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Home Work (Life Lessons #3)

by Kaje Harper (Goodreads Author)

4.37 of 5 stars 4.37 · rating details · 612 ratings · 135 reviews

Mac and Tony thought the hard part was over. They’re together openly as a couple, sharing a home and building a life with their two children. It’s what they dreamed of. But daughter Anna struggles with the changes, Ben is haunted by old secrets, Mac’s job in Homicide still demands too much of his time, and Tony is caught in the middle. It’s going to take everything these m...more

ebook, 1st Edition, 356 pages

Published October 5th 2012 by MLR Press

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Best M/M Romance Published in 2012

54th out of 583 books — 1,183 voters

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Community Reviews

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Oct 09, 2012 Lenore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cops-and-co, favourite-hh, hell-yes, m-m, woohoo, major-fangirling, grabby-hands, 2012, gif-for-you, omg-you-almost-died, age-difference, alpha-male, crime, favourite-authors, less-than-perfect-hh, reviewed-by-yours-truly, toys, where-is-the-kleenex

When I learned there was going to be a third book in the Life Lessons series:

------------------

09 October 2012

Finished. There are so many things I would like to say. How I love Kaje Harper's honest and captivating voice. How Mac and Tony have touched my heart again and again and again. How this installment may be the most emotional, most romantic of the three but it manages to avoid being sappy or too saccharine ((view spoiler)...more

25 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 Heather C rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, pdoc, faves, contemporary-romance, m-m, series, mystery

Beautiful story!!

This was absolutely perfect! Perfect balance of romance, drama, and mystery.

I cried so much! A few sad tears but most were happy. I can just feel the love Tony and Mac have for each other deep down in my soul.

I will forever ♥ Mac and Tony!

18 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Jess Candela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, m-m, read-in-2012, bingo-challenge

Sometimes we get exactly what we wish for, and Home Work is one of those times for me. In my review for Breaking Cover, I said:

The first one ended with a solid HFN and the second ended with what could be a HEA but also leaves room for the possibility of another book. If there is no third book, the series reached a satisfying conclusion. But I'd love to spend more time with Mac, Tony, Ben, and Anna as they settle into being a family together.

Seeing them settle into being a family is the core of t...more

12 likes · like · see review

Oct 06, 2012 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-cops-detective-guard, mm-romance-or-erotica, mm-mystery-suspense-thriller

This story had been one of my most awaited releases at the last months of 2012. Tony and his cop, Mac, charmed me from their first book. So I couldn't help to ditch every other to-read books I had when this was finally released.

I finished this last night -- and I suffered from emotional rollercoaster that I needed to sleep on it before writing a proper opinion. This book gave me feelings. Oh. So. Many. Feelings. From anxious, to small relief, to being frustrated, to downright mush (with happy s...more This story had been one of my most awaited releases at the last months of 2012. Tony and his cop, Mac, charmed me from their first book. So I couldn't help to ditch every other to-read books I had when this was finally released.

I finished this last night -- and I suffered from emotional rollercoaster that I needed to sleep on it before writing a proper opinion. This book gave me feelings. Oh. So. Many. Feelings. From anxious, to small relief, to being frustrated, to downright mush (with happy sappy tears), to have inner yelling and jawdropping, to denial, to slight acceptance. Since all these feelings were related to the plot, unfortunately, everything must be written under spoiler tag.

BE AWARE THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG!

(view spoiler)[
I always love to read about established couple who need to work on their relationship. While it's good to believe in HEA, for me personally, reading the after HEA feels more real.

I quite anxious when I start, worrying about Mac in his job (since not all of his fellow cops can accept his sexuality status). I get the small relief when I finally find out what had happened with Ben (their son). I'm not downplaying Ben's horrible experience but it was the worst thing I imagined it to be (I was sooo worried that Ben was raped!).

My small frustration comes from that lame proposal from Tony (to make an easier life for the kids??! WTH, Tony?!). Luckily Mac doesn't step back from it and there's a great make-up sex :). The wedding makes me smile widely, with teary eyed from sappy tears. I can't help humming Elton John's "Going to the Chapel" song. It's such a GORGEOUS ceremony -- though I feel bad that Tony's mom cannot attend.

