SUSAN: BLOG TOUR - BOOK REVIEW "Love Lessons" by Heidi Cullinan

SUMMARY:

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.

REVIEW:
Wow. I REALLY did NOT expect to LOVE this book THIS much!!!! It was just SO GOOD!

Is it sweet? YES.
Is there angst? Minor. Very minor.
Is there smut? Minor. Very minor. 
Is it the typical YA formula? On the surface it might seem it, but it actually goes much deeper. I wouldn’t call this “YA”. 
Is it emotional? Yes, at times.
Is it HEA? See question 1.

This is a really different book than I’m used to from Heidi Cullinan. Honestly, the woman knows how to write a HOT story. Love Lessons, however, is more about the emotional connection and the growth from friends to lovers of 2 young men dealing with their pasts, figuring out their presents, and planning their futures. It’s a sweet, lovely, yet powerful story about finding yourself, finding your partner, finding your joy. 

Kelly is a college Freshman, a virgin, and pretty much the MOST ADORABLE KID EVER! He will join my "House of Huggables" (with Ryan from ICoS, Parker from American Love Songs, Conner from Social Skills, and Elliot from Catch My Breath…the HoH is getting crowded!) And though the story starts with him and his issues, it develops into him as a source of strength for his boyfriend and his family. Oh, and he LOVES Disney…so, duh…he’s awesome. 

Walter is a player, a commitmentphobe, a bit of a rebel rouser. He immediately takes to Kelly, befriends him, and does what he can to look out for him. This protectiveness is SUPER attractive and makes me want to be besties with him. When he finally realizes he’s in love and he can count on Kelly…gah…open the floodgates…what a beautiful part of the book. I loved it. 

The two of them as a couple make me HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TINY, minor, the-only-reason-this-isn’t-5-stars beef with the book: the epilogue. Goodness knows I love me an epilogue…but this one was almost…well…just…you’ll see…

IN A NUTSHELL:  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you can handle the sweetness! 

Purchase Links:  Samhain, Amazon, ARe, Booksamilion

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Heidi Cullinan has always loved a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. She enjoys writing across many genres but loves above all to write happy, romantic endings for LGBT characters because there just aren't enough of those stories out there. When Heidi isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, listening to music, and watching television with her husband and ten-year-old daughter. Heidi also volunteers frequently for her state's LGBT rights group, One Iowa, and is proud to be from the first midwestern state to legalize same-sex marriage. Find out more about Heidi, including her social networks, at www.heidicullinan.com.

Social Media Links: 

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Giveaway: 

1 ecopy of LOVE LESSONS

1 Car Charm

1 Keychain

a Rafflecopter giveaway