The Lessons by Elizabeth Brown
Series: Forbidden, #1
Romance Contemporary
July 20, 2015
Self Published

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “It’s not going to fit! It’s too big!”

Natalie Reese is a planner. Her whole life is a series of plans, schedules, and to-do lists. Having just turned 30, she has a bucket list of things that must be done now and the number one thing is to lose her virginity. But Natalie isn’t one to go about it in the usual way. No escorts or friends with benefits will do it for her. She doesn’t want the romance or the connection that might form from a sexual interlude. Oh no. She has an agenda. Her plan is to enter therapy and use a sex surrogate to divest her of this pesky problem. No muss. No fuss. Everything is planned perfectly right down to the lie that will get her in the program.

Fate rarely takes us into the direction we want to go…

Dr. Ryan Andrews-a 30 year old sexy, tattooed, intelligent, motorcycle riding soccer player is the bad boy every mama in the world would want you to bring home for supper. Currently working towards his PhD. Ryan’s ex girlfriend got him into the sex surrogate program to help fund his degree. He has secrets that keep him from forming romantic relationships and this job is perfect for him. When he first met Natalie at the local library, he gets a punch of attraction he hasn’t felt in a while, but when he learns she will be one of his clients, he tries to get out of it through no avail. Now stuck together as client and patient, Ryan and Natalie try to keep their attraction at a minimal and follow the rules of the program.

Fate often takes in the direction we need to go…

Ryan and Natalie’s relationship changes from clinical to steamy in very short time but when secrets, miscommunication, and jealous coworkers enter the picture, Natalie and Ryan will have to come clean with one another if they want this relationship to work.

Though listed as book one in a series, The Lessons is touted as a stand alone. Funny, lighthearted, sexy, and a wee bit angsty; Brown does well overall with just a few bumps in the road. Heavily character driven, this quirky heroine and her endearing hero entertain with witty dialogue, engaging internal monologues, and humorous scenes.

The first quarter of the book starts out slowly. I had a hard time understanding who Natalie was and where she was coming from. While I’m all for an OCD list maker (so says the post it note queen of wee little lists) I was confused as to why someone would hire a sex surrogate to lose their virginity to. That’s a lot of work and deception for something that can be down with one phone call and a hundred bucks. As I got to know Natalie better and Brown reveals her backstory, I began to see why she might choose this route. A product of foster care and a whole host of tragedies, Natalie has major trust and emotional issues that for her won’t allow her to choose a relationship that might produce an emotional connection. She honestly feels a professional surrogate will keep it all above board.

“He did not need him to be an Adonis. A pre-screened disease-free surrogate with a penis would do the job well enough…”

The introduction of Ryan as the surrogate and the firming up of the plot line brings the book into better focus. Ryan is delightful. Simply delightful.  A beta style hero, he has a charming possessiveness (and dirty mouth) about him that belays his seemingly laid back personality. He has a firm moral stance and professional demeanor that has served him well in the past but meeting Natalie throws him for a loop. He wants her and it really messes with his head and heart. Once we are made aware of his own secrets and tragedies you only grow to like and respect him more.

“My new client was so f*cking hot it was messing with my brain.”

Though the initial setup is decidedly unconventional, Brown builds a believable romance that is appealing sweet, very hot, and dotted with a nice layer of tension. Natalie and Ryan’s romance is fraught with laughter and bittersweet moments as they attempt to navigate their way through this mess they have inadvertently created.  I loved watching Natalie discover the joys of sex as she unknowingly falls in love with Ryan. It’s fun to see a character whose first sexual experiences aren’t overly melodramatic or littered with indecisiveness on a physical level. Natalie wants to try it all, discuss it all, and Ryan is 100% on board with it all. I also enjoyed the possessiveness Natalie develops towards her ‘doctor of lurve…’

“Yes, I called him mine. He’d put his mouth on my vagina, and I was a feeling a little territorial about the whole thing. Sue me.”

Overall I enjoyed The Lesson.  It’s a quick fast read that hits all the right spots-romance and humor wise. A well developed cast of secondary characters gave the book added depth and more humor to the story and I really hope we see some of them in future installments.  I did feel some of the plot devices used to push this couple in the right direction came off a little heavy-handed and manipulative. The external conflict that pushes the miscommunication issue stunned me; especially Ryan’s decision.  I was also a little put out that Natalie didn’t seem to think all that much about the risks Ryan was taking for her. Even with the rather fast and anticlimactic resolution, the ending is sweet and fulfilling, wrapping up the story in a predictable but enjoyable manner.

Rating: B-

Recent Reviews:
Warhawke’s Vault

Goodreads I Author Website I Series List

Kindle