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I wrote this flash fic for Boy Meets Boy Reviews featuring the characters in Wake Me Up Inside. Enjoy! - CC
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I really appreciated how connected these men were, in all ways, and was happy to see them finally realize that being together was where they would fit the best.The narration of Alexander Collins never ceases to make me happy. He has such range, and talent for creating voices for the characters that I haven’t heard in his other Emile City characters. The differences between these two men could be noticed immediately, merely by his tone of voice.
Cardeno has once again succeeded in writing a heart wrenching, heartwarming, and scorchingly hot book. ...It is hard to fault the writing, which has just brought a whole host of characters to life in my head, and given some visuals on Mitch and Simon that I may revisit at times of need. The peace and calm that is instilled by the huge alpha is tangible. The fear and confusion from Simon is distressingly real. All round fabulous read.
The incredibly strong emotions throughout this whole story kept me from wanting to put the book down. The author did a magnificent job of making the emotions--from anger to depression to lust--leap off the page with the characters. The story went from being sweet and innocent... to desperate and angry...The other component of the book that was written exceptionally well was the relationships. In a short amount of time, I could feel how important the friendship between Kai and Abel's parents was and how upset Abel's parents were to lose their friends. There is a fierce and protective relationship between Kai and Kelly, and a fun and honest relationship between Abel and his brothers. Abel also has a dynamic relationship with his parents. And, of course, the relationship between Abel and Kai that spans the entire spectrum of emotions. This was a very fulfilling story that contained love, heartache, bitterness, hatred, revenge, humor, and forgiveness.
Dani: I haven't read many shifter books. They don't appeal to me in theory. But this is Cardeno C. and Mary Calmes, so I was willing to put my baggage aside. And I'm so glad I did! This book was funny, just angsty enough to be interesting, totally absorbing, and sweet as hell. … What I really enjoyed about the shifter theme here is that the culture of the hawk ket came alive without getting bogged down by heavy backstory (this is how you show not tell!). … The relationship between Vy and Robert is at once tender and smoldering. Vy loves how strong and possessive and almost feral Robert can get in bed, and so do I! The lovin' here was damn good, especially at the end, with the biting and the…(go read it for yourself if you want the nasty details). … I was smiling so hard at the end, I may have split a lip. This is just a happy book, with well-rounded secondary characters, some action, lots of snarky dialogue that had me laughing aloud, one uppity, slightly insecure hawk, and one hot hunk of a grizzly bear.Sandra: So, I've always said I'm not much for shifters….Big mistake, clearly, because holy crap, I breezed through this in no time at all, giggle-snorted and lawled and snickered at the high-strung bird who found his mate and the big ole Grizzly bear who loves him back. …Also, holy hot boysecks, Batman…What I really liked about this shifter book…
This is a delightful story that I will never forget.