Review: Against the Wall – Julie Prestsater

Shelly Gelson had it all…a job teaching English at Carver High, her best friend, Mel, working by her side and engaged to her high school sweetheart, Chase Marino. That is until Chase breaks her heart and leaves her for another teacher at the school. Now Shel is left broken hearted and trying to figure out what she wants while watching Chase and the home wrecker make moon eyes at each other. Enter Matt Fuller, Shel’s friend for the past 5 years and the perfect rebound. He’s gorgeous, smart, funny and fits into Shel’s idea of the right guy. Only problem is there may be more there then just a simple rebound. Is it a way to fill a void left by Chase, or is there more smoldering between these two friends? Find out what happens when the bell rings and the teenage drama ends and the adult drama begins. Who says being a teacher is boring? They obviously haven’t met the teachers at Carver High.

Series:  Against the Wall #1
Release Date:  April 21, 2012
Publisher:  Julie Prestsater
Source:  Smashwords, via my own wallet
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

I love great dialogue. If characters have snappy wit and sassy dialogue to back it up, I’m all over it. So imagine my surprise when I started reading AGAINST THE WALL and found Shelly. She embodied snappy wit and had some of the best lines of dialogue (even if they were her inner monologues).

The story starts with the beginning of the school year and Shelly still nursing a broken heart after her long time boyfriend/fiance and fellow teacher dumps her for the new, shiny science teacher. With the help of her best friend, Mel, Shelly is determined to find her Mr. Right…just not at her workplace. Too bad all too hot teacher Matt Fuller didn’t get that message. As Shelly and Matt try the “we’re not really together” thing, Shelly needs to figure out if what she wants is still out there or the man right beside her.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Matt was almost too good to be true in his bid to prove the Shelly that they belonged together. He gave her the space to figure things out. He gave their relationship time to develop without all the normal relationship “pressures” in hope that Shelly would understand what they had was so much more (that’s the almost too good to be true part), Besides, who wouldn’t love a guy that loved you enough to take you against the wall.

I felt like Shelly was one of my girls. I got her and I loved her. I’m not sure I could even convey, in words, just what it was that made me like her so much. This is going to be one of those time where I just have to say…read the book to see what I mean.

This was a really quick read for me, but one that gave me some great moment of laughter. Definitely one of those book that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Cocktail Recipe

• 1/2 part Sloe gin
• 1/2 part Southern Comfort®
• 1 part Vodka
• 1 teaspoon Amaretto Di Saronno®
• dash of Galliano
• top up Orange juice
• 1 Orange slice
• 5 Ice cubes

Directions:

Shake the sloe gin, vodka, Southern Comfort with cracked ice. Strain and pour into ahighball glass.
Top up with orange juice.

Add the dash of Galliano. Then float the Amaretto (the kiss) on top.