Love Lessons: Love Lessons, Book 1

Written by Heidi Cullinan

Narrated by Iggy Toma

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, Erotica/Gaycampus 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. Warning: This story contains lingering glances, milder than usual sexual content for this author, and a steamy dance-floor kiss. Story has no dairy or egg content, but may contain almonds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Insatiable Press
• Release date: Feb 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781624612695

Heidi Cullinan

Author of over thirty novels, Midwest-native Heidi Cullinan writes positive-outcome romances for LGBT characters struggling against insurmountable odds because they believe there’s no such thing as too much happy ever after. Heidi’s books have been recommended by Library Journal, USA Today, RT Magazine, and Publishers Weekly. When Heidi isn’t writing, they enjoy gaming, reading manga, manhua, and danmei, playing with cats, and watching too much anime.  Heidi goes by Jun when being spoken to in person or online, and Jun’s pronouns are they/them. Visit Heidi’s website at www.heidicullinan.com. You can contact her at [e-mail].

Reviews for Love Lessons

[Kim Stone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read this author before. I listened to the audio book. This is a MM contemporary story set in the USA in College. The story is about Walter and Kelly starting off as room mates and finding each other in the end. I'm looking forward to more from this series.

[shazov-133293 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those books that just melt me... I become a gooey puddle of mush when I'm faced with this kind of sweetness and perfection.

I wasn't sure where it would go in the beginning. I'm not always a fan of the stories with the younger characters. But, this is a Heidi Cullinan story, so i wasn't too worried. And it didn't take me long to completely fall in love with both Walter and Kelly.

Kelly, so idealistic, naive and wanting the true fairytale romance. Walter, too young to really be that cynical. But he carries a history that has left its mark on him. They seem like such an odd pairing. And yet, it works. Beautifully. Not without issues. No insta-love here lol. No it's a hidden at first, a slow, slow build up here. And when it finally all comes out? Well it's beautiful!

[samnreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute/sweet.... Probably forgettable. 3.213

[locolibros · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book to be a brilliant read, sappy and cute at its core with a smattering of sharper edges woven into the story. Clearly this is my kind of story: well-written; a familiar (to me) setting explored accurately and realistically; real world cynicism vs. romantic idealism; and two opposite characters whom I really like and to whom I very much relate.Heidi Cullinan was already one of my favorite authors for her Minnesota Christmas series, and this work shifts her sympathetic and endearing portrayal of gay relationships and love to a college campus setting. As much as I enjoyed the previous series, the antics of two maturing college kids, including a wealthy but alienated player and a small-town romantic, was a wonderful romp through college romance.It’s hard for me to be objective, as the writer’s work on Minnesota small-towns and Midwestern college campuses rings extraordinarily true for me, as those locales are central to my own personal background. However, the sometimes awkward but often sweet chemistry between the protagonists is even more entertaining and captivating for me. So count me as a fan boy and you can take my review as one enamored with the author’s setting, characters, and writing, but it’s clearly one of my personal favorites.full review

[dorotea.c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kelly Davidson, shy guy from a small town hopes to find an intimate setting where he can come out and acclimate. He thinks he found it in Hope University (zero tolerance policy?)

Walter “lets just have fun” Lucas is a college junior who hoped he could escape the dorms for another year, but as luck would have it not only did he get denied he gets to dorm in room for a single and with cutie Kelly.(In the most homophobic house in the entire campus!)

This book had me spinning. I don’t often come across a realistically portrayed gay love story. Usually it hi, let's have sex, boom love!

So I was really excited throughout the whole book.

Man I just love Kelly (me and the whole female population of Hope university) He is such a cutie patootie. But didn’t come of as flamboyant even through he has an unrivaled passion for Disney movies.(Tangled♥)

He grew a lot during the process but still retained that childish innocence that was subtle and didn’t come of as annoying.

Walter, my sweet poor baby. He had a messed up life and not that I justify his sleeping around with that. Its just, as the story develops its clear that he wears his promiscuity as a shield. I enjoyed looking how Kelly striped him slowly and got him to open up and kinda set him emotionally. Another thing I loved was that the relationship took time to evolve. They didn’t immediately jump in the proverbial bed. And Walter's trust issues weren’t gone overnight. They talked things trough.

The parallels between Kelly's and Walters family's are interesting. While Kelly's come from a small town middle class, they are 100% sportive loving parents to both of their children. Walter's are from a rich Chicago suburbs and are messed up. Not that they aren’t supportive, but you need to be there for your children, not your bank account. Kelly's dad specially was a mentor to both of boys. (Parenthood you’re doing it right)

The book also raised some interesting questions that, I think, every teen and generally every person In their 20's has questioned:

“I think I expected, or really, assumed, that going to college would mean growing up. That everything about being at college, at Hope, would be moving me toward that. Except I don’t always feel like it is. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it seems even more ridiculous than high school.”

And Prof. Williams said everything that needed to be said and he said it perfectly:

“...There is no supposed to. There’s no magic ruler by which we’re all judged and weighed, not in this life. If you wait for someone to tell you it’s time to grow up, you’ll wait forever. Some people, quite happily, do just that. They don’t do anything until they’re forced to by circumstance.”

Overall the writing was amazing, the characters where believable, the story was full of cuteness.