The cougar
At 48, Karen Higgins is a respected literature professor, twice divorced, and fiercely self-reliant. Her world is built on discipline, decorum, and academic achievement—until Jonny Westlake, a bright, bold, and surprisingly mature 24-year-old student, crashes into her life like a storm.
When Jonny’s youthful charm collides with Karen’s carefully guarded heart, sparks fly—but not the romantic kind. At first, she’s harsh, dismissive, and determined to put distance between them. But what begins as disdain gradually turns to undeniable attraction. Against the backdrop of university politics, ageist judgment, and whispered gossip, their secret relationship ignites.
As Karen wrestles with the risks of loving a younger man—her student, no less—she begins to confront her own fears: of losing control, of being judged, and of daring to want more than just professional respectability. But when their relationship is exposed in the harsh light of social scrutiny, Karen must choose: hide in shame and save her career, or step boldly into the fire and fight for the life and love she never thought she deserved.
The Cougar is a fierce, emotional, and deeply romantic story about forbidden love, female autonomy, and what it means to live unapologetically. It’s about rewriting the rules—of age, power, and desire—and finding freedom in the truth of who you are.
