidden, and love how it makes the angst even better. Highly recommend this for the age gap angst lovers.

[Karrilynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading Off Limits by Eric Morgan and I would give it 3.5 stars. The characters were memorable, fun and very developed making me want to keep reading. My only problem with the book was reading the many essays the characters wrote. While they did follow the storyline, they were rather long and mundane. That being said, the characters were so entertaining, I'm excited to see what happens to them and want to read the next book.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes you think

I almost loved this book, but at times it was just a bit boring and over informative.I appreciate the realism, but the pages of history lessons was to much at times. That being said shiver the book was meant as a platform piece for the main characters plight, I understand and why some of it was so drawn out. The book was well written and it makes you really stop and think. I would love to know how their story ends but I think it may involve a Little skimming...

[Amber Burnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good up until the ending...

This was a great book and very intellectual.... but the ending feels very VERY rushed. The end did not match the rest of the book writing wise.

[Kristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 28% either this book is hella boring or I’m hella dumb because the language in this is just not it

[clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

n teve um hea mas pelo menos consigo imaginar q deu tudo certo pra eles (talvez não