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Helen Thinks: I know I'm starting to sound like a stuck record but I adore romance stories that have a different sub-plot to them, the more extraordinary the better! This is achieved perfectly in 'Nerves' by frenchmartini. David is a student nurse that talks too much when he's nervous, uses words like 'lordy' and 'sugar' a lot rather than swear and is emotionally tormented after a painful experience in London. Having joined a roommate carer programme, David meets Ryan. Due to Spina Bifida, Ryan is a wheelchair user but he doesn't let his apparent disability get in the way. Oh no, Ryan is a skater that likes to throw himself off of ramps; not caring whether he gets hurt or not. Despite their differences in outlooks, the two men bond over afternoon movie sessions...
Both characters are damaged in their own ways. Thanks to his Spina Bifida, Ryan is in a wheelchair and is fed up of people treating him like he's made of glass or like he needs to be permanently coated in bubble wrap. Another issue that Ryan has to face is that his family found God after his diagnosis and they just wouldn't understand how he's feeling any more. David, on the other hand, is emotionally damaged after being attacked outside a nightclub in London. His fears have prevented him from sleeping safely because he's terrified someone can get in, he doesn't like to get too drunk because he's afraid of what happens and sometimes he even jumps when someone touches him; including Ryan. Frenchmartini delivers each emotion that the character is feeling perfectly. Whether it be anger, frustration or awkwardness, the reader can feel each one through the unique, first person writing style that has been used.In the first few chapters, I felt as if David was slightly annoying due to his innocent and naïve ways; honestly, could anyone be that way all the time?; but thanks to frenchmartini's fantastic character development skills, David's annoying traits become a back drop to the real character and you begin to understand him. This is also done through the way she writes the interactions between the two protagonists. David bumbles along, mumbling and speaking too much when he's nervous whereas Ryan is down-to-earth and just says as he sees it but without being too fake; which is always a breath of fresh air when reading a character.
'Nerves' by frenchmartini is a wonderfully through out story with a plot that shows the amount of work which has been done. Research, background knowledge and a confidence to pull this story off has been used to create a masterpiece that will have you falling in love with two amazing characters – seriously, I want a Ryan in my life! 'Nerves' is still a work in progress so I'll be clicking the 'follow this story' button because I wouldn't want to miss a moment between these two characters; whether it friendly, passionate or just plain awkward; and I hope you'll be joining me!
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