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Lessons from a Younger Lover
Zuri Day cranks up the heat with an explosively sexy tale about a woman who's about to get a crash course in lust. . .First grade teacher Gwen Smith was happily married--until her husband got himself a twenty-something mistress and filed for divorce. Now just months away from turning forty-one, Gwen is back in her tiny California hometown, caring for her ailing mother, convinced her life is over. Then she meets Ransom Blake. Ransom is a twenty-six-year-old hunk who pushes every one of Gwen's buttons. Gwen has no intention of getting involved with a younger man, but he won't take no for an answer. So when he shows up at her classroom unannounced, Gwen can't help but tell him off--and then she realizes he's come for his daughter. But Ransom isn't shy about letting Gwen know how she can make it up to him. And if he gets his way, Gwen will lose all her inhibitions--and her heart..."An exciting read. Zuri Day does a fantastic job. . ."--Urban Reviews on Lies Lovers Tell
360 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
39 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Zuri Day
106 books275 followersZuri Day is a hopeful romantic. She believes in happy endings, half-full glasses and dreams coming true. That's why she's thrilled to be a contributing writer to this genre...one of her favorites!
Zuri doesn't remember exactly how old she was when she picked up her first romance novel, but she does remember it was love at first sight. "It was probably a Harlequin," she recalled during a recent interview. "And it thankfully took me away from a fairly dull and routine existence growing up in a small Kansas town."
Things aren't dull and routine anymore. Zuri now resides in Los Angeles with her family and when she isn't writing loves to travel the world, cook vegetarian food, work out, watch sports, attend concerts and theatre and enjoy the simple things in life.
"Many people have given up on love, much less romance," Zuri says. "I'm hoping that somehow, through the love-filled pages of my romance novels, I can ignite the reader's desire to believe again. Because everything is possible, when we believe..."
Zuri doesn't remember exactly how old she was when she picked up her first romance novel, but she does remember it was love at first sight. "It was probably a Harlequin," she recalled during a recent interview. "And it thankfully took me away from a fairly dull and routine existence growing up in a small Kansas town."
Things aren't dull and routine anymore. Zuri now resides in Los Angeles with her family and when she isn't writing loves to travel the world, cook vegetarian food, work out, watch sports, attend concerts and theatre and enjoy the simple things in life.
"Many people have given up on love, much less romance," Zuri says. "I'm hoping that somehow, through the love-filled pages of my romance novels, I can ignite the reader's desire to believe again. Because everything is possible, when we believe..."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 18, 2016
I thought this book was good I really liked me some Ransom. But this book also made me mad. I had so many mix emotions reading this book. Lol I couldn't stand Ransom brother and baby mama specially his brother . All that happened was his freaking fault. And in the end he still ain't get what he wanted to stupid fool.
Karmas a Mother ain't it!
Karmas a Mother ain't it!
June 20, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. This is my 2nd time reading it, and I remembered trying to imagine what Ransom looked like with that gorgeous long hair and body, and I felt myself imagining this again this time around. Gwen was your typical soon to be frigid divorcee, but her chance meeting with Ransom (14yrs her senior) really opened herself up to a whole new world intimately. The drama with Adam at times was a little over the top, and I could have probably done without it, but all of the Gwen/Ransom scenes really make up for it...and Ransom's lesson's......super hot!!! This was a good read.
August 25, 2020
This is my second book I've read from this author. And I can say that Im pleased. Can't wait to begin a new book by this author.
August 22, 2011
I am not giving this book three stars because I didn't like it. I truly enjoyed it and, as my first read by Day, that keeps it from being a two.
The premise of the story is easy to identify with, especially being a forty year old divorcee. It's also right in line with the age of the "cougar". The book has everything - friendship, lunacy, romance and hot erotic sex. Gwen is a woman who needs to be taken out of her comfort zone to learn it's okay to lose control every now and again. Returning to her hometown to care for her mother afterbeing dropped by her husband should surely make her bitter and uptight. Seeing her high school crush has fallen to ruin, should bolster her ego. It doesn't because she's feeling her age.
