Lessons Learned

Jan 04, 2013 Alexis ~*Too many books, not enough time*~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: copy-to-review, dec2012-jan-feb2013, arc-copy, betrayal, bigotry, blackmail, contemporary_romance, discovery, emotional-read, heartbreaking, hea-included, high_school_setting, her_-pov, kleenex-required, made-me-go-wtf, made_me_weep, marriage-proposal, mild-violence, moderately_steamy, quick_read, tragedy-tragic

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
4.5 STARS out of 5
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Very Intense, Highly Emotional and Extremely Raw...

I started this book off crying. I'm talking on the first page I was sobbing so I put the book down for a while. When I finally finished days later I was still crying. In all honesty I read most of this book with teary eyes but I loved it! I consider it A MUST READ!

This is a story about
Hatred-Acceptance&love

HATRED is built from fear it knows no color, it has no limit and...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, 2012-debuts

After a traumatic incident at the high school where she was teaching, Sarah Bray returns to her small hometown of Sycamore Falls. Her therapist thinks a change of scenery may help with the panic attacks and her recovery. Lucas Miller has recently arrived in Sycamore Falls from New York. He's also a high school teacher and there's speculation amongst the locals that Lucas is running from a scandal.

This is such a simple and yet beautiful story. The romance was tender and sweet and realistic. Lucas...more

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Aug 31, 2012 KatLynne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, 2012-reads, small-town-livin, sweet-warm-romance, friends-to-lovers, g-contemporary-romance, hero-i-adored, heroine-with-backbone-smart-strong, made-me-cry, made-me-laugh, mild-steam, debut

Sydney Logan’s debut novel, Lessons Learned, is so much more than a warm, tender romance. This book touched on very serious issues. It’s depiction of the much needed lessons of acceptance, tolerance and love was beautifully portrayed.

After a traumatic event that leaves Sarah suffering severe panic attacks, she leaves the big city to return to her small hometown of Sycamore Falls. Lucas has also endured a harrowing experience and relocates to this small southern town from New York City. These tw...more Sydney Logan’s debut novel, Lessons Learned, is so much more than a warm, tender romance. This book touched on very serious issues. It’s depiction of the much needed lessons of acceptance, tolerance and love was beautifully portrayed.

After a traumatic event that leaves Sarah suffering severe panic attacks, she leaves the big city to return to her small hometown of Sycamore Falls. Lucas has also endured a harrowing experience and relocates to this small southern town from New York City. These two quickly become friends and as they slowly open their wounded hearts, a breathtaking love develops.

One of the best elements of this book is Lucas’ love for Sarah. While she is a strong, courageous young woman and one that I admired, she also was in need of a little sheltering and TLC. Gorgeous Lucas Miller is perfect for her. Sarah is his treasure and it shows.

They each have taken jobs at the local High School and soon a dark cloud mars their happiness. Matt, senior and quarterback star of the football team, reveals a big secret and the ugliness of prejudice roars through this town. This young man suffered tremendously from self guilt to the brutality of school bullying and the pain he felt as an outcast from former friends, family, and his local church community.

My emotions were all over the place and I wanted to jump right in and take a stand right next to Sarah Bray and fight for this young man! Be prepared for anger and have plenty of tissues ready for Matt’s story is heart rending. And I’m sure Sarah Bray will become your hero too.

Another treasure found here is the great job the author accomplished immersing me into Sarah and Lucas’ world, watching as their love grew into something really beautiful, while at the same time touching on the ugliness and the horror of intolerance all around. In the midst of the pain and the sadness that accompanies narrow-mindedness, I never lost sight of this couples deep love and the support they gave each other. It was a perfect blend of romance along with the reminder that no matter where you live, big city or small town, “having traditional values doesn’t give anyone the right to be judgmental or hurtful.”

The story is well-written and pulled me in almost immediately. Growing up, Sarah was very fortunate to have had a hero who encouraged her to "view the world with open eyes and an open heart." As High School teachers, the “episodes” that altered their lives at their schools are two of the most frightening, giving this story an authentic feel.

Lessons Learned is a warm, tender and touching love story that I enjoyed from beginning to end. There’s no angst with this couple, no contrived misunderstandings. What we are given is a hero and heroine that I both liked and admired whose romance is as beautiful to watch as the unfolding of the cocoon as it slowly opens to reveal the exquisite butterfly.

Sydney Logan has given us a winning debut! And how lucky for us readers that the author doesn’t leave us hanging, but gives one of the best epilogues, satisfying that hunger for more. I look forward to more by this author!

My Rating: 4/5 Stars
The Expected Release Date is September 6, 2012

****ARC courtesy of The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing via NetGalley****(less)

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Nov 20, 2012 Kathie (katmom) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was blessed to read this as a novel in progress.

Lessons Learned is a lovely romance with a center of drama...made me laugh, made me cry...made me root for Sarah, Lucas and Matt.

Sycamore Falls was a character in itself. I've lived in small towns, and Sydney Logan caught the flavor of it to a T. There were characters that I loved...and some I wanted to smack really hard.

While one part of me wanted a "Footloose" ending, with parades and banners and cheers, the way Ms. Logan had the scenes play ou...more

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Jul 01, 2012 cosmogirl7481 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan. Based on the premise, I was looking forward to reading this story. Having grown up in a very small town in Appalachia much like Sycamore Falls, I was excited to see how she described such a unique place.

I was not disappointed.

I have read a lot of stories that take place in the south. Some authors try to make the characters feel more genuine by writing their dialect (and dialogue) in a way that they feel is honest. And...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Laury rated it 4 of 5 stars

You had me at the book trailer .. and won me over with 235 pages of this amazing story.

I didn't know what to expect from this story just knew that Sydney Logan is an amazing writer and she proven herself again with Lessons Learned.

At first I felt disconnected from Sarah but I completely got why as I kept on reading, because she was disconnected with herself too, and her healing came in the name of Lucas, now can I just add that I want a Lucas for myself and now I blame the author for creating su...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Michela Walters rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-netgalley, romance, great-reads-highly-recommend, 2012-top-reads

I was extremely fortunate to receive an advanced copy of Lessons Learned from NetGalley.
4 1/2 stars for this one. GREAT READ!

Lessons Learned is a heart wrenching story about two teachers, each struggling to move on from their respective pasts, and how their pasts help shape them in a way that they could save the life of one of their students.

I will state right off the bat, that I LOVED this book. It is a book that makes you really think about some of the more weighty topics in this world withou...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Thuong Le rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, fiction, love-story, tear-jeaker

I got more than I bargained for when I started reading Lessons Learned. I have never come across a book where I wanted to cry in every other chapter! But it was a really great story; it was nice change from paranormal reads. If there was a book that would have a tearjerker impact on me, then this was the one.

This story is about English teacher Sarah Bray, following a traumatic event that had affected her deeply, she returns to her hometown, Sycamore Falls. By returning home, she hopes to battle...more I got more than I bargained for when I started reading Lessons Learned. I have never come across a book where I wanted to cry in every other chapter! But it was a really great story; it was nice change from paranormal reads. If there was a book that would have a tearjerker impact on me, then this was the one.

This story is about English teacher Sarah Bray, following a traumatic event that had affected her deeply, she returns to her hometown, Sycamore Falls. By returning home, she hopes to battle the demons of her past. She meets Lucas Miller in a hardware store; he is a teacher from New York and also battling his own past. Their love blossoms, but then Matt the quarterback of the football team reveals a secret of his own to them.

I like the protagonist Sarah, I think she is someone who genuinely loves teaching and maintains a good connection with her students, which is nice to read about. She went through hardship when she was young. Her parents died when she was sixteen and from that day on, she distanced herself her people who showed her love because in this way she wouldn’t get hurt.

The relationship blossoming between her and Lucas is very sweet and innocent; there was neither angst nor problems with them. Sarah, despite a very wounded character allowed to be loved by him and the nice thing was that Lucas wanted to take care of her. When Sarah had a panic attack and also when she cried, Lucas was there for her making sure that she was okay. Sarah’s ex-boyfriend Ryan, on the other hand, could not handle Sarah’s breakdowns and emotions. I think that’s why Lucas and Sarah worked so well together. Lucas sounded a bit too perfect to me. What I like was they pulled through and overcame their past together.

When Sarah’s past was revealed and I felt really moved by her story. I was close to tears! She blamed herself for what happened to Josh when it wasn’t her fault, but she felt responsible because he confided in her. All she wanted to do was help him. With Lucas, there was a scandal that he was involved in back in New York. This wasn’t his fault either, but he was left humiliated after the incident that he could not face teaching there again.

I thought the storyline was intensely moving and I commend the author for writing such an amazing story on important issues. It was centered on the concept of love, being accepted, suicide and prejudice. In a small town like Sycamore Falls, people are respectable and have traditional values. However there will be people who are very narrow-minded and will have different beliefs to as what is right and wrong in terms of someone’s sexuality. For one thing, people aren’t use to seeing people of another ethnicity, which I found quite astounding. When Sarah’s best friend Monica comes to visit her, who is African American, heads turn and people stare. Sarah was fortunate to be brought up by her grandma who taught her to view the world with an open eye.

Matt completely stole the show in this book. It’s not often that a story would be centered on a secondary character. The situation with Matt and Josh is partially the same, so it's a bit like déjà vu for Sarah; she regretted deeply that she couldn’t save Josh. After the truth about Matt is revealed, residents of Sycamore Falls are shocked, gossip spreads and they quickly distance themselves from him. At school, Matt becomes very isolated, suffers from school bullying and even from his local community church. My heart broke for him and cried. It was so heartbreaking to read about what he’s going through and how he wasn’t accepted for who he is. In the same way when people say ‘you can’t help who you fall for,’ Matt can’t help who he is and he can’t change that. You can either accept it or you don’t.

Sarah was the heroine of the story; I really liked that she stood up for Matt to the manipulative Principle who is against him. She tried to help Matt, in the same way she tried to help Josh and that’s how teachers should be – supportive to their students. Sarah was quite a vulnerable character in the beginning of the story about her past, but when it comes to her students, she’ll stand up to what she believes is right.

This book is definitely a 4 stars out of 5. It made me want to cry so much, but it’s one of those books that compelled and stayed with me. The story is an easy read, very well written and really moved me. I loved getting to know the characters, reading about the development of Sarah and Lucas’ love story, and especially Matt, he was the one that shined throughout the book.

Bottom line: I recommend! But you’re going to need some tissues ready. (less)

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Nov 23, 2012 Jennifer Garcia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

Wahh!! I cried so many tears: happy and sad.

This book needs a tissue warning on the inside cover.

If you want to see this and more reviews go to My Blog

I want everyone to know how great this book is, and I want them to read it so they can experience the wonderful story I just did. I was able to devour it in one day. It was that good!
I love to share books that leave me with a lesson learned and this story, Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan, was amazing. I was left with such a feeling of wanting...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Natasha is a Book Junkie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

You’re looking for angst? This is not your book. You’re looking for fast pace? This is not your book. You’re looking for a book to soothe your cynical heart, make you believe in the goodness of people and that The Beatles were right after all when they said that all you need is love? This IS your book!

A sensitively written story about issues that are not only current but also rarely addressed in romantic novels. This is the story of Sarah, a young high school teacher, who returns to her small ho...more You’re looking for angst? This is not your book. You’re looking for fast pace? This is not your book. You’re looking for a book to soothe your cynical heart, make you believe in the goodness of people and that The Beatles were right after all when they said that all you need is love? This IS your book!

A sensitively written story about issues that are not only current but also rarely addressed in romantic novels. This is the story of Sarah, a young high school teacher, who returns to her small home town after something horrific happens in her life that shakes her to the core and makes her run back to a place which she never thought she would return to. She finds the comfort of familiarity and old friends but she is also faced with small town mentality and prejudices. Sycamore Falls is a town where everyone knows everyone, where everyone meddles in each other’s business and where being different means being marginalised and never accepted. Sarah quickly learns that the very things she ran away from and hoped to forget could be found anywhere, especially in a small town like Sycamore Falls.

Fortunately, this time Sarah is not alone in her battle. She meets Lucas, also a new arrival in town, with deeply troubling reasons of his own for escaping the big city and finding refuge in a town like Sycamore Falls. Their love story is a story of trust that is earned not forced, of shared ideals, of common goals and hopes for the future, a story of two people who have been searching for the same thing all their lives and who quickly realise that they are each other’s long-awaited ‘something’.

Sarah’s past traumas have marked her deeply, physically and mentally, making her reluctant to let people get close to her, believing that all those who love her would eventually leave her. Lucas is less afraid of their growing feelings for each other and is extremely open and demonstrative with his affections, but he never pushes Sarah into something she is not ready for, allowing her to set the pace to whatever is happening between them. He loves her so genuinely, making her less afraid each day of opening her heart to him and allowing him to love her. He helps her to find her courage again to face a less-than-perfect world and battle her past.

“You’re not alone in this world. I’m right here, and I’m trying so hard to love you. All I want to do is love you.”

They ultimately find refuge in each other, turning their sorrow into hope.

But this is not just a sweet and fluffy romance. Sarah and Lucas’ love story acts almost as a contrasting backdrop to some very real and very ugly themes staining the lives of young people today - bullying being one of them. I believe this is a book about tolerance, about feeling different in a world that offers little acceptance to those who don’t fit the mould or don’t conform. It shows how cruel society can be to those already struggling with their identity and how desperate and helpless people can become when the world turns their backs on them, even more when those closest to them reject them. Sarah’s character shows us that we don’t necessarily need to agree with other people’s choices in order to accept them. She shows us that it is not wrong to be different but that it is wrong to be narrow-minded and cruel to those who had no choice in the way they were born.

“Sometimes, teaching tolerance and love is far more important than teaching them about chemical equations and Robert Frost.”

I am not accustomed to books like this one. There were no emotional roller-coaster rides or heart-beat-skipping moments, but the emotions ran deep throughout the story, causing an array of reactions from the reader. Anger. Sadness. Joy. Hope. The most traumatic event happens in the past, making this story a less dramatic aftermath about second chances to make a difference, about never losing hope in oneself and having the courage to fight for your beliefs, over and over again. The writing style was rather simple and not particularly distinctive but it carried the message effectively and fittingly given the nature of the story itself.

~ N ♥

See this review on my blog! | Follow me on Facebook!(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Connie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lovers of romance with high angst tolerance

Shelves: favorites-2012, adult-fiction, arc-galley, romance, tearjerker, chicklit, fandom-authors-of

I slept 4 hours, I was late for work this morning and I don’t regret it at all.
Lessons Learned was such an amazing book, I couldn’t put it down. I read it in a day; it was such an emotional rollercoaster.
Where to start? When I finished the book yesterday I was exhausted, I cried my eyes out. *have tissues near*
From the start it was so easy to relate to Sarah, an English teacher who returns to her hometown after a traumatic event in Memphis. Coming back to the small town of Sycamore Falls brings...more I slept 4 hours, I was late for work this morning and I don’t regret it at all.
Lessons Learned was such an amazing book, I couldn’t put it down. I read it in a day; it was such an emotional rollercoaster.
Where to start? When I finished the book yesterday I was exhausted, I cried my eyes out. *have tissues near*
From the start it was so easy to relate to Sarah, an English teacher who returns to her hometown after a traumatic event in Memphis. Coming back to the small town of Sycamore Falls brings back all sorts of memories good ones and not so good. It also gives Sarah the chance to reconnect with his past and make peace with it.
Lucas in an outsider, also HS teacher who arrives in Sycamore Falls looking for a new, fresh start.
The romance between these two characters is not instant, there is a slow burn. First the strong bond as friends over their past experiences then move into love.
Lucas is the modern version of Prince Charming. Sarah does not need kingdoms and tiaras; she needs a strong, solid partner. Who puts her first, protects her and cherish her as if she were the only girl in the world. And she is the only one for him.
As they relationship grows, there is another story in the background. Matt´s story. One of Sarah´s student who confides in her with a secret that will turn the peaceful Sycamore Falls into a living hell for him, his family and the ones who love him.
I cried so much for Matt, his story was so moving, so real. We are faced with homophobe on daily basis and seeing how our actions can affect these young boys was heartbreaking. The way Sydney Logan shows that you do have to agree 100% with their choice but you should love and support them. Life is hard enough as it is for teenage boys without adding rejection, from parents, peers and closed ones, into the mix.
Sarah and Lucas are faced with a reality that makes them think about their own future, their own kids. Will they be happy in a place where differences are not embraced but condemned?
I honestly think that Sydney Logan manages to portrait our reality in these characters, even today we are face with these types of people.
As for the romance, I could marry Lucas in a heartbeat. When two damage people meet and fall in love, there is nothing more powerful that that bond. Because is not only about love, is about healing, is about hope.
I don’t think I have words left, I just love every bit of it and I hope to read more from Sydney Logan.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley
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Jul 09, 2012 Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lessons Learned was one of THE best books I have read this year. I cried, laughed, smiled, and got mad as all get out but seriously it was an absolutely fantastic book!!!! I loved the characters.... they were so well built up and I connected with them easily. The story was beautiful... extremely well told and consuming.

Full Review...
http://lorisbookblog.blogspot.com/201...

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Aug 12, 2012 Lisa B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-things-netgalley, 2012-books

Follow all my reviews here:
http://bookaholique.blogspot.com/

My Thoughts

This was a well written debut novel. I thought it gave a good representation of the positives and negatives of living in a small town. The message sent about bullying and non-acceptance is relevant in today’s world. One of the worse things we can do when someone is being bullied is to do nothing at all. In this tale, we get to see the results of both action and inaction. The story also talks about dealing with life’s negative...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Sherry Gomes rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of two teachers, Sarah and Lucas, who find themselves in Sycamore Falls. Sarah returns to the place where she grew up after a tragedy in her life; Lucas accepts a teaching offer after his own crisis. They both teach at the local high school, involving themselves in the life of the kids they teach and the goings on in this small town. They find love, laughter, friendship prejudice and sorrow along the way. I don’t want to say more so as not to spoil the story.
Sydney Logan captur...more This is the story of two teachers, Sarah and Lucas, who find themselves in Sycamore Falls. Sarah returns to the place where she grew up after a tragedy in her life; Lucas accepts a teaching offer after his own crisis. They both teach at the local high school, involving themselves in the life of the kids they teach and the goings on in this small town. They find love, laughter, friendship prejudice and sorrow along the way. I don’t want to say more so as not to spoil the story.
Sydney Logan captures the best and the worst of a small town in this delightful book. I felt like I knew the people the main characters encounter. I fell in love with the students in Sarah’s class, cheered for their successes and wept for their pain. Both Sarah and Lucas were the kind of teachers I’d have wanted to have in high school, and in fact, Sarah reminded me of a French Teacher I had, who cared deeply about each of her students and kept my high school experience from being even more miserable than it was. Being a person with a disability, who was never really accepted in my public high school, I related to the students in this story who went against the norm and had to face the lack of acceptance and tolerance.
This is a story of love overall, love between a woman and man, love between friends, the love of teaching and love of the students. In particular, Sarah’s memories and love of her grandmother touched me and made me cry, remembering my own Granny. I felt like I knew Sarah’s grandmother, and I wanted to know her.
The story made me experience the range of emotions, laughter, tears, fear, worry, love, anger. I cheered for Sarah and Lucas, for Matt, one of their students. I wanted to hug them all, kick some butt, and had moments when I thought my heart would literally stop.
Reading Lessons Learned made me feel warm and happy. And isn’t that the experience a truly great book should give? What more could anyone want in a book, but lovely well-developed characters you care about, a plot that is contemporary in theme and in the best way old-fashioned at the same time, a setting that almost becomes a character in itself?
I didn’t always agree with the main characters opinions, but I agreed with their actions all the way. One thing I love about the author’s writing is that the drama isn’t in the relationship between Sarah and Lucas. Lucas is the kind of guy we’d all hope to find, loving and supportive. There are no misunderstandings or running away from each other. The relationship grows and builds, their love and trust is something special. The drama is external in their pasts and the issues they face in the people around them, but not between Sarah and Lucas.
I loved reading this. I read at work, read every free minute and never wanted it to end. When it was finished though, I was satisfied in the way only a terrific book can do. It was one of the best things I’d read in a very long time.

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Mar 25, 2013 Martini Times rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-posted

Banner is for entertainment purposes only. This is how I envisioned Sarah Bray, a woman haunted by a horrific trauma and Lucas Miller, the man who stands by her in her time of need.

I received this as an ARC from The Writers Coffee Shop publishers, and I have to say that I’m very grateful!

Sydney Logan does a phenomenal job at tugging on her reader’s hearts and knows just the right words that will have them crying, laughing, aweing, and more while devouring Lessons Learned.

It’s such a simple tit...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: romance lovers who like a bit of realistic drama

Recommended to Sandra by: Sydney Logan

Shelves: arc-publisher-direct, authors-that-rock, contemporary, flowers-and-chocolates, bullies-abuse-hate, reviewed-on-blog, social-issues

This review can also be found my blog.

Small towns are nice. Everybody knows everybody, and people will smile at you even if you're new to town and they don't know you yet. Everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand. Small towns have a strong sense of community.

Small towns can be stifling. Traditions and conservative beliefs can make things difficult for those who are different, and those difficulties can become dangerous and sometimes have violent results.

There are lessons to be learned....more

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Aug 18, 2012 Chrisska rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. *I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review*

I loved this book so much, I regret not reading it as soon as I got my copy! However, once I started reading, I finished on the same day, because the story was captivating and I couldn't put the book down! It is a beautiful tale of hope, love, acceptance, devotion and strength. In 'Lessons Learned' there is something for everyone - the romantics, the cynics, the optimists, the realists... The emotional journey of the characters is...more *I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review*

I loved this book so much, I regret not reading it as soon as I got my copy! However, once I started reading, I finished on the same day, because the story was captivating and I couldn't put the book down! It is a beautiful tale of hope, love, acceptance, devotion and strength. In 'Lessons Learned' there is something for everyone - the romantics, the cynics, the optimists, the realists... The emotional journey of the characters is shared by the readers, because of Sydney Logan's ability to engage everyone, to immerse them in a story that is real, heartfelt and will probably bring a tear to your eye.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Sarah Bray is a troubled girl. She has gone through scary emotional trauma and is very aware of her demons. Then she meets Lucas, a man who is ready to love her as much as she deserves and to prove to her that love cannot be given up easily or chased away by a difficult past. Somehow, however, the love story between Sarah and Lucas is only a backdrop to something bigger and more important. In the small community the two teachers live in, there is a quiet war. Prejudice and gossip are in conflict with acceptance and understanding. The bonds between people are compromised because of a young man (Matt) and his choices.

'Lessons Learned' is about more than Sarah and Lucas. In fact, their love makes them stronger (as individuals and as a couple) to face the prejudice, the injustice and the aggression of those around them. Despite and maybe even because of her past, Sarah is much more resilient than she believes. It is Lucas' love and support that gives Sarah the confidence to stand up and protect those she cares about. Lucas is the one who unlocks her strength, which until hides under the guilt and pain from the past. He sees more to her than a broken, messed up girl and helps her become the person her grandma always knew she would be. Aww,Sarah's grandma! Her wisdom and love are a strong undercurrent in the novel, despite the fact that she has passed away when the novel begins.

Sydney Logan delivers exactly what she promises her readers - a tale of acceptance, tolerance and love. A story that is made even more powerful with the beautiful descriptions of a lovely mountain town. It is as though the reader can see the falls, touch the autumn leaves or smell the cookies Sarah bakes so well. 'Lessons Learned' is a pleasure to read, not only for the mind and heart, but also for the senses.

Mostly, however, this is a book for the soul. It has a bit of everything - from fear and drama, to two people's wonderful love story, and then an entire community's transformation. It will make you smile, tear up, get angry, cheer... But above all, it will make you wish that there were a few more Sarahs around, people who do not agree with injustice and stand firm against what they know is wrong.

I give this book a strong 4.5 stars. I wish Lucas' character was more developed and his backstory explored further. Also, I would have liked to see Sarah take less time to trust Lucas and tell him she loves him. When compared to how quickly he was in love with her (even though he has his own demons and insecurities), her doubts lasted a little too long in my opinion. These, however, are small things that did not really make the book any less enjoyable.

A big part of "Lessons Learned" deals with the sibjects of homosexuality and religion. While I realise that the views expressed in the novel (whether by the community or Sarah herself) will certainly spark a response in the readers, I find that my own opinion on this is irrelevant for the purpose of the review. For this reason, I have chosen to address the way the story was written and ultimately, the message it delivers, rather than pick on the characters' positions (and whether I agree or disagree with them).

I cannot wait to have a paper copy of this so I can put it on my bookshelf! Whether you get the e-version or the paperback, I hope you get it too! Who knows what lesson or two you may learn through Sydney Logan's beautiful words.(less)

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Jul 30, 2012 Eleanor rated it 4 of 5 stars

A debut novel for Sydney Logan.

This is a beautiful, beautiful story acceptance and love, social norms and mutual respect. Sarah, having been a witness to a horrible shooting at the school where she teaches, moves back to her hometown in an attempt to overcome her panic attacks. Back home she meets Lucas, who had moved to Sycamore Falls himself, in an attempt to start over and do what he loves best.

Wonderfully written, the story tells us about Sarah and Lucas, two teachers meeting and learning ho...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Alspitz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-books, 2012, favorite-authors

While this book is not the type that I usually read, (I prefer some adrenaline in my books!) Lessons Learned was highly recommended to me and I found myself loving it! I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book.
This book is sweet and lovely but also heart wrenching.I loved the descriptions of small town life, the descriptions reminded me of the town my Dad grew up in. People waving even if they don't know you, the friendly demeanor of strangers you bump into. Lessons Learned is a sweet read...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Rel8tivity rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
"Lessons Learned" is a story of redemption and healing, set against a backdrop of life in a small Appalachian town. For those of us who grew up in a big city where nobody knows their neighbors, this is a fresh look at life. Everybody knows everybody. People are friendly, and people whom you haven't seen in years welcome you back with open arms. Everybody also knows everybody else's business, and gossip spreads faster than the sniffles in pre-school.

Small town life is great for a small-town pers...more
"Lessons Learned" is a story of redemption and healing, set against a backdrop of life in a small Appalachian town. For those of us who grew up in a big city where nobody knows their neighbors, this is a fresh look at life. Everybody knows everybody. People are friendly, and people whom you haven't seen in years welcome you back with open arms. Everybody also knows everybody else's business, and gossip spreads faster than the sniffles in pre-school.

Small town life is great for a small-town person who needs healing, but there is a reason some people leave town in the first place. Small towns can tend to be intolerant, and when manifested in a high school environment, that intolerance tends to magnify. NO ONE may dare to be different without being subject to the gossips, ridicule or abuse. The more different and unacceptable you are, the worse the situation becomes.

Sarah Bray is a high school teacher from a small town in the Tennessee hills. She left the town to go away for college, intending never to come back. She got a job teaching high school in Memphis, and was living the city life. But one day, something would happen to change all that. One of her students confesses to her that he's gay. He asks her for advice and she tells him to be true to himself, to be honest with the object of his affections. Unfortunately, that person doesn't return the favor. One day, he comes to school and shoots the boy, right in front of Sarah.

Sarah is severely traumatized by the incident, and most likely has some form of PTSD. Her therapist advises her to go somewhere and make a fresh start. So she returns to Sycamore Falls. Her grandmother had willed her house to Sarah, so she would have a place to return to. We enter the story with Sarah moving in, and starting to straighten the house up.

Sarah meets Lucas Miller at the local hardware store, while she's deciding on what kind of paint to buy. Sarah doesn't know it, but Lucas is also a teacher, and coincidentally, has come to Sycamore Falls to teach, making a fresh start from his own demons. In the beginning she thinks he's a handyman, as he was the person hired to maintain the landscaping for her.

The romance progresses very sweetly, and it just feels right, that these two belong together. The main drama between the two is whether they are able to share their personal histories, and are they able to accept each other and support each other for that. They're nervous about driving each other away because they're not ready to be completely open and trusting with each other. It's a good build up that leads to a satisfying resolution.

That's when even more drama starts. A similar situation as in Memphis crops up. The star quarterback on the school team is having trouble. He gets into a few scrapes with some teammates. Eventually the bullying increases, the kid loses his spot on the team. The community is less than supportive, and some are openly hostile. Here's a kid they loved when he was the star quarterback winning games for them. When he comes out, they ostracize him, harass him, and say he's not welcome anymore. His own father is in denial.

The story unfolds into a hard lesson in coping with intolerance and standing up for what is right. One thing I like about Sarah and Luke is that they never once questioned doing the right thing, in caring for a fellow human being. I was rooting for more of a come-uppance for some characters, but I think this was a more realistic portrayal of what usually happens in this kind of situation.

A most enjoyable read that ends in a satisfying place.(less)

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Jun 05, 2012 Wyndy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is heartwrenching, heartwarming and just amazing! Definitely needs to be on your "to-read" list!!!

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Sep 04, 2012 Steffi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review posted at: Swept Away By Romance

A compelling story about love, life, tolerance and acceptance, I really loved Lessons Learned. A gem of a book that you should not miss out on!

I did a joint Q & A style review with my blog partner Karla. Enjoy!

What did you think when you read the prologue? Were you able to guess what direction the book was going to take, or did it take some time to figure out why the author opened with that scene?

Karla says: The prologue was gut-wrenching and left me...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Karla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: charming-man, coming-out, disturbing, emotional, heartbreaking, light-steam-factor, netgalley-arc, overcoming-tragedy, second-chance, sensless-killing, strong-willed-heroine, sweet-romance, terrific-dialogue, thought-provoking, tragic, tragic-death, wonderful-secondary-characters

Review posted at: Swept Away By Romance

4 1/2 Stars! Beautifully written and compelling debut book! Sydney Logan takes us on a journey of love, healing, acceptance, taking a stand, and teaching by example.

I did a joint Q & A style review with my blog partner Steffi. Enjoy!

What did you think when you read the prologue? Were you able to guess what direction the book was going to take, or did it take some time to figure out why the author opened with that scene?

Karla says: The prologue was gut...more

8 likes · like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Funmbi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-adult-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I am so glad to have been given the opportunity to read Lessons Learned.
I've been anticipating this story for awhile, so when the publisher offered me an ARC in exchange for my review, I jumped at the chance.

We begin with Sarah Bray returning to her hometown Sycamore Falls after enduring a traumatic experience while living and teaching in the big city. As she comes to terms with her past loss, Sarah also finds comfort, friendship, and love with Lucas Miller, another teacher also seeking a fresh...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Donna ~ The Romance Cover rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't know where to start with this book, happy tears, sad tears, emotional and what a fab find, this is why I love goodreads. This is a great romance book with very important under tones and stories that are not often written about. A book that makes you think and as a debut novel I was impressed. I loved the characters miss bray, mr miller, matt and howie all but to name a few, a great storyline and I loved the epilogue. Highly recommended.

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Sep 08, 2012 Danica Persing rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've been waiting for this book for quite a while and was not disappointed. A touching romance between Sarah and Lucas (who made me melt on more than one occasion); Lessons Learned dealt with issues that are "ripped from the headlines.". Matt's story and how the small town reacted to it felt honest, while it's sad to think there are people who get bullied this way. So many touching moments (the scene where Sarah and Olivia speak in the kitchen really got me!); I know this will be a book I re-rea...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Arlena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars, contemporary, chit-lit, adult-read, excellent-book, fiction, romance, my-reviews, inspirational, ebooks, drama, roller-coaster-ride, gay

Author: Sidney Logan
Published By: The Writer's Coffee Shop
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5

Review:

"Lessons Learned" by Sidney Logan was one of the best novels I have read in a long time. It was simply wonderful writing. I loved how this author was able to take the reader though such a awesome heartwarming ride from the beginning till the end leaving you not wanting to put it down until the end. Oh, what a ending!

This is a story of Sarah, a English teacher...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan

This is a good book, a good solid story about love and acceptance, about prejudices and closed minds, about small towns and small attitudes, about real life and real pain, but mostly about love.

I am not gonna lie, I live in my little bubble. I like it. No.... I luv it. I try and stay away from the news, there is rarely anything on it but tragedy and negativity. I relish my little bubble filled with my little family in my little house. I am old enough to know ignora...more

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Oct 11, 2012 The Fictionators rated it 3 of 5 stars

We were lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book for review thanks to the author.

I’ve (as I’m sure a lot of you have) been a fan of Sydney’s other works’ for a while, and I looked forward to seeing how her first foray into original fiction would go. And I think she did well.

When first we meet her, Sarah Bray, an English teacher, has just moved back to her small-town home of Sycamore Falls after the tragedy of losing one of her students at her last school. She’s come back hoping to...more

We were lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book for review thanks to the author.

I’ve (as I’m sure a lot of you have) been a fan of Sydney’s other works’ for a while, and I looked forward to seeing how her first foray into original fiction would go. And I think she did well.

When first we meet her, Sarah Bray, an English teacher, has just moved back to her small-town home of Sycamore Falls after the tragedy of losing one of her students at her last school. She’s come back hoping to hide away, to shade herself from the ugly outside-big-city world.

Unfortunately, she soon realizes that even small towns breed hatred…

Lucky for her, she has a strong group of friends and a new man in her life—Lucas—who stick by her through it all as one of her new students, Matt makes the decision to come out. Suddenly the very situation she’s just tried to escape rears its ugly head in her small town hideaway.

I felt like Logan pulled this story together nicely, and the message she tried to convey was positive, although I did find myself frustrated at times. Maybe it’s because I’m from a big city—or because I have a brother who’s gay—but it was very difficult for me to identify with a character that seemed to be supporting homosexuality without truly supporting it. I couldn’t understand Sarah or Lucas’ views on Matt’s lifestyle choices, even though they were supposed to be on his side, they both said and did things that made me feel otherwise.

At times, I found myself wishing this had been a YA book, and that it’d been told from Matt’s point of view instead of Sarah’s. For me he was the story, not Sarah or her budding romance with Lucas. Everything took a backseat because I was more tuned into Matt and his issues.

All that being said, I enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read--though not always easy because of the subject matter—and like I said, the underlying message was positive. For a debut, she did a great job, and I would highly recommend this for any teachers out there who could one day encounter a high school student that’s struggling with their sexuality.(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Brandee Shafer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sydney Logan and I go way back (way, way back), although I've never called her by that name. Lessons Learned is her debut novel, and I could hardly wait to get my hands on it. Honestly, I found it thrilling to read a novel written by someone I know and love: to soak in the written thoughts of someone I trust.

Even outside of and beyond my friendship with the author, the novel didn't disappoint; in fact, I appreciated many things about it. I felt like it moved along at a comfortable, consistent pa...more

4 likes · like · see review

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What kind of cultural shock will Lucas face?	1	11	Jun 17, 2012 08:41am

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