Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Charles

SERIES:  Learning to Love #1

AUTHOR:  Con Riley

PUBLISHER:  Figment Ink

LENGTH:  344 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 22, 2021

BLURB:

Life should be a breeze for a playboy like Charles Heppel. As the third son of an earl, he lives for the moment, partying and playing. Settling down isn’t for him. Not when London is full of beautiful men who he hasn’t one-and-done yet.

To escape his family’s nagging, Charles applies for a temp job that matches his playful skill set. A role in a Cornish classroom could be his until the summer, if Charles meets two conditions: he must move in with the headmaster’s best friend, and teach him to be happy.

Living with Hugo should be awkward. Charles is a free spirit, but Hugo’s a man of faith, with morals. A man who almost took holy orders before disaster changed his direction. Only far from being a chore, Charles finds that making Hugo happy soon becomes his passion.

Together, they share physical and emotional first times. Ones that change Charles, touching his soul. He wants Hugo for longer than they have left, but learning to love with his heart, not just his body, will take a leap of faith from Charles — in himself as well as Hugo.

REVIEW:

Con Riley’s latest novel pairs up His Holy Hotness, Hugo, with the Holy Hot Mess, Charles, in this sweet and tender, occasionally hilarious, book. I enjoyed it immensely. 

Charles’ only passion in life is being a “play assistant” for young children in the classroom. His vocation gives him purpose, makes him feel happy and competent rather than unappreciated and worthless as he feels away from his work. He’s a loyal friend, a commitment-phobe who has no interest in relationships, and is severely dyslexic, which makes him feel stupid.  

Hugo is a failed man of the cloth, an army padre who lost his way. He carries the burden of facial disfigurement and a leg injury that hurts his confidence. Now at a crossroads, he’s in residence at Glynn Harber, the school where Charles wishes to find a job. 

Both men are sleepwalking through life. Once they meet, though, they help each other as they consider changing directions and embarking on new paths in their lives. Through example, Charles helps Hugo understand passion and implores him to strive for it. He shows Hugo what hope looks like and instructs him to make the most of his life. Hugo shows Charles that he embodies exactly that – hope and living life to the fullest. He listens to Charles, and Charles feels understood and valued. It’s one of the greatest gifts he’s ever received.  

All the while, they’re both taught immeasurable lessons by a classroom of four-year-old children. These little humans are pure of heart, caring, gentle, amusing, and eager to learn. There are no bad seeds among this group. It’s been a number of years since I’ve spent significant time with such little ones, and I was reminded of how much I adore this age group. This journey with them warmed my soul. 

The author’s – and Charles’ – philosophy on learning is one I wish all children could experience. It’s a powerful and integral theme in the book. Charles is impassioned about child-led learning and knows from experience that struggling children need the extra support he never received. Because of his dyslexia, he wasn’t able to obtain full teaching credentials, but he volunteered and took temp jobs so he could do the work he feels is imperative for nurturing growth. He takes a holistic approach, understanding that family life impacts school learning and must be considered as a whole. 

Ms. Riley does a commendable job with the representation of learning difficulties. I didn’t realize how far reaching and debilitating dyslexia could be. It’s so much more than transposing letters and numbers for some individuals. Charles struggles with sequencing, working memory, and completing tasks, among other things. 

The author makes the most of her beautiful setting in Cornwall, England, with her evocative imagery of Glynn Harber, Charles’ family estate, and the stunning vistas of the Cornish countryside: 

“The woods and moors spread out before them as though someone had shaken out a patchwork quilt in shades of green and granite.” 

The supporting cast is wonderful, including Charles’ best friend Keir (from His Haven), his brother George, the staff at the school, and of course, the children. Little Tor steals the show and impacts their lives profoundly. 

Charles delivers some heavy feels. The intimacy between the leading men is a slow burn progression. I felt their searing first kiss deep in my soul. The sex is a beautiful awakening for both of them, for very different reasons. There’s a part of the book where I felt like someone trampled on my heart; ugly crying ensued. But for the most part, this is a joyous, uplifting, low-angst story and it features one of the funniest scenes ever. Charles accidentally confesses his self-described man-whoring ways in the school’s chapel: 

“Oh, and Father? Could you extend my thanks for my prostate too? Should have mentioned that first. God truly is good. Apart from when he graced me with all those crabs in Ibiza. Could have done without that gift, to be honest.” 

I was blindsided by this exceptional book and how much I love Charles and Hugo. I was moved by its thoughtfulness and tenderness, and enjoyed it thoroughly. It’s one of my favorite reads of the year. 

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

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