Enter Ransom. A twenty something good looking guy who's vibing for Gwen. He makes her want in a way she's not wanted before. He causes her body to react in unimaginable ways. He inspires her to let the naughty Gwen out. We can't have that!! Ultimately he wins her over and helps Gwen battle her insecurities to build a solid relationship.
Such promise but the story fails horribly. Yes this is fantasy and it isn't real but a woman who's got a Masters in education, would hardly constantly use colloquialisms and refer to her anatomy as "nana". The conflict of who I felt Day wanted Gwen to be and who she portrayed Gwen as left me confused and a bit frustrated. Gwen needed to either be a goody goody or a progressive take charge woman. You can't have her worried about her reputation in one minute and the next telling someone in a vulgar no holds barred way. You can't make Ransom an "old soul" who's above the stereotypical twenty something black male but make his speech the exact opposite.
I love the romance. The erotica had me squirming. I truly wanted to smack Adam for being so immature. Good elements are there. They just need a more solid and relatable portrayal.
The premise of the story is easy to identify with, especially being a forty year old divorcee. It's also right in line with the age of the "cougar". The book has everything - friendship, lunacy, romance and hot erotic sex. Gwen is a woman who needs to be taken out of her comfort zone to learn it's okay to lose control every now and again. Returning to her hometown to care for her mother afterbeing dropped by her husband should surely make her bitter and uptight. Seeing her high school crush has fallen to ruin, should bolster her ego. It doesn't because she's feeling her age.
Enter Ransom. A twenty something good looking guy who's vibing for Gwen. He makes her want in a way she's not wanted before. He causes her body to react in unimaginable ways. He inspires her to let the naughty Gwen out. We can't have that!! Ultimately he wins her over and helps Gwen battle her insecurities to build a solid relationship.
Such promise but the story fails horribly. Yes this is fantasy and it isn't real but a woman who's got a Masters in education, would hardly constantly use colloquialisms and refer to her anatomy as "nana". The conflict of who I felt Day wanted Gwen to be and who she portrayed Gwen as left me confused and a bit frustrated. Gwen needed to either be a goody goody or a progressive take charge woman. You can't have her worried about her reputation in one minute and the next telling someone in a vulgar no holds barred way. You can't make Ransom an "old soul" who's above the stereotypical twenty something black male but make his speech the exact opposite.
I love the romance. The erotica had me squirming. I truly wanted to smack Adam for being so immature. Good elements are there. They just need a more solid and relatable portrayal.
October 22, 2024
Quick review for a quick read. So this was technically a re-read for me, but I haven't read it in years. I remembered parts of it, but apparently I forgot so much of this book, because a lot happened in it. (I'll explain why that factors into my rating in a moment.) I'm very familiar with Zuri Day's work, and I knew I wanted to get back into the author's catalogue, so I started with this. The cover made me remember I had picked up this book as a library read, and I remembered that the MMC, Ransom, was Black and Native. The story centers on 40 year old Gwen Smith, a school teacher returning to town to teach at an elementary school. Her boss is a former classmate from high school turned creepy and sexually harassing (Adam). But his younger brother (Ransom) catches all of Gwen's attention, alongside his very cute daughter. This book goes Gwen's and Ransom's relationship, with all of its ups and downs in tow. For a little while, I was along for the ride, especially considering how Gwen and Ransom are navigating the age gap between them, some of the small town drama around and centering them, and ultimately coming to terms with some rough patches and misunderstandings (some of which are a little convenient, but I was able to suspend disbelief for it).
But after a certain point, I did find myself checking out for just how much was in the story; I had forgotten several things that happened BECAUSE there was so much going on, especially in the last third of the book. This is one of those stories where it really did not need all of the conflicts it threw at the wall. It felt like too much and extended the book for far longer than the point it should have ended. Plus I felt icky when the revenge plot against Gwen went into such a gross violation hat I really didn't think it was necessary at all. It ends in an HEA, but there was a LOT that was glossed over to make that happen. And to make it even more frustrating, there was definitely a plethora of outdated character stereotypes that soured my reading experience of this. This was written originally, I think, in 2010, so it wouldn't have been the only contemporary of its time to do this, but I definitely found myself cringing on the re-read.
I did like the central relationship between Gwen and Ransom though. Ransom is a thoughtful lover, while also charming and ready to throw down for Gwen and his daughter at a moment's notice. I also genuinely liked Gwen's personality. Liked this enough to give it, and the audio experience, 3 stars overall. I don't think it's Day's strongest work though. If you like an age gap romance with a LOT of drama, you might like this one, but it may be that some parts of it feel like too much and not enough at the same time.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
But after a certain point, I did find myself checking out for just how much was in the story; I had forgotten several things that happened BECAUSE there was so much going on, especially in the last third of the book. This is one of those stories where it really did not need all of the conflicts it threw at the wall. It felt like too much and extended the book for far longer than the point it should have ended. Plus I felt icky when the revenge plot against Gwen went into such a gross violation hat I really didn't think it was necessary at all. It ends in an HEA, but there was a LOT that was glossed over to make that happen. And to make it even more frustrating, there was definitely a plethora of outdated character stereotypes that soured my reading experience of this. This was written originally, I think, in 2010, so it wouldn't have been the only contemporary of its time to do this, but I definitely found myself cringing on the re-read.
I did like the central relationship between Gwen and Ransom though. Ransom is a thoughtful lover, while also charming and ready to throw down for Gwen and his daughter at a moment's notice. I also genuinely liked Gwen's personality. Liked this enough to give it, and the audio experience, 3 stars overall. I don't think it's Day's strongest work though. If you like an age gap romance with a LOT of drama, you might like this one, but it may be that some parts of it feel like too much and not enough at the same time.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
September 22, 2022
Slow read.
June 21, 2012
I truly liked this story. Gwen is a 40 yrs old woman whose husband recently divorced her to be with a younger woman. Gwen moves back home to help her mother is suffering from dementia. In the process of settling in, she literally runs into Ransom.
Ransom is a 26 yrs old single father, who also happens to be the younger half brother of old classmate Adam Johnson (who also happens be the principal at the school she teaches at). It's instant attraction, between Gwen and Ransom, but Gwen wants no parts of a relationship with anyone.
Adam has an unhealthy rivalry with is younger brother and is determined to have his way with Gwen. When she continue to turn him down, he decides to go to drastic measures to make her submissive to his demands.
At time it seems the whole town is against Ransom and Gwen's relationship and they have to battle predictable adversaries at every turn. Through it all Ransom proves you can't judge a man by his age but by his maturity.
I really enjoyed this book and would love to read Chantay's story.
Ransom is a 26 yrs old single father, who also happens to be the younger half brother of old classmate Adam Johnson (who also happens be the principal at the school she teaches at). It's instant attraction, between Gwen and Ransom, but Gwen wants no parts of a relationship with anyone.
Adam has an unhealthy rivalry with is younger brother and is determined to have his way with Gwen. When she continue to turn him down, he decides to go to drastic measures to make her submissive to his demands.
At time it seems the whole town is against Ransom and Gwen's relationship and they have to battle predictable adversaries at every turn. Through it all Ransom proves you can't judge a man by his age but by his maturity.
I really enjoyed this book and would love to read Chantay's story.
May 17, 2016
Wow, I definitely enjoyed this book. I liked Ransom. He was more of a Man than his half-brother and bad enough he was younger than his brother. That's why I say sometimes older men are more immature than younger. I'm glad this book had a happy ending. Karma is definitely a B-word. Bria; Joanna; Carole and Adam def got what they deserve that's why I say you can't do people wrong because something bad can happen to you.
September 11, 2015
This book was filled Drama, scandals and a true love story. Gwen is going through a divorce after being married for 10 years, she decides to move back home to take care of her mother when she meets the young and fine Mr. Ransom. A touching love story where the teacher becomes the student.
April 25, 2015
Talk about a venn diagram of a love triangle! Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. Let's put it this way, every woman needs a Ransom!
January 13, 2022
Teacher
I enjoyed this story about younger man loving and teaching an older woman. This author has a vivid imagination and surprised me 🤔 with the events. I have read the series, "Sin City Secrets" and "Morgan Men" this author continues to entertain me. I have read several younger man, older woman stories and this one is the best so far as the action, character likeability and unpredictable occurrences.
I enjoyed this story about younger man loving and teaching an older woman. This author has a vivid imagination and surprised me 🤔 with the events. I have read the series, "Sin City Secrets" and "Morgan Men" this author continues to entertain me. I have read several younger man, older woman stories and this one is the best so far as the action, character likeability and unpredictable occurrences.
June 21, 2019
Book didn't age well.
November 11, 2019
OHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
December 6, 2020
Lovely book
July 3, 2021
Loved it!
November 30, 2021
I did enjoy Lessons from a Younger Lover, but I really disliked Adam, a secondary character, and I couldn’t continue with the audiobook.
January 23, 2022
Don't doubt love.
October 9, 2019
I have become a true fan of Zuri Day and have enjoyed everything that she has written, this book is not exception.
May 22, 2012
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly. – proverb
When "Lessons From A Younger Lover" opens, the world as Gwen Smith knew it has fallen apart. Little does she know that a whole new world is about to open for her after she literally bumps into a life-changing force outside of Kristy’s coffee shop – in the form of 26 year-old Ransom Blake. They both feel the sparks of interest. The rocky start continues when Gwen later tells Ransom off for bothering her on her job (teaching at an elementary school) before discovering that Ransom is actually there to pick up his daughter, Isis (coincidentally, her favorite student). Although flustered after the fuss, they both feel the sparks of lust. Ransom is interested stoking the sparks. At 40 years-old, Gwen is not. Wanting to be the picture of propriety, Gwen tries to spurn his advances. Ransom is way too young. And teachers shouldn’t date the parents of their students, right?
Lucky for her (and us), Ransom is a man who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. Even if he has to teach the teacher. His challenge (and the best part of the novel) is convincing Gwen to take a chance on lust and love after being hurt by an unfaithful husband. The story has a good mix of romance and erotica. The romance is believable and the sex hot. This book is stuffed with all sorts of goodies: real romance, steamy sex, sibling rivalry, baby mama drama, music, and more crazy people than you can shake a stick at. But sometimes you can get too much of a good thing…
The other subplots involving Adam Johnson (Ransom’s older half-brother and Gwen’s boss) and assorted crazies took the story down from 5 stars to 4 to me. Don’t get me wrong. I am all for stretching the imagination and just going with the flow. However, I feel like they were so far out there that they took away from the heart and power of the story – the rewards and challenges that come with an older woman/younger man relationship. I wanted more focus on Gwen and Ransom … to see more of how their relationship developed.
Gwen’s character also seems a little uneven to me. Day tries to portray her as a stereotypical borderline-frigid divorcee throughout most of the story. However, Gwen’s language and thought patterns go from the proper “I have a Master’s degree in Education” to the colloquial “Jenny from the Block” at the drop of a hat. Yes, women have many different sides. But this flip-flopping makes for distracting dialogue and disposition shifts. There is a similar dialogue weirdness with Ransom. Minus another star.
At 3 stars, I like this novel. The romance side of the story really speaks to the “what if you took a chance” aspect of a good love story. I think this aspect makes it a worthwhile read in spite of the crazies. I was rooting for Gwen and Ransom’s HEA (happily ever after) the whole way. I would read another story by Zuri Day.
Recommended for:
- Urban romance readers
- Romance readers
- Erotica readers
Full review posted at A. Literary Mafia Blog: http://aliterarymafia.wordpress.com/2...
When "Lessons From A Younger Lover" opens, the world as Gwen Smith knew it has fallen apart. Little does she know that a whole new world is about to open for her after she literally bumps into a life-changing force outside of Kristy’s coffee shop – in the form of 26 year-old Ransom Blake. They both feel the sparks of interest. The rocky start continues when Gwen later tells Ransom off for bothering her on her job (teaching at an elementary school) before discovering that Ransom is actually there to pick up his daughter, Isis (coincidentally, her favorite student). Although flustered after the fuss, they both feel the sparks of lust. Ransom is interested stoking the sparks. At 40 years-old, Gwen is not. Wanting to be the picture of propriety, Gwen tries to spurn his advances. Ransom is way too young. And teachers shouldn’t date the parents of their students, right?
Lucky for her (and us), Ransom is a man who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. Even if he has to teach the teacher. His challenge (and the best part of the novel) is convincing Gwen to take a chance on lust and love after being hurt by an unfaithful husband. The story has a good mix of romance and erotica. The romance is believable and the sex hot. This book is stuffed with all sorts of goodies: real romance, steamy sex, sibling rivalry, baby mama drama, music, and more crazy people than you can shake a stick at. But sometimes you can get too much of a good thing…
The other subplots involving Adam Johnson (Ransom’s older half-brother and Gwen’s boss) and assorted crazies took the story down from 5 stars to 4 to me. Don’t get me wrong. I am all for stretching the imagination and just going with the flow. However, I feel like they were so far out there that they took away from the heart and power of the story – the rewards and challenges that come with an older woman/younger man relationship. I wanted more focus on Gwen and Ransom … to see more of how their relationship developed.
Gwen’s character also seems a little uneven to me. Day tries to portray her as a stereotypical borderline-frigid divorcee throughout most of the story. However, Gwen’s language and thought patterns go from the proper “I have a Master’s degree in Education” to the colloquial “Jenny from the Block” at the drop of a hat. Yes, women have many different sides. But this flip-flopping makes for distracting dialogue and disposition shifts. There is a similar dialogue weirdness with Ransom. Minus another star.
At 3 stars, I like this novel. The romance side of the story really speaks to the “what if you took a chance” aspect of a good love story. I think this aspect makes it a worthwhile read in spite of the crazies. I was rooting for Gwen and Ransom’s HEA (happily ever after) the whole way. I would read another story by Zuri Day.
Recommended for:
- Urban romance readers
- Romance readers
- Erotica readers
Full review posted at A. Literary Mafia Blog: http://aliterarymafia.wordpress.com/2...
September 12, 2016
Meh. I ordinarily don't finish books this terrible, but for some reason I had to finish this one, even though I knew exactly how it would end. Some books are just funny that way huh?
This was such a soap opera! You've got the obvious hero, lady in distress, and villain up front and center. The jealous catty women side characters and the sassy best friend. YAWN. Some of the sex scenes between Gwen and Ransom were were pretty hot, but not enough of them to carry the whole book. Oh and can we talk about the huge eyeroll I gave to Ransom? Whose name means hero/rescuer and who winds up doing exactly that at the end of the book? Come. ON. He had no depth at all. He was too perfect. Yes I read these books to escape and it's nice to have male leads that are dreamy, but Ransom was too perfect. He was one-dimensional. He's gorgeous, tall, a great father, gainfully employed, mature, AND looking for a wife? Puh-leez.
Oh and can we talk about how despicable Adam is? Like over the top disgusting? I listened to this book and every time there was a scene with Adam I could feel the slime dripping out of my ears and onto my neck! ICK!
This was such a soap opera! You've got the obvious hero, lady in distress, and villain up front and center. The jealous catty women side characters and the sassy best friend. YAWN. Some of the sex scenes between Gwen and Ransom were were pretty hot, but not enough of them to carry the whole book. Oh and can we talk about the huge eyeroll I gave to Ransom? Whose name means hero/rescuer and who winds up doing exactly that at the end of the book? Come. ON. He had no depth at all. He was too perfect. Yes I read these books to escape and it's nice to have male leads that are dreamy, but Ransom was too perfect. He was one-dimensional. He's gorgeous, tall, a great father, gainfully employed, mature, AND looking for a wife? Puh-leez.
Oh and can we talk about how despicable Adam is? Like over the top disgusting? I listened to this book and every time there was a scene with Adam I could feel the slime dripping out of my ears and onto my neck! ICK!
February 10, 2014
What a waste, so much of this story was really sweet, romantic, and well-written, then it would deteriorate into the trashy. It was like this book had a dual personality disorder and the author could not make up her mind what she wanted it to be--a sweet, sexy romance or cheesy, trite erotica. At some places she went for quality and other places soiled the quality with sleaze. It would have been so much better if the author had gotten over her identity conflict and decided if she wanted to be classy or crass. Trying to go back and forth and be a little bit of both didn't work, so this fairly good book wasn't as good as it might have been.
