{"id":39594,"date":"2018-10-17T13:39:10","date_gmt":"2018-10-17T17:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=39594"},"modified":"2019-01-08T13:43:28","modified_gmt":"2019-01-08T18:43:28","slug":"review-kissing-tolstoy-dear-professor-1-by-penny-reid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=39594","title":{"rendered":"Review: Kissing Tolstoy (Dear Professor, #1) by Penny Reid"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Buy: <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2yifmWC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2FjVed9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paperback<\/a> \u00a0| \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2SEqp6t\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Audio<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><!--Yasr Overall Rating Shortcode--><div class=\"yasr-overall-rating\"><div class=' yasr-rater-stars'\r\n                           id='yasr-overall-rating-rater-96f536e4d7091'\r\n                           data-rating='4'\r\n                           data-rater-starsize='32'>\r\n                       <\/div><\/div><!--End Yasr Overall Rating Shortcode--><\/strong><\/h4>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><strong>Review<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>4 \u201cMy kind of nice\u201d stars!!\u2028\u2028<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When I read a Penny Reid book I know that I\u2019m going to get a story that is so much more than what is on the surface. I know it\u2019ll be deep and intellectual. All of her characters are unique and original, and Anna and Luca are no exception. Such a wonderful take on the teacher student trope, it\u2019s different than the norm and is creative and hysterical.<\/p>\n<p>Anna is fun, smart, witty, and loves reading. She is someone I could totally see myself being friends with. She goes on a blind date but it turns out the guy isn\u2019t the one she was supposed to email. Then, she discovers that her blind date is actually her summer professor the whole situation was hilarious. She was cracking me up with everything she was thinking.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i>I closed my eyes; his voice, the words he\u2019d spoken hitting me square in the abdomen, driving the air from my lungs. He\u2019d used the Russian pronunciation of Eugene. Life was not fair. Not only did he look good in leather pants, fabulous in a suit with a bowtie, was a world expert on Russian literature, but also he apparently spoke Russian. Flawlessly. Flee! He is temptation incarnate! He will steal your soul with sexiness. <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Now, they are bumping into each other everywhere and it\u2019s not helping diminish their attraction. It\u2019s making them lust harder, fantasize more, and the sexual tension grow stronger with each encounter.<\/p>\n<p>Luca Kraft is sexy and smart. He has to deal with his family before he can have a serious relationship but he knows what he wants and he isn\u2019t afraid to pursue Anna. He just needs to get his ducks in a row before he can actually do anything about his feelings.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i> I was her professor, her teacher. I took this charge seriously, a sacred trust, never to be tarnished by selfish interest. This alone placed her well beyond my reach. And yet . . . Interest remained. Steadfast, undeniably selfish, and\u2014recently, since Monday\u2014unmanageable. Burdensome in a way that felt like a punishment. <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The fact that they are attracted to each other and can\u2019t do anything about it makes their situation frustrating. Anna is real and honest about how she is feeling and I loved that Anna doesn\u2019t back down from telling him how it is.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i> \u201cEveryone else gets to have you,\u201d I whispered brokenly. \u201cAnd I get nothing.\u201d <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>When Luca is able to finally pursue Anna, he is sweet and totally swoony, and I fell even harder for him he finally opens up to her.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i>\u201cDon\u2019t change yourself. Never try to be other than you are. You are perfection, just as you are.\u201d <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Overall, <i>Kissing Tolstoy<\/i> was an entertaining and unique teacher\/student romance that was full of laugh-out-loud moments as well as the sweet, emotional ones that really draw you in. It\u2019s a wonderful addition to the book world and another fantastic Penny Reid rom com!<\/p>\n<p>I have to add that I listened to the audiobook and thought that is was fantastic. Fiona Fischer really brings Anna to life and made me really get into her head. And Stephen Dexter sounds so swoony, I could listen to him all day.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i> \u201cI want to know you, Anna,\u201d he whispered, placing his hand on my bare shoulder. He traced the soft skin of my collarbone and neck as his eyes moved between mine. \u201cLet me know you.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><strong>Dear Professor<\/strong><\/h4>\n<div data-post-id=\"27433\" class=\"insert-page insert-page-27433 \"><p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"27434\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=27434\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Kissing-Tolstoy.jpg?fit=150%2C234&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"150,234\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Kissing Tolstoy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Kissing-Tolstoy.jpg?fit=144%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-27434 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Kissing-Tolstoy.jpg?resize=80%2C122&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"122\" \/>\u00a0 <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"38008\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=38008\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Kissing-Galileo.jpg?fit=150%2C234&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"150,234\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Kissing Galileo\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Kissing-Galileo.jpg?fit=144%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-38008 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Kissing-Galileo.jpg?resize=80%2C122&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"122\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Kissing Tolstoy (#1)<\/strong> &#8211; (Anna &amp; Luca)<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=39594\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Review<\/a><br \/>\nBuy:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2yifmWC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2LIIDAy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paperback \u00a0<\/a>| \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2mF8Gxm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Kissing Galileo (#2)<\/strong> &#8211; (Emily &amp; Victor)<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=60726\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Review<\/a><br \/>\nBuy: <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2R9ILOb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3dSrBOL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3dxbFC3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>*NEW COVERS*<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"68319\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=68319\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-tolstoy-.jpg?fit=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"200,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"kissing tolstoy )\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-tolstoy-.jpg?fit=150%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-68319 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-tolstoy-.jpg?resize=80%2C122&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-tolstoy-.jpg?resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 80w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-tolstoy-.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/>\u00a0 <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"68320\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?attachment_id=68320\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-galileo-.jpg?fit=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"200,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"kissing galileo )\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-galileo-.jpg?fit=150%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-68320 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-galileo-.jpg?resize=80%2C122&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-galileo-.jpg?resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 80w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/kissing-galileo-.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=80%2C122&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Buy: Amazon\u00a0 | \u00a0Paperback \u00a0| \u00a0Audio Review 4 \u201cMy kind of nice\u201d stars!!\u2028\u2028 When I read a Penny Reid book I know that I\u2019m going to get a story that is so much more than [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[454,65,9,29],"tags":[738,92,48],"class_list":["post-39594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-audio-recommendation","category-lol-funny","category-romance","category-steamy","tag-dear-professor","tag-penny-reid","tag-review"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Kissing-Tolstoy.jpg?fit=150%2C234&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-aiC","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}