Reviewed by Nikyta
Title: Wake Me Up
Author: Ronnie Matthews
Series: 2014 Daily Dose – Mended
Heroes: Calvin Manley/Brent Jacobs
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 33 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 1, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: The nurses at Sunny Oaks Rehabilitation Center are having a hard time coping with one of their latest transfers. Calvin Manley is rude, uncooperative, and a general pain in the ass. The only member of their team he seems to tolerate is male nurse Brent Jacobs. With stubborn persistence and a gentle hand, Brent aims to shake Calvin out of his depression and back into the waking world.
Review:
When an earthquake hits one of California’s parking garages, Calvin’s at the center of the rubble and injured enough that he loses one of his legs. Now in a rehabilitation center, he’s bitter and angry over the injustice. He’s such a difficult patient that no nurse wants to care for him but the only nurse Calvin can tolerate is Brent. Brent understands what Calvin’s going through and knows exactly how to handle him. It helps that the two have a connection and through Calvin’s recovery, that connection seems to only keep growing.
I really liked this story because the characters were so interesting. Calvin is really, really bitter and doesn’t want to even think about what his life would be like now. He hates what happened to him and especially hates the pitying and sympathetic glances that everyone gives him. The only person who doesn’t give him those glances is Brent. I loved that Brent knew just what to say or do to help Calvin while at the same time reasoning with Calvin to do this or that. It was fun to see them interact and the bickering that happened in the beginning.
As with many of the stories in this Daily Dose, my biggest issue with this one is the length. While the story is intriguing, I felt like as it progressed, it became more and more telling rather than showing what was happening. So, I was disappointed that we were told about all these things happening or, worse yet, chunks of time were skipped over so that we never got to see the weeks/months that went by.
In the end, while I really liked the story it would have been a much better story if it had been expanded into a novella at least. The characters are great and the premise is definitely interesting but just not enough words to put emotion behind the story. If you’re looking for something quick, cute and sweet, though, definitely give this one a try because it was still good!
Overall Impression: It was good
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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