A sexy, funny, forbidden standalone romance…(Now includes the first three chapters of Confessed, also a standalone, at the end!)At a secret masked ball at Yale, Naomi Costa is literally swept off her stiletto-blistered feet by a man with a killer jawline, a perfect body, and an even-better kiss. They bust out of an emergency exit and have axis-shaking sex. He pours whiskey in her belly button … He pours whiskey in her belly button and after they run out of condoms, they have to get creative. That kind of sex.
The next day, she learns that he is none other than Dr. Benjamin Beck, a brand new member of the Yale faculty and the hottest thing to happen to academia since… well, ever. She has to take his damned junior seminar to graduate, but it gets worse. He’s also her College Master: her boss, her advisor, her everything. And he’s just moved in, right downstairs.
They can’t stay away from each other. They’re either fusion or fission or both. They’re making out in libraries, hiding notes between stones, and sneaking off to nautically themed AirBnbs. Hear that sound? It’s the academic code of ethics going up in flames.
If they’re found out, he’ll lose his job and his reputation. She’ll lose her scholarship and be forced to return to the life of lobster fishing that she thought she’d escaped.
And they will be found out, yes they will.
So what the hell are they going to do?
***
To the reader: Things get damned dirty in this book. The characters curse, the sex gets explicit. It’s an erotic love story with fury. Be advised. This is a stand-alone novel.
Other tasters’ notes: HEA. Sweet. Funny. Dirty. Muddy. Wet. Inspired by a real professor.
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5 Stars
Professed by Nicola Rendell really surprised me. I knew from the blurb that I would like it, but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It is a fun professor/student taboo relationship, with insta-lust/insta-love, angst, push-pull, drama, emotion, and plenty of sizzle. The story had laugh out loud moments, funny banter and antics- but there was a depth to the story too, a wonderful emotive element that drew me in and didn’t let me go until I had read every word. I loved everything about it and am really happy I got to meet Naomi and Benjamin.
Naomi Costa is a college student who gets an exclusive invitation to a secret masked ball. There she encounters a very sexy man and they end up having an unforgettable tryst that rocks both their worlds. What she is soon to discover though, is that he’s her new professor of philosophy- and things are about to get interesting. They do try to stay away from each other, but their chemistry is so electric- with his job on the line, and her scholarship in jeopardy, will they be able to resist their chemistry and remain professional, or will they give in to their desires? Will they be discovered? Will they risk everything to be together? You really should read all the wonderful details for yourself, it’s well worth your time!
The characters are really well developed, with their own personalities, quirks and flaws. They are entirely believable, and I was fully invested in them and the outcome of their story. There were moments of frustration, where the angst/push-pull drove me crazy, but it all added to the ‘feel’ of the story and didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. There were a few editing issues that pulled me out of the story- but they were fairly minor and infrequent.
I adored Francie Newham’s story, that brought tears to my eyes and added a lot of depth and emotion to the overall storyline.
I am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Rendell’s work!!
Thank you, Ms. Rendell!
A magical tale, woven in a truly artistic manner. Could not put it down. A wonderful read. You will not be disappointed.
What would you do if you met when you least expected a person capable of arousing overwhelming feelings? What would you do if a stolen moment was the best thing that ever happened to you? And how would you react to knowing that this relationship can put everything you’ve won to lose?
Resting in his hotel room, Ben is faced with a knock on the door that changes his life. When he opens, he finds no one, but finds an envelope inviting him to a secret party. Upon arriving at the place, you receive a mask to preserve your identity. While walking around, he spotted a woman with black hair, black dress and white shoes that caught his attention.
Naomi was invited to a party, but as she watched the scenery, she wondered what she was doing there. When looking around, he comes across a man in a black suit that hypnotizes her. Ben then approaches this mysterious woman, and taking into account the sexual tension and sparks of electricity produced, the two end up in a rather hot situation on the emergency staircase. The two then decide to go to Ben’s hotel, where they spend the night. The next morning, Naomi leaves a note with her phone number and leaves, while Ben still sleeps.
The two spend the day failing to forget each other, but there are obligations that require their attentions. Naomi is a college student, who, to pay her bills, works on campus as a kind of housekeeper in the homes where the teachers live. The college will give a dinner to announce the new philosophy teacher, and Naomi was assigned as a waitress.
Ben is a mature man, 38, who recently moved to the city to take a job. He is a prestigious author who became famous after some celebrities appeared in the media with a copy of his book. He studies the philosophy of nihilism (a view that believes that traditional beliefs and values are unfounded and that there is no sense or utility in existence). Can you imagine the surprise of both of them, when realizing that they are student and teacher?
The university does not approve of this type of relationship. It would be a scandal for both of them. For Naomi, it would mean losing her purse and having to say goodbye to the dream of getting a diploma. She would have to go back to the life she left behind, working on her father’s lobster fishing boat, and content herself never to leave that little town and end up married and having several children. For Ben it would be the end of his career. He would be fired and would have the stigma of having had a romance with a student.
But reason does not rule when it comes to the heart. The two even try to keep their distance, but the feelings are stronger. They are hidden, they plan various plans to keep in touch without being discovered while seeking a way out of this situation. The rector, who begins to distrust the two, forms the figure of the antagonist. In the midst of all these problems, they also have to deal with their own questions. Well who always believed in nothing sees the whole theory of a life collapse, when falling in love. Naomi has to deal with the insecurity of thinking she’s not smart enough to be in a good college.
The plot presents several hot scenes, too much, by the way. The dean who disturbs the couple throughout the book surrenders in the end as an incurable romantic, not consistent with the posture presented along the trajectory. The end is solved very easily. An interesting plot, which had everything to develop spectacularly, but that was lost in the erotic cliché.
This story is hands down one of the best I have read this year. I don’t know what it is but there is something about Naomi and Ben that just captivates me. I’ve never felt so strongly about two characters then I have of these two.
Naomi and Ben first “meet” at a masked party. They instantly connect with one another and spend the night dancing and drinking and having a night that neither on will ever forget. They didn’t think they would meet again or that Ben would be Naomi’s new professor and master at Yale University.
They knew that a student and professor/master relationship would not be good, especially with an extra watchful dean who has it out for Ben. However, they can only deny their feelings for each other for so long before something gives. You can feel the love, the passion and chemistry between Ben and Naomi.
This story will captivate you, it will make you feel every single emotion that Ben and Naomi do during their time together. It is such a beautifully written story.
OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS ← Yeah. I just went there (don’t judge ) because this book truly deserves this kind of expression!
My heart is still swooning hours after devouring this binge-worthy read from the extraordinarily talented Nicola Rendell. Professed is hands down one of those stories that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. This insanely captivating story will consume you whole body and soul and you will be left obsessed with Nicola’s beautiful writing style that will hook you in time and time again!
This story was everything and I do mean EVERYTHING (at least in my eyes)! Seriously I never, ever, ever wanted to put this story down and it was a bittersweet feeling to reach the end. Naomi and Ben have the kind of relationship that blows readers minds. Gosh…these two are without a doubt my ideal couple when it comes to forbidden, student-teacher romances. I couldn’t get enough of these two and instantly wanted more of their story (so hoping they make an appearance in Confessed).
This may think that this book is not for you, but if you’re willing to jump head first into this read you will not be disappointed! I am so overly grateful to have been given the opportunity to read my second Nicola Rendell original (this was her debut novel, but I read her recent release, So Good first) and celebrate her amazing writing career!
angst-emotional, contemporary, ebook, older-man-younger-woman, read, romance, taboo-erotic.
Professed is a romantic, highly original, intense , sensual, and beautiful written student/professor taboo romance.
Nicola Rendell writing style is refreshing, unconventional and eloquent .
The chemistry , relationship and interaction between Ben the hero and Naomi the heroine is passionate, stimulating and convincing . The secondary characters are relatable and three dimensional .
I enjoyed reading this book.
4.5 Steamy Professor Stars!
Professed by Nicola Rendell is her debut novel and is a sexy student/teacher romance….it is also VERY steamy and I have to say, a very good start for a promising author! I got this book after reading Confessed and was totally blown away by it!
The story flowed pretty well, was fast-paced for the most part and I fell in love with both Naomi and Ben! The whole forbidden love aspect of the book gives you the drama and suspense (you were always waiting, wondering if they would get caught….particularly by one VERY nosy and suspicious Dean, whose bark is worse than his bite! 😉 ) The love story was incredible!! It felt like first love, young love…even though Ben is 38, he’s never been in love before (never even believed it truly existed). The sex was off-the-charts….and fit right into the storyline superbly! (Fans are definitely an option that you will need and a few panty changes, as well!)
All in all, this was an awesome debut! I would highly recommend this book to those that love this genre!