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Life Lessons
Series · 9 books · 2011-2023

Books in series

Life Lessons book cover
#1

Life Lessons

2011

This version is no longer available; new lightly-edited version released Nov 14, 2021 Tony Hart's life has been quiet lately. He has good friends and a rewarding teaching job. Then the murdered body of another teacher falls into the elevator at his feet, and Tony's life gets a little too exciting. Jared MacLean is a homicide detective, a widowed father, and deeply in the closet. But from the moment he meets Tony's blue eyes in that high school hallway, Mac can't help wanting this man in his life. However Mac isn't the only one with his eyes on Tony. As the murderer tries to cover his tracks, Mac has to work fast or lose Tony, permanently.
And to All a Good Night book cover
#1.5

And to All a Good Night

2011

In Life Lessons, MPD detective Mac and high school teacher Tony decided that a closeted relationship was worth the risks and difficulties. Now they are briefly separated for the holidays by Tony's trip to visit his family. Tony on a Florida beach contemplates the joys and stresses of their hidden life, while Mac in the Minnesota snow handles a murder case that hits close to home. And in the evening, over the phone, they try to touch each other with words.
And to All a Good Night + Getting It Right book cover
#1.7

And to All a Good Night + Getting It Right

2023

Re edit and rerelease of two Life Lessons short stories in a combined edition. In Life Lessons, MPD detective Mac and high school teacher Tony decided that a closeted relationship was worth the risks and difficulties. These stories follow that first book. And to All a Good Night - story 1.5 - The guys are briefly separated for the holidays by Tony's trip to visit his family. Tony, on a Florida beach, contemplates the joys and stresses of their hidden life, while Mac, in the Minnesota snow, handles a murder case that hits close to home. And in the evening, over the phone, they reach out to each other with words. Getting It Right - story 1.8 - For Mac, noticing Valentine's Day has meant buying his little daughter Anna something pink, and then forgetting about it. So he's blindsided by the thought that maybe Tony feels differently. Maybe Tony thinks they should do something for each other on Valentine's this year. But Mac has no clue what. Tony is trying to teach Mac about being a couple, one detail at a time. And for Tony, Valentine's Day may turn out to be an opportunity for another interesting lesson.
Getting It Right book cover
#1.8

Getting It Right

2012

This free short story comes between "And to All a Good Night", and "Breaking Cover." For Mac, noticing Valentine's Day has meant buying his little daughter Anna something pink, and then forgetting about it. So he's blindsided by the thought that maybe Tony feels differently. Maybe Tony thinks they should do something for each other on Valentine's this year. But Mac has no clue what. Tony is trying to teach Mac about being a couple, one lesson at a time. And for Tony, Valentine's Day may turn out to be an opportunity for another interesting lesson.
Breaking Cover book cover
#2

Breaking Cover

2011

For homicide detective Mac, it's been a good year. Having Tony to go home to makes him a better cop and a better person. For Tony, it's been hard being in love with a man he can't touch in public. Evasions and outright lying to friends and family take a little of the shine off his relationship with Mac, but Tony is determined to make it work. As the Minneapolis Police Department moves into a hot, humid summer, Mac is faced with a different challenge. A killer has murdered two blond women, and the police have no real clues. Mac hates to think that another murder may be the only way they'll make progress with the case. But when that murder happens, it hits close to home for Tony. And suddenly Mac faces an ultimatum: come out into the sunlight and stand beside Tony as his lover, or walk away and live without a piece of his heart.
Home Work book cover
#3

Home Work

2012

Mac and Tony thought the hard part was over. They’re together openly as a couple, sharing a home and building a life with their two children. It’s what they dreamed of. But daughter Anna struggles with the changes, Ben is haunted by old secrets, Mac’s job in Homicide still demands too much of his time, and Tony is caught in the middle. It’s going to take everything these men can give to create a viable balance between home and work. Especially when the outside world seems determined to throw obstacles in their way.
Compensations book cover
#3.5

Compensations

2012

This is a Life Lessons short story, occurring a week after Home Work (\ contains spoilers for Home Work\). Mac, Tony and the kids have had a long complicated year. Each of them has dealt with fears and losses, joys and triumphs. As December 31st approaches, it's time to look forward to the new year, and what may be in store. Mac and Tony figure whatever happens, they can handle it, as long as they go through it together
Learning Curve book cover
#4

Learning Curve

2013

Mac is afraid he'll never recover enough to go back to being a cop, while Tony is afraid that he will. Three months after being shot, Detective Jared MacLean is healing, but he's afraid it may not be enough to go back on the job. He won't give up, though. Being a cop is written deep in Mac’s bones, and he'll do whatever it takes to carry his badge again. Tony used to wish he could have Mac safely home, but watching his strong husband battle disabilities is far from Tony's dream come true. When Mac is asked to consult on a case involving one of Tony's students, both men will have to face old demons and new fears to find a way to move forward together.
Through All the Years book cover
#4.1

Through All the Years

2022

A short Life Lessons coda posted on the author's site. note: This short story is also included in [The Distant Hills and Other Stories](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77535194.TheDistantHillsandOtherStories "The Distant Hills and Other Stories")._

Author

Kaje Harper
Kaje Harper
Author · 74 books

I get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. “Kaje” is pronounced just like “cage” – it’s an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home. I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.) My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received. I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/. You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far. You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper

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Life Lessons