Review: This is a great story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 9, 2014
This is a partial review. Please read my full review on the Smoocher's Voice Blog.Josh Lanyon grabs the reader’s attention quickly and thoroughly with the novella Everything I Know. Inspired by Robert Fulhum’s book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, this story is charming and realistic. The list at the beginning of the book sets the tone for this tale. The intriguing, realistic characters draw the reader into the plot through the wonderful, and sometimes humorous, dialogue.Conner Myers loves teaching kindergarten. He loves the students; he is friends with his fellow teachers. He even likes some of the parents, especially the hot Wes Callahan, Lizzy’s father. But when Lizzy is injured on the playground, Conner’s world turns upside down. Without a clear school policy in place and with a very upset little girl on his hands, literally, Conner takes Lizzy to the emergency room at the nearest hospital.Wes Callahan, Lizzy’s over protective father, is not pleased when he finds out that not only has Lizzy been hurt at the school, but also one of her teachers has driven her to the hospital in his personal car – without permission. To say Callahan is completely freaked out would be an understatement.In this novella, Josh Lanyon has created a realistic and tension-filled tale. The turmoil in this story, unfortunately, is representative of the real world of education. The prejudices against male teachers, especially male elementary school teachers, are very real, and this story brings this issue front and center. The relationship that develops between Wes and Conner seems unlikely and yet it is sort of perfect.This is a great story, and Lanyon’s talents once again shine through character development and dialogue. Callahan’s simple admission that he is an ass adds a touch of humor that helps bring realism to romantic aspect of the story. In typical Josh Lanyon style, the characters and plot are presented in an engaging fashion and the reader is left wanting for more.