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Medicine River #2

Truly Madly Montana

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Summer in Montana brings heat with a chance of romance in the new Medicine River Romance from the award-winning author of Montana ActuallySexy and charming Australian doctor Will Bartlett will do anything to help out a friend, even if it means moving to Bear Paw for the summer. Some small-town hospitality, and the uncomplicated friendship of his co-worker, Millie, is just the ticket to shake off the restlessness that’s been gripping him lately.Millie Switkowski, RN and medical student, is home for her clinical rotation, and she’s determined to make this summer so much better than last. She’s got a year of medical school under her belt, her diabetes is under control and she’s kicked her crazy crush for Will Bartlett, who only ever treated her as “one of the guys.”But when Will turns out to be Millie’s supervising physician, without warning the summer gets a whole lot hotter than either of them anticipated. With both of them holding onto thorny secrets, can they walk away with their hearts intact?

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2015

16 people are currently reading
489 people want to read

About the author

Fiona Lowe

189 books647 followers
Multi published, Fiona is very excited about her 2026 release, The Drowning a novel about a family, a holiday house and a dead body. Previously published with Berkley and currently with Harper Collins Australia, (HQ Fiction) Fiona's been the recipient of a RITA and two RuBY awards. Families and communities intrigue her and she loves creating characters you could meet on the street and enjoys putting them in unique situations where morals and values can blur and she begs the reader to ask themselves, 'What would you do?'
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Fiona loves to hear from her readers and you can contact her at her website

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Anna's Herding Cats.
1,274 reviews319 followers
Read
November 28, 2015
Oh yes I'm falling for Bear Paw, Montana and the people who live there. Had a great time with Truly Madly Montana. A couple rough spots but fun, sweet and interesting.

Full review to come
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
July 8, 2015
Shelly's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Will Barlett is willing to do anything to help out a friend, from giving love/dating advise to moving to Bear Paw to help out for a summer. Hanging with friends and exploring the area is just what he needs to shake off the grief he is hiding.

Millie has a year of medical school under her belt and is heading home to Bear Paw for her clinical rotation only to find out, her secret crush Will Bartlett, will be her supervisor. Millie has secrets of her own that she is keeping from Will and as they get to know each other they all come out.

Truly Madly Montana is a great book showing the different struggles two people hide and go through everyday and what your actions can do to everyone around you and the love small towns have for each other. This book is a part of a series, but I read as a stand alone and really enjoyed.

Review copy provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for 1-Click Addict Support Group.
3,749 reviews490 followers
July 11, 2015
I have thing for men in scrubs and Aussies... I also have a thing for Montana – I love to read about Big Sky Country (I swear, I will visit there someday) – so Truly Madly Montana ticked all the right boxes for me. I wasn't sure what to expect from this new-to-me author, but I got a very pleasant surprise.

Dr. Will Bartlett finds himself in Bear Paw for the summer, helping out the local community and generally trying to work through what is an exceptionally difficult time of year for him. Forming a friendship with his co-worker, Millie Switkowski, seems like a good idea…at the time.

A summer together, working hard and getting to know each other leads to something more…something deeper. But neither Millie nor Will are being completely honest. They both have secrets, and they both have pasts. Will this summer fling end in disaster when the truth comes to light?

I really enjoyed this sweet, sexy and charming small town story. These characters were so easy to like, particularly Millie, who was strong and smart, and determined to rise above the things (and the people…) that threatened to hold her back. Likewise, Will, the brilliant Aussie doctor that kind of makes me want to end up in his ER for a little mouth-to-mouth, was also strong and smart, but a little bit wounded. And oh, didn't that just break my heart? I ached for him, for what he must have experienced.

The characters from around the town were fun too. They provided plenty of laughs, and a bit of extra romance. There was great dynamics in and around Bear Paw, Montana, and clearly, more stories to be told. Having missed the first book in this series, I had a couple of questions (nothing drastic, this can easily be read standalone) that will definitely have me seeking out book one, and any books to come in the future.

I went into Truly Madly Montana with no expectations and found a great story that totally sucked me in. If you like simple, easy and enjoyable books, ones to curl up on the couch with – or maybe lie out in the sun with a fruity cocktail – then this a sure bet. I mean, you can't go wrong with a hot Aussie man in scrubs, saving lives in picturesque Montana, can you? ~ Beth, 4.5 stars
Profile Image for Melody  May (What I'm Reading).
1,488 reviews24 followers
July 8, 2015
Posted on What I'm Reading

I have to say that I'm falling in love with this series. I enjoyed the first book Montana Actually, but I thought Truly Madly Montana was even more fun. So, we get to focus on Will Bartlett and Millie Switkowski. I adore this couple, and they were a lot of fun.

