Synopsis
Cadence Miller is a good girl. She just happens to make one terrible mistake her junior year in high school which costs her ten months in juvenile detention. Now a senior, she’s lost everything: her best friend, the trust of her parents, driving privileges, Internet access. It’s a lonely existence.
But there is one bright spot: Mark Connelly, her very cute, very off-limits 28-year-old calculus teacher. She falls hard for him—a ridiculous schoolgirl crush headed nowhere. She can’t help it. He’s the only good thing at CrestviewHigh. She doesn’t expect him to reciprocate her feelings. How inappropriate,right? But he does. And he shows her.
And that’s when her life goes from bad to good.
Goodreads
4.5 Star review by Jen Hagen
Cadence is beginning her senior year of high school after spending 10 months in juvie following “the big mistake.” Kids are throwing names and accusations at her through the hallways of school, leaving messes in her locker, and essentially being a bully. She has lost the trust of her family and her friends. She has nobody she can talk to, nobody who can make her smile, and nobody supporting her. She definitely did not receive a warm welcome into her math class by the new hot-looking young teacher.
“Cadence, leave my classroom!” he roared.
Not exactly the reaction she was hoping to achieve…
Things change, and Mr. Connelly is the one person Cadence can count on to be able to brighten her day and to lift her spirits when they have struck rock bottom. He is there to clean up the mess from the bullies. He provides small acts of kindness when no one seems to care.
“You’re the saddest thing I’ve ever seen, Cadence. The loneliest thing I’ve ever seen. And any chance I get to see you smile, I’m gonna take it.”
Lines are crossed between teacher/student and the chase begins. The chase turns into the catch and the deception and lies to hide their relationship and find time together become more complex involving a strategic web of lies. There are some moments when jealousy and lack of maturity play a part in their relationship turmoil and sometimes Mr. Connelly can abuse his power.
“I’d never been so humiliated in my life, not even when I stood in front of the judge for my sentencing. This was far worse because Mr. Connelly was supposed to care about me.”
Remember that Cadence is young. At 17 she lacks the maturity that one would have at age 28. Mark has had to console her jealous rages on more than one occasion. Mark is a patient and controlled man, but when he’s with Cadence he becomes impulsive. Eventually these two personality traits will cause damage to their relationship. Love sometimes isn’t enough to keep two people together, but what happens when the loneliness that follows is worse than feeling the loss of control.
I clung to him harder, trying to still the shuddering of his body as he poured out his grief. The tears were soaking my neck, my shoulder, and I grew frightened. (there is something about a man crying that gets to me every.single.time)
Unfortunately Cadence and Mr. Connelly’s story is not complete and will continue to be told in a second book. We know so little about Mr. Connelly’s past and I’m a little worried that he has some deep dark secrets waiting to come out. Cadence’s family has not trusted Cadence since the “big mistake” and there are deep-rooted issues that will come to play in the next installment.
It didn’t occur to me at the moment that Dad just gave me a card to play. I wouldn’t realize it until the following day.
I have previously read S. Walden’s novel “Going Under” and that book also centered around high school-aged students. Although the author uses young characters, she pulls the reader into her expertly worded character’s mind and life to make us relive our younger years and place us directly into the book. I love teacher/student romances and this one certainly did not disappoint! There is so much more to this story than just the usual teacher/student angst as it goes above and beyond the suspense of keeping their relationship a secret.
About S. Walden
S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.
She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her blog at http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.com where you can get up-to-date information on her current projects.
Blog: http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.com
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Twitter: @swaldenauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/swaldenauthor
Three days only on Amazon! S. Walden is dropping the price of Going Under to only .99¢ on Amazon to help celebrate the release of Good during the Release Day Blitz from August 27 - 29!
Going Under ~ Amazon
Good ~ Amazon
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The book's synopsis has gotten my interest piqued. It's made me want to read the book. Thank you for the great giveaway! ^_^
ReplyDeleteYes I love Summers books !
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