Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Won’t Feel a Thing 
SERIES: St. Cross #1
AUTHOR: CF White
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 62k
RELEASE DATE: July 31, 2018
BLURB:
It takes more than a doctor to mend a broken heart.
Ollie Warne is fresh out of nursing school and working his dream job as a paediatric cardiology nurse at St Cross Children’s Hospital. Wanting to start the New Year fresh from personal heartache and his track record of falling for the wrong man, Ollie’s New Year’s Resolution is to rid himself of emotional baggage and live a life of carefree liaisons.
But before the resolution can even begin, Ollie is called to care for eight-year-old Daisy Mallone struggling after heart surgery. Her father, Jacob Mallone, never leaves her side, apart from the times her mother comes to visit.
The tempestuous, and somewhat estranged, relationship of her parents are cause for concern enough but the brooding nature of the father has Ollie investing far more time than usual for his Room One patient. Striking up a friendship of sneaking takeaways into the ward, card playing until dawn and the occasional break up of domestic fights, Ollie finds himself drawn to Jacob and becomes a confessional sounding board for the man who is harbouring more guilt and past demons than even Ollie is, which is saying something.
The growing attraction makes it hard for Ollie to keep his distance, but he has to—not only do the ethics of his profession demand it… but Ollie is still somewhat involved with another man. One who has a huge stake in Ollie’s life, both personal and professional.
Ollie is risking more than just his job by getting involved with a patient’s father—much more even than the success of his New Year’s Resolution, something that is supposed to ensure that, this time, he won’t feel a thing.
REVIEW:
After always choosing the wrong person, Ollie’s new year’s resolution was to play the field and not feel a thing. Yeeaahh, that didn’t work out for him. Instead, he’s caught in, not so much a love triangle, but an emotionally fueled square.
There’s Oliver – the kind nurse who can put a smile on anyone’s face.
Dr Rawlings – The man Ollie has finished with, who doesn’t accept it. He’s also the guy who everyone swoons at, the moment he walks through the door.
Jacob – The dad of a patient, who Ollie wants to have a relationship with, but it’s unethical.
Becky – Jacob’s ex-wife, who is seriously pissed off with her ex-husband, who only discovered he was gay after they were married.
The above people aren’t the only ones involved in the story. The full range make a well rounded cast, and one in particular, made me cry. Ollie’s dad has a huge impact on the emotional aspect of this story.
Dr Rawlings is a complicated man, who I get the impression has a bigger story to tell. In this, book one of the series, he is a manipulating bastard who Ollie is trying to get away from. Jacob is sweet and is trying to be a good father. His ex-wife sees him one way, Ollie another. Neither man can deny the sexual chemistry between them. Yes, the inevitable happens – and delicious it is too. A relationship with a patient’s father is complicated enough, but add in the hold Dr Rawlings has over Ollie and something has to give.
Told from Ollie’s POV – The early chapters focus on the slowly developing between Jacob and Ollie, as well as Ollie attempting to give Elliot the ‘it’s over’ talk. In true novel style, everything hots up later. While reading, my emotions were all over the place – and I loved it. Parts were utterly heart wrenching, and there were a couple of surprises, too.
My apologies for some of the general points here, but I hate giving away spoilers, unless there is no option.
For a relatively simple concept, the story was expertly written, an emotional minefield and a delight to read.
RATING: 
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