Lessons in Love, the first book in Charlie Cochrane’s Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, begins the story of Jonathan Stewart and Orlando Coopersmith, professors at St. Bride’s. As their friendship begins, murder comes to St. Bride’s. With messages hinting towards the victims’ sins, Jonty and Orlando help the police in their investigation and heat up their relationship. Will their relationship continue or will the murders derail it?

I loved Lessons in Love. Jonty and Orlando were good lead characters. They were believable. I liked that Charlie Cochrane built up their relationship. It began as a friendship then slowly became sexual. Orlando was totally inexperienced. He had a hard time believing that Jonty befriended him. Jonty had male/male relationships in the past. I loved that both were vulnerable and moving into territory that wasn’t overly familiar to them. Orlando’s innocence is sweet and moving. Their build up to falling in love was wonderful to watch. They are wary but they are a good match for each other as each brings out the best in the other. I also liked that the sex was low-key. Just as Jonty and Orlando were exploring their relationship and Orlando was exploring his feelings for Jonty, I, as a reader, was able to explore with them. The sex scenes were natural and were not gratuitous. They fit the story and, since this is the first book in the series, begin to set up the relationship between Jonty, Orlando, and the reader. I want to watch their love grow. It starts well and I can see the growth of the men already.

The plot was realistic and believable. I figured out the murderer around the halfway point of the story but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. It made sense but there were others who could also have been the murderer. The secondary characters were also good. Because the setting is a university there are many characters, but only a few are allowed to stand out in the story so I never became overwhelmed with who was who and how they fit into the story. I liked the ending because it moves Jonty and Orlando’s relationship along a path I wanted to see.

You will not be disappointed when reading Lessons in Love by Charlie Cochrane. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.