Learning From Isaac by Dev Bentham

Learning from Isaac by Dev Bentham
Loose-Id

Novella: 99pgs

Rating: 3.5/5 (almost a 4)

Blurb:
Nathan Kohn has been teaching Aquatic Science at St. Genevieve College for 15 years. It’s not a perfect situation, but he's resigned to being a gay man in a straight culture, a Jew among Catholics and single in a world of couples. Until the stunningly attractive Isaac Wolf appears in his classroom. Isaac is a few years older than his fellow students, brilliant, self-composed and Jewish. Wouldn't Nathan's mother be pleased? Except, of course, relationships between faculty and students are forbidden, especially those not sanctioned by the Church.

Isaac has his own secrets, which Nathan finds out when he visits the racy new club downtown where boys can be bought in the back room. Behind the beaded curtain, the man on his knees turns out to be Isaac. What happens in the club stays there, right? Except Nathan's mind isn't the only thing Isaac blows, and Nathan can't stop thinking about that night. But what kind of future can there be for a college professor and a rent boy? 


Review:
Nathan is a professor of aquatic science, he’s Jewish and gay and so single. Not exactly, the life he wanted but it’s the life he has. The only thing that makes his day a little brighter is one of his students, Isaac. Nathan knows there is no getting dirty with the students but there is no law against looking, and fantasizing. When a class project has him spending some alone time with Isaac on a boat he finds out his attraction isn’t one sided but he’s gotta obey the rules. No loving with his students.

Well rules are meant to be broken, and a run in with Isaac at a club comes as a surprise to Nathan. He never thought his first sexual encounter with Isaac would be at a club, and he never thought he would have to pay for it. Isaac’s late night job keeps the bills paid, and food on his table but will Nathan be able to handle that the man he likes get paid for sex, or is it all just too much trouble. The men come to a decision to keep a relationship from forming until graduation; maybe by then Isaac will have given up his night job?

Things don’t run smoothly for the guys, because Isaac was a pro, men from his backroom dealings keep recognizing him, and it’s putting a strain on the relationship. Isaac fears Nathan won’t be able to handle his life before as a prostitute even though that time is over.

All right, I was really feeling this book, and smiling and loving it. I had no problems with Isaac sleeping with people for money, because sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do. Why the book lost some credit is the fact that men kept recognizing Isaac. I could have dealt with one man in bringing some drama and angst to the story, but after the second, I was deeply annoyed. I’m thinking Isaac was exceptionally good at giving head because he is just one unforgettable dude.

Overall, I really enjoy Dev’s writing; it flows well and knows when to be sweet and all kinds of hot. Just didn’t enjoy the extra drama with Isaac’s old tricks, too many of them for me to really enjoy it. I liked Nathan, but he’s somewhat sporadic his behaviour kept surprising the crap out of *not always good surprises*. Isaac, I loved! His acceptance of his situation and the fact that his job didn’t make him jaded or an unconfident character was refreshing. He was smart, and accepted his old life and when it was time to move on, he did. Like a boss. I did like the story, just some things really irked, but it was still an enjoyable cute read.

3 1/2 Pants Off