Playing Doctor

Bandit Creek #26

by Julie Rowe

Dr. Abigail Westward has been home after two tours of duty in Afghanistan for about two months and she’s taken up an unusual hobby. A hobby that has the local sheriff scared stiff: tossing lit dynamite sticks into the still waters of Lost Lake in Montana. After locking her up for twenty-four hours, then a couple weeks later for forty-eight, the sheriff is getting desperate to find a way to combat Doc Abby’s explosive habit. He calls in a very special Doc-sitter, Jacob “Smitty” Smith, a fellow soldier of Abby’s and the only man who might be able to find out what was really going on with Bandit Creek’s doctor.

Smitty is in Bandit Creek for one reason and one reason only. He loves Abby, has from damn near the moment he met her in Afghanistan. He’s stayed at arm’s length until now because getting involved with anyone while on a combat mission is just plain stupid. But combat is over for both of them and he’s waited long enough. He wants her and he’ll play dirty to get her because he knows she’s hurting deep down in a place she doesn’t want anyone to see.

Seeing Smitty waiting for her on shore, Abby gives up the dynamite with little or no argument. It’s far too much fun to verbally poke at him and the sheriff, until she finds out he’s been hired by the town of Bandit Creek to ride herd on her. She’s resistant to the idea right up to the moment someone attempts to shoot her in the middle of town. Now she and Smitty have to figure out who wants to kill her and why before he’ll go, because if he stays she’s not sure she’ll be able to resist temptation. Smitty is her only weakness. He’s the one man she trusts absolutely, the one man she loves, the one man who knows her terrible secret.

She’s a doctor who’s guilty of murder.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Military Fiction, Novella, Fiction

95 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 9, 2012

About the author

Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the North West Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!” A double Golden Heart finalist 2006, Julie’s writing has appeared in several magazines such as Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest (Canada), and Canadian Living. She currently facilitates communication workshops for her local city college. Julie enjoys hearing from her readers. You can reach her at www.julieroweauthor.com or on Twitter @julieroweauthor .

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Playing Doctor, Dr. Abigail Westward is back home in small town Montana and working as a doctor again but every morning she goes out to a local lake and throws several sticks of dynamite into the lake and the local sheriff needs to put a stop to it after two months. He enlists the aid of Smithy, a Marine that Abby served with in Afghanistan and understands the PTSD that Abby is having trouble with and also is in love with her. This sets the background for when a snipper starts shooting at her and how the plot will unfold to a happy ending with the help of Jack Daniels. I loved the humor, intensity and how they helped each other.

[Amber Daulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the first book of the Bandit Creek series, small town doctor Abby is suffering from PTSD from her time as a highly skilled Army medic. To blow off steam and to feel better, she lights up dynamite and throws it in the lake.
Smitty belonged to the Special Forces division of the Marines, and he was assigned to Abby’s med unit as security detail. They became good friends while fighting for their lives in Afghanistan, so when he shows up out of the blue in her little town, she readily accepts his help. What she didn’t expect was for romance to bloom between them or for a mystery military sniper to target her.
Abby is a strong, snarky woman and hides her pain through humor. Smitty is levelheaded, protective, and just the friend she needed.
The story is told only in Abby’s POV and in third person, so the reader gets to understand her pain, regret, and self-contempt. I liked Smitty, but I couldn’t really connect with him. I didn’t feel like I got to know him, so duel POVs would’ve been nice.
The story focuses a lot on PTSD, which doesn’t make this a light read. There weren’t a lot of taglines, so sometimes I didn’t know who was speaking. There were also some typos, and I’m not talking about the use of British English.
Anyway, the sex scenes were hot. Abby and Smitty made for a great couple.
3 Stars

[Amy R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my third book by Julie Rowe and my first Bandit Creek story. I enjoy Julie’s easy, smooth writing that makes it hard to realize how much you have read! Before you know it, you have finished the book. In this story, Abby came home from Afghanistan dealing with PTSD and the fact that she went against her oath as a physician (or so she believed). Smitty was there to help her get through it and stop blowing dynamite up over the lake. JD, the homeless guy who was always sleeping outside her clinic door, kept an eye on her all the while someone was trying to kill her by shooting at her in town and at her house. It was quite the adventure from start to finish. Abby was a hoot. She had such a quick wit and smart mouth. JD and Smitty seemed to be the only ones that could handle it. Made for a very entertaining read! This was a fun book that dealt with some serious issues and Julie was able to pull it all together nicely! I highly recommend.

[Mella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this just that bit too short to really enjoy it. The length just left little time to really develop the characters or the plot and while I liked both Abigail and Smitty I found myself just not really caring. The romance was okay but it wasn't anything special and the bad guy was just random. There was no real build up or explanation of why the bad guy does what he does and I'm not really keen on loose ends - I like to know the whys and the hows. The story moved along fast enough but it was lacking the depth needed to make this an enjoyable read.

[K B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I purchased a copy of the novella Bandit Creek Montana Books: Playing Doctor by Julie Rowe and this review was given freely.
A steamy second chance at love romance for Dr. Abby and Special Forces member Smitty. PTSD, dynamite, the neighborhood drunk and a vendetta against Dr. Abby make this fast paced romance an interesting read.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Julie Rowe's style of writing. This is the first book of hers that I have ever read. I am so glad that I did. Abby & Smitty are such enjoyable characters literally right out the shoot. The way they banter with one another is not only refreshing but fun as all get out. Especially, since since you can see all the love the comes along with it. With all the issues Abby has from coming home from A-gstan Smitty is right there. The turn of events that follow once he arrives makes Abby face things she tried to stuff but now she can't. Ms. Rowe I believe handles a very delicate issue of PTSD with laughter so we the reader as well as the suffer can see that with help & love of friends, family, & community you can & will laugh again with help. I did enjoy this book.

[Katie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous story this was.
Rowe gives us an informative and insightful peek into the world of post-traumatic stress disorder. She doesn't dwell on it, but shows its effects.
She has created believable characters and brought the world of Bandit Creek to life. Abby and Smitty are thrown together again and again forcing them to come to terms with their past and their future. The characters are fleshed out perfectly, drawing you into their lives as they battle their way through the mysterious, dangerous events unfolding in this small town.
A lovely, heartwarming story. I can't wait to read more from Ms Rowe.

[Angel **Book Junkie** · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book.

Positives: Just the right amount of character development for the heroine. It was laugh out loud funny at time I love JD.. I love the Post Traumatic Stress disorder but, i think both characters got over it a little too soon. Really they got over quite a few things just a little too quick!
Negatives: Why didn't Smitty come to town before. Why did the ghost really want to blow up Abby. The book was entirely too rushed.

And this is how I pictured Abby in the morning:

[Aria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short read. I picked up this story due to the PTSD topic but it fell short. The main characters both suffer from PTSD and while they use each other as a coping mechanism you don't get to see them grow comfortable with themselves. I know it's supposed to be a short story but it was too rushed. The villains motive wasn't even a good one. Witty banter makes the characters likable but it's difficult to connect with them because you don't get much of a background story. Would only recommend if you're into a short easy read.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this book is novella-length, it has a lot to it, and is a great read. Rowe's handling of PTSD is sensitive and nuanced; it gives a lot of depth to her characters, and plays quite a role in the story. The romance between Abby and Smitty is also very well done.

I'm familiar with Rowe's other work, and this one is of the same excellent quality. She's a fantastic storyteller.

[Matu Nila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was ok. A bit more flesh to the bone and it would have been a lot better than just ok. But since it was a short story, you can't expect too much.

The story was interesting, and every book that mentions FUBAR gets and extra brownie point from me. Didn't see the twist coming and I'd like to know more about JD.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable novella. Easy to connect to the main character who is dealing with PTSD after being a doc in Afghanistan. Good book to read for those looking for a fast, easy read with some romance. :)

[Lindsay]

Amazon Freebie 11/11/2012
____________________________

Amazon Freebie 10/10/2012

[Wendi Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted it to be longer. It was interesting reading about the pstd that our vets go through. I would like to read more about the lady doc and her amazing special forces hero.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great dialogue, a quirky heroine and a hot military hero. A fun, fast read.
Quibble: No hero POV. Pout.

[J.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, short story. Overall, I enjoyed :)

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was charming and witty, despite dealing with serious issues such as post-combat PTSD (which the author handled well). I really liked it.

[Wendy Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay story, but probably the worst bedroom scenes I've ever read.

[Velora Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot wait to read the rest of this series!!!!!!!!! I think this book has me hooked

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A freebie, and even though it really needed an editor, it was fun and worth the couple hours I spent reading it. :)

[Monica Akinyi Odhiambo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it....Just what I needed,a short read.

[E_bookpushers]

Ever After Box book