A Home for the Doctor

by Kellie A. King

Could her love…

Be just what the doctor ordered?

Mia Ballad loves running the family inn with her sisters—it gives her a sense of security and belonging. But when newcomer pediatrician Ryan Cassidy arrives with his belief in fun, Mia is swept off her feet by his charm. His lifestyle is exciting and their witty banter irresistible—but the uncertainty keeps her guessing. Can he find a permanent place in her heart?

USA TODAY Bestselling Author

From Harlequin  Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

A Ballad Inn Romance

Book 1: A Home for the Doctor
Book 2: A Home for the Marine

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2024

Reviews

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the Ballad Inn in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina – a place where you’ll meet the delightful Ballad sisters and feel right at home. I quickly wanted Mia, Margo, and Micki to be my BFFs – their sisterly banter with each other, with Enid (the woman who basically raised them), with their older neighbors (who were all a hoot), and with Ryan (the new doctor in town) keeping a big smile on my face and even making me laugh out loud a couple of times (the dog costume scene!). You can’t help but love these characters, which makes me all the more excited about the rest of this series.

Mia Ballad is the first born daughter who really had to parent her younger sisters in the absence of their jet-setting parents during their growing-up years. As a result, she craves the security of numbers and home, and her jobs as an accountant & a proprietor of the Ballad Inn allow her to embrace both. She’s not a fan of people who pop in and out of her life – thanks to her parents doing exactly that her whole life – and if she ever does fall in love it will be with someone who is just as interested in putting down roots as she is. Enter swoony Doctor Ryan, a pediatric heart surgeon whose volunteer work frequently has him dropping everything to fly to dangerous locales to perform intense life-saving operations on the tiniest of patients. The kind of guy that romance readers fall head over heels for, of course, but definitely not the one for Mia. Except… since the road to happily-ever-after is rarely smooth… cue lots of delicious romantic tension between these two polar opposites and the sweet surprise of falling in love with an unlikely match.

Bottom Line: A Home for the Doctor by Kellie A. King is a sweet romance with vibrant characters and laugh-out-loud moments. It will also tug at your heart with some emotional scenes and leave you swooning at the delightful romance. I adored the Ballad sisters, their dear friend Enid, their quirky neighbors, even Doodle the cat and his murderous intents. Ryan won my affections, too, though he also frustrated me on several occasions (not nearly as much as the Ballad parents did, however, which earned him additional brownie points lol). The ‘love at first sight’ trope was well-written and fit with these characters and their situation. Visiting Charlotte vicariously on the pages of this fun read made me want to book a vacation there post haste, and I enjoyed that it was different from the more typical North Carolina locations we travel to in fiction (though I love those too). Looking forward to Margo’s story next!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in the Ballad Inn Romance series, in which eldest sister, Mia, trips and falls forward into the arms of Doctor Ryan Cassidy, at the Ballad B&B while he assesses the local hospital and whether he and it will be a good fit. It soon becomes clear that another fit is being considered: he and Mia. Trouble is, he also works with a medical team that frequently goes overseas to take care of children in need of the complex surgery to which Ryan has become famous. But Mia is a homebody in the strictest sense of the word, and tying her heart to someone who will, with little warning, fly off the parts unknown, is not her cup of tea.

How is Ryan going to convince her? Or will she convince him that staying home is more fun?

[Joyce M. H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book by Kellie A. King and I must say that I enjoyed reading about Mia and Ryan. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this this series “A Home For The Marine” Margo and Gideon’s romantic journey. Mia is the oldest of the Ballad sisters running the Balland Inn along with her sisters. Ryan is a pediatric doctor that works with a medical team that travels overseas. These two are great together love their witty camaraderie.

Can Margo and Ryan find their HEA in each other?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Harlequin Romance and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mia Brand runs a family in with er sisters. Because her parents always traveled, she took over the responsibility of raising her young sisters. She has never formed one on relationships. A new person decides to stay long term at the inn. His name if Dr Ryan Cassidy who is a pediatrician at the local hospital. He is immediately drawn to Mia. Both are loners but could not fight the attraction they had for each other. I loved the dynamics and twists and turns of this book. I was not a fan of the parents and gave the sorry reason for why they were always away. Mia and Ryan did get their happy ending.

[Uyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harlequin romances truly capture that Hallmark movie magic in book form. This one was a delightful mix of sweet and cute. I admired Mia for standing firm on her boundaries instead of simply letting them slide because of her feelings.

Fingers crossed for more Ballad sisters books in the future!

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, heart-warming and heartbreaking story. Interesting back stories for the couple. I do look forward to seeing how the other two sisters find their significant others. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

More detailed review to follow.

Loved the book, the characters, the sweetness, and the storytelling. The personal inspiration as disclosed in the "Dear Reader" section made me a little teary.

If you like well written wholesome romances, this book and the author are for you!

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
A Ballad Inn Romance (Book #1)

[Karen Torrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her stories are so beautiful and full of real life emotions

[Debra Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Ryan and Mia's story