Teaching with the Enemy by Jacqueline Snowe

SYNOPSIS

Gilly Carter has kept her lofty inheritance a secret from her coworkers, knowing first-hand how money changes people. But when she's forced to rely on more than her bank account, will she rise to the task?

After winning teacher of the year last spring, she's pumped to begin the new school year. Her fantasies of rainbow coloured bookshelves and students giggling at her maths puns are dampened when she discovers Christopher Callahan, a one-night stand who ghosted her, is not only her co-worker, but they're paired together to teach first grade.

While he's kind to everyone else, Christopher doesn't even try to hide his distaste for Gilly. He turns his nose up at her extravagant classroom decorations and accuses her of not teaching from her heart. When Christopher challenges her to a spirit week competition where neither of them can spend a cent, Gilly doubles down: she freezes her funds for the entire month, vowing to live off her teacher's salary alone.

As they grow from enemies to lovers, Gilly knows she must come clean with Christopher about being an heiress, but a bigger threat looms - a blast from the past well-versed in blackmail.

With the freeze on her funds, Gilly is forced to do things the hard way. But if she loses Christopher in the process, no amount of cash will heal her broken heart.

REVIEW

Throughout my time as a reader, I have always been a little bit sceptic about romance books. I do enjoy the light-hearted, positive element that it is able to bring up your spirits. However, sometimes I have felt like the cheerful plot is sometimes overtakes the writing and the complexity of the characters. For Teaching with the Enemy, it seems as though a basic plot, with a lot of foreshadowing is what takes centre stage.

For instance, I have found that with characters such as Gilly and Christopher are more stereotypical in this particular genre, that unfortunately I found it a little boring. But mainly, what annoyed me the most was how Gilly had little gumption to protect as well as stand up for herself. It seemed just a little frustrating after a while that it kind of felt like it was more padding rather than actual plot.

What was the whole thing about money as well? There was a never-ending problem with not having money and having too much. It became overwhelmingly a major part of the novel. So it could have had the potential to do a lot more, to spread an interesting and entertaining message. Because I don't think that it did much of either of these.

The writing style was not my most favourite either. There is more than one occasion where both Gilly and Christopher were together and the way that they were described almost made me want to vomit. They could have been painted differently at these moments, as I do feel like they could have been presented in a better light. Let's just say it was alright novel, but at the end of the day, it could have been way better.

RATING: ** (TWO STARS)

BUY LINKS

Amazon: Teaching with the Enemy (Shut Up and Kiss Me Book 2) eBook: Snowe, Jaqueline: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Waterstones: Teaching with the Enemy by Jaqueline Snowe | Waterstones

Comments

Blog Tour: The Lore of Prometheus by Graham Austin-King

SYNOPSIS John Carver has three rules: Don't drink in the daytime, don't gamble when the luck has gone, and don't talk to the dead people who come to visit. It has been almost five years since the incident in Kabul. Since the magic stirred within him and the stories began. Fleeing the army, running from the whispers, the guilt, and the fear he was losing his mind, Carver fell into addiction, dragging himself through life one day at a time. Desperation has pulled him back to Afganistan, back to the heat, the dust, and the truth he worked so hard to avoid. But there are others, obsessed with power and forbidden magics, who will stop at nothing to learn the truth of his gifts. Abducted and chained, Carver must break more than his own rules if he is to harness this power and survive.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

For something new this year I have decided that it would be different to try out something new on the blog. Every week from now on I am going to find a word that I find to be interesting. So for this week the word is: denouement - the resolution of a mystery. Publisher: Corgi Books Pages: 593 Year it was Published: 2004 Places: Paris, London, England, Roslin Original Language: American English So do you remember when I showed you my TBR pile of Dan Brown books? I am sure that you are thinking where they have all got to! Well the reason because of this is I wanted a change for a little while and I have loads of other books to get through - as well as the obvious blog tour and interview! Unfortunately there won't be a relentless amount of Dan Brown reviews for the time being, after this one. I have only just started The Lost Symbol and there are plenty other reviews that are for other books. Plot Summary For the Robert Langdon series second instalm...

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

'Romancing Mister Bridgerton' is part of a serial of books, which this particular one is the fourth instalment. However, in my opinion, it can be read as a singular entity, as I have come to find that I accidentally started this series on the third book, 'An Offer From a Gentleman'. In the Bridgerton series, Quinn delves deep into high society of the ton and the peaks and troughs of being on the 'marriage mart'. The Bridgertons consist of eight siblings, each named after the next letter in the alphabet: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth. However, in the context of this book, the sibling which the story is based is on Colin. However, the other main protagonist in the book is Penelope. Penelope is someone who is considered to be one day a spinster, rather than married off to anyone of interest to the ton. In fact, it is assumed by her mother that she will grow old and look after her when she is much older. But this is not ...

One Ordinary Day at a Time by Sarah J. Harris

SYNOPSIS Behind every ordinary day, behind every ordinary story, there's an extraordinary one just waiting to happen... Two people. Simon Sparks hides in plain sight - his astonishing gifts locked deep inside himself, as he dreams of lost potential and extraordinary tomorrows. Jodie Brook hides behind what you think of her - a single mum who can barely make ends meet. But her dreams are filled with the education she wanted and discovering a better life for her and her son. One life. When Simon and Jodie's lonely worlds collide, it upends everything. But as it becomes clear they have so much to learn from each other - Jodie can show Simon how to rejoin the world, and Simon can help Jodie prepare for her greatest challenge yet - they begin to realise that life could be so much more. One ordinary day at a time...

A Patchwork Family by Cathy Bramley

Gina is a woman who has had a lot of darkness in her life for the past few months, however, all is once again looking up as she starts a new chapter. Recently divorced, she now has the ticket to go out into the world and do something independent and follow her dreams as a childminder. However, as she begins to strive out into the world and become something for herself disaster strikes. The Evergreens, the place which she calls home has now been put up for sale. This is now Gina's fight for what is right for both her and friends. Does she have the confidence and tenacity to keep what is most important to her? Gina has been living on The Evergreens estate for a while now, while renting Welcome Cottage and running her childminding business from there with great success. However, when the divorce comes through, she finally decides that it is time to branch out and expand. But this is left in tatters after her landlord unexpectedly dies and leaves the estate to both her great-niece and ...