This was more a sister story than a sequel to the first book in this series. They have many of the same characters, but the main protagonists change. This one flows Noah and Matt. Noah is the biracial son of a rich politician... he's also gay, so of course his father uses his mixed race and sexual orientation as a campaign tactic, which Noah clearly resents. As a way of irritating his father he agrees to be the fake boyfriend of Matt. Matt is a pro football player who was forcefully outed by the tabloid media. He loses his job with his current team on a morality cause, but everyone knows he was because Matt is gay.

His friend and agent Damon convinces him that he needs to clean up his image and portray himself as someone in a relationship rather than a guy who has random hook-ups at clubs.

Matt and Noah struggle to be fake boyfriend, mostly because they are both attracted to one another and it frightens them.

What I liked about this book was the backstory for the main characters as well as the struggle. Again, it wasn't overly angsty. There was time to develop the plot and relationship without it being too quick or drag on too long. Very good narration; I felt the characters come through.

When Copper Point's one and only surgical nurse Simon gets talked into picking up Dr. (Jack) Hong-Wei Wu the newest addition to the hospital's staff, the last thing he's expecting is that he's also picking up the newest complication in his life.

Simon's lived in Copper Point all his life only leaving to complete his education and then returning to work in the local hospital alongside Owen and Jared, his current roommates and best friends.

While this didn't turn out to be one of my favorite Heidi Cullinan stories it was still a really enjoyable listening experience and not just because of the solid narration provided by Iggy Toma. 

This is only my fourth time listening to an audio book narrated by Iggy Toma and while I'm not sure that I'd say I've warmed up to this narrator quite as much as some others I can also say I've not been disappointed by him and listening to books that he's narrated is by no means a hardship. 

I liked Simon with his sweet helpful ways. He was for me the kind of person who should be a nurse being caring and kind was a natural instinct for him and not something that he needed to think about and his passion for Asian pop culture was simply adorable.

Dr. Wu was attracted to Simon the minute he laid eyes on him and every time Simon opened his mouth to speak he fell under Simon's spell a little bit more and yet in spit of this their's was not a case of insta-love and these two men took time to get to know each other and develop a friendship that just naturally progressed into love.

While Simon wants to stay in the closet in order to keep his job. Dr. Wu is determined to see where things go with him and Simon and without having it cost Simon his job. The biggest drama in Simon and Jack's relationship is the hospital's 'no fraternizing' policy that sees employee's fired as soon as a transgression occurs...which, really? In a small town, and this is a small town, it's like asking for a staffing shortage. Sadly the stringent enforcement of this rule was a very real fear for Simon to have. But what Simon doesn't realize is that when you live in a small town like this and you work in an environment such as a hospital people become a very close knit group...almost like family and when things get tough...well, family true family always has your back.

I enjoyed Simon and Jack's story and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them as the series continues and we get Owen and Jared's stories...what can I say this is the beauty of audio books they come out after a book is written and the reader/listener gets to know what's coming next.

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An audio book of "The Doctor's Secret" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes you have to play love by ear.

Aaron Seavers is a pathetic mess, and he knows it. He lives in terror of incurring his father’s wrath and disappointing his mother, and he can’t stop dithering about where to go to college—with fall term only weeks away. Ditched by a friend at a miserable summer farewell party, all he can do is get drunk in the laundry room and regret he was ever born. Until a geeky-cute classmate lifts his spirits, leaving him confident of two things: his sexual orientation, and where he’s headed to school.

Giles Mulder can’t wait to get the hell out of Oak Grove, Minnesota, and off to college, where he plans to play his violin and figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. But when Aaron appears on campus, memories of hometown hazing threaten what he’d hoped would be his haven. As the semester wears on, their attraction crescendos from double-cautious to a rich, swelling chord. But if more than one set of controlling parents have their way, the music of their love could come to a shattering end. 

Review

So good! Heidi Cullinan is taking all my money.

Giles and Aaron are young and finding themselves. The stumble a great deal. Aaron very shy and lonely though on the outside he doesn't look it. Giles is very brave with everything but his heart.

They don't take enough risks with each other at first but as they grow into themselves they grown into friendship and a deep abiding love.

This is a really grand romance.

The whole cast is wonderful.

Great series. Great book.

Love doesn’t come with a syllabus.

Kelly Davidson has waited forever to graduate high school and get out of his small-minded, small town. But when he arrives at Hope University, he realizes finding Prince Charming isn’t so easy. Everyone here is already out. In fact, Kelly could be the only virgin on campus. Worst of all, he’s landed gay campus Casanova as a roommate, whose bed might as well be equipped with a revolving door.

Walter Lucas doesn’t believe in storybook love. Everyone is better off having as much fun as possible with as many people as possible…except his shy, sad little sack of a roommate is seriously screwing up his world view. As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, staying just friends is harder than he anticipated. He discovers love is a crash course in determination. To make the grade, he’ll have to finally show up for class…and overcome his fear that love was never meant to last.

Review

 am pretty convinced that Heidi Cullinan can't write a bad book,.

This is a lovely New Adult romance with a shy hero and and a not shy hero. The hero with the chip on his shoulder ends up being super nurturing and kind. The shy hero ends up being mega sexy.

I love this romance which looks at intimacy and falling in love along with the real dramas of becoming a grown up. 

Good stuff!