{REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY} Misconduct by Penelope Douglas

Posted December 2, 2015 by Book Lit Love in Authors L-Q, MY REVIEWS / 0 Comments

Misconduct by Penelope Douglas
on December 1st, 2015
Format: eARC
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Former tennis player Easton Bradbury is trying to be the best teacher she can be, trying to reach her bored students and trying to forget her past. What brought her to this stage in her life isn’t important. She can’t let it be. But now one parent-teacher meeting may be her undoing...

Meeting Tyler Marek for the first time makes it easy for Easton to see why his son is having trouble in school. The man knows how to manage businesses and wealth, not a teenage boy. Or a young teacher, for that matter, though he tries to. And yet…there is something about him that draws Easton in—a hint of vulnerability, a flash of attraction, a spark that might burn.

  Wanting him is taboo. Needing him is undeniable. And his long-awaited touch will weaken Easton’s resolve—and reveal what should stay hidden…  (*STANDALONE, NO CLIFFHANGER*)

{REVIEW}

The pitchforks were out when I whispered that I had never read a book by Penelope Douglas and trust me I don’t live under a rock but with an endless TBR list and never enough hours in the day I just hadn’t experience the beauty of her work. Penelope Douglas hands down has been taking the book world by storm recently with two new releases in such a short span call it coincides a self-published title and a traditional book come mere weeks after each other but it happened. Having never read previous works I came into reading Misconduct with fresh eyes and no idea of the writing styled journey I was about to embark on. Misconduct treads the line of forbidden love that provokes thoughts of rules combined with a powerful connection that breaks and binds soulfully with written scripture that was both sexy and wholehearted written to perfection.

The cat and mouse game of two strangers; they flirt, tease and find themselves lost in moments of time that seemly are stolen. Time steals them of any more but fate intervenes six month later, when unexpectedly the table and chairs of a thousand feelings come to halt in a classroom.

Forbidden, a line is drawn from all the feelings of the past and the reality of the present as the former tennis prodigy turned history teacher Easton Bradbury battles more than just her newly appointed job. At just twenty-three Easton is reserved and emotionally detached from anything and everything that could hold greater meaning; the intimacy of allowing the walls to collapse and to expose her heart to great although she yearns of the carefree lifestyle of connecting with a man and letting go to the freedom of life.

Tyler Marek; self-made billionaire and aspiring politician has no idea that when he walks into his son’s classroom that the new history teacher would be the women who brought him to his knees of desire and fantasy since they were two strangers six months ago. Tyler a man of ambition and stealthy excellence in all but his sons care is taken aback by the only person whose teaching methods contradict his own. Easton is nothing but a ball of fire when it comes to confidence and that was perfectly written in strength of how female characters can be presented and be written in romance novels.

Like a bat out of hell the flame of Tyler and Easton’s captivating connection lights the power of a stadium in the dark. Keeping there rendezvous secret at the chance of destroying their careers the chemistry is unquestionable in the night, scorching to the flame of passion the characters really captivated so much in both dual perspectives.

I have never been one to fall head over heals for forbidden romances but Tyler and Easton’s story held greater meaning that just the recapturing of a chance encounter with the elements of a forbidden love story. This book was truly about two characters who sort to break the walls down of the limitations that bound them and allowed the vulnerable side of their hearts to lead the way creating a chemistry written to be faultlessly imperfect. The parenting aspect of connecting with your child and communication was great to watch unfold and is relatable to the lives we live every day. I loved reading Misconduct from the very beginning to end and I’m definitely going to follow through and read more from Penelope as I see it now as a punishment to myself if I don’t explore and read more of her work. I truly recommend checking out Misconduct as the extraordinary vibrance that was created within the pages with passion, heart and beautiful scripture will leave you breathless and full of emotion.

{PURCHASE}

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{EXCERPT}

His three-piece black pin-striped suit looked crisp and dark against his fair skin, and his white shirt and slate-gray tie shimmered in the glow of the light overhead.

I took a few steps forward. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

His eyes shot down to my feet, and I followed his gaze, remembering that I’d forgotten to put my heels back on.

“Always losing your shoes,” he commented, a smile curling his mouth.

I pursed my lips and turned around, snatching my heels off the seat and slipping them back onto my feet. Grabbing the back of the chair, I pulled it behind me and entered my classroom, knowing he’d follow.

“You came to my workplace unannounced,” he stated behind me. “I thought I would return the favor.”

I replaced my chair behind my desk and looked up, seeing that he had closed the door behind him.

“And?” I prompted.

“And I came to apologize,” he admitted, stopping a few feet in front of my desk. “I’ve been unfair, and I’m sorry. Christian has his phone back, so we’ll see how this goes.”

I stilled, my heart galloping in my chest, and I almost smiled.

Really?

I opened my mouth but had to swallow the lump before I could speak. “Well, that’s great,” I said, surprised. “Thank you.”

I guess I got through to him at his office.

He slid one of his hands into a pocket and narrowed his eyes on me, looking a little surprised.

“You seem very knowledgeable and determined.” His voice sounded genuine. “You’re an impressive woman, Ms. Bradbury, and I should’ve taken the time to understand your methods.”

I kept my shoulders squared, but my eyes dropped, embarrassment warming my cheeks.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, turning around to grab a dry-erase marker to start writing the schedule on the board for when then kids came back on Thursday.

“Christian talks about your class,” he said behind me. “I can tell your teaching interests him, even if he would never admit it.”

I uncapped the marker and rested my hand on the board but didn’t write anything.

“He really can’t stand me, can he?”

I dropped my hand to my side and spun around slowly, surprised by his question.

And feeling terrible all over again. I should never have said that.

No matter how much I thought I knew about him, they were nothing more than assumptions. Who was I to insinuate his son didn’t care for him or vice versa? And what gave me the right to say anything at all in the first place?

He breathed deeply, and for the first time since I’d met him, he looked unsure of himself.

“I was twenty when he was born,” he told me. “That’s no excuse, but it’s the only one I have.”

Twenty.

I was twenty-three, and I couldn’t imagine having a child right now.

I watched him and waited, not wanting to say anything or interrupt because I found I kind of liked it when he talked.

“I know what you think of me.” He looked me dead in the eye and then dropped his gaze, speaking in a voice close to a whisper. “And what he thinks of me.”

And then he let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “I don’t know why I even care what you think. You don’t give a shit about me, but I guess that’s what’s so intriguing.” He moved forward, his soft eyes turning to steel. “You’re so cold and distant,” he charged. “I guess I wouldn’t think anything of it if I hadn’t seen you so different at one time.”

I inhaled a shaky breath, looking down at his right hand. The same one that had held my waist while we danced.

I licked my lips, barely noticing him advance.

“You were flirty and fun.” His voice turned husky, and I looked up, seeing him round my desk slowly. “And you keep pissing me off, but it feels good,” he whispered, playing with me, drawing me in.

I knew that look in his eyes. I may not know much about him, but I knew that look.

And we were in my classroom.

His son’s classroom.

I may have had little shame, but he had none.

“Mr.—”

He cut me off. “Why won’t you ever say my name?”

I shook my head, confused. “Why do you care what I think?”

“I don’t,” he maintained. “I care that you don’t think of me at all.”

I narrowed my eyes on him, clenching my teeth. “That’s not . . .” I trailed off, plastering my back against the whiteboard as he hovered over me.

“That’s not what?” he pressed, his voice sounding strained.

He stood so close that I had only to lift a hand and I could touch him.

“That’s not true,” I finished.

He leaned in. “You look at me like I don’t matter.” His eyes searched mine. “And I don’t like it.”

{Author Bio}

Penelope Douglas is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Fall Away series.

She dresses for autumn year round, loves anything lemon flavored, and believes there is too much blood in her Coca Cola stream. Or too much Coca Cola in her blood stream. Or…

You know what? It doesn’t matter. She loves Coke. Now you know.

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and daughter.

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