by
Becca Seymour
Publisher: Rainbow Tree Publishing
Cover Artist: BookSmith Designs
Release Date: June 13, 2020
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Tropes: Small-town romance, age gap, low-angst
Themes: Reluctant to love
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 330 pages
It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.
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When a young teacher connects with the principal of his school, work and ex issues, the possibility of happiness and a chocolate Labrador called Penny means they have a lot to think over.
Blurb
Newly appointed teacher, Jasper Taylor, can't believe his luck. After a year, he's found a job with the possibility of a permanent contract, which finally allows him to put his teaching degree to good use. After meeting the silver-haired principal of the school, Jasper discovers his new position offers an additional temptation. He knows he should retreat, but who said avoiding attraction was easy, especially when the man he's crushing on seems too good to be true?
Well-respected and focused on his career, Austin Harrison is at the top of his game. He's turned a struggling school around, has finally put up boundaries with his demanding ex, and may just have secured full custody of his chocolate Lab, Penny. The appointment of the new English teacher, Jasper, threatens to unsettle the stability he's been working towards. Austin's attraction is immediate, heady, and oh so complicated. But does complicated mean he has to walk away?
Excerpt
The past week had been a challenge. Not only was the honeymoon period over with a couple of my classes, which meant they were pushing me to see just how much it would take for me to crack, but the uncertainty between Austin and me left a bad taste in my mouth. Feeling ill at ease was never pleasant. Add in that we hadn’t managed more than a handful of text messages, and it made everything feel so much more difficult.
But then he’d kissed me.
When his own concern had stared right back at me, the turmoil making life so unpleasant had immediately eased. Not quite disappeared, as a conversation between the two of us was overdue, but as I pulled up outside his home, excitement tumbled through me.
The previous weekend away had been incredible, close to perfect even. It was only the appearance of his high-maintenance ex that had abruptly put an end to the bubble of happiness.
A sweet grin lit Austin’s features when he opened my car door, having arrived a few seconds before me.
“And who said chivalry was dead?” I said when I exited. “Thank you.” Sweet gestures were a surefire way of making me swoon, and from the softness in his gaze changing to heat, I figured he knew as much.
“My pleasure.” He reached out and took my hand, the connection pleasant and reassuring. “Be warned, Penny may pounce when she sees you.”
I laughed. “Is that right?”
“She’s been pining.”
I side-eyed him. “After three weeks of knowing me, I would imagine that’s a vast exaggeration.”
He shook his head and stopped, angling to stand before me, hand still clasping my own. “Sometimes all it takes is one meeting to know there’s a connection. Add in the next handful of times, and when you’re left smiling, your heart hammering in your chest, already counting down the time until you’ll see that person again, pining is a given.”
Swallowing to clear the dryness in my throat, I fought hard to maintain my composure. “Penny does smile a lot with her eyes.” The words came out breathily, not as flippant or even as jovial as I’d intended. But, in all fairness, beyond slamming my mouth to his, I was unsure how else to respond to his sweet words.
He nodded, his eyes searching mine. “She’s lucky that you came back,” he settled on.
While my heart flipped, my lips quirked. “I’m lucky that you’ve reminded me how good and right it feels to be here.”
About the Author
Becca Seymour is the #1 gay romance best seller of the True-Blue series. Known for “steamy and endearing” and “emotionally profound love stories” (InD'tale Magazine) her books have been nominated for multiple RONE Awards.
Becca lives and breathes all things book related. Usually with at least three books being read and two WiPs being written at the same time, Becca’s life is merrily hectic. She tends to do nothing by halves so happily seeks the craziness and busyness life offers.
Living on her small property in Queensland with her human family as well as her animal family of cows, chooks, and dogs, Becca appreciates the beauty of the world around her and is a believer that love truly is love.
Author Links
https://linktr.ee/beccaseymour
