What do you think?
Rate this book
Pulse
Disclaimer: This work contains explicit sexual content, language, and delicate subject matter. It's intended solely for mature readers.
At twenty-two-years-old, Mia Holloway's life is up in the air. Her graduation from UCF is looming over her head like a bad hangover. Her long-term boyfriend has up and left her for some Tinder fling, and when sudden chest pains send her straight to the ER – that's just icing on the cake.
At thirty-two-years-old, Cardiologist Dr. Alex Greene has what most would call a perfect life: respect, money, and a sleek high-rise loft in the city. But since the departure of his unfaithful Ice Queen of an ex-fiancée, Alex also secretly longs for the one thing he's been missing – connection.
When Dr. Greene and Mia meet, as patient and doctor, something undeniable clicks. Forbidden, dangerous, foreboding. The kind of uncontrollable lust that threatens to tear both their worlds apart.
Pulses will rise. Hearts will be broken.
Because an affair like this doesn't happen in real life.
At twenty-two-years-old, Mia Holloway's life is up in the air. Her graduation from UCF is looming over her head like a bad hangover. Her long-term boyfriend has up and left her for some Tinder fling, and when sudden chest pains send her straight to the ER – that's just icing on the cake.
At thirty-two-years-old, Cardiologist Dr. Alex Greene has what most would call a perfect life: respect, money, and a sleek high-rise loft in the city. But since the departure of his unfaithful Ice Queen of an ex-fiancée, Alex also secretly longs for the one thing he's been missing – connection.
When Dr. Greene and Mia meet, as patient and doctor, something undeniable clicks. Forbidden, dangerous, foreboding. The kind of uncontrollable lust that threatens to tear both their worlds apart.
Pulses will rise. Hearts will be broken.
Because an affair like this doesn't happen in real life.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2015
3 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Liv Hayes
4 books25 followersL. Hayes is voracious reader and lover of words. When not immersed in pages, she's usually writing them.
Email (for all inquiries):
l.hayes.author@gmail.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/LivHayesAuthor
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Hayes_Writes
Blog (regularly updated with photos, playlist music, and excerpts):
http://livhayesauthor.tumblr.com/
Thank you!
Email (for all inquiries):
l.hayes.author@gmail.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/LivHayesAuthor
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Hayes_Writes
Blog (regularly updated with photos, playlist music, and excerpts):
http://livhayesauthor.tumblr.com/
Thank you!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 15, 2017
★★★★ ½! Pulse (stand-alone) Cardiologist hot-cold pursuit of young student & patient who can ruin his career!
“And for a few seconds, it was just us – the patient, the doctor, and the pressing realization that there was nothing we could do about it.”
They met at a cross road in life…
Mia Holloway aka Little Fox the much too young university student having an anxiety attack after having been cheated on then dumped by her boyfriend. Ready-to-settle-down and not-looking-for-anything-complicated Cardiologist Dr. Alex Greene is the doctor on duty that night
Increased heart rates, beeping monitors…
Stolen glances, tender smiles, jagged conversations, innuendos, but mostly fear and reservations. Mia knows her immaturity is an obstacle, but is smitten and in awe with the mature, accomplished and charming doctor. Though he knows it’s wrong, Alex is taken by the young petite beauty and shows her extra care and attention and even calls her pet names.
Forbidden romance, doomed before it even begins…
Alex can lose his medical license for even flirting with Mia. He is torn yet embarks on a clandestine affair with the young student. Stolen moments and hidden rendezvous, but Alex is conflicted. In addition to the inappropriateness of their affair he is overworked and has secrets he rather keep.
Lies only begets more lies….
They are lying to their friends and family, co-workers, but soon also to each other; White lies, secrets and hidden agendas… When deeper feelings surface and their world come crashing down… Will Alex mend or break her heart?
[beep beep beep]
“And I was still swimming in the deep-end that was Dr. Greene.”
Ten words to describe Dr. Alex Greene: Charming, honorable, conflicted, moody, hot-cold, closed off, thoughtless, immature, interesting and complex.
“I became a doctor so I could fix people, so I could help the sick. But I can't help people like us. I can't fix this, Mia. I just don't know how.”
Eight words to describe Mia Holloway aka Little Fox: Sweet, timid, lonely, meek, impressionable, transparent, immature and loyal.
“He was a doctor. I was a patient. He was a man, and I was a girl. What more could I have expected?”
Pulse, told from alternating POV is the romance that should never be and I had to keep in reading, needing to know what would happen next. It is sexy, sweet, angsty, intriguing and bittersweet. As for ending… it left them at another cross road; happy and at peace. I am happy to report that the author is writing an EXTENDED epilogue.
Intense and addicting plot! Excellent story-telling! Butterflies-in-your-belly forbidden romance!
“Pain makes you numb, but love makes you blind.”
***
Hero rating: 4.5 stars
Heroine rating: 5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Plot rating: 5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 3.75 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A, ARC
************************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
ARC provided to me by author Liv Hayes in exchange for an honest review.
Read
June 26, 2015DNF @7%, no rating. Mini review posted June 26, 2015.
What made me accept the review request was the age gap between Mia and Alex. So I started to read the book and I…well, I tried. I really did but my blood pressure went through the roof when I read this…
@6%
One thing to make clear: I wasn't in love with her. I was merely disarmed.
That's his inner monologue after meeting his patient. It happened mere seconds after saying, "Mia Holloway?" I asked, with my eyes still glued to the clipboard, "Would that be you?"
(…)
Her soft voice seemed to catch the air in a way that traveled, as if by wire, into my brain. My skin prickled immediately, and I glanced up at her.
On the very same page…
When she stopped, she looked at me, and I knew immediately what she was thinking: Hello, Doctor McDreamy.
