Laura Brown
Published: Purple Gecko Books
Date: February 2014
Pages:316
Format: e-ARC
Genre: contemporary romance
Source: From the author.
Never let your friends get involved in your personal life. Lila and Nate learn this the hard way. They are the star-crossed lovers of Glendale High. For three years the students have waited for the two to get together. They begged Nate to put his past relationship behind him, and cringed when Lila started dating Bryce. Just your typical teenage romance, except they’re the teachers.
Lila, a guidance counselor with a sweet demeanor, has an answer for every problem, every problem but her own. A visit from childhood friend Bryce thrusts her calm world into turmoil, as emotions buried deep inside are dragged to the surface. He soon realizes what only a friend can notice and a lover regret, that Lila, unbeknownst to herself, is in love with Nate.
Nate has seen better days. He is a history teacher stuck living in the past. Depression has kept his love for Lila unspoken, his ego frail after being cheated on.
Now Lila and Nate’s coworkers must unleash a scheme and uncover Lila’s true feelings. In a school this nosey what better way to get fast results than to involve the student population? The students are all too eager to get involved.
If everything goes as planned Lila will have to choose between two men. If her friends fail they might destroy these three and ruin their friendship. No wonder the scheme is called Project Torture.
The summary above fairly accurately sums up what this book is about. The only aspect it leaves out is what happens in the end, how the various friends interact and respond to each others' interference.
The line above " Just your typical teenage romance, except they are teachers", rather sums up the tone of the book, even though the teachers are in their late twenties, some just turning thirty. I found this a little off putting, I think perhaps this would suit an audience of readers in their twenties. I also found the interference of the students somewhat off putting. I am possibly showing my age here!
What did stand out was the care and loyalty that the friends have for each other. They did have the best interests of each other at heart. I think I liked Bryce the best! Wanting to be sure that Lila does love him he embarks on a scheme with the others to push Lila into owning her feelings and making the best choice for her. He really cares for her.
I also liked the fact that Ette is able to use American Sign Language and that the deaf community are included in the book. Her relationship with Mark was a another highlight in the book for me. Especially as up until now Ette has had very little staying power in her romances.
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