Then, that THING happens. The one thing most feared by cops's spouses. I am wailing and yelling inside (or via Goodreads status, as you can see). The case that Mac is handling goes wrong when he comes to ask a potential witness, and gets shot. I can't believe it (it's the denial part). He is just being married to Tony. I can't believe that it happens to him!!

Oh, no, Mac is not dead. But because he is shot at his head, Mac now suffers from a brain damage called Brocia's aphasia which impacts his speech ability. Mac is unable to string words properly even if he can understand conversation. My heart breaks for this couple and to read how Mac struggles to say the things he wants to say.

This is where I applaud Kaje Harper and her writing. At this time, she could go down the 'angsty' road, introducing those elements that seem like the easy way to milk out tears from the readers.

She doesn't though.

She doesn't make Mac filled with self-pity and pushes Tony away, thinking that he is unworthy of Tony's love (how I hate that kind of plot). Instead Mac is determined that he WILL get better one day at a time.

We have that one scene where Tony breaks down and cries in his mother's embrace, but Tony is also a solid rock for his beloved husband. Tony doesn't throw empty promises (that everything will be just fine), but he holds Mac's hands and let his husband know, that they're in this together -- with family and friends to support them.

(hide spoiler)]

There are no over-the-top emotional scenes -- which I totally appreciate. It's not cheap and cliché. Instead, Kaje Harper writes with thoughtful carefulness and she brings along her readers to go down this next journey with Tony and Mac and the kids.

Do I love this? Heck, yes. But am I in love with this to give it my 5-stars rating? Unfortunately, no. Because as much as I think Kaje has written a solid book and my, how this one has gone from book one, I'm still that romantic inside and want to find romance in my books as escapism.

Until Tony and Mac (and myself!) get that darn proper-fairy-tale-HEA, I can only give this my 4-stars rating.(less)

26 likes · like · see review

Apr 16, 2013 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-crime

Home Work is absolute the best book of the series so far!

Tony and Mac are openly together as a couple, they are sharing a home and care for their children Ben and Anna. Mac's job demands too much of his time and Tony is struggling to keep his little family together.

The crime part of the book felt well researched. Never before I read a mystery-story with so many comprehensible details. It definitely could stand alone. I got wrapped up in it and couldn't stop reading.

Although it makes the book ev...more

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 06, 2012 Heller rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, cops-military, m-m

3.75 to a 4

I've been waiting for this book for a while. I really enjoyed the previous stories with Tony and Mac quite a bit but it has been a while since I've read them. I almost feel that if I had done a reread prior to getting this book it would have worked for me a bit better. Harper has a unique voice and it took me a bit to get back into the world of these two men.

There are parts of this book that I really, really loved and other parts that didn't work quite as much:

(view spoiler)...more 3.75 to a 4

I've been waiting for this book for a while. I really enjoyed the previous stories with Tony and Mac quite a bit but it has been a while since I've read them. I almost feel that if I had done a reread prior to getting this book it would have worked for me a bit better. Harper has a unique voice and it took me a bit to get back into the world of these two men.

There are parts of this book that I really, really loved and other parts that didn't work quite as much:

(view spoiler)

I did enjoy this book even though parts where uncomfortable to read and, of course, I need to read the last one. This almost has a cliffhanger feel to it and I've always hated cliffhangers. What will the next book bring? There are a lot of unanswered questions posed here, it's like the "Empire Strikes Back" of the series. Definitely not a standalone. I recommend this series but they need to be read in order to get the full impact of the journey these two men have been on.

There was a lot of call back to Marty in this one which I really enjoyed but it was bittersweet he was an interesting character and one that I wish we still had around.

(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 06, 2013 Gwenith rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm sorry, but...WTF...

A Cliffhanger and...An Emotional Roller-coaster...Daaang, Really?

Honestly, this writer has tackled alot in this book~ (view spoiler)
Family...Well done
Marriage...Well done.
Prejudice and cause and effect...Well done. (view spoiler)
Action..Well done
Trauma...Well done.
Kids... not my thing...please note the pic above...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 06, 2013 clear skies rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have loved reading the other two books in this series, and I like the way Kaje Harper writes. However, I was a lot let down by this book. First of the positives I got sucked into the case Mac was working in the beginning. It was well fleshed out with good breaks between the case and his family. I liked that we got to see the good and bad stuff about his police buddies. The author didn't shy away from the apparent homophobic idiots, but also didn't start a preaching agenda either. I'd say the f...more I have loved reading the other two books in this series, and I like the way Kaje Harper writes. However, I was a lot let down by this book. First of the positives I got sucked into the case Mac was working in the beginning. It was well fleshed out with good breaks between the case and his family. I liked that we got to see the good and bad stuff about his police buddies. The author didn't shy away from the apparent homophobic idiots, but also didn't start a preaching agenda either. I'd say the first half was done nicely in my eyes.

Then I felt it starting veering of to slightly boring, the case was still good but became less engaging and I started to get bored quickly. I definitely don't like reading books with kids in them. I prefer them when they are a little older, but even then I prefer no kids. That saying I think the author did an okay job, but I found the family aspect a bit boring. In this book all Tony did was clean and cook, which was great and all but his character became incredibly boring. He lost a shine about him, and I felt I didn't actually get to know him in this book.

I was surprised that most of the sex was done fade away style. I'm all about less is more, however there were times where the sex seemed pivotal between the two. I would have preferred to see it written than a fadeout. The romance was okay - I mean there was a "big thing" but it didn't make me "swoon".

I wanted to like this book and for some parts I did, Mac working the case, the police department and the big scare at the end. However I found Tony's character to become really boring, the latter half of the story just didn't keep my attention but I suppose it's more about the excitement of the characters and storytelling and I don't think Kaje Harper really succeeded with that in this book. I know they'll be another book, just the way this book ended and whilst I found it interesting it just seemed like such an obvious plot device to cause tension between the main characters. Now the author may argue she'll be showing them working through as a couple together in a moment of need. Which I will agree with and wholeheartedly applaud but it's still was a very obvious thing to do.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

May 05, 2013 Bev rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Bev by: Tina

Shelves: favorites, feel-good, happy-ever-after, happy-families, kaje-harper, m-m

Loved, loved, loved it!! And bring on the dancing girls!!

Well, haven't the guys come a long way in a short time!! There's a wedding on the cards, Mac is openly gay at work now even though he's still got some morons to deal with

(no, didn't mean you Oliver or Ramsey!!), the kids appear to be settling into family life, there are still villains to catch (and this was quite a complex case which Mac was sometimes uncomfortable with, read the book...you'll find out why), Tony is still teaching as wel...more

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 22, 2012 Stephanie M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ongoing-series

4.5 Stars: This latest installment was such a pleasure to read. I thought Kaje did an excellent job with portraying Mac and Tony's life with kids. Very realistic. All the problems they faced are the same ones I have to tackle within my marriage (time, work, finances, housework, kids.) So I could totally relate to them and especially Tony's frustration at not having Mac home as much as he would like to share the load. But such is the life of a homicide detective. I've watched every episode of "Th...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 27, 2013 Ulysses Dietz rated it 5 of 5 stars

It had been quite a while since I'd read "Breaking Cover," Kaje Harper's second novel in this (so far) series of three. So, as I settled into "Home Work" I struggled to remember the context in which I found Tony Hart and Jared (Mac) MacLean. It tells you something about Harper's narrative skill that you don't really need to know all of the deep and complex back story to enjoy this book for what it offers: a sometimes tense counterpoint between a domestic drama and a police crime procedural.

This...more

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Apr 09, 2013 ARe Cafe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vals-picks

Home Work by Kaje Harper is the third installment in the immensely appealing series about detective Mac and teacher Tony who live in Minneapolis with their adopted son and daughter. At 108,000 words, this novel allows you to sink into the characters’ lives for prolonged escapism. It features two alternating third-person viewpoints, and gives equal emphasis to Mac’s police procedural case and the two men’s evolving romance. To get the most out of the story, I recommend that you read Life Lessons...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Garrett Leigh rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think the rating on each of Kaje Harper's books demonstrates perfectly that this author is the go-to girl for pure quality in the MM genre. In a category that is awash with trashy tripe, Kaje Harper is a shining star. Josh Lanyon is a second...Harper Fox, perhaps, a third.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the third book in the Life Lessons series. I enjoyed the first two immensely, but I couldn't see how a third book could work out without an element of recycling.

