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When the Heart Changes
Hadley Harris has spent her life living carefully counting pills, tracking symptoms, and learning not to want too much. A congenital heart condition has taught her one brutal love is dangerous when forever isn’t guaranteed.
Dr. Reid Hawthorne doesn’t believe in fate. Or soulmates. Or anything that can’t be measured, repaired, or controlled. As one of Boston’s most brilliant cardiac surgeons, he’s built his life around precision and rules—especially the one about never crossing professional lines.
Until Hadley collapses in front of him.
What begins as doctor and patient quickly becomes something far more complicated. Because Hadley isn’t just another case, and Reid isn’t just another man willing to walk away when things get hard. As lines blur and feelings deepen, Reid is forced to choose between the career he’s spent his life building and the woman who’s quietly taken over his heart.
When Hadley’s condition takes a devastating turn, Reid risks everything—his reputation, his future, his freedom—to save her life. But love doesn’t come without consequences, and some choices change everything.
When the Heart Changes is an emotional, slow-burn medical romance about vulnerability, sacrifice, and finding the courage to love when tomorrow is uncertain.
This novel is intended for mature readers and includes open-door romantic scenes and explicit intimacy.
Perfect for readers who
Intense doctor romances
Strong, resilient heroines
Protective heroes who fall hard
High-stakes emotion and found family
Love stories that linger long after the last page
💔❤️ Sometimes the heart doesn’t just heal—it changes everything.
Dr. Reid Hawthorne doesn’t believe in fate. Or soulmates. Or anything that can’t be measured, repaired, or controlled. As one of Boston’s most brilliant cardiac surgeons, he’s built his life around precision and rules—especially the one about never crossing professional lines.
Until Hadley collapses in front of him.
What begins as doctor and patient quickly becomes something far more complicated. Because Hadley isn’t just another case, and Reid isn’t just another man willing to walk away when things get hard. As lines blur and feelings deepen, Reid is forced to choose between the career he’s spent his life building and the woman who’s quietly taken over his heart.
When Hadley’s condition takes a devastating turn, Reid risks everything—his reputation, his future, his freedom—to save her life. But love doesn’t come without consequences, and some choices change everything.
When the Heart Changes is an emotional, slow-burn medical romance about vulnerability, sacrifice, and finding the courage to love when tomorrow is uncertain.
This novel is intended for mature readers and includes open-door romantic scenes and explicit intimacy.
Perfect for readers who
Intense doctor romances
Strong, resilient heroines
Protective heroes who fall hard
High-stakes emotion and found family
Love stories that linger long after the last page
💔❤️ Sometimes the heart doesn’t just heal—it changes everything.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2025
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 29, 2026
This is a heartfelt, emotional romance about Hadley, a woman living with a serious heart condition who’s learned to guard both her health and her feelings. Enter Dr. Reid Hawthorne — her brilliant but emotionally reserved cardiologist — and sparks start to fly in ways neither of them expected. As they navigate fear, vulnerability, and growing attraction, the story becomes a slow-burn love story about taking risks, healing, and letting love in even when it feels scary.
January 21, 2026
Gracie Monroe’s “When the Heart Changes” revisits the age-old dilemma of a physician rendering medical care to a family member or close friend, a practice that, despite popular belief, is not illegal, but customarily left up to the discretion of the individual physician and patient. In the book, cardio-thoracic surgeon, Dr. Reid, experiences love at first sight with stranger, Hadley, as he is giving her chest compressions during CPR.
The doctor and his new patient quickly become a thing and do the nasty, despite the patient’s precarious cardiac status following a valve replacement and start of anticoagulation therapy two years earlier, imminent prosthetic valve failure, and recent cardio-pulmonary arrest. As they fall in love, the supposedly brilliant physician doesn’t seem to realize he’s playing with a time bomb.
The 31-year-old Dr. Reid is convinced he’s the top cardio-thoracic surgeon in Boston, and not shy when it comes to reminding others of his talent. What’s more, he has everyone at Boston General Hospital, especially the nurses and administrators, convinced the hospital would close should he not get his own way and leave.
All this becomes important when the story unwinds and the doc is forced to make an unconventional life-and-death intervention. Of course, the author creates another character – a prominent lawyer who has a paternal interest in the doc, to make sure there’s a happy ending.
