Beyond the Ivory Tower

The Silicon Beach Trilogy #1

by Jill Blake

If there’s one thing math professor Anna Lazarev believes in, it’s the value of higher education. So when her younger sister announces she’s dropping out of college, Anna places the blame squarely on the man who inspired her sister’s rebellion.

Venture capitalist Ethan Talbot claims the US academic system is broken. His solution? Pay top students to “opt out” and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams without wasting time and money on a university degree.

In a passionate battle for the hearts and minds of a new generation, Anna will do whatever it takes to prove Ethan wrong. But when his demands take a more personal turn, will she sacrifice her principles to come out on top?

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

150 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2015

About the author

Jill Blake loves chocolate, leisurely walks where she doesn’t break a sweat, and books with a guaranteed happy ending. A native of Philadelphia, Jill now lives in southern California with her husband and three children. During the day, she works as a physician in a busy medical practice. At night, she pens steamy romances.

The Doctors of Rittenhouse Square :
Pursued by the Playboy (Kate & Marc) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1S1EJQ
Taking a Chance (Samantha & Alex) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG936YC
This Time for Keeps (Isabelle & Luca) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I6SYS60

The Santa Monica Trilogy :
Without a Net - (Eva & Max) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00LDVF1VS
Coming Home - (Grace & Logan) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00OZR19C2
Balancing Act - (Angie & Zach) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00VUKNZ60

The Silicon Beach Trilogy :
Beyond the Ivory Tower - (Anna & Ethan) - http://amzn.to/1FQQceo
Sweet Indulgence - (Becca & Leo) - http://amzn.to/1ndlclu
A Matter of Trust (Klara & Vlad) - http://amzn.to/2cvDqvv

Reviews

[Kate McMurry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely entertaining, "nerds in love" romance

Anna Lazarev is a brilliant math professor who, at 32, has been a tenured professor since the very young age of 29. She raised her sister from the age of 23 when their equally brilliant Russian émigré parents died in a car accident. Now at age 19, Anna's sister is dropping out of college to become part of a highly innovative intern program, and Anna finds this extremely upsetting. Its founder and primary funder, billionaire venture capitalist, 39-year-old Ethan Talbot, believes the US academic system is overpriced and grossly under-delivers in terms of producing the possibility for graduates to obtain good-paying jobs. His solution is to offer top-flight students a chance to participate in a highly competitive program. It provides the opportunity to be mentored by extremely successful business people within the participants' chosen areas of expertise in order to pursue their entrepreneurial goals without going massively into debt, both in terms of the cost of education and a great deal of lost income during their years in school.

Anna is extremely upset because she believes that Ethan has lured her baby sister into this program with a series of false promises. At best, in her opinion, he will keep her extremely smart and talented sister from the education that Anna's convinced she requires to obtain the American Dream that Anna herself has achieved. At worst, Anna believes that Ethan has a hidden agenda to steal the marketable ideas that his protégées come up with during their time in his program.

When fiery Anna flies from her home in Los Angeles to arrive without notice in order to burst into Ethan's office in San Francisco to confront him, Ethan is instantly taken with Anna's amazing combination of beauty, brains and passion. Rather than getting defensive or angry at her attack on his integrity, he invites her to lunch to discuss their diametrically opposed points of view, and thus begins a fascinating relationship between two people who may seem as if they are opposites, but have far more in common than either at first assumes.

I am a sucker for romances between highly intelligent, well educated, scholarly types AKA "nerds." Such romance protagonists are extremely uncommon, though this particular author has written several such books, and I've enjoyed both of her novels that I've read so far.

Anna is a very sympathetic heroine, because she is strong, determined, intensely responsible, and extremely loyal to her sister, who is her only family. Ethan is a very good match for her, because he is a powerful, rich, successful man who is not only not intimidated by a strong, successful woman, but rejoices in her strength and success.

There is excellent sexual tension throughout the book, but there are no graphic sex scenes, which some readers may find a relief with the plethora of endless graphic sex in romance novels so common these days. The sexual scenes that do occur are tender as well as sensual, and very well written.

The author's writing style is clear and direct, with no "purple prose," which makes the book very readable. The book is very well edited and formatted, which is a big plus among indie novels.

I rate this book as follows:

Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Romance plot: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars

[Mary Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.