Poor Millie. She totally feels invisible when it comes to guys, because they tend to see her as one of the guys. It's kind of like what's wrong with me. She doesn't do it out of pity, but more like resigned that she's just one of the guys. When Will shows up she's pissed at him and it just escalates to the point where Will thinks she's a lesbian. I thought this part was hilarious, but after a while I'm like when is the truth going to come out. And I'm not going to lie, I did look to see when this shenanigan was going to end. I had to know. Anyway, once everything comes out in the open it's somewhat smooth sailing. Come on it's not like it's going to be perfect. A lot of their ups and downs stem from Will concern for Millie and her diabetes. He has a hard time putting away his doctor cap when he's with Millie. This kind drives wedge between them. However, that's not the only thing that drives a wedge between the two, which happens to be Will's twin brother Charlie. You won't see Charlie, but he has a big presence in the story.

Like the first story, we find a secondary love story going on. I adore Will and Millie, but I just wish we got a little more of Tara and Ethan's story maybe in a form of another book. However, it is what it is. There is a lot going on with Tara and Ethan, because Tara is deputy sherif and Ethan is town librarian. This part made me feel all sorts of things, because we have Tara who presents herself as the "Ice Princess". We actually get the reason why, and it sucks on how her life had turned out. I adore Ethan and his patience. Seriously, the dude had to tread very lightly around her. There was a couple of times where it would have been nicer of Tara just taser the guy. However, he stuck it out. Kudos Ethan. Anyway, I enjoyed the snippets of Tara and Ethan's slowly budding romance (seriously, a turtle was moving faster than these two).

Overall, Truly Madly Montana is fun light read. I enjoy the fact that the story takes places in one of my favorite areas. I can't wait for more to come out of Bear Paw. Honestly, I'm dying to know who is next to get bit by the love bug. So, come along, settle down, and enjoy the adventure of Millie and Will in Truly Madly Montana.

Copy provided by Berkley via NetGalley
1,008 reviews8 followers
July 5, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Will is an Aussie ER doctor working in Montana. He is confident, outgoing, intelligent and sexy as hell. He can have any girl he wants. Millie, a medical student and nurse who has a huge crush on Will. But Millie doesn't think guys are interested her. She isn't the ideal body shape, is a type 1 diabetic and she is considered just one of the guys.

It takes a little time for these two to come together after Will makes an assumption about Millie and is a little heart breaking for her. Will and Millie challenge each other. This couple work well together and play well together even though things don't initially appear to be serious.

The bonus about this book is that Millie and Will are not the only couple. We get two romances for the price of one.

Mille's good friend Ethan is a sexy nerd and the town's very well loved and respected librarian. He is often the town's entertainment with embarrassing videos of him appearing on YouTube but it is all in good fun. Tara, the town's new Deputy Sheriff mistakenly arrests Ethan and they get off to a rocky start.

Tara is beautiful, cold and very standoffish. She has had a rough past and doesn't let people get close to her. Outgoing and gentle, Ethan is just what Tara needs to help bring her out of she shell.

The two romances in this book are perfectly intertwined and we get a really good overview of Bear Paw. I didn't want to leave. In fact, as soon as I finished Truly Madly Montana I one-clicked the first book in this series which I hadn't read. Truly Madly Montana is a fabulous small town romance. It is full of ups and downs, lots of laughter and smiles, some tears and is ultimately a very uplifting book.

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Ruthie Taylor.
3,723 reviews40 followers
July 7, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads

This is the second in a series, and I read it as a standalone, but will be going back to read Montana Actually, as I enjoyed the community of Bear Paw and would happily read more. I am also wondering which movie title Ms Lowe will base her next story upon - maybe Pretty Montana?

I am a fan of medically based romances, as there is so much that can resonate with the reader, and the doctor/nurse romance has to be as old as the Hippocratic oath! Millie's constant need to deal with her diabetes was a hard reminder of what some people have to manage on a daily basis. That we got two romances for the price of one was a bonus. It worked well in the storyline, and lightened the tone in places. I felt by the end that I really knew the characters and was sorry to say goodbye.

Perfect summer beach reading - or just as good in the garden or the park!

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Romancing the Book.
4,420 reviews221 followers
October 8, 2019
Reviewed by Molly
Book provided by NetGalley

Fiona Lowe is a new to me author. I've heard people sing her praises with her other works, but I've not had the pleasure of reading her books before. So, when the opportunity arose for me to review this particular book, I jumped on it. I was not disappointed either! Ms. Lowe has just become a new favorite author and her Medicine River books have just gone to the top of my must read list!

