Author: J.M. LaRocca

Book: Professor Cline: Revealed (Professor #1)

tl;dr recommendation: dark, twisted & filthy. I loved every second.

Book Summary: 

Getting pleasure from pain makes me a sadist. I’ve been that way for as long as I can remember. Plagued by painful memories and a dark past, I use women to help me forget. I’ve done everything in my power to take control of my life, but there are some things I have no control over.

People think they know who I am, but in reality, they know nothing.

My name is Mason Cline.

But after today, you will call me Professor Cline.

Longer Review:

Oh fuck, guys – this book is so good. If you’ve been craving a dark romance, then you need to read this. I’m completely invested in Mason and Emma. Somehow even Mason’s demons are attractive. Will the darkness engulf him? Will he be able to face that part of his life to open himself up to a future with Emma? GOD I NEED TO KNOW.

You quickly discover that Mason Cline is a Professor of Criminal Law at NYU. Emma is a 1L (sorry, that’s first year law student for you non-lawyers out there) and is focused on being a perfect student so that she can become a great lawyer. She just got out of a relationship where Perfect Boyfriend turned out to be Utter Asshole and as she’s trying to figure out her next steps, Mason swoops in.

Emma & Mason meet prior to Emma starting her first day while Emma is waitressing. Needless to say when she walks into her first criminal law class she practically trips over herself to find her seat. There’s a connection between Emma and Mason that can’t be ignored. Mason recognizes that it’s dangerous (for reasons only he knows) and Emma recognizes that it’s potentially complicated, but neither of them want to/can stop it.

Quick disclaimer: don’t let this book give you the wrong idea about law school. Not one of my professors was EVER as attractive as Mason. ever. Truth: law school is a big bag of suck.

The storyline flips between Mason, Emma and Mason as a child. Each POV transitions really well and adds a lot of depth to the story. In Mason’s childhood chapters we start to break open the box as to why he is so fucked up…He’s been destroyed by his father, who is a Certifiable Sociopath (and also one of the most respected lawyers in his field – this was not shocking to me). We know that Dad’s an asshole early on, but what we don’t know is WHY and HOW. When I began to find out the answers to both of those questions my mouth visibly dropped open. This is fucked up, people. But it starts to click why Mason is so aloof, regimented and mercurial. It’s SO GOOD.

Btw, Emma’s no pushover and I loved that about her. She stands up for herself when she needs to and speaks her mind. She rocks. I love when she looks Mason in the eyes and tells him that he can’t treat her like a whore. OHMYGOD I CHEERED. Fuck yes, Emma. FUCK YES.

Overall, an amazing new series that I’m now a little obsessed with. ahhh, this is need-book-two-immediately good. I’m not above begging.

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]