The storyline to “When The Heart Changes” is not a new one and, unfortunately, it is one that may have worked better in years gone by than in the year 2026 Anno Domini. Medicine has dramatically changed over the years, and there are fewer prima donna doctors who profess to be the only ones who can swap out a defective aortic valve in Boston, and many more doctors who now take their orders from nurse practitioners, nurse managers, and other higher-ups who have long since replaced medical doctors in the decision-making hierarchy of hospital medicine.
The author can get away with her many leaps of faith in this novel because of the wide strokes of gray she uses to paint over and around important issues. Sure, doctors can step in and take over when another doctor is about to throw in the towel on a dying patient, administrators can cut high-earning physicians some slack when questionable activities are proposed, and dedicated code teams can move out of the way and let a prominent cardio-thoracic surgeon get down on his knees and do chest compressions in a CPR, but they generally don’t.
In the real world, if he was somehow prohibited from operating on his girlfriend and didn’t have faith in the skills of his colleagues at Boston General Hospital, Dr. Reid would have called one of Boston’s 200 other cardio-thoracic surgeons, who work at places like Brigham and Women's, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Boston Medical Center, and transferred Hadley’s care. This is what the administrators and legal consultants of a Boston hospital would have demanded, along with Dr. Reid not participating in Hadley’s surgery in any way – even as an observer.
“When The Heart Changes” is well-written, save the tome’s unnecessary, distracting, and gratuitous taking of God’s name in vain, a prominent feature in all of Ms. Monroe’s novels. As an author, I am disappointed when another talented writer can’t find acceptable words to use instead of the ones many readers find offensive.
Regardless of any constructive criticisms it may receive, this book will probably become popular because of the author’s persuasive writing, growing fan club, and general lack of understanding of matters medical by most readers. Fortunately, as in her other novels, “When The Heart Changes” just scratches the surface of Gracie Monroe’s true potential as a writer.
The doctor and his new patient quickly become a thing and do the nasty, despite the patient’s precarious cardiac status following a valve replacement and start of anticoagulation therapy two years earlier, imminent prosthetic valve failure, and recent cardio-pulmonary arrest. As they fall in love, the supposedly brilliant physician doesn’t seem to realize he’s playing with a time bomb.
The 31-year-old Dr. Reid is convinced he’s the top cardio-thoracic surgeon in Boston, and not shy when it comes to reminding others of his talent. What’s more, he has everyone at Boston General Hospital, especially the nurses and administrators, convinced the hospital would close should he not get his own way and leave.
All this becomes important when the story unwinds and the doc is forced to make an unconventional life-and-death intervention. Of course, the author creates another character – a prominent lawyer who has a paternal interest in the doc, to make sure there’s a happy ending.
The storyline to “When The Heart Changes” is not a new one and, unfortunately, it is one that may have worked better in years gone by than in the year 2026 Anno Domini. Medicine has dramatically changed over the years, and there are fewer prima donna doctors who profess to be the only ones who can swap out a defective aortic valve in Boston, and many more doctors who now take their orders from nurse practitioners, nurse managers, and other higher-ups who have long since replaced medical doctors in the decision-making hierarchy of hospital medicine.
The author can get away with her many leaps of faith in this novel because of the wide strokes of gray she uses to paint over and around important issues. Sure, doctors can step in and take over when another doctor is about to throw in the towel on a dying patient, administrators can cut high-earning physicians some slack when questionable activities are proposed, and dedicated code teams can move out of the way and let a prominent cardio-thoracic surgeon get down on his knees and do chest compressions in a CPR, but they generally don’t.
In the real world, if he was somehow prohibited from operating on his girlfriend and didn’t have faith in the skills of his colleagues at Boston General Hospital, Dr. Reid would have called one of Boston’s 200 other cardio-thoracic surgeons, who work at places like Brigham and Women's, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Boston Medical Center, and transferred Hadley’s care. This is what the administrators and legal consultants of a Boston hospital would have demanded, along with Dr. Reid not participating in Hadley’s surgery in any way – even as an observer.
“When The Heart Changes” is well-written, save the tome’s unnecessary, distracting, and gratuitous taking of God’s name in vain, a prominent feature in all of Ms. Monroe’s novels. As an author, I am disappointed when another talented writer can’t find acceptable words to use instead of the ones many readers find offensive.
Regardless of any constructive criticisms it may receive, this book will probably become popular because of the author’s persuasive writing, growing fan club, and general lack of understanding of matters medical by most readers. Fortunately, as in her other novels, “When The Heart Changes” just scratches the surface of Gracie Monroe’s true potential as a writer.
January 20, 2026
An emotional slow burn that truly earns its heartbreak and hope
When the Heart Changes surprised me in the best way. This isn’t just a doctor romance — it’s a deeply emotional story about living with uncertainty and choosing love anyway.
Hadley’s life with a congenital heart condition is written with so much care and realism. You really feel how carefully she moves through the world, guarding her heart in every sense of the word. She’s strong without being unrealistically brave, and that made her incredibly easy to root for.
Reid, on the other hand, starts out controlled, logical, and emotionally guarded — and watching those walls slowly crack was one of my favorite parts of the book. The tension between his professional rules and what he feels for Hadley is intense, believable, and beautifully paced. Nothing feels rushed. Every step forward feels earned.
What really stayed with me was the emotional weight when Hadley’s condition worsens. The stakes feel real. The fear, the sacrifice, the impossible choices — it all hits hard without ever feeling melodramatic. The romance is passionate, yes, but it’s also tender and vulnerable in a way that lingers long after you finish.
If you love slow-burn romances with high emotional stakes, flawed but devoted heroes, and heroines who show quiet resilience, this book will absolutely pull at your heart. I finished it feeling wrecked, hopeful, and completely satisfied.
Highly recommended — and I’ll definitely be reading more from Gracie Monroe.
When the Heart Changes surprised me in the best way. This isn’t just a doctor romance — it’s a deeply emotional story about living with uncertainty and choosing love anyway.
Hadley’s life with a congenital heart condition is written with so much care and realism. You really feel how carefully she moves through the world, guarding her heart in every sense of the word. She’s strong without being unrealistically brave, and that made her incredibly easy to root for.
Reid, on the other hand, starts out controlled, logical, and emotionally guarded — and watching those walls slowly crack was one of my favorite parts of the book. The tension between his professional rules and what he feels for Hadley is intense, believable, and beautifully paced. Nothing feels rushed. Every step forward feels earned.
What really stayed with me was the emotional weight when Hadley’s condition worsens. The stakes feel real. The fear, the sacrifice, the impossible choices — it all hits hard without ever feeling melodramatic. The romance is passionate, yes, but it’s also tender and vulnerable in a way that lingers long after you finish.
If you love slow-burn romances with high emotional stakes, flawed but devoted heroes, and heroines who show quiet resilience, this book will absolutely pull at your heart. I finished it feeling wrecked, hopeful, and completely satisfied.
Highly recommended — and I’ll definitely be reading more from Gracie Monroe.
January 20, 2026
I went into this expecting a standard doctor patient romance, and while it hits those beats, Monroe elevates it with genuine emotional depth. Hadley's not written as fragile despite her heart condition she's careful, yes, but also fiercely independent and pragmatic about her limitations. That realism made her so much more compelling than the typical "sick girl" trope.
Reid could have easily been another arrogant surgeon cliché, but his internal struggle between professional ethics and his feelings for Hadley felt authentic. The tension isn't just "will they or won't they" it's "should they, and at what cost?" When he risks his entire career to save her, it doesn't feel melodramatic because Monroe's built that foundation carefully.
The medical details are solid without being overwhelming, and the slow burn actually burns slow, which I appreciated. The open door scenes are well done intimate without being gratuitous.
My only minor complaint: some of the found family elements felt slightly underdeveloped compared to the central romance, but that didn't detract much.
If you love high stakes medical romance with characters who feel like real people navigating impossible choices, this absolutely delivers. Fair warning: keep tissues handy. This one sneaks up on your emotions.
Reid could have easily been another arrogant surgeon cliché, but his internal struggle between professional ethics and his feelings for Hadley felt authentic. The tension isn't just "will they or won't they" it's "should they, and at what cost?" When he risks his entire career to save her, it doesn't feel melodramatic because Monroe's built that foundation carefully.
The medical details are solid without being overwhelming, and the slow burn actually burns slow, which I appreciated. The open door scenes are well done intimate without being gratuitous.
My only minor complaint: some of the found family elements felt slightly underdeveloped compared to the central romance, but that didn't detract much.
If you love high stakes medical romance with characters who feel like real people navigating impossible choices, this absolutely delivers. Fair warning: keep tissues handy. This one sneaks up on your emotions.
Read
January 24, 2026When the Heart Changes is an emotional, beautifully paced medical romance that stays with you long after the final page. Hadley is a deeply moving heroine, strong, vulnerable, and quietly brave as she navigates life with a heart condition that has taught her to guard her hopes. Reid is everything you want in a slow-burn hero: controlled, brilliant, protective, and utterly undone by the one woman he never expected to fall for.
The tension between doctor and patient is handled with care and emotional weight, making every step of their connection feel earned. As the stakes rise, the story explores sacrifice, fear, and the courage it takes to love when tomorrow is uncertain. The romance is intense, tender, and unforgettable, balanced by moments of warmth and found family.
This is a powerful story about choosing love despite the risks, and how sometimes, the heart changes everything.
The tension between doctor and patient is handled with care and emotional weight, making every step of their connection feel earned. As the stakes rise, the story explores sacrifice, fear, and the courage it takes to love when tomorrow is uncertain. The romance is intense, tender, and unforgettable, balanced by moments of warmth and found family.
This is a powerful story about choosing love despite the risks, and how sometimes, the heart changes everything.
January 10, 2026
Another page turner by Gracie
I was worried at first. After reading her hockey romances, I was afraid I wouldn't like her medical romance, but my fears were erased.
Again, I was pulled in from page one, immediately knowing where this story was going but wanting to know what happened along the way. I love the coming of age story hidden in the details for both characters as they both have to make tough decisions that they said they never would. I can't wait for another book! I hope to see more of his family and hopefully a coming of age story for bitchy mama! One can hope and dream, right?
I was worried at first. After reading her hockey romances, I was afraid I wouldn't like her medical romance, but my fears were erased.
Again, I was pulled in from page one, immediately knowing where this story was going but wanting to know what happened along the way. I love the coming of age story hidden in the details for both characters as they both have to make tough decisions that they said they never would. I can't wait for another book! I hope to see more of his family and hopefully a coming of age story for bitchy mama! One can hope and dream, right?
January 17, 2026
This book really stayed with me. When the Heart Changes is emotional, intense, and beautifully written. Hadley’s struggle with her heart condition felt very real, and I loved how strong yet vulnerable she was. Reid’s journey from controlled, rule-following surgeon to someone willing to risk everything for love was heartbreaking and powerful.
The slow-burn romance was done well, with just the right amount of tension and emotion, and the medical stakes kept me anxious the entire time. A few parts felt slightly long, but the emotional payoff was worth it. Overall, this was a touching, high-stakes love story that left me feeling full and a little broken, in the best way.
The slow-burn romance was done well, with just the right amount of tension and emotion, and the medical stakes kept me anxious the entire time. A few parts felt slightly long, but the emotional payoff was worth it. Overall, this was a touching, high-stakes love story that left me feeling full and a little broken, in the best way.
January 20, 2026
When the Heart Changes is a powerful and heartfelt love story that pulls you in from the first page. Hadley is a deeply moving heroine strong, vulnerable, and impossible not to root for while Reid’s journey from guarded surgeon to all-in protector is incredibly satisfying. The medical tension, emotional stakes, and tender moments are perfectly balanced, making every page feel meaningful. This is a love story about courage, sacrifice, and choosing love even when the future is uncertain. Emotional, romantic, and unforgettable I highly recommend it to anyone who loves deep, high-stakes romances that stay with you long after the final chapter
January 29, 2026
This was my first book by this author, and I went in without many expectations. The medical romance angle isn’t always my go-to, but I found myself drawn in pretty quickly. Even when I could sense where the story was heading, I still wanted to follow the journey and see how the characters would handle everything.
What I appreciated most was the subtle coming-of-age element for both of them. They each have firm boundaries and beliefs, and watching those shift under pressure felt believable. The emotional growth carried the story more than the high-stakes drama did.
There were moments that required some suspension of disbelief, but overall I stayed invested.
What I appreciated most was the subtle coming-of-age element for both of them. They each have firm boundaries and beliefs, and watching those shift under pressure felt believable. The emotional growth carried the story more than the high-stakes drama did.
There were moments that required some suspension of disbelief, but overall I stayed invested.
February 1, 2026
When the Heart Changes is a tender, emotionally charged romance that beautifully balances vulnerability and hope. Gracie Monroe crafts a slow-burn love story that feels deeply human, drawing readers into Hadley’s carefully guarded world and Reid’s life of control and precision. The emotional tension builds naturally, making every moment between them feel meaningful and earned. With its blend of medical realism, heartfelt romance, and high emotional stakes, this story lingers long after the final page, reminding us that love is often the bravest risk of all.
January 7, 2026
"Wow. Just wow. 'When the Heart Changes' is an absolutely captivating and emotionally powerful read that stayed with me long after the final page. Hadley and Reid's story is a beautiful, heart -wrenching journey of vulnerability, sacrifice, and finding love in the face of uncertainty. The slow-burn romance, the high stakes, and the unforgettable characters make this a must-read. If you love intense doctor romances with deep emotional resonance, pick this up immediately! Absolutely brilliant.
January 24, 2026
An emotional powerhouse of a romance.
When the Heart Changes is a slow-burn medical romance done right, aching, intimate, and impossible to put down. Hadley’s vulnerability and strength are beautifully portrayed, and Reid’s transformation from guarded surgeon to fiercely devoted partner is unforgettable. The stakes feel real, the emotions hit hard, and the love story is deeply earned. This book doesn’t just tug at your heart, it grips it and refuses to let go.
When the Heart Changes is a slow-burn medical romance done right, aching, intimate, and impossible to put down. Hadley’s vulnerability and strength are beautifully portrayed, and Reid’s transformation from guarded surgeon to fiercely devoted partner is unforgettable. The stakes feel real, the emotions hit hard, and the love story is deeply earned. This book doesn’t just tug at your heart, it grips it and refuses to let go.
January 30, 2026
This story is beautifully written and deeply moving. The slow-burn romance between Hadley and Reid feels authentic, tender, and earned. I loved how the book explored vulnerability. not just physical, but emotional and how love can be terrifying when tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. I found myself holding my breath during the medical moments and tearing up during the quiet ones. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves heartfelt, emotional romance with real stakes.
January 30, 2026
When the Heart Changes is a deeply moving and emotionally charged romance that beautifully blends medical drama with heartfelt connection. The slow-burn love story between Hadley, who’s learned to protect her heart, and Dr. Reid, who lives by precision and control, unfolds with real depth and nuance. The way their relationship grows — even as life throws unforeseen challenges their way — made this book impossible to put down.
January 18, 2026
When the Heart Changes is a deeply emotional and gripping medical romance that balances vulnerability, passion, and high stakes. Hadley is a strong and relatable heroine, while Reid’s journey from control to sacrifice is both compelling and heartfelt. The slow burn, intense emotions, and powerful themes of love and courage make this a memorable story that stays with you long after the final page.
January 26, 2026
When the Heart Changes sounds like a deeply emotional, slow-burn medical romance filled with heart, tension, and unforgettable characters. Hadley and Reid’s story promises vulnerability, sacrifice, and a powerful love tested by impossible choices. A beautiful, high-stakes romance that feels intense, tender, and lingering—perfect for readers who love protective heroes and resilient heroines
January 15, 2026
When the Heart Changes is a tender, emotionally charged romance that beautifully balances vulnerability, hope, and passion. Hadley and Reid’s love story is heartfelt and intense, proving that even fragile hearts are capable of the strongest, most life-changing love.
January 31, 2026
Why hadn't I read a doctor/patient romance before?
My goodness, the boundaries were pushed.
I liked his personality, his fallible alpha traits, and how he was so caught up with her.
She was lovable, feminine yet strong.
I plan to follow this author :)
My goodness, the boundaries were pushed.
I liked his personality, his fallible alpha traits, and how he was so caught up with her.
She was lovable, feminine yet strong.
I plan to follow this author :)
February 1, 2026
This is 100% worth reading I highly recommend it
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews