Code Rivalry

Hearts On Call #4

by Sofia Archer

I did something reckless. I slept with my rival.
My brother’s best friend. The one man who knows how to undo me.

Liam Bennett and I have been at war for three years.
For points. For power. For pride.
And we keep score like it’s survival.
Competition is my oxygen, the only control I can count on.

And control is how I survive. Raised to be flawless.
First in my class, youngest attending ER doctor at Harbor General.
And he’s the only man who makes me forget it.

His smile promises trouble, and his eyes make me want it.
The hotter the rivalry burns, the more I’m tempted.
Then a forced partnership pushes us too close.

Adrenaline lingers long after the ER goes quiet.
His hands steady me, familiar before they’re allowed.
When we finally give in, it feels inevitable. True.
And crossing that line changes everything.

Now we’re competing for the same title.
One promotion. One of us with power over the other.
Rivalry made us equals.
Love makes us vulnerable.

And when one of us ends up in charge, there’s no going back.
Wanting each other might cost us everything.


Hearts On Call is a steamy medical workplace romance series filled with forbidden tension, emotional healing, laugh-out-loud moments, and fast-paced hospital drama. These stories deliver witty banter, heart-racing suspense, pulse-pounding chemistry, and unforgettable side characters you’ll fall for again and again. Each book can be enjoyed as a standalone and in any order.

Genres: Doctors, Medical

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Sofia Archer writes steamy contemporary romance filled with emotional tension, irresistible chemistry, complicated hearts, and love stories that burn hot while still leaving room for healing, humor, and hope.

Before pursuing life as a full-time author and self-publisher, Sofia built a background in social work and continues to maintain a part-time presence in the field of mental health and wellness. That work keeps her grounded in the messy, beautiful, deeply human experiences that often find their way into her stories—the hurt and the healing, the longing and the laughter, the walls people build, and the love that finally breaks through them.

Her books are written for readers who crave passion with emotional depth, characters with real wounds and real desires, and romances that are sexy, heartfelt, a little reckless, and always satisfying. Whether she’s writing forbidden attraction, forced proximity, grumpy billionaires, protective heroes, or heroines strong enough to bring them to their knees, Sofia loves exploring the moment when control slips, hearts open, and love becomes impossible to resist.

When she’s not writing, Sofia can often be found balancing creative life with her work in wellness, dreaming up new ways to make readers swoon, and happily getting lost in the emotional chaos of her next steamy love story.

Sofia loves connecting with readers and hopes her books make them feel seen, entertained, and maybe just a little breathless.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was genuinely awful. I wanted a hospital based romance after watching the Pitt, but I’m never taking recs from Google ever again.

The tropes were so badly done and the was no pay off. Everything was a let down. Only didn’t dnf because of how short it was.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. This book was trash from 30% on.

[Ruth R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper was an ER assistant Director at Harbor General , she was competitive with an other ER assistant director her brothers best friend Liam, every time he comes at the hospital before her she found him on the desk.
One morning someone called her that a new doctor came to show him around , Liam was not happy to see her talking with him , one day he entered into the break room and she was drinking coffee with a matching cup of the new doctor, after he entered the new doctor tells her to think about the date.
He was hurt because he couldn’t confess his feelings and her thoughts about him were that they were competitors.
There were permanent leadership for the Emergency Medicine department , the two of them were the only two that were candidates.
So who was the best will win the leadership.

[Kaylee Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper and Liam are both ER Assistant Directors. And both are competing on everything. The sexual tension is there but he’s her rival and her brothers best friend. But then due to them both having a bunch of complaints because of their competitive atmosphere when working they’re forced to partner up for the next week for every shift and patient. They move like they’re the same person. Completely in sync. And finally Liam tells Harper how he feels. Harper just has to get over her fear on if she can in fact have everything. If she will be enough. They have to realize they’re better as a team. This was such a good book! It is part of a series but it’s a standalone. I do plan on checking out the first 3 since I loved this one so much.

[Death_by_my_TBR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet read, I enjoyed reading about two really strong providers. There was such a sweet and strong chemistry between the two main characters. It was nice to see that the man had the self esteem issues and the woman was trying to be perfect for her family. It was so great seeing them grow together, even when they were fighting and competing. As someone who is in the medical field that is not a doctor, you do at times forget that doctors are people with real feelings and pain. This is a great book I will recommend to everyone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Virginia Danyow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm no stranger to Sofia Archer and the Code series. I've read them all. But this is my favorite, by far. Harper and Liam's story is woven throughout the earlier books in the series. Their snarky banter, tension filled arguments, and personal insults add comedy to the earlier stories while laying groundwork for this installment. I think the order of the books is perfect. I really like that each can be read as a stand alone, but they also provide glimpses into the relationships of the other couples.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have a tissue handy on the two days (or very long one) you allow for this steamy, contemporary, urban, Harbor General Emergency Department forbidden rivals to lovers, brother's best friend medical workplace romantic comedy in Brooklyn during summer, featuring codes, rivalry, Romance, children, families, humor, LGBTQ, twins, chortles, drinking coffee from the pot, betting pools, charcoal formerly known as bread, foreplay, tortured vegetables. and a ring race.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda de Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a nice story, but not the most interesting of the series. Had expected more rivalry and tension between the main characters, like when they were side characters in the other stories of this series. It was however nice to get an insight into why they act like they do.
The betting culture in the hospital is getting a bit old, and rather off-putting to be frank.
The 'rounding up' at the end feels forced.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam & Harper's story was a fun read. It's obvious they're in love with each other from the very beginning. The banter back and forth was just foreplay for them. I was happy to see that Liam was the first to stop fighting it and really pursue her with a purpose. The secondary characters are always funny and bring much to the plot. Overall, this is a good enemies to lovers romance.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the HOTTEST, STEAMIEST medical romance books ever and I would lose control if I saw Liam in the ER. Before you even begin to read this 10/10-star romance book you can feel the heat radiate from your kindle. OMG Harper and Liam have a dynamite romance with intense chemistry.

[Kirsten · Rating 1 out of 5]

so bad after a quarter into it