I don’t play by the rules.
Never have, never will.
The second our eyes met from across the club,
I could feel a shift in the air—an overwhelming pull drawing me in.
One mind-blowing night is all it was, or so I thought.
Repeating my senior year may not have been the plan,
But finding out my one-night stand is my new teacher—
That’s something I never saw coming.
His gaze bores into … teacher—
That’s something I never saw coming.
His gaze bores into me with the same intensity.
That body, those hands, I remember every touch.
I should stay away, but I don’t want to.
This time, all bets are off.
I’ll let him think he’s in control,
Until I bring him to his knees.
Passion and fire,
Forbidden and wrong.
Like I said, I don’t play by the rules.
more
Just.. WOW.
There are both no words, and too many words, to describe this book.
I dove right in and finished this book within a day, I just couldn’t put it down!
Kelsey has upped her game (if that was at all possible) in her 3rd installment of the Haven Grace Prep series with The Rebel.
My thoughts after the initial introduction of Tessa Callahan in The Sinner (HGP#1), was not a positive one.
She came off abrupt and cold towards the h and I found myself disliking her, not taking her too seriously and glancing over her appearances in the book.
When The Saint (HGP #2) came around, being the twin sister of the h, I started to understand Tessa more. It became abundantly clear that loyalty was one of her strongest traits and when I truly thought about it, I couldn’t blame her for her attitude and behavior.
This got me both excited and intrigued to delve into her story and to find out what made Tessa tick.
And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
Tessa’s strength was inspirational throughout the book.
“I may have fallen down, but I got back up again, and that’s all that matters.” – Tessa.
She showed courage beyond her years. Her sass, spirit and sharp tongue gave me a few laugh out loud moments and her ‘I always get what I want’ attitude didn’t come off as a spoilt brat, but rather like a determined, take no prisoners, straight-up, boss. A trait more h’s should posses.
Asher.. *sigh*
Well Asher made me relive my highschool days wishing there was a teacher like him to swoon over.
I unashamedly admit that I love me a jealous, protective and possessive alpha.
And I love them, even more, when they put it all on the line for love.
“Don’t you get it? I’m not risking it by going. I’m risking it by staying away.” – Asher.
The chemistry these two share makes your fingers burn and your temperature rise as you flip from page to page. Their story got me hooked and didn’t stop reeling me in until the very last page.
I don’t want to give away much, so believe me when I say you need Tessa and Asher in your life!
So if you’re looking for something with both light, heavy and steamy moments, and with the undercurrent of love flowing throughout – then this is the story for you!
Thank you Kelsey, this book gave me all the feels and I can’t wait for HGP #4!!
I received an advance copy of this from Wildfire marketing on behalf of the author.
Forbidden romances are my jam. I am kicking myself for not reading this author before now. Because this was SO GOOD.
Twists, turns, steam, angst. This book has it all. I’m for sure going back to read the rest of this series now!
This is the first book I have read by Kelsey Clayton and it most definitely will not be my last. From the very first page I was sucked into this amazing story. Asher Hawthorne is a Fantastic football player but having your career sidelined you have to do what you need to do to go on. Winding up at Haven Grace Prep School wasn’t what he imagines but when you come face to face with someone again all bets are off.
Tessa Callahan is most definitely struggling with life right now but when she heads back to school to get herself back on track she never expects to see him again.
You will watch how Asher & Tessa both struggle with life issues but there is something about their connection that will have you trying to get to the next page as quick as possible to find out what happens next. If you are looking for a book that will have you intrigued from the very first page right up until you see the words The End then this is the book you won’t want to miss.
The Rebel by Kelsey Clayton is a rollercoaster ride of sass and angst. It is the classic teacher/student romance trope with an entertaining twist that makes it an intriguing read. The main characters excel at projecting strength through adversity and Tessa, especially, is such a fantastic example of this. You don’t need to read the first two books in this series, The Sinner and The Saint, but there are several instances where reading them in order will make The Rebel more enjoyable. If you need a quick, sexy read with a touch a taboo, this book should check all your boxes! 4 A+ Stars!
This is the 3rd book in this amazing series and is Tessa’s story. Tessa has come into her own in this story, after the trauma she has suffered as well as her past she has understandably has demons, but she is dynamic, strong, and a sassy spitfire in this tale. When she has a one-night stand she has no idea that he would be the new teacher. I loved Asher who is a dirty talker, compassionate, and who is understanding and loves Tessa unconditionally. The chemistry between these two is off the charts, and the witty banter between them is entertaining. This is a beautifully written tale which is an emotional roller coaster throughout, as well as having heartbreak and is a sweet and humorous read. This is one of the few authors’ whose work I just devour as soon as it hits my kindle, and this story is no different. This is a perfect addition to this series, which I highly recommend for all.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.
Kelsey Clayton knows how to write a gem of a book. This is the third book that I have read by this author and I am just as over the moon with this one as I was with the first two.
Clayton has a writing style that just puts a smile on your face. At this point, I know that when I pick up one of her books that I am going to get quality writing. Her narration is smooth and homey without being bland or boring. She has a knack for making the reader care immensely about the story that is unfolding and making the reader fall in love with the characters. The plots in her stories are always clever and unexpected. I love the way that she keeps me on the edge of my seat with anticipation.
After reading the other books in this series, I knew that Tessa Callahan was a character that was going to mean a lot to me. She was so sassy and rebellious and I fell in love with her immediately. Her character was full of so much depth. She had so much trauma in her life that she was running from. Her journey wasn’t an easy one but it was one that was totally worth it in the end. Asher was a character that was also easy to fall for. He was also a character that was coping with the bad hand that life had dealt him. Both Tessa and Asher were resilient characters that complimented each other well. I loved seeing all of my favorite characters from the first two books in this series and I fell in love with a new one in this book. I love how the secondary characters balance out the story.
As I said above, Asher and Tessa were characters that really complimented each other so much. There was a ten year age gap between them but it never really had much of an impact on their relationship, apart from the teacher and student aspect. Their chemistry was immediate and undeniable. It was so explosive and meaningful. When push came to shove, Asher wasn’t afraid to show how much Tessa meant to him. Regardless of what it did to his career or reputation. I loved the comfort that they shared with one another and the dedication they had for one another.
Overall, this is a book that will take you by surprise and hit you hard in the feels when you least expect it. Some parts of this story are raw and gritty and they pack an emotional punch. Kelsey Clayton is a new unicorn author for me. Every book is just such a masterpiece. I am so enamored by this author and I cannot wait to read what comes next!
Honestly, I always knew there were more layers to Tessa and this story peels them back to expose who she really is and boy I like her a lot! In the first two books of the series, we saw her as the carefree, rambunctious sister, the hellion and mischievous sister with her sassy mouth but also the caring and loving sister too. In this book, Tessa is still all of those things however after her past trauma and with some growing up thrown in, we see a slightly needier side and one that makes me want to hurt the less than stellar characters in her life. And yes, I am trying to be a lady but really my emotions became very stirred up and my protective mother hen side won out… a bit like Asher.
Ah, Asher, he is a honey who, although finds himself in an unusual situation, makes the best of what life throws at him. I really like his character, and not just because he is insanely good looking and physically cut like a God. He has depth to him, knows how to have a good time but also knows that you need to work hard to get what you want and he follows that rule.
There is, as usual, an extremely serious element to this story, one that is handled well, in a realistic manner though. Honestly, there is some great advice in this book. My heartfelt so heavy at times but then something would happen and the mood would lift again, a terrific balance between serious and humorous.
Another amazing story by this author that I recommend to everyone.
Reviewer: Robyn
She’s a true wild child cherrybomb, with a mind of her own and a stubborn streak a mile long.
He’s the guy who dreamed of going pro, who tasted it, touched the stars, and then it all came crashing down. Now he’s a caveman who’s grumpy.
She doesnt know who he is, he doesnt know who she is, they just share a common goal for the night!
He’s got a new job, and who is right there before him, but her.. uh oh…
Oh my gosh what a freaking awesome read and a half!!
I was more than put through the wringer emotionally with this read as the story of them developed. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love and I finished on a complete and utter high.
Tessa is simply incredible. Her strength and inner goddess shine so bright. I loved everything about her!
Asher oh my where do I start! he has the patience of a saint even when pushed and tested beyond his limit. His mind is razor sharp and his heart is something every girl would want to own!
Their relationship might be extremely taboo and wrong but oh my they are so right for each other. The chemistry is off the charts, and they more than got my lil heart racing!!
Kelsey Clayton writes like no other, and I for one can’t get enough of this series! I’m a haven prep fan through and through!!
Clayton realized that only an alpha male can fully appreciate the tough, fierce, and firecracker personality that makes up Tess. Asher Hawthorne is all man, and is drawn to Tess right from the beginning.
Tess has been one of my favorite characters since we met her at the beginning of the series. Her quick wit, ability to love unconditionally, and undying loyalty are just a few of her wonderful traits. She has high walls that she has had to build due to always being last from her parents. She is dealing with a traumatic experience that her family just blows off.
Asher is grappling with an injury that has affected his future in football. He is trying to figure out where he wants to go in life with the question of professional football in his future. Just wanting to feel better for one night he meets Tess. They are explosive coming together for their one night. Neither can stop thinking about each other, but recognize that it was just one night.
Start the school year where Tess has to repeat her senior year, and Asher starts his new job as her English teacher. What happens next is a love story that can only be looked at as Fate. Tess gets her great love while dealing with her demons. Asher learns that Tess is everything he never knew he needed. Can they keep away from each other? Can they keep it on the DL? Read the book to find out! I promise you WON’T be disappointed!
Honestly, I always knew there were more layers to Tessa and this story peels them back to expose who she really is and boy I like her a lot! In the first two books of the series we saw her as the carefree, rambunctious sister, the hellion and mischievous sister with her sassy mouth but also the caring and loving sister too. In this book Tessa is still all of those things however after her past trauma and with some growing up thrown in we see a slightly needier side and one that makes me want to hurt the less than stellar characters in her life. And yes, I am trying to be a lady but really my emotions became very stirred up and my protective mother hen side won out… a bit like Asher.
Ah, Asher, he is a honey who, although finds himself in an unusual situation, makes the best of what life throws at him. I really like his character, and not just because he is insanely good looking and physically cut like a God. He has depth to him, knows how to have a good time but also knows that you need to work hard to get what you want and he follows that rule.
There is as usual an extremely serious element to this story, one that is handled well, in a realistic manner though. Honestly, there is some great advice in this book. My heart felt so heavy at times but then something would happen and the mood would lift again, a terrific balance between serious and humorous.
Another amazing story by this author that I recommend to everyone.
This has got to be my favourite book of Kelsey’s to date and my favourite of 2020 so far, its incredible.
Book 3 is the story of Tessa, Delaneys twin sister and the troubles of her life.
I was gripped from the first page, I loved everything about her story, alot of it hit home and I sobbed like a baby.
The chemistry,love, lust and heartbreak, I felt it all.
I laughed, cried and then cried some more
Definitely worth more than 5 stars.
PHENOMENAL!!!
The Rebel was everything. So much more than a taboo/forbidden age gap romance, this story is heartbreaking at times, sweet and soulful, and beautifully emotionally complex. Cancel your plans- you’ll want to read this in one sitting!
TESSA. MY OH MY, TESSA. She’s a FORCE. Bookfriend? Who needs a book boyfriend? I have my new book girlfriend! I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure I would love her- we had the spunky dynamo in the other books- the ballbusting, explosive side character who fought for her sister, but what we didn’t see was the dynamic, heartfelt, nuanced and gentle soul underneath all that bravado. I don’t just love Tessa, I FLOVE Tessa. Tessa is truly a revelation- everything you want in a book heroine. I loved her spunk- her sassy confidence, take no prisoners personality. But, what I loved even more was the beautiful, complex heart beating beneath that rule-breaking veneer. Tessa has demons- she’s suffering, both because of her history but also because of the trauma she experienced in our last book. She was surprisingly complex, achingly vulnerable, trapped in her own hurt, craving love and acceptance. I loved how unabashedly Kelsey let us see inside her soul- it was surprising and unexpected how that played out, but emotionally gripping. Tessa’s character journey is the strongest in this series, masterfully woven. I loved every high and low of her story, loved how Tessa proves that we can indeed be stronger than our demons- and that sometimes strength is about allowing yourself to be weak and lean on others.
