Good (Too Good #1)by S. Walden
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An edgy, forbidden romance that explores what happens behind closed doors. One mistake can transform your life and alter your path, leading you in directions you never dreamed possible. What would you do if you met a man that was so absolutely irresistable….and then found out later that he was going to be your teacher for the rest of your senior year of High School?
More than once I found myself asking what I would do if I found myself in the same situation. On one hand, we are taught there’s a certain age where things become acceptable, a certain age where you’re old enough to decide what you want to do with your life and where you want to take it-what path you want to pursue. Should a girl that is soon to be a legal adult indulge in a secret affair with her calculus teacher? Absolutely not. It’s just not acceptable in society, and it is assumed that the teacher is a pervert or a predator-I mean, the girl is in High School, after all. But on the other hand, the idea of an illicit love affair with a man who adores and cherishes me, despite our substantial age gap? Errrrmmm…..yes, please. If she/I is eighteen, doesn’t that then become her/my choice? It’s a fine line-how do you really distinguish what’s right or wrong? You don’t. There will always be the opinions of your parents and older influences around you, and there will always be those who believe they have the right to do as they please once they turn eighteen, and that’s what this story is all about: Blurred lines.
Cadence has landed in juvie after a drug-induced stint where she made a horrible decision-the only horrible decision she has ever made. She meets a man on the side of the road while picking up trash, and they engage in a simple conversation, nothing more. Fast forward to the first day of school and guess who Cadence’s Calculus teacher is? You guessed it-side of the road guy, Mr. Connelly. Innocent flirtation, a sweet attempt to make a miserable girl smile, and an exchanging of music lead to a secret affair that not only brings Cadence out of her depression, but makes Mark (Mr. Connelly) feel alive again as well.
While I loved Mark and his tenderness towards Cadence, I did have to reach to find reasons why he would want to be with Cadence. Many times I felt she blurted out the stupidest of stupid comments and exclamations, sometimes without reason and with no real back up as to why she was saying them at all. I know love allows someone to overlook flaws or glitches in a significant other’s personality, but on numerous occasions she more than showed her immaturity and lack of common sense. But even as I spew these negative remarks about Cadence, I have to admit there were several glimpses of growth and maturity that implied she was on her way to understanding a little better what it is to be in a mature, adult relationship-she’s getting there, albeit slowly.
There were many bouts where I felt an unbelievability I couldn’t relate to, while other parts I connected with immediately. The dialogue at times was a tad over the top, causing indecision whether I wholly liked it or not, and then there were scenes or conversations that had me fanning myself-if not for the inconsistency in the dialogue and my fluctuating feelings and overall attitude towards Cadence, this most likely would have been a 4.5 or 5 star read for me.
As it is, I still had a lot of fun reading it and became giddy at the thought of delving back into the book later that night after work, and couldn’t seem to stop thinking about it. I really enjoyed this story and am anxious to see where it goes in the next and final installment, where maybe Cadence and Mark can make something beautiful out of a forbidden love that inevitably shouldn’t be able to lead anywhere. I am excited and antsy, and hope for nothing but the best for these two fictional lovebirds-I hope it ends
good
. (haha had to at least once)
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