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The Assignment
Emerging from the ashes of a stagnant long-term relationship, Dr. Savannah Dawson finds the adrenaline rush of the emergency room has dulled to a monotonous routine. It’s her best friend Lacey who nudges her out of her comfort zone, convincing her to take a leap into the unknown with a new job in Barcelona. However, Savannah soon discovers she’s signed up for more than she anticipated, finding herself entwined in a century-old family coca business that demands she apply her sharp wits and judgment beyond the ER.
Tomas Rey IV, a man who holds the title of the decade’s most eligible bachelor, becomes her most challenging puzzle: a man who might just fulfill her dreams or plunge her into a nightmare. With the aid of serendipity and a loyal group of friends, Savannah navigates the complexities of a new country, a foreign lifestyle, and a covert role she’s intent on keeping under wraps. As she adjusts to this unexpected chapter, she hopes to stay beneath the radar, all while the stakes grow ever higher.
Tomas Rey IV, a man who holds the title of the decade’s most eligible bachelor, becomes her most challenging puzzle: a man who might just fulfill her dreams or plunge her into a nightmare. With the aid of serendipity and a loyal group of friends, Savannah navigates the complexities of a new country, a foreign lifestyle, and a covert role she’s intent on keeping under wraps. As she adjusts to this unexpected chapter, she hopes to stay beneath the radar, all while the stakes grow ever higher.
248 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 5, 2025
The Assignment by Shayla C. Freeman – An Engaging Medical Drama with Room for Minor Tweaks
The Assignment by Shayla C. Freeman is a contemporary romance with a strong medical focus that manages to keep the reader hooked from start to finish, thanks to a complex protagonist and a plot that blends ethical dilemmas, romance, and personal growth.
The story follows Dr. Amelia Grant, a surgical resident who, after a serious mistake in her past, is given an unconventional “assignment” as a path to professional and emotional redemption. The author, herself a physician with nearly a decade of experience, brings impressive credibility to the hospital scenes: the procedures, the hierarchy between residents and attendings, the exhaustion of 36-hour shifts, and even the technical vocabulary all feel completely authentic. Anyone who has read about or works in healthcare will immediately recognize these details and feel immersed in the hospital environment.
The book’s greatest strength is undoubtedly the protagonist’s development. Amelia is not the typical flawless heroine; she carries real guilt, makes questionable decisions, and evolves organically throughout the pages. The supporting characters, especially the love interest and the tough mentor, also have enough depth to avoid feeling like mere accessories. The narrative flows well most of the time, and the pacing picks up noticeably in the second half, leading to a satisfying and emotionally honest conclusion.
If there is room for improvement, it lies in the dialogue formatting. The author chose to start a new line with an em dash for every single piece of dialogue, even when the same character continues speaking in the next paragraph. This creates constant visual breaks and makes the reading feel somewhat fragmented. In several moments, especially early on, it slightly disrupts the natural flow and can confuse less experienced readers. Another minor point is that the first chapter takes a while to fully situate the reader in the timeline and context of Amelia’s past mistake, causing mild initial confusion that only clears up around page 50 or so.
In terms of editing, I found only two or three minor typos or accent errors (nothing that affects comprehension), and the Portuguese translation/adaptation is very well done overall.
In the end, The Assignment delivers exactly what it promises: a realistic medical drama with just the right amount of romance, human characters, and a beautiful message about second chances and work-life balance. It’s the kind of book you finish with a sigh of “finally, a protagonist who actually makes mistakes and learns from them.”
Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Grey’s Anatomy with less over-the-top drama and more emotional depth, or to readers who love stories of professional redemption in the medical world. Despite the small issues I mentioned regarding dialogue formatting and the slightly slow start, the quality of the plot and the authenticity of the medical experience make it very much worth the read.
The Assignment by Shayla C. Freeman is a contemporary romance with a strong medical focus that manages to keep the reader hooked from start to finish, thanks to a complex protagonist and a plot that blends ethical dilemmas, romance, and personal growth.
