Blurb:
A young girl needs to spread her wings, but a young woman needs roots.
English teacher Sarah Bray never thought she’d return to Sycamore Falls, but a traumatic event at her inner-city school leaves her desperate for the sanctuary of home. By returning to her roots, an older and wiser Sarah hopes to deal with the demons of her present and confront the ghosts of her past.
She discovers a kindred spirit in Lucas Miller, a teacher from New York with demons of his own. As the newest faculty members at Sycamore High School, they quickly become friends – bonding through Lucas’s culture shock and their mutual desire to build new lives. When they open their wounded hearts to each other, their friendship effortlessly evolves into romance.
Their love is put to the test when Matt, the quarterback of the football team, shares his deepest secret with Sarah. When the conservative community finds out, Sarah and Lucas – along with the town of Sycamore Falls – are schooled in the lessons of acceptance, tolerance, and love.
English teacher Sarah Bray never thought she’d return to Sycamore Falls, but a traumatic event at her inner-city school leaves her desperate for the sanctuary of home. By returning to her roots, an older and wiser Sarah hopes to deal with the demons of her present and confront the ghosts of her past.
She discovers a kindred spirit in Lucas Miller, a teacher from New York with demons of his own. As the newest faculty members at Sycamore High School, they quickly become friends – bonding through Lucas’s culture shock and their mutual desire to build new lives. When they open their wounded hearts to each other, their friendship effortlessly evolves into romance.
Their love is put to the test when Matt, the quarterback of the football team, shares his deepest secret with Sarah. When the conservative community finds out, Sarah and Lucas – along with the town of Sycamore Falls – are schooled in the lessons of acceptance, tolerance, and love.
Ariana's Review:
4 STARS
Sarah grew up in a small mountain town, but wanted nothing more than to get away from it once she finished school. She ended up moving to Memphis and taking a job as a English teacher. But one event caused her world to spiral out of control. Her boyfriend Ryan could not handle her constant breakdowns, and she eventually ended up leaving him. Needing to get away from everything that happened, she packs up and returns back to her hometown to live in her grandmothers old house. With her parents having died when she was 16, her grandmother passing away before she returned from Memphis, Sarah was all alone. That is until she met Lucas (*sigh*).
Lucas, Lucas, Lucas! Words cannot express just how sweet he is. I mean, throughout the book I could not find one single flaw with that man. He was just oozing kindness, generosity and love, and didn't seem to have a mean bone in his body. He was the kind of man every girl wants to catch for herself. Just the name alone brings goosebumps to my skin (but that could quite possibly be because I was mildly obsessed with the show One Tree Hill and the character Lucas Scott. Lucas Scott = Chad Michael Murray = HOTNESS!).
Sarah was a very down to earth character, and one that I could relate to (I get horrible panic attacks just like she did). You could not help but feel sorry for all this girl went through in her life. When she meets Lucas, it seems that her life is taking a turn for the better. There are many times that Sarah does not feel worth of having Lucas care for her, and he does all that he can to show her just how special he is, and just how deep his feelings actually do run for her.
"I don't think anything is beyond repair. At least I hope not. Maybe it just takes a fresh start. A new beginning."
When one students confession to Sarah sends her spiraling into memories of the past, she is afraid that history is repeating itself all over again. But this time, she has someone who loves her standing by her side, willing to help her through it all, and wanting to protect her in any way he can. But will Sarah finally be able to accept this love, or will she end up pushing it away, just like she does to everyone she cares about.
"You're not alone in this world. I'm right here, and I'm trying so hard to love you. All I want to do is love you."
Lessons Learned was a very cute story. It was very different from the books I have been reading lately which were quite hot and steamy. It was a bit slow moving in the beginning, but did pick up as you got further in. My one major complaint was that there was a lot of build up as to what Sarah and Lucas' "secrets" were, but the end result wasn't the *WOW* factor that I was hoping for. The characters were all very real to me and I felt readers would be able to relate to them all in one way or another. Not necessarily agree with their views, and actions, but rather be able to have a good understanding of them. The events that took place felt as if I was reading about something that actually happened, rather than a made up story. It was all very down to earth, and some of the happenings throughout the story were things that we as people are currently focusing on (for example: bullying, homosexuality, post traumatic stress). Sydney Logan has a fabulous way of putting words to paper, and I look forward to reading other books by her in the future.
"Wherever you are is where I want to be,"
Lucas whispered.
"I'd follow you anywhere, Sarah."
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