Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

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Book Review – The Education of Sebastian (The Education #1) by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Book Review – The Education of Sebastian (The Education #1) by Jane Harvey-Berrick

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“I love you, Caro. I want to make love to you. I want to make love to you forever.”

This book made my heart RACE. It was a captivating story of forbidden love. I’m still recovering from the huge cliffhanger ending and most definitely planning to go straight on to book #2.

I gotta say I was a little hesitant going into this one because of the huge age gap between the hero and heroine. For the record, Sebastian is 17 (4 months shy of 18), and Caroline is 30 and (unhappily) married. I kind of wavered back and forth a fair bit on it before deciding I should really just give it a shot and I pretty much just jumped in with both feet knowing nothing other than the fact that this one ends on a cliffhanger, but the sequel has a happy ending.

I want to say that the age difference was totally ‘fine’ but in truth it was almost fine. There were definitely moments where you really felt Seb’s age shine through but then definitely moments where you felt his maturity. There was no doubt though that they were definitely soul-mates, or “right” for each other. It was just their situation that was unfortunate.

I knew from very early on that Seb and Caro would be one of *those* couples I would just want to pluck out of their setting and put them on some desert island somewhere to live out their happy, peaceful, non-judged lives together. But.. *sigh* … that wasn’t going to happen.

There are a few things that made me more okay with the scenario. First, it is NOT a love triangle book. There is no actual wavering back and forth between two guys ever. Caroline is stuck in a loveless marriage to a military man 11 years her senior who she rashly married when she was 19 years old to escape being under her mother’s stifling thumb at home. There is no doubt from the start to the end of the book – she is NOT in love with both men. She is more just ‘stuck’ with her husband. He wasn’t a cruel man, but he was intolerable and insufferable and while he wasn’t directly abusive, the way he treated her was appalling to me and as such,  I didn’t lose a moment’s worry over his feelings in the whole matter.

“He hated the way I dressed, the way I spoke, what I spoke about and the things that interested me to speak about… He wasn’t always an unkind man… we were just fundamentally unsuited to each other.”

The story follows Caroline – married to her husband who’s job as a medical officer in the military moved him around a lot. In the prologue, we see them move to a new base where she is introduced to the horrid wife of his new CO and their adorable eight-year-old son Sebastian. She feels badly for him growing up with such wretched parents and the become friends. Its beautiful and totally not creepy guys!! But when her husband is relocated yet again, she is suddenly forced to move again, leaving behind a distraught Sebastian.

Fast forward 9 years to the present day, Caroline is now 30 and they are moved back to that old base which is where she meets Sebastian Hunter – gorgeous, grown up, and carrying a serious torch for her. He’s truly loved her from since he was a kid and although she resists his advances at first, there is something between them… a spark. A spark she tries to ignore, but ultimately can’t.

“Sebastian, don’t let me keep you from your friends; I’m quite happy to sit here and watch.”
He shook his head and looked at me intently.
“I can surf anytime; I’d rather be here with you.”
I stared down at my notepad, unsure what to say, but absolutely certain that if I looked up I’d be caught in the net of his blue-green gaze. But I also needed to be clear.
“I wish you wouldn’t say things like that, Sebastian. I’m a married woman. It makes me… uncomfortable.”
I still hadn’t been able to look up….
“I really like you, Caroline,” he said softly.
I felt his hand touch my arm; he was trembling.
I had to look up. His face held such an expression of longing, mixed with anxiety…

Doing the math, she calculates that he must be 18 years old and they begin a relationship in secret at first. But only later does she find out that he is almost 18. Almost. Ohhh what a difference that one tiny word can make. Its terrifying and neither of them went into it knowingly but they are already too deep to pull back and so, despite trying to resist, they can’t help but continue to develop their relationship.

“I knew it was wrong: I knew it was right.”

“I had chosen – willingly, knowingly, deliberately. I chose love over law. And I didn’t care.”

