Sacred Trust

ER Trilogy #1

by Hannah Alexander

"High-stakes medical issues, compelling story lines, spiritual depth, and characters so authentic you'd know them if you met on the street."
Susan May Warren

For Dr. Lukas Bower, medicine is more than just a profession--it's a Sacred Trust.Disgusted with big city hospital politics, Dr. Lukas Bower can’t wait to leave that world behind and start fresh in the idyllic community of Knolls, Missouri. But then he is forced to cross his emergency department director. When he refuses to give narcotics to a drug-abusing VIP, Lukas discovers he is jeopardizing not only his, but the hospital’s future.

Brutally double-crossed by an abusive ex-husband who cost her custody of her only daughter and severely damaged her reputation, Dr. Mercy Richmond is at odds with both God and men. She notices Lukas Bower's integrity and deeply caring nature, and is surprised to find herself becoming his unlikely ally. When her 10-year-old daughter Tedi is endangered by the drunken abuse of her hostile ex husband, can Mercy trust Lukas to save Tedi's life?

Sacred Trust is the first title in Amazon Best-Selling and multiple award-winning author Hannah Alexander’s Sacred Trust clean medical drama series.

If you love small-town drama, realistic medical situations, authentic characters, intriguing plot twists, and tested faith, pick up Sacred Trust today and discover the soul of medicine.

Originally published 1999. Condensed and extensively refreshed.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Mystery, Medical, Contemporary, Suspense

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

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

THANK YOU

Thanks to your support, Second Opinion: A Clean Romance Drama hit # 1 in 6 separate categories on Amazon Kindle Free, and Necessary Measures placed in the top 10 in Women's Religious Fiction on Amazon Kindle Paid.

In appreciation, Hannah Alexander has decided to keep all three books in the Healing Touch series, Second Opinion, Necessary Measures, and Urgent Care, deeply discounted for a limited time.

Again, thanks for your support, and happy reading. ---------------------------------------------------
“You’re a doctor? Can you help me PARALYZE someone?"

Mel’s eyes bugged out like he’d just met a serial killer.

“Only temporarily, of course. I’m a writer, and I need one of my characters to be incapacitated.”

Mel regained his color, grinned, and gave me the needed information in graphic detail…I was only able to eat half a slice of pizza.

It was my introduction into the world of emergency medicine. It was Mel’s into fiction. We were both fascinated. A year and a half later we were married.

Thus began the partnership known as Hannah Alexander.*

*Hannah Alexander is the multiple award-winning author team Cheryl & Mel Hodde, who have written over 35 novels during their career. Their awards include, among others, the Christy Award for Romance, 3 Holt Medallions, a Library Journal Inspirational Fiction Top 5 pick, and an Inspirational Reader's Choice award. Their title A Woman Worth Knowing, book 4 in the Hallowed Halls of Medicine 7 book series, was an Amazon #1 Best-Seller in multiple categories.

Cheryl and Mel live in Arizona and they love hiking, traveling, going to the zoo, and being in the great outdoors. They are owned by their 10-year-old orange tabby, Prancy.

To learn more about Hannah Alexander, check out their website at www.hannahalexander.com. Or visit them on their Facebook page at facebook.com/authorHannahAlexander.

Reviews

[Diane]

Christian medical drama. Well written. Read it straight through in four hours.

[Stephanie *Spunky Avenger*]

Sacred trust is such a good book, Hanna Alexander did such a remarkable job, you can tell she put the time and research into it.
It's a faith based book that really hits home, it's easy to forget that Christians are people too and go through real struggles Lukas the main character I'd a doc who got a bum wrap and that will follow him for a long time. He meets amazing people along the way who help him grow and face fears along the way, there is some parts that will break your heart. But it is such a good read, I would definitely suggest it. Definitely a 10 stars out of 5 book

<3

[Michael]

If you liked this book, you'll LOVE the work of Quan Millz. The vibes were essentially the same.

