Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Teach Me Tonight
SERIES: LA Teachers
AUTHOR: Natasha Washington
PUBLISHER: Strangest of Places Press
LENGTH: 244 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 6, 2020
BLURB:
Kim Junseo owns a Korean fusion restaurant he built from the ground up, and he keeps himself busy running it and taking care of his 5-year-old daughter, Hee-Young. Though on the surface he seems successful and happy, he’s also lonely – and terrified of relationships, since his marriage to his ex-husband Noah ended in disaster three years ago.
When Junseo comes to Nic Moretti’s classroom to throw Hee-Young a birthday party, sparks fly. Nic thinks Junseo is impossibly handsome, funny and sweet. Junseo’s drawn to Nic’s goofy, gentle spirit and thinks he’s beautiful. Junseo doesn’t even think twice about volunteering to teach Nic’s class about food and cooking. One thing leads to another, and soon they’re bonding over kimchi fried rice at Junseo’s restaurant and salami and cheese sandwiches at the Getty Villa as the heat builds between them.
Then Junseo’s abusive ex-husband Noah re-appears in his life, claiming good intentions, but Nic’s afraid that Noah’s going to try to worm his way back into Junseo’s life and hurt him. Junseo, struggling to deal with old demons he thought he’d buried, pushes Nic away. With Nic and Junseo’s relationship on the rocks and Noah refusing to keep his distance, Junseo feels like his whole carefully constructed world is crumbling around him. He has to decide which is more important: keeping up his perfect façade, or keeping the man who has so sweetly captured his heart.
REVIEW:
Junseo is a single dad, chef and restaurant owner. His daughter has a crush on her teacher, Mr. Nic. Nic is a South Philly transplant to LA, musician cum kindergarten teacher. When their paths cross, it’s electric.
Junseo figures out how to spend more time at school with Hee-Young, his daughter and Mr. Nic. Nic is very much in favor of this move. He’s very atracted to Junseo who he feels is way out of his league, not to mention a parent of a student. But they can’t seem to stay apart.
Unfortunately, both of them have dealt with abusive behavior. Nic’s father was awful to his mother. Junseo’s ex was and abusive and manipulative gaslighter. Both are trying to figure out their way together. It’s not easy. But they work hard at it.
This is a new to me author and I was really impressed with this story. Both Nic and Junseo have quite a bit of baggage when they meet. But both have tried to move past it – Junseo with his family and therapy and Nic with removing himself from the situation and making his own life. Junseo’s ex is manipulative jerk who has caused Junseo a LOT of pain. Nic’s family wasn’t the best, but he’s been able to take control of his life and he does love his teaching – even though he loves music the most. I loved how they gravitated towards each other and took things slow. I thought the reactions portrayed by each man in the face of the potential resurgence of past hurts and dangers were so well done. I loved that Junseo didn’t shy away from his need for therapy or the honesty of his reactions to his ex trying to reconnect. Also a huge shoutout to one of my favorite places, the Getty in LA for a date 🙂 Just a beautifully told story with very smart and believable hurt/comfort themes. I can’t wait for more from this author. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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