Consultation privée

Hearts and Health #3

by D.J. Jamison, Allie Vinsha (Translator)

Douze ans trop tard...

Xavier James est sous le choc lorsqu’il tombe sur le premier homme à lui avoir brisé le coeur. Son ex-petit ami est devenu encore plus séduisant au cours de la décennie écoulée, mais Xavier ne va pas emprunter ce chemin une nouvelle fois. Quand leurs routes se croisent dans le service des urgences de l’hôpital où Xavier effectue une rotation comme élève infirmier, ignorer cet homme devient de plus en plus difficile. Rassemblés par le travail et contraints de partager leurs journées, revivre quelques instants du passé est incroyablement attirant.

Il n’est jamais trop tard pour tout recommencer...

Le Dr Trent Cavendish a fait une énorme erreur en tournant le dos à l’amour de sa vie à dix-huit ans. Lorsque son meilleur ami meurt brusquement douze ans plus tard, le vide qui emplit désormais sa vie l’ébranle. Déterminé à revenir à l’endroit où il a abandonné son bonheur au profit de l’ambition, il quitte le bloc opératoire et prend un poste temporaire dans sa ville de naissance. Il est temps de se racheter auprès de l’homme qu’il a abandonné.

Ah, ce que les choses ont changé...

Au lieu de l’homme doux et policé qu’il a quitté, Trent retrouve un Xavier James extrêmement attirant, vêtu de morceaux de soie et de rubans dans une boîte de nuit gay. Il ignorait son fétichisme pour un homme en lingerie jusqu’à ce moment. Son plan pour mériter le pardon se transforme en passion, et l’amour n’est pas loin derrière. Mais Xavier se méfie de ce nouveau Trent Cavendish. Le démon de ses souvenirs est attentionné et gentil, mais Xavier veut être plus qu’un simple objectif à atteindre.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Medical, LGBT, Second Chance, Gay

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2017

About the author

DJ Jamison writes a variety of queer men finding extraordinary love through M/M Romance! She is a lifelong reader and has always loved writing and editing, with a ten-year journalism career before she began publishing romance. She has books in ebook, print, and audio, as well as German, French, and Italian translations.

DJ lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, and a sadistic cat named Birdie.

Join DJ's mailing list at http://tinyurl.com/DJandCompany

Join her FB group at www.facebook.com/groups/DJandCompany

Follow her on Ko-Fi for bonus content: www.ko-fi.com/ReadingDJ

Reviews

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard disclaimer from the in-house MANTIES enthusiast: there were MANTIES and I maybe squealed some. <----total lie. I squealed like a pig.

I will probably squeal some here too. And there could be a pic or two. Because, y'know, MANTIES!

Jamison is a new to me author but as soon as I saw the words "lace and silk" in the blurb my heart did a recognizing a kindred spirit pitterpat. I hit the request button faster than you can say sing thon-tha-tha-tha-thonggggg even though this is the third book in a series, but this book can be read as a standalone. There are secondary characters that I'm fairly certain were featured in the previous books but nothing happened that left me scratching my head. So go forth and get your MANTIES on, peeps!

exceptional MANTIES pics (blog only) because chicken & flaggers 🙁👎🏾

Xavier and Trent were high school sweethearts. They planned to attend college together then go on to med school but life happened and Xavier didn't feel like he could leave his family at the time. This wound up hurting them both and caused a rift to form between them.

Twelve years later Trent finds himself at a crossroads and mired in a "mid-life crisis" of sorts subsequent to the suicide of his close friend. He realizes surgery has become the focal point of his life and maybe that's not such a good thing. So he decides to try to win back the heart of the love of his life and make some changes, mainly of getting out of the OR and interacting with patients who are actually conscious.

Xavier is working on becoming an RN when Trent returns and he puts Trent through his paces. It's clear that Trent's leaving was a pivotal moment in his life; it shattered his trust and everyone since has felt the brunt of that mistrust.

One of the things that makes this trope work for me is a slow burn rather than jumping right back in where things left off and not addressing the precipitating event. Jamison did a great job re-establishing their connection, showing their desire for one another and making me believe they belong together.

She also fleshed out both of these characters well showing their personality characteristics. They compliment each other personality wise and both are receptive and responsive to the other's perspective. Xavier also has close familial ties whereas Trent's parents are and have always been distant, so that is yet another way they're good for each other which always resonates with me.

What am I forgetting? Oh! The MANTIES!!!!!!

They were GRRRRRRR-EAT! *growls*

Xavier is big and muscular from his landscaping day job but he likes a lil silk and lace to help him get in touch with his feminine side. He also likes to put on a bit of makeup from time to time. *stumbles* And then he pulls his dreads up in a man bun! *thud*

I wasn't mad at it. At all. Neither was Trent. I so SO like it when there is MANTIES acceptance and appreciation. Nothing worse than MANTIES shaming. Xavier is not shy about what he likes and neither is Trent and their sex was stellar. I particularly liked that scene when the MANTIES got destroyed. Oops. *slow grin*

There are two things I found odd the first being the D/s stuff. All of that was clunky and awkward. I'm not sure how or why Trent believed Xavier was submissive. Maybe because he always bottomed when they were together in high school? I'm not sure but I'm guessing Xavier's 9" cock had something to do with that deal which leads to the second thing I found odd. Xavier can recognize that he's changed over the last twelve years but the concept that Trent could too seems to elude him. His inability to recognize the growth of someone else when he's being smacked in the face with the evidence of that growth seemed incongruous with his intelligence and his character.

Those minor quibbles notwithstanding this is a must read for MANTIES enthusiasts! And the peeps who enjoy second chance romance. And MANTIES enthusiasts!



A review copy was provided.

[Dia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. Even if it's the third book in the Hearts and Health series, it can be read as a standalone. I can't say it was bad, but I can't say I loved it either. So I'll go with 3 stars. I'm not a fan of second-chances in my books, but when I stumble upon this trope I usually enjoy more grovelling. To be honest, here we didn't get enough groveling. Or not enough for my taste.

Overall this story was light, with only a little angst.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~3.75~

I liked Urgent Care more than the second book in the series, and, yes, it can be read as a standalone. This book is all about second chances and rekindling passions long gone but not forgotten.

Expect mild angst and smoldering UST as Xavier pushes back against Trent's advances. He's not ready to forgive, not yet. Xavier has been angry for a long time and doesn't trust that Trent will stay.

These guys are super HOT together! Xavier, with his dominant side, muscles sculpted by years of hard work, and dreads, is a wet dream, especially when the manties and mascara come out. So damn sexy!

I loved that Xav finally opened up to Trent and that Trent fought so hard for his man. The ending was perfect!

I noticed a few editing issues, but they mostly didn't detract from the story.

[Bo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid 4 stars until the tail end of this book. Zavier's inability to make up his Damn mind ruined that for me. He was such a hypocrite. He decided to give Trent a second chance, but his actions were the exact opposite. When Trent has to go out of town for a family emergency, he stops answering his calls. Can we say immature!? I just couldn't believe how much of an asshole he was being. Disappointed.

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I had read the first two books and somehow I missed this one. I love DJ Jamison. She is certainly one of my favorite authors.

[Line · Rating 3 out of 5]

Manties, second chances and grovelling.
This could have been a hit, see the above-mentioned ingredients, but it feel sort of flat for me.
Too little grovelling, too much time spent apart, and a MC with too much on his plate, making me wonder how he was still standing.

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed as part of 3 volume set.

I do like second-chance love tropes, not so much the hanging onto anger for 12 years from something that happened in high school. It always strikes me as a bit ridiculous and in this story, Xavier carried it to extremes. He wasn’t my favorite character at all but I did enjoy the way things worked out with Trent in the end. The back and forth, like book two, went on far too long for my taste. I do like the author’s way of adding interaction with secondary figures and events. It kept my interest while I was frustrated with the uneven progress of the relationship. Some slow burn for sure but I wish Xavier’s gender blending was tied into his everyday life and felt less like a fetish for Trent. I did enjoy it the most out of the three, so I’m giving 4 Stars.

* ARC was provided by the author, publisher or promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review for Hearts On Fire Reviews blog*

[FromTheLab · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like Xavier! Thought he was a judgemental arse who liked to be an aggressive knob in bed without asking for permission.

The whole book was Xavier punishing Trent for months over what he did over 12 years ago as an 18 year old. He was so high and mighty I just wanted Trent to tell him to fuck off and go find someone who would appreciate him!

[Emily Seelye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the Hearts & Health series is a second chance romance. Xavier and Trent were boyfriends back in high school, they expected to go off to college and hopefully med school together, but when his family needed him, X decided to stay home and Trent dumped him.

In the present, Trent has come home to work at the local clinic, and Xavier is a nursing student who happens to be doing a round of clinicals at the clinic. Trent realizes his mistake in dumping him all those years ago is on a mission to earn back his trust and love.

I like that this was not instalove, and that X really made Trent work for what he wanted. I enjoyed this story, and am looking forward to the next one.

[Otterpuss]

No star rating from me as I Beta read this for D.J.

It's a great read and I really enjoyed it. I liked Xavier and Trent and I really enjoyed Xavier's penchant for feminine items of clothing.

[Lorenzo Adduci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voto: 4,5
RILETTURA 2021
È possibile dopo dodici anni concedere una seconda occasione a una storia d’amore che sembrava definitivamente arrivata al capolinea?
“Urgent Care”, il terzo volume della serie “Hearts and Health” di DJ Jamison, ci racconta finalmente la storia di Xavier James, che avevamo già incontrato nel precedente volume in quanto miglior amico del protagonista Zane. Possiamo, quindi, conoscere nel dettaglio cosa sia realmente accaduto dodici anni prima, quando Xavier e il suo ragazzo Trent Cavendish, ancora diciottenni, avevano visto infrangersi il loro sogno di una vita insieme a causa degli impegni familiari e dei problemi economici che avevano impedito a Xavier di iscriversi all’università insieme a Trent. La rabbia e la delusione di quest’ultimo avevano provocato una rottura tra loro che sembrava definitiva.
Il romanzo prende avvio con l’incontro tra Xavier e Trent in un locale gay. I due uomini hanno ormai trent’anni e un bagaglio di sofferenze e delusioni sulle spalle, ma quell’incontro così inaspettato e sconvolgente, che avviene dopo tanti anni, ci mostra due reazioni totalmente differenti. Trent vorrebbe mostrare al suo ex ragazzo quanto desideri chiarire e ottenere il suo perdono, convinto che la loro rottura sia esclusivamente da attribuire alla sua rabbiosa reazione. Xavier, invece, fa uscire fuori tutto il rancore che ha provato in questi anni, per essere stato ferito e insultato dal ragazzo che aveva amato con tutto se stesso, ma nello stesso tempo cerca di combattere i sentimenti e l’attrazione che prova ancora verso Trent. In realtà, entrambi vorrebbero tornare insieme, ma sarà necessario un lungo percorso perché ciò possa concretizzarsi.
L’autrice, con la sua scrittura fluida e brillante, in questo romanzo ci regala momenti molto intensi e struggenti svelando pian piano i sentimenti dei protagonisti e facendo emergere il modo con cui sono cambiati e maturati in tutti questi anni di lontananza.
Ho ammirato la forte determinazione di Trent, la sua tenacia nel voler riconquistare Xavier, dopo essersi reso conto che la sua ambizione nel voler diventare un brillante chirurgo aveva finito per annullare tutto il resto, facendogli perdere l’unico uomo che avesse mai amato e lasciandogli in cambio una grande solitudine. Nello stesso tempo, mi ha colpito la sua malinconia nel ricordare il suo miglior amico e collega Byron che pochi mesi prima si era tolto la vita. Da questi ricordi emerge una certa fragilità da parte di Trent, la paura di fare la stessa fine del suo amico, vittima dell’ossessione per il lavoro, ma anche la generosità nel voler aiutare la famiglia di Byron, che ormai considera come sua. Tutti questi elementi mi hanno consentito di entrare ancor più in sintonia con questo protagonista.
Xavier è, a sua volta, un ragazzo testardo e insicuro nello stesso tempo. La reazione del giovane Trent gli ha procurato ferite che lo hanno condizionato nel corso degli anni, ha paura di esporsi di nuovo e soprattutto di capire quanta responsabilità ci sia stata da parte sua in quella rottura. Anche lui è cambiato col passare del tempo, ha sviluppato una nuova consapevolezza di sé, ma ha conservato quella generosità che lo ha sempre spinto ad aiutare e sostenere la sua famiglia.
Il riavvicinamento tra i due uomini è molto graduale, ma l’autrice è riuscita a coinvolgere il lettore in ogni tappa di questa ricostruzione di un rapporto che sembrava perduto, ma che è destinato a diventare probabilmente molto più forte di quanto sarebbe potuto essere se i due ragazzi non si fossero mai lasciati. Grazie a una forte componente introspettiva, capiamo come la lontananza abbia fatto maturare entrambi facendo loro comprendere quanto importante sia il loro legame.
Viene dato molto risalto al tema del razzismo, che Xavier, in quanto birazziale, subisce da entrambi i lati: «Essere cresciuto da una donna bianca aveva fatto diventare Xavier bersaglio di critiche e prese in giro. Gli veniva detto che si comportava e parlava da bianco e persino l'affetto che dimostrava per la nonna veniva additato come una smanceria da ragazzino bianco troppo ricco. Gli era stato detto che non si poteva rendere conto della realtà di essere un vero uomo di colore, anche se ogni persona che incontrava lo giudicava in primis dal colore della pelle, per quanto fosse birazziale, e lo trattava a seconda dei propri pregiudizi».
“Urgent Care” è, dunque, una storia molto bella sulle seconde possibilità che arrivano nel momento in cui si acquisisce la consapevolezza di quali siano le vere priorità nella propria vita: «Si sentiva dentro un tornado di speranza, amore e paura lancinante. Le sue emozioni erano pronte a esplodere, non gli rimaneva che chiudere gli occhi e sperare di sopravvivere. Un bacio fugace e dolcissimo. Una seconda possibilità».

[Feel The Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recensione a cura di Milady per Feel the Book

Voto 3,5

Ho scelto questo libro un po’ a scatola chiusa, non conoscendo l’autrice e non avendo mai letto una recensione che riguardi il suo operato, quindi ciò che dirò sarà privo di qualsivoglia influenza che possa pregiudicare il mio giudizio.

I protagonisti sono due giovani provenienti da ambienti diversi e in certa misura lontani tra loro, amici fin dall’infanzia trovano supporto e complicità l’uno nell’altro. Crescendo l’amicizia tra Xavier e Trent, questi i loro nomi, si trasforma in qualcosa di diverso e più profondo, al punto che decidono di andare allo stesso college per studiare medicina e intraprendere la carriera di medico, professione a cui si sentono entrambi chiamati.

Il destino avverso, o meglio i problemi di famiglia del primo e il carattere “fumino” del secondo portano però a una brutta rottura con conseguente allontanamento.

La storia inizia con il rincontro di Xavier e Trent dopo più di dieci anni dalla separazione, con tutto il rancore e le problematiche tra loro rimasti senza soluzione. La vita in questo lungo periodo è stata molto diversa per i due: il primo ha dovuto abbandonare i suoi sogni restando accanto alla famiglia per aiutarla in ogni modo possibile, in primis dal punto di vista economico, arrivando così a trent’anni con un semplice lavoro di giardiniere e studiando per diventare infermiere. Trent invece, anche grazie alla sua innata ambizione, è riuscito nel suo intento ed è diventato un chirurgo affermato, lasciando però lungo il cammino affetti e vita privata, ritrovandosi da solo a chiedersi se ne sia valsa la pena.

Mi è piaciuto come l’autrice sia riuscita a intrecciare passato e presente in modo fluido, aiutandoci così a comprendere molto bene le reazioni dei due giovani, la rabbia, la paura, le insicurezze che li contraddistinguono; anche il loro ritrovarsi, l’imparare a fidarsi di nuovo l’uno dell’altro è un crescendo, una riconquista lenta e faticosa.

Il mio giudizio quindi è positivo, anche se un piccolo appunto vorrei farlo: mentre leggevo la sinossi mi aveva incuriosito il fatto che uno dei protagonisti amasse usare, in alcune occasioni, abbigliamento femminile o biancheria sexy di pizzo, seta ecc. o anche un leggero make up, questo punto non è stato molto esplicitato, mi sarebbe piaciuto un maggiore approfondimento di questo aspetto del carattere, come anche è stato solo sfiorato ma mai affrontato in pieno il rapporto di dominazione e sottomissione che avvolge a volte i loro incontri.

In definitiva una storia piacevole, ben scritta, con bei personaggi che posso consigliare senza remore.

Editing a cura di Lilith.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like this all that much.

Never warmed up to Xavier, thought he was very selfish. All through the book all he did was punish Trent for something that happened 12 years ago, when they were 18.....18!! And at 30 years old he obviously hasn't grown up. All throughout I was just sat thinking God GET OVER YOURSELF! I would have happily liked Trent to walk away.

[Manuela Ghio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Con questo terzo volume della serie Hearts and Health torniamo ai toni divertenti e leggeri del primo libro e ci troviamo di fronte a una storia intrigante che si legge in scioltezza e che presenta due protagonisti accattivanti: Xavier James e Trent Cavendish. Entrambi sono ben caratterizzati ma quello che rimane sicuramente più impresso è Xavier dall’aspetto androgino e al tempo stesso mascolino che adora vestirsi di pizzo e seta e porta i capelli lunghi acconciati in treccine visto che è birazziale. Se a ciò ci aggiungete anche qualche accenno di kink, scene hot e passionali e un briciolo di angst avrete una storia movimentata e dolce che vi convincerà e che al tempo stesso vi parlerà di seconde occasioni in stile slow burn in ambito ospedaliero. Accanto a questo c’è il tema della riscoperta di due uomini che, dopo essere stati insieme da ragazzini e essersi lasciati per una serie di incomprensioni, devono accettare i loro errori, imparare da questi e fidarsi di nuovo l’uno dell’altro. Fondamentale in questo loro percorso è la scelta dell’autrice di usare i pov alternati che ci permette di conoscere meglio i due protagonisti. L’unico appunto da fare è forse il fatto che gli altri personaggi rimangono un po’ superficiali e meno caratterizzati di Xavier e Trent visto che il libro è incentrato quasi esclusivamente su di loro, ma a parte questo la storia funziona alla perfezione.
Trent Cavendish ritorna dopo dodici anni ad Ashe in seguito alla morte del suo migliore amico che lo porta a rimettersi in discussione e a rendersi conto di quanto sia vuota la sua vita. E’ riuscito a realizzare il suo sogno di diventare chirurgo, ma prova rimorso per aver lasciato Xavier il suo unico amore a causa di incomprensioni. Vorrebbe riconquistarlo ma si rende conto che dovrà riconquistare la sua fiducia e farsi perdonare, prima di poter anche solo pensare di avvicinarlo. Ma quando lo ritrova vestito di pizzo e seta in un locale gay l’attrazione riesplode forte come quando avevano diciotto anni.
Xavier non è più il giovane timido e insicuro che conosceva Trent, ma un uomo determinato che si sta impegnando per diventare infermiere diplomato e quando si ritrova a lavorare con il suo ex nella clinica in cui sta facendo apprendistato non si fida. Ha paura di soffrire di nuovo e il nuovo Trent gentile, dolce e disponibile non lo convince, anche se in lui risorge pian piano il sentimento d’amore mai sopito per Trent.
E’ bello assistere al loro lento riavvicinamento fatto di incertezze, passi falsi, orgoglio e che al tempo stesso nasconde le loro fragilità, le loro paure e i loro sensi di colpa. E’ un cammino credibile e anche molto umano e proprio per questo fa amare sia Xavier che Trent. La bravura dell’autrice sta infatti nel rendere chiaro che entrambi hanno sbagliato quando avevano diciotto anni e che la colpa della rottura non va imputata solo all’uno o all’altro ma che è frutto di cose non dette, di scelte più facili ma sbagliate che hanno provocato la rottura. Il riconoscere questo e il capire che è necessario cambiare per ritrovare l’altro è il messaggio che ci lascia questa storia dolce, passionale e intrigante. Lo consiglio.

