Review: Fringe Benefits by Sandy James

Title: Fringe Benefits
Author: Sandy James
Published: April 21st 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Caution: May contain spoilers

When life gets tough and love is hard to find, four friends take their troubles to lunch. High school teacher Danielle Bradshaw deserves a happily ever after, and the Ladies Who Lunch are determined to deliver Mr. Right.

HOT FOR TEACHER

As the new head of the English department, Dani doesn’t have much time for anything but lesson planning and literature. Romance—or even sex? Forget about it. But then the principal introduces her to last-minute hire Nate Ryan. Finding time to mentor a new teacher won’t be easy, especially when his incredible body and equally disarming charisma are enough to make her heart skip a beat . . .

Nate may be fresh out of school, but he’s confident in his teaching skills—and in his feelings for Dani. But while she’s everything he’s ever wanted, he knows his place on her staff—and his age—may be problematic for his sexy boss. How can he convince her to ignore the gossip mill currently in full swing in the teacher’s lounge and surrender to what’s meant to be?

My Thoughts:

I first heard about Sandy James on a friend's blog, so she was immediately on my radar and I knew I had to get my hands on something by her. This one intrigued me the most, so when I had the opportunity, I snatched it faster than you can blink. A romance between teachers? Um, sold!

When Dani and Nate meet, you can feel it in the air between them. I really liked how Dani is eight years older than Nate--something you don't see often in novels, the woman being older. It doesn't even hold Nate back from liking her. Their relationship builds slowly, partly due to the worry of working together and the reactions they would get, and partly because, well, they want this to last longer than just a fling. It's not an easy thing to do with the obstacles they're facing, but they both want it enough to give it their best, regardless of what tries to get in their way. It doesn't mean they don't have their troubled moments, because they do. What it all boils down to is whether they're willing to work through it to get to the happiness they could have on the other side.

Fringe Benefits was an honest-to-goodness sweetheart of a book. I loved the dynamic between Dani and Nate, loved watching them grow in their affections to one another. And even though things get a little crazy, the way they feel deep down never changes--it makes them want to keep going. Sandy James and The Ladies Who Lunch series are definitely a couple things to check out!

My Rating: