Josh Reviews: Lessons after Dark by Isabel Cooper

Title: Lessons After Dark Series: Englefield #2 Author: Isabel Cooper Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca Format: Paperback, 346 pages Published: April 3rd, 2012 ISBN #: 9781402264405 / 1402264405 Genre: Paranormal Romance My Copy: borrowed Rating: Buy: A woman with an unspeakable past Olivia Brightmore didn’t know what to expect when she took a position to teach at Englefiend School, an academy for “gifted” children. But it wasn’t having to rescue a young girl who levitated to the ceiling. Or battling a dark mystery in the surrounding woods. And nothing could have prepared her for Dr. Gareth St. John… A man with exceptional talent He knew all about her history and scrutinized her every move because of it. But there was more than suspicion lurking in those luscious green eyes. Even with all the strange occurrences at the school, the most unsettling of all is the attraction pulling Olivia and Gareth together with a force that cannot be denied.

There are not quite enough lessons after dark but those that do occur occur with satisfactory aplomb and ado.

Nothing particularly stands out in this book aside from its rather modern references to the male anatomy. The best word to describe the construction of this novel would be competent.

The romance that buds between Gareth and Olivia although entirely obvious from the start is developed extensively. Wherever grounds can be given for the character’s decision they are done so.

The kids of any, for all their talents, levitation, making it rain, talking to animals, more interesting than you would expect, act as mere vessels for their abilities. You won’t be able to keep their names straight but you will remember that Michael and Elizabeth are the youngest, the first can make it rain and the latter can levitate. The other three, with the exception of Charlotte, the animal talker, get confused.

Gareth may be a walking stereotype, some soldier returned from Egypt with a healing ability, but his gruffness is humorous and uncontrolled as one would like. The cover really detracts from how I would imagine Gareth, especially since he has a bad leg. Olivia, on the other hand, seems to be as advertised.

There’s not too much to rant or rave about.

Check it out if you want a well-composed proto-Hogwarts from the teachers’ perspectives.

Books in this series:

Recommended:	for a slightly risque read at a school playground
Like this, like that:	Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan and the Lords of Midnight series by Cara Elliot

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