And Asher is just dreamy. He’s got some of that dirty talking, bad boy flare, but he’s a sweetie at his core. He’s got integrity, drive, and he’s dedicated- when he loves something, he gives it his all. He’s slow to open up given his own wounds, but once we see his heart, it’s blindingly beautiful. His actions at the end- his compassion and depth and unconditional acceptance of Tessa is really quite moving. He’s steady, a more quiet character journey than Tessa’s, but no less delightful.
Their chemistry BURNED up my pages. From their first meeting to their last page, heart and heat. I won’t spoil what makes their relationship taboo- but it is more than the age gap. This taboo creates a delicious push-pull tension- they both want each other, but both have much to lose, especially Asher. Given that Tessa is a bit of an older soul and Asher’s challenges, the maturity difference isn’t much of an issue The steam was yummy as always, and Kelsey always does such a great job of building the emotional connection between characters. These two have such fun and humorous banter and have such fun, but we also get a carefully constructed emotional bond that is heart-poundingly magnetic. They bring out the best in each other, even though they have to break all the rules to get there.
This series just gets better and better! Kelsey continues to wow me with her ability to create a rich deck of colorful, interesting, dynamic, and loveable characters- we get to see some of our old favorites and get to spend time with some newer stars. Colby in particular was a scene stealer- I love this guy, and I hope we get to see his story. I’m also loving the evolution of Lennon, and I’m secretly hoping Zayn gets his due as well. Kelsey’s characters just jump off the page and grab you- her storytelling is so well crafted that you feel intimately connected to each of them, invested from the first page to the last. You live and breathe their journey. That’s what makes her one of my favs.
Narratively, I also thought this was Kelsey’s most tightly woven tale yet. I’ve loved our other stories, where the romance is the focus but you also have a dash of some external danger/drama. Here, the focus is solely the romance, though- the dynamic relationship of these two characters and their individual emotional stories as they confront their own demons, their own fears. And, it really pays off emotionally- we don’t just dip our toe into the connection and psyche of these two beautiful souls, we dive down deep- swim around in their pain, their joy, their hurt and hope.
There are twists, a lot of unexpected turns, and an emotional punch at the end that will squeeze your heart and steal your breath. The surprisingly gritty, emotionally intense moments made this story that much more rich, more impactful. You will not be disappointed by Tessa’s story! I can’t wait for more of this series!
(PS- this can be read as a standalone, but a) the whole series is awesome so read it and b) Tessa’s story really is impacted by the events of book 2, so I’d recommend at least reading that. Plus, Laney and Knox = GOAT)
An explosive, emotional read! This is a forbidden story between an injured NFL player turned resigned high school teacher and a rebellious student who finds herself repeating her senior year of high school. When Tessa finds herself parked in the very class of her one night stand from weeks ago, it’s safe to say that neither Tessa nor Asher thought that their lives would change quite like they did after their intense evening.
Asher Hawthorne never thought his football career would be over at the age of twenty-eight, but he also never thought that he’d be teaching a bunch of rich, entitled students either, so never say never. To top off his fall from grace his one night stand, whom he met in an over twenty-one club, is now sitting in his high school class on the first day of school. Thankfully she’s eighteen, but she’s still his student and no matter how much he can’t seem to forget her, he has a job to do and Tessa isn’t on the syllabus.
Tessa Callahan is a spitfire. She’s bold, outspoken and plays by her own rules, but deep inside she’s broken. She’s been beaten down again and again and uses her brash personality to hide her scars. Tessa is a master at playing her own game and has used her twin sister, her past boyfriends or substance abuse to hide behind her real emotions. As those protective shields have slowly been peeled away it’s left Tessa vulnerable to emotions she doesn’t want to face, but there is one person who doesn’t let her hide, who likes the real Tessa, the question is will Tessa permit him inside?
Asher and Tessa’s story goes deeper than just a forbidden romance. Tessa has endured things that have matured her beyond her years, so the age difference becomes more of a running joke between them. There are lots of wonderful moments of levity strung throughout the story which offset the highly emotional moments that will pull at your heart.
I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this book once I began. The Rebel is interconnected with Clayton’s previous Haven Grace books, but she works the storyline in that you could read this as a standalone if needed. There are so many directions she can take us in the upcoming books and I’m excited to see where this series will continue.
5 *****
Another absolutely amazing addition to what is turning into one of my favourite series.
After meeting tessa in the previous book I knew tessa’s story was going to take the series to a whole new level but wow Kelsey has really knocked the ball out of the court with this one!!!
A forbidden love and a dramatic story…
“I’ve always been the rebel. The more forbidden he is, the more I crave him.”
Tessa’s story takes you on a whirlwind journey of love , lust, heartbreak and belief ,with humor and wit sneaking in when needed it really is an absolute perfect read , a story that will having you laughing out load but also crying ugly tears putting your emotions well and truly through the ringer and I couldnt ask for anything more…..brilliant
I cant wait for what cones next this series gets better and better with every new book.
“Always remember your stronger than your demons”
* A review copy was provided by the author *
Well this series just keeps getting better and better!!! I have LOVED every book in this series. They are thought provoking and emotional coming of age stories. I get sucked into every story right from the beginning and The Rebel was not different!!
“Always remember you’re stronger than your demons.”….Tessa
And boy did Tessa have the demons to overcome. Her road to a HEA was not an easy one. There was heartbreak, trauma, pain but there was also love and never ending friendships that helped her through.
I loved watching Asher and Tessa navigate their way to a HEA. I also loved how each of the past characters and some new ones we met rallied all around Tessa when she needed it.
This book is a stand-alone but I would highly recommend reading this series in order. Or at least read The Saint (book 2) before reading this one. Some of Tessa’s backstory started in that book.
This story is told in Dual POV and I really appreciated that…this story needed to be told through both characters eyes. I thought the flow and pace were spot on!! I have to say there wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book!! It was everything I look for in a 5 star read.
If you are a fan of the forbidden/taboo student/teacher romance with an age gap, then this is one you NEED to read. It’s one of my favorites and will be going on my Best of 2020 list!! 1-click this as soon as it releases!!
4.5 stars!!! This series is amazing. And these covers are
This is book 3 of “Haven Grace Prep” series, and it is Tessa’s story. I imagine you can read this as a stand alone but why give up all the goodness of the other two books.
Wow! I knew Tessa’s personality is larger then life but I think I saw a whole other side to her with this book. I knew what happened with their uncle destroyed them all but I guess I never realized the pain Tessa went through. Maybe that because I already saw her as a survivor. A savage. A strong ass woman.
Now let’s get to Mr. Hottie himself, Asher!! Omg I am in love. I will say I really appreciated them meeting and hooking up before he got the job (I won’t say what because I don’t want to ruin the book). It didn’t feel off or wrong. Plus she is 18 so I was all for it. But Asher is adorable. He is jealous and sexy as sin. Omg I would not be able to control myself either. Can I mention his best friend is probably my favorite man in this whole series?!?! Colby needs a book!!
Maybe the first part of the book didn’t hook me as much as the second half. Oh man the second half was crazy. I couldn’t put the book down. Between all the yummy sexiness, the twists, the pain and the heartache… I was entranced. I love how the book touched on a few things that people who haven’t struggled through wouldn’t understand. But those who have can completely understand and this didn’t play it off or make it unrealistic. Tessa’s journey felt realistic and relatable. Bravo to the author making me feel her pain.
This book is great. It is an easy read and has some amazing characters.
**I received this book as an ARC and in return gave my honest review **