The story follows Dr. Amelia Grant, a surgical resident who, after a serious mistake in her past, is given an unconventional “assignment” as a path to professional and emotional redemption. The author, herself a physician with nearly a decade of experience, brings impressive credibility to the hospital scenes: the procedures, the hierarchy between residents and attendings, the exhaustion of 36-hour shifts, and even the technical vocabulary all feel completely authentic. Anyone who has read about or works in healthcare will immediately recognize these details and feel immersed in the hospital environment.
The book’s greatest strength is undoubtedly the protagonist’s development. Amelia is not the typical flawless heroine; she carries real guilt, makes questionable decisions, and evolves organically throughout the pages. The supporting characters, especially the love interest and the tough mentor, also have enough depth to avoid feeling like mere accessories. The narrative flows well most of the time, and the pacing picks up noticeably in the second half, leading to a satisfying and emotionally honest conclusion.
If there is room for improvement, it lies in the dialogue formatting. The author chose to start a new line with an em dash for every single piece of dialogue, even when the same character continues speaking in the next paragraph. This creates constant visual breaks and makes the reading feel somewhat fragmented. In several moments, especially early on, it slightly disrupts the natural flow and can confuse less experienced readers. Another minor point is that the first chapter takes a while to fully situate the reader in the timeline and context of Amelia’s past mistake, causing mild initial confusion that only clears up around page 50 or so.
In terms of editing, I found only two or three minor typos or accent errors (nothing that affects comprehension), and the Portuguese translation/adaptation is very well done overall.
In the end, The Assignment delivers exactly what it promises: a realistic medical drama with just the right amount of romance, human characters, and a beautiful message about second chances and work-life balance. It’s the kind of book you finish with a sigh of “finally, a protagonist who actually makes mistakes and learns from them.”
Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Grey’s Anatomy with less over-the-top drama and more emotional depth, or to readers who love stories of professional redemption in the medical world. Despite the small issues I mentioned regarding dialogue formatting and the slightly slow start, the quality of the plot and the authenticity of the medical experience make it very much worth the read.
July 26, 2026
When I picked up this book, I was intrigued by the premise and was looking forward to seeing how the author explores the conflict of falling for someone you know is involved in shady things. However, I was utterly disappointed by how the writing started to progress towards the middle of the book. What I liked about the book is majorly the introductions and the picture of the characters painted in front of the audience. With the open introductions, I was instantly interested in the main character and wanted to immediately know more about her. I admired the friendships she had, with her best friends having her back throughout. Although the interactions with the friends seemed a bit out of place, it was still an appreciable addition to Savannah’s world.
As I started progressing further into the book, I felt that the writing had significantly decreased in quality. The plot and especially, the writing in the sense of descriptions seemed a bit lacking, it could use a bit of a personality when describing events and scenarios. As I delved deeper into the plot I felt that it might be too on the nose with where it is going, like it was very predictable as to what was gonna happen next. However, one bone I still have to pick with the book is the descriptive writing. It really does take me out of the book because when the medical details come in half the time, I don't get what they might imply and I find the author focuses too much on cases and patients that sometimes makes me think the novel is centred around the patients rather than the main character herself and her new life in Barcelona. That being said, I think the author picked an excellent premise to work on but failed to properly execute the narrative in a way that made sure the characters’ personality remained intact. In reality, the plot felt like it was rotating between two ideas and wasn’t sure what it wanted to rely on. An example of this is Savannah’s character who says and believes that what she is doing is wrong and so on, but the next second she just simply goes on to do the thing that she said was supposedly wrong with no internal monologue about the conflict between right and wrong. The characters didn’t seem to be well-fleshed out and felt like different people with every other thing they did. But I have to say the author executed the romance really well by exuding such a soft chemistry between the two main characters that despite the flawed writing, I was still able to pick up the book simply because of the magnetism between the two characters. I would reccomend this book to those who are looking for romance that tugs at once heart strings but wouldn't really care much for the crime part.
As I started progressing further into the book, I felt that the writing had significantly decreased in quality. The plot and especially, the writing in the sense of descriptions seemed a bit lacking, it could use a bit of a personality when describing events and scenarios. As I delved deeper into the plot I felt that it might be too on the nose with where it is going, like it was very predictable as to what was gonna happen next. However, one bone I still have to pick with the book is the descriptive writing. It really does take me out of the book because when the medical details come in half the time, I don't get what they might imply and I find the author focuses too much on cases and patients that sometimes makes me think the novel is centred around the patients rather than the main character herself and her new life in Barcelona. That being said, I think the author picked an excellent premise to work on but failed to properly execute the narrative in a way that made sure the characters’ personality remained intact. In reality, the plot felt like it was rotating between two ideas and wasn’t sure what it wanted to rely on. An example of this is Savannah’s character who says and believes that what she is doing is wrong and so on, but the next second she just simply goes on to do the thing that she said was supposedly wrong with no internal monologue about the conflict between right and wrong. The characters didn’t seem to be well-fleshed out and felt like different people with every other thing they did. But I have to say the author executed the romance really well by exuding such a soft chemistry between the two main characters that despite the flawed writing, I was still able to pick up the book simply because of the magnetism between the two characters. I would reccomend this book to those who are looking for romance that tugs at once heart strings but wouldn't really care much for the crime part.
April 29, 2026
The Assignment by Shayla Freeman is an exciting story following Dr Savannah Dawson as she leaves the comfort of her Atlanta emergency room for a job in Barcelona. She quickly discovers she has signed up for more than she expected as her new life becomes entwined with the rich and eligible bachelor, Tomas Rey IV. Tomas is the heir to a ginormous family business that shines in the light with wine and crop exports, but behind the charitable actions lies a drug enterprise run in the shadows.
We dive straight into Savannah's life in the ER. The reader quickly comes to like Savannah; her intelligence shines through the medical experience and is paired with a friendly, outgoing attitude. She is relatable, and her relationship with her 'Crew' of university friends highlights the importance of strong adult friendships. As a female reader, I loved reading about the successful women balancing their jobs with family life and strong friendships. Tomas Rey IV is an intriguingly complex character, caught between the history of his family business and his own wishes for the future.
The story was fast-paced, and I didn't want to put the book down. The author did a fantastic job of creating slow builds with tidbits of information that kept you hooked, without ever leaving you waiting too long for the answer you craved! The mix between the thrill of the ER, Savannah's covert mission and Tomas balancing two worlds leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. Despite being a relatively short book, each character showed clear development and growth in line with the others.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the ending. The author did a great job of rounding out each character's story while leaving the reader excited for the next book in the series. I can't wait to read more of Dr Savannah's assignments.
I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book has clearly been professionally edited, with only a few spelling and grammar mistakes and the occasional misuse of a word. There were some areas where the word 'and' was used too much, as well as some phrasing feeling quite simplistic, but this was overshadowed by the excellent story.
Originally written for The Online Book Club https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
We dive straight into Savannah's life in the ER. The reader quickly comes to like Savannah; her intelligence shines through the medical experience and is paired with a friendly, outgoing attitude. She is relatable, and her relationship with her 'Crew' of university friends highlights the importance of strong adult friendships. As a female reader, I loved reading about the successful women balancing their jobs with family life and strong friendships. Tomas Rey IV is an intriguingly complex character, caught between the history of his family business and his own wishes for the future.
The story was fast-paced, and I didn't want to put the book down. The author did a fantastic job of creating slow builds with tidbits of information that kept you hooked, without ever leaving you waiting too long for the answer you craved! The mix between the thrill of the ER, Savannah's covert mission and Tomas balancing two worlds leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. Despite being a relatively short book, each character showed clear development and growth in line with the others.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the ending. The author did a great job of rounding out each character's story while leaving the reader excited for the next book in the series. I can't wait to read more of Dr Savannah's assignments.
I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book has clearly been professionally edited, with only a few spelling and grammar mistakes and the occasional misuse of a word. There were some areas where the word 'and' was used too much, as well as some phrasing feeling quite simplistic, but this was overshadowed by the excellent story.
Originally written for The Online Book Club https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
June 21, 2026
This is a medical procedural and thriller story, switching between Dr Savannah Dawson's and Isabel Morales' perspectives. Their paths inadvertently cross and contrast significantly as one revolves around romance and the other around grit.
I received a free review copy. Thank you to OnlineBookClub and author.
I received a free review copy. Thank you to OnlineBookClub and author.
February 25, 2026
Review also on onlinebookclub:
This novel attempts to be many things at once—part medical scientific paper, part thriller, part romantic escapade, and part tourist guide — but ends up being none of them convincingly. The plot is a bit thin, which wouldn’t be a problem if the writing compensated with strong characters, atmosphere, or style. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. The author seems undecided on the book’s identity, shifting erratically between clinical jargon, suspenseful chases, sentimental flashbacks, and touristy descriptions of tapas bars.
The editing is alarmingly poor. Basic errors abound: confusing “room 2” with “bed 2”, misspelling Louis Vuitton as “Viton,” and using “where” instead of “were” (“the prosciutto-covered dates where to die for”). There’s “desert” instead of “dessert,” and a claim that patatas bravas contain cheese. Even cultural references are off — prosciutto is Italian, not Spanish.
Grammatically, the book is erratic. Sentences lack clear subject-verb-object structure, and pronouns often leave the reader guessing who did what. Repetitions are frequent, and the prose is cluttered with unnecessary details. For example, when a character dresses to spy on someone, we’re treated to a paragraph about how her outfit complements a family heirloom bracelet, complete with descriptions of sapphires, shawls, and designer heels. It adds nothing to the plot and feels indulgent.
Dialogue is equally problematic. Spanish phrases are enclosed in curly brackets, but even native speakers—siblings, no less—abruptly switch to fluent English mid-conversation, supposedly to “keep up their English.” The idea that Spanish-speaking nurses would casually use advanced medical terminology in English is implausible.
The book is riddled with awkward phrasing: “Given two of Narcan” instead of “I’ve given her two doses of Narcan,” or “For desert was churros with sprinkled powdered sugar,” missing a subject entirely. One scene reads, “Her into a closet, and he jumped behind an old desk,” which is as confusing as it sounds.
In short, this was a drag to finish. The premise had potential, but the execution—marred by genre confusion, factual inaccuracies, and grammatical chaos—makes for a frustrating read.
This novel attempts to be many things at once—part medical scientific paper, part thriller, part romantic escapade, and part tourist guide — but ends up being none of them convincingly. The plot is a bit thin, which wouldn’t be a problem if the writing compensated with strong characters, atmosphere, or style. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. The author seems undecided on the book’s identity, shifting erratically between clinical jargon, suspenseful chases, sentimental flashbacks, and touristy descriptions of tapas bars.
The editing is alarmingly poor. Basic errors abound: confusing “room 2” with “bed 2”, misspelling Louis Vuitton as “Viton,” and using “where” instead of “were” (“the prosciutto-covered dates where to die for”). There’s “desert” instead of “dessert,” and a claim that patatas bravas contain cheese. Even cultural references are off — prosciutto is Italian, not Spanish.
Grammatically, the book is erratic. Sentences lack clear subject-verb-object structure, and pronouns often leave the reader guessing who did what. Repetitions are frequent, and the prose is cluttered with unnecessary details. For example, when a character dresses to spy on someone, we’re treated to a paragraph about how her outfit complements a family heirloom bracelet, complete with descriptions of sapphires, shawls, and designer heels. It adds nothing to the plot and feels indulgent.
Dialogue is equally problematic. Spanish phrases are enclosed in curly brackets, but even native speakers—siblings, no less—abruptly switch to fluent English mid-conversation, supposedly to “keep up their English.” The idea that Spanish-speaking nurses would casually use advanced medical terminology in English is implausible.
The book is riddled with awkward phrasing: “Given two of Narcan” instead of “I’ve given her two doses of Narcan,” or “For desert was churros with sprinkled powdered sugar,” missing a subject entirely. One scene reads, “Her into a closet, and he jumped behind an old desk,” which is as confusing as it sounds.
In short, this was a drag to finish. The premise had potential, but the execution—marred by genre confusion, factual inaccuracies, and grammatical chaos—makes for a frustrating read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews