Author: Heidi Cullinan
Book: Love Lessons
Series: Love Lessons #1
Self Published
Original Publication Date: October 1, 2013
2nd Edition: March 31, 2017
Length: 314 pages
Reviewed by Erin
Synopsis
Love doesn’t come with a syllabus.
Kelly Davidson has waited what seems like forever to graduate high school and get out of his small-minded, small town. But when he arrives at Hope University, he quickly realizes finding his Prince Charming isn’t so easy. Everyone here is already out. In fact, Kelly could be the only virgin on campus.
Worst of all, he’s landed the charming, handsome, gay campus Casanova as a roommate, whose bed might as well be equipped with a revolving door.
Walter Lucas doesn’t believe in storybook love. Everyone is better off having as much fun as possible with as many people as possible…except his shy, sad little sack of a roommate is seriously screwing up his world view.
As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, staying just friends is harder than he anticipated. He discovers love is a crash course in determination. To make the grade, he’ll have to finally show up for class…and overcome his own private fear that love was never meant to last.
Warning: This story contains lingering glances, milder than usual sexual content for this author, and a steamy dance-floor kiss. Story has no dairy or egg content, but may contain almonds.
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Review
When I started thinking about which book I wanted to do for
my flashback review this month, I couldn’t pick anything else but Love Lessons by Heidi Cullinan. Then I
jumped on to Goodreads to pull it up and couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw
that it’s over four years old! How is that possible? I suppose it shouldn’t
REALLY come as that big of a surprise to me considering I’ve read the book (and
listened to the audio) more times than I can count. That’s not really an
exaggeration either. Love Lessons
speaks to my heart and soul in a way no other book since has quite done.
I’m going to share a very personal story with you all just
to let you know what this book means to me. Many of you probably don’t know
this, but my husband passed away suddenly a little over three years ago. My
friends rallied around me (as friends do) and sent me the most amazing care
package full of goodies to let me know I was loved. Among all the gifts of love
was tucked an envelope and inside that was a letter. But this was no ordinary
letter. Obviously, it was addressed to me, but it was the from that left me
speechless because it was from none other than Walter Lucas, one of the main
characters of Love Lessons. You see, my
very good friend, Jules, contacted Heidi and explained what had happened and
how much I loved the book and Walter especially and Heidi didn’t hesitate to
offer comfort at a time I needed it most. I won’t tell you guys what the letter
said, but suffice it to say the letter is framed and sits on my bedside table
where I can look at it every night.
I can’t even really tell you why the first time I read Love Lessons I knew it was a book that
would quite honestly change my life. Yes, it’s exceptionally well-written
because, duh, it’s written by none other than Heidi Cullinan. Yes, Walter Lucas
and Kelly Davidson are two characters that embody everything that a perfect
friends to lovers story should be. And yes, it’s sweet and romantic and swoony
and sexy. But it’s SO much more than that.
Books that take place in a college setting are among my very
favorites. There is just something that is so very appealing to me about
characters coming of age and finding themselves. Love Lessons captures all of this with a breathtaking perfection.
Kelly Davidson is away from home for the first time and he’s nervous. He’s
adorable, awkward, naïve, and utterly loveable. Plagued with more allergies
than you can name, he’s pretty much a wreck and worried about everything that
could go wrong. When charming, (and omg the level of charm is off the charts!)
flirty, campus playboy Walter Lucas winds up as his roommate poor Kelly doesn’t
know what hit him.
Let me expound a bit about the epicness that is one Walter
Lucas. My love for him (much like my love for my husband) is limitless. Ask
anyone who knows me well who is my favorite character in any book, and they’ll
tell you Walter Lucas without a second thought. EVERYONE knows how much I love
him. I could talk about him endlessly for days (I have been known to gush so
long I’m sure my friends wish I’d just shut the hell up). Thus the reason for
reaching out to Heidi when my husband passed away. He wasn’t quite as charming
and smooth as Walter (close but Walter has him beat by a little), but he had the
same sort of goodness that shines through, the kind that people are just
instinctively drawn to. Walter isn’t perfect, but he’s good for Kelly and his
heart is as pure and amazing as any character I’ve ever read. He pushes every
single one of my buttons, some I didn’t even know I had, and my love for him
will never die.
Whenever I’m missing my husband, whenever I need a pick me
up, whenever I need something that I know will leave my heart full and happy, I
pick up Love Lessons. Walter and
Kelly will give you joy. They will make you smile so big your face hurts. They
will make you appreciate your loved ones. As the holidays approach, I urge you
to read Love Lessons, even if you’ve
read it before. It will fill you with love and happiness and who doesn’t need
more of that? Oh and if you happen to notice the dedication in the new edition,
yes that’s me, and yes Heidi made me cry.
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What a touching story. Thanks for sharing that. That made my day. I too love Heidi's work, and I'm happy you have such things to remember your husband by.
ReplyDeleteThe Cut and Run series is a definite fave
ReplyDeleteHe Completes Me and Strong Enough by Cardeno C are two of mine.
ReplyDelete