I will admit, I wasn't sure what to think of a town called Bear Paw. It just seemed a little off the charts for my liking. But, once I settled into Montana with Will, Millie and the gang, I felt right at home and didn't worry one bit about the name. Ms. Lowe blended the perfect amount of laugh out loud humor with some spark flying romance and created a story that hooks the reader instantaneously.

I fell in love instantly with Millie. She's sweet and lovable and the fact that Ms. Lowe gave her a very real issue of diabetes to deal with in the story, was awesome. Not many authors give their characters a flaw like that but Ms. Lowe hit it off with Millie.

Will's character really stole my heart! As a CNA myself, I would love to have his oh lala charm and wit to answer to on a daily basis. His growing feelings for Millie were beautiful to watch and each page turn made me want him more!

I highly recommend this charming, small town romance to all those in need of a heartwarming read. Ms. Lowe will take you on a whirl wind ride with this story and leave you thirsty for more. I can't wait to go back and read the previous book and all the books to come in this amazing series! Well done, Ms. Lowe!
Profile Image for Angela Goodrich.
1,608 reviews102 followers
July 7, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

I feel as though I should start my review by explaining that Truly Madly Montana was not on my review list. While the book sounded interesting, the bulk of my to-read list is scheduled 3 months out and I rarely have a chance to add such a lengthy book at the last minute. But as the person who sets up the blog posts, I found myself intrigued by the excerpts for the book and really wanted to see if it was as good as they made it sound. So I queued the review copy up on my Kindle, turned on the text-to-speech function, and crossed my fingers that Truly Madly Montana was the kind of book that lent itself to being read out loud while I worked on setting up other posts. For the most part it was, and when it wasn’t it was because I found my attention being pulled away from working and into the story – great for the author, not so great for the blog posts. ;)

What I really liked about Truly Madly Montana was that Ms. Lowe gave us two love stories in one book. The primary romance is between Will and Millie. As Millie is the first character we meet in the book (and the one whose excerpts snagged my attention most), I connected with her most. I don’t have diabetes so I cannot even imagine what it’s like to live Millie’s life and yet despite being “chained” to her continuous glucose monitor – aka Dex – she maintains a rather upbeat and cheerful outlook on life. This is why I loved how she approached being Josh’s best man and understood her frustration at the wedding reception when the usurper – Dr. Will Bartlett – showed up and assumed he was still the best man because he made it to the wedding. Adding insult to injury is when Will (the guy she was crushing on last summer) assumed she was gay; while that conversation and the interactions that later stemmed from it were not funny from Millie’s point of view, I found them quite laugh worthy. As Will embarks on being friends with Millie because he’s finally found a woman who has similar interests and isn’t trying to hit on him, she is torn between enjoying her time with him and frustrated because she has been relegated to being “just one of the guys” yet again. But sparks fly when Will learns that he was wrong about her sexuality and the scene that follows is emotional, funny, and hot. The best part is that we’re almost halfway through the book before Will and Millie embark on a romantic and sexual relationship, which allowed their friendship to build first. I enjoyed watching their relationship bloom and develop over the summer, which is what made the conversation that preceded Millie’s return to school so heartbreaking. As hard as it was to watch unfold, I was glad to see that Millie didn’t pull any punches with Will and called him out on his cowardice.

Because of how real the characters felt, I found the romance between Millie and Will to be a bit overwhelming at times. This is where the secondary romance comes in handy as it not only helped to keep Millie and Will’s romance from being “too much” for me to read, it also offered quite a bit of comedic relief and a totally different type of emotional depth. To be frank, when Tara first appears in the book I had no idea why the author had gone off on a tangent as there was nothing in the blurb that pointed to the secondary love story. But Ethan’s arrival on scene and his good natured self-deprecation and friendly personality were the perfect complement for the aloof and far too serious Tara. I loved watching their friendship develop and then progress to more just as much as I did Millie and Will’s. Ms. Lowe did a wonderful job of working Tara and Ethan into the story without pulling the focus away from Millie and Will.

I really enjoyed Truly Madly Montana and will be adding the first book in the series, Montana Actually, to my to-be-read list. Not only did I enjoy the author’s style of writing, I also learned something new. Via conversations and Millie’s actions over the course of the book, the author shows just how all-encompassing managing her diabetes is and just how little control she can have over it despite doing everything right and this left me in complete awe of Millie and every person who has to live with diabetes. This was a great read and I absolutely loved the reality check Ms. Lowe gave Will’s character at the end and how it led to the perfect resolution for Will and Millie. I look forward to reading more from the Medicine River series.