Its a situation where Caro genuinely did NOT consider him a love interest at first. But he was into her. Like, seriously! And although she struggled at first with her feelings, the heart wants what the heart wants….

“Please don’t,” I whispered. Bu there was no force behind my words.
He stood, still holding my hand.
“I love you, Caroline.”
He spoke softly, but the words were clear, spoken without expectation and with a little hope.

“I’m married, Sebastian.” …
“You don’t love him, Caro.”
My eyes darted to his. How did he know? 
“I love you. I’ll… I’ll do anything, go anywhere … We’ll be happy.”
So, so tempting.

“We can be together,” he whispered. “Forever.”

But every single thing between them is forbidden. Its dangerous and there is this HUGE, intense, never-ending undercurrent of pure angst that over-shadows every single one of their interactions.

“Everything had a price: every glance, every kiss, every stolen touch. It seemed desperately unfair…”

I have to say, I pretty much fell in love with Sebastian from the first time he said hi to her on the beach. He was just SUCH a sweet, kind hearted guy. Just one of those guys that you couldn’t help but crush over – a totally gorgeous character, inside and out. My heart broke for his home life and he did seem a lot more mature than his years at times.

The writing style is captivating and had a beautiful feeling that just wrapped you into the story.

This book definitely had that 5-star spark. You know the one I’m talking about, right? The one that makes your heart flutter and have you completely involved in the story.

The author really made you FEEL all the things they went through – the jealousy and possessiveness, the worries and uncertainty, and their undeniable and passionate feelings for each other.

But there were also a few things that kept me from being able to give it a full 5 star rating. I didn’t like how much Caro let herself be under her husband’s thumb. I mean, it made sense for the story because if her marriage was solid, it would have thrown the story into a whole different ballpark but I just didn’t like how much of a doormat she was with him. Literally, he said jump, she asked how high. Although, in her defense, she did have a moment toward the end when she finally stood up to him that made me happy.

And I’m trying how to decide about the age gap. I have mixed feeling about it. First and most importantly, I acknowledge that they were right for each other. Okay, I said it. It was clear they were in love – you felt it, you knew it, it was undeniable. But…. I will say that there were times, as a reader, where it felt a little awkward – I don’t know, moments where his teenager-ness really came through that made me just squint my eyes a little and feel a little uncomfortable. It wasn’t the fact that he was young I had issue with but something about certain scenes made their age gap feel a lot more pronounced. And, I mean, I guess its an honest reaction because the fact of the matter is that it projects their feelings onto you – I mean, Caro had those feelings and went through a lot of anxiety over whether or not they should be together given their age gap so I guess it was really just drawing you into that feeling.

But yeah, there were definitely moments of “awkward” although kudos to the author for really making you ‘feel’ his age accurately. She didn’t try and dress him up as a man in a kids body. He simple was. a. teenager. A mature one. One who knew, without a doubt what he wanted, who he loved and where he wanted his life to go. This wasn’t one of those “perfect” situations where he’s young but its okay cuz he’s really a man. No. He’s really 17. He had a heart of gold. Was in love for absolute real. But, he was a teen. And she was 30. No sugarcoating it.

A few of you were asking me about this, so this book is definitely ‘adult‘ in terms of steam. There is a lot of sex and its fairly detailed so definitely not ‘glossed’ over.

I have to say though that I READ IN FEAR!!!! Seriously, I was freaked WAY the hell out at EVERY moment that they were going to get caught!! I mean, yes, they were careful (to a certain extent) but at the same time they were also just freaking LUCKY they weren’t caught earlier because they did a LOT of things that could have EASILY drawn attention had the wrong person been there at the right time. They really weren’t careful enough for my liking about hiding it so, as cute as they were, I spent half my time freaking out and it did detract a little from my connection because I was SO worried all the time.

“I want to walk on the beach with you and hold your hand and to not be afraid that someone will see us.”

Seriously, the hiding it, having to pretends in public that they weren’t ‘together’, all the stolen glances and fleeting touches, the HUGE looming threat of what would happen if they got caught – EVERYTHING just seriously had my heart in my throat and kept me on pins and needles for a good part of the book. I even had to put the book down a few times and go begging to people for reassurance, lol (yes, I’m a chicken, don’t judge me!!).

Especially as I got closer to the end and I KNEW there was this giant brutal cliffhanger, I. Couldn’t. Take. It. As it got closer to the end I was freaking out more and more. It was helpless feeling where I knew it was going to end badly and there was absolutely NOTHING I COULD FREAKING DO ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!! I just had to keep reading. And dreading what was to come. And just seriously… F U C K !!!!

I didn’t cry at the end but my heart was in knots!!!

I feel utterly wrapped up in Seb and Caro’s story and good or bad, there is no WAY I’m stopping now! So I am absolutely going straight on to book #2 which I have been assured has a HEA!! Thank GOD!! cuz…

“You are my world, Caro,” he said.
“And you’re mine.”

*heart clench*

Rating: 4 – 4.5 stars. Book 1 in complete book duet.

EDUCATION SERIES

Comments

  4. I read “On the Island” and didn’t have a problem with the age gap, so I’m hoping the same holds true for this series 🙂

    Reply

  5. Thanks for an awesome giveaway! These books sound amazing and I’d love to win them. Great review =)

    Reply

  9. Thank you for this giveaway !

    I have both of them on my TBR list 🙂

    Woul love to win both of them since the budget for my book addiction is in the red and we are only in the month of February 😛

    Won’t say no to a little help 😉

    Reply

  11. I would love to win. My son’s name is Sebastian, so that’s kinda……weird. But, I still think it’s a great name. Sounds like a great book!

    Reply

  14. Momma wants to win these books SOOOOOO bad! I swear if hubby tallied up my monthly kindle expenses, he’d probably send me to kindle rehab. lol Thanks for the fab blog!

    Reply

  35. Aestas…….You are at it again. These giveaways are AMAZING!!!

    I’m dying to get my hands on these two books. I’ve heard such INCREDIBLE things about both.

    Thanks for the chance to win them!

    Reply

  37. Loved your review! Thanks for the giveaway too, I’ve added these to my TBR list now so would be great to win 🙂

    Reply

  41. Great review… I’m definitely intrigued and wanting to read these books now despite being unsure of the age difference. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  79. I loved Sebastian and Caro together. I’m just about half way through “The Education of Caroline” and it’s sooo gooooood!!! Finally I’m out of the reading funk. Both books highly recommended!!!

    Reply

  81. Excellent review, as always (I look forward to reading your take). I have been hearing alot about this series, would love to read them. Thank you for the chance.

    Reply

  82. Love your review like always 🙂 I’ve been hearing about this books for a while and was a little hesitant to read them but know I’m ready. Would love to read them!

    Reply

  86. I would love to read both books. Thank you so much for this giveaway it is absolutely amazing. Good Luck Everyone!

    Reply

  98. So many books so little time! Your blog always makes me want to quit my job and become a hermit so that nothing would bother me when I want to read!!!

    Reply

  102. OMG i want these books so bad. i freaking love your reviews, i always have to skip over my TBR list after i read one of your reviews because i instantly need to read what you just read. and i really appreciate your casting pics. i’m gushing, sorry. anyway, dying for these books!!
    pepperpenn42 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  103. Oh out of all the giveaways you have done I am excited about this one the most. After what you wrote about The Education of Sebastian I want to read this book. I love how its about an older woman and younger man usually most reads are the other way around. I can’t wait to read this series!!

    Reply

  119. I would love to have these! Thank you so much… When I was in my late twenties I had a relationship with a guy who was 8 years younger than me – it was interesting and fun to say the least. 🙂

    Reply

  131. I hadn’t even heard of this series until I saw your blog post…Needless to say they are now on my Goodreads list! Thanks for the giveaway!! 🙂
    Laura

    Reply

  140. A little apprehensive about reading this series but after your review I am going to give it a shot…what better way to read them…free 🙂

    Reply

  148. Both of these books look and sound amazing! Can’t wait to read them! Thanks for the opportunity to enter the contest!

    Reply

  149. I love your blog and your reviews! Thank you for the giveaway. I have not read these books yet, they look awesome!

    Reply

  152. I love this blog! I always find great info & giveaways! Thank u!
    A chance to win both is freakn’ fantastic!

    Reply

  165. I am about that age myself. I am 28. I am not interested in younger men myself, in fact I am married. But I can see it working. At least at 18. 17 definitely complicates things. But I can see it being possible with the age gap, for two ppl to still be right for each other. The idea is fascinating in fact, and I cant wait to read this.

    Reply

  167. OMG I can’t wait to read these!!! You always find the BEST books! Thanks for all the giveaways too 🙂

    Reply

  181. The covers are really eye catchers but when you said that the woman was older that the man, it took the cake… I haven’t read a story with this difference in age but I guess it’s alright if the story is good…

    Thank you for this chance!!!

    Reply

  184. I enjoyed your review. I gave this book 5 stars as I felt it was well written and I felt they belonged together.
    I did see the ‘teen’ shine through in many places. Especially when he would get jealous of the other guys who were just talking to her. But I felt she did not handle jealous emotions very well either especially at the picnic. So even at 30 that emotion was difficult; Jane’s writing was wonderful,she brought it out beautifully. Hiding jealous emotions is difficult when you are allowed to be together, much harder when you are not. The ending was crushing, I hate this kind of ending,but the hope offered in the Education of Caroline helped. Read it and the second book, they are wonderful.

    Reply

  191. Such a great review & book! I would love to win either book. Sebastian is now my #1 book boyfriend. 🙂 I need to reread these books ASAP!

    Reply

  197. This looks great. Thank you for this–and all your many other–giveaways and reviews!

    Reply

  206. Absolutely loved this story!!! So emotional, beautifully written! Thank you for the chance!

    Reply

  212. I just love that new cover it is so beautiful I’m gonna have to get it in paperback…Love Seb and Caro thanks for the awesome chance to bring them home.

    Reply

  213. I love your giveaways!! I know you loved this book, so I am looking forward to it!! Thanks, Aestas!

    Reply

  234. Enjoyed reading this post! You never disappoint & I look forward to my visits. Thank you for the giveaway!

    Reply

  246. I’ve had second thoughts about reading this series when they first came out. Guess I’m ready for it now 🙂

    Reply

  251. You can buy each book separately , or buy the Education Series book. That is both books together plus several, amazing bonus chapters. I would definitely suggest that you buy The Education Series with its beautiful, Hang Le cover. That is the book that is pictured above. After the heart wrenching end of book one, we go ten years forward. Caro is an award winning journalist. Sebastien is now; Chief Sebastian Hunter, US Marines. Both are in Geneva. If you loved book one,you will adore book two.

    Reply

  252. Aesta, You reviewed only the first book; The education Of Sebastian. Yes, there was an age difference. There was also an age difference between David and Caroline; 11 years when he married the 19 year old Caroline, but she was only a 17 year old senior high school girl when David, an officer in the US Navy had sex with her. That was made clear in the book. Caro told Seb, because he didn’t understand why it was wrong for them, but ok for David? The answer was, David and Caro were in Maryland at the time! California is one of the very few places in the world that has the age of consent at 18
    Did you ever read the bonus chapters? Sebastian’s 21 birthday might have shown you how deeply he felt. The best book of all, is the one you didn’t review; The Education of Caroline. That takes place 10 years later, when they meet again in Geneva. I’d love you to review TEoC .

    Reply

    • No, I reviewed both books in the series and read them together in 2013. I don’t read cliffhanger books generally unless I have the sequel on hand. The link to my second review is at the bottom of this one. 🙂

      Reply

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