Review: Bedside Manner by D. J. Jamison

11 March of 2017 by ButtonsMom2003

Reviewer's Rating: 5

5.0Overall score

A rather unlikeable character is redeemed!

Bedside Manner By D. J. Jamison

Genre: Contemporary, GLBTQ, MM Romance

Released: March 9, 2017

Publisher: Self Published

Series: Hearts and Health, Book 1

Synopsis

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.

Review

Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003

A rather unlikeable character is redeemed!

Bedside Manner is about two secondary characters from Heart Trouble. You don’t need to have read Heart Trouble to enjoy this one but I recommend doing so because: 1. It’s a great book and 2. You will gain some background information on Zane and Paul before reading their story in Bedside Manner.

Bedside Manner is a perfect May/December type of romance. Zane is 21, Paul is 39. Now some people might think that big of an age difference is creepy but Zane is really mature for his age and Paul, although he is a doctor, is not mature when it comes to loving a man. Paul has been in denial of his sexual orientation for many years and just recently came out after divorcing his wife. Zane is dealing with the aftermath of coming out to his family and the terrifying reaction of his step-father.

Paul Johnston was actually kind of a creepy character in Heart Trouble. I’m so glad that he got his chance to be explained and redeemed in Bedside Manner. Paul met Zane when he was admitted to the hospital after a beating; Paul hated that he was attracted to a patient but their doctor/patient “relationship” was very brief when Paul saw Zane in the ER.

Paul and Zane’s relationship has many ups and downs. Paul is still coming to terms with being out and thinks he’s too old for Zane. Zane is recovering from the beating he got and trying to get his life back under control. When they are together sparks seem to fly and the sexy time is off the charts.

I did a beta read of Bedside Manner and I could not put it down once I started reading it. I’ve been following DJ Jamison for a while now and I love her books. Her stories are full of thoughtful, wonderful and sometimes flawed characters. Her writing style is expressive and flows smoothly and her stories are full of characters that I wish were real so that I could become friends with them.