What do you think?
Rate this book
Awake my Heart
I shouldn’t be here after hours. I know that.
I shouldn’t know the rhythm of her breathing, the subtle hitch before the monitor steadies, or how her heartbeat slows when the room grows quiet. But I do.
Some nights, I tell myself I’m just checking her vitals one last time. But that’s a lie I stopped believing weeks ago.
My hand finds hers before my mind can argue. Her fingers are warm, soft, unmoving, and yet, somehow, they calm the chaos inside me. I trace the curve of her knuckles with my thumb, memorising a touch that shouldn’t mean anything. But it does.
Every morning, I let go before the guilt has time to settle, whispering silent promises she can’t hear.
I’m her neurosurgeon.
I’m supposed to save her, not fall for her.
And yet here I am… sitting in the dim light of her hospital room, realizing the unthinkable —
I’m falling in love with my patient.
___________
On what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, Anna Mathews finds herself in a devastating car accident on her wedding day, plunging her into a deep coma while her new husband recovers within weeks. As the months pass, hope dwindles; Anna remains silent, trapped in a world of darkness, while her husband, unable to bear the weight of her medical expenses, seeks a divorce, granted by the court, to move on with his life.
With Anna's father also unable to afford her care, her husband authorised to cut off life support. But Dr. Collins, her brilliant but emotionally detached neurosurgeon, becomes captivated by the stories he overhears during visiting hours, tales of Anna’s infectious laughter, her charitable spirit, and her deep love for children. Moved by her plight, he offers to become her temporary guardian, allowing him to use his medical benefits to continue her care, just until her young student’s wealthy parents can assume responsibility. .
As he spends more time with Anna, Dr. Collins finds himself drawn to her in ways he never anticipated. Despite her unresponsive state, he begins to fall in love with the woman he barely knew. Motivated by a fierce desire to save her, he embarks on a relentless quest to find a miracle that could awaken her from her slumber.
In this heartrending story of love, sacrifice, and the fight for life, "Awake My Heart" explores the thin line between hope and despair, as one doctor’s dedication to a patient transforms into a deep, abiding love that could change everything. Will Dr. Collins' unwavering belief in Anna's recovery be enough to bring her back to life, or will he have to confront the painful reality of letting go?
I shouldn’t know the rhythm of her breathing, the subtle hitch before the monitor steadies, or how her heartbeat slows when the room grows quiet. But I do.
Some nights, I tell myself I’m just checking her vitals one last time. But that’s a lie I stopped believing weeks ago.
My hand finds hers before my mind can argue. Her fingers are warm, soft, unmoving, and yet, somehow, they calm the chaos inside me. I trace the curve of her knuckles with my thumb, memorising a touch that shouldn’t mean anything. But it does.
Every morning, I let go before the guilt has time to settle, whispering silent promises she can’t hear.
I’m her neurosurgeon.
I’m supposed to save her, not fall for her.
And yet here I am… sitting in the dim light of her hospital room, realizing the unthinkable —
I’m falling in love with my patient.
___________
On what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, Anna Mathews finds herself in a devastating car accident on her wedding day, plunging her into a deep coma while her new husband recovers within weeks. As the months pass, hope dwindles; Anna remains silent, trapped in a world of darkness, while her husband, unable to bear the weight of her medical expenses, seeks a divorce, granted by the court, to move on with his life.
With Anna's father also unable to afford her care, her husband authorised to cut off life support. But Dr. Collins, her brilliant but emotionally detached neurosurgeon, becomes captivated by the stories he overhears during visiting hours, tales of Anna’s infectious laughter, her charitable spirit, and her deep love for children. Moved by her plight, he offers to become her temporary guardian, allowing him to use his medical benefits to continue her care, just until her young student’s wealthy parents can assume responsibility. .
As he spends more time with Anna, Dr. Collins finds himself drawn to her in ways he never anticipated. Despite her unresponsive state, he begins to fall in love with the woman he barely knew. Motivated by a fierce desire to save her, he embarks on a relentless quest to find a miracle that could awaken her from her slumber.
In this heartrending story of love, sacrifice, and the fight for life, "Awake My Heart" explores the thin line between hope and despair, as one doctor’s dedication to a patient transforms into a deep, abiding love that could change everything. Will Dr. Collins' unwavering belief in Anna's recovery be enough to bring her back to life, or will he have to confront the painful reality of letting go?
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 29, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 24, 2026
Was looking for something with a doctor/patient or two doctors falling trope, and I just happened upon Awake my Heart. I am so glad I did too! It filled that itch I’ve been getting since I’ve delved slightly into the medical/Doctor/patient trope. There were a couple times I felt a tad bit of creepy vibes coming from our Doctor, Ian Collins, but overall it was a cute love story with some funny dialogue and circumstances. I was a bit put off by the instalove, especially being she was in a coma for months. Our fmc, Anna tells our Doctor she loves him, before even knowing his first name. Talk about whiplash. Though normally not a fan of the instalove, I did enjoy this for the light fun it was.
Review of advance copy received from Author
SPOILER ALERT, I'm not holding back in this review. If you want to go in blind, save this and come back after. You've been warned. 😭📖
#medicalromance #forbiddenattraction #toxicbestfriend #quietalpha
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Awake My Heart – The Elusive Authoress
A neurosurgeon. His patient. And the most forbidden, achingly beautiful love story I didn't know I needed.
Dr. Collins tells himself he's just doing his job ,but he's visiting her first thing every morning, last thing every night, and writing none of it down. Meanwhile his patient's husband is out here blackmailing the man trying to save her life.
What got me was how quietly he loved her ,while being so intentional about it , all the while he was still kinda in denial,resigning his position, rebuilding a house around her needs, buying her a single diamond for every month that he visited her while she was in a coma,BEFORE she even knew his name. "I'm not just changing a house, Anna. I'm building my life around you."SIR. 🥺
And when his voice literally pulled her back from the brink of death? I was done. Finished. Cooked.
Bonus: Veronica was insufferable start to finish and Tim clocked it immediately 😂 The friendships in this book carried.
The ending had me in tears.
"She walked toward him and he dropped to his knees" . That's it. That's the tweet.
If you want slow burn that actually earns it, a male lead who shows up in actions not just words, and a romance that made me believe in love again — read this book.
"I used to think love was reserved for the hopelessly romantic… I was wrong. You become that way when you fall in love."
📖 Awake My Heart by The Elusive Authoress
Book series :Love without limits
❤️
#BookReview #AwakeMyHeart #BookTok #RomanceBooks #SlowBurn #BookstagramReview #TheElusiveAuthoress #ForbiddenRomance #MustRead
#medicalromance #forbiddenattraction #toxicbestfriend #quietalpha
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Awake My Heart – The Elusive Authoress
A neurosurgeon. His patient. And the most forbidden, achingly beautiful love story I didn't know I needed.
Dr. Collins tells himself he's just doing his job ,but he's visiting her first thing every morning, last thing every night, and writing none of it down. Meanwhile his patient's husband is out here blackmailing the man trying to save her life.
What got me was how quietly he loved her ,while being so intentional about it , all the while he was still kinda in denial,resigning his position, rebuilding a house around her needs, buying her a single diamond for every month that he visited her while she was in a coma,BEFORE she even knew his name. "I'm not just changing a house, Anna. I'm building my life around you."SIR. 🥺
And when his voice literally pulled her back from the brink of death? I was done. Finished. Cooked.
Bonus: Veronica was insufferable start to finish and Tim clocked it immediately 😂 The friendships in this book carried.
The ending had me in tears.
"She walked toward him and he dropped to his knees" . That's it. That's the tweet.
If you want slow burn that actually earns it, a male lead who shows up in actions not just words, and a romance that made me believe in love again — read this book.
"I used to think love was reserved for the hopelessly romantic… I was wrong. You become that way when you fall in love."
📖 Awake My Heart by The Elusive Authoress
Book series :Love without limits
❤️
#BookReview #AwakeMyHeart #BookTok #RomanceBooks #SlowBurn #BookstagramReview #TheElusiveAuthoress #ForbiddenRomance #MustRead
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
You know those stories that don’t just break your heart… they hold it gently in their hands and whisper, “trust me”?
This is that story.
Awake My Heart is soft. It’s aching. It’s the kind of romance that feels like sitting beside a hospital bed at 3am, fluorescent lights buzzing, praying to gods you’re not even sure you believe in.
Anna Mathews was meant to be living her forever. Instead, she’s trapped in silence after a tragic accident leaves her in a coma — abandoned by the man who vowed to stay. And then there’s Dr. Collins. The man who was only supposed to be her doctor… but becomes the only one who refuses to walk away.
And LISTEN — this isn’t loud romance. This isn’t grand gestures and fireworks. This is devotion in the quiet. This is love that grows in the in-between moments. This is yearning that feels almost forbidden.
The emotional tension? Exquisite.
The moral conflict? Deliciously painful.
The hope woven through heartbreak? Chef’s kiss.
What absolutely wrecked me is how love in this story isn’t about possession — it’s about presence. It’s about choosing someone even when they can’t choose you back. And that? That’s terrifying and beautiful all at once.
If you love: ✨ slow burn tension
✨ emotional vulnerability
✨ morally complicated devotion
✨ romance that feels like it’s wrapped in fragile glass
…then welcome home.
This book feels like a whispered prayer to the gods of second chances.
I finished it feeling soft. A little shattered. And strangely hopeful.
— May your heart always dare to wake. 🕊️📚✨
This is that story.
Awake My Heart is soft. It’s aching. It’s the kind of romance that feels like sitting beside a hospital bed at 3am, fluorescent lights buzzing, praying to gods you’re not even sure you believe in.
Anna Mathews was meant to be living her forever. Instead, she’s trapped in silence after a tragic accident leaves her in a coma — abandoned by the man who vowed to stay. And then there’s Dr. Collins. The man who was only supposed to be her doctor… but becomes the only one who refuses to walk away.
And LISTEN — this isn’t loud romance. This isn’t grand gestures and fireworks. This is devotion in the quiet. This is love that grows in the in-between moments. This is yearning that feels almost forbidden.
The emotional tension? Exquisite.
The moral conflict? Deliciously painful.
The hope woven through heartbreak? Chef’s kiss.
What absolutely wrecked me is how love in this story isn’t about possession — it’s about presence. It’s about choosing someone even when they can’t choose you back. And that? That’s terrifying and beautiful all at once.
If you love: ✨ slow burn tension
✨ emotional vulnerability
✨ morally complicated devotion
✨ romance that feels like it’s wrapped in fragile glass
…then welcome home.
This book feels like a whispered prayer to the gods of second chances.
I finished it feeling soft. A little shattered. And strangely hopeful.
— May your heart always dare to wake. 🕊️📚✨
April 21, 2026
This story grabbed me from the start and kept me hooked with its emotional intensity.
The Elusive Authoress once again delivers a romance that is layered, heartfelt, and thought‑provoking. This time, the focus on a neurosurgeon and his patient pushes the boundaries of love and ethics, making me question how far vulnerability and connection can go when the stakes are so high. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and the writing makes every moment feel raw and real.💞
I loved how the book explored forbidden love without turning it into cliché. The emotional depth was powerful, and the characters felt alive in their struggles. That said, the doctor‑patient dilemma was repeated a little too often for me, which slowed the pacing in some places. Still, the tenderness and intensity of their relationship more than made up for it.
❤️This isn’t just a romance — it’s a story about healing, trust, and the courage to open your heart even when it feels impossible.❤️
The Elusive Authoress has proven again that she can blend emotional depth with romantic charm. If you’re looking for a love story that challenges boundaries while still delivering all the feels, Awake My Heart is worth every page.
The Elusive Authoress once again delivers a romance that is layered, heartfelt, and thought‑provoking. This time, the focus on a neurosurgeon and his patient pushes the boundaries of love and ethics, making me question how far vulnerability and connection can go when the stakes are so high. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and the writing makes every moment feel raw and real.💞
I loved how the book explored forbidden love without turning it into cliché. The emotional depth was powerful, and the characters felt alive in their struggles. That said, the doctor‑patient dilemma was repeated a little too often for me, which slowed the pacing in some places. Still, the tenderness and intensity of their relationship more than made up for it.
❤️This isn’t just a romance — it’s a story about healing, trust, and the courage to open your heart even when it feels impossible.❤️
The Elusive Authoress has proven again that she can blend emotional depth with romantic charm. If you’re looking for a love story that challenges boundaries while still delivering all the feels, Awake My Heart is worth every page.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into ARC expecting romance, but what I got was something far deeper. This story doesn’t just make you swoon; it makes you feel. Every moment between Collins and Anna is layered with tension, restraint, and the kind of emotional pull that keeps you turning pages long past bedtime.
What stood out most is how real the conflict feels. This isn’t instant love or easy choices. It’s messy, complicated, and achingly human. The author captures that dangerous space where longing and morality collide, and you can feel the weight of every glance, every almost-touch, every decision they struggle to make.
Collins completely surprised me, strong yet restrained, protective without being controlling, and Anna’s emotional journey felt raw and honest. Their connection builds slowly, making every intimate moment feel earned rather than rushed.
If you enjoy emotional, character-driven romances with a strong slow burn, this one is definitely worth reading.
What stood out most is how real the conflict feels. This isn’t instant love or easy choices. It’s messy, complicated, and achingly human. The author captures that dangerous space where longing and morality collide, and you can feel the weight of every glance, every almost-touch, every decision they struggle to make.
Collins completely surprised me, strong yet restrained, protective without being controlling, and Anna’s emotional journey felt raw and honest. Their connection builds slowly, making every intimate moment feel earned rather than rushed.
If you enjoy emotional, character-driven romances with a strong slow burn, this one is definitely worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC received from the author. Voluntarily reviewing and all opinions are objective and my own.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I think the premise made for the perfect contemporary romance. I was really enjoying the characters and their situation. The writing style is good, it’s light and sweet.
My only regret is that feelings accelerated at mid point and it felt like the HEA was already there. It felt too quick to get to this point. I wished that there would be more build up.
I was a bit underwhelmed at this point and did not enjoy the second portion of the book.
The overall story was good though, so maybe it was just no for me.
For readers that enjoy sweet loving stories I am certain that you will really find what you are looking for .
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I think the premise made for the perfect contemporary romance. I was really enjoying the characters and their situation. The writing style is good, it’s light and sweet.
My only regret is that feelings accelerated at mid point and it felt like the HEA was already there. It felt too quick to get to this point. I wished that there would be more build up.
I was a bit underwhelmed at this point and did not enjoy the second portion of the book.
The overall story was good though, so maybe it was just no for me.
For readers that enjoy sweet loving stories I am certain that you will really find what you are looking for .
March 31, 2026
Get your tissues. No, no, not a handfull—the box. Because between the heartbreaking moments and pure reverent love, I was ugly tomato-faced crying a lot throughout this book. Awake My Heart will be hitching a free ride in my brain for a while. ‘Ian’ kind of love is pebbled flesh, warm embraces, confidence in stark lighting, diamonds among crystals, and Loro Piana slippers just because. This is such a lovely love story.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Ian
FMC:
✨Anna
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 2: Love Without Limits
Tropes:
👉medical romance
👉neurosurgeon mmc
👉kindergarten teacher fmc
👉forbidden attraction
Triggers:
💥mild profanity
💥toxic ex-husband
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Ian
FMC:
✨Anna
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 2: Love Without Limits
Tropes:
👉medical romance
👉neurosurgeon mmc
👉kindergarten teacher fmc
👉forbidden attraction
Triggers:
💥mild profanity
💥toxic ex-husband
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was really enjoyable. I've been following this author now since last year, and when I tell you there are so many improvements. Her work keeps getting better and better and it would be a shame not to join her for the ride.
This book... the romance? the couples? they were so poetic, intentional, well thought out, fleshed out properly. Some scenes and some quotes from this book really made me melt. I enjoyed the conflicts just as much, you've got the classic characters that were meant to have you tear your hair out and they did stress me out at times XD (as they should). All in all, this was a good read.
Can't wait for more!!!! xx
This book... the romance? the couples? they were so poetic, intentional, well thought out, fleshed out properly. Some scenes and some quotes from this book really made me melt. I enjoyed the conflicts just as much, you've got the classic characters that were meant to have you tear your hair out and they did stress me out at times XD (as they should). All in all, this was a good read.
Can't wait for more!!!! xx
May 1, 2026
This was my first book by this author and I wasn’t disappointed!
The instalove trope isn’t necessarily my favorite but it worked in this story. Ana saying “I love you” to Dr. Collin’s before really knowing him kind of gave me a little ehhhh but also fitting for the story.
Dr. Collin’s was it though! Working in the medical field, hot doctors are always nice to look at 😅😂 He cared for her on all levels.
Get your tissues ready!! Definitely gave me some “Grey’s Anatomy” vibes and I’m here for it. Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for the early copy. All opinions are my own.
The instalove trope isn’t necessarily my favorite but it worked in this story. Ana saying “I love you” to Dr. Collin’s before really knowing him kind of gave me a little ehhhh but also fitting for the story.
Dr. Collin’s was it though! Working in the medical field, hot doctors are always nice to look at 😅😂 He cared for her on all levels.
Get your tissues ready!! Definitely gave me some “Grey’s Anatomy” vibes and I’m here for it. Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for the early copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm so greatful for this Arc. I've been waiting for this book patiently. This was such a beautiful love story. Where do I find a Dr Collins? He is the standard! The way he cares for Anna, The things he does to make her life convenient, The pining, and the beads? This man made me swoon. This author always get me with a plot twist I don't see coming. And Now I can't wait for Marlon and Nancy's story.
April 25, 2026
This is one of my favorite books by the author and I just had to finish it in one day.
The story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time as I kept on wondering what would happen next. It had me going through all the emotions with Anna and Dr Collins.
True love has won again despite all the obstacles the characters would endure.
The story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time as I kept on wondering what would happen next. It had me going through all the emotions with Anna and Dr Collins.
True love has won again despite all the obstacles the characters would endure.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I say this is my favourite book by The Elusive Authoress yet, I mean it. I went into this one with some reservations because of the premise, but I'm glad I kept an open mind. The yearning, the tension, the betrayals - worth it. Full of emotional vulnerability and questionable ethics, Awake My Heart has a HEA that leaves you wanting.
March 31, 2026
I just love this author's books but this time she outdone herself!!! She surprised me not only with a 'Greys Anatomy' kind of book but WOW did she pull multiple emotions out of the hat...before I knew it I was ugly crying about the characters!!!
Definitely worth the read!!!
Definitely worth the read!!!
April 10, 2026
unrealistic
Unrealistic, don’t waste your time, is a Wattpad story written by a teenager, I was expecting something else by the reviews.
Unrealistic, don’t waste your time, is a Wattpad story written by a teenager, I was expecting something else by the reviews.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews