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EMS #1
Sudden Response
Josephine (Joe for short) and Eric, the EMT crew of Echo 17 have been best friends since they were eight years old. They've been through a lot together over the years, but nothing like what they're about to experience.
As the only man in Joe's life it's Eric's job to be there for her and take care of her even while he drives her crazy, especially if he's driving her crazy. There's nothing he wouldn't do for her and when things go south he decides that maybe it's time that Joe moved on, but could he?
As the only man in Joe's life it's Eric's job to be there for her and take care of her even while he drives her crazy, especially if he's driving her crazy. There's nothing he wouldn't do for her and when things go south he decides that maybe it's time that Joe moved on, but could he?
215 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
312 people are currently reading
4086 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Mathewson
71books15.5kfollowersNew York Times Bestselling author, R.L. Mathewson was born in Massachusetts. She’s known for her humor, quick wit and ability to write relatable characters. She currently has several paranormal and contemporary romance series published including the Neighbor from Hell series.
Growing up, R.L. Mathewson was a painfully shy bookworm. After high school she attended college, worked as a bellhop, fast food cook, and a museum worker until she decided to take an EMT course. Working as an EMT helped her get over her shyness as well as left her with some fond memories and some rather disturbing ones that from time to time show up in one of her books.
Today, R.L. Mathewson is the single mother of two children that keep her on her toes. She has a bit of a romance novel addiction as well as a major hot chocolate addiction and on a perfect day, she combines the two.
In 2019/2020, R.L. Mathewson will be publishing Devastated, the first Anger Management novel, Tall, Dark & Furious, the 6th installment to the Pyte/Sentinel series, Irresistible, the long anticipated novel for the Neighbor from Hell Series as well as many more books throughout the year, paranormals, contemporaries, and YAs.
Growing up, R.L. Mathewson was a painfully shy bookworm. After high school she attended college, worked as a bellhop, fast food cook, and a museum worker until she decided to take an EMT course. Working as an EMT helped her get over her shyness as well as left her with some fond memories and some rather disturbing ones that from time to time show up in one of her books.
Today, R.L. Mathewson is the single mother of two children that keep her on her toes. She has a bit of a romance novel addiction as well as a major hot chocolate addiction and on a perfect day, she combines the two.
In 2019/2020, R.L. Mathewson will be publishing Devastated, the first Anger Management novel, Tall, Dark & Furious, the 6th installment to the Pyte/Sentinel series, Irresistible, the long anticipated novel for the Neighbor from Hell Series as well as many more books throughout the year, paranormals, contemporaries, and YAs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews
July 31, 2012
I am so happy to have discovered this Author!
I've only read three of her books so far, and I gotta tell ya, her humor is fantastic, and I can't get enough of her characters.
Joe & Eric are wonderful characters. They've been best friends since they were 8 years old. They met the first day Joe started at her new school when Eric shoved worms down Joe's dress, and Joe then proceeded to make Eric eat thus previously mentioned worms...they then proceeded to beat the crap out of each other.
Their relationship is amazing! They take the piss out of each other, can read each other so well, and when they work together-they are extremely professional when it needs to be serious (they're EMS Ambulance Paramedic's).
Their only problem is that they're in love with each other and they don't want to ruin their friendship if the romance doesn't work.
What an amazing ride to read!
Highly recommend this story.
I've only read three of her books so far, and I gotta tell ya, her humor is fantastic, and I can't get enough of her characters.
Joe & Eric are wonderful characters. They've been best friends since they were 8 years old. They met the first day Joe started at her new school when Eric shoved worms down Joe's dress, and Joe then proceeded to make Eric eat thus previously mentioned worms...they then proceeded to beat the crap out of each other.
Their relationship is amazing! They take the piss out of each other, can read each other so well, and when they work together-they are extremely professional when it needs to be serious (they're EMS Ambulance Paramedic's).
Their only problem is that they're in love with each other and they don't want to ruin their friendship if the romance doesn't work.
What an amazing ride to read!
Highly recommend this story.
March 7, 2012
Another enjoyable RLM book.
It was too cute that Eric and Joe (short for Josephine) who have been best friends since they were eight years old never realised that they actually were in love with each other all this while. They just assumed that the mutual cannot-live-without-you feelings were common between best friends.
But I must admit that their 'friendship' did kinda creep me out a little. I would not have been very touchy feely, snuggled, cuddled or sat on my guy bestfriend's lap (the way they did) and not giving out the wrong signals. Cause we all know that heterosexual girls and boys cannot be bestfriends without sex getting in the way. Glad that Eric and Joe finally discovered this facts.
That said, I loved their banters. Absolutely chucklisious.
"That better not be what I think it is," Joe mumbled in the dark.
It was. "It's not. Jeez, woman, someone's paranoid. It's my pocket light," he said, wincing. Ah, he was only human after all.
"Well, then your flashlight is growing. Jeez, Eric, put a leash on that thing before it stabs me!"
"But it likes you," he pouted.
Doesn't Eric reminds you of Jason Bradford in a bit there? Typical RLM's heroes, very adorable in a slightly twisted way. I'm gonna go and rummage more RLM books now.
It was too cute that Eric and Joe (short for Josephine) who have been best friends since they were eight years old never realised that they actually were in love with each other all this while. They just assumed that the mutual cannot-live-without-you feelings were common between best friends.
But I must admit that their 'friendship' did kinda creep me out a little. I would not have been very touchy feely, snuggled, cuddled or sat on my guy bestfriend's lap (the way they did) and not giving out the wrong signals. Cause we all know that heterosexual girls and boys cannot be bestfriends without sex getting in the way. Glad that Eric and Joe finally discovered this facts.
That said, I loved their banters. Absolutely chucklisious.
"That better not be what I think it is," Joe mumbled in the dark.
