If Cain Were Able: A Forbidden Doctor x Patient MM Romance

by Jillian D. Wray

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Second Chance

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2026

About the author

Jillian lives in North Carolina with her incredibly supportive husband and three awesome stepkids. After over ten years in the healthcare industry, it was time to pursue a new passion. An avid reader her whole life, she sat down one night and let the words begin to flow. Four hours and ten thousand words later, a love of writing was discovered.
She writes spicy, bingeable reads that encourage self-discovery and come with all the angst and excitement of a new relationship.
When she isn’t reading or writing, you can either find her in her vegetable garden, at CrossFit™, or on a plane headed toward her next adventure.

Reviews

[Dani]

I was expecting more...

This basically devolved into a string of sex scenes and internal monologues for Patrick and Cain.

I wanted the emotions I guess? I wanted more than a brief explanation about what happened between these two. I wanted to understand how Patrick could be loving to his wife after the breakdown of his situationship with Cain, yet had to treat Taylor like shit on his shoe?

I'm not a fan of flashbacks but I think I needed to see their previous relationship first hand. I couldn't really care about them finally getting together because I didn't feel any kind of way about them being separated.

I did like the domestic moments between them in the last couple of chapters, but there just wasn't enough substance. I'm Ace so a string of sex scenes is never going to engage me as much as emotion and character development does.

I am intrigued by the upcoming Boston series though, and so far this has been the only book I've read from this author that I didn't enjoy.

[ashlee ❤]

Patrick + Cain

-mm forbidden romance
-second chance
-doctor x patient
-past toxic relationship
-hurt/comfort
-redemption arc

this was EVERYYYTHIHNGGGG i wanted for patrick ever since meeting him in up in flames! i knew he deserved his own hea, just not with our tay tay! haha but DAMNNNN who would have guessed it was going to go this way with cain? not me! but it was amazing!!

[angie_bookrecs]

I wasn’t even sure that I was going to read this book for the longest time. That's how much I hated Patrick.

I never thought he could be redeemed. I wanted to keep hating him so bad for what he did to Taylor (that sweet boy deserved the world, and Knox is clearly the upgrade), but every chapter I was just sitting there going "well, fuck."

They were SO toxic, but also so perfect together... I couldn't get enough.

"We aren't the kind of story that ends."

I didn't think either of them could change, but damn, I'm so happy to be proven wrong.

[Lana]

HOLY HELL... excuse me while I go apologise to Patrick because I owe that man the biggest apology imaginable. 😭

When I first met him, I was convinced there was absolutely NO coming back from everything he'd done. I was fully committed to hating him forever... and then Jillian had the audacity to hand me his POV and completely ruin my life. 🥹💔

Getting to know Patrick and seeing the man behind all those terrible decisions absolutely shattered me. I never thought I'd end up loving him this much, but here we are. 🤧❤️

Now... Cain? 😮‍💨 Sir. You tested my patience more than once because that man could be toxic as HELL. 🤣 But somehow these two are the definition of "can't live with you, can't live without you," and I was completely obsessed with every messy, complicated second of it.

Their relationship isn't perfect. It's complicated, emotional, frustrating, heartbreaking... and somehow it just works. Watching them finally face the past, own their mistakes, and realise what they've always meant to each other had me completely invested. 🥹✨

And can we just appreciate a redemption arc done RIGHT?! Because Jillian somehow took one of my least favourite characters and had me sitting there thinking... "well... fuck." 😭😂

This novella may have been short, but I absolutely INHALED it. One minute I was starting chapter one, and the next I was staring at the credits wondering where the rest of Patrick & Cain's story was. 😭📚

Needless to say... I'm officially all aboard the Boston Memorial train because if this is just the beginning, I'm SO not ready for what's coming next. 🚑❤️‍🔥

[Jess Pierce]

What if it hasn’t changed in twenty-five years?

If Cain were Able is the prequel to Jillian D. Wray’s upcoming Boston Memorial Series giving us a quick look at what’s to come.

While the series is new, the characters are familiar, and the main character is one we all have loved to hate. Patrick is back with his own story and a glimpse inside the relationship that made him who he is.

Patrick and Cain are the kind of toxic that can’t let go and have a connection that’s is so hot it burns on page. While Patrick has been setup as a villain, his story will make your heart hurt for him and love seeing what happens. Cain is interesting, flawed, and finally realizing there is only one person that has ever made him feel. Reading as they come to terms with the past, the hurt they have caused, and the truths they need to face will have you engrossed in their story.

