I adore Heidi Cullinan, and I loved Love Lessons.
I thought it’s time I finished the series, and shared my love with you.
If you want to get my thoughts on book 1, click here!

Love Lessons #2
M/M Contemporary Romance
 Original Publication: September 30, 2014

You know what I love about Fever Pitch?  I love that the model on the cover looks like how I imagined Giles.  He’s got the faux hawk and everything.  I can even picture his ears sticking out.  It’s another reminder that I adore the covers of this series.  It was the reason I originally picked up book 1, Love Lessons, in the first place.  At the time I didn’t realize I’d previously read a Heidi Cullinan book, I just knew that I loved the coloring, poses, and designs on these book covers.  It’s even better when a gorgeous cover houses an equally gorgeous story.

Unfortunately Fever Pitch didn’t consume me like Love Lessons did.  There was something about Walter and Kelly that sunk its claws into me and held on.  I read that book with a fervor, but in Fever Pitch I felt like the first half dragged on far too long.  It wasn’t just about ‘would they/won’t they’ it was more of a ‘they aren’t’ and that was it.  Then, when it did finally happened, it happened really fast.  It wasn’t unbelievable or anything, mostly it was just fast.   That didn’t really work for me much.  That’s okay though, every author has that one book that just doesn’t sit right and I think this one was it for me.

What it did have was Walter Lucas.  Since Walter was the star of Love Lessons I was super excited to revisit him in Fever Pitch.  It wasn’t even a quick scene.  We got plenty of Walter Lucas.  I loved the way he took Aaron under his wing and fathered him.  Their bond was definitely a highlight.

I also thought the second half, even if Aaron and Giles did get together quickly, was stronger.  I thought Aaron’s story was one many LGBT teens go through, and it was heartbreaking.  I loved that his friends all rallied around him and lent him as much support as they could, both emotionally and financially.  That includes Giles, because even though it wasn’t my favorite, I did still find Giles and Aaron incredibly sweet and romantic.  I have always loved a romance story where the couple weathers the storms together, rather than letting it tear them apart.  That was Giles and Aaron.

And finally, I loved how Fever Pitch set up book 3, Lonely Hearts!  Baz and Elijah.  The teasers we got in Fever Pitch are the reason why I had to move right on to the next book, and why I had to turn this into a duo review.

Love Lessons #3
M/M Contempory Romance
Original Publication: August 11, 2015

I knew Lonely Hearts was going to be good!  I loved Baz!  Honestly, I think it’s partially the name.  There’s something so magnetizing about the name Baz… it’s sexy.  And Baz Acker is Sexy!  Capitol S.  I liked him as much, if not more, than I liked Walter and from my review above (and the Love Lessons review) that’s a pretty big deal.  Baz was incredibly entertaining.

As character driven as I am, that wouldn’t have been enough for a 4.5-5 star rating.  In Fever Pitch I had this issue with how long it took the boys to connect, but that wasn’t the case at all in Lonely Hearts.  Baz and Elijah came together right in the beginning, and for the most part the whole book was about them accepting their relationship and how they were stronger together, supporting each other.

See, both Baz and Elijah have been broken, and they both still carry immense scars because of it.  Neither one of them has ever been willing to open their hearts to anyone, until they’re forced to finally look at each other.  Some may argue that what they had was an insta-love, but I actually don’t think so.  Baz and Elijah weren’t complete strangers.  They had a history, a quick but intense one, and then Baz took a bullet for Elijah.  That’s enough to bond two men deeply, even when they don’t want it.  That’s not insta-love, that’s… meaningful.  (I’m sorry if that’s insulting, I don’t mean it to be.  I just need to feel two characters fall in love, and that doesn’t happen when it’s love at first sight.)

I also want to add, since I recently read Heidi’s book Antisocial, I loved that there was more nods to Manga and Anime in this book.  Again, it really made me feel like I need to at least watch some Yuri, or see Howl’s Moving Castle.  I think I’m going to try to find that movie, because it sounds good but also because I’ll forever compare Howl and Sophie to Baz and Elijah.

Finally, Heidi does a fantastic job of building her characters a network.  I loved everyone who lived in The White House, and I’m sad to see this series end.  Though, if it’s going to than this is where it should.  Baz and Elijah were amazing.