Review: Bedside Manner

Bedside Manner by D.J. Jamison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*

Dr. Paul Johnston can’t get a set of dark, somber eyes out of his head, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
The last thing he needs is to fall for a patient. Not now, when he’s been put on paid leave pending review of a formal complaint. One that accuses him of sexual impropriety of some kind. It’s possible he let his newfound freedom as a divorced, out-of-the-closet gay man go to his head, but he’s certain — mostly — he didn’t do anything wrong. Now, he’s struggling to handle the reality that his job is in danger and the only guy he wants should be off-limits.

Zane Kavanaugh is floundering, and there’s only one man who soothes the storm inside him.
Reeling from an assault that landed him in the hospital and the painful estrangement from his family since coming out, Zane is trying to get his feet under him. He moves in with a roommate and searches for a job, all while recovering from a fractured arm and cracked ribs. None of that hurts as much as the emotional damage he’s suffered. When he connects with Dr. Paul Johnston outside of the ER, he’s drawn to the man’s calm, collected manner. It doesn’t hurt that Paul’s lack of experience with men is sexy as hell, and so are his over-the-top responses when Zane gets his lips on him.

There’s no right time to fall in love.
Paul is afraid to start a relationship, and Zane can only handle so much more rejection. Will these two find their perfect moment, or will they realize you can’t choose when and how you fall in love? If Paul can’t take a risk, he may have to choose: the career he loves or the first man to capture his heart.

---

I was really happy when I got the info that Zane got his own book.
We get to know him in Heart Trouble, the 6th book in the Ashe Sentinel series.

Zane is a really interesting figure, I was wondering how he is displayed and we knew he didn’t have it easy.

This fact is taken in the book and it’s the first thing we get to know when we start the book as reader.

It is really great, how D.J. Jamison developes the book, how she gives an insight so you can read this book totally as a stand alone but I would – to get all the features of the character – suggest to read at least Heart Trouble first or after.

I really liked the chemistry right from the start between Paul, Zane’s temporary doctor in the ER, when he was hurt – physically as well as emotional.

Despite his behaviour in Heart Trouble I could relate to Paul very soon, he is a guy who has his own problems and it’s a pity that he is not well treaten by other people because of his own actions in the past. He had my sympathy and especially Gabe gave Paul hard times but also Xavier, Zane’s friend and roommate.

The age gap is a constant conflict in the book, next to the “I lived a life in the closed”-statement by Paul. Zane isn’t bothered by Paul’s age, he sees behind the stoic facade Paul often shows. And both connect on a deep level.

It is charming how fast but how slow on the other hand the relationship blossomed. Especially that both character really show vulnerability, which is touching and really honest.

I could go further but the charme is to read it by yourself. I can recommend this book to everybody who loves coming-out stories and – as an icing on the cake – with an older gay virgin. This aspect is very sensitive displayed and I loved the scenes between Zane and Paul.

I am really looking forward to read the book about Xavier, he seems also to have a lot to carry.

I enjoyed this story so much, therefore I can totally give 5 out of 5 stars.

View all my reviews

Advertisement