March 26, 2014
Drama, Romance, Mischief
Joe, Adam, Ransom. . . could one woman really have three men to choose from? One shows he is not trust worthy. One is slimy and self-absorbed. One is too young, but then again age is only a number. One heart and soul can be infinitely older. Gwen goes through it all.
Gwen got herself a lot more than a crash course in the lessons of lust. She got herself in on the lesson of a lifetime. Ransom is a very eager teacher and has more lessons to teach the beautiful woman he literally ran into.
You many never truly encounter a younger man of this quality in real life so take the chance a experience him in your fantasies.
Joe, Adam, Ransom. . . could one woman really have three men to choose from? One shows he is not trust worthy. One is slimy and self-absorbed. One is too young, but then again age is only a number. One heart and soul can be infinitely older. Gwen goes through it all.
Gwen got herself a lot more than a crash course in the lessons of lust. She got herself in on the lesson of a lifetime. Ransom is a very eager teacher and has more lessons to teach the beautiful woman he literally ran into.
You many never truly encounter a younger man of this quality in real life so take the chance a experience him in your fantasies.
September 15, 2023
Another great novel from Zuri! My second feel good favorite from her. This novel perfectly takes you though the emotional struggles of a “older” woman who now has to find herself again after years if marriage and a sick mother. We get to see exactly how far jealousy, and greed will take people to get what they want regardless of who gets hurt in the process. She also gives is quite a bit of hood ole Karma and full consequence that greed and jealousy can also bring…She of course also gives us plenty of steamy scenes that is balanced by the first time romance that Gwen is experiencing.. You’ll won’t be able to put this down!
April 20, 2016
I had originally gave this book 4 stars but I'm knocking off one because this book is a tad bit ridiculous. I still loved the melodrama and characters but it's just too much. It makes me question whether I'll like other Zuri Day books as much as I used to. Either way, this way a fun romance read and I was more than happy to reread it for book club. I couldn't get a good image of Ransom in my head but I had no problems connecting with Gwen. She's a likable protagonist and I'm glad she got her happy ending.
April 13, 2012
I got this story back in September 2010 for free and am just getting around to reading it. I was pleasantly surprised and truly enjoyed the story. I really enjoyed how Ransom respected Gwen's wishes to remain faithful until her divorce was final. The lessons he taught her were HOT!
The scheming by Adam, Carol, Joanne, and Brea was ok to read because I knew they would not get away with it. I'm happy with the HEA.
I'm going to have to try what Ranson and Gwen did with that champagne glass. I'd drink my fill as well LOL!
The scheming by Adam, Carol, Joanne, and Brea was ok to read because I knew they would not get away with it. I'm happy with the HEA.
I'm going to have to try what Ranson and Gwen did with that champagne glass. I'd drink my fill as well LOL!
July 1, 2015
Though a little text heavy at times and a bit confusing, I enjoyed Lessons From A Younger Lover. I wasn't thrilled with the description of Ransom, as others were, just because I found his appearance a bit dated. And I always hate these books where the hot guy likes the average, inexperienced chick (lol). Anyway, the story had some unexpected twists and turns for me, which made it all the more intriguing, but led to some of the confusion I had. I recommend this one for the sunny beach days ahead.
February 20, 2020
The characters in this story are a little gray personality wise. You know Ransom is a hunk, but he just doesn’t leap off the pages.
The chemistry and heat also didn’t manifest to heated. The supporting cast are didnt add to the excitement like I thought they would. More props than substance.
Now. Don’t let this book be the decider of her talent, because her ‘Drakes Of California’ series is absolutely phenomenal.
The chemistry and heat also didn’t manifest to heated. The supporting cast are didnt add to the excitement like I thought they would. More props than substance.
Now. Don’t let this book be the decider of her talent, because her ‘Drakes Of California’ series is absolutely phenomenal.
March 7, 2013
Overall, a good read. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, but there were sections where the writing felt kinda trashy or juvenile. I realize people relax when not at work, but there are times where I questioned Gwen's education. I also wish I had seen a little more of how she came out of her insecurity.
September 30, 2010
This was easy reading. The characters seemed a bit stereotypical of the genre and I would have like more to be made of the difficulties in the relationship between older woman/younger man. Missed opportunity by the Author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews