Reviewed by Jess
TITLE: Teacher’s Pet, Volume Two
AUTHORS: Maryn Blackburn, Elizabeth Coldwell, Riza Curtis, Elna Holst, Karmen Lee, Morwen Navarre, Danielle Wayland, and Lee Welch
PUBLISHER: NineStar Press
LENGTH: 75,900 words
RELEASE DATE: October 22, 2018
BLURB:
“A Spell for Master Vervain” by Lee Welch
Apprentice magicians aren’t supposed to fall for their masters, but after a year of longing, Kit is desperate for Master Vervain. Kit casts a forbidden spell to raise an incubus doppelganger of his master—oh, the things he’ll do with that incubus! But Kit’s invoking forces he can’t control and anything can happen when love and magic are mixed.
“Finding the Words” by Elizabeth Coldwell
On a simple night out, Brendan’s life changed forever. He gave up college lecturing for the world of private tutoring. He may be a virtual recluse, but at least he’s safe. When student Zack approaches him for help with understanding poetry, he’s reluctant to take him on, afraid any connection to his old life might stir up the memories.
Being around Zack awakens long-buried desires in Brendan. He wants to act on his impulse to get closer, but he needs to find the words to say how he really feels.
“The Silent Treatment” by Elna Holst
Reverend Jane Sinclair has been preaching nothing but fire and brimstone lately. After being dumped by her long-term partner, her mood has been going from bad to worse, and it deteriorates further when her vicar strong-arms her into going off on a yoga retreat. Once she arrives at Serenity Farms, however, the sultry and playfully dominant yoga instructor soon has her singing quite a different tune. A very, very quiet one.
“One Small Step” by Riza Curtis
Student mage Ilya regrets not paying more attention in class when he teleports two hundred miles instead of the hundred yards he was supposed to go. Concussed, exhausted, and completely underdressed for the bitter winter weather, Ilya is rescued by the handsome Søren.
Sparks fly between the two mages while Ilya recovers, but Ilya must return home. Unable to use his magic and not skilled enough to attempt teleporting back, even if he could, Søren insists on making the journey with him. But train rides and bandits reveal something more between them.
“Shedding Doubt” by Danielle Wayland
Twenty-six-year-old Grayson is on a mission to get the most out of his gym membership, but when he goes at it too hard on his first day and slips off the treadmill, embarrassment makes him want to quit. Heath, a gym rat, rushes to his aid and offers to help. Initially suspicious of his motives, Grayson reluctantly accepts his help.
The more time they spend together, the more their friendship grows. They both have internal battles keeping them apart, but a Halloween party might just be the place to have a heart-to-heart.
“Academic Temptations” by Karmen Lee
Twenty-three-year-old Savannah Archer has kept her sexuality buried for years out of fear of being ostracized by her disapproving community. After getting pregnant in high school and putting off college for five years to raise her son, she is finally attending college—away from the prying eyes.
In her first class of the semester, she meets Anetta Springs, who is not only her professor, but also her academic advisor, and the attraction is immediate. Savannah and Anetta both know that the potential consequences of a teacher-student relationship are life-changing, but a book club and a meddling sister may not give them a choice.
“The Sidhe’s Apprentice” by Morwen Navarre
For anyone serious about magic, studying with a Sidhe Master is essential. Alistair Brady is very serious, and when he’s chosen at a Calling—a search by the Sidhe for new students—he’s elated. However, his assigned Master, Cianán, doesn’t want a new student and makes it painfully obvious.
Despite Cianán’s disdain, Alistair is determined to learn magic. But Alistair has difficulty finding the place inside where magic lives, and even the simplest spells continue to elude him. He just needs to figure out what’s missing, while trying not to let his growing attraction to the cold and aloof Cianán show. It takes a backfiring spell to show both Alistair and Cianán exactly what’s missing to make Alistair’s magic come alive.
“Press “Copy” to Begin” by Maryn Blackburn
Dr. Marissa Muniz worked hard to earn her Ph.D., so she is rightfully outraged when she detects plagiarism in the work of wealthy grad student. When Muniz confronts Libby Highsmith, the young woman begs for a second chance.
Ms. Highsmith must propose a new master’s thesis and design a project to serve as punitive measures. Muniz accepts the thesis proposal but balks at the project—a replica of the paddle used in private schools and a contract promising secrecy.
REVIEW:
“A Spell for Master Vervain” by Lee Welch
This is a strong, steamy start to this anthology—and it seems to be the story generating the most buzz. The eroticism of the teacher/student relationship is presented in full force, with a stern teacher coming across his flustered student in a compromising position. It will certainly leave you wanting more, especially if you’re already a fan of Welch’s previous works.
Story Rating: 
“Finding the Words” by Elizabeth Coldwell
The surprising twist at the beginning of this story will shock some readers, but I think the subject is dealt with pretty delicately within the story. The age difference between Brendan and Zack feels the most pronounced in this story, almost uncomfortably so, but they somehow supply what each other needs while remaining true to their own principles. It leaves us on a sweet, hopeful note.
Story Rating: 
“The Silent Treatment” by Elna Holst
This story is definitely a curveball in the collection! I love a lot of dialogue in stories, so I was skeptical of a love affair that contained no words whatsoever, especially when the main character’s inner dialogue is so much fun. But in the end, it totally worked. It’s unconventional and memorable. I love LGBT main characters who practice religion, because they’re increasingly rare.
Story Rating:
“One Small Step” by Riza Curtis
If there was ever a short fantasy story that begs for a continuation, it is this one! I fell in love with the characters and their romance, and I think many others will, too. The plot if tight enough to keep everything rolling and the romantic tension is delicious. The teacher/student dynamic between Ilya and Søren is more casual than in many of the other stories, making it a more unique pick.
Story Rating: 
“Shedding Doubt” by Danielle Wayland
I like how right in the middle of this book is the sweetest, most feel-good story. Grayson is a relatable character through and through, and seeing him on his weight loss journey with his trainer Heath is enough to inspire anyone. I think the weight loss process is simplified a bit too much here and there (cravings don’t just disappear), but this is a happy enough story to overlook it.
Story Rating: 
“Academic Temptations” by Karmen Lee
I wanted to rate this story higher, because I became really invested in the characters and their romance, but the pacing was all over the place. I was more interested in Savannah’s single motherhood and Anetta’s teaching career than I was with the minutiae of Anetta’s new house or her banter with her sister. And when the two women flirt during book club, I realize they never even talked about a book! An awesome foundation, but one that needed a lot more building.
Story Rating:
“The Sidhe’s Apprentice” by Morwen Navarre
Magic apprenticeships have been a recurring theme within this collection and its predecessor, but this one brings the heat up a notch with the classic “defrosting the ice king” trope. The relationship develops slowly, but they always feel inevitable. And the magic parts are written beautifully.
Story Rating:
“Press “Copy” to Begin” by Maryn Blackburn
I think this will be one of the more polarizing stories in the collection, but I absolutely loved it. It reads almost more like noir or even literary fiction—Marissa has a more hardened outlook on life, and her hate-slash-arousal towards Libby oozes emotion. The spanking erotica in this story is incredibly intense—maybe more so than I have read in a long time. It won’t be for everyone, but I think it’s a definite stand-out.
Story Rating:
Conclusion
I ended up enjoying this volume much better than the first, which I already reviewed pretty favorably. This one feels more balanced and varied, offering fresher perspectives, situations, and dynamics. It also takes on consent issues in a bolder fashion—there are more frank discussions of boundaries and ethics between student and teachers in many of the stories. There’s a good mix of romance, erotica, and good plot. I think I was even too tough on the some of the stories because others were so good.
I hope this series continues. It’s such a rich topic that definitely inspires creative stories.
RATING:
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