It was. "It's not. Jeez, woman, someone's paranoid. It's my pocket light," he said, wincing. Ah, he was only human after all.
"Well, then your flashlight is growing. Jeez, Eric, put a leash on that thing before it stabs me!"
"But it likes you," he pouted.
Doesn't Eric reminds you of Jason Bradford in a bit there? Typical RLM's heroes, very adorable in a slightly twisted way. I'm gonna go and rummage more RLM books now.
October 8, 2022
This is my third book by the author and they just keep getting better and better.
I really do love friends to lovers stories. There is such a rich history between Eric and Joe that you instantly feel the connection between them. I also loved learning of the history of how Eric & Joe became friends and how his family unofficially adopted her.
This was another case of almost wishing they wouldn’t get together because I didn’t want to see their friendship messed up, but at the same time they were together in every way but a physical one. When they finally got together it was perfect and natural that it was almost hard to believe that they had never gotten together and had any reservations at all. Eric had a few stupid bone-headed moments but he always made up for them. Eric's mother cracked me up. I loved her meddling ways and how much she loved her kids...all three of them.
I loved every moment of this book and I honestly can’t decide if I love Playing for Keeps or Sudden Response more. *whispering* I think it might be this one. :) I would love to read about Eric’s brother. I want him to get a HEA too.
Like the other two books by R.L. Mathewson, this will definitely be a re-read for me. :D
I really do love friends to lovers stories. There is such a rich history between Eric and Joe that you instantly feel the connection between them. I also loved learning of the history of how Eric & Joe became friends and how his family unofficially adopted her.
This was another case of almost wishing they wouldn’t get together because I didn’t want to see their friendship messed up, but at the same time they were together in every way but a physical one. When they finally got together it was perfect and natural that it was almost hard to believe that they had never gotten together and had any reservations at all. Eric had a few stupid bone-headed moments but he always made up for them. Eric's mother cracked me up. I loved her meddling ways and how much she loved her kids...all three of them.
I loved every moment of this book and I honestly can’t decide if I love Playing for Keeps or Sudden Response more. *whispering* I think it might be this one. :) I would love to read about Eric’s brother. I want him to get a HEA too.
Like the other two books by R.L. Mathewson, this will definitely be a re-read for me. :D
February 24, 2012
I cannot finish...yeah I know I am on page 143, but I just cannot do it!!!
I don't care if Joe (girl) and Eric end up together; in fact I don’t care about them at all because I am bored stiff reading their every inner thought over, and over, and over, and over. Okay so you get the idea.
This book didn't work for me at all, which is disappointing because the concept, friends to lovers, is one that usually a favorite of mine. IMO the story gets bogged down in the inane details. Sorry but I just don't care what is stocked in the back of an ambulance or what a mental patient goes thru when they are involuntarily committed. I JUST DON'T CARE; if I did I would Google it.
The one star is because I didn't like the book, but not because I don't like the author. I've read one of her NFH books and I will be reading the second book, I just couldn't get thru this one.
I don't care if Joe (girl) and Eric end up together; in fact I don’t care about them at all because I am bored stiff reading their every inner thought over, and over, and over, and over. Okay so you get the idea.
This book didn't work for me at all, which is disappointing because the concept, friends to lovers, is one that usually a favorite of mine. IMO the story gets bogged down in the inane details. Sorry but I just don't care what is stocked in the back of an ambulance or what a mental patient goes thru when they are involuntarily committed. I JUST DON'T CARE; if I did I would Google it.
The one star is because I didn't like the book, but not because I don't like the author. I've read one of her NFH books and I will be reading the second book, I just couldn't get thru this one.
February 19, 2012
This was another good book by this author and the best part it had a hero/heroine who knew each other very well and were best friends and there for each other whenever it counted and even EMT's. Yes, it took them a while for their friendship to turn into more but the feelings were always there but fear to change things stopped them. As always it has characters who are funny and not afraid to voice what they feel. The hero is over-protective and the heroine is not some weak lily who stands by it. I actually enjoyed the banter between these two and there were smoking hot moments as well.
July 27, 2017
3 maybe 3.5 stars
I'm not sure what to say.
It was funny, but I never laughed. It was adorable, but I didn't swoon. I liked the MCs, but they annoyed me with their push and pull. This best friends-lovers trope was a blend of and , but not nearly as good. Some unfinished sentences and a few grammar goofs. Sometimes repetitive. Some parts I really enjoyed; the H's protectiveness, their chemistry and their job. It was mentioned in passing about their other relationships, but they were both single and celibate, for a year, in the present.
Overall, I liked it but didn't love it.
I'm not sure what to say.
It was funny, but I never laughed. It was adorable, but I didn't swoon. I liked the MCs, but they annoyed me with their push and pull. This best friends-lovers trope was a blend of and , but not nearly as good. Some unfinished sentences and a few grammar goofs. Sometimes repetitive. Some parts I really enjoyed; the H's protectiveness, their chemistry and their job. It was mentioned in passing about their other relationships, but they were both single and celibate, for a year, in the present.
Overall, I liked it but didn't love it.
November 7, 2023
5 flawed but so enjoyable STARS!
4th re-read (A guilty, indulgent, favourite!)
What's it about? Jo and Eric have been best friends, two peas in a pod, since they were eight years old. They've been through a lot together over the years, and now as adults they both work as EMTs for Echo 17. But when Eric realises just how important Jo is to him, and how potentially dangerous their career could be to the one person he can't live without, he decides to take his role as Jo's protector to a whole new (and hilarious) level!
Best bit:
The connection between Jo and Eric, the depth of their friendship, trust and devotion to each other is palpable and jumps at you right off the page. RL Mathewson's humour and the fun she has with these characters practically contagious.
Worst bit:
Needs a good edit. Some spelling and grammatical errors that might grate on you if you are expecting a more polished product.
Recommended for:
Fans of the 'best-friends-to-lovers' trope, especially when the guy is absolutely clueless, stubborn and loyal to a fault. This one is a quick and easy read with plenty of giggles on the side.
4th re-read (A guilty, indulgent, favourite!)
What's it about? Jo and Eric have been best friends, two peas in a pod, since they were eight years old. They've been through a lot together over the years, and now as adults they both work as EMTs for Echo 17. But when Eric realises just how important Jo is to him, and how potentially dangerous their career could be to the one person he can't live without, he decides to take his role as Jo's protector to a whole new (and hilarious) level!
Best bit:
The connection between Jo and Eric, the depth of their friendship, trust and devotion to each other is palpable and jumps at you right off the page. RL Mathewson's humour and the fun she has with these characters practically contagious.
Worst bit:
Needs a good edit. Some spelling and grammatical errors that might grate on you if you are expecting a more polished product.
Recommended for:
Fans of the 'best-friends-to-lovers' trope, especially when the guy is absolutely clueless, stubborn and loyal to a fault. This one is a quick and easy read with plenty of giggles on the side.
February 19, 2012
I loved everything about this book. I know I say that about all of Mathewson's books but I REALLY LOVED this one. This author has very quickly become one of my favorites!!! It had me laughing from page one and I immediately fell in love with Eric and Joe as well as Nathan and Alice. (I hope Nathan gets his own book!!) The story was lovely, sweet, funny and "yummy". It's about two childhood friends who have done everything together, experienced milestones together and who love each other. The transition from best friends to being a couple was fab and very funny. The end had me crying along with Joe (who never cries): "Oh shit...he broke Joe" my crying quickly turned to hysterical laughter at that!! I really love Mathewson's sense of humor in her books and her writing is so REAL you feel it and suddenly a very sad moment is quickly turned into a hilarious one...The one liners are PURE CLASS!!! Oh and the epilogue BRILLIANT!!
March 18, 2018
Rating: 4 Stars
Characters Development: Great and hilarious main characters. They were great as best friends, they were even greater as a couple. Loved the hero's brother, hope he gets he own story eventually. (Although considering how long ago this book was released, it's unlikely.)
Steam: 4 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
September 4, 2013
It was a decent read. I haven't read a friends to lovers story in a while and this was a perfect read for me. A light, funny and sweet read; just the perfect combination if your head is messed up with too much angst and drama and you want a diversion....
OVERALL..I REALLY LIKED IT!
OVERALL..I REALLY LIKED IT!
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March 13, 2012
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
Hmm, what to write... Let’s see. This book was ok but not very thought provoking for me. is the 1st book of EMS series by R. L. Mathewson. I’ve never read a medical romance before so I thought the EMS part of the book was quite interesting. I didn’t find the information boring; rather thought RLM knows her stuff while I read it. It could’ve been good since it had RLM’s humorous, sometimes silly dialogues/scenes but I didn’t find the main characters that interesting. More often than not, I thought they were being immature or selfish or plain mean to other people. *sigh* I’ll try to explain as I go.
Josephine aka Joe and Eric are best friends since the age of 8. After some really scintillating introduction in the school, these two formed a bond that could make anyone envious. Joe’s mother was ‘not� the motherly sort, never really cared for her much. We never get to know about her father since he’s never mentioned. When Eric’s father came to have a look at the bully who fed his son worms (don’t ask!), he was never expecting a cute little girl. So wasn’t Nathan, Eric’s elder brother. They just fell in love with her there. Joe soon became a regular part of the family that consisted of their mother Alice, their father and the two brothers. She became kind of unofficially adopted to the family. A few years later, her mother was only happy to ditch her with the Parish family and leave town with her recent boyfriend. From then on, Joe has never heard anything from her in the last 15 yrs. Joe saw Nathan as her elder brother but with Eric, it’s a different story. Since they’re of the same age, Joe and Eric kinda became inseparable but they never saw each-other as siblings. As I read along, I felt that so far they did almost everything except sex. They like to touch each-other; one is always rolling on another, doing things like together as well. For example: they lost their virginity together, on the same day, on the same parking lot... just in two different cars and not to one another that is. They both knew about it of course. (FYI: I didn’t find this funny.) Eric actually knows Joe’s period cycle patterns, which is creepy when I think that they’re nothing but friends. But, I got that they have this unique sort of communication which made me envious from time to time, even though as characters both were annoying for the most part of the story.
So they grew up together, got into EMS together and spend the last 12 yrs being one-another’s partner in the calls. Good. But as I read about their thoughts about life, their relationships with other people and their own, I became more and more irritated. Eric or Joe, none has ever been in a serious relationship, through they’re 30. Eric doesn’t care for women unless it’s sex. I don’t even feel like calling his relationships that, a relationship. It was clear from his thoughts that he had always had the hots for Joe, so did she. Eric, as far as I got it, always compared his dates/gfs to her and they never reached his expectations, unreasonable as those were. Well, I really don’t know why Joe was so special, unless it’s all about her sexy body because personally, I thought Joe was rather annoying. She was always cranky, always going after someone’s butt. So, for Eric it was about sex most of the times and nothing else. He never sought for any serious relationship and treated his exs like crap. So did Joe. She also had the same ‘problem�, if I can call it that. I found it disturbing (and kind of pathetic) that she’d picture Eric while having sex with her partners, even to the one she lost her virginity to. I am not going to be nice because they weren’t nice. Eric got engaged to one of his gfs, not because he loved or cared for the woman, but because he wanted to end his obsession (and attraction) with Joe. Thus, it started with Joe and ended with Joe as a reason, just like all his other relationships. Yah, his gfs got mad when they saw them all touchy-feely with each-other and I couldn’t blame them for it. They even sleep together for crying out loud!! I mean what woman in her right mind would stand a thing like that, some other woman sitting on her bf’s lap and sleeping with him?! But to Eric, there was NO COMPROMISE about this situation so he plain dumped them. And, then there were his thoughts on how he didn’t give a crap about any other woman and how any f*cking other women in this whole wide world never begins to compare with Joe, all the while his comparisons bordering on rather humiliating IMO. Every time all these came up, I wanted to chase him with a broomstick! Jerk!! I don’t think he even remembered his gfs� names once he’s done with them, as didn’t Joe with her bfs� since the last bf, to her, was ‘that cop from Nashville� or something like that. Great! I get it that they have this deep relationship but does this give them the right to be so mean and insensitive to other people? No wonder I didn’t care for them.
I understood that Eric and Joe were rather well trained in their job and did it well, even then some of their activities I found insensitive. There was this one patient who had this... er, really embarrassing accident. Eric and Joe are there to see what happened. Ok, so it was very awkward and I was cringing because the man was in serious pain. Do you know what did they do? They were trying to hide their laughter seeing the man’s ordeal. OMG! I was speechless. Ok, maybe being in a job like that for such a long time, they’ve seen many things and that may have made them lose their sensitive side� I don’t know. I only know that I wanted to beat the hell out of them, that’s all.
We get to learn about Nathan too, who’s getting the next book of the series. Sadly, even though Nathan is nicer than Eric, relationship-wise he’s not far behind. He also dumps women left and right, without any specific reason at all. Eric’s mother is a nice woman; she’s always worried about her sons� dating disasters, and so she creates her own dating disasters by inviting random single women, who almost always comes off as creepy to the Parish brothers and Joe. Of course, both of them compare women to Joe (yes, even Nathan, for f*cks sake! I still don’t know WHY the f*ck she’s so special! *rolls eyes*) and found all of them either creepy or insubstantial. It got rather old and boring (and disturbing) after sometimes. If Nathan keeps comparing his heroine to Joe in his own book, I don’t know what the hell I’m gonna do. *makes a face here*
So, more into the story- Alice’s matchmaking schemes were going in vain. Nathan dumped another nice, pretty girl for nothing at all. While on another call, Joe and Eric have this close call with some psychotic patient which made Eric instantly fearful of Joe’s well being. So, he was planning to get her out of the job and do something less harmful. He even asks Nathan the big pushover, to help him on this but afraid of what Joe would do to them when she learns of them meddling. As I said, she’s always in a cranky mood and didn’t take anything she considers ‘meddling with her life� lightly. I don’t know if it was a bad case of PMS or something. Don’t look at me, even Eric made fun of it whenever she was in a cranky mood! Anyhooo, they kiss once or twice in between, one time almost doing it. Afterwards, they keep avoiding talking about that ‘freaky� situation and what that meant. Now, Eric keeps thinking of what would’ve happened, so did Joe. Both wants to have sex, badly, with each-other but Joe knows that even though he’s the best friend a girl could ever wish for, Eric is a piece of sh*t when it comes to relationships. Funny thing was that the whole situation had Eric thinking about the same thing, that he won’t ever be good enough or that he’d get bored of Joe after sometimes, as he did with all the other ‘available� women he’d slept with before. In return, he’d lose this relationship that means most to him. Joe is a big part of his family and the person he is, so there’s no living without her. Joe knew that losing this relationship would mean living without the only family she’d ever known (and Eric), so both are afraid to take it any further.
But this couldn’t go on of course, not when they’re almost always together. So, after a lot of dancing around for about 15 yrs of wanting to screw each-other, one day, in their bunker/room where they rest in between calls (yes, together), they just gave in. Both Joe and Eric were single at this point. Sex was hot, BTW. I can’t deny that. Eric was one sexy piece of a$$, even though in other areas of relationship he was a big NO NO. The next day, Joe was going away to for the dispatcher training. After knowing about Eric’s plan and thinking about her life thoroughly, Joe finally came to the conclusion that she needs some extra training, ‘if� she can’t do her job anymore. She always felt insecure because of how her mother left her and so, she didn’t want to be a burden to the Parish family. But Eric won’t come along with her. Joe can’t believe it. Eric would go with her EVERYWHERE, only to piss her off, if not anything else. It means a lot to have him around always but after one night of mind-blowing sex, he’s already distancing himself. Joe is hurt and pissed. She tries to bate him with fishing, a sport Eric loves as much as sex... well, that was my assumption. But she couldn’t tempt him even with that. So Joe just leaves. In Eric’s mind, the thing about not being good enough for her is going on. He knows she’s hurt but he can’t help it. They both need to think. From this point on, I sort of begin to enjoy the book because I felt that they were finally becoming serious about life and what their relationship ultimately meant. Nathan, who’s not very successful in his own relationships, comes out with his own confession of comparing the other women with Joe and asks Eric to not let her go. He points out that both of them had been in love with each-other for a long time and it’s time that they realize it. Of course both realized it but were just too scared to take the bigger steps.
Anyway, with a little help from Nathan and a healthy dose of groveling from Eric, soon they mend their fences. Eric is still as possessive about Joe as he was before. There were usual funny RLM style scenes, some of them I enjoyed in the last part of the book. They were now living together and already confessed their feelings for each-other. Joe feels that she needs to back out of this job and finishes her training as a dispatcher. Eric proposes. There was a big accident that they witness which involved a guy who appeared in the book from the first scene. He was throughout the book and worked under them as an EMT. It didn’t work out. Then he got hired in some other company but the whole thing ended in a big disaster. It was a nail-biting scene, and even though I felt sad, he made his bed and paid for it.
The epilogue takes place 4 yrs later. It was� I don’t know, nice. Alice is still bringing creepy women in, this time for Nathan, who’s still single, still dumping women left and right. Eric and Joe have a little girl and another one on the way... 3.75 stars. Even though I criticized the characters, all of those were only my opinion. I would NOT say it was a bad read or anything and am definitely looking forward to Nathan’s story. I need to see if he gets his own Joe or not... er, yah, well, I just need to know what happens to him that’s all. lol
Hmm, what to write... Let’s see. This book was ok but not very thought provoking for me. is the 1st book of EMS series by R. L. Mathewson. I’ve never read a medical romance before so I thought the EMS part of the book was quite interesting. I didn’t find the information boring; rather thought RLM knows her stuff while I read it. It could’ve been good since it had RLM’s humorous, sometimes silly dialogues/scenes but I didn’t find the main characters that interesting. More often than not, I thought they were being immature or selfish or plain mean to other people. *sigh* I’ll try to explain as I go.
Josephine aka Joe and Eric are best friends since the age of 8. After some really scintillating introduction in the school, these two formed a bond that could make anyone envious. Joe’s mother was ‘not� the motherly sort, never really cared for her much. We never get to know about her father since he’s never mentioned. When Eric’s father came to have a look at the bully who fed his son worms (don’t ask!), he was never expecting a cute little girl. So wasn’t Nathan, Eric’s elder brother. They just fell in love with her there. Joe soon became a regular part of the family that consisted of their mother Alice, their father and the two brothers. She became kind of unofficially adopted to the family. A few years later, her mother was only happy to ditch her with the Parish family and leave town with her recent boyfriend. From then on, Joe has never heard anything from her in the last 15 yrs. Joe saw Nathan as her elder brother but with Eric, it’s a different story. Since they’re of the same age, Joe and Eric kinda became inseparable but they never saw each-other as siblings. As I read along, I felt that so far they did almost everything except sex. They like to touch each-other; one is always rolling on another, doing things like together as well. For example: they lost their virginity together, on the same day, on the same parking lot... just in two different cars and not to one another that is. They both knew about it of course. (FYI: I didn’t find this funny.) Eric actually knows Joe’s period cycle patterns, which is creepy when I think that they’re nothing but friends. But, I got that they have this unique sort of communication which made me envious from time to time, even though as characters both were annoying for the most part of the story.
So they grew up together, got into EMS together and spend the last 12 yrs being one-another’s partner in the calls. Good. But as I read about their thoughts about life, their relationships with other people and their own, I became more and more irritated. Eric or Joe, none has ever been in a serious relationship, through they’re 30. Eric doesn’t care for women unless it’s sex. I don’t even feel like calling his relationships that, a relationship. It was clear from his thoughts that he had always had the hots for Joe, so did she. Eric, as far as I got it, always compared his dates/gfs to her and they never reached his expectations, unreasonable as those were. Well, I really don’t know why Joe was so special, unless it’s all about her sexy body because personally, I thought Joe was rather annoying. She was always cranky, always going after someone’s butt. So, for Eric it was about sex most of the times and nothing else. He never sought for any serious relationship and treated his exs like crap. So did Joe. She also had the same ‘problem�, if I can call it that. I found it disturbing (and kind of pathetic) that she’d picture Eric while having sex with her partners, even to the one she lost her virginity to. I am not going to be nice because they weren’t nice. Eric got engaged to one of his gfs, not because he loved or cared for the woman, but because he wanted to end his obsession (and attraction) with Joe. Thus, it started with Joe and ended with Joe as a reason, just like all his other relationships. Yah, his gfs got mad when they saw them all touchy-feely with each-other and I couldn’t blame them for it. They even sleep together for crying out loud!! I mean what woman in her right mind would stand a thing like that, some other woman sitting on her bf’s lap and sleeping with him?! But to Eric, there was NO COMPROMISE about this situation so he plain dumped them. And, then there were his thoughts on how he didn’t give a crap about any other woman and how any f*cking other women in this whole wide world never begins to compare with Joe, all the while his comparisons bordering on rather humiliating IMO. Every time all these came up, I wanted to chase him with a broomstick! Jerk!! I don’t think he even remembered his gfs� names once he’s done with them, as didn’t Joe with her bfs� since the last bf, to her, was ‘that cop from Nashville� or something like that. Great! I get it that they have this deep relationship but does this give them the right to be so mean and insensitive to other people? No wonder I didn’t care for them.
I understood that Eric and Joe were rather well trained in their job and did it well, even then some of their activities I found insensitive. There was this one patient who had this... er, really embarrassing accident. Eric and Joe are there to see what happened. Ok, so it was very awkward and I was cringing because the man was in serious pain. Do you know what did they do? They were trying to hide their laughter seeing the man’s ordeal. OMG! I was speechless. Ok, maybe being in a job like that for such a long time, they’ve seen many things and that may have made them lose their sensitive side� I don’t know. I only know that I wanted to beat the hell out of them, that’s all.
We get to learn about Nathan too, who’s getting the next book of the series. Sadly, even though Nathan is nicer than Eric, relationship-wise he’s not far behind. He also dumps women left and right, without any specific reason at all. Eric’s mother is a nice woman; she’s always worried about her sons� dating disasters, and so she creates her own dating disasters by inviting random single women, who almost always comes off as creepy to the Parish brothers and Joe. Of course, both of them compare women to Joe (yes, even Nathan, for f*cks sake! I still don’t know WHY the f*ck she’s so special! *rolls eyes*) and found all of them either creepy or insubstantial. It got rather old and boring (and disturbing) after sometimes. If Nathan keeps comparing his heroine to Joe in his own book, I don’t know what the hell I’m gonna do. *makes a face here*
So, more into the story- Alice’s matchmaking schemes were going in vain. Nathan dumped another nice, pretty girl for nothing at all. While on another call, Joe and Eric have this close call with some psychotic patient which made Eric instantly fearful of Joe’s well being. So, he was planning to get her out of the job and do something less harmful. He even asks Nathan the big pushover, to help him on this but afraid of what Joe would do to them when she learns of them meddling. As I said, she’s always in a cranky mood and didn’t take anything she considers ‘meddling with her life� lightly. I don’t know if it was a bad case of PMS or something. Don’t look at me, even Eric made fun of it whenever she was in a cranky mood! Anyhooo, they kiss once or twice in between, one time almost doing it. Afterwards, they keep avoiding talking about that ‘freaky� situation and what that meant. Now, Eric keeps thinking of what would’ve happened, so did Joe. Both wants to have sex, badly, with each-other but Joe knows that even though he’s the best friend a girl could ever wish for, Eric is a piece of sh*t when it comes to relationships. Funny thing was that the whole situation had Eric thinking about the same thing, that he won’t ever be good enough or that he’d get bored of Joe after sometimes, as he did with all the other ‘available� women he’d slept with before. In return, he’d lose this relationship that means most to him. Joe is a big part of his family and the person he is, so there’s no living without her. Joe knew that losing this relationship would mean living without the only family she’d ever known (and Eric), so both are afraid to take it any further.
But this couldn’t go on of course, not when they’re almost always together. So, after a lot of dancing around for about 15 yrs of wanting to screw each-other, one day, in their bunker/room where they rest in between calls (yes, together), they just gave in. Both Joe and Eric were single at this point. Sex was hot, BTW. I can’t deny that. Eric was one sexy piece of a$$, even though in other areas of relationship he was a big NO NO. The next day, Joe was going away to for the dispatcher training. After knowing about Eric’s plan and thinking about her life thoroughly, Joe finally came to the conclusion that she needs some extra training, ‘if� she can’t do her job anymore. She always felt insecure because of how her mother left her and so, she didn’t want to be a burden to the Parish family. But Eric won’t come along with her. Joe can’t believe it. Eric would go with her EVERYWHERE, only to piss her off, if not anything else. It means a lot to have him around always but after one night of mind-blowing sex, he’s already distancing himself. Joe is hurt and pissed. She tries to bate him with fishing, a sport Eric loves as much as sex... well, that was my assumption. But she couldn’t tempt him even with that. So Joe just leaves. In Eric’s mind, the thing about not being good enough for her is going on. He knows she’s hurt but he can’t help it. They both need to think. From this point on, I sort of begin to enjoy the book because I felt that they were finally becoming serious about life and what their relationship ultimately meant. Nathan, who’s not very successful in his own relationships, comes out with his own confession of comparing the other women with Joe and asks Eric to not let her go. He points out that both of them had been in love with each-other for a long time and it’s time that they realize it. Of course both realized it but were just too scared to take the bigger steps.
Anyway, with a little help from Nathan and a healthy dose of groveling from Eric, soon they mend their fences. Eric is still as possessive about Joe as he was before. There were usual funny RLM style scenes, some of them I enjoyed in the last part of the book. They were now living together and already confessed their feelings for each-other. Joe feels that she needs to back out of this job and finishes her training as a dispatcher. Eric proposes. There was a big accident that they witness which involved a guy who appeared in the book from the first scene. He was throughout the book and worked under them as an EMT. It didn’t work out. Then he got hired in some other company but the whole thing ended in a big disaster. It was a nail-biting scene, and even though I felt sad, he made his bed and paid for it.
The epilogue takes place 4 yrs later. It was� I don’t know, nice. Alice is still bringing creepy women in, this time for Nathan, who’s still single, still dumping women left and right. Eric and Joe have a little girl and another one on the way... 3.75 stars. Even though I criticized the characters, all of those were only my opinion. I would NOT say it was a bad read or anything and am definitely looking forward to Nathan’s story. I need to see if he gets his own Joe or not... er, yah, well, I just need to know what happens to him that’s all. lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2018
Josephine (Joe) have been best friends with Eric since they were eight. During their close friendships both have had relationships with others but none ever lasted because of the bond those two shared. Joe though knows she needs to branch out on her own and that means distancing herself from Eric. Eric however doesn't want Joe to go anywhere and since they both work together, that should be no issue. That is until Joe signs up for a class and a possible career change.
Another fabulous read from R.L. Mathewson. I thought this had just the right mixture of humor and plot. I loved all the characters and hope there is another book soon in this series.
Another fabulous read from R.L. Mathewson. I thought this had just the right mixture of humor and plot. I loved all the characters and hope there is another book soon in this series.
July 2, 2012
(July) 4.5* Things you are almost guaranteed to find in an R. L. Mathewson book:
1. Some sort of cake or cupcake with peanut butter frosting (which I don’t know that I’ve ever seen - homemade or in a store/restaurant, so it always stands out to me).
2. Someone buying/eating a coffee roll. Now, I have never heard of a coffee roll. I have no idea what a coffee roll is. I assumed it was literally a bread-type roll that for some reason you would eat w/your coffee (I had a 4th grade teacher who used to eat a roll w/butter w/her coffee every morning - I remember this because my friend and I were often the chosen ones allowed to go to the cafeteria and buy them for her!) In this book there is a chocolate frosted one so perhaps it is more like a donut or other sort of pastry? Anyone want to help me with this one? Is it a regional yummy?
3. Someone will pronounce the word Nope, “making it pop.� (and thus making me do it too as I read along � just once, but I always feel compelled to say Nope and make it pop!)
4. Men constantly referring to one another as a Bastard.
5. Annoying characters - be they guys or girls - who are really over-the-top in their annoyingness.
6. Hero/Heroine platonically sleeping together - which is weird in real life, isn't it?? I mean, I had a ton of guy friends in college and never once spent the night sleeping in the same bed like friends.
You know what else you find in RLM books? Slightly insane but utterly charming heros, heroines who are a delight � not too tough, not too wussy, not too gorgeous � fun women who are lucky enough to get dragged into our Hero’s craziness � and then get to enjoy his delightfully warm circle of family and friends. You will find humor (some laugh-out-loud), no real episodes of a Big Mis or other plots I find annoying � just overall books that most of the time make you smile while you read. I loved Playing For Keeps and Perfection and this one to me fits right in there w/those � same feel. Her Hollywood books were good but really ridiculously over-the-top, and her Lonely Vamp book was ok but missing the humor. I still have to read the other PNR she's written and then I think I'm caught up. I can’t wait to read Nathan’s book.
1. Some sort of cake or cupcake with peanut butter frosting (which I don’t know that I’ve ever seen - homemade or in a store/restaurant, so it always stands out to me).
2. Someone buying/eating a coffee roll. Now, I have never heard of a coffee roll. I have no idea what a coffee roll is. I assumed it was literally a bread-type roll that for some reason you would eat w/your coffee (I had a 4th grade teacher who used to eat a roll w/butter w/her coffee every morning - I remember this because my friend and I were often the chosen ones allowed to go to the cafeteria and buy them for her!) In this book there is a chocolate frosted one so perhaps it is more like a donut or other sort of pastry? Anyone want to help me with this one? Is it a regional yummy?
3. Someone will pronounce the word Nope, “making it pop.� (and thus making me do it too as I read along � just once, but I always feel compelled to say Nope and make it pop!)
4. Men constantly referring to one another as a Bastard.
5. Annoying characters - be they guys or girls - who are really over-the-top in their annoyingness.
6. Hero/Heroine platonically sleeping together - which is weird in real life, isn't it?? I mean, I had a ton of guy friends in college and never once spent the night sleeping in the same bed like friends.
You know what else you find in RLM books? Slightly insane but utterly charming heros, heroines who are a delight � not too tough, not too wussy, not too gorgeous � fun women who are lucky enough to get dragged into our Hero’s craziness � and then get to enjoy his delightfully warm circle of family and friends. You will find humor (some laugh-out-loud), no real episodes of a Big Mis or other plots I find annoying � just overall books that most of the time make you smile while you read. I loved Playing For Keeps and Perfection and this one to me fits right in there w/those � same feel. Her Hollywood books were good but really ridiculously over-the-top, and her Lonely Vamp book was ok but missing the humor. I still have to read the other PNR she's written and then I think I'm caught up. I can’t wait to read Nathan’s book.
September 6, 2023
Every single RL Mathewson book hits so hard. It's too much.
February 3, 2014
I feel like such a critique right now because this book on the whole wasn't actually bad.. it just didn't work for me. If I had read it a year ago I would have enjoyed it but right now all these little things nag at me. The gold digger jokes don't sit well with me. The fact that these 30 year olds aren't all that mature kind of bothers me. I cannot over look these tiny details any more and while this book was funny, I wasn't laughing. I spend a lot of the time cringing in embarrassment. One of my biggest issues with this book was all the shamming. Joe is the only 'positive' female character. She is tom-boyish, funny, and gorgeous without realizing it. 'Other women' regard her with disdain for not dressing the same way 'they' do. Stereotypical much? Oh and the constant use of bitch against all the women. UGH. a NIGHTMARE.
October 11, 2017
I originally planned a proper review with entire paragraphs explaining why this book deserves a spot on my "burn it" shelf. However, this is the 3rd review I'm writing today and a) I'm tired b) I feel like I've been bitchy enough in the 2 others (plus there's only so much negativity I'm willing to unleash in the universe a day).
...
Just kidding, here's my goddamn rant:
Joe (Josephine) was a fucking moron who we were supposed to admire for her stubbornness. Her "stubbornness" involved discharging herself from the hospital against medical advice when she had a concussion, and trying to go back to work as a paramedic the next day. So to recap, she, a medical professional, was fighting tooth and nail to get behind the wheel of a 4-tonne ambulance, which would then weave in and out of traffic at high speed, carrying a critically injured
As for Eric, he called his ex-girlfriends "bitches" because they broke up with him when they saw how close he was with Joe. By "close", I don't mean occasionally hanging out, I mean the two of them going skinny dipping together; Eric abandoning his prom date because he wanted to dance with Joe all night; Eric getting up in the middle of the night from the couch he was sleeping on with his fiancée to move to the bed Joe was sleeping in (in a different bedroom) because the couch was "bumpy". And he himself called all these girl insecure bitches.
And then, just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Eric decided that being a paramedic was too dangerous for Joe and set out to sabotage her just so she would quit. As if that wasn't disgusting enough, he also lined up a "much better" position for her as a - WAIT FOR IT - secretary.
(Disclaimer: No actual secretaries were dissed in the making of this review)
Here, have this actual quote from Prince Charming in case you just don't hate him enough:
"While you think that you're one of the guys, Joe, you're not," he said, ignoring the flash of hurt in her eyes. "You're a woman and while that comes in handy when we have a patient that needs a reassuring word or two and a little handholding it's also a huge problem. You're smaller and weaker and when the shit hits the fan it means that not only does your partner have to handle whatever's going down, but he also has to make sure that you're safe and out of the way. It's a huge fucking liability that no one needs and it's only going to get worse as you get older and you know it."
July 18, 2012
After reading a good four or five of R.L. Mathewson's books I've come to the conclusion that the only way I'd ever accept a marriage proposal would be if she scripted it. Once again another ridiculously cute book with brilliant humour that leaves a massive grin on my face.
I think out of all her books 'Playing for Keeps' is still my favourite with this coming a close second.
I did get frustrated at Joe and Eric while they were both reluctant to be with each other for pretty much the same reason and I just wanted to yell, "TALK TO EACH OTHER!" at them both. Thank goodness for Nathan.
Even though there's a brief description of Joe at the start for some reason I couldn't stop imagining her with red hair... (this probably sounds awful but...) she just had such a fierce personality (which I loved) and I think red hair would have suited her, haha.
It's obvious how much Eric cares about Joe, especially after the incident at the care home but, admittedly, he did aggravate me a little when he was trying to get Joe to change jobs because it was what he thought was best for her. I understand his reasoning and I'm glad he realised by the end that he would be happy with whatever so long as Joe was happy too but it did come off a little too controlling rather than protective like the shooing away of the random men he caught hitting on her.
But, once again, a nice light read with plenty of humour and great chemistry between the two main characters (not to mention that it was HOT, as ever). I loved it and I'm really looking forward to 'Checkmate' coming out as well.
August 27, 2012
Totally awesome book! Ok So I have no idea how it is I'm just now reading this when I have ABSOFREAKINLUTELY LOVED the other books R.L has written! I mean really, I already knew she was awesome! Now I have to find a better word to describe her! :) This book is hilarious! I seriously loved Eric and Joe! Their relationship was the bestest ever!! It did put me in the mind of Jason and the other Bradfords, which just made it even better cause they are all The Shit! For quite some time now I have been impatiently waiting for Ms. Mathewson to hurry up and finish Checkmate (all in the name of love!:)) but now I may have to harass her to come out with a second book for this series! Seriously, go read it! Its awesome in the way only the great R.L Mathewson can write a book! I literally just finished it about 2.5 seconds ago, and I kinda want to get back to my Kindle and start it all over again! Yes, its that good. But again, was there really ever any doubt considering she's an awesome author?!! I think not!
June 3, 2015
I loved RL Mathewson's humor, witty banter between characters and sexy scenes, and this book is no exception!! Joe (Josephine) and Eric have been BFF's since they were 8. Now, at age 30, they work together as EMT's and are still BFF's. After a call gone bad, Eric starts to worry more about something happening to Joe on the job and tries to get her to find another occupation and their relationship starts to change. They have both been attracted to each other, but don't want to risk their friendship for a fling - neither has a good track record with dating. At the same time, Eric's mom is hell-bent on finding a woman for Eric and tries setting him up on a regular basis. The characters were funny and lovable and I really enjoyed how they interacted with each other. The "dates" Alice tried to set up with Eric were hysterical and even Eric's brother Nathan was a great addition. I've read the NFH series and like that this one is a little toned down from those books - you still get a good dose of practical jokes, antics and food but not to the extreme of NFH (which I adore!)
May 3, 2015
3.5 sweet stars
I absolutely adore a friends, turned lovers storyline - this one was no exception.
The banter in this book is fabulous (like many of R.L. Mathewson's books) - it really brought these characters to life. And what a life - EMS work sounds truly crazy - you can tell with all the details that the author was once in this line of work - she definately depicted it with great passion for the job.
There were some moments where the book started to drag a little. Some of that great detail started to bog down the storyline ... but overall, this was a nice sweet read that ended with a perfect happily ever after.
I absolutely adore a friends, turned lovers storyline - this one was no exception.
The banter in this book is fabulous (like many of R.L. Mathewson's books) - it really brought these characters to life. And what a life - EMS work sounds truly crazy - you can tell with all the details that the author was once in this line of work - she definately depicted it with great passion for the job.
There were some moments where the book started to drag a little. Some of that great detail started to bog down the storyline ... but overall, this was a nice sweet read that ended with a perfect happily ever after.
November 4, 2012
Just recently discovered this author and very much enjoyed her writing style.Love the interactions between her male and female leads.
March 23, 2013
Not as good as the Neighbor series, but still a decent read. Nice and fluffy.
February 21, 2012
Sudden response was flat out FUN !! Fantastic hunky males , lovable female lead ,both with sass & spunk that made me laugh .
After reading generational sin ( a book that took me on a sexy ,scary emotional roller coaster ) I sooooo needed a fun , light hearted read & sudden response was exactly what I needed !! It had me laughing out load & joyously swooning . Even that mother had me giggling .....& wanting to slap her at times :) I love a book with a sense of humor & this book had it in spades .
Looking forward to more from Mathewson
After reading generational sin ( a book that took me on a sexy ,scary emotional roller coaster ) I sooooo needed a fun , light hearted read & sudden response was exactly what I needed !! It had me laughing out load & joyously swooning . Even that mother had me giggling .....& wanting to slap her at times :) I love a book with a sense of humor & this book had it in spades .
Looking forward to more from Mathewson
June 6, 2016
3.5 stars. A really nice feel-good friends to lovers story. No drama, no craziness. I hope she eventually writes a book for Nathan! I didn't like this one as much as the NFH series, but you can't go wrong with a R.L. Mathewson book!
June 11, 2012
Absolutely loved this ! But then again I love all of Mathewson's books.
Joe and Eric were love-able, hilarious and so darn cute ! I kept smiling and laughing thought the story.
Best friends since like forever! Working as partners as EMT's. Their relationship is just something else. Times a changing. Can things for them Stay the same? Only one way to find out :) take a ride with Joe n Eric . R.L. Mathewson does not dissappoint :)
Joe and Eric were love-able, hilarious and so darn cute ! I kept smiling and laughing thought the story.
Best friends since like forever! Working as partners as EMT's. Their relationship is just something else. Times a changing. Can things for them Stay the same? Only one way to find out :) take a ride with Joe n Eric . R.L. Mathewson does not dissappoint :)
May 11, 2016
LOVED IT!!! I read all of the books in the Neighbors From Hell series and could not wait to read another book by . This book did not disappoint. Great story line and so funny. Hope there will be more books in the series.
October 9, 2012
A fun, light hearted, quick read, with a fair few steamy scenes. This book was just what I needed at a time when I wanted a break from any books that were too heavy or intense. Would definitely recommend.
April 12, 2023
It seems I either like or dislike this author's stories. Okay Read...
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