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Campus Cravings #5
Forbidden Freshman
What do you do if you see a man so beautiful he takes your breath away? What do you do if that man is seventeen years younger than you are? What do you do when that man is the son of your best friend? If you're Doctor Joe Pressman, you fight it like hell before succumbing to the once in a lifetime feeling. Incoming freshman Rocco is more of an artist than an athlete which doesn't sit well with his father, Coach Collin Williams. When his dad kicks him out, Rocco runs to the one place he knows he'll be welcome, right into Joe's open arms. Just when they thought their lives couldn't get anymore complicated, a situation on campus puts their love in the centre spotlight. Will the attention cement their relationship or drive them apart? This book is best read in sequence as part of a series
129 pages, ebook
First published October 8, 2007
8 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
About the author
Carol Lynne
251 books1,196 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
erotic & gay romances
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 5, 2009
Forbidden Freshman by Carol Lynne is a very cute May/December romance. It’s also the 5th installment in the Campus Cravings series. Carol’s books continue to be a guilty pleasure for me, and Forbidden Freshman is definitely Carol Lynne at her best.
There isn’t much angst in this book. There is some conflict and the older hero, Joe Pressman, has some issues with the age difference between Rocco and himself, but otherwise it’s a pretty sweet and easy read.
At eighteen, Rocco Williams has left home under some mysterious circumstances to live with his father. His father is the head coach at the local college and Dr. Joe Pressman’s best friend. Since Rocco’s unexpected arrival, his father is concerned about Rocco’s motivation for showing up at his doorstep, he asks Joe to take him out and make sure everything is alright.
When Joe picks Rocco up, he knows he’s in trouble. Not only is Rocco beautiful to look at, but his sweetness and obvious creativity draws Joe to him like bees to honey. But, since Joe is 35 and Rocco is almost nineteen, and his best friend is Rocco’s father, Joe decides to try to ignore his feelings and attraction he has for Rocco. As time goes by Rocco and Joe become closer and when Joe finds out his feelings are reciprocated, it becomes harder to keep their relationship from becoming more than friends.
When Rocco become estranged from his father and finds himself without a roof over his head, he relies on Joe’s friendship to help him get through the tough times. Joe decides then and there that he’s tired of fighting his feelings for Rocco. Together they embark on a sweet and loving relationship that beats all odds as they find happiness with each other.
This book is very fast paced. It might not be the most realistic book I’ve ever read, but I still liked it, and I enjoyed the thought of two sweet and deserving heroes finding their happy ending together. Even though it is the fifth book in this series I don’t think it’s necessary to read the other books to understand what’s going on. It definitely can be read as a stand alone book, but I do recommend reading the other books in this series just because it’s a good series to read.
4.25 stars
There isn’t much angst in this book. There is some conflict and the older hero, Joe Pressman, has some issues with the age difference between Rocco and himself, but otherwise it’s a pretty sweet and easy read.
At eighteen, Rocco Williams has left home under some mysterious circumstances to live with his father. His father is the head coach at the local college and Dr. Joe Pressman’s best friend. Since Rocco’s unexpected arrival, his father is concerned about Rocco’s motivation for showing up at his doorstep, he asks Joe to take him out and make sure everything is alright.
When Joe picks Rocco up, he knows he’s in trouble. Not only is Rocco beautiful to look at, but his sweetness and obvious creativity draws Joe to him like bees to honey. But, since Joe is 35 and Rocco is almost nineteen, and his best friend is Rocco’s father, Joe decides to try to ignore his feelings and attraction he has for Rocco. As time goes by Rocco and Joe become closer and when Joe finds out his feelings are reciprocated, it becomes harder to keep their relationship from becoming more than friends.
When Rocco become estranged from his father and finds himself without a roof over his head, he relies on Joe’s friendship to help him get through the tough times. Joe decides then and there that he’s tired of fighting his feelings for Rocco. Together they embark on a sweet and loving relationship that beats all odds as they find happiness with each other.
This book is very fast paced. It might not be the most realistic book I’ve ever read, but I still liked it, and I enjoyed the thought of two sweet and deserving heroes finding their happy ending together. Even though it is the fifth book in this series I don’t think it’s necessary to read the other books to understand what’s going on. It definitely can be read as a stand alone book, but I do recommend reading the other books in this series just because it’s a good series to read.
4.25 stars
March 27, 2017
3.5 stars!!
January 29, 2023
1.5 stars
April 9, 2013
I really try not to write negative reviews if it can be helped. There were just so many positive reviews for this book that I vastly disagreed with. My experience with Carol Lynne books has been twofold. They are either well done or they are like this book, a good idea for a story line ruined by telling not showing, elementary writing, and insta love with zero buildup to lead to that end. I like the idea of Carol Lynne's books. I just so rarely like her execution. I wanted to like this book. I just didn't and struggled not to put it down without finishing it. It was just like reading an eighth grader's fiction story that somehow got published.
February 12, 2020
The book isn't the worst, and it does have some redeeming and sweet qualities, but it's too rushed and insta-love. The tension and story would have been interesting if it weren't rushed, had proper buildup to let the characters seem realistic and the emotions convincing, but the speed this flew by meant issues were made into non-issues too quickly, things happened before I had a chance to find them believable (such as saying I love you so casually and so quick before an actual relationship formed). With some editing, expanding the length, more show and less tell, and more convincing moments, it could be improved.
Read
April 8, 2009In the end of Off-Season we have known about Joe, the 35 years old psichiatric who cares about all the guys in the Campus Cravings series, and Rocco, the 18 years old son of old coach Williams.
Rocco is a very beautiful man, who has always cared for himself, so at 18 years old he his very mature and knows exactly what he wants, and what he wants is Joe, his father's friend. Joe can't deny the attraction, but he will do nothing to ruin his friendship with Coach Williams, above all cause he can't believe a beautiful boy like Rocco could be really interesting in him.
But when Rocco finds himself alone one more time, Joe finally accepts that he now is Rocco's family and eventually lover.
I expect more drama from this story and instead it's is smooth and enjoyable. The love between Rocco and Joe is sudden and forever, their life together also. The big gap in years between them is not still a problem, maybe in the future it could be, but in this book you will read only of the good moments of the couple.
As always in the end Carol Lynne introduces us to her next characters: Toby and Michael, probably Charlie, but I'm still waiting for Liam and Bear's story!
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/16...
Rocco is a very beautiful man, who has always cared for himself, so at 18 years old he his very mature and knows exactly what he wants, and what he wants is Joe, his father's friend. Joe can't deny the attraction, but he will do nothing to ruin his friendship with Coach Williams, above all cause he can't believe a beautiful boy like Rocco could be really interesting in him.
But when Rocco finds himself alone one more time, Joe finally accepts that he now is Rocco's family and eventually lover.
I expect more drama from this story and instead it's is smooth and enjoyable. The love between Rocco and Joe is sudden and forever, their life together also. The big gap in years between them is not still a problem, maybe in the future it could be, but in this book you will read only of the good moments of the couple.
As always in the end Carol Lynne introduces us to her next characters: Toby and Michael, probably Charlie, but I'm still waiting for Liam and Bear's story!
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/16...
Read
November 17, 2013I started reading this because I've enjoyed some of Carol Lynne's other books and Campus Cravings Vol 1 was so highly rated. Unfortunately, I was only able to find Vol 1 (which contains this story and 2 others) as a Print version from Total E-Bound. Come on, TEB - give us ebooks! I ended up just buying this individual story from ARE.
Perhaps the Vol 1 edition is better, but this stand alone ebook has a lot of formatting problems. There is no break whatsoever between scenes so you are in bed one sentence and in the kitchen hours later in the next and several times I've had to stop and re-read to figure out what was going on.
I can also tell this was an early work of Carol's because the writing is not at her current standards. Several critical scenes take place off the page (like the older MC's fight with the younger MC's father). One minute there's a knock on the door and then next minute (with no break in the text) he's holding a bag of frozen vegs to his battered eye and he talks about the fight he just had. It would have been nice to SEE that dramatic scene.
Since this is my first book in the Campus Cravings series I may hop next to one of the more recent ones to see if the experience improves.
Perhaps the Vol 1 edition is better, but this stand alone ebook has a lot of formatting problems. There is no break whatsoever between scenes so you are in bed one sentence and in the kitchen hours later in the next and several times I've had to stop and re-read to figure out what was going on.
I can also tell this was an early work of Carol's because the writing is not at her current standards. Several critical scenes take place off the page (like the older MC's fight with the younger MC's father). One minute there's a knock on the door and then next minute (with no break in the text) he's holding a bag of frozen vegs to his battered eye and he talks about the fight he just had. It would have been nice to SEE that dramatic scene.
Since this is my first book in the Campus Cravings series I may hop next to one of the more recent ones to see if the experience improves.
Read
July 17, 2016DNF. Bad writing and style.
June 16, 2020
Rocco is Joe's best friend's son. He's tried to keep from Rocco, but he fails. Rocco wants Joe just as much and he finally gets with him after Collin, his dad tossed Rocco out. Instead of believing Rocco about what happen to his friend/ex back home Joe believed Rocco's mom who is a horrible woman.
Joe picked up the pieces of Rocco's heart. He helped him heal not only from how his childhood was, but his former lover who only used Rocco while doing his mother as well. Then he was attacked at the college. The football players who claimed they were doing on behave of Collin who was loud mouthed about not wanting Rocco as a gay son.
Rocco was worried Joe wouldn't want him because of the way he looked and couldn't be physical. Joe released that from his mind though. Turned out that Rocco's not Collin's son. Rocco knew, but Collin didn't because of the way his mom talked. By the end of the book they make amends thankfully. Collin went on a downward spiral drinking and everything especially after Rocco was attacked. Rocco asking if he'd be his dad was wonderful. Collin always wanted him, but his mom wouldn't go back with him. He distances his self from Rocco because it hurt him so much not to be near him.
Joe and Rocco definitely are one of my favorite couples in the books I have now read. I read this because of not being able to wait. The sex was great and it also peddled back to some events from Off Season that we only heard about but didn't go into details then.
The BK house has come to almost completion and after Rocco's attack the college is stepping things up. Rocco actually put a lawsuit against them, but instead of a pay out demanded things to be changed. I can't wait to read the next two books because they have me also eager to read them. Liam's book the most, but also Broken Pottery.
Joe picked up the pieces of Rocco's heart. He helped him heal not only from how his childhood was, but his former lover who only used Rocco while doing his mother as well. Then he was attacked at the college. The football players who claimed they were doing on behave of Collin who was loud mouthed about not wanting Rocco as a gay son.
Rocco was worried Joe wouldn't want him because of the way he looked and couldn't be physical. Joe released that from his mind though. Turned out that Rocco's not Collin's son. Rocco knew, but Collin didn't because of the way his mom talked. By the end of the book they make amends thankfully. Collin went on a downward spiral drinking and everything especially after Rocco was attacked. Rocco asking if he'd be his dad was wonderful. Collin always wanted him, but his mom wouldn't go back with him. He distances his self from Rocco because it hurt him so much not to be near him.
Joe and Rocco definitely are one of my favorite couples in the books I have now read. I read this because of not being able to wait. The sex was great and it also peddled back to some events from Off Season that we only heard about but didn't go into details then.
The BK house has come to almost completion and after Rocco's attack the college is stepping things up. Rocco actually put a lawsuit against them, but instead of a pay out demanded things to be changed. I can't wait to read the next two books because they have me also eager to read them. Liam's book the most, but also Broken Pottery.
January 9, 2018
WOW... did this one jump around a lot... I mean, all over the place and NOT always in a good way... grrr
I really liked Rocco and Joe as MC's, but the story didn't fit them most of the time... they would have been great together in another time and another place. :(
I really liked Rocco and Joe as MC's, but the story didn't fit them most of the time... they would have been great together in another time and another place. :(
January 3, 2019
Leído 2011
March 31, 2020
Es una historia mona, para pasar el rato. Estos chicos enamoran.
July 27, 2012
When I first pictured Joe Pressman in the previous book, I guess I pictured an older man with like a beard who smokes a pipe and stuff like that, so when I saw he was being paired with the devastatingly gorgeous son of Head Football Coach Collin, Rocco, I was a bit weirded out. As it turns out, Joe is only about 35 while Collin was nearing 60 or something so they were way off in age difference which was cleared up in this book and I really ended up enjoying it.
Joe has always been attracted to young Rocco but kept a professional distance because Collin was his best friend and the 17 year age difference between Rocco and Joe was too much he thought. When some demons from Rocco's past get brought up and Collin kicks him out, Joe takes Rocco in and they finally stop fighting their mutual attraction for each other.
They make an awesome pair and the way they work through first Rocco's issues from growing up and then trauma of Rocco getting beaten to a bloody nearly unconcious pulp by a few guys on the football team, to the daddy issues that he has with Collin and come out on the other side with their love stronger than ever is quite awesome.
I love how the other couples support Rocco and Joe rather than cutting them down and alienating them from the group. I think that really helps in this sort of situation and gave them the strength they needed to hold on to the love they had. I really did enjoy this book.
Joe has always been attracted to young Rocco but kept a professional distance because Collin was his best friend and the 17 year age difference between Rocco and Joe was too much he thought. When some demons from Rocco's past get brought up and Collin kicks him out, Joe takes Rocco in and they finally stop fighting their mutual attraction for each other.
They make an awesome pair and the way they work through first Rocco's issues from growing up and then trauma of Rocco getting beaten to a bloody nearly unconcious pulp by a few guys on the football team, to the daddy issues that he has with Collin and come out on the other side with their love stronger than ever is quite awesome.
I love how the other couples support Rocco and Joe rather than cutting them down and alienating them from the group. I think that really helps in this sort of situation and gave them the strength they needed to hold on to the love they had. I really did enjoy this book.
March 2, 2015
Oooh how Rocco made me cry... I felt so bad for him he'd had such a hard life in his short 18 years with no one to love him and he wanted it so bad he put up with so much just to have some small effection from someone like his dad who ended up not even being his biological father.... It broke my heart.
Then you have JOe who has been infatuated with his best friends 18 year old son since he's first laid eyes on him but didn't pursue anything for fear of losing his best friend.
Spending time with Rocco though he couldn't stay away from him and it quickly turned into love and once Collin kicked Rocco out, of course he wanted nothing more than to take care of him. I was so happy that Rocco got what he'd always needed and wanted for so long.
Someone to love him unconditionally... He deserved it so much.
And Joe, he was so great, so supportive and just everything Rocco needed.
I really hope they find out who hurt Rocco in upcoming stories though, I hate so much that people at the college is getting away with bullying and assault on gay students...I really hope justice gets served to every one of them.
And as always, I got my HEA with Rocco and Joe... can't wait to read more!
Then you have JOe who has been infatuated with his best friends 18 year old son since he's first laid eyes on him but didn't pursue anything for fear of losing his best friend.
Spending time with Rocco though he couldn't stay away from him and it quickly turned into love and once Collin kicked Rocco out, of course he wanted nothing more than to take care of him. I was so happy that Rocco got what he'd always needed and wanted for so long.
Someone to love him unconditionally... He deserved it so much.
And Joe, he was so great, so supportive and just everything Rocco needed.
