Author: Tara Mills
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Beachwalk Press
Release Date: June 14, 2013
Format: eBook (Paperback TBD)
Back Cover Blurb:
One-on-one instruction
never felt so right—or so wrong.
There's nothing unusual about Mia Page's attraction to the young science teacher at the middle school. After all, she's not the only one who finds him enticing. But when he pulls her son aside to ask for her phone number, she knows she's in serious trouble. Since her divorce four years earlier, she's been out of circulation, choosing to focus on parenting instead, and she's not entirely sure she can handle an entanglement with the sexy Mr. Walden.
There are also other reasons why getting involved with Curt would be a bad idea. He's two years shy of thirty, and she's on the downside of that unmentionable number. He's adamant about never having kids, and she has a son. Even the guy's romantic gifts are suspect. Energy saving light bulbs? He has to be kidding.
On the other hand, he's fun, sweet, and smart. He stimulates her intellectually, emotionally, and Lord help her, physically, opening her eyes to life outside her comfortable world. Yet their differences quietly gnaw at Mia even while she succumbs to their undeniable chemistry.
As their romance deepens, so do Mia's fears that Curt will eventually hurt her. On edge, all it takes is an innocent comment to provoke her into drawing first blood. Mia recklessly wounds Curt, learning only too late that this blade cuts both ways. Frantic to make amends, she fears it might be too late to admit the feelings she's tried so hard to suppress.
There's nothing unusual about Mia Page's attraction to the young science teacher at the middle school. After all, she's not the only one who finds him enticing. But when he pulls her son aside to ask for her phone number, she knows she's in serious trouble. Since her divorce four years earlier, she's been out of circulation, choosing to focus on parenting instead, and she's not entirely sure she can handle an entanglement with the sexy Mr. Walden.
There are also other reasons why getting involved with Curt would be a bad idea. He's two years shy of thirty, and she's on the downside of that unmentionable number. He's adamant about never having kids, and she has a son. Even the guy's romantic gifts are suspect. Energy saving light bulbs? He has to be kidding.
On the other hand, he's fun, sweet, and smart. He stimulates her intellectually, emotionally, and Lord help her, physically, opening her eyes to life outside her comfortable world. Yet their differences quietly gnaw at Mia even while she succumbs to their undeniable chemistry.
As their romance deepens, so do Mia's fears that Curt will eventually hurt her. On edge, all it takes is an innocent comment to provoke her into drawing first blood. Mia recklessly wounds Curt, learning only too late that this blade cuts both ways. Frantic to make amends, she fears it might be too late to admit the feelings she's tried so hard to suppress.
Excerpt:
Casey
was almost to the Explorer, but Mia barely noticed. Her entire focus was
centered on the sexy teacher instead.
She
could feel the beads of perspiration popping out all over her at the way his
lightweight shirt caught the breeze, billowing out of the back of his
sexy-assed pants. Was that linen? It couldn’t be. It draped like rayon but
without the wrinkles. Whatever it was, he wasn’t exactly dressed to roam school
hallways or stand with his back to a class while he wrote on a chalkboard. She
envied and pitied the poor adolescent girls who had to look at that supremely
scrumptious derriere every day then suffer each night in a private torture all
their own.
No,
this guy belonged on a beach, seated at an umbrella shaded table with his long
masculine fingers curled around a glass of wine.
Okay,
putting Curt on a beach was probably a mistake. In a flash she had him bounding
out of the surf in low slung swim trunks as water ran down his sun-kissed body.
She moaned softly at the damp line of glittering hair bisecting his chest. It
tapered away across his solid abs then picked up again at his navel as a solid
arrow plunging inside his waistband. Mia’s fingers twitched as she did a
virtual walkthrough, quite willing to follow that trail wherever it led. Exploration
was highly underrated these days.
“Mom!
Are you coming?”
Casey’s
call jolted her back to reality. Well, one thing she could say for certain,
this fantasy was galaxies better than the usual gloom and doom.
Hurrying
to the SUV, Mia climbed in and drew her seatbelt across her lap. “Did I hear
Mr. Walden say he teaches science?” Silence followed her question. Looking up,
she caught Casey giving her a strange look. “What?”
“Don’t
even think about asking me to pass him a note at school,” he said flatly.
Mia broke
into a startled laugh. “Are you kidding?”
The
boy shook his head slowly. “I know that look, Mom. I’ve seen it a hundred times
this year, and I’m not doing it. Don’t even ask."
My Review:
Grading
on Curves is my third Tara Mills novel. Need I say more? I keep Tara Mills
on my TBR list because her fun, flirtatious, and sexy romances are so good.
They make perfect beach reads, or a fun quick read on the weekends, with plenty
of substance, excellent & believable characterization, and great storytelling.
Whenever I want to veer away from the dark, gritty paranormal novels I read, I
know a Tara Mills romance will brighten my mood and satisfy my romance bug.
Divorced mom Mia is settled in her life
and job and isn’t looking for a man despite her best friend’s nagging her to
move on and start dating again. The minute Mia lays eyes on Curt, her son’s science
teacher, unexpected sparks fly between them. Some people say you’ll never meet
the man of your dreams when you’re looking for him. You have to wait for him to
pop into your life out of the blue. Bam. Mia and Curt popped out of the blue
and into each other’s lives. But there’s resistance on Mia’s part for various
reasons I won’t spoil. Curt, not so much. He knows what he wants…and he wants
Mia.
Chemistry explodes between Mia and the younger Curt, and you root for them to find their happily ever after. What woman wouldn't want the romantic attentions from a hot younger man? Ms. Mills handles the age difference deftly. The road is a little bumpy and you wonder if they will ever reach their destination, but that's what makes this story and the characters so real. Kudos to Ms. Mills for another delightfully enjoyable and passionate winner.
About Tara Mills
Tara Mills: I write stories I like to read — contemporary romances with identifiable characters and themes. Life is hard, love makes it bearable. If you like stories with heart, heat, and humor, I have a title for you.
I’m a pampered wife, lucky mom to three amazing sons and one wonderful daughter-in-law, and I just became a very young grandma. I should probably underline the word very. Oh heck, why not the word young too? Nah, you get the picture. I’m also the daily monitor of one naughty dog with attitude.
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