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A DJ becomes a hero. A doctor weathers a family tragedy. And a thin wall between them…

Radio DJ Derek Brown grew up in foster care. He’s built a decent life for himself, but when he’s called on to save a terrified young girl from traffickers he doesn’t hesitate to step in, even at the risk of his own life. The young rising star has become an overnight hero.

Alpha Alex Brennan is a trauma surgeon at Silver Oak Medical Center. When he checks on the patient he operated on the day before, he’s startled to find the “hero DJ” is his hated next-door neighbor.

Despite their shared animosity, Alex can’t ignore Derek’s heroism. When the rescued girl takes shelter with Derek to recover, Alex finds himself drawn to the young omega even further. Working with Derek and his guest dredges up old family tragedies for Alex, and not everyone in Alex’ family is thrilled about the new people in Alex’s life.

Can Alex and Derek forge their own path through family tragedy, and build a new and healthy family together? Or will their pasts keep them apart forever?

Enemies become lovers in this highly erotic gay mpreg tale. This 106,000-word book is brimming with explicit man-on-man action, and is intended for adults only.

367 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2017

99 people are currently reading
105 people want to read

About the author

Aiden Bates

262 books1,207 followers

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5 stars
122 (38%)
4 stars
102 (31%)
3 stars
62 (19%)
2 stars
26 (8%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Denise H..
3,248 reviews271 followers
September 10, 2017
**** Two very different strangers who become everything to each other !
Derek, 24, DJ, tats and piercings, is an Omega. While working the county fair he spots a situation happening and tries to save the girl. He gets on the microphone and brings attention to what was happening, but in that process he gets shot and kicked. He saves the girl, Carmela, and 18 other girls that were being held in a trailer by sex traffickers. Derek ends up on Surgeon Alex's operating table.
Alex is an unusual Alpha because he is more like his mother, not a macho type, but he is OCD and take charge fellow.

This is a complicated, twisty tale of family tragedy and horrific pasts that still affect the people today. As a hero, Derek says he'd done what anyone would have done, but no, he went above and beyond. As he and Alex begin their fling, the trafficking case evolves and we see how the victims are affected. After the bad guy is released, the threats begin, and Derek realizes he's pregnant. Alex's stuffy family won't approve. Much is happening, as Alex's dad has dementia and gets violent.
Derek and Alex argue, and I wanted Alex to "man-up." Things made me angry, and things were heartwarming.
This is a wonderful mPreg non-shifter, Aiden Bates tale, well written, with our guys getting sexy times that include deep feelings and lots of internal struggles revealed to us.
The extra chapter included is more of an epilogue, and is great !
ENJOY !
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Profile Image for Kyla.
94 reviews3 followers
September 9, 2017
I just have so many issues with this story. I put them in list form.

1. They get together randomly. Alex starts out judging him pretty harshly, even calling him a dirt bag, and then out of nowhere they start kissing and start up a fling?

2. The entire middle section of the book is full of everyone telling Alex what a terrible person he is without even really explaining why to him.

3. Derek seems to expect things out of Alex that he never even asked for. He complained about Alex never coming over when he needed him, but did he ask? No he didn't. He complained about Alex never having him over to his apartment, but did he go over and knock on the door? No he didn't.

4. Alex spends the whole second half of the book saying that he needed to do right by his family and no one just came out and said "Hey their adults and if they can't except you and just want you to be happy then screw them."

5. They break up and Derek is giving the baby away even though Alex wants it. He says no because of some crap about wanting it when it was convenient. Well, he wasn't keeping his baby so he should have let the other father have it.

6. They are broken up until the very end and then with one monologue and a shiny ring Derek just says "What the Hell? Why not?" I mean come on.

Anyway, this is by far my least favorite in the series. I just didn't like it at all. Alex was an unlikable, idiot of a character and Derek seemed too wishy-washy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shae.
107 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2017
I don't even have the words.

I'm begging you. Please don't bother. Save yourself the disappointment and headache. Alex is the worst character ever. He doesn't even remotely redeem himself. Do. Not. Bother
Profile Image for Marcella.
358 reviews16 followers
August 10, 2017
This is the 6th book in the Silver Oak Medical Center series.