Ricochet Ridge was a great ride, and it looks like Boston Memorial is shaping up to be all of that and more.

Come to Boston Memorial and see if Cain is able to finally give Patrick what he needs.

[Bear_reads_romance]

This is officially favorite book by Jillian! It came out of nowhere (literally didn't even know it was happening), Patrick and Cain are so toxic but I love it anyway.

[Fay MMBookworm]

A Fantastic book to read. My Full Blog Review Link

[Ayla Shoulders]

JILLIAN WRAY. HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH PATRICK FUCKING MILLER!!! STOP IT RIGHT NOW.
Patrick’s redemption arc broke my heart. I hate that I love him. (I kind of have the same relationship with Patrick as Patrick does with Cain 😂). These two had a pretty unhealthy and toxic start to their relationship back in college. And it only took 25 years, one kid, one marriage, one twin, lots of hookups, one open heart surgery, one near death experience, lots of cum and a fuck ton of blowjobs to realize they were BEYOND FUCKING PERFECT for each other.

Cain Rosemont and Patrick Miller are real. They’re flawed. They will break your heart. They’re so easy to connect with and by the end you will be SCREAMING for them to just love each other the way they both deserve. I love that Taylor gets some closure in this book too (even though he really didn’t need it because him and Knox are just *chefs kiss*- I NEEDED IT, OKAY)

I cried. Again. Like, had to put the book down because I could no longer see the pages crying….
Looking at you, Cain 👀

Loved this little taste of Boston Memorial and can’t wait for more from this series.

MM Doctor x Patient Romance
Novella
Love after being separated for 25 years
Second chance romance
Bi MC
Hurt/Comfort
Toxic Past
Enemies to Lovers
Older MC’s (40’s)
Hands Free 💦
Spit/Cum Sharing

[Bree]

spicy but also heartfelt read

I was not anticipating this to go the direction it did, but it worked out for these two. Fun little novella with a redemption for Patrick.

[Sara Husser]

🩺He could fix every splinter in my heart. If only Cain were able👨‍⚕️

"He conveniently overlooked the fact that he fed my toxicity like gasoline fuels fire. His need for approval helped make me the way I am."

"Patrick needed purpose...and I needed to be worshiped. So, I became his God, and he became my acolyte."

"We were explosive every time we were together. Like magnets wires to C4, ready to denotate every time we touched."

"Cain and I were never gentle lovers; the spark between us was greedy, demanding, all-consuming, and hellbent on destroying us both."

"We aren't the kind of story that ends, Kitten."

"Are you in pain?"
"I've been in pain since the day I met you."

"My biggest problem has always been that I hate Cain as much as I love him."

"I have loved and lost three times. At this point, I have nothing left to give, so I take comfort in knowing Cain can't break me any more than he already has."

"That's it, Kitten. Show me your fangs. I haven't been bitten in a while, and I'm overdue."

"Cain Rosemont is like a cancer. He consumes you without permission, spreading throughout your cells, infecting you with a need that will never be satisfied."

"My, oh my. What could you have done that was so bad, Karma saw that as a fitting punishment?"
"I once fell in love with a monster, and it made me one, too."

"Except for the man seated next to me. He could fix every splinter in my heart. If only Cain were able."

"It isn't until this moment I realize that with every partner I've had, I've been trying to find this, recreate this. Just like him. Except it can't be recreated. It only ever belonged to us."

"I hate him. I love him. Both statements are true, but nothing is truer than the simple fact that I want him."

This novella was amazing and spicy. I was intrigued how Patrick would be redeemed and this author did such a fantastic job. I love both Patrick and Cain so much. These two have been not only holding on but linked for 26 years. The spice in this was spicy and heated 🔥🔥🔥. This was also quite an emotional read. My heart broke for both of these men in two completely different ways. This story had some great troupes like: Second Chance, Forbidden Romance, Doctor/Patient, Hurt/Comfort, and Enemies to Lovers. I would definitely read Up In Flames and Meltdown first as it gives Patrick's backstory and all the events that lead to this story. I loved seeing cameos from Liam, Damon, Taylor, and Knox. I love that Patrick finally got closure with Taylor. I'm sad to see these characters go but I can't wait for the new Boston Memorial series! I really hope Dr. Declan Porter gets a book.

This story follows Patrick and Cain. These two were originally lovers in college before Patrick was married. They were toxic and only about sex. Patrick ended it as Cain couldn't give him the love he needed. Many years later in the present, Patrick is at a doctors apt for his heart. His doctor happens to be Cain, the best heart surgeon. Sparks immediately fly between them. We see Patrick get surgery and heal. Cain ends up kissing him and Patrick goes home. Some time passes and he's due for his f/u apt, but he refuses to go, so Cain ends up coming to his house. It gets spicy 🥵. These two have a huge push/pull and hot/cold situation going on. More time passes and Patrick ends up back at Boston Memorial as a mediator for the hospital merger. These two get closer and a sort of relationship happens over time. One tragic, near death event has Patrick flying back to see Cain. Is it too late for these two? Has their time finally run out?

These two were gasoline and fire. Sparks upon sparks flying in every direction. The chemistry was off the charts 🥵. There was so much pining from Patrick. They were toxic until they both healed many years of hurt in each other. My heart broke for these men. Patrick kept losing everyone he loved and thought he deserved the worse. He turned into a monster because of Cain. He was drifting through life mostly dead inside. Cain never let anyone close or allowed himself to feel. Even when the heavy burden of his job continues to bury him. These two had a connection unlike any. The spice between them were 🔥🔥🔥. I loved the bickering and jabs they threw during sex that amped up their animosity. I loved seeing Cain grow into his emotions more. I loved seeing Patrick's vulnerable moments. I love how protective and possessive they both were. Much time has passed between them but it never once changed how they feel for one another. This was a very hard fought HEA and seeing these men finally come together after so long apart was everything. I can't wait for the new series! 🩺👨‍⚕️🩻🫀🔫🏪🏥

[James Michael]

If Cain Were Able is a compact MM romance built around second chances, complicated history, emotional conflict, and the difficult possibility of forgiveness. The doctor and patient dynamic creates an immediate source of tension, while the connection between Patrick and Cain gives the story a strong emotional foundation.

The novel's focus on a relationship shaped by the past adds depth to the romance. Patrick and Cain are not simply meeting for the first time. Their history creates unresolved feelings and difficult questions about regret, trust, accountability, and whether two people can find a different path after being deeply hurt.

The medical setting also gives the story an interesting backdrop for its emotional development. The contrast between professional boundaries and personal history creates a situation where the characters must confront feelings they might otherwise prefer to leave behind. This helps give the romance a strong sense of conflict and emotional stakes.

The combination of forbidden romance, second chance romance, hurt and comfort, and enemies to lovers gives the book several clear points of appeal for contemporary MM romance readers. Its connection to Jillian D. Wray's wider fictional world also creates opportunities for existing readers to discover Patrick's story while giving new readers an entry point into the author's interconnected characters.

With a Goodreads rating of 4.19 from 131 ratings and 24 reviews, If Cain Were Able already has an encouraging early reader response. As a recently published novella, it also has considerable room to expand its visibility among MM romance readers, queer romance communities, Kindle readers, and audiences who enjoy emotionally intense second chance stories.

[Keia Cotton]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

This book was a part of the Ricochet Ridge series and it was between Patrick and Cain.

Patrick is Liam’s father from the first book in the series, Melt Down. Patrick after losing his wife, seduced his sons best friends twin brother and then when his son found them together, Patrick lied causing Liam’s entire family to pretty much disown his twin brother Taylor. So we all hated Patrick going into this book.

Cain, we find out, is the reason Patrick is an uncaring asshole who treated poor Taylor like shit. Cain and Patrick went to college together and Cain used Patrick for his own sadistic enjoyment and spat him out when he noticed Patrick had feelings for him.

I’m not gonna say that I ended up loving Patrick as a character because he was a horrible person, but I kind of now understand what his issues were. But that does not excuse how he treated poor sunshiny Taylor. Cain was a piece of work though. He had the ultimate God complex but being one of the top cardio thoracic surgeons in the country will do that to you.

This book was a solid 4 star for me. It was interesting to see Patrick’s back story and Cain was a cool twist however, I think reading how he treated Patrick back when they were in college and how much he changed once he was put back into his orbit was just a little to picture perfect. I expected Cain to have a little push back to him or for Patrick to not cave so quickly. But let’s be real, anything Jillian writes, I’m reading!

[Denise]

So this little novella is Patrick's redemption arc. You would have needed to have read Up In Flames and Meltdown in order to truly understand who Patrick is and what this story is about. I truly despised this man for what he did to Taylor and did not think he could even be redeemed. Boy, was I ever wrong. You get a glimpse into his past and what made him the way he was for a long time. His past, who all of a sudden is slammed back into his life. Cain is hot as F*CK! He is a doctor and dominating and everything I look for in my fictional men 🫠 I loved the push and pull between him and Patrick and their spice literally had me melting. Just when I think one of Jillian's men couldn't get any hotter, here comes Cain saying, "Hold my beer!".

This is also a sort of prequel to the new Boston Memorial series coming in the fall! This story left me wanting so much more of them! I couldn't get enough! Jillian's books always pull me right in and never let me go! Check out her latest books in the Ricochet Ridge series!

[K.Mwrites]

I liked it but too spicy

I am not one to complain that a book is too spicy but because this is only 160 pages I felt like too much of ot had smut.

I get thay cain and Patrick had an explosive and toxic relationship that revolved around this but it was too much.

This novella didn't really help me better understand Patrick's character and pain was a little insufferable at time. Like hes nearly fifty and still talking about he doesnt do relationships.

What happens at the end worh can was a little bit unnecessary as it didnt really add anything to the plot and I wished ws saw a bigger lovw declaration from cain


I am excited about the Boston memorial series and will for sure be reading more.

[Grace]

Cain and Patrick

I wish this book was longer, I would have loved to see them after them got back together and built a life, Patrick (although hated in two different books) deserved this happy ending. Cain, you SOB, I loved you too in this book and Patrick needed you back.

Strict Top/Bottom roles (slightly D/S)
Controlling / Posessive
Second Chance
Doctor/Patient

Spice - 4/5
Story 5/5

[Nina]

Sweet Jillian, you are the best!

This is exactly what I needed for Patrick 😭 and Tay and Knox doing what they did? I am swooning. I almost want to see more of them together, but I know who’s story is coming in November so I will be counting the days impatiently 🫠 This was a lovely intro to the Boston series. Cane is kind of my new favourite 😁❤️❤️

[Nic]

I think we all hated Patrick from our first introduction to him, but I'm all for a redemption arc! I ate this one up! Cain definitely put Patrick through it, both purposely and not purposely. We get a redemption arc, a second chance, and a bit of hurt/comfort. So worth the read and a great little teaser into Boston Memorial! 

[Natalie]

I didn't think anyone could make me like Patrick but, here we are. Understanding his complex relationship with Cain and all the hurt he suffered made me like him slowly. This was such a great novella, I feel like it came full circle and everyone who was involved with Patrick's mess finally got closure. I am happy he got his HEA

[Leigh Gaskill]

Not Bad

This wasn’t a bad book from an author that I haven’t read before. I liked the push and pull between Patrick and Cain. I was disappointed with the apology to Taylor (where it happened and what brought it on) and how Patrick blamed his actions on how Cain treated him in the past.

[Michelle]

Patrick & Cain
MM Romance
Forbidden
Doctor x Patient
Second Chance
Hurt x Comfort
Past Toxic Relationship

Ahhhh I didn't want to love Patrick but now I do 🫣🫣🫣

This one is a short, spicy, crossover novella and gives Patrick his redemption arc

I really enjoyed this one!!

[Brooke]

3.5 rounded up! There was one major inconsistency that bothered me though. When we saw Patrick’s chart on the laptop it said Age:49. Then on page 116 I believe Patrick says “I’m going to be 50 in a few years, Cain.” So then he’s not 49? Or he’s just bad at math?

[Caroline Forrester]

3.25 ⭐️

[Nik Ramšak Rotenhajzer]

I couldn’t get enough of Cain. I wish they had a full book, but still I really enjoyed reading this novella. Deserved 4.5 stars.

[Liza Broadaway]

Patrick and Cain are a little toxic, a lot second chance and the reality that sometimes certain dynamics work better when you are not ridiculous teenagers who don’t really get what’s important

[KEM]

I hated Patrick in the earlier stories, but (sometimes) people deserve a happy ending to their story. Not always, but their dynamic felttttt... hot to put it simply

[CAlories]

3.5 ⭐️
Not sure what book this follows because I picked this up on a whim but I’m not sure how Cain was a punishment for Patrick. They had their good moments in the book, some good pining here.