Summer Hemlock never meant to come back to Omen, Massachusetts…But with his mother in need of help, Summer has no choice but to return to his hometown, take up a teaching residency at the elite Albin Academy—and work directly under the man who made his teenage years miserable. Professor Fox Iseya.Forbidding, aloof, commanding: psychology instructor Iseya is a cipher who’s always fascinated and … cipher who’s always fascinated and intimidated shy, anxious Summer. But that fascination turns into something more when the older man challenges Summer to be brave. What starts as a daily game to reward Summer with a kiss for every obstacle overcome turns passionate, and a professional relationship turns quickly personal.
Yet Iseya’s walls of grief may be too high for someone like Summer to climb…until Summer’s infectious warmth shows Fox everything he’s been missing in life.
Now both men must be brave enough to trust each other, to take that leap.
To find the love they’ve always needed…
Just like that.
Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
A new Carina Adores title is available each month:
The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron
Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters
Better Than People by Roan Parrish
The Love Study by Kris Ripper
The Secret Ingredient by KD Fisher
Just Like This by Cole McCade
Teddy Spenser Isn’t Looking for Love by Kim Fielding
more
My first from this author, and it’s the start of a new series.
Summer and Fox are both layered, complicated characters who are likable despite their somewhat unlikable bits. The setting is intriguing, though I do wish we’d seen more of it–the focus in the story is definitely on the two main characters’ inner growth and changes as well as their relationship (this isn’t a bad thing–I just would have liked to have gotten more of a sense of the school, students, and surrounding countryside than we do). Even Summer’s mother, who he has supposedly moved back to help out, barely makes a blip here; he visits her a very small handful of times.
Just Like That goes a bit OTT with the flowery prose and navel gazing at times, but at its core it’s a sweet romance between a sunnily optimistic if somewhat young teacher to be (or is he? I’ll never tell…) and his much-older mentor/former teacher who has his own struggles with grief and brings just the right amount of grumpy to their relationship to counterbalance things. I thought that both grief and anxiety disorder were portrayed well here..admittedly I have more experience with one than the other, but they didn’t seem wildly overblown for plot like they can be at times.
One thing that gave me huuuuuuuge pause was the throwaway comment that Summer makes in the epilogue–“we’ve christened half the rest of the school grounds.” Um, really? At a residential boy’s school? I was willing to give them a pass on the school pool scene–okay, it’s late, and off limits to students at that time, so mayyyyyybe–but even though we hardly see any students throughout the book, they’re still there. They live there. And two faculty members are just getting it on all over campus? Really seems like a bad idea to me…
So…would I read another book from this author? Possibly. I’m not a huge fan of his writing style, but I also didn’t hate the book, so…???
This is part of the Carina Adores line, which promises new HEAs every month in its LGBTQIA+ line–definitely one to keep an eye on!
Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
As part of the Carina Adores, Just Like That is a gorgeous, atmospheric, and lyrical addition to the line. I’ve never read Cole McCade before, so it was a real treat to find a new-to-me writer and enjoy him so much.
The story centers on Summer who returns home and to the very school he once attended to be a TA to professor who both intimidated and fascinated him as young man. Albin Academy is a kind of school for wayward boys who brought by parents in need of an intervention to help their sons.
Professor Fox Iseya, a formidable personality, has been mourning the loss of his wife for 20 years. Despite this emotional isolation, he is attracted to Summer. A scorching kiss sets off a challenge – for every risk Summer takes, Fox rewards him with more kisses, each one drawing them deeper into shared intimacy. This game quickly spirals out of control as the attraction that simmers beneath the surface reaches a boiling point that refuses to be denied.
The writing is absolutely lovely. I love description and detail, so this type of narrative suits me. However, I also know many readers go into a contemporary romance searching for plot and immediacy and might be put off by the prose. I was not. In fact, I gloried in it. There is a haunting, gothic quality to the atmosphere, and the romantic elements are so movingly described, I felt emotionally hung over when I was done with the book. There’s something enormous about this love story and that is such a wonderful feeling in which to get lost as a reader.
Relevant tropes include age-gap, second chance and a bit of hurt-comfort, as Fox breaks out of both his grief over his wife and his feelings of inadequacy over being involved with a man so much younger than he is. I am looking forward to the other installments in this series.
ARC provided by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted at http://www.serataino.com/bookshelf:-just-like-that-(albin-academy-book-1)-by-cole-mccade
An absolutely lovely romance.
In Just Like That Cole McCade spins a tender and emotional story. The characters are deep and intricate, and their relationship is wonderfully complex. With the added bonus of Cole McCade’s truly beautiful writing, Just Like That is a moving story I won’t soon forget.
3.5+ stars- It’s hard to rate a book that is well written but just doesn’t touch or capture you as much as you’d expect, harder still when it’s a favorite author. All the wonderful aspects of Mr. McCade’s writing were present in Just Like That. The plot and setting was interesting, the characters endearing if a bit off center, the writing smooth and descriptive, and the emotions on full display. Although I loved the pieces of this May-December romance with a reimagined professor-student/ mentor-mentee dynamic, I was never quite pulled in the way I am by most of this author’s works. Was it good and worth recommending? Absolutely. Did it leave me enamored? Not so much.
This author has a way of capturing all the nuances of a character’s experiences and emotions, so much so that they often seem flayed open for the readers. That was certainly true in Just Like That. Though I know descriptive prose isn’t all readers’ cup of tea, it never feels wasted or inaccessible in Mr. McCade’s books. Rather, in Just Like That, it took a high brow psychology professor and teaching assistant, and gave life to their feelings, picking out points I never considered but that were very relatable. I liked the unique start to Fox and Summer’s physical relationship and I enjoyed the way that grew into a solid, supportive emotional connection on page. I also liked the resolution of the story. It felt complete without being rushed. So while I can’t say I fell head over heels for characters or the story, I did enjoy it and really liked the writing.
*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*
Just Like That is a story of one man finding himself years after a profound loss and another that is learning who he wants to be.
Summer Hemlock is fresh out of university trying to find his career, he didn’t expect to land back home in Omen, Massachusetts. He secures a position teaching at Albin Academy boarding school, directly under the man who he fosters a crush on while he was a teenager, Professor Fox Iseya.
At their first meeting, Professor Iseya has little faith in Summer’s abilities. I hurt for Summer in these moments, because it felt like Professor Iseya was tearing him to pieces and didn’t even care about the damage he was doing. Summer acted out, in a moment of bravery, and kissed his childhood crush. From that action, the entire course of the school year changes.
A daily act of bravery, Summer gets a kiss from Professor Iseya. The kisses turn into something more and hold a different meaning to them both. Summer whittles away at the walls Fox had put up since the passing of his wife. Fox allows himself to feel something other than nothing and they get lost in each other in the process.
The steam factor on this one I’d give a four out of five. Each scene was intense, full of passion that had been so tightly bound for so long, it was explosive once they were together. A May/December romance, featuring workplace, desk top sex? Woo, I was not expecting that.
Why did this get a three out of five stars? For me, I was expecting so much more. There was so much focus on Fox, with only a brief moment when Summer figured out what he wanted in life. I wish there would have been more to their relationship. I was left wanting, but still satisfied with the resolution of the story.
First, this is my first experience with Cole McCade, but after reading Just Like That, I’m positive it won’t be the last. The guy certainly has a way with words, and he uses them here in all the best ways. This story is a terrific mix of some of my favorite tropes, and it’s one that was so easy to fall into. I found myself invested in Summer and Fox almost from the very first page. The more I learned about these characters, the more I wanted to know. I think the best way to say what I’m trying to say is that they’re human. Neither is perfect, but they’re pretty darn perfect for each other. As I said, this may be my first book from Cole McCade, but I will be checking out what’s already available while I wait for whatever comes next in this series.
When I read the description of Just Like That, the former-student-now-teacher forbidden nature of the romance had me requesting this title. I’m always on the look out for a new M/M author so I thought I would give this author a try. This is my first book from this author.
Summer Hemlock returns to his home town due to family illness and ends up taking a job at his old school. The Albin Academy caters to rich socialite students, and Summer has never fit in, but he’s eager to reconnect with his teenage crush, Fox Iseya.
Professor Fox Iseya has erected lots of protections for his own emotions which prove to be a bit of a challenge for these two to get together. Just Like That does a good job of keeping the slow burn going as Fox and Summer negotiate their relationship. Summer does a good job of warming Fox’s cold heart. They also have a twenty-plus age difference to deal with, which gave the story interest and another hurdle to jump in their relationship.Fox also has some past issues to deal with that color his view of the world. Good thing Summer helps him learn to live.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It has that a good boys-school feel to it, and I love it when two characters find their happiness together by moving on from the past, even when they have obstacles they have to overcome. Just Like That was a quick easy read, There is a bit of wordiness and the unique naming of these characters threw me off at times, but I’m left definitely wanting to read more from this author.
Genre-wise this is a M/M age-gap romance.
It was very well written and instantly drew me in with its easy style.
This had such a beautiful flow to it and the prose used here was just so lyrical.
Summer Hemlock returns to his roots in Omen Massachusetts to be close to his mother and to take up a position as a TA at his former school Albin Academy.
Summer is now working under his former teacher and crush’s shadow the frosty and rigid processor Fox Iseya.
When the professor brings attention to Summers reticent nature challenging him to step out of his safe-zone Summer without thinking of the consequences angrily kisses him.
Fox has been closed off for years, the pain of losing his wife causing him to shut down his emotions and hide behind an icy outward demeanour.
Summers unexpected move totally throws him and causes the first chunk in his defences to appear.
I did initially think that it would be Fox being the elder here making that first initial move when surprisingly it was Summer who despite his more timid and submissive nature takes the reins and first pushes forward here.
Fox initially is much more reserved but does react accordingly.
He is initially very much perturbed by what is unfolding as he’s been living in an emotionless vacuum for years due to his past grief.
Dropping his walls after all this time to allow someone closer goes totally against his every instinct.
Fox’s initial floundering is adorable and such a contrast to his usual controlled outward persona.
It’s also fascinating to see Summer emerge from his chrysalis after years of keeping his head down.
As a character Summer is such a contradiction all anxious energy mixed together with a big glug of courage.
He’s afraid but still prepared to go after what he wants despite his uncertainties or maybe even because of them.
I loved the authenticity and complexity of the characters here they were imperfect and unique which gave this, in turn, such a realism.
Dynamic wise Fox Iseya is very much the dominant personality here but that is not to say the more submissive and shy Summer doesn’t also have a voice.
And as there relationship develops further Fox is very much a protector as well as a nurturer towards the much younger Summer whilst also trying to hold himself slightly separate for his own emotional protection.
I especially adored his stern take no-nonsense approach and the way it made Summer feel grounded and secure in the face of his own fears and extreme anxiety.
locked behind Fox’s stern persona is also so much surprising vulnerability and insecurities that he keeps hidden using fear of his wrath as a tool to repel others from getting close.
They were both such diverse personalities and against the odds, they seemed to fit.
This was very much a journey of discovery for both men who each found what they didn’t know they were looking for in each other and grew so much over the course of this story.
With this, we mostly focus on summer and Fox and there building bond but rather than being bored I was enthralled.
This was an incredibly romantic story, driven solely by the emerging bonds and past traumas.
It was incredibly emotional and poignant and actually had me transfixed.
I adored both Summer and Fox very much and was totally invested in their story.
They had such explosive chemistry as well as such a deep emotional connection.
There were no major gimmicks really with this and the simplicity of the story here was actually part of its whole appeal.
This was thoughtful and insightful and the emotions and slow healing experienced here is the main focus.
The struggles of a man afraid to re-open his heart and the courage of one who though still afraid doesn’t let it define and shape his future.
Totally recommend this it was great and I enjoyed it immensely.
A thumbs up from my camp.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Just like that.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
http://www.beckiebookworm.com
I received a copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Despite having quite an extensive back list, Cole McCade is a new-to-me author. However, I knew I absolutely had to get my hands on this story the moment I read the blurb. There was just something about it that cried out to my readerly heart and demanded my immediate and undivided attention. And I must say, Just Like That followed through quite nicely with its promise.
First and foremost, I fell for Summer Hemlock almost immediately. He’s one of those characters that jumps off the page and straight into your heart. I adored how the author portrayed him as a down-to-earth, genuine, anxiety-riddled mess. His character was just so real. As someone who suffers from anxiety myself, I can confirm his reactions were spot on and so incredibly relatable that I couldn’t imagine not falling for him. And when the gruff, stern Fox Iseya made his first real move to calm and soothe Summer during one of his panic attacks? I was done. Both characters had me by the heartstrings from there on out.
This is one of those stories that feels predictable on the surface—and I’m not knocking predictability… tropes are tropes for a reason—but before I knew it, everything I expected to happen… wasn’t. Sure, the overall story has a satisfying overall romance arc, but the little twists, bumps, and tiny celebrations that keep a story moving forward toward its final end point found a way to surprise me more often than not. Which, I loved. I’m a trope-aholic, so you’ll rarely catch me complaining about a romance author following the tried and true stepping stones set forth by the story tellers of yore, but when an author finds a way to fulfill my expectations while still keeping things fresh… Well, that makes me a happy little reader.
There were only a few nit-picky things that kept me from giving this story a full five-star review, but I won’t go into the ones that are mostly personal taste related. I still think the story was phenomenal despite those aspects and they are legitimately just things I have preferences one way or the other over and it takes a whole heck of a lotta different opinions and tastes to make the world spin. However, there’s one thing I will point out because it’s one of those things I can’t be silent about. And that’s… safe sex or, in this case, the lack thereof. A man my best friend had one night of unprotected sex with transmitted HIV to him from that single encounter. That was the first and last time he ever did that, but because it forever changed his life, reading sex scenes where safe sex isn’t addressed can be triggering and emotionally upsetting to him, which is the main reason I can’t be silent when I run across this particular faux pas in books. Even in fiction, the portrayal of unsafe sex can have consequences on real readers.
Okay, off my soap box. I swear, I am in no way, shape, or form coming down on the author or belittling the book or my readerly enjoyment. It’s simply something I can’t personally ignore. It came down to deciding whether to decline to review a book I otherwise loved or bend one of my rules a bit and insert a partially unflattering note into the review.
Still, I loved this story, so very much. I’d recommend it to any lover of romance, although I would provide a personal CW for unsafe sex. Just because I’m me. 🙂 So, go forth and enjoy this wonderful book. I know I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next in the series!
I’ve actually been sitting at my computer watching my cursor blink for over 5 minutes. This book is just such a mixed bag for me that I don’t know how to start or what to say. So, I’m going with stream of thought to start to see if it kick-starts my brain. I should start by saying this is a new-to-me author, although it looks like he has a solid back library of a multitude of genres. And I absolutely love his bio on his Goodreads page.
Quite frankly, as much as I tried to see past it, my brain kept getting caught up on the student/teacher dynamic of Summer and Fox. Not where they are right now in their lives, but where they were a mere 5 or so years ago. In my mind, it’s too soon. Part of that may be that I have boys in Summer’s age-range and I’m somewhere in Fox’s age-range. But I’ve read plenty of age gap romances without issues, which makes me think it’s the power dynamic that is bothering me. Unfortunately, whatever my hang up was, it kept interrupting my flow while reading this story.
On the other hand, I adore the beginning of the actual relationship with these two. While it’s a bit of an aside, there is not a huge issue about gay/straight/bi. I was getting the vibe of “we love who we love”, and that’s something I always appreciate.
Here’s the thing, some of the things about this story that I wasn’t crazy about are things I think others will love. In my opinion, the author gets too wordy at times. In the beginning, it was actually appreciated by me. But once I got a feeling for the characters and their surroundings it felt like overkill. Some sentences would go on for so long I would forget what the sentence was trying to tell me in the first place. At a certain point, it turned into me feeling as though the author was telling me instead of showing me. Which made the link between Fox and Summer weaken at times. I felt a connection between the two for the first half of the book, but it started to wane the more every nuance was explained to me over and over again.
Although this story is a romance with an eventual HEA, it has on overall depressing (almost oppressive) feeling throughout. Again, something that some readers may love and appreciate. For me, not so much. There were also a few things that irked me here and there. I’m not going to list them out, but I can’t leave this one alone. You do NOT call a deceased spouse/significant other an ex. Just don’t. I would never call my deceased dad my mom’s ex-husband. It’s just icky to do so.
Trying to come up with a star rating is almost impossible for me on this one. Here’s how I’m going to do this. There were times in this story where I would have considered it a solid 4-stars. There were times that I had to bargain with myself to keep reading to the end of a chapter. There are things I disliked that I know others will enjoy. Since it seems my feelings waffle between a 2 and a 4, I’ll split the difference.
Oddly enough, after reading the Goodreads bio I mention at the beginning of my review, I’m curious to read something else by this author. He’s definitely got potential. I’d like to see if it’s just that we aren’t a good fit, or if I just read the wrong book by him.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
Summer Hemlock and Fox Iseya
Oh boy.
Fox Iseya is a sharp-tongued man with an ice-cold demeanor. After his wife died many years ago Fox just stopped living. His attitude is the only thing he has to keep humans at distance.
Summer is a twenty-five, anxious, brave, young, and delicate, who unarmed Fox at first sight.
His soft voice, kind smiles, and knowing eyes, Summer sees right through him.
Fox tries everything to withstand Summer but he never had a chance.
After seven years Summer is back at the elite Albin Academy, now working directly under and with Professor Fox Iseya. The man who always made him anxious and more.
Somehow the tables are turned. Haughty Fox wants Summer to be brave so Summer does the bravest thing, kissing Fox.
“The water glided over him as if it loved him, and wanted to cling to him as closely as possible.”
Just like the water Fox wants to be close to Summer but can’t commit, this is his last year at Albin Academy. Summer wants Fox to be brave too.
Ghawd what a romantic story, with kind vulnerable personalities.
While all those sentences were beautifully written in long extended deeply moving ways, at times I wished they were wam bam short. I was so anxious and impatient it was too much, the road to the ultimate place was long and I wanted the fast way, not getting there through a maze but the short way. Even though the maze was full of beautiful flowers, they distracted from my goal.
Gosh, I feel superficial saying this, the author is a master with words, while I’m focused on the goal this author does everything to avoid it. The road is what matters not the goal itself.
I know, I KNOW!!
I loved this story very. It was deeply moving and highly romantic, with the most lovable precious characters.
Intimate, passionate, and sweet!
Just Like That is a seductive, May-December romance that features the nervous, impulsive Summer Hemlock, a former student who returns after seven years to work for his teenage crush, and the stern widower, Fox Iseya, a psychology professor who begrudgingly agrees to reward his new assistant with a kiss a day for conquering his fears.
The prose is smooth and fluid. The characters are multilayered, genuine, and honest. And the plot is a fervent tale filled with life, love, family, intimacy, grief, chemistry, heat, desire, romance, light drama, and relationship dynamics.
Overall, Just Like That is a tender, heartwarming, engaging tale by McCade that’s a promising start for this new Albin Academy series.