BOOK REVIEW: Bedside Manner by Phoebe Fox

Bedside Manners (The Breakup Doctor #2)

by Phoebe Fox (Goodreads Author)

Paperback, First, 266 pages

Published March 24th 2015 by Henery Press

Goodreads synopsis: Brook Ogden has never encountered a broken heart she couldn’t patch together. Her counseling practice as the Breakup Doctor—on call to help you shape up after a breakup—is so busy she’s expanded to offer group sessions. (Turns out there are far more than fifty ways to leave your lover.) Her radio show and advice column have made her a local celebrity, and even her personal life, after some gruesome breakups of her own, is in recovery: Ben Garrett started out as a revenge date against an ex, but has turned into so much more.

    But when sizzling-hot Chip Santana, an old client she once shared a rather unprofessional midnight roll in the sand with, comes back into her life asking for her help, Brook can’t say no. Yet while she’s busy stitching up his relationship troubles, Chip reveals much more than a therapeutic interest in her. 

    In the standoff between her heart and her hormones, Brook’s cool, collected Wise Therapist persona begins to crack like thrown wedding china. She’s yelling at recalcitrant cheating husbands. Offering crazy advice to radio callers. She’s even hugging her clients.

   When the situation goes critical, Brook’s forced into a decision she isn’t ready to make—and the Breakup Doctor has to decide what kind of casualties she’s willing to accept.

In the previous book in the Breakup Doctor series, Brook Lyn Ogden had just begun a relationship with Ben Garrett. So, this book starts off with Brook Lyn focusing on her relationship with Ben. Ben suggests she take on a sort of public speaking role and thus starts a Breakup Doctor support group. It has a rocky start since no one really knows each other and not many wanted to share their relationship exploits in a group setting. Brook spends much of the book working on this endeavor. And when she's not doing her column, radio show or support group, she is trying to take care of Ben's dog, Jake, who is quite a needy canine as well as a big scene stealer. And then there is the case of Sacha and her brother getting together.

Of course, you knew Brook had to do something silly to endanger her relationship with Ben and than is when Chip Santana once again enters the picture. Can you hear the "dum, dum, dum, dum?" What dumb thing will Brooke do because of this dude? You know it's coming. Sort of like a trainwreck. Chip returns from book one. He is the 40-year-old perpetually young-acting bartender who stays up at all hours of the night and has the hots for Brook. He claims he just wants to work with Brook again by setting right old wrongs. Is she really that blind? Apparently, yes.

The moment Brook finally gets together with Ben sexually, Chip sends her a midnight text and it sort of  sends her relationship with Ben spiraling into oblivion. Then she begins to realize what she is losing... the ADHD dog, Jake, whom she's come to love, Ben, whom she is sure she loves (now after the fact) and Ben's mom, who possesses all the qualities she ever wanted in a mother.

Better get some hanky's ready for this one, folks. You're gonna need them. I did some ugly crying at then end. The book always keeps you guessing what Brook will do and who is going to win her heart in the end. The ending will keep you hoping for another book in the series. And I have it on good authority that book 3 is finished and there is a book 4 in the works. Yay!

4 Stars

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from Net Galley. I thank Net Galley, the publisher, Henery Press and the author, Phoebe Fox for allowing me to read this title.