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Chatam House #9
The Doctor's Perfect Match
A Time to Heal
Everyone in Buffalo Creek, Texas, knows that Dr. Brooks Leland doesn't date. After his harrowing loss, the widower focuses all his time on helping the sick. But when a mysterious newcomer with a heartbreaking secret becomes his patient, Brooks is drawn to Eva Russell. Suddenly, the blonde spitfire he can't bear to fall for is working in his medical practice, living at Chatam House and challenging everything he knows about love. Now even the town's triplet matchmakers have hope that these two battered hearts are on the way to healing.
Everyone in Buffalo Creek, Texas, knows that Dr. Brooks Leland doesn't date. After his harrowing loss, the widower focuses all his time on helping the sick. But when a mysterious newcomer with a heartbreaking secret becomes his patient, Brooks is drawn to Eva Russell. Suddenly, the blonde spitfire he can't bear to fall for is working in his medical practice, living at Chatam House and challenging everything he knows about love. Now even the town's triplet matchmakers have hope that these two battered hearts are on the way to healing.
224 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2015
19 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Arlene James
205 books87 followersArlene James has written romance for four decades, and has published 100+ novels. A mother of sons and now a happy grandmother to the brightest, most talented, and lovely of all granddaughters, she is finding her sixth decade to be great fun.
She and her very supportive husband of 45 years (whom she agreed to marry on their first date!) enjoy a busy social life and have visited much of the world. After calling Texas home for three decades, they now live in beautiful NW Arkansas.
Arlene grew up on a ranch in south central Oklahoma and still maintains strong ties in that area. She firmly believes that writing has afforded her the best of all possible means of earning a living, and credits a junior high school English teacher with proving to her that her dream of being an author was entirely achievable.
After 4 decades of deadlines and multiple-book contracts (for which she is deeply grateful), she is enjoying the ability to write exactly what she feels led to write on her own schedule.
She and her very supportive husband of 45 years (whom she agreed to marry on their first date!) enjoy a busy social life and have visited much of the world. After calling Texas home for three decades, they now live in beautiful NW Arkansas.
Arlene grew up on a ranch in south central Oklahoma and still maintains strong ties in that area. She firmly believes that writing has afforded her the best of all possible means of earning a living, and credits a junior high school English teacher with proving to her that her dream of being an author was entirely achievable.
After 4 decades of deadlines and multiple-book contracts (for which she is deeply grateful), she is enjoying the ability to write exactly what she feels led to write on her own schedule.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 14, 2017
This is the 1st book I read by Arlene James. I'm sorry this story was boring & didn't grab my attention.
July 13, 2015
Chatam House
Book 9
These books just keep getting better! I was so excited to see Dr. Brooks Leland's story. Ever since I was introduced to the man early on in the series, I knew that he needed to find somebody to love and care for, and he did!
Eva Russell was a character like none other. She was so strong, even in the midst of everything she was going through. I tried several times to put myself in her place and I just couldn't do it - I just don't think I would survive everything she had to endure!
Dr. Brooks was the perfect hero. I loved how he put everyone in her life in their place. I loved his comebacks to everyone that said rude things to Eva. And I loved how he held her up when she was at her weakest! Kudos to Arlene James for a wonderful, wonderful book! Keep them coming!
Book 9
These books just keep getting better! I was so excited to see Dr. Brooks Leland's story. Ever since I was introduced to the man early on in the series, I knew that he needed to find somebody to love and care for, and he did!
Eva Russell was a character like none other. She was so strong, even in the midst of everything she was going through. I tried several times to put myself in her place and I just couldn't do it - I just don't think I would survive everything she had to endure!
Dr. Brooks was the perfect hero. I loved how he put everyone in her life in their place. I loved his comebacks to everyone that said rude things to Eva. And I loved how he held her up when she was at her weakest! Kudos to Arlene James for a wonderful, wonderful book! Keep them coming!
October 18, 2015
Travel back to Chatham house where the matchmaking Chatham triplets have set their sights on Dr. Brooks Leland. When Eva Russell blows into town and faints almost at his feet, Dr. Brooks fixes her immediate problem with a few stitches. But Eva has bigger problems than a gash on her head. She believes she's dying of a brain tumor the same way her mother died and she's trying to get as far away from her former life as she can. Can Brooks convince Eva that what she believes may not be true? Can he help give her hope for her future? Lots of humor in this story. I enjoyed it!
August 3, 2020
Read The Doctor's Perfect Match .... again .!! Since the first time I read this ... family and personal health issues have happened ... ... which made me appreciate the wonderful book even more !
Eva's exhusband and his wife aggravated me even more than first time reading this book.
Highly recommend this book.
and would enjoy seeing this on the Hallmark movie Channel .
I would make an awesome movie. !!!
Thanks for this great book Arlene James !!!
Eva's exhusband and his wife aggravated me even more than first time reading this book.
Highly recommend this book.
and would enjoy seeing this on the Hallmark movie Channel .
I would make an awesome movie. !!!
Thanks for this great book Arlene James !!!
July 7, 2017
I enjoyed this Matchmaker triplets ! ... eccentric indeed ! I found this book entertaining and also inspiration of faith !
Although there was a very sad thread through storyline there wasn't a shortage of humor !
There was a little surprise near the end I was not expecting.
Although there was a very sad thread through storyline there wasn't a shortage of humor !
There was a little surprise near the end I was not expecting.
July 12, 2015
I picked this up just to read a few pages...& finished the book in one day! Wow! An unexpected pleasure this read...kudos to the author! I have read previous Chatam books but this was best!
November 12, 2022
I wanted to give this four stars, but... no.
The story itself is refreshing, for a 'Love Inspired' (LI) book. Eva has a brain tumor that has robbed her of her filter, so anything she thinks comes out of her mouth. She's also wildly impulsive because it has not only messed with her behavior, but she knows her time's up, so... why not? Additionally, it tends to make her pass out and/or speak gibberish when she gets stressed and her blood pressure goes up.
And that's how she meets Brooks Leland. ((THAT NAME>>>!!!!!!! Could you GET any worse? That's a surname!!)) He's a doctor in the store near where she passes out, and he treats her.
Here's where it descends into LI-istic BS. Lee (which is what I called him because BROOKS IS NOT A FIRST NAME) was married sixteen years ago to a woman who had a brain tumor, and he nursed her through her decline and to her death. So OF COURSE he's going to spend all of his time with ANOTHER woman with the same condition. Right? Right?? ((OF COURSE he wouldn't!))
Especially when she's completely anti-God/church. That's ExACtLY what he'd go for, as a devout believer. No, really. NONE of this is plausible. He'd be running fast and hard in the other direction, keeping a healthy distance. Especially if he's avoided relationships for SIXTEEN YEARS, hello.
I loved Eva. She's vulnerable, scared, putting on a crazy front, driving everyone crazy. I even love the chemistry between her and Lee - you don't typically get that in a Love Inspired book. It was really, really fun... which isn't a word I use when reading this genre.
But then at page 100, James pulls LI-istic BS, again. See, this is book number NINE in a series... and on page 100, EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER FROM THE PREVIOUS EIGHT BOOKS *PLUS THEIR KIDS* all descend onto the pages. Don't even *T.H.I.N.K* about trying to keep track or know who did what when or where. I just started skimming.
The book goes REALLY fast when you skim past 85+unknown characters, FYI.
And in the middle of that, Arlene got so overwhelmed by her own tangle of people that she lost Eva. She had Eva holding her tongue - something she was NOT able to do, hello. I was pretty peeved by it all.
Oh, it recovered... and naturally so does Eva, with nary a permanent change after HAVING A STROKE during her surgery. (((sigh.))) Because chrischun books are always SO realistic about their miraculous healings - nobody has any lasting effects of a brain tumor, massive tentacled cyst, or a brain hemorrhage-induced stroke.
The dialogue and characterization of Eva made this story. But mostly the rest was just not okay. And I wish I could say that it was enjoyable throughout, but that's just not true. It *COULD* have been, but for some reason, the LI formula is a requisite, and it just blows any chance of these things being unique or amazing.
Which is too bad.
The story itself is refreshing, for a 'Love Inspired' (LI) book. Eva has a brain tumor that has robbed her of her filter, so anything she thinks comes out of her mouth. She's also wildly impulsive because it has not only messed with her behavior, but she knows her time's up, so... why not? Additionally, it tends to make her pass out and/or speak gibberish when she gets stressed and her blood pressure goes up.
And that's how she meets Brooks Leland. ((THAT NAME>>>!!!!!!! Could you GET any worse? That's a surname!!)) He's a doctor in the store near where she passes out, and he treats her.
Here's where it descends into LI-istic BS. Lee (which is what I called him because BROOKS IS NOT A FIRST NAME) was married sixteen years ago to a woman who had a brain tumor, and he nursed her through her decline and to her death. So OF COURSE he's going to spend all of his time with ANOTHER woman with the same condition. Right? Right?? ((OF COURSE he wouldn't!))
Especially when she's completely anti-God/church. That's ExACtLY what he'd go for, as a devout believer. No, really. NONE of this is plausible. He'd be running fast and hard in the other direction, keeping a healthy distance. Especially if he's avoided relationships for SIXTEEN YEARS, hello.
I loved Eva. She's vulnerable, scared, putting on a crazy front, driving everyone crazy. I even love the chemistry between her and Lee - you don't typically get that in a Love Inspired book. It was really, really fun... which isn't a word I use when reading this genre.
But then at page 100, James pulls LI-istic BS, again. See, this is book number NINE in a series... and on page 100, EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER FROM THE PREVIOUS EIGHT BOOKS *PLUS THEIR KIDS* all descend onto the pages. Don't even *T.H.I.N.K* about trying to keep track or know who did what when or where. I just started skimming.
The book goes REALLY fast when you skim past 85+unknown characters, FYI.
And in the middle of that, Arlene got so overwhelmed by her own tangle of people that she lost Eva. She had Eva holding her tongue - something she was NOT able to do, hello. I was pretty peeved by it all.
Oh, it recovered... and naturally so does Eva, with nary a permanent change after HAVING A STROKE during her surgery. (((sigh.))) Because chrischun books are always SO realistic about their miraculous healings - nobody has any lasting effects of a brain tumor, massive tentacled cyst, or a brain hemorrhage-induced stroke.
The dialogue and characterization of Eva made this story. But mostly the rest was just not okay. And I wish I could say that it was enjoyable throughout, but that's just not true. It *COULD* have been, but for some reason, the LI formula is a requisite, and it just blows any chance of these things being unique or amazing.
Which is too bad.
April 18, 2024
This one wasn't my favorite... I can't really explain it. I give it a 3.5 rounded up to a 4 star. Things I wasn't a fan of was the fact that he was falling for her, before he even knew her, other than what he could see-her looks. Also, its a Christian book, like all Love Inspired books are, but this one was preachy, more than any other ones. A persona can have godly morals, without coming on awkwardly about it ... and moments I felt that. Also, I wasn't the biggest fan of how much time was spent naming off the lineage of the Chatam family. It reminded me of the Bible books where the whole chapter is names you can't pronounce, lol. That said, I realize it's a series, so perhaps since it was the last book... maybe the author was tying up loose ends by doing that.
Quick summary since I've wrote a lot already....
About 16 years ago Doctor Brooks Leland lost the love of his life to brain cancer. He has sworn off love but then he has a chance encounter with the most interesting women he has ever met. He can see that there is something drawing him to her, but he refuses to get involved knowing she also has a brain tumor, like his late wife and her life could also end the same. Eva, this wonderful woman, is also nothing like anyone he's ever met, which makes him cautious ... but something about her still draws him closer. He takes her health into his hands, but soon enough learns she also has another secret. Eva was fleeing a diagnosis that was deadly, fleeing from a loved one, and had all but given up living UNTIL she met the doctor. Can she be saved? What is her large secret she is hiding? Can Brooks Leland take a chance loving someone again, knowing it could end the same way?!
Great book! I think that you'll enjoy it more IF if you read the books prior. Or at least the book RIGHT before it, so you can meet Morgan, Brooks best friend. As a stand alone book, idk if I would give it a 4, likely more a 3 star rating.
Quick summary since I've wrote a lot already....
About 16 years ago Doctor Brooks Leland lost the love of his life to brain cancer. He has sworn off love but then he has a chance encounter with the most interesting women he has ever met. He can see that there is something drawing him to her, but he refuses to get involved knowing she also has a brain tumor, like his late wife and her life could also end the same. Eva, this wonderful woman, is also nothing like anyone he's ever met, which makes him cautious ... but something about her still draws him closer. He takes her health into his hands, but soon enough learns she also has another secret. Eva was fleeing a diagnosis that was deadly, fleeing from a loved one, and had all but given up living UNTIL she met the doctor. Can she be saved? What is her large secret she is hiding? Can Brooks Leland take a chance loving someone again, knowing it could end the same way?!
Great book! I think that you'll enjoy it more IF if you read the books prior. Or at least the book RIGHT before it, so you can meet Morgan, Brooks best friend. As a stand alone book, idk if I would give it a 4, likely more a 3 star rating.
October 27, 2023
I loved this book.
Read
January 27, 2026The Chatman House is a place where second changes, hope, and God can be found. All wrapped up in love.
May 17, 2015
The Doctor’s Perfect Match by Arlene James. This is a Chatam House novel and is an inspirational romance.
Dr. Leland Gates is well-known in Buffalo Creek, Texas. He is a well-loved doctor and a handsome widower who does not date. Instead, he focuses his life on helping others. He does not want to have to go through losing another wife in the horrific way he lost Brigitte. She had cancer and refused any treatment. He married her knowing he would have only a short time with her. He handled his grief with the help of his friend Morgan (who also loved Brigitte) and the Chatam triplets. These elderly ladies considered it their duty to help others find that “perfect” someone. However, even they agreed that Leland should be left alone. He didn’t need another broken heart.
Eva Russell tumbles into the life of the Chatam house and Dr. Leland Gates. She comes in a dilapidated van with nothing to her name and makes trinkets to be sold at craft fairs. Hopefully this art and craft fair will make her enough money to make it through the winter. At the same time, she wants to remain under the radar and not be found. What is she running from?
Their worlds collide when Eva suffers a fall and seizure with Leland Gates the only doctor in the area. This incident causes Dr. Leland to look further into her background to see if there is something that can be done now. He diagnoses some type of tumor and she readily agrees. Her mother and sister and grandmother all died of some type of cancer. Why should she be the same? He becomes suspicious when she refuses tests and insists on getting out. They compromise and she is released to live in Chatham house until she sets herself on the right path. Can Leland Gates keep his composure around Eva when she won’t tell him the truth? How can he help her? Will Eva break down and tell him the entire story or will she try to leave town on her own? Meanwhile, there is Ricky to consider.
Dr. Leland Gates is well-known in Buffalo Creek, Texas. He is a well-loved doctor and a handsome widower who does not date. Instead, he focuses his life on helping others. He does not want to have to go through losing another wife in the horrific way he lost Brigitte. She had cancer and refused any treatment. He married her knowing he would have only a short time with her. He handled his grief with the help of his friend Morgan (who also loved Brigitte) and the Chatam triplets. These elderly ladies considered it their duty to help others find that “perfect” someone. However, even they agreed that Leland should be left alone. He didn’t need another broken heart.
Eva Russell tumbles into the life of the Chatam house and Dr. Leland Gates. She comes in a dilapidated van with nothing to her name and makes trinkets to be sold at craft fairs. Hopefully this art and craft fair will make her enough money to make it through the winter. At the same time, she wants to remain under the radar and not be found. What is she running from?
Their worlds collide when Eva suffers a fall and seizure with Leland Gates the only doctor in the area. This incident causes Dr. Leland to look further into her background to see if there is something that can be done now. He diagnoses some type of tumor and she readily agrees. Her mother and sister and grandmother all died of some type of cancer. Why should she be the same? He becomes suspicious when she refuses tests and insists on getting out. They compromise and she is released to live in Chatham house until she sets herself on the right path. Can Leland Gates keep his composure around Eva when she won’t tell him the truth? How can he help her? Will Eva break down and tell him the entire story or will she try to leave town on her own? Meanwhile, there is Ricky to consider.
August 4, 2015
The Doctor's Perfect Match by Arlene James is a very good book. Eva Russell thinks she is dying. She leaves her ten year old son with her ex husband and leaves town. Eva suffers a fall and seizure in the new town. Dr. Brooks Leland is close by and helps her. Eva has no money and doesn't want test done since she can't pay for it. Brooks gets her a room at the Chatam House with three older sweet woman who like to match couples. Eva has to have a head operation that is series. Before the operation Eva and Brooks go back to her ex's place to get Eva's son and bring him to Eva's new home town. Brooks and Eva end up together. A lot goes on in this story.
July 8, 2015
I would have given it four stars but I found the ending a bit rushed especially with the lead up to the operation proceding at a good speed but then rushed to an abrupt conclusion. Other than that it was a delightful story.
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January 12, 2016"The lovable, feisty matchmaking triplets are back in this continuing series. Eva is a prime example of how fear of failure causes some to be afraid to hope and to even give up altogether" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
Miniseries: Chatam House
Miniseries: Chatam House
November 7, 2015
Great Inspirational Book
This was a great Christian read. I found myself laughing one moment and crying the next. If you are looking for a good clean romance book this is for you. I highly recommend it to everyone.
This was a great Christian read. I found myself laughing one moment and crying the next. If you are looking for a good clean romance book this is for you. I highly recommend it to everyone.
June 23, 2016
This is the first book I have read from this author and it will not be the last. Wow, from beginning to the end a great read. I read it in one night I just could not put it down. Brooks and Eva such a great couple and all the characters at Chatam House had me smiling all night.
July 20, 2015
Love Inspired 6/25/15. Read in one sitting! All rally round when one of the 3 sisters has a health problem. Brooks & Eva are interesting & strong characters. Good one AJ!
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January 12, 2016received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Chatam House
Miniseries: Chatam House
December 7, 2016
Such a sweet story! I love all of the Chatam House books!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews