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The 400 Block #2

The V- in 403C

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Jonah Monroe might be a genius when it comes to his studies but he’s never been able to find his footing in the real world. A college graduate by the age of eighteen and a doctoral candidate at twenty-one, he doesn’t fit in with his peers and lacks the social graces that would attract friends, let alone a lover. He’s resigned himself to his status as awkward and forever alone, until one bad decision turns his world upside down.

He shouldn’t have even been in that club. He shouldn’t have let a sexy stranger buy him a drink. And he definitely shouldn’t have let the man kiss him like he’d never been kissed before.

Reed Matheson has done a lot of dumb shit in his short life but he never would have guessed that kissing a stranger in a bar would be the best decision he ever made. He didn’t expect the intense connection he feels for the shy, socially awkward stranger to linger long after he was gone. And he certainly never expected to see the cute guy the next morning, preparing to teach his class.

Reed is a student and Jonah is a TA. Unwritten rules or not, nothing more can happen between them, at least that’s what Jonah keeps telling himself. But Reed has never been one to play by the rules and he’s not about to start now, when for the first time, his heart is on the line.

*The V-in 403C takes place in the same world as The D-in 403B. Side characters may overlap but each book is a complete story with its own main characters and no cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2020

139 people are currently reading
486 people want to read

About the author

Jess Bryant

42 books583 followers
Jess Bryant is an avid indoorswoman. A city girl trapped in a country girl's life, her heart resides in Dallas but her soul and roots are in small town Oklahoma. She enjoys manicures, the color pink, and her completely impractical for country life stilettos. She believes that hair color is a legitimate form of therapy, as is reading and writing romance. She started writing as a little girl but her life changed forever when she stole a book from her aunt's Harlequin collection and she's been creating love stories with happily ever afters ever since.

Jess holds a degree in Public Relations from the University of Oklahoma and is a lifetime supporter of her school and athletic teams. And why not? They have a ton of National Championships! She may be a girlie girl but she knows her sports stats and isn't afraid to tell you that your school isn't as cool as hers... or that your sports romance got it all wrong.

For more information on Jess and upcoming releases, contact her at JessBryantBooks@gmail.com or follow her on her many social media accounts for news and shenanigans.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
3,070 reviews25.3k followers
August 17, 2020
The V in 403C is a stand alone, M/M romance by Jess Bryant. This book, these two characters have stolen my heart. I was pretty much in love with them by the end of the first chapter.



Jonah Monroe is twenty two years old and is an academic prodigy. He entered college at age 16. He’s now a doctoral candidate in history and has his first job as a teacher’s assistant teaching a history class. Jonah’s entire life has been about academics. He moved constantly growing up and never was able to make friends. Now socially awkward, he lives alone and has given up on ever fitting in.



Jonah is convinced by his only two friends to go out to a bar, something he never does, the night before his very first class. When Jonah’s eyes meet the eyes of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen, he’s sure it must be a mistake. Someone like him would never give a second look to Jonah. But then there he is, next to him, talking to him. And when they kiss, the world tilts. It’s a kiss that changes his life.

the v in 403C jess bryant - Google Search

“It was as if Reed Matheson had been built specifically for Jonah, like he completed him in some way he hadn’t known that he was missing.”

Reed Matheson is twenty one and is kind of a lost soul. He’s in college but hasn’t been able to figure out just what he wants to do with his life. He doesn’t do relationships. He’s just not interested. But then at the bar he sees a man whose eyes seem to look right into his soul. He can’t look away. When they kiss, Reed knows that once will never be enough. But then the next morning at his 8:00 class, when he looked up at the teacher, he couldn’t believe it when the very same man he had kissed the night before was standing there.

“He finally, after what felt like a lifetime, felt like he was where he belonged.”

Jonah broke my heart. He couldn’t accept that someone like Reed would ever even look at him twice. In addition, he was his teacher. Even though he’s just a TA, he’s sure there are rules prohibiting him from dating his student. His career is everything and he can’t jeopardize it. But Reed isn’t taking no for an answer. He knows Jonah is interested, that he’s just scared. He’ll do whatever it takes to prove to him that he can be trusted. Because for the first time in his life, he sees something between them that is worth pursuing, worth fighting for. And fight for him he will.

“He made him a better man. A better everything. A better student, better friend, and a better lover.”



I loved every single thing about this book, about Jonah and Reed. I swooned pretty much all the way through. Jonah was so awkward, so afraid, but Reed did everything he could to prove to him that he was all in. I loved watching them both grow in the love they had for each other, at the men they helped each other to become. I thought this author did such a beautiful job with this love story. The words just flew off the pages right into my heart. If you enjoy M/M romance, I hope you love these two as much as I did.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

Profile Image for Tammy Jones.
805 reviews8 followers
August 13, 2020
The attraction between these characters is immediate and intense. I loved the shock and confusion that Jonah displayed when Reed couldn't hide his desire for him. It was lovely seeing Jonah become more confident as he realized that Reed was serious. Both of these characters experienced things that they never had with others, and it was refreshing to feel their emotions as things progress between them. Love is never easy, but it is worth it!
Profile Image for Mrs Jayne Rushton.
1,408 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2020
This is a gorgeous story of instant attraction, forbidden love, mutual acceptance and growth.

From the outset we are drawn into Jonah and Reed's relationship. From their meeting in a busy club, through to the decisions they both make to keep their relationship together, it's a story of growth, nurturing, acceptance of each other's differences and, most importantly, love.

Jess is so good at characterisation, and you feel everything with them. You felt how they fumbled through their first couple of meetings, and you can't help but smile at the way they interact with each other and experience their grow together as a couple.

It was also nice to see characters from her previous book, and catch up to where they are now. I can't wait to see what happens with Star......

Thanks Jess for another great book.
Profile Image for Santy.
1,260 reviews76 followers
September 20, 2020
I liked this book!

It was really sweet and even though at first I thought Reed came off a bit too strong, I got used to his personality along the way. Jonah was a sweetheart as well.

I think these two moved a bit fast but it worked for them so I don't really have any complaints on that side.

It was a nice, easy read for my mood which I enjoyed so Win!
Profile Image for ivy.
643 reviews367 followers
Read
October 23, 2023
DNF @ 53% - skimming the whole book and don’t want to waste any more time
Profile Image for Sol ~ TheBookishKing.
346 reviews191 followers
August 29, 2020
I decided to pick this up on a whim the other day and I'm pretty glad that I did!

This is a really quick romance between a history TA named Jonah and one of his students, Reed. They met before class started at a bar and theyre the same age which was cute to see, Jonah is just a little genius and has progressed a lot farther in life than most people his age. Reed has this bad boy demeanor but is really soft at heart and Jonah is your "not average" guy, super nerdy and quirky and while he was annoying at first because thats ALL he talked about is how different he was, I eventually grew to tolerate him.

The book had a pretty solid start but as it progressed it kind of just lost its luster and I got really bored after a while. Things started to get cheesy and also seemed a little rushed but it was only 200 pages so there's not much that can be accomplished in such a short book. The sex scenes were alright (there was SO much talking at times I just was like .. please stop talking and just get on with things LOL)

Overall it's a decent book and may have to give this authors other books a try xD
Profile Image for Gustaf.
1,444 reviews198 followers
June 1, 2021
This was mostly an ok read. Jonah got a bit on my nerves at times and I didn't really connect to him. This book is taking place in the same world as The D in 403B and I loved that book so much. Sadly, this one didn't live up to my expectations after the other book. Mostly it was the telling instead of showing that threw me off though.
Profile Image for Quaint.
128 reviews17 followers
September 2, 2020
Reed cupped Jonah’s beautiful face in his hands, “You can do anything you want. Cut me open and gut me for a science project. Every piece of me is yours, baby.”
........

This book is worth devouring and spending both time and money WITHOUT A DOUBT.
I am a sucker for a socially awkward nerd with a confident alpha male.
It was just well-balanced coupled with satisfying mixture of reaching that point of understanding and moving forward despite their differences.

Jonah becoming more sexually comfortable and expressing his need and desire more openly with each passing day was a complete and rewarding milestone.

😘😘😘😘😘😘

THIS STORY HIGHLIGHTENS THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU TRULY LOVE SOMEONE, YOU WANT TO BE BETTER IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE FOR YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER. IT IS THE TESTAMENT THAT YOU DEEPLY CARE AND DESPERATELY WANT TO MAKE IT LAST.
Profile Image for Mariam,.
675 reviews556 followers
March 6, 2022
Was it possible that Reed had seen him? Really seen him? In the middle of a crowd of people, had Reed really seen the quiet, awkward boy sitting all alone at the bar and wanted to talk to him? Was something like that even possible? Could Jonah honestly believe Reed had actually wanted to talk to him? That everything he’d said hadn’t been some kind of joke or prank or dare?


You know when a book has the potential to be better ? Like it's not bad, but it could've been greater? That's definitely this book.

The chemistry of our MCs was definetly the spotlight. They fit together like a tight and snug glove. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how they came together and just became one as the story progressed.

Their romance was sweet, heartwarming and addicting. Low Angst and encouraging and the kind that makes you smile and blush.

Reed claimed his mouth again before he could muster another denial of what he wanted. This. He wanted this. He wanted Reed’s mouth on his so that he couldn’t talk, so that he didn’t even have to think. He just wanted to feel and want and be wanted in return.


This would've been an even greater book if:

- this book SHOWED the progression of their romance. We watched them met and due to their circumstances and another bitch in the obstacle; how they couldn't be together. But after passing that and conquering through, which is one of my favorite parts of this book, you'd think the book would actually show them BEING TOGETHER.

It did not. Well, it did but semantics really because the entire progression, growth and interaction of their relationship was told. How he made me feel this, how he encouraged me to be better, how he makes happy. In paper, it sounds great but as a reader, it cheapens the value of what they share CUS I DON'T SEE THAT PROGRESSION.

The minute they get together, there's a 4 week time jump and they're already falling in love with each other

🤡

I heart broke seeing the insecurity so deeply ridden under Jonah's heart. To see him doubt himself, struggle and put himself down. His character development, although not shown, was great nonetheless for who he became at the end.


You see, but even if most of this book was mainly showing the growth of their relationship, the chemistry and just the way they belonged in each other's arms made this book better than most. It was heartwarming and sweet, although corny at times.


Jonah hadn’t been able to stay away from him. And now he understood why.
This man was his, Reed was his. The man was made for him. His soul mate, his perfect match in every way. He loved this man and he was never letting him go.


This was one of those books when I realized how late it was and I hadn't yet taken a shower and I was like: GAHHH ONE MORE CHAPTER

He was a liar and if he kept it up his pants just might catch fire.
Profile Image for Rock N Read.
253 reviews8 followers
August 13, 2020
A great addition to the series.

I really liked the edge of the student/teacher taboo relationship that this book flirted with. The only thing that I was not a fan of was the insta-love aspect, which to me seemed very out of place for the personalities of both of the MCs.

I was also disappointed that the climax of the story was minimal, something that felt strong in book one was severely lacking here.

That being said, I really loved the personalities of the MCs, and their dialogue made up for any shortcomings I found. If you're looking for a bad boy perception meets shy, awkward, nerd— with a fluffy storyline this one is for you.

Rounding up the 3.5 stars because I love me some nerds in my romance novels.
Profile Image for ML.
1,626 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2020
Dual POV
Social cues weren’t exactly Jonah’s thing. He may be a book genius but his sense of self in other areas was very low.

Reed had the confidence and knew he wanted Jonah from the first moment he saw him. The chemistry between them was hot. The relationship road was new to both of them. What they discovered in each other was love and trust.

Reed and Jonah made me smile so much. With minimal angst, this book was a joy to read and we even got glimpses from book 1 characters.
Loved that! Loved this story!
Profile Image for Jenn.
438 reviews233 followers
September 3, 2020
I've never read anything from this author, but apparently she is a mf romance author who also writes m/m. No idea if this is the author's usual style of writing, but their were aspects of this book that reminded me so much of virginal mf romance books.

This is a fairly quick read of a Teacher's Assistant (TA) Jonah and his romance with one of his students, Reed. Jonah is basically a Doogie Howser, only far more innocent and bug-eyed than that portrayed prodigy. Reed is the popular, tattooed-guy supposedly of everyone's dreams, while Jonah is the completely naive virgin. I think the author attempted to start with stereotypes and then give them a flip or "depth," but ultimately I don't think it worked.

Over the years, as I have aged, I tend to gravitate towards older characters, but I still love a good NA novel from time to time. But...I need them not to be caricatures. One of my favorite books of all time is NA, but both of the main characters feel like they could step off the page, and I could seamlessly start a conversation with them. I feel like I'm breathing them in. Jonah felt so...extreme. Lots of big eyes, ducking of eyes, etc. Even when I was a virgin, or my friends, even when I was a teenager and thought I knew way more than I did, I wasn't this guileless virgin. I was just a girl who hadn't had sex. Granted, I grew up differently than Jonah, but I guess because I couldn't relate to him, I just never connected with him.

I kinda lost interest fairly quickly because their connection was immediate, and then the tension just went splat the rest of the book.

This was all right; fans of NA books will likely enjoy it.
Profile Image for Michelle Claypot_Reads.
2,517 reviews61 followers
August 27, 2020
Absolutely ADORED this story!! You know when you’re reading a book and you’re smiling. That’s this book. A fantastic slow burn MM with two guys I fell hard for.

This one gave me those innocent vibes of first loves. The flirty looks, the cute messages, the kisses and the heartfelt exploration of all these new emotions.

There’s a beautiful feel to this book. The characters are believable, their interactions are genuine and the delicious slow burn development of their relationship had me squirming in anticipation. It felt real and I loved being along for the ride. Definitely recommend.

I received an arc of this book.
Profile Image for Heather.
881 reviews12 followers
August 14, 2020
I would recommend this book to people who love new adult books about the nerdy inexperienced guy and the hot guy with lots of experience. It's a light and fluffy read that is angst free and is also relatively free of conflict, so if that's what you like then you'll like this.

I liked the book fine, the writing was decent besides a few proofreading issues (typos of things like words missing the -ed on the end, so not too bad) and the execution of a well-loved trope was also fine. I had a slight issue with the mild dub-con of the first two encounters between the two MCs, but I don't think it would be too much to trigger anyone. I'm not the kind of person who gives more than three stars to a book unless I think it's absolutely amazing in some way, which this one wasn't for me. It was good and I think people will like it and that's what three stars means to me. There's nothing new to discover in this one but nothing really to object to, either.

This is the second book in the series and can be read as a complete standalone. I didn't read the first one and I didn't feel like I was missing parts of the plot in the second by not having read it.
Profile Image for Amanda.
2,061 reviews94 followers
August 24, 2020
When I saw that there was a second story in the same world as The D in 403B I could not wait to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, it was not as good as the first. I still enjoyed a lot of it. Jonah, in particular, was a lovely character. I’m a sucker for the nerdy, awkward, virgin types, especially when they’re paired with big, tattooed, alpha-type men like Reed. And these two did pair well. They was a sense of underlying chemistry, that definitely lit up together, but, unfortunately, the relationship just failed to be developed enough for me. They went from zero to I love you’s in record time, and we were told a number of things happened off page, but I would’ve definitely liked to have been there for them. Will I continue reading books set in this world? Definitely. I really enjoy Bryant’s characters and overall do like her writing style. But this one will probably not be all that memorable for me.
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,903 reviews213 followers
August 31, 2020




Amazon US / Amazon CA / Amazon UK / Amazon AU

As soon as Reed lays eyes on the adorable guy so obviously out of place in the club where he's with his friend, Star, he wants him. Offering to buy him a drink should be just the thing to get him into his bed for the night. But something happens when they kiss and Jonah takes off. Reed's upset but chalks it up to one of those things. And then he walks late into class and lo and behold guess who his class TA is? Yep the adorable guy from the club. Only he's not the awkward, shy guy from the club, but rather a stoic, stern man with confidence standing in front of the classroom...



Jonah has never felt as if he fit anywhere, as if he belonged. Starting college at 16, a wunderkind with overachieving academics for parents, did nothing to develop his social skills. Now at a tender age of barely 21, he's well on his way to becoming the professor he's always wanted to be. Then a beautiful, tatted up man lays his first kiss on him at the club, and he's never the same after. Especially when that same guy walks late into his very first class as a TA...



Oh God but I loved this story. Jonah is so adorably awkward and inexperienced, but he brings Reed to his knees and has no idea how or why. And poor Reed, adrift with no idea what he wants to do with his life. I so love that he found an anchor with the beautiful soul that is Jonah. Two people could not be more perfect for each other than these two! This is a story of growth and acceptance and love. It's the best yet of this series, and I am definitely looking forward to more of the residents of this building.



ARC via Gay Romance Reviews for an honest review.

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Profile Image for Mackenzie Bibliophile.
376 reviews10 followers
August 17, 2020
The book slump I have been in for the past few months has been intense, and then I picked up The V in 403C. Jonah and Reed are the sweetest, precious cinnamon rolls I’ve ever read! Reed tries to be a rough guy and all and he has a edge but the softness that come from him when he is around Jonah and his affection for him instantly, that protective nature for his man melted my heart! Both men go through a great amount of growth both on their own and in a relationship very quickly. Soulmates at its finest. Watching Jonah open himself up to Reed and to what he wanted to be in life was beautiful. Spending a full life doing as he should, based on his parent’s views doesn’t leave much for a life. Meeting Reed gave him the chance to find who he was meant to be.

I loved it. Plain and simple. An entertaining read to lose yourself in instantly. You will fall in love with Reed and Jonah separately as well as a couple. Their chemistry was explosive and addictive. So amazing! Please please please read this book!
-Mackenzie
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews140 followers
August 16, 2020
I wanted to love The V- in 403C, but it fell flat for me.
The characters and storyline are full of potential, but I never truly connected to them and the fast pace at which things developed. I needed more development and more emotions in the development.

Profile Image for Emily Hernandez.
1,410 reviews19 followers
August 26, 2020
The blurb for this book was promising, but I thought the execution of the story was just okay. 

In my opinion, Reed was too much of a possessive caveman after just meeting Jonah. I'm all for main characters feeling an instant spark of attraction, but the jealousy, repeated texting and calling and showing up at someone's apartment? That was too much for me. Maybe my real problem is that I just can't relate to college-aged guys anymore--the impulsiveness and poor decision making is just offputting to me. I seriously could not believe that after Reed acknowledged to himself that he was pushing too far with Jonah he somehow thought it was a good idea to climb into the shower naked with him. My only consolation is that any time Jonah asserted himself or said "no", Reed immediately backed down. Speaking of Jonah, I found his shy nerdiness so sweet and adorable, but a bit stereotypical. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but in a story where the other main character wasn't vibing with me I had hoped I could find something unique and different about him to keep me excited. 

My issues with Reed aside, the romance moved way too quickly for me. I do think that if I hadn't been so focused on the things I didn't like about Reed then maybe I would have enjoyed the pacing more, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. While I was still trying to figure out if I even liked these two guys together, Reed and Jonah were already floating away on a cloud of eternal love and I couldn't catch up to it. I think I was probably feeling this disconnect more strongly because I've gotten used to reading slower-burn novels. 

As a whole, there was nothing horrible about this story but also nothing spectacular. I thought the romance was decent if a bit rushed, the main characters were okay but overly stereotyped, and the drama at the end was very predictable. I haven't read the other book in this series and probably won't based on this one.

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Suzzle.
75 reviews2 followers
September 2, 2020
DNF at 37%
Too much telling and not enough showing. I had to skim through a lot of monotonous monologueing.
Reed’s character was entitled, wouldn’t take no for an answer, and behaved like an abusive stalker.
A really odd book, with unskilled writing. Not even close to a 5 star read.
Profile Image for Cathy Brockman.
Author 5 books95 followers
August 19, 2020
Jonah has focused his life on his studies. He was a child prodigy and now has a prestigious position getting his doctorate as a TA for a renowned professor in Roman History. He has no time for relationships. He lives his life the way his parents planned out graduating at 16 and getting his college degree early as well. Now he teaches students his age and older. His friends talk him into a night out at a club the night before his first class and he meets a sexy man that won't let him go. He really is freaked out the next day to see Reed in his class. Will his first night out on the town end his career? Reed is a bisexual playboy. He has no time for relationships and the only path he has for his life is fun.  His dad is pressuring him to set a major and make decisions but Reed just can't decide.  Then he meets a gorgeous shy young man at a club and can't get him out of his head. Surprise surprise when this man is his teacher, now poor Jonah can't run and hide any longer. This is book two in the 400 block series. It stands perfectly alone. There are a few recurring characters but you get enough backstory that you never get lost.  The first book The D in 403D was cute and I loved how the chapters began with post-it notes from each character in their battle of words. This book was a screenshot in the body of the story and I have to admit these pulled me out of the story since I had to enlarge each one to read it then go back to the story. It was a cute idea though and maybe if it was in the headings like the first book it may not have been as distracting.having said that the story is cute, fun, sweet, and sexy. a perfect read when you are looking for an escape from a bad day. There was a mention of a new character at the end of the book and I hope that means more 400 block books. 
Profile Image for RACHEL REED.
950 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2020
The V-in 403C takes place in the same world as The D-in 403B, but this can be read as a standalone.

Jonah Monroe is not sure how he got roped into going to a club in downtown Knights Port, the night before he was scheduled to teach his first class. He definitely wasn't prepared to be approached by a sexy, tattooed hunk either.
Sixteen year old Jonah had a bad experience the last time a pretty boy caught his eye.
So he doesn't known what to make of the gorgeous stranger offering to buy him a drink at the club.

“𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤…”
“𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒.” 𝑅𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑚, 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓𝑓. “𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑥 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡, 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡 𝑤𝑒? 𝐼’𝑚 𝑅𝑒𝑒𝑑. 𝐼’𝑚 𝑎 𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑦-𝑜𝑛𝑒-𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟-𝑜𝑙𝑑, 𝑏𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑢𝑎𝑙, 𝐿𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑀𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑤 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠.”

Reed Matheson just wanted to relax on a night out. The thumping music of the club carried all his rambling thoughts away. Tomorrow he would focus on his studies..
A beautiful girl on his arm grinding with him to the music, was just what he needed or so he thought, that is until he laid eyes on the cute adorkable guy at the bar who stood out like a sore thumb and looked completely out of place. Reed is instantly intrigued by the sweet stranger who is just his type.
What better way to get cosy with the cute stranger, than to buy him a drink?

What happens when Jonah and Reed cross paths the very next morning after their steamy one night encounter?
A relationship between a TA and a student is a recipe for disaster.
Moreover, it's forbidden.
Will Jonah play by the rules or give into the sinful temptation that is Reed.

𝑅𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑀𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟, 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒.

This was such a sweet, taboo romance between an adorable TA and his sexy as sin student.
I loved how Reed made Jonah feel like he was someone desirable, someone to be cherished and loved.
This was gave me all the right feels!
Profile Image for JudyAnnLovesBooks.
2,126 reviews79 followers
August 20, 2020
Jess Bryant writes the best MM Romances! I love everything about them and am always super excited to read her new releases. The V-in 403C takes us back to Knights Port, the setting of The D-in 403B, Charmed By You, Once Upon A December and Once Upon A New Year, all books I highly recommend you TBR, and is not only a fantastic MM Romance but is also a hot forbidden one as well!!

Jonah is different and he wears that difference like an armor, but not in a good way. His unconventional upbringing had him globe trotting around the world with his university professor parents from early childhood, never giving him the opportunity for a normal life. His high IQ added to his difficulties and made him a sixteen year old university student. Shy, awkward and very much gay made him an easy target. Now barely in his early twenties, he’s a TA for a prominent history professor.

Reed is coasting through life. He’s sexy, smart, and in demand with both men and women and doesn’t give a damn about anything. Having a good time is his raison d’etre and he’s totally okay with that. Bisexual, he enjoys the company of both sexes and is open about his sexuality. Not interested in a relationship (not even friends with benefits), he’s into hookups and one night stands.

Jonah and Reed lock eyes in a club and it is on. Both their worlds shift for the better. Jonah is scared, hesitant, afraid that he is imagining the mutual attraction between them. He’s unprepared for it and after a mind altering kiss, takes off, runs away scared. For his part, Reed has met his match. The first person to ever appeal to him on a chemical level. He wants the shy, awkward man and not just in his bed, but in his life. Things get complicated when Jonah discovers that Reed is in his class but this does not deter either of them for long. Watching Reed seduce Jonah is just about the sexiest thing I’ve read in a good long while and made this a Five Star Read for me. TBR The V-in 403C and watch Jonah and Reed get their much deserved happily ever after.
Profile Image for Enirehtak  Melas.
746 reviews34 followers
August 23, 2020
I believe this is the second in a series, at least I think it's a series, but it reads perfectly as a stand alone. While the characters from the first book do make an appearance in this one, it's not done in a confusing manner.

This may be the first book I read from this author, but I doubt it will be the last. The writing style was fluid and loved the characterization of the main characters Jonah and Reed. Truthfully, I am always hesitant to read the Student/Teacher trope in romance books, but Jonah is a Teacher's Assistant and is the same age as Reed. Both address the issue of pursuing a relationship considering their academic tie, but in my honest opinion, I think it was handled well. Professional boundaries were established before a friendship and then a relationship was. It all flowed pretty evenly.

Jonah and Reed first meet in a club, a place Jonah is not comfortable being in, but when Reed's eyes land on Jonah, it's hard for him to look away. There was just something about Jonah's shy and awkward nature that appealed to Reed in the same way that Reed's apparent comfort and acceptance in his own skin and sexuality appealed to Jonah's. The two were undeniably drawn to each other, and Jonah's proclivity to run away from new experiences won't deter Reed from confronting their shared attraction.

They are both tired of living up to the expectations that their parents laid out for them. In each other they have found a way to be who they want to be, and they have found that in each other. I appreciated Reed's move to resolve the issue with their professional relationship in order to fully claim Jonah in his life without the shame of hiding their love for each other. I also loved how Jonah was able to find his voice.

The ending did hint to another book, possibly with Reed's friend (and ex lover), but I am not into reading MF.

*ARC provided, and I have given my honest review*
Profile Image for Paulette.
738 reviews20 followers
August 17, 2020
This is such a sweet story. From the moment I opened the first page I just knew that it was going to capture my heart. Seriously, who doesn’t love a sweet genius nerd? Now add to the mix the sexy, tatted up guy who everyone is attracted to and you know you’re in for a very interesting situation. There’s a song that says, “It only takes a moment”. Well this little story is proof of that.
Watching both Jonah, our genius, and Reed, sexy tatted up guy, discover what true love and emotions are, brought all the feels to this book. You seriously are cheering for both from the get-go.
I don't want to reveal too much because the journey is what makes this story. You will laugh, tear up, swoon and just feel so much. It’s romantic and sexy.
If you read the first book in this series you’ll be happy to know that some of the characters reappear. If you haven’t read it don’t worry your enjoyment will not be affected. It is a standalone. You will most likely want to go and read the first book though after finishing this one.
I read this book in one sitting because it was that good I couldn’t put it down.
1,812 reviews38 followers
August 18, 2020
Wow! I absolutely loved this book so much! Jonah and Reed are incredible characters who will just melt your heart. Jonah is a shy man, but is incredibly smart. Yet he feels no one could ever love him, and that broke my heart. Until he meets Reed and all bets are off. There is one little problem and I hoped that they could get thru it!

These two characters will work their way into your very heart and soul and you will never want to let them go. The compassion Reed shows Jonah just made me fall in love with him. And I loved how Jonah starts to come out of his shell. These two are made for each other, but sometimes life gets on the way, or does it?!

I can’t even fully describe in words how emotional I was while reading. The way this author writes, you can feel everything the characters feel. I can’t explain enough how you need to read this story. It is so much more than about two men, it’s about two men embarking on a relationship that society frowns on and they just prove how wrong those perceptions are. Please do yourself a favor and read this incredible book!
2,227 reviews5 followers
September 1, 2020
Jonah Monroe - genius of books, stammering in real life. His social skills are a bit behind most others since he breezed through school and missed the opportunity for that aspect of his life to mature. Long story short, he is still a virgin. After being so responsible, how bad can one decision be?

Reed Masterson - admittedly poor choices in his life, including kissing with a random stranger in some bar. Too bad the end of that kiss led to far more intense emotions than expected. Will the professed rule-breaker use his knack for not being straight laced to his advantage?

Plenty of fluff and sweetness between Reed and Jonah. Each was just what the other needed despite being on the cusp of a forbidden romance. Teacher/students are frowned upon but the chemistry will not allow them to look the other way.

Adorably addictive romance that I could not help but enjoy.




**I received this ARC from Gay Romance Reviews for my honest feedback.**
Profile Image for Sarah Sargent.
Author 2 books12 followers
August 24, 2020
When Jess Bryant hinted that we were headed back to 400 block in Kings Port with The V in 403C; I was excited. In her group we saw teasers of Jonah and Reed we were captivated. Sometimes we are attracted to those who stand out the most. In the case it was Jonah who stood out in a bar after the first day of classes were complete. As a doctoral candidate Jonah should have used the night getting ready to reach his first class. But when she sees Reed across the club something draws the two together. One kiss can change the world. In this case Reed ends up being Jonah’s student, which can spell disaster for both Jonah and Reed. However, Reed’s persistence makes it work and we wind up with an amazing story that makes you want to stay in this world. Another beautiful book Jess Bryant. We can’t wait for more.
661 reviews6 followers
August 28, 2020
I really enjoyed this quick, easy read by a new to me author. Jonah is a shy, awkward 22 year old with a genius level intelligence, but no real life experience. He is sitting alone at a club he reluctantly agreed to go to with his two friends when a gorgeous tattooed man walks up and buys him a drink. Reed, 21, isn’t shy at all about what he wants and makes his feelings known with a scorching kiss in a dark hallway outside the men’s room. However, although Jonah is more turned on than he has ever been he has a secret...he’s a virgin. He knows he’s out of his element and runs off as soon as Reed steps away. The next morning gives him even more incentive to stay away as he discovers that Reed is a student in the study class he is teaching as a TA for his doctorate. Can Reed make Jonah change his mind about them? And if they move forward will they ever be free to be public? Definitely check it out!
Profile Image for Christina Astorga.
1,060 reviews3 followers
August 23, 2020
I received an ARC and I'm freely reviewing.

Can you give me a minute, I'm still sighing over the yumminess of this gorgeous story. Jess, you stole my heart with Jonah. Absolutely adore him. We meet Jonah as he is pondering how he came to be at that spot and worrying about the next day. When Jonah jumps with that first "hey" my heart jumped too. Then we meet the glorious Reed, who you can't help but love. Reed is the opposite to Jonah but they make each other better and more importantly, happier. The little smiles and smirks, they share, you're happy right along with them.

This story is just beautiful. Loved every word ❤
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