Sabbatical

Curriculum Vitae, Book 2

By: Katrina Jackson

Narrated by: Mari, Oscar Reyes

Toni had a plan for the summer: rest, relaxation, and renovation. In the summer before her sabbatical year, all she wanted was to disentangle herself from her job. No work emails. Not departmental or university politics. No Dr. Antonia Ward.

But during the last week of classes, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Dr. Mike Hernandez. The colleague she's known for years, and never once thought twice about, suddenly seems taller, his voice seems deeper, and every time they find themselves alone together, they can't keep their hands to themselves.

In the end, Mike made sure that Toni's actual summer plans were live, laugh, and love. Thankfully, Toni already knew he was corny, but she found out that he was so much more.

©2022 Sea Port Press LLC (P)2023 Sea Port Press LLC

An authentic read

I enjoyed the way that the author captured the role of service and emotional labor in the lives woman of color academics, specially black women. As a black woman in academia, I identified with Toni and the story felt authentic with the touches of realness related to the frustration of taking down braids to having your work day co-opted by students and colleagues in need. Toni’s character is well developed with attention to her as an individual and a political figure on her campus. I also enjoyed the love story between Mike and Toni. It was a slow burn, yet each intimate interaction between the two is both vulnerable and spicy. This story felt like it was written by someone who understands the personal, emotional, political, and social concerns of academics of color. Well done.

Oooh, a pining hero!

I'm not going to lie - this was on my TBL for Oscar Reyes. (I love Mari too, don't get me wrong, but I am definitely in my Oscar Reyes era).

A quite steamy romance set in academia, we follow Toni, who's finally taking a coveted sabbatical from her tenured position. All she wants to do is ... nothing. She wants to REST. And tackle a "few" renovation projects in her fixer-upper of a house. She can't wait for the last class, the last graduation until she leaves on her break. But something strange is happening: she's suddenly "seeing" Mike Hernandez, her colleague at the university. He's always been around as he's also best friends with her best friend's boyfriend and they all work at the same university. All a sudden, his voice seems deeper, his smile brighter and she doesn't know how to deal with it. 

Mike has been pining for Toni for ages much to the enjoyment of his best friend who goads him all the time. And he's had it. Time's up, Toni. And now that she's not overextended with work, Mike will make sure he'll be around and maybe win her heart.

A book that's been clearly written by someone who has personal knowledge of the academic world and it may be sometimes too much for people unfamiliar with the setting. However, the romance is top notch and Mike is not playing around when he finally decides to go for the woman he loves.

Narration: Mari is amazing as always as the no nonsense Toni - a woman who really deserves love in her life. Oscar Reyes has cornered the market for pining tortured heroes and it's OMG.

finally

i love the chemistry between Toni and Mike. This was a story I have waited for, for a couple of years

Boring and the characters personalities changed

I loved the first book and was so excited to read this one, but it fell short for me. The characters from the previous book took on totally different personalities in this book. It’s startling and disheartening.

The book is way too much build up. Once they get a relationship started she skips a whole month and a half and they are breaking up, getting back together and the end. I would have rated it lower but I really liked Mike.

It was okay…

I enjoyed the first book. But, all of the characters personalities shifted and I didn’t care for it. It’s a Slooooooooow burn. Idk the book was missing something.