Still @6%
"I really thought I was dying," she said quietly. We locked eyes again, and for a second, I could feel my lips part - but I couldn't say anything. I just clasped her hand - for sake of bedside manner, I swear - and smiled as she added: "Do you think it's serious?"
Or this @7%
And this time, I felt it. With each beat, the blood sped through my veins like wildfire. I could feel my skin start to heat, with each beat almost forming almost something melodic. A song only I could hear.
When I drew away, and removed the earpieces, our eyes met again. I hoped she couldn't see how dilated my pupils must have been - a tell-tale sign of interest. There's some free advice for you.
"It's still a little tacky," I said, and she laughed at that - tacky. "Are you stressed, honey?"
Shit. I called her honey. As soon as the word tumbled out, I could have strangled myself with the stethoscope. A Freudian slip.
When I say DNF it's not a Freudian slip.
Seriously. I will be very kind and say…just no.
This is fiction and I know that an author mustmake write a connection between H/h. Yet I ask you to at least try and make it somewhat realistic and believable. Alex is a thirty-two-year-old cardiologist, a
doctor,
and did act like an immature and starstruck teenager when he first laid eyes on Mia who had to be examined because she was afraid she would die of a heart attack. Frankly, I doubt that a serious cardiologist would come up with such trite inner monologue and blatantly unprofessional "advances".
I'm sorry, Liv, but I'm not your target audience. Movin' on...
**Review request of author Liv Hayes**
What made me accept the review request was the age gap between Mia and Alex. So I started to read the book and I…well, I tried. I really did but my blood pressure went through the roof when I read this…
@6%
One thing to make clear: I wasn't in love with her. I was merely disarmed.
That's his inner monologue after meeting his patient. It happened mere seconds after saying, "Mia Holloway?" I asked, with my eyes still glued to the clipboard, "Would that be you?"
(…)
Her soft voice seemed to catch the air in a way that traveled, as if by wire, into my brain. My skin prickled immediately, and I glanced up at her.
On the very same page…
When she stopped, she looked at me, and I knew immediately what she was thinking: Hello, Doctor McDreamy.
Still @6%
"I really thought I was dying," she said quietly. We locked eyes again, and for a second, I could feel my lips part - but I couldn't say anything. I just clasped her hand - for sake of bedside manner, I swear - and smiled as she added: "Do you think it's serious?"
Or this @7%
And this time, I felt it. With each beat, the blood sped through my veins like wildfire. I could feel my skin start to heat, with each beat almost forming almost something melodic. A song only I could hear.
When I drew away, and removed the earpieces, our eyes met again. I hoped she couldn't see how dilated my pupils must have been - a tell-tale sign of interest. There's some free advice for you.
"It's still a little tacky," I said, and she laughed at that - tacky. "Are you stressed, honey?"
Shit. I called her honey. As soon as the word tumbled out, I could have strangled myself with the stethoscope. A Freudian slip.
When I say DNF it's not a Freudian slip.
Seriously. I will be very kind and say…just no.
This is fiction and I know that an author must
I'm sorry, Liv, but I'm not your target audience. Movin' on...
**Review request of author Liv Hayes**
June 25, 2015
This book sounded amazing. I couldn’t wait to start it. I love books that surround doctors, set in hospitals (It’s all the episodes of ER and Grey’s Anatomy I’ve watched ;) ), but you rarely see them. I know there have been some over the years, but there aren’t that many. The thing that made this book so intriguing (from the blurb alone) is that the doctor and patient fall for each other. So, let the book begin!
Honestly, from page 1, I couldn’t put this down. Even when I woke up in the middle of the night and decided I’ll read “just a few pages until I fall back to sleep” turned into me finishing the book. I was hooked to Alex aka Dr. Greene and Mia’s story. They had an instant attraction that just kept getting bigger. There were definitely twists and turns in the story with different obstacles that Mia and Alex had to face. I did love their chemistry and loved the time that they spent together.
I didn’t mind the “taboo” nature of their relationship. But I had an issue with Alex keeping secrets from Mia in regards to the situation with Cait. I get not telling her in the very beginning since it was new between Mia and Alex, but later, when things became more serious between them, he should have told her what was going on.
My other issue was near the end, when Mia was still calling him Dr. Greene. I wish she had been calling him Alex more. I just couldn’t help but feel like using his name was more intimate than Dr. Greene, especially at the end when she was no longer his patient.
Even though the ending was satisfying, I kind of wish there had been an epilogue so see where they are a little further down the road. I just had questions as to what would happen next. Would he move to England for her? Would they have a long distance relationship while she was at Cambridge? Would they end up married with 2.5 kids, a dog and a house? What about meeting the parents?
Overall, I really did enjoy the book. This was a great debut from the author and I’ll definitely read more from her in the future!
June 25, 2015
I've never done this before, but I think I just write down my honest opinions? Okay, here goes.
I wasn't the biggest fan of either of the characters in this story. The plot was good, but there were some definite holes that needed filling. (Not that way lol, but plot devices.) I honestly found Mia quite annoying; her motivation for her actions were lacking and her tantrums over-the-top. Alex was better. A lot better. The secondary characters, not so much.
And there was this one small thing that bugged me a lot.
Little things here and there that ticked me off a little. Okay read overall.
I wasn't the biggest fan of either of the characters in this story. The plot was good, but there were some definite holes that needed filling. (Not that way lol, but plot devices.) I honestly found Mia quite annoying; her motivation for her actions were lacking and her tantrums over-the-top. Alex was better. A lot better. The secondary characters, not so much.
And there was this one small thing that bugged me a lot.
Little things here and there that ticked me off a little. Okay read overall.
dnf
September 13, 2015DNF @ 34%
The doctor/patient thing definitely grabbed my attention. I was really looking forward to this, but unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.
It never really captured me, and I struggled quite a bit with it. The writing style is more “telling” of the story rather than creating something the reader can feel and experience. I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters. Even through 34%, there wasn’t much I knew about either one of them aside from what sat on the surface.
I wish I could love ‘em all……
The doctor/patient thing definitely grabbed my attention. I was really looking forward to this, but unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.
It never really captured me, and I struggled quite a bit with it. The writing style is more “telling” of the story rather than creating something the reader can feel and experience. I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters. Even through 34%, there wasn’t much I knew about either one of them aside from what sat on the surface.
I wish I could love ‘em all……
June 23, 2015
I'm not sure if I could think of enough words to describe this story, but I think I'll start with these ones: Emotional, heart wrenching, realistic, romantic, relate able. I was sucked in and by page fourteen, I was hooked. I was holding my breath waiting to see what would happened to these forbidden lovers.
This story is about Mia, a young woman studying English in university. After a breakup occurs, she is sent to the hospital complaining of heart pains, which is how she meets the swoon-worthy Dr.Greene. I don't want to give too much away in terms of the story as it was so strong and well written it is worth going into it without knowing any spoilers. But I will say, the story line was very unique and refreshing.
I found Mia's character to be very realistic. So much so, that I couldn't help but completely relate to her. I felt as if I knew her, I could imagine myself making the same choices she did. She wasn't a typical, cookie cutter heroine that we find so often in new adult novels. She was learning about who she was, what she wanted and how to deal with difficult situations as any young woman would and that made this read just that much better.
Now...Dr. Alex Greene. I just...I don't even know! He was a perfectly damaged man, in my mind. An older man than Mia, with a little more life experience, who unfortunately had not gotten to the point where he was satisfied in his life. He has a past, he has his own insecurities and his own faults, as any normal person would, but his heart was big and he had a lot of love to give. (No wonder he was a cardiologist).
These two characters embark on a very forbidden, but passionate ride and I enjoyed every minute of it. The writing was fluid and articulate. The characters were well defined and had their own voice and I never found myself bored or uninterested, it kept my rapt attention from beginning to end. The only reason this one did not earn a five star from me was simply because the ending felt a little too rushed and I would have liked an epilogue. However, those are just personal preferences. I would definitely recommend this one!
Four solid stars.
OHHHH....and...anyone who is described as looking like Robb Stark? Yeah, I am ALL over that.
This story is about Mia, a young woman studying English in university. After a breakup occurs, she is sent to the hospital complaining of heart pains, which is how she meets the swoon-worthy Dr.Greene. I don't want to give too much away in terms of the story as it was so strong and well written it is worth going into it without knowing any spoilers. But I will say, the story line was very unique and refreshing.
I found Mia's character to be very realistic. So much so, that I couldn't help but completely relate to her. I felt as if I knew her, I could imagine myself making the same choices she did. She wasn't a typical, cookie cutter heroine that we find so often in new adult novels. She was learning about who she was, what she wanted and how to deal with difficult situations as any young woman would and that made this read just that much better.
Now...Dr. Alex Greene. I just...I don't even know! He was a perfectly damaged man, in my mind. An older man than Mia, with a little more life experience, who unfortunately had not gotten to the point where he was satisfied in his life. He has a past, he has his own insecurities and his own faults, as any normal person would, but his heart was big and he had a lot of love to give. (No wonder he was a cardiologist).
These two characters embark on a very forbidden, but passionate ride and I enjoyed every minute of it. The writing was fluid and articulate. The characters were well defined and had their own voice and I never found myself bored or uninterested, it kept my rapt attention from beginning to end. The only reason this one did not earn a five star from me was simply because the ending felt a little too rushed and I would have liked an epilogue. However, those are just personal preferences. I would definitely recommend this one!
Four solid stars.
OHHHH....and...anyone who is described as looking like Robb Stark? Yeah, I am ALL over that.
August 13, 2016
Early Release: PULSE is officially LIVE!
http://www.amazon.com/pulse-liv-hayes...
If you're a blogger/GR member and would be interested in receiving an ARC, please feel free to get in touch: l.hayes.author@gmail.com
If you'd like, you can read a preview below:
http://livhayesauthor.tumblr.com/
Meet Mia:
Meet Dr. Alex Greene:
http://www.amazon.com/pulse-liv-hayes...
If you're a blogger/GR member and would be interested in receiving an ARC, please feel free to get in touch: l.hayes.author@gmail.com
If you'd like, you can read a preview below:
http://livhayesauthor.tumblr.com/
Meet Mia:
Meet Dr. Alex Greene:
January 20, 2016
I actually liked this. 4 little fox stars.
September 30, 2015
It started out goood -
But didn't stay goood.
All i kept repeating was .. "Get over your shit already"
But didn't stay goood.
All i kept repeating was .. "Get over your shit already"
February 8, 2016
Purposefully complicated...
June 26, 2015
Characters and plot are pretty thin.
November 19, 2017
This started out soo good. I liked their moments, the anticipation and the stolen glances. But the entry of the ow was such a turnoff. And then the ow being pregnant. No. It was too much. Then the H ignoring the h completely and then them hooking up again as the heroine is quite desperate for him and then keeping secrets from her like his ex fiancée is pregnant with his baby. This was what made this book unlikable. Seriously I would have given this book a 5 star if the ow drama would have not been there. What a waste of some few beautiful beginning scenes.
April 8, 2016
*4.5 Stars
This was my first book by Liv Hayes, and I can assure you that it won’t be my last. Being a fan of forbidden romances, and always searching for something that is a little bit different in the genre, this book caught my eye. I was pulled into the story and the characters’ lives right from the first page - I was immediately hooked.
What initially grabbed my attention was that the illicit relationship in Pulse was between a doctor and his younger patient. Other than the fact that she was ten years his junior and that he was introduced to her in a professional environment, there wasn’t anything too taboo about their attraction. They weren’t long lost relatives, she wasn’t a minor, neither one of them was married or in a relationship. They were simply a doctor and patient. But their relationship was anything but simple.
Dr. Alex Greene’s professional life was successful. He was a well-respected cardiologist who took great pride in his career. His personal life, however, was lacking. He was freshly out of his engagement, but he wasn’t exactly mourning the loss of the relationship. He never really felt as much as he should have towards his fiancée. Their relationship had been distant and unemotional. He wanted to find that spark, that connection to someone special. He didn’t want to be lonely. But what he didn’t plan on was the spark that would ignite when he walked into the hospital room of his new patient, Mia Holloway.
Mia’s previous relationship left her heartbroken. She wasn’t looking for another relationship or love, and she certainly didn’t expect to find herself attracted to her doctor.
The author has created perfectly flawed characters. Despite their knowledge that they shouldn’t be together, their pull and desire for each other was just too strong for them to ignore. Dr. Greene seemed to have it all together, but he was torn between his professionalism and his feelings for a young woman who was off-limits. His behavior, at times, seemed almost younger than his thirty two years, but he had never had such intense feelings for a woman before. It’s as if he was experiencing falling in love for the first time, and the obsessive nature that first love often has. In my opinion, it showed his vulnerability and made me like him that much more.
Pulse had all of the elements that I love when reading a forbidden romance. I was able to feel the emotions right along with the characters. I fell in love, my heart broke, and my stomach was tied in knots. They both knew what the consequences would be if someone was to find out about their relationship, but they risked it time and time again. I was completely invested in their beautifully imperfect love story.
*4.5 Stars
*The book did contain some proofreading issues (missing words, typos), but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.
This was my first book by Liv Hayes, and I can assure you that it won’t be my last. Being a fan of forbidden romances, and always searching for something that is a little bit different in the genre, this book caught my eye. I was pulled into the story and the characters’ lives right from the first page - I was immediately hooked.
What initially grabbed my attention was that the illicit relationship in Pulse was between a doctor and his younger patient. Other than the fact that she was ten years his junior and that he was introduced to her in a professional environment, there wasn’t anything too taboo about their attraction. They weren’t long lost relatives, she wasn’t a minor, neither one of them was married or in a relationship. They were simply a doctor and patient. But their relationship was anything but simple.
Dr. Alex Greene’s professional life was successful. He was a well-respected cardiologist who took great pride in his career. His personal life, however, was lacking. He was freshly out of his engagement, but he wasn’t exactly mourning the loss of the relationship. He never really felt as much as he should have towards his fiancée. Their relationship had been distant and unemotional. He wanted to find that spark, that connection to someone special. He didn’t want to be lonely. But what he didn’t plan on was the spark that would ignite when he walked into the hospital room of his new patient, Mia Holloway.
Mia’s previous relationship left her heartbroken. She wasn’t looking for another relationship or love, and she certainly didn’t expect to find herself attracted to her doctor.
The author has created perfectly flawed characters. Despite their knowledge that they shouldn’t be together, their pull and desire for each other was just too strong for them to ignore. Dr. Greene seemed to have it all together, but he was torn between his professionalism and his feelings for a young woman who was off-limits. His behavior, at times, seemed almost younger than his thirty two years, but he had never had such intense feelings for a woman before. It’s as if he was experiencing falling in love for the first time, and the obsessive nature that first love often has. In my opinion, it showed his vulnerability and made me like him that much more.
Pulse had all of the elements that I love when reading a forbidden romance. I was able to feel the emotions right along with the characters. I fell in love, my heart broke, and my stomach was tied in knots. They both knew what the consequences would be if someone was to find out about their relationship, but they risked it time and time again. I was completely invested in their beautifully imperfect love story.
*4.5 Stars
*The book did contain some proofreading issues (missing words, typos), but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.
June 29, 2015
4.5 "Little Fox" Stars!
"You're a very nice doctor," she said, then nothing else.
I waited for a moment longer, but she was gone. It was only the sound the EKG - the soft and subtle beep, beep, beep.
"You're a very nice patient," I told her.
I knew she couldn't hear me. But it was better that way.
*My Dr. Green*
*My Mia*
This was the first time I've come across a non-fetish/erotica-based novel dealing with a doctor/patient relationship, and I read this in one sitting. I don't want to give too much away, because the book has a lot of potential spoilers, but this was an awesome debut. The writing was easy to follow while still sharp.
"I'm only a doctor. I never claimed to be a saint."
Speaking for the characters, I loved Mia (or Little Fox, as Dr. Greene calls her), and appreciated how realistically her character was written. If she screwed up, she confessed it. If she was being a brat, she was straight forward about it. Dr. Greene was one of those guys who has everything, but is still craving connection, and finds that with Mia. He's also a man with a past that ends up catching up with him in a big way. But even at his most screwed up points, it was hard not feel sorry for him.
As for the sex scenes, the first encounter shocked me. The rest were steamy and well written, and I'd make sure to grab some tissues.
"Have you ever seen what a human heart looks like?" I asked her. "It's a ticking bomb wrapped in flesh and blood. It's heavy as a brick. You can pass it around from one set of hands to another until they grow too weary of holding it, and their fingers snap. You can break things, break people with it. Until eventually it stops beating."
The only thing that managed to knock half a star off is that I did wish it had an epilogue, but that's just me.
Do I still recommend? Oh yes. Pick it up, and watch your pulse start skipping.
"You're a very nice doctor," she said, then nothing else.
I waited for a moment longer, but she was gone. It was only the sound the EKG - the soft and subtle beep, beep, beep.
"You're a very nice patient," I told her.
I knew she couldn't hear me. But it was better that way.
*My Dr. Green*
*My Mia*
This was the first time I've come across a non-fetish/erotica-based novel dealing with a doctor/patient relationship, and I read this in one sitting. I don't want to give too much away, because the book has a lot of potential spoilers, but this was an awesome debut. The writing was easy to follow while still sharp.
"I'm only a doctor. I never claimed to be a saint."
Speaking for the characters, I loved Mia (or Little Fox, as Dr. Greene calls her), and appreciated how realistically her character was written. If she screwed up, she confessed it. If she was being a brat, she was straight forward about it. Dr. Greene was one of those guys who has everything, but is still craving connection, and finds that with Mia. He's also a man with a past that ends up catching up with him in a big way. But even at his most screwed up points, it was hard not feel sorry for him.
As for the sex scenes, the first encounter shocked me. The rest were steamy and well written, and I'd make sure to grab some tissues.
"Have you ever seen what a human heart looks like?" I asked her. "It's a ticking bomb wrapped in flesh and blood. It's heavy as a brick. You can pass it around from one set of hands to another until they grow too weary of holding it, and their fingers snap. You can break things, break people with it. Until eventually it stops beating."
The only thing that managed to knock half a star off is that I did wish it had an epilogue, but that's just me.
Do I still recommend? Oh yes. Pick it up, and watch your pulse start skipping.
January 30, 2016
This was a really fun, cute read! I wanted something quick, emotional and sweet to read - with a bit of forbidden romance in them because yes, sometimes I'm a sucker for it, I'm only human - and Pulse definitely hit the spot.
I really liked how effective the double POV was, sometimes they really don't work or are very ineffective but this one was brilliant, because there was stuff going on outside the 'relationship' (I'll get to why I've picked up on that word in a minute haha), and it also gave a necessary insight into both Alex and Mia's train of thought, which I appreciated because sometimes in novels like this things can get a little confusing. My only issue with it, is that there wasn't too much going on in terms of their lives without each other. I think I would have appreciated a little more input and drama with other parts of their lives, especially Mia's - maybe something to do with family or more inclusion of her relationship with Aimee (who could really use with giving up on the whole "you should deffo get back with your cheating ex boyfriend who broke up with you" vibe she has going on, what an idiot, but simultaneously kind of realistic because I think there are possibly these people out there even if I really hope there aren't) because I don't feel like that was developed enough.
This leads me onto the 'relationship' between Alex and Mia. Now I'm not going to criticise too harshly because Mia even agreed with me in this situation, because they barely had a relationship in standard terms. I mean yes they were veery sexually attracted to one another and they had the 'spark' which attracted them to one another, but apart from some sweet talk, I don't think there were enough moments when they actually clicked, and we really got to see their relationship progressing into more than just a physical attraction and some sweet nothings whispered to one another. I feel like more depth and talking would have been really good to push out this relationship.
Saying all of this, I did love it because of how light it was and boy did it have some sweet, quotable moments! Main criticism is about the development of the characters, but if you want something quick and cute I would definitely recommend this one :-)
I really liked how effective the double POV was, sometimes they really don't work or are very ineffective but this one was brilliant, because there was stuff going on outside the 'relationship' (I'll get to why I've picked up on that word in a minute haha), and it also gave a necessary insight into both Alex and Mia's train of thought, which I appreciated because sometimes in novels like this things can get a little confusing. My only issue with it, is that there wasn't too much going on in terms of their lives without each other. I think I would have appreciated a little more input and drama with other parts of their lives, especially Mia's - maybe something to do with family or more inclusion of her relationship with Aimee (who could really use with giving up on the whole "you should deffo get back with your cheating ex boyfriend who broke up with you" vibe she has going on, what an idiot, but simultaneously kind of realistic because I think there are possibly these people out there even if I really hope there aren't) because I don't feel like that was developed enough.
This leads me onto the 'relationship' between Alex and Mia. Now I'm not going to criticise too harshly because Mia even agreed with me in this situation, because they barely had a relationship in standard terms. I mean yes they were veery sexually attracted to one another and they had the 'spark' which attracted them to one another, but apart from some sweet talk, I don't think there were enough moments when they actually clicked, and we really got to see their relationship progressing into more than just a physical attraction and some sweet nothings whispered to one another. I feel like more depth and talking would have been really good to push out this relationship.
Saying all of this, I did love it because of how light it was and boy did it have some sweet, quotable moments! Main criticism is about the development of the characters, but if you want something quick and cute I would definitely recommend this one :-)
May 3, 2016
I was really excited for this novel. I love romance that has a little bit of 'taboo' without going into creepy territory (ex. teacher/student, doctor/patient vs siblings, attacker/victim). Anyway, the start was strong for me, but I found as the story continued I liked the characters less and less. There was an HEA, which I can't help but love in most circumstances, I was actually hoping that lead female would find something new on her travels and forget all about Dr. Greene.
Lead Female: Mia Holloway - Innocent, to the point of irritation at times. Very naïve and seemingly lacking values. Although she seemed to know or think better at times, she had a hard time sticking to her plan and tended to just go back to the same shitty treatment and situations. 2.5/5 *
Lead Male: Dr. Alex Greene - Initially I was quite take with Dr. Greene, however as the story progressed, his flaws and mannerisms really started to grate on me. I found by the end he has next to no likeability left and I was no longer interested in him getting his happy ending. 1.5/5*
Plot: I fully understand that this novel is showing the flaws within the human character and I don't view that as a bad thing, but I do think that there is a balance that needs to be struck. Especially when the plot deals with a scenario such as the doctor/patient, it is easy to become overly romanticised and have all reality slip away. However, when I read a romance novel there is usually an expectation that it is going to be that love that defies all else because really novels and movies seem to be the only place that soul mates find each other with such ease. I was disappointed with the balance in the plot here. It seemed that the flaws and continuous hurdles far outweighed the benefits of the main characters' relationship, to the point that romance and ending came off as contrived. 2/5*
Overall, I felt like there could have been a better way to go for a more realistic stance at the human nature than to flaw the characters to the point where it was hard to root for them. For me, if I have a hard time liking the characters and can't justify or understand their decisions, the romance gets lost in the mess along with it.
Lead Female: Mia Holloway - Innocent, to the point of irritation at times. Very naïve and seemingly lacking values. Although she seemed to know or think better at times, she had a hard time sticking to her plan and tended to just go back to the same shitty treatment and situations. 2.5/5 *
Lead Male: Dr. Alex Greene - Initially I was quite take with Dr. Greene, however as the story progressed, his flaws and mannerisms really started to grate on me. I found by the end he has next to no likeability left and I was no longer interested in him getting his happy ending. 1.5/5*
Plot: I fully understand that this novel is showing the flaws within the human character and I don't view that as a bad thing, but I do think that there is a balance that needs to be struck. Especially when the plot deals with a scenario such as the doctor/patient, it is easy to become overly romanticised and have all reality slip away. However, when I read a romance novel there is usually an expectation that it is going to be that love that defies all else because really novels and movies seem to be the only place that soul mates find each other with such ease. I was disappointed with the balance in the plot here. It seemed that the flaws and continuous hurdles far outweighed the benefits of the main characters' relationship, to the point that romance and ending came off as contrived. 2/5*
Overall, I felt like there could have been a better way to go for a more realistic stance at the human nature than to flaw the characters to the point where it was hard to root for them. For me, if I have a hard time liking the characters and can't justify or understand their decisions, the romance gets lost in the mess along with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2015
http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...
Le thème des amours impossibles se porte très bien en ce moment et je me demandais bien pourquoi personne n’avait encore eu l’idée de raconter une romance se déroulant entre un médecin et sa patiente. Ou plutôt il y en a déjà eu mais qui insistait peu sur cet interdit. Ce roman le fait mais le petit souci est qu’il ne décolle jamais vraiment et va stagner autour d’un interdit qui finit par ne plus avoir grand sens.
Mia est une jeune étudiante un peu stressée et qui vient en plus d’être largué par son copain. Elle est soudain prise de douleurs dans la poitrine qui la paniquent totalement et va donc se retrouver à l’hôpital en cardiologie. A sa grande et délicieuse surprise, le cardiologue est jeune, terriblement séduisant. Il s’appelle Alex et va lui aussi, être attiré par sa jeune et jolie patiente. Jusque là tout va bien. Alex ne va négliger aucun aspect des soins à prodiguer à Mia et ils vont donc régulièrement se revoir.
Le souci du roman est qu’on ne sait pas vraiment quelle piste l’intéresse le plus dans son livre. Elle va en effleurer plusieurs, intéressantes et parfois c’est très bon mais trop souvent, elle écrit longuement sur ce qui se passe et ce n’est pas follement passionnant. Ainsi, Alex et Mia sont séparés par dix années ce qui n’est pas un détail négligeable. Est-ce grave ? Finalement non apparemment. Alex est un riche médecin, bien installé dans la vie qui pourrait gâter sa jeune copine, ce sujet est aussi effleuré. Tout comme le fait que la romance soit en effet interdite mais pas tant que cela.
C’est vraiment dommage car tous ces thèmes soulevés rendent intéressante la romance et l’on attend que l’auteure complique les choses, poussent les pistes à fond. Cela n’arrive presque pas et quelques éléments de l’intrigue viennent alourdir inutilement l’intrigue. Il reste de jolies scènes sensuelles, de très bons moments, de bonnes interrogations aussi. La fin est un peu trop rapide.
Ce roman aurait pu être excellent, l’auteure écrit bien et a une vraie idée mais c’est assez superficiel au final.
Le thème des amours impossibles se porte très bien en ce moment et je me demandais bien pourquoi personne n’avait encore eu l’idée de raconter une romance se déroulant entre un médecin et sa patiente. Ou plutôt il y en a déjà eu mais qui insistait peu sur cet interdit. Ce roman le fait mais le petit souci est qu’il ne décolle jamais vraiment et va stagner autour d’un interdit qui finit par ne plus avoir grand sens.
Mia est une jeune étudiante un peu stressée et qui vient en plus d’être largué par son copain. Elle est soudain prise de douleurs dans la poitrine qui la paniquent totalement et va donc se retrouver à l’hôpital en cardiologie. A sa grande et délicieuse surprise, le cardiologue est jeune, terriblement séduisant. Il s’appelle Alex et va lui aussi, être attiré par sa jeune et jolie patiente. Jusque là tout va bien. Alex ne va négliger aucun aspect des soins à prodiguer à Mia et ils vont donc régulièrement se revoir.
Le souci du roman est qu’on ne sait pas vraiment quelle piste l’intéresse le plus dans son livre. Elle va en effleurer plusieurs, intéressantes et parfois c’est très bon mais trop souvent, elle écrit longuement sur ce qui se passe et ce n’est pas follement passionnant. Ainsi, Alex et Mia sont séparés par dix années ce qui n’est pas un détail négligeable. Est-ce grave ? Finalement non apparemment. Alex est un riche médecin, bien installé dans la vie qui pourrait gâter sa jeune copine, ce sujet est aussi effleuré. Tout comme le fait que la romance soit en effet interdite mais pas tant que cela.
C’est vraiment dommage car tous ces thèmes soulevés rendent intéressante la romance et l’on attend que l’auteure complique les choses, poussent les pistes à fond. Cela n’arrive presque pas et quelques éléments de l’intrigue viennent alourdir inutilement l’intrigue. Il reste de jolies scènes sensuelles, de très bons moments, de bonnes interrogations aussi. La fin est un peu trop rapide.
Ce roman aurait pu être excellent, l’auteure écrit bien et a une vraie idée mais c’est assez superficiel au final.
June 30, 2015
ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review.
Well, I want to start with the fact that I was truly and honestly looking forward to this one. I have never read a doctor/patient romance. I must say that I just was a bit let down. I do not think that it had anything to do with the subject matter but more so the style of writing and plot itself.
I had a hard time connecting with Mia. She was the 22-year-old patient of Dr. Greene’s in the story. Our main character. I had a hard time dealing with her outbursts, jump to conclusions personality, and ability to cope in certain points in the storyline. No person is that “understanding” of their actions and words. I think that’s where I had the moments of not really connecting with her. I wanted Mia to have more depth. However, at points, I appreciated her strength to
Now Alex, Dr. Greene, is where I really had trouble. This man, this doctor, was painted with such an air of respect, and dignity. Then, we get his monologue and I just wanted to slap him at certain points. I just wanted more from him.
The sex? Eh. The first encounter had me like ...
But after that I grew bored.
I’m sorry to say that I will only be giving this three stars. I wanted to like this. I felt like it had great potential. I just wish I felt like I got more from it. I wanted to walk away without thinking I only scraped the surface with these two.
I guess I can't love everything I read. Maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea. 3
Well, I want to start with the fact that I was truly and honestly looking forward to this one. I have never read a doctor/patient romance. I must say that I just was a bit let down. I do not think that it had anything to do with the subject matter but more so the style of writing and plot itself.
I had a hard time connecting with Mia. She was the 22-year-old patient of Dr. Greene’s in the story. Our main character. I had a hard time dealing with her outbursts, jump to conclusions personality, and ability to cope in certain points in the storyline. No person is that “understanding” of their actions and words. I think that’s where I had the moments of not really connecting with her. I wanted Mia to have more depth. However, at points, I appreciated her strength to
Now Alex, Dr. Greene, is where I really had trouble. This man, this doctor, was painted with such an air of respect, and dignity. Then, we get his monologue and I just wanted to slap him at certain points. I just wanted more from him.
The sex? Eh. The first encounter had me like ...
But after that I grew bored.
I’m sorry to say that I will only be giving this three stars. I wanted to like this. I felt like it had great potential. I just wish I felt like I got more from it. I wanted to walk away without thinking I only scraped the surface with these two.
I guess I can't love everything I read. Maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea. 3
June 30, 2015
ARC copy given to me by the author in exchange for a completely honest review::::
My stars? 4.
I must have been reading books about very strong women, because this woman did not make me happy. At all. I really did not like the main character at all and I thought the doctor was annoyingly....stupid. I wanted more angst, more compassion, more crazy... I work in a hospital so I guess I was expecting something a little more crazy.
HOWEVER------> it was still good enough to read, and finish appropriately. I did only take four hours to read this book. It was good. I just wasn't happy with how weak the characters I wanted to fall in love with but didn't, were.
I hope you read this and didn't think NOT TO READ, because was really WAS GOOD, just my my cup of tea I guess. The writing was fantastic!!!! I hope I can read even more of this authors book because Liv has an edge that I absolutely fell in love with, just not her characters.
:(
Sooooo four amazing stars to the author for such amazing writing. Even though I didn't love the book, her writing kept me going!!! Honest to god, I hope she writes more at a faster rate so I can read more of her writing.
My stars? 4.
I must have been reading books about very strong women, because this woman did not make me happy. At all. I really did not like the main character at all and I thought the doctor was annoyingly....stupid. I wanted more angst, more compassion, more crazy... I work in a hospital so I guess I was expecting something a little more crazy.
HOWEVER------> it was still good enough to read, and finish appropriately. I did only take four hours to read this book. It was good. I just wasn't happy with how weak the characters I wanted to fall in love with but didn't, were.
I hope you read this and didn't think NOT TO READ, because was really WAS GOOD, just my my cup of tea I guess. The writing was fantastic!!!! I hope I can read even more of this authors book because Liv has an edge that I absolutely fell in love with, just not her characters.
:(
Sooooo four amazing stars to the author for such amazing writing. Even though I didn't love the book, her writing kept me going!!! Honest to god, I hope she writes more at a faster rate so I can read more of her writing.
June 7, 2016
I liked it, the whole forbidden thing, It's a weak thing for me..
Mia was pretty much an open book towards Alex, and Alex well he well he did not lie, really he just kept something from Mia but I guess he paid for it the hard way...
I liked Mia most of the time, yes she is young but when she found out about Alex lying to her she was mad and said something along the lines of I should report him... she did not but I just have to say, it is not just the whole patient and doctor it is also the student and teacher, I love those forbidden relationships what I hate and what Mia showed a little was the scorned woman.. the fact is she is old and wise enough to know what she was doing and she knew it.. I am glad she did nothing I just hate the fact that the older person or the one with the 'power' gets the blame..
the ending.. it lacked a lot.. or well it was kind of abrupt.. he goes to her they talk what we don't really get to read? I mean what happend in those hours??? and then stop..boom..finished..basta..
He wanted a future the house marriage 2.5 kids will they have that? what happend with Mia being to young and want to live and Him being to old and want to start a family?
Mia was pretty much an open book towards Alex, and Alex well he well he did not lie, really he just kept something from Mia but I guess he paid for it the hard way...
I liked Mia most of the time, yes she is young but when she found out about Alex lying to her she was mad and said something along the lines of I should report him... she did not but I just have to say, it is not just the whole patient and doctor it is also the student and teacher, I love those forbidden relationships what I hate and what Mia showed a little was the scorned woman.. the fact is she is old and wise enough to know what she was doing and she knew it.. I am glad she did nothing I just hate the fact that the older person or the one with the 'power' gets the blame..
the ending.. it lacked a lot.. or well it was kind of abrupt.. he goes to her they talk what we don't really get to read? I mean what happend in those hours??? and then stop..boom..finished..basta..
He wanted a future the house marriage 2.5 kids will they have that? what happend with Mia being to young and want to live and Him being to old and want to start a family?
May 1, 2017
Doctor love
3 1/2 stars from me Pulse was an enjoyable read there was good and bad in it for me, first the good, I liked the relationship tension between mia and Alex it felt real and the storyline reeled you in , you wanted it to work between the two, the heat level was way high and the bedroom, hotel and car antics steamy. Now the bad I found Alex very indecisive and at times selfish he really should have come clean to mia about his ex , I still liked him but wanted to give him a shake to wake him up, I also found the talk about the age gap perplexing , man its ten years that's nothing , I'm in an age gap relationship have been for 21 years my partner is 20 years my senior it was just another excuse , and finally the ending I found it a bit blah, nothing was answered it was just so anticlimactic ,Pulse would have been a 4 star read if not for this I removed half star because of the finale. So in conclusion this was a good read that was well written and kept my interest, but the ending could have been better
3 1/2 stars from me Pulse was an enjoyable read there was good and bad in it for me, first the good, I liked the relationship tension between mia and Alex it felt real and the storyline reeled you in , you wanted it to work between the two, the heat level was way high and the bedroom, hotel and car antics steamy. Now the bad I found Alex very indecisive and at times selfish he really should have come clean to mia about his ex , I still liked him but wanted to give him a shake to wake him up, I also found the talk about the age gap perplexing , man its ten years that's nothing , I'm in an age gap relationship have been for 21 years my partner is 20 years my senior it was just another excuse , and finally the ending I found it a bit blah, nothing was answered it was just so anticlimactic ,Pulse would have been a 4 star read if not for this I removed half star because of the finale. So in conclusion this was a good read that was well written and kept my interest, but the ending could have been better
July 2, 2015
I was really excited for this book after reading the blurb, but unfortunately it just did not work for me. The writing itself is fine as it did keep my attention for a bit, but I just could not connect with the main characters Alex and Mia. To be honest, I was quite annoyed with the pair of them :/ I just did not fall in love with their story. I kept expecting something to happen, some sort of build up, but the story just fell flat for me. And I know this will sound like I'm nitpicking, but how many times can the word "Porsche" be mentioned in one novel?! Yes, we get it. He drives a damn Porsche! Sigh...
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2015
I was asked to read this book for an honest review. This story is such an emotional ride it feels so real. Mia has her dreams and goals and my heart almost hurt for her. Saying that this feels real means that Alex and Mia are dealing with “real life” issues and the difficult truth of how they met. It’s not like a book that takes you to a fantasy land, these are normal people that deal with what could be real life issues.
I could not stop reading. I had to get to the next part, had to know what happens next. I hope you do to. Liv Hayes brought this book to life. I love her writing style and can’t wait to read more of her work.
I could not stop reading. I had to get to the next part, had to know what happens next. I hope you do to. Liv Hayes brought this book to life. I love her writing style and can’t wait to read more of her work.
June 25, 2015
Steady, enjoyable read. Interesting story with enough drama to keep it going, but not so much I was constantly rolling my eyes. I liked Dr. Alex and he was strong while being slightly damaged goods. Mia was better off without Ethan, as he seemed like a self-absorbed pig. Mia was a bit immature to be graduating from college; some of her tantrums seemed more high school aged. I wasn't over the moon with this love affair, but it did keep my attention. The sex was steamy.
ARC provided in exchange for honest review.
ARC provided in exchange for honest review.
July 31, 2016
The journey until they united was sweet actually, but the sex was too much, at the beginning I found it not love at first sight like Alex claimed to be, just lust & desire, and beside Alex was imnature for 32 years old man. And at first Mia was okay for me, I felt sorry for the breakup & yes her ex was an ass, but she started to be annoying after the sexual thing with him, sooo damn clingy to him, ugh at least show yourself some respect! No different than Cait, and yes Cait I hated her so bad, she needed to return Alex's money, really had no shame, she was the worst.
July 18, 2015
Hmmmm, loved the premise of the story but a few things fell flat for me. It just lacked the sizzle I wanted and her constant going backwards and forwards with her supposed heart condition got a bit old for me.
Read
July 3, 2015DNF at 47%. Not a very likable heroine and very little plot development. I could sense attraction but no mutual affection. The writing style left me feeling disconnected.
September 6, 2015
4 Stars!!!
November 16, 2015
doctor n patient story ..the ending not quite clear..
September 3, 2018
I was dying to read this book...
The blurb had me on a slight edge...
It wasn’t that good & it wasn’t bad either!
Just glad that I have finally read this book... ☺️
The blurb had me on a slight edge...
It wasn’t that good & it wasn’t bad either!
Just glad that I have finally read this book... ☺️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews