What is more delicious than staying up all hours to finish reading a captivating novel? The morning bleariness is utterly worth it when the book is as good as Courting Greta by Ramsey Hootman. I was intrigued and pleased to read a romantic story that has no flowing locks of hair, no milky skin or brimming eyes, no heaving bosoms, no impossibly attractive characters. Instead, there are pimply teenagers, self-absorbed teachers, damaged (but not broken) souls, and passages that had me laughing out loud. A delightful read, highly recommended.

The tale is told from Samuel's point of view: a small, "crippled" computer scientist who has left his Silicon Valley company to teach high school keyboarding and computer skills in a small northern California town. There, he meets Greta, the girls' basketball coach--who is taciturn, ten years older and a hundred pounds heavier than he is--who is the most unlikely object of his affection. But somehow he is attracted to her beyond reason, and Samuel bravely and tenaciously pursues Greta despite the fact that she refuses to call him anything other than "Mr. Cooke," seems to have no social skills and appears not to need him--or anyone else.

The blurb on the back cover says: "He teachers computers. She coaches gym. All they need is chemistry." No, what these quirky, shy, scarred characters need is to learn that trust allows us to share our vulnerability--but sometimes you have to show the vulnerabilities first in order to earn the trust. They need each other--and readers need more characters like Samuel and Greta. ( )

The characters are so selfish and private that it was hard for me to bond with them. The story has a lot of twists and turns though, and I like the way it ended. ( )

The book looks at the life of a physically challenged man who leaves highly paid tech job to teach high school computers. This puts him out of his comfort zone. While teaching he begins dating the socially outcast and fearsome gym teacher. the characters were funny and the story moved at a good pace. ( )

The book looks at the life of a physically challenged man who leaves highly paid tech job to teach high school computers. This puts him out of his comfort zone. While teaching he begins dating the socially outcast and fearsome gym teacher. the characters were funny and the story moved at a good pace. ( )

I loved this book. The characters are real and flawed and perfect for each other. Samuel Cooke and Greta Cassamajor are an unlikely couple but fit in that way that real people do. This was beautiful and romantic in a real life way not in a romance novel all flaws and problems disappear when they realize they are in love way. ( )