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JL Merrow
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Wake Up Call (Porthkennack Book 1) Kindle Edition

by JL Merrow (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 337 ratings
The stories in the Porthkennack universe can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!

South London mechanic Devan Thompson has gone to Porthkennack to track down someone he’s been waiting all his life to know. But Dev’s distracted from his quest by Kyle, a broodingly handsome local of only a few months, who’s already got a reputation as an alcoholic because of his strange behaviour — including a habit of collapsing in the street.

Kyle Anthony fled to Porthkennack to escape from the ruins of his life. Still raging against his diagnosis of narcolepsy — a condition that’s cost him his job as a barrister, his lover, and all chance of normality—the last thing he wants is another relationship that’s doomed to fail. But Dev’s easy-going acceptance and adaptability, not to mention his good looks, have Kyle breaking all his self-imposed rules.

When disaster strikes Dev’s adored little sister, Kyle steps up to the plate, and Dev sees a side of his lover he wasn’t prepared for: competent, professional — and way out of Dev’s league. With one man determined that they don’t have a future, and the other fearing it, life after Porthkennack is starting to look bleak for both of them.

* * * * * * *

Word count: 84,800; page count: 320
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  1. Book 1 of 11
    Porthkennack
  2. Print length
    278 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    April 15, 2017
  6. File size
    2.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Shop this series

 See full series
There are 11 books in this series.
3 unreleased or unavailable books are excluded.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Merrow navigates [her characters'] interpersonal concerns supremely well, making each hiccup feel real and raw. Her treatment of chronic illness elicits real empathy...This tale of deep characters with real problems is a genuine treat for fans of contemporary romance - Publishers Weekly

There's plenty of adventure along the way involving both friends and family members who provide a wonderful cast of secondary characters and a strong and realistic storyline.
Highly recommend this one to all lovers of MM romance, and especially to those who enjoy stories set in the UK - Hearts on Fire Reviews The chemistry between Dev and Kyle was amazing... I really enjoyed this book! It was sweet and fun and relatable, with some angst to keep things interesting - Bayou Book Junkie

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071CJDC66
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Riptide Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 15, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1626495401
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 11 ‏ : ‎ Porthkennack
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 337 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
JL Merrow

JL Merrow

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JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again.

She writes (mostly) contemporary gay romance and mysteries, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy, and several of her books have been EPIC Awards finalists, including Muscling Through, Relief Valve (the Plumber’s Mate Mysteries) and To Love a Traitor.

JL Merrow is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, International Thriller Writers, Verulam Writers and the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.

Find JL Merrow online at: https://jlmerrow.com/, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
337 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this book's readability and find the characters engaging. Moreover, the story receives positive feedback as an epic love tale. However, several customers mention issues with misunderstandings throughout the narrative.

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ReadabilityCharacter developmentStory qualityMisunderstandings
12 customers mention "Readability"10 positive2 negative

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable, with one mentioning it's highly recommended for its brooding style.

"...Fun and a good read" Read more

"I loved this one! I like JL Merrow generally but this is particularly good...." Read more

"A great, authentic story with characters that have the grit and tenderness you want to connect with." Read more

"I greatly enjoyed this book (often reading literature in the gay male genre) even though the intimate scenes were light the emotional build up of..." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters engaging, with one noting that the author gets their individual voices just right.

"...Dev was just a ray of sunshine and I felt for Kyle. I liked the secondary characters too, and the setting, which seemed like a character in it's..." Read more

"A great, authentic story with characters that have the grit and tenderness you want to connect with." Read more

"Kyle and Dev's story is wonderfully entertaining.The supporting characters are great...." Read more

"...It was a great story. I love these guys, and the secondary characters were just as good. Definitely a great read!" Read more

7 customers mention "Story quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as an epic love story.

"Dev and Kyle have an epic love story here at the sea, complete with illness and sadness and misunderstandings, AND a lovely HEA complete with..." Read more

"Kyle and Dev's story is wonderfully entertaining.The supporting characters are great...." Read more

"Sweet story. I would have liked a little more in depth to the characters, a bit longer scenes of their relationship developing...." Read more

"...It was a great story. I love these guys, and the secondary characters were just as good. Definitely a great read!" Read more

3 customers mention "Misunderstandings"0 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed feelings about the misunderstandings in the book.

"There were a lot of misunderstandings between the two men that made them both show very bad communication skills...." Read more

"Unrelenting pain, anxieties, and misunderstandings. Triggers everywhere...." Read more

"...A couple of misunderstandings, but minimal angst. Will possibly look at reading the next book in the series." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Hist Rom Lover
    4.0 out of 5 stars Odd premise but great love story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A man with narcolepsy hides from the world as he tries to adapt to his illness and the disability it brings. He meets a man who is all wrong for him, younger and much rougher, but who brings a bit of sunshine into what had become a bit of a dark life. Fun and a good read
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  • amf0001
    5.0 out of 5 stars Slow burn, satisfying romance
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this one! I like JL Merrow generally but this is particularly good. It's very slow to start, the main characters don't even meet for a while, and Merrow gets their individual voices just right. I learnt about narcolepsy and cataplexy. Always good to learn stuff! But also saw two sensitive souls make each other better. Dev was just a ray of sunshine and I felt for Kyle. I liked the secondary characters too, and the setting, which seemed like a character in it's own right. I rarely give 5 star reviews but this felt so satisfying, I was sad to to see them go and would love to meet them again in someone elses romance..
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  • Don
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    good
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  • Thom K.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh, gritty and redemptive story
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A great, authentic story with characters that have the grit and tenderness you want to connect with.
    Helpful
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  • Rebecca
    5.0 out of 5 stars delightful!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Dev and Kyle have an epic love story here at the sea, complete with illness and sadness and misunderstandings, AND a lovely HEA complete with awesome friends!
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  • D. Moore
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good story
    Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    There were a lot of misunderstandings between the two men that made them both show very bad communication skills. But both jumped right in when the other needed them or on Dev's case, stuck around and handled the 'naps' without making a big deal out of them.
    Editing was good too - which accounts for one of the stars as that is very important!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kenneth A. Hewett
    5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't want this book to end
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Kyle and Dev's story is wonderfully entertaining.The supporting characters are great. I love reading books that take place in another country as you always learn something new. The scenes described by the sea make me want to visit there. This is not a simple book to read with a lot of sub plots. I 'am very glad I read this book and you will be too.
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  • A. Adams
    3.0 out of 5 stars 3 stars
    Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2017
    ~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
    The blurb of this book had me thinking this would be a good book. The best thing about this book is the blurb. The book was so wordy and honestly very boring. I found myself skimming hoping that things would pick up but they never did. I felt no connection to either main character and then all the side stories and secondary characters, it just didn't work for me at all.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • G Knight
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Well written, all round story. Definitely worth a read. The plot is much better than some kyher similar books, and I liked the characterisation.
    Report
  • Charles Hall
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it and Dev
    Reviewed in Canada on April 28, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Okay, this is Dev and Kyle's story, but it is Dev you fall for. Ms. Merrow has a way of giving the non posh classes of the U.K. a voice and making them real. It was a little harder to feel for Kyle, despite his illness, as Ms. Merrow seems to have more of an issue with the posh English class. However, you will enjoy the book, and the secondary characters really do come to life, as does the Cornish countryside. Some reviewers had an issue with the Brit slang, but it was not an issue for me (only looked up one slang term - grock), and it is essential to telling the story with authenticity. Give it a try and enjoy a trip to the U.K.
    Report
  • Serin6
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, strong plot and dialogue.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Great read, plot and dialogue lively and realistic. Well-researched. The Porthkennack series is written by several different authors, all M/M romance themed, and has got to number 9 now - also by J L Merrow I think.
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  • Paul london
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A good read good storey nice to have it set in Cornwall.
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  • RF
    5.0 out of 5 stars Atmospheric and touching
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This was a romance that was thoughtful and hot! I especially enjoyed the characterisations that gave depth to all the characters, both the main ones and the secondary.
    I can't comment on the representation of narcolepsy, but it felt well done.
    There was a strong sense of place- this wasn't the first of the Porthkennack books that I had read, but it was one that I have already returned to later when reading some of the others to help cement my feeling of the environment and atmosphere.
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