Try Not To. . .

Lakeview University #3

by Drea Roman

Jaime Westingbrooke's fall semester starts off so well.
Of course, it would go off the rails immediately.
As soon as he received his new graduate teaching assistant assignment-- Dr. Robert Staff. Hot, grumbly, and, so satisfying to. . . Jaime tries not to go down that road.
Nevermind the enormous crush on the man Jaime has been nursing since his freshman year.

Try not to fall in lust...
Try not to fall in love...
Try not to fall pregnant...
Oops, Jaime does all three.

Prof. Robert Staff is failing at all of his rules for life this semester, as soon as his new graduate assitant walks into his office on one sunny afternoon. Robert will try not to find himself suddenly attracted to his new assistant, who used to be a scrawny student but has had a summer glow-up. He cannot help but want to ... do all sorts of things a professor should not want to try with his graduate students. It's gonna be a long, hot semester. Hot under the collar that is. And maybe some other places too.

Try Not To. . . is book three of the Lakeview University: Holiday Try-Semester series. It features age gap, hurt/comfort, professor/student, and surprise baby themes.

Genres: M M Romance, Novella

92 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2022

About the author

Drea Roman is an over-educated lady with many pets and too many jobs.

Loving Him is book 1 in the Hearts Intertwined Series and published in December 2018. A novella, Saving Him, is book 1.5 in the series and published in February 2019. Book 2, all fingers and toes crossed, will publish in 2019. Writing plans for 2019 also include two omegaverse/mpreg series.

I can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram under Drea Roman. Join my FB reader group, Drea's Dirty Divas, for special stories and reading opportunities.

Reviews

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My desire for my professor is beyond anything it has ever been before."

Star Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
POV: Dual, First Person
HEA: Yes
Spice Rating: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Overall Opinion
First of all, I'd recommend reading the books in order to make sense of the overall storyline and character connections. This was a short quick read, with no angst or major drama, Jaime and Robert are a sweet couple, both the definition of sunshine. I enjoyed getting to watch them fight their feelings and eventually giving into them. Overall if you want a palette cleansing read that is pretty surface level, this read is for you.

Read if you like:
❣️ M/M Non-Shifter Omegaverse
❣️ Virgin MC
❣️ Age Gap
❣️ Hurt/Comfort
❣️ Mpreg
❣️ Professor/Grad Student

Trigger and Content Warnings: Mpreg, alcohol use.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jamie and Robert ❤️
3 Stars ⭐️

