Review: Good read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 5, 2014
Reviewed by Pat Henshawfor TheRomanceReviews.comA closeted mentor teacher falls for his fledgling out-and-proud instructor in this British romance that flirts with improper conduct.When John Wainwright is hired to teach at an impoverished Manchester elementary school, he's immediately attracted to Head Teacher Brett Sanderson, who is also his mentor. But John thinks closeted Brett is straight, an impression Brett works hard at maintaining.Since John, whose brother is a married gay man, wants to ultimately have the same kind of relationship his brother enjoys, he doesn't pursue Brett, but settles into his new living arrangement with three other out-and-proud men.Brett, too, feels an attraction to John, but since Brett's only acknowledgement of his true self is as "Rob" in the gay resort of Brighton during school holidays, Brett too is ignoring his attraction to his mentee.It's a stand-off until, one day, overcome by his attraction, Brett kisses John, and then the floodgates open. But is it wise to have an affair with John when he's supposed to be mentoring him?While the ins and outs of the British education system are fascinating as are John's interactions with his gay brother and brother-in-law, gay roommates, and women colleagues, one of whom flirts shamelessly with him, K.C. Wells skirts the issue of whether it's ethical for Brett to keep mentoring and evaluating John's performance while their affair deepens.John is the star of the novel, playful and funny while being a good brother and roommate. That he's loved by the children in his class is understandable. He's empathetic yet stern when necessary. It's easy to understand why he's so popular.Brett, however, is a little harder to like, especially for readers who are or have been teachers. He's not only opening himself up for criticism by not handing over John's mentorship to another of the faculty until it's too late, but his hidden life in Brighton and his wanting to hide his true self from his very accepting coworkers seems just a little silly.Fortunately, K.C. Wells is a good enough writer to pull off a romance between the two men. Readers will come away rooting for them to become the kind of couple John's devoted brother and brother-in-law are.