Wake Me Up Inside is the first book in the Mate series from Cardeno C and I can't wait for more. Cardeno C has a straightforward narrative that delivers the story in a manner that makes it easy for the reader to follow the timeline of Jonah and Zev's relationship as it grows from childhood to adult. ... Take a good long look at that marvelous cover and it gives you an accurate picture of a scene in the book. Boy and wolf pup and Jonah and Zev, always together no matter the form Zev is in. How does that idea not draw you in? It is the characterizations that make or break a story for me and in Zev and Jonah we get two characters to connect with immediately.

Cardeno did it again, another brilliant book I couldn't put down. ... For Zev, the future Alpha and leader of the pack, was never about finding a mate it was about timing to let everyone know he found his mate when he was a little over 1 year old, and that said true mate was a boy name Jonah. A lot of things had to happen before Zev can introduce Jonah as his mate. A long time spend apart from each other that only hurts them both every day. Secrets, some that are kept to protect the ones they love. Some, that they didn't even know existed. And Zev and Jonah, GOD! they are hot together!!! ... I can't wait to read book II, Cardeno got me hooked again.

Wake Me Up Inside has a great balance of romance, sweetness and angst.

This is a shifter world with a very interesting twist to the Mating of shifters. ... The book follows these guys from birth until they are thirty, so you get to see them at all stages of their life and relationship. I liked that. I also liked that their romance didn't evolve until later than you would expect. Before that they were truly just best friends although they definitely always had that bond. I also really enjoyed the fact that Jonah never knew that Zev and Pup were the same creature. Yes, he has a bond with the wolf too who's been with him throughout his life. It was a good read. I could feel the bond between the two guys and as they began to decline, I really worried for them. I loved the mystery of why Jonah is the way that he is... a bit stronger than he should be as a human and he always has a sense when Zev is around. The twist with Zev being as strong as he was and a great Alpha for his pack made him a great hero. You got to see him strong and dominate with them, but then got to see his soft, mushy side with Jonah. But I truly loved that both guys are really VERY strong. It was an interesting read and I definitely enjoyed it.