Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Learning Curve
SERIES: Life Lessons
AUTHOR: Kaje Harper
NARRATOR: J.F. Harding
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 11 hours & 17 minutes
RELEASE DATE: November 16, 2022
BLURB:
Mac is afraid he won’t recover enough to go back to being a cop; Tony’s afraid that he will.
Three months after being injured, Detective Jared MacLean is healing, but he’s afraid it may not be enough to go back on the job. He won’t give up, though. Being a cop is written deep in Mac’s bones, and he’ll do whatever it takes to carry his badge again.
Tony used to wish he could have Mac safely home, but watching his strong husband battle disabilities is far from Tony’s dream come true. When Mac is asked to consult on a case involving one of Tony’s students, both men will have to face old demons and new fears to find a way to move forward together.
(This is a lightly edited rerelease of the 2013 original, bringing Mac and Tony to their HEA.—content warning for a domestic abuse case, suicide.)
REVIEW:
NOTE: This is the fourth story in this series and is best listened to/read after the first three books. It is not a standalone.
This story starts three months after Jarod has been shot on the job. He’s still working hard to recover from his TBI and get back to the place where he can return to the job. But of course there are a million obstacles! He’s not street ready and he’s not happy about that, even though he knows that he’s not back to the place where he wouldn’t potentially be a liability to his partner is things went south.
Tony is back to teaching and they have moved into a house with Ben and Anna and things are going fine. Then there is a murder and the only witness has Jarod’s name an number on him. So he goes in and tries to help. With shades of the past, one of Tony’s students is also potentially involved in this case and it keeps pulling them both in.
On top of all of this, Jarod has to deal with his bio-family. He’s left home years before and hadn’t been in touch. His youngest sister has been in touch with Tony. When a crisis occurs, they have to return to Chicago to meet with them. There are dark secrets there 🙁 Tony and Mac are a team though.
The murder mystery continues to move on while Tony and Mac work through their issues. Problems with both of their jobs push them to work together. This life is not easy for them, but their partnership is the foundation of their lives now and they are not going down without a fight.
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this series and this couple. This is the last book in this series which made me sad when I first read it all those years ago. I was getting to the end of the book, I had a feeling that this story would put us in a good place with this family 🙂 and it did. And she has relented over the years and given us glimpses of this beloved couple.
Everything about this story was so well done. Tony & Mac, the kids, the family stuff, the murder mystery, the job stuff, Mac still working hard to overcome his injury – all of it. I loved that we got more insight into Mac’s early family life and maybe just a little bit more of what makes him tick. I liked seeing Sinclair again 🙂 I liked watching Mac work on getting back to himself in order to go back on the job. Getting to see Tony in his element at school and trying to help the kids was so good too and I loved the principal of his school, which was unexpected given the history there.
Most of all, I just loved watching Mac and Tony and the life they built. They have been through so much and love each other so much and want to support each other – even when they are scared about what that means. Such good guys 😀 So deserving of every good thing. And while I’m really really sad that we won’t be treated to regular visits with this family now, this is truly a satisfying way to leave this series.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Kaje Harper is truly a gifted storyteller. Whether her characters are teachers, kids, cops, scientists, writers, med students, maintenance guys, or homophobic ex-spouses, her knack for dialogue and characterization are top notch. Authentic, believable, engaging and just a pleasure to experience – again and again.
J.F. Harding did an absolutely masterful job performing this series. I was skeptical that anyone could do this really beloved couple and their story arc justice. But again and again I was blown away by his performance. Particularly as Mac changes from the beginning of the series to after this injury – just so well done. The kids, the female characters, the other cops and teachers, I felt like this was really a tour de force of a narrator at the top of his game. I will be seeking more books from Mr. Harding as I can’t imagine that he isn’t spectacular at every project he takes on. Really just added another level of perfection to an already incredible story. Highly recommended and a perfect marriage of story and performer.
RATING: 
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