[Anu · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, the third book in the series - here we meet Xavier (who was Zane's roommate in book 2) and his former boyfriend Trent.

Xavier and Trent were in love in high school but separated after graduation 12 years ago when Trent left for medical school and Xavier could not follow. A chance meeting at a club years later brings back memories and Xavier is not quite sure what to think. Then a few months later they meet at the hospital, Trent is a doctor and Xavier a nursing student. Over the next several months the two start a tentative affair, but things are made difficult by Trent's other responsibilities and Xavier's reluctance to trust Trent after all these years.

This book takes place concurrent with the previous one to start with and the story spans several months. I actually found Xavier's distrust of Trent a little irritating, it went on a little too long - nothing short of Trent abandoning all his other responsibilities seemed to be enough for Xavier. It's a nice story but felt a little insular, we barely saw the couple interact with other people in a meaningful way - even though Zane and Paul make an appearance, it's superficial and doesn't really add to the story. Nice addition to the series though, I just liked Bedside Manner better :)

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I  loved this.. Xavier and Trent are hot together damm the books discriptions of them both would love to see. This reads along fantastically and then gets way hot at the ending with hot scenes that sizzles.
A huge wake up call but is it too late to win Xavier back.. I love this series..fantastic..
Xavier was a student nurse and was out on the prowl to get laid.. he was approached by a gorgeous guy, and the suprise on both since hed seen Trent 12 years past. Attractions buzzed between them. Ex boyfriends from high school..
Dr Trent was working at Xavier same urgent care clinc. Trent was a surgeon but opted for a change in his life.
Xavier was deeply hurt back then and now Trent wants to make things right with them again...
The Hospital organising a rural clinic trip Marge that it be a good play to matchmaker her good freind Trent with his crush.
Another fantastic book to the series, the author does an amazing job with writing a story that keeps you glued. Highly recommend. .

[Heather]

I don't know if this was supposed to be romantic or what. It was all kinds of meh for me as the characters dealt with the same conflict without much forward movement (trust) for the entire book. I'm still reading the series though because I have absolutely nothing on my romance TBR and I don't feel like reading professional development books right now (not that I log those on Goodreads anyway, if you're wondering. GR is just for the smut).

[mmreads430 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trent broke up with Xavier at their high school graduation when their plans to go to college together fell through, and 12 years later Xavier still bears the scars when Trent returns to town and wants to rekindle their relationship. Complication: Trent, now a doctor, and Xavier, a nursing student, have to work together. I really enjoyed this story about a second chance with characters that are more mature than when they were together the first time around, but perhaps even more attracted to each other and aware of what they want, but Xavier is also cautious and wary of risking his heart again. The characters are great, the story is engaging, and the heat level, with some mild kink, is turned up to high. Recommended!

[Kim Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time reading this author. This was a mm contemporary story set with a medical feel. I’ll read more from this series and author.

[Al Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but strung out

This is a good read except it seemed to strung out only to make it take up more pages
Trent sounds like one hellva too but also cared about others in life
I am not good at writing these so read the book.
Men you might get highly attentive to some of scenes be prepared
?

[Fontaine Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merci à Juno Publishing de leur confiance pour ce service presse sympathique.

On retrouve Xavier, colocataire de Zane et élève infirmier. Il a 30 ans et sa vie n’a pas toujours été facile. Cela ne l’a jamais empêché d’être la pour sa famille qu’il soutient du mieux qu’il peut en oubliant de vivre pour lui même. Il s’épuise à la tache.

J’adore le personnage de Xavier. Il est drôle, sympathique et surtout aimant. Un régal cet homme.

Trent Cavendish vient de vivre un drame et est retourné dans sa ville natale le seul endroit ou il c’est vraiment réellement chez lui. Son enfance n’a pas été toute rose et il ne rêver que d’une chose devenir chirurgiens. Il le réalise mais cela lui a coûté beaucoup. Chut je ne peux rien vous dire de plus.

Ensemble ne deux protagoniste vont nous entraîner dans leur histoire d’amour qui n’a jamais vraiment pris fin. Entre quiproquo et malentendu ils vont nous faire rire et pleurer. Ils sont souvent énervant mais tellement attendrissant qu’on les pardonne.

L’intrigue sympathique nous emmène dans les tourments de l’amour et les affres de la passion mélangé à l’angoisse que le passé se répète. Seul petit bémol il y a beaucoup de répétition. J’ai eu l’impression de lire cinquante fois la même chose surtout quand les héros parlent de leurs angoisses et de leurs passés.

La plume addictive de l’auteure nous emmène au fil des pages dans un mélange de douceur, de peur, d’incertitude, de passion et d’amour.

Ce fut un très bon moment de lecture. Une petite romance toute douce et toute mignonne qui ce lit vite. Je ne peux vous en dire plus car le résumé vous donne déjà suffisamment de détail sur le livre. Donc pour conclure je vous dirais juste de vous laisser aller a découvrir l’histoire de Xavier et Trent qui donne le sourire et fait passer un agréable moment.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is HOT!

Urgent Care is book three in the Hearts and Health series but it can be read as a standalone with no problem (you should read the first two books though, just because they are great stories).

I got hooked on DJ Jamison's books when I was offered an ARC of Catching Jaime last July and I've read every book she's put out since then.

Urgent Care is a second chance story; one of my favorite romance tropes. Xavier and Trent were together in high school but their relationship fell apart when Trent wanted to pursue his ambition to become a doctor and Trent needed to stay in their home town to help his family. Hurtful things were said they had no contact for twelve years. Trent has returned to Ashe to work and to try and get Xavier's forgiveness for how things ended when they were young. Xavier is afraid to trust Trent to not break his heart again.

I loved the heat between these two characters. Even though Xavier's heart and mind are reluctant to trust Trent again, other body parts are totally on board. Trent is finally making progress with getting Xavier to trust him again when life throws him a curve that jeopardizes all he's been working for.

This story grabbed me from the very beginning and once I started reading it I didn't put it down until I was finished. I loved DJ's writing from the very first story I read but I think she keeps getting better and better. I also like that she usually writes an epilogue; the one for Urgent Care is great. I love getting another glimpse of the character's lives a few months or more down the road.

If you like M/M stories with a good amount of heat and great story lines, you should give her books a try; I don't think you'll be sorry.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

[Stéph62Hapiot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bon tome 3

J'ai beaucoup aimé le couple et surtout le fait que Xavier ne facilite pas les choses à Trent.
Les différents aspects de la personnalité de Xavier sont excellents. Ce personnage est vraiment intéressant et j'en voulais plus encore.
J'aurais juste souhaité que ce soit un peu plus approfondi et certains points moins facilités mais je recommande cette série. Hâte de lire les prochains tomes

[~nikki the recovering book addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best =[

I love DJ Jamison's work but this wasn't one of the better ones. A little disappointed actually. Boo =[[ hope the next one's better

[Penumbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Urgent Care Is the third book in the series ‘Hearts and Health’. It stars Xavier James, who is a nursing student, and Trent Cavendish, a surgeon. This story is told in third person from both Xavier and Trent’s povs.



The plot takes place over a year and the chapters are divided up by month, meaning there are jumps in time.

Quick rundown of the story. Xavier and Trent were boyfriends in high school, they’d planned to go away to college together to become doctors, but family circumstances and finances made it impossible for Xavier to go. He and Trent had a huge fight with Trent saying some very mean things. They haven’t spoken in almost fifteen years and Trent is back in town, wanting to hook up again. Xavier wants nothing to do with Trent, but finds out that Trent is a doctor at the hospital where Xavier is a student nurse. Circumstances bring them together and all the while Trent is trying to wiggle his way back into Xavier’s affections.

Xavier, who’s thirty, wanted to become a doctor, but wasn’t able to so he studied to become a nurse. He carries around a lot of hurt with the mean things Trent said when they broke up, and how Trent never responded to him after he left. Trent returns to town explaining he came back for Xavier, which is actually a lie. He came back because of something that happened in his life. I didn’t care for Trent, he assumed he could just walk back into Xavier’s life and start over because he wanted it. He didn’t consider Xavier’s feelings but kept pushing. Trent has an arrogant personality. Xavier was weak and forgave Trent much too quickly. I never like stories where one character forgives another too quickly. Xavier harbored over a decade of bad feelings and in a few months, he was getting physically involved with Trent again. I never believed them as a couple.

There is too much monologue in this story, especially for the first half of the book. The author could have cut about a quarter of the monologue and it would have been less boring. Instead, the story read like someone was telling me what the characters thought and felt instead of pulling me into the book and getting me to experience the feelings. That is the biggest problem, the large amount of monologue and the distance from the characters and actions. The author has the characters go into long rationalizations at the end of the story to explain away the hurt feelings but I didn’t buy it. It felt like trying to convince the readers by telling them rather than the characters coming to an epiphany.

A couple other items that I noticed, was that other characters repeated information. For instance, Xavier would talk about something about either nursing or his family and then later Trent would repeat the same thing, which I found unnecessary. Also at times, the pov was unclear.

So far, I’ve read this series in order and I found Urgent Care the least interesting book. There’s too much monologue, which keeps me at arm’s length from the characters and their emotions. The writing feels like I’m being told what’s happening instead of experiencing the story. I didn’t like Trent and thought Xavier gave in too easily. I didn’t believe in them as a couple. I give this story a weak 3 Stars, because at least I could finish reading it.

[Kochka94 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mon challenge "finissons les séries" toujours d'actualité, j'ai décidé de m'attaquer aux deux derniers tomes d'une série entamée au printemps 2022, que j'avais trouvée, à l'époque, agréable mais pas transcendante pour autant.

Après avoir relu très rapidement les résumés et mes retours sur les deux premiers tomes, je n'ai pas eu trop de mal à me plonger dans ce tome 3 consacré à Xavier, le coloc de Zane (du tome 2), les tomes pouvant globalement se lire de façon indépendante, même si le début de ce tome se passe un peu en parallèle du tome précédent.

Xavier, donc, 30 ans, qui finit sa dernière année d'études pour être infirmer, qui bosse en tant que paysagiste (même si j'ai plus eu l'impression d'un job d'employé municipal qu'autre chose), qui assume un peu à lui seul la charge familiale en s'occupant de sa grand-mère, de sa sœur et des deux enfants ados de celle-ci, et en gérant entre deux moments de libre (qu'on se demande bien où il peut les trouver d'ailleurs), les réparations dans la maison familiale.

Xavier qui ne s'est jamais vraiment remis de sa rupture, 12 ans plus tôt, avec Trent, son petit-ami de l'époque, son premier (et seul) amour, qui l'a quitté après 2 ans de relation parce qu'il n'a pas pu le suivre à l'université pour poursuivre les rêves qu'ils avaient construits ensemble : être médecin. Xavier a du faire un choix à l'époque, et il a choisi sa famille.

Xavier qui n'est donc pas vraiment préparé à se faire draguer par Trent dans le club gay où il est venu passer quelques heures, espérant trouver un coup rapide.

Trent , à 18 ans, a fait la plus grosse erreur de sa vie : il a quitté Xavier, qu'il n'a jamais réussi à oublier, pour suivre son rêve d'être chirurgien. Mais un évènement tragique le fait remettre en perspective l'ensemble de sa vie et revoir ses priorités. Et sa priorité numéro 1, c'est reconquérir Xavier. Et le croiser dans ce club gay le conforte dans son objectif : il sent au plus profond de lui que c'est l'homme de sa vie.

Et quelques mois plus tard, quand Trent, médecin dans la clinique de la ville, et Xavier, infirmier stagiaire, se recroisent, le passé va refaire surface.

J'avoue qu'au départ je n'étais pas vraiment convaincue par le couple, Trent qui déboule comme ça 12 ans après, décidé à récupérer son amour de jeunesse, je voyais vraiment ça comme un contre-coup de la perte qu'il avait subie, comme s'il se raccrochait à la seule personne qui l'avait rendu heureux pour sortir la tête hors de l'eau. Mais peu à peu, l'auteur n'ayant pas brusqué les choses, la "reconquête" prenant plusieurs mois, ils m'ont touchée, chacun finalement réalisant qu'en fait, ils étaient simplement très (trop ?) jeunes à l'époque, et que peut-être que cette séparation n'était que pour le mieux, leur permettant de se retrouver plus matures.

La tension sexuelle entre eux est forte, ce ne sont plus deux ados mais deux hommes de 30 ans qui ont eu le temps d'expérimenter et de savoir ce qu'ils aiment et ce qu'ils veulent, Xavier étant d'ailleurs un personnage assez intéressant de ce côté-là.

Bref, j'ai finalement passé un bon moment avec les deux hommes, avec cette histoire de seconde chance, de famille, d'amitié, de sexe, de dentelle et d'amour.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at https://scatteredthoughtsandrogueword...
3.5 out of 5 stars

This is the third in the Hearts and Health series by this author, and once again characters from the previous two books appear in minor supporting roles, but it is basically a stand-alone. I think this was my favorite of the series, and I enjoyed it, but still not a book I'd put on my re-read list.

Both of the MCs are in the medical profession in this book. Xavier James is a nursing student, a little older and with a lot more life experience that most of his peers. Dr. Trent Cavendish was Xavier's high school boyfriend, but he went on to college, medical school, and ultimately a career as a successful but workaholic surgeon. When Trent's best friend and fellow surgeon cracked under the pressure, it served as a wake up call to Trent, who took a good look at his life and where it was going and saw that it really held little meaning. So he decided to go back to the beginning, back to his hometown of Ashe, Kansas, and gave up surgery to work in an indigent care clinic. He and Xavier had been in love, but that blew up dramatically when Trent left town to go to school and Xavier stayed home to care for his family. Though the men hadn't spoken in 12 years, Trent still hoped that Xavier might be available to give him a second chance.

I really enjoy second chance stories, when you have the chance to reconnect with “the one that got away”. And I think this one was well done – both men certainly had changed quite a bit, and matured, and with that actually were able to recognize why it ended so badly all those years ago. The path back together required not only that they face those old truths (through wiser eyes), but also that they re-evaluate where they wanted to be, and how they wanted to get there. The character development was much stronger in this book than the others in the series, and I ended up liking these men quite a bit better as well. I also found Trent to be a much more sympathetic doctor than Paul in Bedside Manner. As in the other books in the series, the medical details were pretty authentic – I had to laugh about the process of granting emergency privileges to Trent in the rural hospital. I guess it could happen, but I couldn't help thinking that any non-medical readers were probably wondering what all the fuss was about.

Overall, a decent read. I haven't read the rest of the author's books set in Ashe, but I am sure fans of that series would enjoy this one as well.

[Faye Errington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urgent Care is book 3 in the Health & Hearts series
Each book can be standalones but are best read as a series

This is the second book I've read in the series and by this author, and wow these books just keep getting better
After reading Bedside Manner (Review Here) I was really excited to read Xavier's story, we know he is going through some stuff and I just could tell his book was going to be great... and damn it was that and more

Omg... I freaking adore Xavier, he is just an all round amazing guy
Trent... well, at first I really wanted to smack him!!
Some of the stuff he said to Xavier in anger really broke my heart... I felt the words and emotions as if they were aimed at me
Trent really broke X's heart

When Trent returns years later, I was so happy to see X didn't just give in and take him back... even though x clearly still loved Trent
X really makes Trent prove himself... and Trent did. He really turns himself around
I just fell in love with Trent from then on, he done everything in his power to make up for his past mistakes and for hurting X

Urgent Care is an absolutely amazing read, It feels so real reading it
I felt as if I was right there with the characters, I felt every emotion

Its not all hurt and heartache... its a beautiful story of two soulmates finally re-connecting and getting their happy ever after
Omg... Xavier was so freaking funny, he often had me smiling like a loon and laughing out loud

Fave quotes/parts- Xavier sat up and punched his pillow. "I'm imagining this is your face."
he turned a dirty look on Trent. :)

"I own a whole collection of lingerie. I save them for the men who get to see me naked."
Trent's laughter cut short, and Xavier concentrated on zipping up his bag and putting it in the corner of the closet. The whole time he felt Trent's eyes on him
"That was mean," Trent said finally. Xavier looked up with a smirk. "I know"
"Brat".

I absolutely loved every word of this book and can not wait for what comes next in this series
I'm not sure who's book will be next... I am hopeless romantic, So I am praying Xavier's nephew and Trent's kinda nephews will get together... ohh that would be so good
They both live in the same town now and X's nephew is a sweetheart and Trent's is kind of in a bad place... ohh the possibilities

DJ please write these guys a book :)

A Freaking Amazing Addition to a Brilliant Series... 5 Star

[Nevaeh Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first 2 books in the series, so naturally I jumped at the chance to read Urgent Care. It did not disappoint, I promise.

This is a second chances, enemies-to-lovers story, and the author managed to portray the reality of going from hating each other to deeply loving each other very convincingly.

I loved loved loved the character of Xavier! He's built like a bull, loves to glam it up with makeup, and likes to wear sexy lingerie. He can switch between submissive and badass dominant as the mood strikes him, and he is a nurse because he loves to take care of people. He's black (well, half black half white, but he looks black) and wears his hair in long dreads. He totally turned my crank on every single level, and it's been a long time I've read a book with such a strong, multifaceted, different character.

With Trevor it took a while before I got a handle on him, maybe because he was the one who walked away from Xavier in a display of extreme selfishness and overreaction (told from Xavier’s POV). That hurt Xav badly, so it took most of the book for me to wrap my head around the idea that it takes two to tangle (being vague here on purpose, no spoilers), and that just *maybe* he could be good enough for my baby— I mean Xavier.

Okay, okay, looking back he was perfect for Xavier, I can admit it now. Who else would have made my baby feel beautiful and appreciated when he caught Xav in “girly” lace and silk underwear? But I digress.

My only minor complaint is that in the previous book, Xavier comes across as quite a glamorous clash in contradictions, so I was looking forward to his book. And even though he is depicted as such, most of his story revolved around him at work where glamming it up is impossible, or him running himself ragged studying/maintaining his Gram’s house/caring for his family. That is not a bad thing at all, but I was a little disappointed that his love of makeup and sexy lingerie wasn’t more prominent.

On a developmental note: the story unfolded like a bulb opening its petals to the sun: organically and beautifully. The author has by now become a master storyteller after writing a dozen books, and I can honestly say she’s become a 1-click author for me. All her books are professionally edited and formatted, so all in all a pleasure to read on every level!

Book received from author as part of a giveaway draw. No review were required and these are my own, honest opinions.

[Molly Lolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review on Molly Lolly
Four stars!
This was such a good story. I enjoyed seeing Trent and Xavier get a second chance to be together. They built slowly and the tension between them right from the start was palpable as I read. This is my first book by Ms. Jamison and I enjoyed her storytelling. She gave me interesting characters and a story I didn’t want to put down. I’d definitely read something by her again. Maybe I’ll go back and read Zane and Paul’s story since it sounds really good from the hints we get in this story. While this is the third book in the series it can be read as a standalone. I wasn’t ever lost or confused as I was reading.

Xavier was someone that put others first almost all the time. He put his family first when he and Trent broke up and continued to do so for the next 10 years. He struggled to ensure he was healthy and happy and ran himself almost into the ground between school, rotations, his paying job and his family. Xavier’s hesitance to get back with Trent was easy to see as I read. I loved how he expressed his gender fluidity. The different parts that make up who Xavier is were amazing to see as he shows Trent those sides. The lingerie though. That was my favorite.

Trent was lovely. He truly wanted to make things right in his life; both with Xavier and his work-life balance. He was focused on forgiveness from Xavier but you could feel how much he wanted to try again too. It was sweet how he gave Xavier time to truly forgive. I enjoyed the scene where Trent goes to Xavier’s Gran’s house and let both of the women in Xavier’s life talk to him however they wanted. It showed Trent truly was changed and focused on the needs of everyone, not just himself. I felt like he should have talked more about why he left Kansas City. Especially with people that the hospital and with Xavier. Everyone would have been more understanding if they knew more of the circumstances and his feelings on being a surgeon.

Xavier an Trent are so good together. They take their time getting there but it makes for a stronger connection because of their past. I did wonder how long it would take them to get there. But I enjoyed the journey. They have such a sweet happily ever after. You can tell they’re going to make it long term and won’t let anything get in the way of them being together.