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Can falling in love melt the hearts of the iciest ice queens?
Going back to college is never easy, but Caroline Stevens is prepared to work hard and change her life for the better. What she’s not prepared for is Dr. Atlanta Morris, her new professor whose tough demeanor is no match for Caroline’s burgeoning confidence.
Going back to college is never easy, but Caroline Stevens is prepared to work hard and change her life for the better. What she’s not prepared for is Dr. Atlanta Morris, her new professor whose tough demeanor is no match for Caroline’s burgeoning confidence.
- GenresRomance
Unknown Binding
First published July 1, 2022
8 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Erin Zak
18 books354 followersErin Zak is a sapphic contemporary romance writer who loves older women, imperfect people, and beautiful places. She’s a bit dorky and quirky and tries to make sure every single one of her characters has those same qualities. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @erinzakwrites. You can also listen to her podcast, The Weekly Wine Down, where she gets tipsy with her best friends while discussing any and everything.
www.erinzak.com
www.erinzak.com
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 22, 2023
Atlanta spends most of the book harassing Caroline and unfairly flunking her; Caroline may have forgiven her, but I didn't.
April 3, 2024
Decent enough?
Main Character Caroline is 55, and rebuilding her life after a traumatic event that coincides with her husband divorcing her.
Love interest Atlanta Morris is a 30? Something year old professor of English. Who spends most of the book being the biggest abusive bitch she can to Caroline, as Caroline made the very poor decision to be attractive to Dr. Morris.
Seriously. Even at the very end of the book, the Doctor is still being abusive to Caroline.
The best part of the book was when Caroline told the doctor to go screw herself. Hands down the best part.
In terms of the book completing the plot lines it opened? 0/5
In terms of resolution of the relationship and their adversities? 0/5
Is it words in a semblance of readability? 3/5
Is the main character likeable and worth investing in emotionally? 5/5
Are the side characters enjoyable? 5/5
Overall I would not recommend this story. It feels as though the author had an idea but then only put in 50% of the necessary work. Perhaps if the unresolved plot lines and the ending was actually fleshed out, but rewarding the unfortunate cliche of romance novelists ‘I’ll get you to the word after the resolution of the main issue and then fade to a half assed epilogue’, well, don’t do that.
Main Character Caroline is 55, and rebuilding her life after a traumatic event that coincides with her husband divorcing her.
Love interest Atlanta Morris is a 30? Something year old professor of English. Who spends most of the book being the biggest abusive bitch she can to Caroline, as Caroline made the very poor decision to be attractive to Dr. Morris.
Seriously. Even at the very end of the book, the Doctor is still being abusive to Caroline.
The best part of the book was when Caroline told the doctor to go screw herself. Hands down the best part.
In terms of the book completing the plot lines it opened? 0/5
In terms of resolution of the relationship and their adversities? 0/5
Is it words in a semblance of readability? 3/5
Is the main character likeable and worth investing in emotionally? 5/5
Are the side characters enjoyable? 5/5
Overall I would not recommend this story. It feels as though the author had an idea but then only put in 50% of the necessary work. Perhaps if the unresolved plot lines and the ending was actually fleshed out, but rewarding the unfortunate cliche of romance novelists ‘I’ll get you to the word after the resolution of the main issue and then fade to a half assed epilogue’, well, don’t do that.
June 29, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
This novella was first published in December 2019 as part of Bold Strokes Books’ collection of three novellas in “Hot Ice.”
Caroline Stevens quit her nursing job in Chicago and moved to Sedona to start over. She’s a summer session away from getting her teaching certificate. During the second of her three classes she meets Atlanta Morris. Of course, their lust for one another can’t go to the next step because Atlanta is her professor, and her career was almost derailed by an episode with a student long before she became a successful professor. Caroline is flawed and suffers from PTSD from having been shot at her work, but functions well.
This novella represents some of Zak’s best writing. She created two strong likable characters and the story is interesting and complex. The only thing wrong with this novella is that the story was cut short by the too-sudden ending.
Fans of stories about starting-over stories and a large age-gap will love this novella, and Erin Zak’s fans probably read this story when it first came out, but they might want to return to it and read again.
My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eARC.
This novella was first published in December 2019 as part of Bold Strokes Books’ collection of three novellas in “Hot Ice.”
Caroline Stevens quit her nursing job in Chicago and moved to Sedona to start over. She’s a summer session away from getting her teaching certificate. During the second of her three classes she meets Atlanta Morris. Of course, their lust for one another can’t go to the next step because Atlanta is her professor, and her career was almost derailed by an episode with a student long before she became a successful professor. Caroline is flawed and suffers from PTSD from having been shot at her work, but functions well.
This novella represents some of Zak’s best writing. She created two strong likable characters and the story is interesting and complex. The only thing wrong with this novella is that the story was cut short by the too-sudden ending.
Fans of stories about starting-over stories and a large age-gap will love this novella, and Erin Zak’s fans probably read this story when it first came out, but they might want to return to it and read again.
My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eARC.
February 5, 2026
Had potential but the execution was challenging. All over the place.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews