Title: Lower Education
Series: N/A
Author: A.M. Leibowitz
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (276 Pages)
Publisher: Acquitted Books, Supposed Crimes LLC (November 1st, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: Phin Patterson is an educational consultant dissatisfied with his job and his life. On a mission to complete one last assignment before escaping his unfulfilling career and figure out what he wants, he accepts a commission from Donald Murdock at the New York State Education Department. Suddenly, he finds himself on his way to evaluate a tiny school in New York’s Southern Tier, not far from the town where he grew up. Now his only goal is to get in, do his job, and get out before anyone from his past remembers him.
That turns out to be easier said than done. Dani Sloane, the sharp-witted administrative assistant to the principal, learns the truth about why Phin is really there. With the help of her friends, she sets out to unmask him and force the local board of education to stop the plans that could ruin their school. Discovering that her sometime-lover is an old business associate of Phin’s only complicates both the situation and their relationship.
Meanwhile, Phin, who has committed himself to keeping his emotional distance, can’t resist the charm of the town and its residents—especially the school psychologist, who turns out to be an old friend he hasn’t seen in over twenty years. While Dani works to take him down and save her school, Phin wrestles with learning how to do the right thing, including telling the truth to the man with whom he’s already falling in love.
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/Lower-Education-A-M-Leibowitz-ebook/dp/B00NCA48TE
ASIN: B00NCA48TE
Reviewer: GiGi
Review: My feelings on this book are a mixed bag. This book seems like it was written by a disgruntled teacher, frustrated with the entire education system and the government’s dirty hands in it. Teaching to tests, common core, charter schools, it’s all you hear about if you talk to a teacher or are an involved parent.
On one hand, the author is preaching to the choir here, and I sympathize with the subject of this struggle…on the other, this is not what I want to read in my romance books. I want to escape reality and enjoy a fun fling for a while…not debate heady education issues.
This theme is similar to that of the sophisticated corporate raider coming in to buy out a company and sell it off in parts for profit only….than falling in love with the town and its employees. Except the subject of this book is education, the politics and gossip of teachers/administrators…and of course Phin coming back to face his youthful indiscretions.
Lower Education is a long read, it’s not terribly sexy, with the exception of Alex, but he’s got a big chip on his shoulder. I’m thinking a romance novel is not the platform from which one preaches U.S. education system woes. But that’s only my opinion.