I really hope they find out who hurt Rocco in upcoming stories though, I hate so much that people at the college is getting away with bullying and assault on gay students...I really hope justice gets served to every one of them.
And as always, I got my HEA with Rocco and Joe... can't wait to read more!
August 22, 2013
This is just getting better and better...
In this book we have Joe and Rocco's story. Joe is a middle age psychiatrist and he's best friend is Coach Williams (Rocco's father)and since the first time he saw Rocco he fall in love at first sight.
Rocco is a 18 year old freshman at the university and the only thing he wants more than the acceptance of his father is the love from Joe; and he will do anything to get it.
After a incident at his mother home, Rocco flys to the only place he can go and that is Coach Williams place. After Coach finds out what the incident was, he kicks out Rocco and from then on Rocco and Joe's relationship develops into a new level.
I really like this book; the way Joe supports Rocco with his art and how Rocco adores Joe is beautiful. I'm also happy that Rocco gets the father he always wanted and the love of his life.
In this book we have Joe and Rocco's story. Joe is a middle age psychiatrist and he's best friend is Coach Williams (Rocco's father)and since the first time he saw Rocco he fall in love at first sight.
Rocco is a 18 year old freshman at the university and the only thing he wants more than the acceptance of his father is the love from Joe; and he will do anything to get it.
After a incident at his mother home, Rocco flys to the only place he can go and that is Coach Williams place. After Coach finds out what the incident was, he kicks out Rocco and from then on Rocco and Joe's relationship develops into a new level.
I really like this book; the way Joe supports Rocco with his art and how Rocco adores Joe is beautiful. I'm also happy that Rocco gets the father he always wanted and the love of his life.
August 8, 2012
This was a pretty good book in this series. Dr. Joe Pressman is good friends with Coach Collin Williams, the head coach at NICU. When Collin brings his son, Rocco, to campus the father/son relationship is a bit strained by the little time that Collin has spent with Rocco in the past. Rocco is gorgeous and Joe, while significantly older, can't help his attraction to his friend's son. While he fights the attraction, the relationship between Rocco and Collin fray, causing Rocco to run to Joe. I liked Rocco a lot. He was a very sweet artist and I liked his relationship with Joe. As a standalone book, this story is a little short, but as part of this series, it is a good addition.
January 10, 2013
One of my favorite things about this series has been Ms. Lynn’s ability to take stories that might make people uncomfortable and turn them into beautiful and affirming love stories. Whether it be Dom/subs, older/younger lovers or gay parenting, she handles them with compassion as well as passion. I’m grateful that a friend turned me onto this series of books and very glad that Mrs. Condit has allowed me to do a review on some older, but still great, stories.
Please see Mr. P's complete review on Feb. 3, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Please see Mr. P's complete review on Feb. 3, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
May 29, 2011
I guess this one is bumped down to a three mainly because so far the others are going to be rated fairly high, so far. Probably more a three and a half stars than a three star story for me.
September 29, 2011
I liked the characters, but the story felt a little disjointed at times.
December 23, 2011
MxM, Read in 2011
May 27, 2012
Rating 3.5
November 9, 2012
I loved it!!!
November 8, 2014
2.5 stars
It was OK to good. Nothing out of the box. Plenty of pathos/issues surrounding MC Rocco, but I still didn't feel close to the charaters...
It was OK to good. Nothing out of the box. Plenty of pathos/issues surrounding MC Rocco, but I still didn't feel close to the charaters...
Want to read
May 11, 2013
May 14, 2013
By re-reading this story, I couldn't really connect with this coupled pair, Rocco was to young and Joe, to plain. The way this story developed just didn't fit. But hey we got again an HEA.
October 31, 2013
3.5 stars
February 3, 2014
I'm loving this series...just as good as the cattle valley x
August 25, 2014
3.5 stars
September 3, 2014
Loved Dr Joe and Rocco.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews