Life Lessons [Kindle Edition]

Rating: 4.75 out of 5

Call me bloodthirsty, but I enjoy a good crime thriller. Give me a bit of mayhem, a seasoned detective, and a touch of romantic tension, and I'll dive in head first and remain happily embroiled in a story until the cows come home. It's also no secret that I enjoy m/m romance, so I was thrilled to stumble across Kaje Harper's novel "Life Lessons." This thriller with a hint of romance "hit the spot" for me, giving me several hours of much-appreciated escapism and entertainment.

The mystery and police procedural portion of this novel is very well done indeed. I found the plot to be highly absorbing and suspenseful. It captured my sometimes-fickle attention right away and held it fast. And while the romance portion of the story was not quite as compelling, there was still enough romantic tension to keep my interest in the relationship between the two main characters throughout the story.

"Life Lessons" is not an emotion-filled tear-jerker. Although traumatic events do happen (this is a murder mystery after all), there is a little bit of emotional disconnect between the reader and the tragedy. However, I found that this distance thins as the story progresses, as the character Mac becomes involved emotionally against his better judgment.

Ms. Harper does an excellent job working the story up to a climax that is both well-executed and exciting. Even though I knew intellectually that the heroes should survive the story unscathed, this result didn't feel guaranteed. I enjoyed the sense of suspense and tension that this created within me, even as I worried for the safety of the hero in distress.

"Life Lessons" concludes in a manner that satisfies our romantic sweet tooth without becoming maudlin. There are no declarations of undying love, promises of endless fidelity, or toddling off into the sunset together. Instead, there is a feeling of quiet and hope and the gentle stirrings of happiness, as if a happily-ever-after is not a given, but maybe - perhaps - this relationship could work out.

Overall, I give "Life Lessons" an enthusiastic "thumbs up." I enjoyed very page of this book and didn't want this story to end. If you like thrillers as much as I do and are looking for an m/m storyline as well, then you will definitely want to put this title on your reading list. I don't think that you'll be disappointed.

Kaje Harper's first book for MLR Press is a taut thriller/mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat until the bitter end. Her two main characters, Tony Hart, a teacher who witnessed a murder at the high school where he teaches, and Jared "Mac" MacLean, the detective on the case smolder from their first tense meeting. As the killer begins to stalk Tony, Mac's long-suppressed sexuality comes to a head and Tony and he begin a relationship in the midst of this terror. The end is a roller coaster that will leave you gasping!

As someone who had been both a police officer and a teacher, I found that Ms. Harper nailed both professions. I couldn't find any glaring errors in police procedures, except maybe Mac becoming involved with a witness (Tony), but then this is a romance novel and if Mac didn't break that rule, we wouldn't have a book!

The writing was tight and the characterizations of Tony and Mac intriguing. My only niggles were with the secondary characters and storylines. I thought it was ludicrous that Mac's daughter, Anna, was being raised by an extremely religious cousin and not Mac after his wife died; as there are many single fathers who work on the police force. I thought this excuse was being used to keep Mac in the closet and wasn't very believable in this day and age of daycare and nannies. And although we did not see Mac's cousin appear on-page in this novel, I have a feeling that in the sequel, Breaking Cover, Mac's sexuality and custody of his daughter will become an issue. Other than that, I enjoyed Life Lessons, the mystery aspect kept me guessing and the romance was angsty and hot enough to hold my interest. 3.5 stars.

Dark Divas Reviews

Just loved it! I read a lot of m/m books and the theme of closeted cop and out lover is not uncommon... but this book had genuine tension. It starts with Hart becoming tangentially involved with a murder (the victim falls on him) and thus meeting the very closeted but very hot homicide detective, Mac. And then nothing twee or contrived happens... it seems to unfold very naturally and there was no suspension of disbelief required, no plot holes the size of trucks, the story just worked.

I liked both men, though Mac's background seemed particularly tortured, especially the way he was raising his daughter - (did his cousin have to be so extreme?) - but I also thought that the problems of one person being so closeted and one just out were genuinely addressed, and yet the chemistry and affection between the two men made you understand why they did it.

Great dialogue, good characterizations, great plot.

5425 locations I rate it a keeper and a reread. Happy find, I hope Katje Harper writes fast!