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Healing Touch #1

Second Opinion

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Lauren McCaffrey, an experienced ER nurse, arrives in Dogwood Springs, Missouri, hoping for a fresh start in her career—and a convenient escape from her family’s humiliating pressure for her to find a husband. Dr. Grant Sheldon transfers to the local hospital in search of a nurturing environment for his twins, who are still grieving the death of their mother. But his idyllic setting is not free of all the problems he thought he had left behind in the city.

When the community’s tranquility is threatened by a drug ring and a mysterious epidemic, Grant and Lauren find themselves racing the clock in a desperate search for answers. Second Opinion combines emergency medicine and small-town America in a story of love’s discovery and a faith that lasts.

391 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2002

237 people are currently reading
342 people want to read

About the author

Hannah Alexander

48 books205 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

READY FOR THE NEW YEAR?

At this time of year, we have just finished reflecting on Christmas, when God gave us the greatest Gift ever possible. Now our thoughts are to the new year, with its upcoming rewards and challenges. Many of us will once again come up with New Year’s resolutions. This year I’m going to stick to my diet. This year I’m going to get into shape. This year I’m going to break that 5-minute mile. Okay, okay; it’s been a LONG time since I had that New Year’s resolution. And many will once again fail to live up to those resolutions, with their often unrealistic expectations. But enough about that.

Cheryl has chosen her word for the new year. It is solace. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, solace means:

1. comfort in grief: alleviation of grief or anxiety

2. a source of relief or consolation

Rather than discouraging anyone, our prayer for you is that God will grant you solace as you face the new year's rewards and challenges.

Happy reading and God bless you.

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5 stars
319 (50%)
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196 (30%)
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104 (16%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
156 reviews7 followers
October 15, 2024
This book was a great read! It surrounded the happenings at a small town hospital and their staff, almost like a ER TV show except it had the inspirational moments and people who need God. This is far better than any TV show out there because you aren't inundated with sexual content. I liked how the church and Pastor is part of the happenings because of his volunteer work at the hospital. This is well written and will definitely pull you in to each character's life. You won't be able to put it down.
589 reviews2 followers
April 6, 2025
Enjoyed this book

I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next in the series. This author has some great series that I have enjoyed reading.
Profile Image for Manette.
214 reviews
September 6, 2021
This is my first book from Hannah Alexander, I will be reading more. It is a faith based/mystery/romance set in the small town of Dogwood Springs, Missouri. I grew up in a small Midwestern town and this was quite true to the feel of small town life.

There is a mysterious epidemic happening and though this was written in 2002 the author caught the fear and anxiety that quickly spreads with unknowns, like our current Covid-19 pandemic.

Much of the story takes place in the small-town hospital ER. I loved getting a glimpse at what the life of those professionals is like. Hannah Alexander kept the story real without loosing the reader in heavy medical terminology.
Profile Image for Caryl.
1,933 reviews24 followers
September 7, 2020
The small town of Dogwood Springs, Missouri is the setting for this medical mystery. I was expecting a laid back community. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not to be the case! I was instantly caught up in the excitement of the unfolding drama. Dogwood Springs had become the epicenter of a mysterious epidemic. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages. I devoured this novel in one sitting.

Recommend to readers who enjoy inspirational, medical mysteries.

I won a copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
1,003 reviews4 followers
May 25, 2019
This is my first book by Hannah Alexander; I will read more. The story focuses on some newcomers to Dogwood Springs, coming for many different reasons. They all have ties to the hospital, where there is some kind of epidemic going on. In the race to figure it out and save lives, Dr Grant finds his faith again, Lauren is deathly sick, Gina has puzzling spells, and Archer is about ready to give up on his church congregation. Very well-told story, that really keeps you guessing.
1 review18 followers
October 8, 2020
I have loved this series for many years! Just found it again after desperately searching for it.
It's a great medical/mystery series, keeps you on your toes, and very well written, giving you a look into the life of a medical worker with the drama of an ER (without all the extra, ridiculous drama these kinds of books tend to have.) Faithbased and well done. Thank you so much Hannah Alexander for giving us a wonderful series! Now, excuse me as I'm off to keep reading!
Profile Image for Faith Posten.
313 reviews11 followers
September 4, 2021
Help Me

Extraordinary story by such a prolific author. The fascinating medical themes reflect the real things that happen to medical professionals. Page one had me hooked. I found it difficult to put the book away until I finished the story. But I was sorry when it ended!!!
102 reviews3 followers
November 17, 2021
Great Book!!

This was a fast paced medical mystery with low-key romance and a lot of drama between characters. I loved the interactions between characters and the growing in, or coming to, faith. I was a little disappointed when the story ended though as it left me wanting a more conclusive wrap up. All in all it was a fantastic book.
Profile Image for Rebecca White.
1,563 reviews8 followers
June 18, 2024
I enjoyed this fast pace medical mystery. So many different avenues of issues to explore with the surprising symptoms in the ER. I really enjoyed getting to know the various characters especially ER nurse Lauren and seeing her trust God in the midst of struggles, she is the kind of friend I would want in real life.
Profile Image for Mary Johns.
Author 5 books262 followers
October 24, 2025
I loved Lauren's story! And happy it's not done yet. Enjoyed the characterization and especially the twins--Brooke is so outrageous, I had to keep reading to find out what she would do next. Plenty of depth, comforting spiritual message, and a plot that kept me guessing. Looking forward to Book 2 of this series.
Profile Image for Doranne Long.
Author 1 book26 followers
May 15, 2017
I love this Healing Touch Series; as well as the previous series by Hannah Alexanger: Sacred Trust, Solemn Oath, and Silent Pledge. The characters and life themes feel real, as do the emergency room experiences.
9 reviews
March 16, 2018
2 days

I finished this book in two days. I’m going to start Book Two now! I feel like I’m a part of Dogwood Springs. The characters seem so real because they deal with real life issues like faith, fear, and family.
387 reviews
July 29, 2019
The best medical mystery

This is the best medical mystery I have read in a while! It has a great contemporary plot, a widowed father of two, a single pastor, a very sick mother. It has it all! This is a book that can't be missed!
Profile Image for Connie Brown.
144 reviews4 followers
September 26, 2019
Very entertaining

I truly enjoyed getting to know Hannah Alexander's latest group of characters. The suspense was intense yet not over the top. The humor was so good I laughed out loud.
21 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2020
I was hooked by the middle of Chapter 1. and found this medical suspense book hard to put down. The medical information rang true and the plot unfolded in a a exciting way. I look forward to the next book in this series.
64 reviews1 follower
June 26, 2021
This is the first book I have read by this author. The only complaint is that I stayed up all night to finish it. The characters seemed real. I liked how the nurse referred to total commitment to God as second opinion. A reminder that I need to rely on him 1st rather than my take on own instincts.
74 reviews
October 7, 2022
Second Opinion

Excellent. Full of mystery, excitement, drama and God love! Love the medical drama and information. I recommend this book to adult, teenager and if medical claims you mind read!
44 reviews
May 17, 2017
Good story line, loved the characters. Looking forward to reading book #2 in the series.
Profile Image for Sarah Jungels.
4 reviews
May 27, 2017
Loved it... On to the second book.

Great story so far! Recommended for anyone with faith! Love the stories twists and characters... Love is brewing. Nice plot!
Profile Image for Charly.
79 reviews9 followers
December 25, 2017
Easy read. The tension built up nicely over the course of the story. However I found the writing and choice of words to be too simple with sometimes repeated sentences.
Profile Image for Tiffany Hansen.
20 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2019
Good read

The book was good albeit a little slow moving for part of it! I thoroughly enjoy Hannah Alexander and will continue to read her work!
Profile Image for Diane Fazioli.
66 reviews
July 17, 2020
Couldn’t put down.

Great job of incorporating characters. Strong Christian theme. Looking forward to the next book. Hope it tells us more about the town.
586 reviews13 followers
February 17, 2022
Perhaps I misread the synopsis, but I was expecting romantic suspense. This had more the feeling of a soap with no real main character. There isn't any romance, just people being attracted to people who don't reciprocate. It kept my attention but I felt it covered too many issues to do any of them justice. I won't be reading the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Sarah-Marie Rosin.
255 reviews8 followers
January 14, 2023
Great read

Very thoughtful read. Laurens character was so relate able to me, and I really enjoyed the characters. Just enough suspense with lots of heartwarming moments!
Profile Image for Trinity Rose.
434 reviews18 followers
September 24, 2016
Alexander is a fantastic book that I love. I’ve read many books by Hannah Alexander and love them all.
Dr. Grant Sheldon and Nurse Lauren McCaffrey are two very impressive characters. You just feel like they are real people and that they can be trusted.
Grant lost his wife two years ago and he hasn’t talked to God since then. He has teenaged twins who are so very opposite of each other, but love each other dearly.
Lauren has a fantastic parents and siblings, who are all married. Lauren feels like she is in a trap, everyone fixing her up with eligible men. So she decides to move to a different town to get on with her own life and leave the matchmaking behind.
Put all of that together with a mysterious epidemic going around. people dying, drug lords and you have a novel worth reading.
Highly recommended. Love this book.

I own this book and was not required to write a review.
677 reviews19 followers
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March 1, 2017
This was a good book and I enjoyed reading it very much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews

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