Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: When One Door Opens
AUTHOR: JD Ruskin
NARRATOR: K.C. Kelly
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
RELEASE DATE: August 5, 2014
LENGTH: 8 hours, 50 minutes
BLURB:
Logan Sellers’ parole officer has issued three commandments: Stay sober, stay employed, and stay out of trouble. At first, Logan thought those three simple rules would be easy to follow. But that was before he accepted a side job assisting his boss’ housebound agoraphobic nephew Caleb.
Caleb is deceptively normal for a guy who hasn’t left his apartment in three years, and his friendly, caring personality tugs on heartstrings Logan didn’t know he had. But hitting on his boss’ nephew is asking to be unemployed. Logan has enough problems with booze on every corner and a supervisor trying to jump into his bed. He doesn’t need to work out how to free Caleb from the anxiety that keeps him in his apartment; he needs to keep his nose clean, attend his AA meetings, and make a fresh start –alone.
If only his heart would get with the program.
REVIEW:
I really liked this book, the characters and the plot. I love second chance stories, and reading about people overcoming their fears and When One Door Opens brought that to me.
Two men, both deeply troubled, one former alcoholic recently out on parole and the other severely agoraphobic prone to debilitating panic attacks. Their friendship, let alone romance shouldn’t work but it does. When they meet there’s an immediate but reluctant attraction from both sides and after a few mishaps an unlikely friendship develops between these two men.
Logan is one year sober, out on parole and working hard to stay that way. But having a supervisor out to get him, isn’t helping matters. Especially since she seems to go to any lengths necessary to get what she wants. Add in a special assignment from the Boss to check up on his agoraphobic nephew and Logan is in for a challenge.
Caleb hasn’t left his building in three years. The only visitors are his uncle, the man delivering his groceries and once in a while his elderly neighbour. Only the new delivery guy isn’t as easy to fool or chase away as the previous one was and soon they start to form a tentative friendship.
I loved how there were no judgements about Caleb’s disabilities or about Logan’s incarceration or alcoholism. They’re never excused or glossed over, they are facts but it doesn’t define neither Caleb nor Logan, who they are at the core. Sure they struggle and stumble, but that’s part of being human, being alive. It added credibility to their story.
Caleb and Logan were good together. I liked how Logan tried to help Caleb slowly coming out of his shell. To start being a part of the world again and in doing so starting to put someone else first before himself. They worked well together as a couple and got each other and the other’s insecurities instinctively.
This might have been the my first K.C. Kelly narration and I have to say he did a really good job with it. His voices were distinct and it was easy to follow along. My only problem is that his narration was a bit too slow. I’m an impatient reader so this didn’t fit me all too well. I also recognise this is on me and my own preferences.
When One Door Opens is a slow burn and quiet romance. It’s filled with hope and second chances and to never stop fighting for what you want or what’s right.
Recommended!
RATING: 
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