Derek Brown is an up and coming DJ in the area. He grew up in foster care and is proud that he has made a life for himself, despite his tragic upbringing. While at the Fair in his DJ booth, Derek spots a girl that seems to be in trouble and steps in to save her from two men. Unbeknownst to him, he saved this girl from traffickers. He is asked to take her in since she doesn't seem to trust anyone except him after her trauma. Derek does not hesitate in lending his support and home to her in order to help her try and move past this horror.

Alex Brennan is a trauma surgeon at Silver Oak. He is the one that operated on Derek when he was brought in after helping save the girl. Alex checks in on his patient the next morning and that is when he realizes that Derek is his hated next-door neighbor. Alex has filed so many noise complaints on Derek and when Derek realizes who Alex is, their animosity grows.

However, Alex doesn't dismiss Derek's heroism and continued heroism when he finds out that Derek has taken in the girl he rescued. As Alex spends time with Derek, he finds himself drawn to him, even though Derek is not anything like his usual type.

As they spend more time together, and their attraction grows, they will have to face some painful things from their past in order to be able to be what they need for each other.

I have to say that this is my favorite book in the series so far. The characters seemed to be more 3 dimensional and I felt the tragedies they faced on a deeper level. I am was an emotional mess after reading this book. The tears kept coming but in the best possible way. As frustrating it was at times to read these characters because their lack of basic communication, I absolutely enjoyed being on this journey with them.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book
Profile Image for ~nikki the recovering book addict.
1,248 reviews2 followers
January 2, 2018
Couldn’t ignore the errors...

This is the fifth book of this series. And while it does feel like it’s following a pattern of douchey alphas, I still enjoyed the story because they were all unique stories and unique characters.

But I didn’t quite feel the connection between Derek and Alex. They were neighbours who didn’t talk for years and then suddenly they’re “together”. I wasn’t quite so convinced by their story, unfortunately.

And then there were the myriad of errors. Alex and Derek got interchanged more than once here. Also, Carmela drove when she didn’t have a license and stayed back at the condo simultaneously? Some spelling errors snuck in as well.

All in all, not such a fulfilling read as the rest of the series. Which makes me sad because it was good going for awhile. Hopefully the next book in the series is better...
Profile Image for Amber.
1,294 reviews33 followers
September 2, 2017
The series has consistently been a highly rated series for me. Unfortunately this book just didn't do it for me in any way. This story starts off with Alex and Dererk disliking each other. Yet with one apology and from one page to the next their whatever you want call their relationship. I was actually kind of confused. Alex is a dick throughout this entire book and that is being nice. I keep waiting for the payoff where Alex turns himself around and becomes a good boyfriend. It didn't happen he just keep getting worse. I just didn't get Alex's attitude and nothing was even really there to soften my image of him.
Profile Image for Megan.
1,469 reviews29 followers
August 10, 2017
I started off thinking that this would be one of the better of the series. I'd read a preview and was excited about these flawed, vulnerable, neurotic, heroic men. Then throughout the full story I found myself increasingly frustrated by nearly everyone. But all's well that ends well, yeah? The story ended with sweetness and hope and a bit more summary than I like, but it was a good ending for men who really needed happiness and love.

Derek was a quick thinker, a compassionate man, and very intelligent. He was also deeply flawed, intent on separating himself from everyone that could truly hold his heart. He didn't know to ask for more, would never let himself, so deludes himself into thinking he'll never be worthy of it and is determined to never ask. Circumstances put him in a situation where someone needs him for their care and well-being and, to his surprise, his complaining neighbor becomes a source of comfort.

Alex is stuffy, stuck up, focused, and so very alone. He's not aware of just how lonely he is until he finds himself yearning for Derek's companionship. His family life is in turmoil and his psyche is in need of some serious help. When he blows up at Derek one too many times he realizes that the time has come to seek outside help. Once he gets the aid he needs he's also given the shock of his life when someone from his past shows up on the doorstep...of his neighbor's place.

Together they ride an extreme roller coaster of emotion and neither one thinks the other wants more. In fact, they've convinced themselves of that and their avoidance is so extreme that their assumptions do an excellent job of killing what could be a happy future. The way they find their futures is incredibly frustrating.

On a side note, from chapter 5 on there were an astounding number of mistakes with names in my ARC copy...hoping that gets fixed before you purchase it.

Overall, this is a story of redemption and triumph. Redemption from the past and triumph over failures and circumstances. The beginning and the ending made up for the ridiculously frustrating middle. Read and willingly reviewed this ARC from the author.
Profile Image for Jerry.
676 reviews
August 30, 2021
This one is definitely only 2 stars.
The cover is way off in showing the omega with short hair, no tats or piercings and where is the long hair of a DJ? How wrong can a cover be (o right, the previous book substituted a Caucasian for a dark skinned Jamaican with dreadlocks. That was worse).
A very dramatic start to the book with the MC getting shot while trying to help an underage teenager escape two older men who were chasing her. The doctor in the ER who patches him up starts falling for him. Another instance of insta-love, but his screwed up family upbringing makes him a stuck up dick and they become enemies instead. All kinds of family issues with both of them making for the usual non communication screw ups in almost every other chapter.
I thought the police and judicial department were so bad as to be unbelievable. In my personal opinion, you can make them bad so the reader thinks they are awful without making them inept and incompetently bad as to be unbelievable. Lots of violence against Derek, no one seemed to be able to protect him.
I never one had a good thought about Dr. Alex Brennan (also is Brennan a Russian or eastern European sounding name?) in the whole story. He was always smarmy to me. Derek was always too good to be true, always a giver and always putting himself down.
This really was a tragic story with an instant happy ending. Too fast and too unbelievable. Must be those OMEGA hormones getting in the way of actual thinking. The former doctors and lawyers in the previous books make cameo appearances, and don't help the two MCs that much.
The sex was meh.
I kept thinking, this is the last book, just a few more pages and then you can be done.
Profile Image for J1B.
243 reviews25 followers
August 15, 2017
Three words to sum up this book: CUT THE CORD.

Although it's never mentioned in the book, I can only assume Derek's nickname is "Derek the Doormat" because I've never seen someone put up with so much without even a hint of self-respect. The degree of emotional masochism Derek displays is off the charts, and isn't it just his luck that he falls in with such an enabler as Alex. I wanted to like Alex, I've loved every other doctor we've met at Silver Oak, but I just couldn't get there. And the ending... you know the feeling where you're trying to "relieve stress" and someone walks into the room at the last second so you're forced to put it all away and stay more "stressed out" than ever? Yeah.

So that's the plot addressed, but I have to add something here about the writing. Aiden Bates literary talent and control of the language has always shown through in his(?) writing, but this novel has raised the bar.

His next cognizant thought was the realization that he was putting his key into the wrong door. He was trying to open Derek's door, which wasn't working out well for him at all.


The layers of meta-messaging throughout the book are almost allegorical in style, and Bates' masterful use of allusion adds a level of literary maturity that I personally have never seen in MM writing before. This phenomenal work should cement Bates as a titan of MM fiction, and I can't wait to read the next thing coming.
Profile Image for Jenn.
1,180 reviews7 followers
August 16, 2017
I really have enjoyed this series from Aiden Bates, these characters really grew on me and stayed with me and Derek and Alex are no exception. I really loved the beginning of this book, it completely sucked me in and from there I didn't want to put it down. Derek does something so very incredibly brave to start this book and it sets off a chain of events that changes his life as well as Alex's life.

I really liked this story, even though I spent a lot of time not liking Alex. He's not a loveable character and he has a lot of issues and he doesn't treat others well. I loved Derek and his great heart, but he certainly has his own issues too. These two definitely don't start off well and even after they move through the initial problems they don't seem like they'd be an ideal couple, but eventually these two do figure it out and find love.

I think Aiden Bates has created a great world with his Silver Oak Medical Center series and this complicated story fits right in. It deals with some very tough issues and I think it is handled well. As the story progresses I started to understand a bit more about Alex and Derek too and felt for them. These two both do a great job of pushing away real feelings and it's frustrating for sure. But they do figure it out and they eventually see that they have something special. Another emotional and great read from Aiden Bates!

*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
35 reviews
September 26, 2020
So for 19 chapters or so, Alex is prioritizing his family. And then bam, on one chapter, he was convinced he was wrong and he didn't have to think what his "family" thought about Derek? Not to mention that he won't consider it at all if his mother didn't come by and if Derek wasn't accidentally pregnant?

Yeah. No.

If he was that jerk when he was "single", he won't change his color just because of one tiny baby (which by the way, he still rejected for 5+ chapters and it was Alex's inner voice) or one tiny bling (which just miraculously appeared on 1 chapter before the last and the last is more of epilogue, really). Please: you jump from a stranger/fling to a fiance? Really? And no, it's not "they're actually lover but never acknowledge so". Carmela had done more than Alex to comfort Derek. Ayla had more meaningful and heart-to-heart interactions with Derek than Alex. Amadi was there for Derek more than Alex.

I can't see Alex's worth at all.

So yeah, no, it's not a happy ever after. It's a bomb ticking disguised as happy for now which will explode with uglier outcome than before. If I know any Derek, I'd say to move to another apartment (or state if you'd like to be sure) and ditch that people pleaser for good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
871 reviews2 followers
August 9, 2017
This is the sixth book in Silver Oak Medical Center Series. What an captivating book the writing was terrific. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters wonderful. The characters were well developed and thought out. Derek is an Omega and Alex is an Alpha and they are the MC’s of this book. There was humor, bad guys, a hero, 2 destroyed cars, family issues, medical recovery, police and so much more in this book.

Here is a quote from the book, “Look, man. I don’t know what beef you’ve got with me, but we have a traumatized girl staying here. She calls you The Shouting man. She’s not in a place right now where The Shouting Man is a good thing, okay?” Alex grimaced. “I don’t want to be the shouting man.” He swallowed, hard.” There is more but you will need to read the book which I can recommend as a good read. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

36 reviews
August 20, 2017
Intriguing story, poor editing

I almost didn't read this because of the trafficking storyline, but I liked the previous books in this series so I decided to give it a try.

Both of the characters were interesting and the doctor particularly had a background that was fleshed out gradually in an intriguing way.

However 84% of the story had passed before an attempt was made to settle their relationship. It seemed rushed to me especially since it was not done with the couple working it out together over time, for the seriousness of their differences and family dynamics.

Then there were the errors of using the wrong names in more than three places. I've gotten used to the poor editing and as long as the storyline is good I try to overlook it, but the multiple errors with the names...
Profile Image for C..
932 reviews11 followers
August 19, 2017
2.5 stars
I enjoyed the first few books that were released in this series, but the last couple of releases have diminished in quality, so I haven't really enjoyed them as much. It's kinda the same story over and over. Alpha is a jerk, the omega doesn't really stand up to him, a misunderstand or something, they love each other, babies. With this one, i didn't see why Derek would kiss Alex when he did. Alex had been a jackass to him all the previous times they met, and then boom, kissing. Alex continued to be selfish throughout most of the book until he finally realized that he would lose Derek and the baby if he didn't shape up. I did like the secondary story with the human trafficking, that was interesting.
Profile Image for D..
2,121 reviews14 followers
October 20, 2020
This is a fantastic story from my favorite author, Aiden Bates. Why I give it 2 stars because of Alex's behavior, just like Finn Riley, Alex is grade-A jerk.

Derek has been through enough shit in his childhood life, and come along Alex who added misery and heartache to Derek's life. I know Alex already has a lot in his plate, tragedy strike his family but it doesn't justify Alex hesistancy to do the right thing for Derek. I know family come first but when you have a family like Alex, I think he must prioritize Derek's welfare first because what his family potrayed as perfect family was indeed not perfect at all.

Reading this book once is enough because I don't want to relive the heartache, pain and misery Derek's felt because of Alex!
429 reviews3 followers
August 15, 2017
Another Successful Silver Oak Medical mystery/love story! Derek is the most loveable person in the world and Alex..... well let us just say that I wanted to kick his butt and bop him in the head a few dozen times! Good thing Alex has a good mother that made him see the error of his way cause otherwise I would had to thrown my reader across the room! From the very first page you get action and adventure and it doesn't let up until the very end. The subject of human trafficking is a little rough to take but Aiden handled it very well. All in all this is a really good book and even though it is part of the Silver Oak series it can be read as a stand alone with no problem.
Profile Image for Alison Edmunds.
173 reviews
October 14, 2019
I loved the story for this book, without liking one of the main characters at all. Once again, the two main characters come from dysfunctional backgrounds. Whilst Derek interesting, quirky even, alpha Alex leaves me cold! Even at the end, his acceptance of Derek is almost begrudging. Derek is totally deserving of better than he got.

The storyline does go some way to making up for Alex! It is just that bit different and held my interest until the end. I also think the secondary cast is solidly written and contributes so much to the story. I do think the editing needs tightening up as there were several annoying errors in this book.
Profile Image for Teal Wolf.
3,414 reviews26 followers
February 7, 2019
Great story

Rock the Cradle by Aiden Bates is the fifth book in the Silver Oak Medicsl Center series. : I truly enjoyed this mpreg romance where enemies become lovers and the road to love is a bumpy one filled with potholes.

Alex does come off as a jerk in many instances, but I liked that he realizes he has issues that need to be addressed. I liked the character of Derek and how he handled everything in the story. He has a rough past and it definitely made its mark on him. Together, these two delivered an interesting and entertaining story.
Profile Image for Linda Martin.
165 reviews3 followers
August 14, 2017
Another Winner!

I absolutely love this series, it is a favorite of mine. I love the emotions and how well written these stories are. I really enjoyed they were written about where I live. This story about Alex and Derek was full of intrigue and love. It is a tough subject and I cried a few years, but that just shows that the Author knows how to grab his readers. Please get this series you will love it.
Profile Image for Diana.
204 reviews9 followers
August 23, 2017
A very good book...

But a slightly odd romance. The main characters are brought together by a plot involving human trafficking, which I found extremely compelling. However, the romance wasn't as convincing as they usually are with this author. The behavior of one of them would have led me to brain him with a cast-iron fry pan, frankly. Still a good read, but I liked Infectious Love better.
6 reviews
September 19, 2017
Rock the Cradle

It was great story. I keep the guy that was hero and doctor who save his life. When doctor was having thing goig in bed the hero. They finally get unaffordable the baby born. It seem that I understood what the hero went through withmy his parents. He must had rough life. I believe he will have good life with doctor and their child. Plus doctor's families will be happy for both of them. So keep up with another good story. I enjoyed your books.
Profile Image for meep.
764 reviews16 followers
August 10, 2017
i could NOT stand Alex. I really liked the bad boy image derek gave but his constant bringing up he was a foster kid got old fast. i feel though we did get to know what happened in his past it was repetitive and we did not get the whole story. The ending was kind of rushed like the baby came and it was over within 2 pages?

I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book
5,704 reviews39 followers
August 10, 2017
i actually loved this.. i loved that the alpha had a problem and he realized he had a problem and needed to fix it.. i loved that they fought and had issues.. i loved that it wasnt easy going and simple.. hey im alpha you omega we belong together.. no.. they fought.. they loved.. they had problems and issues and things... it was all wonderful. i loved it and am glad i got tor eview it
Profile Image for Paisleyrowan.
366 reviews50 followers
August 13, 2017
Heartbreaking and aggravating and suspenseful, this is a great read. The one MC makes you hate him pretty much the whole entire time. Even at the end where there's supposedly a HEA. That part might not have been intentional, but it may have. You don't always get great people to love you because you deserve them, right?
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book.
Profile Image for Amy.
371 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2019
I just can’t

I should have known not to borrow this book, but with this author you never know what you’re getting. Or ghost writer that is? Half the time the Alpha characters are written to be such unredeemable jerks that I hate the book. And this was no different. This is a quantity over quality kind of author. Another dnf....I’m out.
Profile Image for Sheryl L Glover.
12 reviews
August 14, 2017
GOOD BOOKS!

I have read this whole series of books so far and let me tell u......I Love Them! This was a great series from beginning to end. I look forward to more of this series. Aiden Bates is an awesome author.
Profile Image for margaret owusu.
17 reviews
August 14, 2017
Wow

This was the most engaging Silver Oak story yet. Don't know which lead character to feel sorry for. Both families are difficult but the story line was and is the most intriguing and engaging i have read in a long time. Thanks much
Profile Image for Earlyn.
664 reviews2 followers
August 13, 2017
I'm out!! very hard read... gave up and started scanning the pages
72 reviews
August 15, 2017
Love/Hate

I loved the complexity of the story and I loved Derek but I hated Alex. I wanted to slap him more than once.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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