Anna Lazarev is a math professor at UCLA and has been through a lot in her 32 years of life. After leaving Russia at the age of nine with her parents, coming to America and both parents brilliant in their own right, academic is where you learn all you need to succeed in life. After both parents die in a car accident when Anna was 23 and her little sister Klara was 13, Anna became the parent. Now Klara is 19 and in her first year of college. When she tells Anna she is dropping out to join a hands on fellowship program, Anna is beside herself with anger. She has tried to talk to anyone that has anything to do with the fellowship program and she is getting no where.
Ethan Talbot is the insanely gorgeous billionaire that is not looking for a relationship. He did the married thing and it backfired on him. A date here and there is all he does but the tabloids follow him and spin their stories to sell their magazines. Ethan doesn't even have daily dealings with the fellowship program, someone else handles that for him. So when Anna burst into Ethan's office to get some answers, both Ethan and Anna have to take a moment because the attraction between them is so strong. He is not intimidated by her and he invites her to dinner to discuss the differences between college and the fellowship program. Anna knows it is dangerous to her heart because they are not in the same circles. He is after all a billionaire and she is a college professor. But dinner with him might help her get Klara released from the program and back into college where she should be.
Can Ethan make Anna see just what his program offers some students? Will Anna get Klara to return to college and not lose her sister in the process? Will Anna lose her heart to Ethan while trying to remain professional? Can Ethan trust that his feelings for Anna are real and that she feels the same? Can two people from two very different backgrounds make a life together?
This is a first for me from Jill Blake and I really enjoyed it and can't wait for more. This is a quick story and one I think you will enjoy, it is not continued but book two is about Anna's BFF Becca, so there should be more of Ethan and Anna in that one too.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

When picking books to read , there are a few things that will make me want to immediately read them - the first is whether they feature Academia - if so then it's an immediate yes and the second is I do love romance stories and the tension/chemistry that sizzles. Beyond the Ivory Tower had both of that and more as the book starts out with the Female Lead Dr. Anna Lazarev who is a Doctor in Mathematics and our Male lead Ethan Talbot who has set up the Talbot Fund Scholarship - offering those who shine with potential to leave college and fund their start-up ideas. The book starts with Anna storming into Ethan's office as her sister Karla has gotten one of the scholarships and Anna - being her guardian is not happy that he is encouraging her to drop out of college. She is so angry about it , that she even blogs about the programme and the post goes Viral. Ethan intrigued strikes up a compromise which leads to Dinner and an amazing time together . The pair then go their separate ways, but now can't stop thinking about one another. Then of course we all know which way it leads - the sizzling romance and chemistry. I loved this part taking place in San Francisco as it reminded me of the time I was there for my holiday and I was like I've been there and could imagine Anna and Ethan walking along Fisherman's Wharf , seeing Lombard Street and riding the Cable Car. Then a suprising twist comes out with a School shooting in Anna's department - this was one of my favourite twists as I love in a non-creepy weird way - stories about school shootings. Will Anna survive and get her HEA with Ethan and discover the truth of what is hidden "Beyond the Ivory Tower" or will their happiness and desire to peek behind and see above, be cut short ?
Find out in Beyond the Ivory Tower by Jill Blake.
Only 99c on Amazon :)

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

I really enjoyed this read, and am looking forward to future installments. Having worked in academia many years, I understood the frustration at the education system, and yet the importance of staying in it. It is a good backdrop for a really lovely, sweet romance. Having already been burned, the sexy billionaire finds Anna's disinterest in his money and status refreshing and a big bonus, given how attracted he is to her. Anna on her part is refreshingly honest and open. The two of them are dynamite, but in a soft, nerdy way!

Recommended light read.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Great characters in this one with amazing passion for what they believe. Anna, a math professor, is strong, determined, and has complete faith in the education system. Ethan is powerful, rich, and just as determined. His belief is that the education system is broken and students would learn just as much working without a mountain of student loans in the end. While they have this fundamental difference, the attraction that sparks between them is strong. Will they be able to agree to disagree??

This is one I definitely recommend.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5.0

"Beyond the Ivory Tower" is a sexy romantic love story set against the beautiful sights of San Francisco and the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.

Read full review in the 2015 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[DawnMarie Carpintero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense

4 stars

This book was very intense it is romantic it was it was an overall all Hot sexy romantic and get ice chips help because you're going to eat them in this but this journey was just like I said it was fun and it really really intense yes I did a great job in creating a bunch of emotion within emotion.

Happy Reading

[Daniel Martins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I´ve read this book to translate it into portuguese and, besides It´s not my favorite kind of story, I saw myself really digging it.
It´s a simple and funny story, well writen helped me to break some prejudices.

[Love Indie Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Annie Arcane

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

A free copy was provided by the author.

Initial thoughts:

Perfectly edited book. A nicely paced, well-thought-out story with a refreshing take on the wealthy hero.

What I loved:

I must start by saying this: the editing was immaculate. When reading indie novels, I fully expect to come across a few minor mistakes here and there (which is no big deal at all) but this book was virtually error-free.

Another strength for me was the pacing. Each scene in every chapter served a purpose to propel the plot forward in some way, whether it be revealing details about a character’s history or moving the main story along.

With the billionaire trope currently on the rise, it was also a pleasant surprise to see a “regular” wealthy hero. While I love a healthy dose of inner turmoil, it was actually refreshing that Ethan wasn’t your typical angst-ridden, rich alpha male with a tortured soul. Even the fact that both he and Anna were academics (a.k.a. “nerds”) was a nice change from the typical pairings nowaday.

What left me wanting:

Okay, this is the tough part because there wasn’t anything specifically wrong with this book. There just simply wasn’t anything that blew me away either.

What I personally love is when novels engage me, convince me, make me feel and connect with the characters.

I wanted so badly to experience the chemistry between Ethan and Anna because I truly believe that Blake outlined such an interesting story with a ton of potential. However, I have to admit that their dynamic fell a bit flat for me. I found myself wishing for more showing and less telling because my emotions always fell one step behind the progression of their relationship.

With that being said, I feel it necessary to reiterate that this was still a well-written, well-paced book. While I didn’t find it particularly memorable, I really did enjoy it!

Final thoughts:

This would be a light, easy read for those who prefer their wealthy heroes to be less “alpha bad boy” and more “regular good guy”.

[Rebecca Allman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Lazarev believes that a good education is what is important for your future.
Ethan Talbot believes that an alternate education is just as good for students requiring something different.
When Anna’s sister, Klara, gets accepted into the Talbot Fellowship scholarship, Anna is clearly upset and takes it upon herself to change her sister's mind. When Anna tries to intervene and get in contact with Ethan, her correspondence is not replied to. Her last resort is to confront him to see if he can release Klara from his scholarship program.
What Anna doesn’t bank on is the chemistry that follows after meeting Ethan. A lunch discussion turns to dinner, and then so many things after that change her mind about Ethan. She’s unsure of what she wants. Slowly, but surely, she feels her first impression of him is changing. But is it for better or worse?
Ethan has been numb for a long time but the instant he meets Anna he knows there is a something between them. Even the smallest amount of chemistry can spark if you know how to look for signs. He’s had more signs from that one encounter with Anna than any other woman who has crossed his path.
Ethan can’t help but think of Anna all the time and does his best to get to know her. With the added threat of media involvement, will it be too much for Anna to handle? Can he convince her that his program really does benefit those who seek a different kind of education? Will he be able to get Anna to see he has the best intentions and not to judge him.
It takes an unfortunate incident to reveal their feelings for each other and a realisation that maybe they can compromise and make things work.

This is a beautifully written story. The chemistry between Ethan and Anna pulls you into their lives and holds you there from the start. Jill Blake has done an exceptional job with this book and I'm so glad that I got to read it. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.

[LJT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Ivory Tower is a smart and creative new book from Jill Blake, one of my favorite authors. The story moves along at a steady pace and the chemistry between the main characters is hotter than molten lava.

Anna Lazarev is a mathematics genius and truly understands the value of a college education. She was a child prodigy and worked her way into the upper echelons of academia by keeping her nose to the grindstone, while raising her younger sister Klara. So when Klara decides to drop out of college in order to participate in a prestigious fellowship program, Anna is beyond furious. However, when she meets Ethan Talbot, a billionaire and the founder of the program, she finds it difficult to dispute his logic and reasoning for an alternative approach to the traditional learning process. Within a very short time, Ethan's smarts and good-looks sweep Anna off her feet. However, compromising their respective beliefs proves to be challenging as well as stimulating.

This novel is another winner for Ms. Blake. The characters are well-defined, the plot is engaging, and the sexy times between Anna and Ethan are extremely hot. To top it all off is an ending that will leave you shocked, angry and impassioned. The epilogue concludes this moving story with a happily ever after that is one for the record books. Overall, this is a solid romance that should be added to your TBR list.

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Anna Lazarev is a math professor who believes that you need to get a degree to get anywhere in life so when her sister, Klara, drops out of college for a fellowship program she is devastated.

Ethan Talbot is a Venture Capitalist who believes that people do not need degrees, but mentor-ship to get further in life and offers a program to help bright students. He is used to being in the press and receiving attention for his apparent "playboy lifestyle" but nothing prepares him for Anna.

His attraction for Anna is undeniable but will the core differences they have for education break apart any chance that the two have of a future together. Will either be able to make the compromise that they other suggests they make or does each of their respective advances in their careers mean too much to them to let go.

Will they be able to work out their problems before it's too late?

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Anna made it in what is typically deemed as a man's facility. I completely understand why she believes that education is so important but I also understand where Ethan is coming from in that we give people an education which leaves them with a pile of debt and no hands-on experience in the real world. I think this book really makes you think about ways we can improve the real world and take what both Anna and Ethan have to offer!

This was my first book by Jill Blake and it certainly will not be my last!

[Nicole Dunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna is heartbroken when she learns that hear baby sister, who she raised after their parents passed away, is dropping out of college to pursue her dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. Desperate, she seeks the help of the person behind Klara's way to follow her dream, Ethan. The two wind up clashing due to differences in opinion. Can they find a compromise that works best for both of them? Can Anna accept that her sister is old enough to make her own decisions?

I have to be completely honest here, when I first started this book, all I could think was that it was going to be another cheesy romance with the same sob stories. I almost put it down. Then, I kept reading. I got into the story. I got hooked on the characters. Because of that, I'm glad that I decided to keep reading. I fell in love with the characters. I fell in love with the story.

I do wish that the book had been expanded a little more. That's just because of my love for longer novels I'm sure. There were a few parts that I felt needed to be a little more detailed. I feel they needed more expansion. I won't put them in the review for fear of spoiling the book. It's really just one scene in particular that I felt got rushed over more than others. Other than that, it was a great read. I fully recommend. I'm looking forward to reading the next two!

[J. Saman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna is a Russian immigrant and university professor who was given the charge of caring for her younger sister after the tragic loss of their parents. Education is one of the most important things to Anna so when her younger sister decides to drop out of college in favor of a well paying internship, needless to say she's not happy. Ethan Talbot is the billionaire CEO of the company that is paying these students to drop out and even though he's not the one directly running the internship program, Anna manages to storm into his office ready to do battle. The two of them are instantly attracted to each other and Ethan - who is sort of quiet and "normal" for a billionaire - convinces Anna to go out for dinner to discuss things.
The two of them have different mindsets and backgrounds, yet are both highly intelligent and a little nerdy (I liked that part)
There are lots of questions and unknowns and those seem to be the crux of the story as they try to navigate through.
The book is flawlessly edited and very easy to read. Anna was a likable character and her plight was easy to sympathize with. Anna and Ethan's chemistry was fun and the love scenes low key.
Overall an enjoyable light read.

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Nancy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Downloaded for free from Amazon Kindle--and very glad I did! If you're in the mood for a quick, breezy romance with smart, likeable characters, this book is it. I won't rehash the plot, that's already been done by previous reviewers. I'll just say that the characters were well-rounded, and came off as real people. Even though the hero was an alpha male billionaire type, he spoke and acted and treated the people around him in a very down to earth way. So while the *role* he played was stereotypical, as a character he wasn't at all cookie cutter. Same goes for the heroine, who is strong and smart and not at all full of herself, despite being a math genius and highly accomplished in a male dominated field. I loved the interactions between Anna and her BFF, and also the scenes with Anna's sister. I'm not a big fan on instalove, and there is a little of this here, at least on Ethan's part, but overall the relationship develops at a believable pace, the chemistry between Anna and Ethan is great, and the sex scenes are hot without being vulgar. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series about Anna's BFF.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner!

Can you say opposites attract? In this latest romance by Jill Blake, Ethan and Anna clash from the get-go. He’s a billionaire philanthropist who thinks college is a big ol’ waste of time and money. She’s a math professor who thinks a college degree is a must if you’re going to succeed.

The fight starts when Anna’s sister drops out of school to take part in a mentorship program that Ethan funds as an alternative to college. Anna goes public with her criticism of the program, and the press jumps on the story.
But this is romance, peeps, so of course they’re hot for each other (we’re talking smokin’ off-the-charts hot), and despite all the complications (like Ethan’s high profile glitzy lifestyle, which intimidates Anna, who comes from a humble background and is also an introvert), ya know there’s an HEA in store.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good romance, and this one is a keeper for sure.

[Fiction Vixens Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time reading this author and what a great story it is. The characters were great and their had amazing passion for what they believe . Anna is a math professor ,who is strong ,and very determined and has a great faith in the education services. And when there's Ethan Talbot who has setup the Talbot Fund Scholarship-which offers those who have the potentials to leave college and fund their start up ideas. Anna bursts in to Ethan's office because she as Karla 's guardian is upset because he (Ethan) is encouraging Karla to drop out of college. She so angry about all that is going on ,that she blogs him about programmed and it goes viral. Ethan thinks they need to go for dinner and end up having an amazing time, which leads to a sizzling romance and their chemistry rises even more. I could go on and tell you more about this great story ,but that would spoil the story for you. I highly recommend you read this great story, because you won't be disappointed.

[Catherine Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding book by this great author

This story is difficult to classify beyond contemporary romance. I can see it being enemies to lovers, but they weren't really enemies to start. I can see it being forbidden love, but it wasn't exactly forbidden by anyone. It doesn't really matter how it's categorized, it's a great read. This author has a history of writing trilogies, so I'm really hoping this is the start of another one. I love stories with empowered heroines and this fits that bill outstandingly. The growth that both main characters showed, while still being resistant to change, was my absolute favorite part of this book. If this sounds confusing, it's actually not, once you read the book. This author should be far more well known than she is and this book is a perfect example of why. And let me please log my vote for more in this series.

[Emma Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice, well written, well edited book. But I had to go back and read the blurb to bring the story line and characters back to mind to write this review.
Anna goes for Ethan, a handsome wealthy philanthropist, with all guns blazing after he offers Anna's little sister a 'fellowship' to drop out of university. Anna believes in formal education as she's a tenured maths professor. Romance follows as Ethan pursues her despite their opposite views on the best way for intelligent young people to make their mark on the world. Plus they live in different cities. These two obstacles produce the conflict in a classic romance.
Its a good romance, it just didn't 'grab' me particularly. For the many insatiable consumers of romance books in the world, this will slide into effortlessly into a 'read' pile with no complaints whatsoever.

[BBecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Anna is a professor and therefore college education is of the utmost importance to her and what she thinks her little sister should do while pursuing her future. Blake has different ideas about education and when the two of them clash, sparks fly... and keep flying!

The romance in this story was so believable and I loved how strong these characters both were. Neither was willing to give in to the other just because of their attraction, but they were both willing to learn and compromise. Blake is definitely a book boyfriend most women wouldn't mind having for their very own.

It is a quick read that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The writing is great and I look forward to reading more from this author!

[Pamela Harstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Ivory Towers lives up to its promise. An unlikely couple with opposing educational views work toward a relationship. Set in the world of success and academia, the characters fit well into this world. Still, emotions have to balance their intellect. Their opposing views on higher education, which involve Anna's sister, clash as Ethan presents an alternative for her to pursue her career instead of conventional education. Anna is originally from Russia, which adds another dimension to the book. The romance and story line move forward at a good pace. Beyond the Ivory Tower is worth reading. I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.

[IrishdaisylovesRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna will do anything to save her sister Karla from taking a scholarship with the Talbot Fund Scholarship and dropping out of college.
Ethan Talbot is a powerful rich man who is determined to prove to Anna that the education system is broken and students would benefit more from his internship.
In this not so enemy/friends to lovers kind of story, the emotions come through for the characters as we taken on a journey with Anna and Ethan to find a happily ever after even if it leads down a rocky/bumpy road.

[Carol Stalnaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this new story by Jill Blake! Anna, the strong, brilliant college professor and Ethan, the handsome, successful businessman have a huge conflict at the beginning that doesn't stop them from being attracted to each other. The paparazzi stalking Ethan and subsequently Anna and their homes in different parts of California make their lives complicated. The story was fun and interesting with strong characters.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Maya Calden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the fourth book I have read by Jill Blake and it was one of my favorites. From the very first page I was sucked into the story and couldn't put it down. I love the idea of the main characters being rivals in the beginning, having to find their way into each other's heart.
Jill has a capturing writing style, with snappy dialogues and paragraphs that made me laugh.
I can't wait for the next book. Well done, Jill.

[Spunky N Sassy · Rating 4 out of 5]

SNS Rating: 4.5

~~~~~~~~~~Kirsty's ★★★★½ Review~~~~~~~~~~

This for me was a straight in and to the point from the beginning. Took me a while to warm up to Ethan as I thought he was just trying to be sneaky but no. Ethan is hot. Book boyfriend hot if I'm honest. Anna is a spitfire. She tries to fight him but alas love prevails and rightly so. Must read!

[Deeann Zessin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've finished the trilogy and these are very good stories. The books are short but very good. I like that the lead characters, both male and female, are very strong. They are very likable with strong beliefs, but able to get along despite their differences. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

[John Statham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good and easy read

I am highly recommending this book as a starting point to your introduction to this author. She is wonderful writer and very talented. The story is GREAT from beginning to end.

[Vonda L. Kuechler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love conquers all

A difference of beliefs and true love all blend together to make a fairy tale ending. You will not be able to put it down.