RATING 4,5 out of 5 stars
South London mechanic Devan Thompson has gone to Porthkennack to track down someone he’s been waiting all his life to know. But Dev’s distracted from his quest by Kyle, a broodingly handsome local of only a few months, who’s already got a reputation as an alcoholic because of his strange behaviour—including a habit of collapsing in the street.
Kyle Anthony fled to Porthkennack to escape from the ruins of his life. Still raging against his diagnosis of narcolepsy—a condition that’s cost him his job as a barrister, his lover, and all chance of normality—the last thing he wants is another relationship that’s doomed to fail. But Dev’s easy-going acceptance and adaptability, not to mention his good looks, have Kyle breaking all his self-imposed rules.
When disaster strikes Dev’s adored little sister, Kyle steps up to the plate, and Dev sees a side of his lover he wasn’t prepared for: competent, professional—and way out of Dev’s league. With one man determined that they don’t have a future, and the other fearing it, life after Porthkennack is starting to look bleak for both of them.
Wake Up Call is the first book in a new series from Riptide Press, set in the town of Porthkennack in Cornwell. I picked this release just because it is written by one of my favorite authors, JL Merrow. I have to say I’m now very curious to read the other stories in the series, all written by a different author, but all of them can be read as a standalone.
It’s not a surprise I loved Wake Up Call, it was really well done, well written too because JL is an amazing writer. Well developed in the plot and in the characters, not just Kyle and Devan, but I knew quite a lot of the secondary characters too, and that was the only reason I didn’t give the book the full five starts. I admit, I fell in love with Ceri, at some point I almost hoped to have another story with Ceri and Devan as MCs. I think she stole my heart and through all the story I was there waiting for her to take the scene. Sometimes my liking for her put a shadow on the main couple. I would love to read Ceri’s own story and I don’t even care it would be a MF or FF book, I just want more of her.
That said I adored Devan and his smart mouth, he was always so positive and open even when he should feel down for all the things life threw on him. And I loved how he approached Kyle and took in his illness, just like everyone should have done. The attraction between them is clear from the first time they laid eyes on each other, but they took their time and it was perfect. And then when big problems happened, they were both ready to help in any way they could.
Wake Up Call has everything I need to find in a good book and everything I learnt to find in Merrow‘s stories, the humor, the characters never boring and useless,neer shallow, beautiful settings and complete plots.
I think the cover art by Garrett Leigh well depicted the book and its setting. I like this cover and others in the series.
Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | Amazon
BOOK DETAILS
ebook, 320 pages
Published April 17th 2017 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN 1626495408 (ISBN13: 9781626495401)
Edition Language English
Series Porthkennack #1
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 