This world that Cardeno C has created is as flawed as real life, but she finds a way to make it a better place.

I absolutely love a Caredeno C. book and the audio version of Johnnie did not disappoint.

Cardeno C tells great stories. They're sexy, sweet, moreish and satisfying and that's why they get high ratings from me. A Cardeno book is my go to happy place when I want to read something really feel good. ...I always know that I'm going to get loveable characters, a great (hot) romance, a well thought out back story, just the right amount of conflict to stop the story going into the realms of saccharine, tummy rolling love scenes and last but not least; the perfect happy ever after that never fails to leave me sighing happily. ...I'm getting really enamoured with these recent paranormal, shifter books that Cardeno has started writing and the 'Mates' series is turning out to be a very addictive read. ...There was a fulfilling build up of sexual tension but this was when the passion and romance side of the story came into it's own and as always it was pure Cardeno magic.... The chemistry between them sparked, the heat level reached boiling point and the sex was cold shower worthy, but still, always bolstered by a real sense of romance and love.

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.

It has been a long time since a book grabbed me like this simply based on the connection and dialogue .. Reg and Jeremy who Reg eventually calls JJ build a wonderful friendship, the author created some wonderful dialogue, adorable banter and exchanges between these two that often had me grinning from ear to ear. Reg and JJ form a true bond, they come to rely on each other before they even become intimate. As these two gradually step into each others personal space, the reader can feel the attraction they share ...And when they do connect it was electric and it brought the emotions into the sex ... Reg and Jeremy truly fit into each other lives; they learned to live in each others space. This was book about two men, two adults finding a happy they never dreamed of with each other. In the end, the happy created for Reg and JJ warmed my soul.