It's always a pleasure to find a talented, good Christian author. Utmost respect to Lukas for keeping his strong Christian values despite all the nefarious acts happening around him. Can't wait to read the rest of this series and find out what happens!

[Susie Sellner]

Sacred Trust blends Emergency Room medicine, hospital politics, Christian principles, realistic and well-developed characters, and compassion to create an exciting novel. You don't want to miss this book! I have purchased the entire series and look forward to reading the other two books in the series as well.

[Lynn Spencer]

B- so 3.5 stars This is one of Hannah Alexander's early novels and while it's a little rough around the edges, one can definitely see the promise of some of her later medical romances. This book, first in a trilogy, is light on the romance, though one can definitely see the stage being set.

Dr. Lukas Bower, the new ER doc in a small-town Missouri hospital, is devoted to God and tries hard to do the right thing. This brings him into conflict with some at the hospital who play politics - including giving meds to the drug-seeking addict whose father happens to be a powerful attorney on the hospital board.

When Dr. Mercy Richmond meets Lukas, things are a little testy at first but she quickly develops a great deal of respect for him both on a personal level, when he treats her family members, and on a professional level, as she works alongside him. Both Lukas and Mercy have tons of baggage from their pasts and in this book, we see them starting to face their past issues and figure out where they want to be in life. Since Lukas is a believer and Mercy is not, their answers to these sorts of questions are different, and I found both characters primarily likable.

This novel is fast-paced and if you like medical drama, you will probably enjoy it. I found some of the hospital politics overwrought and melodramatic. In that respect, it reminded me of some of the later episodes of "ER", which was very popular at the time this book was originally published(1999). Not a bad read, but Alexander's later books improve in quality.

[SK]

This is a Christian medical suspense fiction genre and to be honest that genre is on the peripherals of my sought-after fiction choices! It seemed I didn’t warm up to this book until well into the story. The first person I connected with was Dr. Lukas. I appreciated how the character of Dr. Lukas was presented. He was committed to doing the right thing, wanting to focus on his job and not get tangled up in hospital politics. Because of his focus, I become aware of the tensions in the ER and the idiocrasies exhibited by various staff members, both doctors and nurses. Other characters didn’t draw me in quite so quickly, characters like Dr. Mercy, her mother, and Tedi, but as the book divulged more details, the reasons behind behavior became apparent.

This story started slow, then builds. The reader experiences the tension, angst, mystery, heartbreak. anger, faith, and life of the key characters. I’m still not sure this genre will ever be my favorite, but this was a credible read with faith elements that caused the reader to think.

[CindyG]

Oh the politics of a hospital. Dr Bower takes the brunt of it again! ER medicine at its finest and accurate as well! Small town powers, money powers, and people in position powers all make life for Dr Lukas Bowers complicated. Your heart gos out to him. Then there’s the side plot of Dr Mercy and her controlling ex and their 10 y/o daughter. Could they help each other? Love the faith aspect woven into this one as well. Captivating read for sure.

[Melody Tregear]

3½ stars rounded to 4

This was definitely a drama, not a romance. It is interesting and keeps your attention. Unfortunately it is not a standalone. Some things are answered in the last two chapters but a number of things are not. The potential romance brewing looks like it may develop in book 2. For that reason this is, for me, more a 3 to 3½ star book because it feels incomplete. But if you can afford the next book in the series, I'm sure your experience will be different.

[Christine Dillon]

An oldie but a goodie.
I was particularly encouraged by the reality of the book and the naturalness of Lukas' sharing his heart with Mercy towards the end of the book. I have now gone on and read the rest of the series.
This book is for those who enjoy medical stories - if you don't probably best not to pick it up.

[Sylvia Winter]

Life in your hands.

The rush of incoming patients into the emergency department of the hospital , brings humanity to the forefront of medical need. The speed of triaging, the clear instructions, the fear of what is ahead are well covered in this fast moving novel. Could not put it down.

[Annette Sullivan]

a very lovely story

I found this story so engrossing that it was hard to stop reading to get some sleep.
It is a clean imaginative and well written story, with grief and hardship, overall it was compassionate and very healthy, no quoting of scripture, but written with characters that believe. Well done.

[Medenna]

Really really good story.

This book had me engaged from the very beginning. The main characters were well developed and the suspense was palpable. I never really thought much about hospital politics before but this book takes the reader behind that wall. I love that the faith element is strong and redemption is offered.

[Judy Payne]

I stayed up all night reading!

Refreshing and clean, and smooth reading. Love that characters are Christian and shared their faith in real life circumstances. A great read and very well written. First time in a long while I've not had to stumble over "proofreading" or go back to get clear focus on a character's name. Look forward yo reading next book.

[Dorie Crouthers]

medical drama at its best

I loved this book. This is the second book for Hannah Alexander that I have read, and I was fascinated and did not want to put it down. The characters are so well developed and revealed throughout the book that you went to visit this hospital. But not as a patient. Although they would take excellent care of you.

[Judith McNees]

Good story

I enjoyed the story. I could have used less medical jargon and procedures. It also bugged me that Lukas was such a stickler for procedures but he didn't report Tedi's abuse the first time. Doctors are mandated reporters.

Overall it was interesting enough to keep me reading, even though the romance was very understated. Perhaps it will grow in the next book.

[Bobbi Jo]

Wow!! Hannah Alexander is a new to me author and she hit this one out of the park. Think the hit TV drama ER but with a Christian doctor who lives his faith out loud twist. I found this book on an ad on Facebook. I will definitely read more from Ms. Alexander. No romance, just building healthy male/female relationships and a lot of hospital small town drama.

[Adair]

the authors really made these people real seems to me read something else by this husband/wife team few years and it was so so or maybe just the wrong time wrong book anyway picked this one up enjoyed it and will look for another one by them

[Dorothy]

This is a super book and I couldn't put it down. It is the story of Dr. Lukas Bower who has been hired to work in the emergency department. There are several problems, but his main problem is the ER director who dislikes him.

[Debra Pease]

Fast paced

Thrilling once it got going. I worked in hospital administration for 8 years and never saw doctors acting as bad as this Jarvis character. Today doctors are heavily monitored for giving narcotics to patients. Can't wait for sequel!

[Christina Sinisi]

I'm not always a fan of medical drama--not one of those people who are glued to E.R. shows--but I enjoyed this one because I became a fast fan of Dr. Lukas.

I want to give him a hug. :)

And I'm excited there is a follow-up with the same characters. Already reading.

[Donna M Wetzel]

Good read

Very good and kept me reading. Characters by TVwere interesting and true to life. The problems depicted in this story are every day occurrences in ER's all over the country. Highly recommended.

[Janet Griffith]

Problems

After much Tim and effort Dr Bower starts a new job in ER at a hospital in a small town only to run into a rash of problems all over again. How will he weather this new storm?

[Patricia Whittington]

WOW!

I had not read anything by this author before, but I could not stop reading once I started. Very fast paced medical story and so believable.. I already have the next book in this series and am ready to settle down and read.

[Lesley Barklay]

A Christian medical drama about an ER doctor who moved to a small town to avoid office politics, but gets sucked into drama anyway, and a GP who is locked in a custody battle with her abusive ex husband. More time is spent developing the hospital drama than the romance.

[Lynette]

Had I known it was a Trilogy…

There are books I try not to read..Trilogy is one of them. Sex and language are my other two not.
Reading reviews of the other 2 was almost enough for me to purchase the 3rd one. But, I will pass.

[Deborah]

I really like the characters. Looking forward to reading more in this series.

[Theresa Dr. Gerstner]

Written with a Christian undertone.

[Pauline Paddy]

Sacred trust book 1

I am so happy I ran across this book. I loved every page. It was a wonderful read. I cannot wait to start book two. My new forever author for sure

[Jane Weiler]

Peaceand justice

It's hard to find peace when there seems to be no justice. This a riveting story of doing what is right depending on God to give you peace.

[Deborah]

One of the best books I’ve read in a while. Hard to put down.