Second edition: This book was previously published as a novella of approximately 30,000 words, and the second edition has been revised into a full-length novel.
Emile leads a quiet but contented life as a university professor, with a perfect dog, comfortable home, and loyal friends. Maybe there’s something—or someone, missing. But dating is hard enough for vanilla people. Emile doesn’t just have to find someone he wants to date—he has to find someone he wants to kneel for.
Jay likes playing soccer, reading poetry, and handsome men in tweed vests. Men like Emile, who Jay can’t forget after they connected on a rainy July night. Their encounter awoke a powerful urge in Jay to take, command, and control that has haunted him ever since. Jay had hoped that starting college would distract him, but that hope died when he showed up for the first day of his literature class and discovered Emile was his professor.
When Emile tells Jay they can’t be together, Jay is still determined to figure out a way for the two of them to explore what they share. And Emile craves Jay’s gentle dominance too much to resist him.
m/m romance, age gap, teacher and student (legal age), dog!
This is a great recipe for an enjoyable m/m romance book. Mix two great and opposite characters with a loyal dog and a dash of BDSM and you’ve got Jaywalking by Rachel Ember.
University professor, Emile lives a quiet life now that he’s split from his ex. The ex? Just happened to be his boss at the University so it’s been a bit awkward. Emile’s pretty happy with his job and his home and his dog… but he would love someone in his life. The issue for Emile is that it’s not just about a partner, he wants someone who shares his interest in BDSM.
Jay is a soccer playing, poetry loving young man. One night, he heads out to a poetry reading and meets someone he’s instantly attracted to. The man flees though when they get to the point of agreeing to meet up so things can get a lot more intimate.
Jay is disappointed… maybe even already a little obsessed with the way he was drawn to the stranger. Imagine his surprise when he shows up for class and his professor… is the same intoxicating stranger from the poetry reading.
I quite enjoyed this story. Emile is a lovely character, and I appreciated the fact that he tried to do the right thing in terms of having a relationship with a student. There’s a little exploration by the author of the way that a power imbalance can work in terms of a work environment. I liked that it was all resolved with very little drama. There was a lot of depth, don’t get me wrong, but it felt smooth and realistic.
I received an ARC of Jaywalking by Rachel Ember from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
Kinzie Things 