Napkins and Other Distractions

M.A. Wardell

$24.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Michael Joseph
20 January 2026

Romance; LGBT Romance

Series: Teachers in Love

On paper, they're a disaster. In the sheets, they're a perfect match.

Kent Lester is proud of the joyful, thriving learning community he's created as principal of Lear Elementary School. But seven years after his divorce, he's ready to focus on his personal life and spread his bisexual wings. Things get off to a rocky start when Kent's first date is an uptight control freak - although that doesn't stop them tangling some sheets.

Vincent Manda never seems able to move past the friend zone, and besides, he's not sure anyone can handle his OCD. But that night with the bearded, older Kent revealed a side of Vincent he'd never experienced before. And he's equal parts scared of and desperate for a repeat.

When Lear's test scores take a nosedive, Kent finds himself under the microscope. Forced to implement new software to monitor and collect school data, he's horrified to discover that Vincent is working on the project. With his last install ending less than ideally, Vincent's job depends on this one succeeding - and butting heads with the principal won't help.

Vincent and Kent need to view each other in a new light, but that could change their futures forever.

By: M.A. Wardell
Imprint: Michael Joseph
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 197mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 258g
ISBN: 9781405979368
ISBN 10: 1405979364
Series: Teachers in Love
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

M.A. Wardell lives near the ocean with his husband and cats. When he isn't writing, he's snuggling those cats, reading all the rom-coms, walking to unravel plot points, and taking long hot baths. He is the author of the Teachers in Love series and more.