That was interesting. Too many alternate viewpoints and the end is downright wtf and too abrupt, but I really loved Johnny. I would have liked more from his brain as opposed to everyone else and their mothers. I liked Rachel quite a bit and I especially liked that her relationship with her sister wasn't contentious despite their history.

I have to say too, that this particular small town setting made me unbelievably glad to live in a giant city. All those people, judging and knowing everyone's business, made me want to gak. ( )

Raising this a star on second reading. I really enjoyed it.

Older woman story. The author made it fairly easy to get over any squick factor about her having been his high school English teacher. It was pretty well written, the story was interesting and moved pretty rapidly. I'm fond of both the ex-con and the older woman tropes so a double win for me. ( )

A mystery romance story. This story follows a teacher and a former student. Johnny has been released from prison for a murder he didn’t commit, the whole town where he grew up believes he is guilty except for his former teacher Rachel who is 5 years older than him. Rachel gives him a job and place to live because she believes his innocence. Another murder is committed and everyone believes it is Johnny who committed this crime however he has an air tight alibi. So if not Johnny, who committed the murders and will Rachel be saved from being a third victim? ( )

I remember that when I first read this book many, many years ago I really enjoyed it. Enough so that I eventually made a point of picking up my own copy. I believe that this most recent reading may be my third time reading the story. Unfortunately, I found that I didn't really enjoy it anywhere near as much now that I am soooo very much older.

Johnny is the text book "bad boy" of his small town in high school. At the time Rachel is his straight laced school teacher and is all into encouraging Johnny's secret poetic, book loving side. Of course, Johnny is the one all the good girls are after, at least until his girlfriend winds up murdered and Johnny is convicted. Rachel always believed that Johnny was innocent and when the now all grown up bad boy returns to Town after being released from jail it is Rachel who gives him a job, a home and another chance. Johnny, for his part, returns her kindness with bad attitude and lusty innuendo which Rachel ultimately falls for.

It think way back when I used to have a thing for "bad boys" myself, but no longer find attractive in the least. Maybe that is why I liked the book so much more back in my younger days. This time around I found Johnny's attitude at the beginning of the book just really tiresome. The story did pick up middle to end with some possibly supernatural twists. The parts where you get to see into the murder's mind were interesting and added atmosphere to the story. Overall, it was a decent enough contemporary romance although I didn't like it quite as much in my forty-something years as I did when I was in my twenty-something years. ( )

really good book ( )