I don't think I have ever read a book by Cardeno C. that hasn't tugged at my heartstrings. Cardeno has a way of writing MCs that just pulls me in and makes me fall in love with them immediately. ... This book touched me so deeply for many different reasons.... It is so sweet to witness Emilio demonstrate the reasons he can't resist Spencer and even more wonderful to watch Spencer start to believe he is handsome. I love how Emilio helps Spencer get over a past trauma that is still causing side effects even now. One of the best parts of the story was the love and acceptance Spencer finally finds, not only from Emilio, but from his entire family. Emilio's uber-tough brothers, his loving sister and his parents all took Spencer in and adopted him into the Sanchez family. ... I love Cardeno's books and this one is no exception. Watching Spencer come out of his shell and seeing that there is more to Emilio than his great body was a fun ride, and it is one I plan on taking as many times as possible. Seriously, you will miss a wonderfully sweet romance if you miss this one!

Positively phenomenal! A unique spin on the friends to lover theme with an amazing relationship-based story. Andrew Thompson and Caleb Lakes meet and become the best of friends while young teenagers. The story takes us through the next 20 years of their lives as they maintain their status as best friends with benefits. The question is whether or not they can ever move past this point. I loved both of these very well developed characters. Caleb was sweet, charming, an amazing friend, and a very strong person. It was adorable how he always had to be dressed to perfection. Andrew is brilliant, graduating from school early and ultimately becoming a top neurosurgeon. He's extremely kind but also very lonely due to his brilliance. He longs for a permanent relationship, but repeatedly chooses men who cheat on him. ... By the time they figured it out, I was crying happy tears! If you enjoy an amazing friends to lovers with benefits theme with great dialogue, strong characters, and an interesting life journey, this more than fits the bill.

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.

This was such an enjoyable story. I love Eli's vibrant personality. He is in touch with who he is and what he wants. He is sweet, caring, and so young when we first start this book. Seth is the careful one, the one who has his life planned out. Eli calls him "old man" and it fits, as he always plays it safe and has responsible adult advice when Eli talks to him. It was fun watching them both grow and change throughout the story. Cardeno C. has a lovely way of telling a story. It is humorous, sweet and thoughtful. Some of my favorite parts involve the weddings that Seth officiated as a rabbi. After the first one, I realized eating and drinking while reading could be hazardous to my health because I was laughing so much. Even though this was the last book in the series, I never felt I was missing something....I have come to adore Cardeno C.'s work. I know I will enjoy a well-written, thoughtful story with a happy ending. I definitely recommend this book and look forward to going back and reading the rest of this series.

Cardeno writes with emotion and I have learned that is a characteristic of his prose. In fact, he does so in a way that we do not even realize that he is doing so....There is a lot of humor in the story also. ...There are also some very hot sex scenes and Seth's sexual prowess may surprise you. ....This is one of those books that you read for pure pleasure and I am pretty sure that Cardeno wrote it with pleasure. I am still smiling.