Prose Supplements - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$4.99 with 64 percent savings
Print List Price: $13.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $17.46

Save: $9.97 (57%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Cardeno C.
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Wake Me Up Inside (Mates Collection Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Cardeno C. (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,072 ratings
See all formats and editions
A powerful Alpha wolf shifter and a strong-willed human overcome traditions ingrained over generations and uncover long-buried secrets to fulfill their destiny as true mates.

Regarded as the strongest wolf shifter in generations, Alpha Zev Hassick is surprised and confused by his attraction to his best friend. His very human, very male best friend. A male shifter has to mate with a female shifter to keep his humanity, so shifters can’t be gay. Yet, everything inside Zev tells him Jonah is his true mate.

Maintaining a relationship with the man he has loved since childhood isn’t easy for Jonah Marvel, but he won’t let distance or Zev’s odd family get in their way. When unexplained ailments begin to plague Jonah, he needs to save his own life and sanity in order to have a future with Zev.

Zev and Jonah know they’re destined for each other, but they must overcome traditions ingrained over generations and long-buried secrets to fulfill their destiny.
 
Word count: 74,755
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 4
    Mates Collection
  2. Print length
    326 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 31, 2015
  5. File size
    3.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

See full series
See included books
Shop this series
There are 4 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
$14.97
Bundle price: Kindle price
$19.96
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

This option includes 3 books.

This option includes 4 books.

Something went wrong.
Please try again.
Bundle price: Kindle price
$14.97
Bundle price: Kindle price
$19.96
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  2. Johnnie (Siphon Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  3. Perfect Imperfections
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  4. Change of Heart
    Kindle Edition
    $6.99
  5. He Completes Me (Home Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  6. Bonded to the Alpha
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  10. Timber Pack Chronicles
    Kindle Edition
    $0.99
  12. Devotion (Forbes Mates Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  14. All of Me
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  15. Latakia
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  16. Duck! (Avian Shifters Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  18. Mated: Have a Little Faith
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
  19. The Return
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  22. Loveblood (Portland Pack Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
  27. Not a Game
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
Next page
Loading...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cardeno C.-CC to friends-is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few awwws into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0137I04VQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Romance Authors; 2nd edition (July 31, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 31, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,072 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Cardeno C.

Cardeno C.

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Cardeno C. - CC to friends - is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Heartwarming Stories. Strong Relationships. Forever Love.

www.cardenoc.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,072 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the storyline interesting and engaging. They describe the book as a great, powerful read with believable characters. Readers praise the writing quality as well-thought-out, well-written, and original. The writing style is described as great and thorough. The emotional depth of the story is appreciated, with touches of gut-clenching angst, gentle humor, and searing passion.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Story qualityReadabilityCharacter developmentWriting qualityWriting styleEmotional depthMatingPacing
63 customers mention "Story quality"56 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline with its mystery and intrigue. They appreciate the different twists from other shifter romances. The book is a decent read and a great start to a Shifter/Vampire romance series. Readers also mention that the sex scenes are described in a way that doesn't seem too graphic or gratuitous.

"...a bunch of erotica as there is actually a plot and even a little mystery involved... Plus, Cardeno C in my opinion is one of the better writers of..." Read more

"...With touches of gut-clenching angst, gentle humor, and searing passion, the path of Zev and Jonah's romance is fraught with a myriad conflicts and..." Read more

"...as she brings out the shifter paranormal true mates.. The storyline was strong and amazing. The main characters were well developed and intriguing...." Read more

"What an amazing story! I stumbled upon this novel looking for Shifter/Human Fated Mates storylines; a favorite of mine...." Read more

39 customers mention "Readability"39 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an engaging read with a decent plot and interesting characters. The author is considered one of the better writers in the m/m romance genre. Readers praise the original idea and consider the book refreshing.

"...little mystery involved... Plus, Cardeno C in my opinion is one of the better writers of this m/m genre...." Read more

"...both internal and external that were woven together into a very powerful read. It wasn't flawless, though...." Read more

"A sweet shifter book! Zev and Jonah were quite the adorable couple. They meet very young and they are sweet from age 1 and on...." Read more

"...I am happy I decided to read it. It was refreshing. It had a lot of aspects I look for in a story, PLUS a different view on shifters...." Read more

26 customers mention "Character development"26 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters and their emotions. They connect with the characters through their voices and passionate interactions. The emotional development is believable and unexpected, with a strong connection between Zev and Jonah from the first time they meet.

"...5 star because the writing is good, the story was interesting, I liked the characters, and I appreciate the author's ability to create a believable..." Read more

"...The main characters were well developed and intriguing. Zev is the Alpha of his pack, strong in stature and leadership!..." Read more

"...He did a good job of separating the characters using different voices and inflections...." Read more

"...same in this one, I still get a decent and interesting plot plus likable characters. I like the fact that Zev and Jonah story spans so many years...." Read more

15 customers mention "Writing quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to follow. They appreciate the believable characters and well-defined world. The story is described as original and genuine, with a plot that goes beyond just sex.

"...~*~ Stylistically unique and deeply emotional, the story of Zev and Jonah is told mostly through flashbacks of their lifelong history..." Read more

"...The two MCs are amazing. First off, they are both highly intelligent and - you know, except for the part that one is a shape shifter and the other..." Read more

"...The smex was nicely written & there were minor consistency issues with the paranormal plot line that were easy to forgive...." Read more

"...The story is well-written, easy to follow, and moves at a good pace...." Read more

12 customers mention "Writing style"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style and plot. They find the book well-written, with a well-defined world and believable characters. The author creates a great audiobook narration.

"...So, I gave this a 5 star because the writing is good, the story was interesting, I liked the characters, and I appreciate the author's ability to..." Read more

"...What really got to me is the incredible details and thoroughness of the author...." Read more

"...Highly recommended author Audiobook: Great narrator" Read more

"...There is some drama but we can’t be completely sappy. Writing is great, smexy was hawt, and side characters were ok" Read more

11 customers mention "Emotional depth"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the story emotionally engaging with its unique style. They find it heartfelt, soulful, and passionate, with touches of angst, humor, and passion. The book holds their attention with its gripping narrative and emotional depth. Readers appreciate the strong characters, drama, and family connections.

"...With touches of gut-clenching angst, gentle humor, and searing passion, the path of Zev and Jonah's romance is fraught with a myriad conflicts and..." Read more

"...Zev steps up to explain. It's a fascinating tale of true mates, true devotion, and absolute love...." Read more

"...'ll love joining them as the suspense winds to a climax that is so heart warming and true you'll wish you were there in person to watch it unfold...." Read more

"...I love a book that can keep me emotionally invested...." Read more

8 customers mention "Mating"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the shifter mating. They found it interesting and perfect. The book provided a new and fresh take on shifter lore.

"...This is a shifter world with a very interesting twist to the Mating of shifters. It has to do with the balance between human and animal...." Read more

"...Zev and Jonah were truly perfect together. Blondie and his Pup absolutely melted my heart!..." Read more

"...Cardeno C does this in spades. I found the shifter lore to be fascinating and one of the best examples of this type of story in the genre...." Read more

"...The author wrote about an incredible bond that began when Zev first discovered Jonah...." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing. Some find the plot well-paced with perfectly executed time skips. Others feel the story drags on and feels abrupt.

"...Nothing seemed rushed; especially when Jonah is finally told about the shifter is...." Read more

"...Then there was the ending. It was rushed for me. It felt to abrupt. I wanted more. I wanted to see Jonah meeting the rest of Zev's family...." Read more

"...It's a sad, slowly told story with glimpses of happiness. If they would communicate, things would have been simpler, loyalty to the Pack or not...." Read more

"...It just lost some of it's passion and somehow dragged more for me. And the wacky science at the end didn't help...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • iluvEdwardCullen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best shifter book I've read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    About 3600 locations and it took me about 4 1/2 hours to read...

    ... If you have read the books in Cardeno's Home Series and enjoyed those then I think you will like this one too. Yes, it's a shifter/paranormal book, but it's written in the same format so to speak as the Home series. If you haven't read Cardeno before, but like shifter books then I think you'll like this one because it isn't just a bunch of erotica as there is actually a plot and even a little mystery involved... Plus, Cardeno C in my opinion is one of the better writers of this m/m genre. Not as powerful/serious as Amy Lane, but Cardeno takes the cake on the sweet romance/soul-mate/love-at-first sight aspect. Now, as this is the first book in the Mates series there is a bit of "world" explaining involved, especially towards the beginning, but I think it adds to the relationship of Zev and Jonah rather than distracting from it because it involves memories/sort-of flash backs from how everything started. I don't know for sure, but I'm assuming this series is gonna be like the Home series and each book will technically be stand alone and focus on a different couple and I have a feeling book two will be Ethan and Miguel's story. We are introduced to them at the end of the book.

    So, I gave this a 5 star because the writing is good, the story was interesting, I liked the characters, and I appreciate the author's ability to create a believable story in a simplistic way where the love between the two main characters is the main focus.
    17 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Tracy
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Poignant Emotional Journey
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Zev Hassik is running out of time. The Alpha of the Etzgadol wolf shifter pack is young for his position, but at thirty, he's lived far longer than any male shifter ever has without tying with a female. And it's slowly killing him. Well, killing his humanity anyway. It's the nature of the beast, so to speak. The females of his kind are necessary to keep the males balanced between man and wolf.

    That balance is quickly slipping from Zev's grasp. If he doesn't tie, he will soon no longer be able to reclaim his human form after a shift. He will be forever lost to the wild inside him.

    Despite his family's worried intervention and what they feel is his inevitable fate, Zev has no intention of tying with any female. First of all, he's gay, though his family refuses to acknowledge it. Shifters aren't supposed to be able to be gay. If it weren't for one very important thing, even Zev would worry that he was abnormal and flawed, but Zev knows something that he hasn't even told his family. He has a true mate. A male, human true mate.

    A gift beyond price and rare to the extreme, Zev has held strong against his very nature for the promise of that future bonding with the man who has been his best friend since they were children. Jonah Marvel has always been his, Zev has loved him for years, but he had to let Jonah go when they graduated high school. Jonah had to leave town to follow his dream of becoming a doctor and Zev had to stay to take over the pack.

    Twelve years have passed now, though, years of struggle with the agony of being separated from his true mate. And if Jonah doesn't return soon, even a shifter as powerful as Zev will lose the battle to conquer the wolf inside him.

    ~*~

    Stylistically unique and deeply emotional, the story of Zev and Jonah is told mostly through flashbacks of their lifelong history with each other and the friendship, then more, that bind these two amazing men together so tightly. It was more than a book, it was a sweeping emotional journey through time and across two very different cultures and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    I don't normally favor books that have a lot of flashback scenes, and the first seventy percent or so of this book is mostly flashbacks, but in this case, it totally worked. It did more than work. I don't think the book would have been nearly as emotionally intense if it hadn't provided such a deep and rich history for the characters' and their lives from their first meeting as children through every haunting moment of their time apart as they grew into adults.

    Those flashbacks were my favorite part of the story, and that's not something I ever expected to say. With touches of gut-clenching angst, gentle humor, and searing passion, the path of Zev and Jonah's romance is fraught with a myriad conflicts and hazards both internal and external that were woven together into a very powerful read.

    It wasn't flawless, though. Even as the story captivated my emotions and held me in tense anticipation of the culmination of their relationship, there were things that niggled my more analytical side. For all that the pain and misery that both men went through while they were apart made for a gripping story, and as amazed as I was by Zev's utter selflessness and patience with Jonah, I got a little frustrated that Zev kept him in the dark for so long.

    If Jonah had known why it was so important that Zev withhold some specific things, or had even the first inkling of the sacrifice Zev was making for him, it may have eased some of the burden on both of them. It certainly could have prevented the most painful moments of fear, doubt, and recrimination, and all the subsequent bad decisions. It's not like Zev wasn't going to have to tell him eventually anyway, so the fact that he didn't when it could have helped bugged me.

    The few threads of external conflict that cropped up in the present timeline were also a little underwhelming. Light on development and a bit awkward in places, I couldn't quite connect with the ancillary plot threads that related to Jonah's mother. They offered a chance at creating some three dimensional conflict in the adult lives of the characters, but the execution wasn't as successful as I'd hoped. It lacked the gravitas and emotional complexity that had been present in the flashback scenes, so it never felt like it added much to the story.

    Don't get me wrong, it didn't detract much, either. The rocky, emotional road to Happily Ever After for Zev and Jonah was really enough to keep me fully entertained and leave me pleased with the read. I'm looking forward to continuing with the series and hope that future books will include at least some mention of both of them. I fell a bit in love with the guys in this book, and I'm dying to see how their lives progress from here.

    ~*~*~*~
    Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Blessedbybooks
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Wolf Awakens❤️
    Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    C Cardeno was one of my first authors that got me interested in the MM genre and I'm so glad I've come back to her works. This first book of a series was brilliant as she brings out the shifter paranormal true mates.. The storyline was strong and amazing. The main characters were well developed and intriguing. Zev is the Alpha of his pack, strong in stature and leadership! Years ago he had met a human while he was in his Wolf form at a year old. Each drawn to each other. As they grew older the two became best friends. Zev had always been told to stay away from humans but the pull towards each other was uncanny. Zev never followed the norms and when he comes out to his family as gay they lacked the understanding that this is highly possible. Jonah has always felt this pull as well, then upon graduation he tells Zev how he feels about him. Zev is confused, runs, until he realizes that Jonah is his true mate. But Jonah is supposed to leave the next day for college.. During his time in college Zev comes to visit him but it only intensifies their feelings. Both feel the strain of being a part, psychologically and physically. Jonah feels something is wrong with him like he's being torn apart. And Zev knows he can't tye with him until he completes his education. Their journey is full of bumps especially when Jonah starts to have nightmares of both his mother and Zev as wolves. Not understanding what is going on he feels like he is going crazy. Zev is determined to help Jonah and when Jonah finally comes home and they mate, the world rights itself. Jonah shifts during the mating process. Surprising to both but the questions arise about who Jonah's mother really was and what really happened to her. This was a very intense love story as Jonah finds his true self. His wolf awakens...Loved this story! Highly recommend❤️
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Fiona
    5.0 out of 5 stars Steady burn MM paranormal romance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Just as good second time of reading. Loved these guys together and learning about their story. Steady pace, good plot, sexy characters.
    Report
  • Susan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hot hot hot!
    Reviewed in Australia on June 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Couldn’t put this book down, late night reading because there was always a good part. Love the descriptive language about Jonah and Zev, especially the sexual parts.
    Report
  • Timber
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gänsehaut!
    Reviewed in Germany on October 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Was macht man, wenn man seinen Partner fürs Leben bereits in der frühen Kindheit gefunden hat und dieser auch noch ein Mensch ist? Richtig, man wartet.... und wartet,... und endlich kommt man zusammen. Gäbe es nicht noch weitere Probleme wäre die Geschichte bald zu ende.
    Dieses Buch zählt zu meinen Lieblingen, denn nichts ist so, wie man vielleicht am Anfang erwarten würde.
    Happy End und ein Wiedersehen mit einem Paar aus einem anderen Buch von Cardeno C. gibt es noch oben drauf!
    Klare Leseempfehlung!
    Report
  • Liash
    4.0 out of 5 stars An amazing story - however it was let down by the lack of closure at the end
    Reviewed in Australia on January 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This was a fantastic read - until the end, which let the book down. I wanted to give it 5 stars, but the ending was that much of a letdown that it ruined it and made me drop a star. I honestly considered a 3 star rating it frustrated and annoyed me that much! Let start at the beginning though:

    The worldbuilding was fantastic - this is my first book by this author in this world, and I'm not 100% sure what the reading order is between the different series', but the worldbuilding was done in a way that allowed this book to stand on it's own. I love the concept of the shifter pairs and the need to tie in order for the male shifter's wolf to calm, and the female's wolf to be let out. The physical world was well described and the shifters' love of nature and need to be in the woods shone through.

    Character development was very well done - we get great character depth, and the alternating POV give us great insight into both Jonah and Zev's thoughts, fears, feelings and dreams. The secondary characters were also well developed, and complemented our MCs well.

    The storyline was intriguing and unique - I've read shifter books and I've read MM, but this is my first shifter MM and I feel its really set the bar high for any future reads. I loved how Zev and Jonah met, and how both were drawn to the other without knowing why. I also really liked that Jonah was a strong and confident person, he didn't need help or protection from Zev, but still accepted it when Zev offered - and also that Zev offered and explained why he was stepping rather than just taking control and undermining Jonah. Jonah's background and the mystery of his ancestry were revealed in a way that was both easy to figure out, but also had a few twists that were revealed closer to the end which kept me intrigued and guessing.

    From the prologue I had expected that Zev hadn't seen Jonah in years, but was very glad that wasn't the case. This wasn't a story about Zev pining away hoping Jonah would return, the story starts when they are barely 1yr old and builds from there, showing the depth of their connection and bond, and when Jonah heads off to college, Zev has just realised that Jonah is his true mate and they embark on a long distance relationship. It's not easy being away from your mate though, especially for the length of time they are due to Jonah's medical studies and then residency, coupled with Zev's need to stay with the pack and take over from his father. They both suffer emotional and physical withdrawals from being away from their mate, and to top it off, Zev has to deal with his family pushing him to tie with a female, not believing him when he says he knows his true mate is out there waiting for him, or that he is gay despite him having come out to them over a decade ago.

    There are a lot of themes raised in this story, one of the biggest being the acceptance of the strongest Alpha known to the packs as gay and expecting a male mate. His family can't understand what they've never seen before, and Zev has a plan on how to prove it to his family, but Jonah needs to have finished his residency and moved back for them to do that due to the impact of the mate bond.

    This leads me to the ending - after the issue with Zev being gay, and also being the strongest Alpha they've ever seen, taking a very predominant place throughout the story, this was never closed out! The story ends with only his father, sister and brother-in-law knowing about their bond - the rest of their extended family and the pack don't know as that reveal never occurs! Don't get me wrong, it was lovely that it ends with them happy and talking about their future, but given how controversial Zev taking a male mate seemed to be, that was never closed out, nor was Jonah's place in the pack either. I know there are other books in this series, but from reading their blurbs, none of them seem to be about these characters or this pack - so for all intents and purposes this is a standalone that wasn't closed out - the main theme was left unresolved! It wouldn't have taken much to write another chapter about it, or even an epilogue further down the track that closed it out, or even just said they were still working to convince everyone that this was best for the pack. Everything else that Zev had done to break tradition in his pack had a huge benefit and the pack was better for it emotionally as well as financially - I wanted to see them become even more progressive and accept Zev and Jonah. I felt this was a major let down, and ruined what had been an amazing story with that lack of closure.
    Report
  • kindleaddict
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not just a love story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I love the way this book spans the whole of Zev and Jonah's lives. The characters are well developed with good support players. I look forward to catching up with the rest of this series.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report