Boy, how wrong was I?

The book...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Arshad rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

The focus shifts in this volume away from the police procedural to the expansion of Mac and Tony's domestic lives in the wake of their coming out publicly and acquiring responsibility for two children in Breaking Cover. The character portrayals were believable and true to form. Interestingly, the major holes in the book seem to come from the police mystery part of the story. For example, I never really got a handle on the official relationship between Mac and Oliver. They say they are partners,...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Becky Mrs Condit Reads Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the things I really loved about this book is the children were actually children, not tiny adults, behaving in ways that are too mature for a child. They carry a lot of heavy baggage with them, which could have caused them to be so much trouble that it distracts from the story of the love that Mac and Tony have for each other. This is not the case, thankfully. Their problems are not glossed over but there are real efforts to find real solutions for real problems. Ms Harper has obviously d...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 14, 2012 Alex Economides rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: authors-a-h, adventure-mystery-crime-thriller, erotic-romance, favorites-books, m-m, romance, romance-reading-challenge-2012, series, short-stories-novellas

Kaje Harper’s Life Lessons Series has captivated me from the time I read the first page of Book #1.I love the author’s voice, her narrative style - I feel the connection between the author’s passionate writing, her narrative style - it’s like she’s talking to me from the pages .

Home Work is the 3rd book in this series and Tony & Mac’s relationship is loving, deep and strong as ever and we see them have to deal with life’s everyday issues that families, no difference to any of us. Trying to k...more
Kaje Harper’s Life Lessons Series has captivated me from the time I read the first page of Book #1.I love the author’s voice, her narrative style - I feel the connection between the author’s passionate writing, her narrative style - it’s like she’s talking to me from the pages .

Home Work is the 3rd book in this series and Tony & Mac’s relationship is loving, deep and strong as ever and we see them have to deal with life’s everyday issues that families, no difference to any of us. Trying to keep their family together, how to juggle their careers, deal with the children’s daily needs…..takes some strain!!! The interaction with each other and with the children and in fact, with all the characters, is totally incredible and so believable. Lots of family drama, romance, a crime to solve,

I admire the manner in which the two are dealing with the unknown and unexpected suddenly thrown into his life. Tony is so a caring, loving and patient with the children and Mac’s worries/issues.
Mac – wow…finally……..so amazing to finally having the courage to be able to do the right thing by Tony!!!!
Taking that leap of faith!!!!

There are so many things I love about their story. Their deep commitment and love for each other and their children, their families and friends. I actually “experienced “the feelings between Tony & Mac as their relationship grew – it’s like being part of their growth. Their story has touched my heart, pulled the strings and never will it let go.

The discrimination that gay couples have and experience in the LGBT community is dealt in a realistic way ….you feel that she cares deeply about it and it’s not difficult to you to care and empathize with the characters. You fight their battles, their struggles; you want them to have a happy life together. Things seem to be a bit easier for Mac at work – the support shown by Oliver, his partner and some of the other officers is encouraging to see.

And we do have another suspenseful case that Mac is desperately trying to solve in between his hectic home life….which by the end of this book is still not solved….so YIPPEE………ooh I am so going to visit my friends again..…..SOON PLEASE!!!!!

Tony & Mac – their story has evoked some powerful emotions in me.

Telling a story that could happen to anyone – a strong person who can be vulnerable, being needed by someone, accepting the good and bad things in each other, not just incredible physical love but something much deeper. Characters I can relate to. That’s what makes this such a memorable series.

Kaje, thank you for such a beautiful written series. Tony & Mac will be with me for a very long time!
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 14, 2012 Kieran rated it 2 of 5 stars

I hate that I have to rate this book so low. Honestly, it pains me. I was beside myself with excitement waiting for it to come out, and when it did I was just so searingly disappointed that I stewed on it for days (I bought the book the day it released) and am just now writing a review.

Kaje's prose is, as always, excellent, and her characters are so well developed that I want to weep for the beauty of it. The let down for me in this book (and I absolutely adore the first two) was the feeling of...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Ladyage added it

Disclaimer: I love Kaje Harper's novels. I own all of them, and was impatiently awaiting the release of "Home Work" - even had it bookmarked in my calendar a few months in advance. I also loved the two previous books in the series and kept my fingers crossed for HEA, or at least HFN for Tony and Mac.
But now, a couple of hours after finishing this book, I'm sitting in front of my computer, still shaken and reeling. I haven't felt so strongly about a novel in a very long time.
So what struck me so...more Disclaimer: I love Kaje Harper's novels. I own all of them, and was impatiently awaiting the release of "Home Work" - even had it bookmarked in my calendar a few months in advance. I also loved the two previous books in the series and kept my fingers crossed for HEA, or at least HFN for Tony and Mac.
But now, a couple of hours after finishing this book, I'm sitting in front of my computer, still shaken and reeling. I haven't felt so strongly about a novel in a very long time.
So what struck me so hard about this book? Well, there is one thing, and it's an entirely personal matter:
(view spoiler)

I'm sorry for rambling, but I simply had to get it off my chest. I'm still looking forward to Kaje's other works, but perhaps not in this series.(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Oct 12, 2012 Gloria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, hurt-comfort, families, holidays, law-enforcement, m-m-romance, mystery, 2012, lendible-pm-me

Oh god, this is like, an almost perfect book.

After the events of the last book Mac and Tony have moved in together with their kids, Ben and Anna. But relationship struggles don't end with the courtship, maintaining relationships in some ways can be a lot harder. Ben is still dealing with the trauma of his mother's murder, Anna is having a hard time adjusting to change, Tony is dealing with some PTSD from the events of the previous two books, and Mac has to learn how to balance home and work, as...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 27, 2012 Kade Boehme rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great read. I love Tony and Mac. Probably rank in my top 5 favorite couples. This book is why I'm disappointed when I get a mediocre read from Kaje Harper because everything is perfect about Tony and Mac's stories. It's real, the mystery is always spot on and keeps you guessing until the end, the kids are totally believable, and gah she has timed every moment in these stories amazingly. From the beginning I've been impressed with the pace of these guys and how well developed their relationship a...more

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 14, 2012 Aurora rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, crime

Mac and Tony are settling into their new life as fathers but nothing seems to be running smoothly. Tony is struggling to cope with his own career and the demands of caring for two young children who are coming to terms with their own issues. Anna is living with her father for the first time in her life and she’s having trouble accepting Tony as an authority figure; while Ben is continuing to have nightmares surrounding his mother’s death and is deeply insecure.

Additionally, Mac has a new case th...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Heather♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm so glad there will be at least one more book to follow because I just can't get enough of Mac and Tony. I loved everything about this book. We got to see Tony and Mac adjusting to being a family of four (and having a few familiar arguments over child care and additional domestic chores because of Mac's long work hours). The kids had their own issues to work through too, especially Ben, but thanks to the patience and support of Tony and Mac, they're getting there. I thought Mac and Tony's wed...more

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Oct 08, 2012 J rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was good to catch up with Tony and Mac and see how they got along as a family with Ben and Anna.
Mac is now out of the closet at work and the major part of the book focuses on his work on a key investigation and the relationship with his colleagues.
It touches on the changes the children have to deal with, but does not in this book delve too much into this, perhaps it will be explored in the next book. Would have liked more focus on Ben as there are issues there.
For me there wasn’t much of Ton...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Cole Riann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, m-m-contemporary, m-m-family-kids, m-m-mystery, m-m-series

Review posted at The Armchair Reader.

4.5 stars

It is such a pleasure to step back into this series. It has been a while since the release of a book as part of a series has gotten me so excited and eager to read right away. I can say that this third book in the series definitely didn't let me down, and more importantly gave me a little more of what I was hoping for as the series progresses.

Mac and Tony have been through a lot from the start of their clandestine relationship to the moment when Mac...more Review posted at The Armchair Reader.

4.5 stars

It is such a pleasure to step back into this series. It has been a while since the release of a book as part of a series has gotten me so excited and eager to read right away. I can say that this third book in the series definitely didn't let me down, and more importantly gave me a little more of what I was hoping for as the series progresses.

Mac and Tony have been through a lot from the start of their clandestine relationship to the moment when Mac had to step out to protect him and the growing family they made. Mac still has to put up with some shit from the other guys on the force and his relationship with his partner Oliver is still shaky at best. The recognition of their relationship is a swift commitment into the light of day, a quick permanence to their family -- but they're making it work as best as they can. Mac is still Mac though, working a lot when a case picks up and rarely home in time for dinner. Tony finds himself relegated to the "home work" -- taking care of the kids, cooking, cleaning, reading bed time stories and soothing the nightmares, and reassuring the kids that their family is permanent and that Mac isn't just Anna's father and Tony's not just Ben's new dad, but vice versa. There's a little bit of resentment on Tony's part that Mac doesn't have the time for them, but that isn't really anything new -- what's new is that Mac is better at admitting his faults. They've each tempered the other in some ways now that they have the semi-permanence that was so hard-won, though there are vast areas of improvement to be made.

A new case picks up with the discovery of a body frozen near the Mississippi in the November chill. It looks like a meth head who was murdered, but some of the clues don't add up, including the fact that the young man seems to have rather severe whip marks that allude to the underbelly of the Minneapolis BDSM scene and that he wasn't always a street kid, but an incredibly smart young man working his way up in his career, running in the circles of the wealthy and powerful of the city.

I can't really recommend this series more. There are a lot of you already out there that love these guys and will undoubtedly be reading (or already have read) this book. I think that the best part of this story though, is that so much of it is really the payout from the first two books. Mac and Tony went through so much while Mac was in the closet. Their relationship was such a rollercoaster, from the secret relationship, to the frequent trips to the hospital after another case gone wrong in some way, to dealing with the curveballs that life has thrown at them and having to absorb the impact and keep running. Now that they're a couple in the light of day and even though Mac in particular still has to deal with that in some ways, they're solid in their relationship and we get to celebrate their relationship without worrying so much that the next hurdle might break them for good. In particular, this book shows that in a really specific way that was wonderful to see.

The mystery here is done very nicely as well. It has been a while since I read the first two books, but much of it seemed to follow a different pattern than those, at least with how it affects the principle characters. Some of the outcome was very difficult to read, but it is in keeping with the series and also showed the progression of the series and the relationship in the way that it was handled, so there seemed a be a notable lack of angst, at least in my estimation.

Mostly, though I really felt good when I finished the story. I found myself looking forward to the next book in a way that I didn't after finishing the second book. Sure, I wanted to read more after that one, but I was wary and probably wouldn't have read them back to back if this book had been available then. I would now because of that progression I talked about the way that they have matured. This is a great time, if you haven't read the series, to start. I definitely recommend them!(less)

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Mar 06, 2013 Simon rated it 5 of 5 stars

So, Book 3 in this series. I read Books 1 and 2 about two years ago and admit to have forgotten how very, very good they were. The characters came back to me immediately. Tony the English teacher, Mac the tough cop.
This is the "Happily Ever After" novel, but true to form Kaje makes sure things do not go to plan. The first half of the novel is domestic, the happy family life, the two bickering kids the wedding in Iowa, very comfortable, very happy-ever-after. Intermingled with this blissful life...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I LOVE TONY & MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just when I knew I couldn’t take any more angst…
Just when I knew I had to have a sweet love story…
Just when I knew I wanted (view spoiler)…

…Kaje Harper’s 3rd book in the Life Lessons series, “Home Work”, released.

I’m writing this with a smile on my face because how do you NOT enjoy reading about 2 people in love, figuring out life, and making it work the best they can? It’s been a journey for Tony & Mac...more

12 likes · like · see review

Mar 13, 2013 Kelly Maybedog Hawkins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: what-thank-you-officer, what-thriller-suspense, what-glbtq, what-male-protagonist, why-favorite-authors, why-favorite-series, how-series, what-cliffhanger, what-m-m-read, where-borrowed, why-favorites, what-tears-what-tears

I hate this cover. The young guy fits my impression of Tony perfectly. The other guy? Ewwww. Mac is supposed to be gorgeous, too!

But that's okay, because this book is wonderful, the best in the series so far. It's sweet and beautiful and sad and heartbreaking and emotional. I took copious notes while reading and almost all were exceedingly positive. I cried several times, real tears, and I'm not usually a crier when reading. The love between Tony and Mac is beautiful and real. Things aren't perf...more

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Oct 14, 2012 M rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cop-fetish-or-equivalent, queer-sorting-hat

I enjoyed this book in a sort of fond, nostalgic way. But I can't say that I genuinely liked it. I really like Mac and Tony and it was nice to see them grow together. But see, I have a horror of all things domestic. Things like marriage and housework and *shudder* childrearing make me awfully uncomfortable. I can barely stand those things in real life, so I really, really don't want to read about them for fun. And that's kind of where this book fell short for me. It's objectively quite good; wel...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Valentina Heart rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt, the-romance-reviews

4.5 stars

This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews and can also be found there.

HOME WORK is the third book in the Life Lessons series, revolving around a cop and a teacher who lead interesting and sometimes dangerous lives but push through it with love, affection and dedication.

In this book, they have a good family life. Parents to two children, Ben and Anna, our heroes – Tony and Mac – balance their work, finances and the somewhat harsh past of their kids. It's all finally work...more 4.5 stars

This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews and can also be found there.

HOME WORK is the third book in the Life Lessons series, revolving around a cop and a teacher who lead interesting and sometimes dangerous lives but push through it with love, affection and dedication.

In this book, they have a good family life. Parents to two children, Ben and Anna, our heroes – Tony and Mac – balance their work, finances and the somewhat harsh past of their kids. It's all finally working out and occasional troubles are a part of what they'd signed up for. Mac is working on a seemingly hopeless case which keeps on unraveling into something more, while Tony fights to be the perfect dad even when the other one is constantly working and Tony's nerves are rather thin.

The first half of the book is really family-oriented. Well, the whole book is, but the first part is slow and a set up for their mental state as well as their relationship. For me, it was a clear four star rating, but as I continued reading a few days later, the tempo picked up, and I was reminded of why exactly I do enjoy reading Kaje and the men she so lovingly creates. There is action and drama plus some of the most beautiful scenes I've read lately when it comes to couples. Also, one of the more intriguing parts of this story for me were the side characters. There was enough mystery around them for me to want to know more, read more about them – well, I want the author to give them their own book to be honest. But I've asked and it's not going to happen. Still, the second part of this book was pretty great and while the ending is HFN and the case part was left a bit in the air, I do recommend this book, especially if you are one of us who've followed the series form the start.

With HOME WORK, you should be prepared for excellent writing, a thorough story, beautiful romance and even some heart racing action that will keep your gaze glued to the pages. Not something you'll want to miss.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 26, 2012 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cops, m-m-romance

Another great Life Lessons! I can't say enough about Tony and Mac. All three books were great. The second (Breaking Cover) was my favorite.

In this book, I felt a definite split in the pacing. I tended to enjoy the second half of the book more than the first. The first half, was more of Tony and Mac living day-to-day and adjusting to their lives together. The action from Mac's case picked up in the second half along with a heavy dose of romance :)

What I love about all these books is how Tony and...more

6 likes · like · see review

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About Kaje Harper

I live in Minnesota (where the two seasons are snow removal and road-repair, and the mosquito is the state bird, and where sometimes in winter it is so beautiful you can't breathe for gazing at it). I have been writing for longer than I care to admit, and currently am focused on writing m/m romance. I have an interview from Sept 2012 on Reviews by Jessewave for those who are interested.

My first p...more

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And To All A Good Night (Life Lessons, #1.5)

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Home Work (Life Lessons #3)

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