Sweet little quickie 💋

✅Professor/student
✅Age Gap
✅Sweetness

This was a very cute, sunshine filled feel good kind of read! If your looking for something light and a little fluffy this is the one.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Julie Underhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Try Not To… by Drea Roman is the third book in the Lakeview University Holiday Try-mester Omegaverse series by different authors. The series is about 2 omega and 1 alpha professor friends at Lakeview University and the students they fall in love with. As this story starts Jaime, an omega, has just learned that he has been accepted as a graduate teaching assistant in Ethnic Studies at the university with his crush since he started there, Dr. Staff. Robert is an alpha and has recognized that Jaime is an exceptional student and even fought to have him as his TA. When Jaime shows up at his office before the semester starts both of them feel a zing. Jaime has been in love with him forever but feels that no one would want him, let alone Robert, because he has been told he is a “dud” most of his life since he never had a heat. Robert realizes that he might be his mate and spends the rest of the story showing Jaime that he is worthy of his love. I enjoyed this book as it is very low angst. The characters are well developed and I liked how Jaime was so shy and Robert brought out the best in him and never gave up on showing his love, even when a baby becomes involved. The side characters also added to the story, even as they were going through their own trials, and some of the administrators were not nice people and added some drama as Robert and Jaime had to deal with them. I have read all the books in the series and have found that each one contains the same scenes and even some of the same dialog, then veers off into what happens to the different characters, which I find very unique in a series. I recommend this book, especially if you are looking for a short story with the professor/student trope in the Omegaverse. If you are planning on reading this one, I would suggest reading the books in order to get the best understanding of what is happening.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaime really likes his favorite professor and has had a crush on him for years. But he has always been able to keep it together until recently. The pull towards Robert is even stronger. Robert has admired Jaime as a bright student with a lot of potential to be an academic but he now finds himself lusting after Jaime. What is going on? Jaime is starting graduate school and he gets to be Robert's teaching assistant. Timing and proximity has given them a gift. They are fated mates and Jaime's slow to appear heat, has finally made an appearance. This was delightful in the way that the changes to their relationship were sudden but didn't come until they had established a mutually respectful and warm affinity for one another as professor and student, then people, now colleagues. And that also made Jaime who longed for this for so long, never thinking it could happen, in need of wooing. Which he got!
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in this series has gotten better that the one before it, and in my opinion book three is the best due to the lovable characters. Jaime, the omega, broke my heart feeling unloved and not worthy his entire life. Thus his confidence in himself was low, and he felt no one would ever love him. Suddenly he finds himself serving as a teaching assistantship for the alpha man, Robert, that he has secretly pinned over for years. Robert soon realizes that Jaime is his mate, and they are fated to be together but Robert has much work to do to convince Jaime of their fate and that Jaime is worthy of love and is not a broken omega. Roberts efforts are the focus of this low angst, sweet read. I wanted to hug cute Jaimie and tell him he is worthy. A nice conclusion to this Lakeview University series. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.

[S.M. Harshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was given a free copy of this book to read and review for Gay Romance Reviews.**

TRY NOT TO is the third book in the Lakeview University series. It is an Alpha/omega mpreg fated mates story.

Robert has always found his grad student Jaime attractive but something is different about him when he comes back to campus in August. Robert's attraction is much deeper. He fought hard to have Jaime be his TA not only because he's smart but having him close settles something in Robert.

Jaime has always been told he's a dud omega because his cycle didn't start when he was younger. He's inexperienced and in desperate need of Robert's experience. I loved seeing them come together and Robert showing Jaime he was worth everything to him.

[Amy Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing!

This book rocks! The third in the Lakeview University series, this one is Robert and Jaime’s story. Jaime has had a crush on Robert for years but it isn’t until now that Robert starts to feel the same. The two very quickly get caught up in these feelings and it is wonderful to see their story unfold. Jaime’s past will make it hard for him to accept the truth about Robert’s feelings for him but Robert is persistent and patient and so incredibly sweet. It is a wonderful time at Lakeview as Robert and his two friends, Thomas and Preston, all seem to be finding their mates at the same time. And just like Thomas and Preston, Robert will get his happily ever after too!

I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

[Justine Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Try Not To... is Book 3 in the multi-author Lakeview University: Try-mester series and can be enjoyed on its own or in any order. Jamie is just the cutest. He finds himself working for Dr. Robert Staff as his graduate teaching assistant; a man he's had a crush on since before he started at university. I enjoyed watching Jamie and Robert try to keep their relationship professional as they realize they are fated mates. I recommend this book and series and would love more stories in this world.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.

[Traci S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4⭐️
This is the third book from this series, and Robert and Jaime might be my favorite of the couples. I loved how awkward they are at first with each other, very cute with lots of pining. This one also had a bit of good tension created by some fun “villains”, like the Dean and Glenda. I especially liked Jamie, his struggles thinking he was defective and destined to be alone added some emotion and depth to this otherwise fluffy holiday read.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Well sadly there were no babies born during the series, but the title does say Try-mester. So I'm hopeful there will be another set of books in this world. Jaime is precious. He is sweet and smart, but he thinks he is broken since he is a late bloomer omega. Robert is patient and kind and is determined to prove to Jaime that they belong together. This was a great story and a fun series. Stan the Man made an appearance, yay! He really needs his own book.

[Jamey A Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. Hot and steamy. Entertaining from start to finish. Jaime has had a crush on Professor Robert Staff for several years now. Who should he be assigned as graduate teaching assistant to? None other than his crush. Jaime will have to fight hard to contain his attraction. Robert finds himself attracted to his teaching assistant Jaime. The pull between the two is so strong. Will they be able to fight their attraction? I highly recommend.

[Demetra Roussakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and features Robert and Jamie. Jamie used to be a student at Lakeview and had Robert as his teacher. Fast forward a few years and Jamie receives a letter from the University saying that he will be Robert’s TA which makes him excited. When Robert sees him again, sparks fly. After a while Robert realizes they are mates. This is their story to their happy ever after. Great chemistry, low angst sweet read with a baby on the way. Loved it and hope there is more.

[Maria771 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Jaime and Robert. It is the 3rd book in the Lakeview University Holiday Try-mester. I loved this story. The characters are wonderful and the story is sweet. Their chemistry is amazing.
I would suggest that you read the first books before you read this one - makes it more sweet. Definitely recommended.

I received this book as an Arc and I am happily reviewing it voluntarily.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alpha Professor Robert realizes his Omega teaching Assistant, Jaime, is also his fated mate. Jaime has had a crush on the professor forever. In this short, sweet novella these two figure their lives out. The third book of a series, This wraps up the three Professor's love lives. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.

[Jacquie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series finale

Although this could probably be read as a standalone, it is full of references to the other novellas and both were so sweet, it would be a shame to miss out on them.
A sweet fated mates story with an accidental pregnancy and a happy ending.
It's a shame this is the last one. I'd love to see the babies from all the novellas

[T Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another trip to Lakeview College with the alpha’s and omega’s finding their fated mates. This book is fast moving with a sweet omega and his true love. Good friends add strength and I like how the stories intermingle. These two are enjoyable and they most definitely get their HeA. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.

[Rebecca Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been looking forward to this book from the very beginning. Robert & Jaime are so sweet together & I love how the professor does everything in his power to make sure Jaime knows how much he loves & cares for him. This story was sweet & fast paced but still very amazing. The whole series has been so so good. 😀❤️

[Kashonna Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute novella. I loved Jamie, he was such a sweetheart. I loved that he crushed on Robert for years without him knowing.
Robert was a great guy. Him researching things about omegas to find out what could be wrong with Jamie was sweet.
This was book 3 and my favorite in the series. These two were so wholesome.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet read.

I enjoyed these three stories so much. I loved seeing how the three different authors did the same scene from the perspective of each of the three friends. It definitely makes me want more of this world too. Lakeview University has so much material for more. Just throwing that out there authors lol.

[Joanne Mccorkell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another easy sweet read.
Enjoyable like the rest of the series.

My only disappointment is that there wasnt any meeting like Robert wanted of his Omega Jamie and his Omega friends, with their Alpha mates from the other books. It would have been a nice ending to the series.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie and Robert are trying to navigate their feeling for each other. Unfortunately they do this without talking to each other to know that they feel the same for each other. How long will they fumble around each other until they make it onto the same page? Fun fated mates romance.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short and sweet novella, and my favourite of the three Lakeview novellas. Robert Staff is a bit annoying and patronising, but Jaime is adorable. Worth a read if you have some free time and fancy something simple and easy to read.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series, it's a nice sweet short read with age gap and fated mates. Each book can be read as a standalone, but it's really better to read in order. Loved the characters and stories of all of them.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Chelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story. Jamie and Robert are fated mates and have so much chemistry together. I really did enjoy reading this.

I did receive an ARC of this so thanks to GRR.

[Readingbks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series! Wonderful addition to this great series! I loved all three of them! Great quick reads! I read an advanced copy of this book and this is my unbaised review!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert and Jaime are so cute and I loved how patient and caring Robert was towards Jaime. They both get a little blindsided by their connection but are so perfect for each other. This was another cute story in the series.

[Kaila Karg · Rating 4 out of 5]

very sweet and cute... short and quick read with emotions and laughter. it was adorable and i really enjjoyed it.