Forbidden romance, music, and a whole lot of tension - The Lines We Cross by Rachel Tork, has all the drama you’d expect from a love story like this.

Rowan Evans is a talented music student, grieving the loss of her sister. Three years after a kind stranger shares a quiet moment with her, that same man, Julian Lynch, reappears in her life… as her professor.

Julian’s a broody, musical genius professor. While Rowan’s fiery and determined to live life her way. The sparks between them are impossible to ignore, but their relationship? Let’s just say it’s complicated (and maybe a little scandalous).

The story is emotional, messy, and keeps you hooked with its will-they-won’t-they tension. While the romance didn’t completely win me over, the blend of music and heartache definitely made it stand out.
If you love forbidden love stories with a touch of drama, this one’s worth a read.

Thank you to the author for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

*The Lines We Cross* by Rachel Tork is an emotional and beautifully written story about love, loss, and the boundaries we’re willing to challenge for connection. Rowan and Julian’s relationship is intense and forbidden, but the way their shared past intertwines with their present makes their connection feel inevitable. The tension between them is palpable, heightened by the weight of their personal struggles and the risks they take.

Rachel Tork does an incredible job of capturing the complexities of grief, ambition, and desire. Rowan’s fiery spirit and Julian’s internal conflict make them compelling characters you can’t help but root for, even as their choices toe the line between right and wrong. The snowy, music-filled setting adds a layer of atmosphere that perfectly complements the story’s emotional depth. This book is a slow-burn romance with plenty of heartache and beauty along the way. It’s a story that makes you question how far you’d go for love—and whether some lines are meant to be crossed. A captivating and unforgettable read.

THE LINES WE CROSS is a forbidden romance tastefully done about a college student and professor. Julian and Rowan have an intense and believable connection from the very beginning. It was interesting to see their relationship evolve and deepen as they go through surprising experiences throughout the story. Julie Soto fans will definitely enjoy this one!

Thank you to Azala and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

“The Lines We Cross” is a captivating romance that explores the complexities involved between professional ethics and irresistible attraction. The story Rowan Evans, a gifted graduate music student, whose instant chemistry with her professor, Dr. Julian Lynch poses a threat to her standing in the university, thus potentially hindering her musical aspirations.

The chemistry between them is undeniable, creating tension throughout the novel. Their connection evolves into something deeper, as they struggle with their growing feelings for one another amidst the complications of student-teacher dynamics. There were elements of the book that would probably not play out the same way in real life, but I appreciate the creative license the author took to weave a deeply satisfying HEA.

This was a very enjoyable read for me. I was hooked from start to finish. The book was equal parts steamy, emotional, and surprisingly thrilling. It’s a perfect blend of forbidden attraction and intense connection. It does read like a more polished fanfiction, but I love fanfiction, so it was not an issue for me. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars for this review.

This is the first book that I have read from author, Rachel Tork. I’ll by honest, what initially drew me in was the cover of the book. It was reminiscent of my favorite AO3 pairing, Reylo. I was pleasantly surprised when reading the “about the author” note, that Ms. Tork like me is a fan of the Reylo fandom, which automatically brings her to the top of my TBR authors. I look forward to reading the follow-up novel with Lena and Oliver.

Thank you NetGalley and Azala Press for providing an eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book was absolutely fantastic and I really enjoyed reading it!
The tension was tight, the pacing was perfect, and I fell in love with both characters. I've really been digging the professor x student dynamic lately and The Lines We Cross definitely satisfied that itch. It was also very grumpy x sunshine with some clouds and I think this is one of the best tropes! I'll definitely be recommending this book to my friends.

I read it in one sitting, the plot was so gripping I couldn't stop reading.

It's a forbidden romance that starts off as a romcom but ends up becoming something else, the book changes a lot halfway and it keeps you turning pages.

I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Azala Press for the arc!

The lines we cross by Rachel Tork
When the anniversary of Rowan’s sister’s death was, one person, a stranger, gave a tissue for her and suggested to watch on the sunset until stars appear.
After three years, when she went to Grandview University’s School of Music, Dr. Julian Lynch became her advisor, because of replacing person by health reason. She didn’t recognize him, the stranger with the tissue. Just after weeks she found out who he was (remembered).
Julian world was shaken when he recognized Rowan in the file of graduate students. He should teach her. It was a fire when she kissed him in their class. Boom!
It was interesting how their relationship grew. When I started this book, I thought that it will be rom-com, but then after 100 pages I understood that it is more seriously. I liked how characters are described in the book. I felt the feelings of the characters while I was reading.
The book caught my attention, I wanted to know how it would finish.
I was missing a motive for one character. But anyway, I recommend this book for people who like romance, it is a good book.
The book will be published on January 14th, 2025

The Lines We Cross by Rachel Tork is a forbidden romance read with a professor student relationship with an accidental pregnancy trope. It’s well written and a fast paced read. The setting is a picturesque college campus setting. Both main characters are musicians. The main characters have a strong connection but spend the beginning of the book fighting their attraction towards each other through tension filled interactions and conversations. From the beginning, it’s obvious they have a strong connection to one another. The tension was so well done.

The characters face some trials and tribulations together but their connection throughout the trials remains strong. Overall, I really enjoyed the romance and bits of spice. I will definitely read more books by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and and Azala Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was really something. I was originally drawn to the cover and then the marketing of the Out on a Limb x Not Another Love Song descriptor. At first the premise carried a lot of promise, the forbidden aspect of two lonely and tortured characters, student and teacher (and a bit more comfy cause she’s in grad school so aged up a little). But then this kind of goes off the rails. This really is more like romantic suspense. It got to the point where I couldn’t fathom how many bad things and obstacles 2 people can face in a year. There was not enough happy togetherness relationship building time for me to enjoy this as a romance and getting to see 2 people fall in love, they were SO stressed constantly (and understandably, everything was always going so bonkers and they couldn’t trust anyone).

Also, I can give leeway for these types of things so this is minor but the graduate school aspect I did not find to be accurate. The cafeteria style gossiping veered on high school. I know environments like that can be cliquey but it was to an extent that just really doesn’t feel accurate.

What I liked was the brooding man bun of it all with the MMC. I loved that he always showed up for the FMC even when she assumed he wouldn’t. The FMC also has complicated grief with the prior loss of her sister and that was an impactful storyline.

Thank you to Azala Press for the eARC.

The Lines We Cross is the story of Rowan, who quickly discovers that her new professor was the man who comforted her after the death of her sister...and feels an instant attraction.

I was excited to read this book after observing the Reylo influences. I personally love an accidentally pregnancy subplot, and I thought the dynamic between the characters was well done for a secret relationship, but it did feel as though the book was more serialised, rather than the themes at the beginning tying into the relationship's development.

I am excited to see more of this author as her writing develops and would recommend it to fans of Julie Soto.

3.25/5. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

This story is an absolute rollercoaster of a ride. It starts off giving Reylo/TLH vibes with the brief meeting and secret pining. 3 years later they meet again as grad student (Rowan) and teacher (Julian). The angst is excellent and I love both Rowan and Julian immediately. The story had a really strong start and I loved the first third of the book (was gearing up for this to be a 5 star read). Around 40% is when the story changed for me. Objectively, a really well written and captivating novel. Subjectively, it wasn't my favorite romance. I felt like the relationship development began lacking for me. The plot twists and turns felt out of left field. Without spoiling anything, I do think one of the main plot points of this book that comes as a plot twist may be a DNF moment for many readers. I think this book would have excelled as a novella.

Overall, I binge read this book and was entertained. I will more than likely read another book by this author, especially if there's a standalone follow-up with other characters.

This was enjoyable but I’m not sure it’s my cup of tea. If you enjoy forbidden romance, professor/student romances and more…. (Definitely look up trigger warnings) but also check this out! I just felt a little lost and the tropes weren’t my favorite which is completely my whole fault. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an E- Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book! The atmosphere, the characters and the slightly forbidden nature of the relationship really drew me in. Sadly, I didn‘t enjoy the second half as much. There was a trope introduced that I don‘t particularly enjoy (staying vague because of spoilers) and I was also a bit surprised by some of the plot development later on (a lot of action, which I didn‘t expect from the pretty quiet and character-driven beginning). A lot of conflict was introduced that was resolved pretty quickly.
I liked the writing style and would pick up something from this author again, but sadly this one didn‘t quite work for me. It is a pretty solid romance though, and I would say if you enjoyed Julie Soto‘s latest book and also enjoy the more unhinged aspects of authors like Ana Huang or LJ Shen, this might be the book for you!
(Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Tork and Azala Press for providing me with an eARC for this book in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions in this review are my own.)

Professor-student romances are my weak spot and I can never get enough of them. Yet this book kind of let me down; there were so many random events thrown here and there, making the plot and pacing weird. I loved the couple, they were adorable (and the spice was so good), but the “insta-love” trope is not something I’m into. I think something slower, with more stakes would have been interesting for this plot, which is so unique with its setting and its two protagonists who have been through so much already.

I always love finding books centered around musicians. It makes it even better when there’s a forbidden love/professor x student aspect too. Rowan and Julian are two characters I rooted for, in different ways, separately. I found myself thrilled over their instant chemistry and watching it build and build over the 3 part story. Rowan chooses to pursue music in honor of her late twin sister, but also because she has true passion for it. Her character growth along with her growth in music was so inspiring to read. Julian has dealt with his own share of heartbreak and grief, just in different ways. His journey to opening up to Rowan and healing and fighting for himself and for her also made this a fantastic story.

This book was a whirlwind! I love a forbidden romance, but I was a little wary about the teacher/student trope as this was my first time reading a true teacher/student romance. Thankfully, Rachel Tork did a great job at not crossing the line (see what I did there) into "creepy" territory, as some age gaps can come across. I loved the first half of the book and watching their relationship come together under extreme circumstances. Julian and Rowan were great characters. Julian was likeable, kind, and intense and protective but not over the top about it. Rowan was strong, showed a lot of character growth as a woman in her mid-twenties dealing with all kinds of life altering events, and stood her own when faced with conflict. It was a joy reading their story. But...
I will say, about halfway through the book things started to get a little out of control. There were so many, what felt like, random events that were thrown in. For such serious events, the detail/context was lacking and the situations felt rushed in my opinion. The plot twist was there, though slightly predictable, but by the time I got to it I was honestly thankful and ready for the book to wrap up.
While this isn't necessarily in my "top picks" for the year, this is a solid romance book for those who like the extreme highs and lows of forbidden romance. I'm definitely interested in reading more of Rachel's work!
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Azala Press for the advance reader copy, in exchange for an honest review. This was an enjoyable romance read! I like the forbidden romance trope and the first half of this book hit all the right notes for me. I liked the characters and there was the right blend of heartfelt emotion to the story.

The second half of the story went off the rails a little bit and took a turn I did not expect at all; that being said, I still enjoyed being along for the whole ride. The plot lines were a bit far fetched and it definitely wasn’t what I expected but, it still checked all the boxes that I look for in a romance. I sped through this one and would be interested to read other works by this author.

Overall, I’d recommend this romance readers who like forbidden romance tropes and to those who don’t mind a good few ups and downs!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This is the type of romance book I enjoy! The writing was perfection, and I liked the setting for the two main characters to become reunited. It all made for a powerful story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Forbidden
.Student/teacher
.Forced proximity
.Hurt/comfort

The beginning of this book felt like the perfect blend of The Love Hypothesis and Not Another Love Song (two books I adore). Which coincidentally are both originally Raylo fanfics turned into published books. So, naturally, this gave the story strong fanfic vibes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing since I do love fanfiction. But, much like many fanfics, this book had its share of over-the-top drama and could have benefited from some heavy editing.

The first half was fantastic. It hooked me right away, with a strong connection between the characters. And nobody can resist a tall, dark, intense MMC.

But then the second half happened. The story veered off course into a storm of unnecessary and poorly explained conflicts. The drama was excessive, and the problems felt random, like they were tossed in just for the sake of it. By the last quarter, I was skimming, desperate to finish without outright DNFing. What started as a promising read fizzled out into a disappointing mess, barely scraping three stars in the end.

In short: not my favourite. A strong start, but it just couldn’t stick the landing.