Author Linda Kage is making a return visit today with her intensely emotional and dramatic NA story To Professor, With Love, a story of a slightly forbidden love. Keep reading to get a glimpse of this book, along with learning more about Ms. Kage through an interview. You can also read my impressions of this book and get other's impressions by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour too. Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 5 digital copies of this book and a $25 Amazon GC!
TSP: Knowing what you do now about the publishing business, would you have done anything different career-wise?
LK: I kind of like the path I have taken. I started off small and had time to learn the business along the way. Going through an epublisher before trying self-publishing was smart for me. I knew nothing about the production process, formatting, or editing. I had no idea how to promote. From each place I worked with, I gathered more valuable information and met people who taught me so much and continued to help me when I moved to the next step. I would've never had all that if I'd just jumped right into Indie.
TSP: What does your writing space look like and do you surround yourself with any particularly inspirational items?
LK: I usually write whenever and wherever I can, so it's not exactly possible to surround myself with specific things. But my main work desk has lots of post-it notes and scattered pages full of ideas piled in a complete mess all over it. It drives my neat freak husband crazy.
TSP: The majority of your books are NA/YA in nature, what draws you to those genres?
LK: They seem so fresh and new! The characters are old enough to have a little bit of a past, but still young enough not to be too cynical and bitter about life.
TSP: Beyond its synopsis, what do you want us to know about To Professor, With Love?
LK: Some people have been surprised to learn that the heroine is the teacher in this story, and the hero is the student! Oh, and some people had been worried that there is a huge age gap, but there is only two years between the two. Oh, and every inappropriate thing that happens is followed up by a truck load of guilt and worry, so it's not completely without morals! It's not like they don't care about breaking the rules; they just fall in love despite of them, and they only want to be together.
TSP: Which of your books would you like to see made into a movie and who would play the main couple?
LK: Ooh, good question. I don't really know. Let's see. Let's see. I kind of like the drama in Fighting Fate. I think Lucy Hale would make a cute Paige. And, hmm, the character Logan could be played by...a younger Channing Tatum maybe, or possibly Liam Hemsworth. I just don't know!
TSP: Of all the heroes you've written, who's the most heroic in your opinion?
LK: Yeesh, there's another one I'll have to think about. A lot of people don't like what Mason from Price of a Kiss did to help his heroine out, but he sacrificed himself for what he believed was noble reason, only wanting to protect his woman. So I'm going to say Mason Lowe. Braxton Farris in How to Resist Prince Charming also did a little sacrificing because of the woman he loved. I think of those as heroic acts!
TSP: How has the digital revolution affected your career and how you market yourself? Do you have an eReader yourself?
LK: I've only read one paperback book this year, and can't remember the last time I read before that. Everything else I read is on either an iBooks, Nook, or Kindle app in my iPad. So, I'm all into this digital thing. About 99% of my readers buy the ebook version. So, basically, I wouldn't be here if the digital revolution hadn't come alone. I'm going to give it a hearty thumbs up!
TSP: My site's all about favorite things, so what are your favorite things/the things you can't live without?
LK: My family! My iPad (which houses all my books). And hmmm....I have lots of things I love, but those are definitely the things I'd grab first and take with me if I had a house fire and only had two seconds to get stuff and run. So they're my favorites for sure!
TSP: .....and now for our off-the-wall question......Do you prefer your literary heroes to wear boxers, briefs, or to go commando?
LK: Well, a little of all three, of course. Just to keep things interesting! :)
LK: I've only read one paperback book this year, and can't remember the last time I read before that. Everything else I read is on either an iBooks, Nook, or Kindle app in my iPad. So, I'm all into this digital thing. About 99% of my readers buy the ebook version. So, basically, I wouldn't be here if the digital revolution hadn't come alone. I'm going to give it a hearty thumbs up!
TSP: My site's all about favorite things, so what are your favorite things/the things you can't live without?
LK: My family! My iPad (which houses all my books). And hmmm....I have lots of things I love, but those are definitely the things I'd grab first and take with me if I had a house fire and only had two seconds to get stuff and run. So they're my favorites for sure!
TSP: .....and now for our off-the-wall question......Do you prefer your literary heroes to wear boxers, briefs, or to go commando?
LK: Well, a little of all three, of course. Just to keep things interesting! :)
On this campus, I’m worshiped. While seven hundred miles away, back in my hometown, I’m still trailer park trash, child of the town tramp, and older sibling to three kids who are counting on me to keep my shit together so I can take them away from the same crappy life I grew up in.
These two opposing sides of myself never mix until one person gets a glimpse of the true me. I never expected to connect with anyone like this or want more beyond one night. This may be the real deal.
Problem is, Dr. Kavanagh’s my literature professor.
If I start anything with a teacher and we’re caught together, I might as well kiss my entire future goodbye, as well as myfamily’s, and especially Dr. Kavanagh’s. Except sometimes love is worth risking everything. Or at least, it damn well better be because I can only resist so much.
-N. G.-
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BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN | iBOOKS | ARe | AUTHOR WEBSITE
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
After reading Ms. Kage's previous release in this series, Price of a Kiss, I knew I'd found an author to watch in the increasingly popular NA genre. This book utilizes some of those same elements, along with other issues with no clear cut right or wrong, which made this another winner from Ms. Kage that put a smile on my face once the final page was turned.
Noel Gamble seems to have it all. He's the popular star quarterback at his college, has a posse of female admirers, and lots of friends. Behind this Golden Boy facade though is a young man struggling to make something of himself after coming from nothing. His mother is only concerned with herself which leaves him having to take on the role of parent to the siblings he left behind but still feels responsible for. Along with his class load he works hard at his bar tending job and sends the extra money home. Even though everything seems to be going his way it's a precarious balance that could come crashing down at any moment. Issues first arise with his struggles in his literature class that no matter how hard he works at he's failing. On top of that is his attraction to the teacher of that class and the far sweeping ramifications this could have for both of them. It's inevitable for them to make their unexpected connection into something more as only with her can he be his true self. Only with her can he speak of his fears and be supported unconditionally. From start to finish I loved Noel! Though he seemed carefree he had surprising depth. He was loyal to the family he left behind and would do anything to make their lives better. I admired him for that and my heart broke for all he carried on his shoulders. He's my new favorite book boyfriend!
Aspen Kavanagh isn't what she appears either. Her students think her cold and unfeeling but it just seems that way as that's how her parents taught her to act. She was brought up to be the perfect daughter and to never let your real feelings show. No matter how much success she has they still see her as a disappointment and crush her spirit everytime they talk to her. I felt heartbroken for her whenever she dealt with them. Aspen is super smart when it comes to academics but feels a bit lost in real life. She has no real friends as she's always been the geeky girl who went to college at an early age. Life for her is all about proving herself and she never feels as if she's measuring up. She's surprised by what she sees in Noel's eyes the first time they talk, she sees a kindred spirit who's just as uncertain and alone as she is. Against the rules they form a friendship that evolves into something more and changes their lives irrevocably. Despite all the pain theirs is a relationship of true love that gives both of them the unconditional support they've always longed for and I was rooting for them every step of the way.
This was an intensely emotional journey to HEA that some might find questionable at first. Once you get into the story though the age difference between Noel and Aspen is only three or four years. The issues involved in their being together are acknowledged by both of them though, they agonize over it, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Their relationship is very understandable, they're wonderful together and give each other the emotional support lacking in the superficiality they present to others. Their romance evolves slowly but was full of sexual tension the moment their eyes met and became super steamy once they finally gave in to the inevitable. Ms. Kage has a way of writing dialogue for college age individuals to add even more realism to the story. It made it easy to connect to the characters as their language was sometimes crass and sometimes insightful. Noel's friends at the bar were particularly entertaining and I hope to see their stories told as I think there's more to them than meets the eye. As part of the Forbidden Men series the main couple from the previous book make an appearance here but it's not a necessity to have read their story to enjoy this one. But with the wonderful dialogue, compelling storyline, and likable characters I highly recommend this series to all lovers of romance and am greatly anticipating the next book in this series!
My rating for this is an A.
*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Linda grew up on a dairy farm in the Midwest as the youngest of eight children. Now she lives in Kansas with her husband, toddler daughter, and their nine cuckoo clocks. She works a day job in the acquisitions department of a university library and feels her life has been blessed with lots of people to learn from and love. Writing's always been a major part her world, and she's thrilled to finally share some of her stories with other romance lovers.
WEBSITE: http://www.lindakage.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/?
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lindakage
WEBSITE: http://www.lindakage.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/?
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lindakage
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