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Pam.
869 reviews
July 7, 2015
I really enjoyed the first in this series and looked forward to more about this Montana town and I was not disappointed. I adored this book and the quirky characters we met along the way.

Millie Switkowski is an RN and first year medical student home for the summer to help with the clinic and get more training. She is trying to convince everyone that she is managing her diabetes so they can back off, but she still gets those concerned looks from her parents. When she realizes Will is back and will be helping with her training, she is not sure how to act, her crush on him last year went unnoticed but at their friend’s wedding he makes some assumptions, so she gets pissed and does not correct him. They start hanging out together and he begins to notice her more, realizing she is fun to be around. When he finds out the truth he is even more intrigued, that is until he realizes she is a diabetic and gets scared.

Will Bartlett has been in the United States for two years, working as a doctor for a rescue unit near Bear Paw, Montana. He moved here for the adventure, trying to live two lives to keep his brother’s memory alive but he is still haunted and has a hard time moving on. He enjoys spending time with Millie, the attraction he feels is growing, but her illness stops him from going further as he knows how delicate life is and is worried about his own heart.

What a delightful book, this series is set in a small town in Montana with fun engaging people. This is the second book in the series and although we met many of the characters including the hero and heroine in the first book, this can easily be read as a standalone.

I like Millie; she has come back home after her first year of med school and is ready to help at the clinic. She had a crush on the Australian doctor last year but after several missteps she tells herself she is not revisiting the issue – yea right. But when he turns to her to fend off other women, all bets are off, and I laughed out loud when Will believes Millie is something she is not and she fails to correct him. The two start to spend time together as friends, and things start to heat up when Will realizes his mistake and starts looking at Millie in a different way. The chemistry works well for these two as their attraction grows from friendship to love, with some definite hot scenes shared.

Will is also very likeable, an Australian cutie that has great intentions when it comes to Millie. He remembers her and liked her well enough last year but never thought of her as more than a colleague or friend, until lately. He does have some issues to deal with concerning his brother, he seems stuck and continually tries to live the life Charlie would have lived, not his own. Millie tries to help but she compounds the problem when he realizes her health issues could be a danger to her and he is not sure he could deal with her loss. She must convince him she is not on her deathbed in order for him to see a future together.

The pace works well, not too fast and it never bogs down. There is humor and some drama as both Will and Millie work out their problems, plus we are treated to a secondary romance featuring the cute geeky Librarian, Ethan and Tara, the new police officer in town. I also enjoyed the author’s hilarious use of Twitter and the various hashtags that keep the people of Bear Paw informed about the gossip around town. I have read other books from this author and will continue to add her books to my reading list, whether we are visiting the wilds of Montana or the outback of Australia.

Review posted at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind

Copy from the publisher for an honest review
Profile Image for Miranda.
772 reviews103 followers
July 9, 2015
I thought this book had a great start. I thought the main character, Millie, was a really funny and charming character. She seemed realistic and relatable. I really enjoyed the first couple chapters with her POV. When she saw Will again at the wedding, I thought it was hilarious. Fiona made their interaction so funny, and what Will thought of Fiona literally made me laugh out loud. It definiltey through an interesting twist into the story. However, that "twist" did get on my nerves after a while. I really liked that storyline at first, but I found it be a little boring about 30% through the book. I was glad when that topic was finally put to a rest. It was funny at first, but it lost it's charm after a while.

The main male lead in the book, Will, was quite charming. I found myself very attracted to him and his Australian accent. I liked Will, but I was also extremely annoyed with him at times. Will said some really dumb things and did stupid things numerous times through out the book. As a whole, he was a lovable character. He definitely did somethings that made me like I needed to fan myself off.

The romance between Millie and Will was fun and cute. It was well paced, and I really enjoyed watching their feelings develop for each other. I was annoyed that the "twist" that I mentioned earlier hindered their romance, but it did help their romance develop at a more natural pace. Another thing that annoyed me about their relationship was that they weren't very open with each other and that lead to a lot of drama. When they weren't fighting, I really adored their relationship. I thought Will and Millie were cute together, and they had a lot of chemistry.



The side romance between Ethan and Tara was a little boring in my opinion. I would have rather had a separate book about them instead of them having a few chapters here and there in the book. I would have rather seen this book only focus on Will and Millie. I definitely would love to read about just Tara and Ethan in the future. I just wish it wouldn't have been put into this book.



One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was seeing the medical world. I thought it was really interesting to actually read about Will and Millie working in the medical field. It made me feel like I was reading Grey's Anatomy , and I loved it! I also really liked how Millie was dealing with her diabetes through out the book. I found that storyline to be really eye opening and interesting.

Overall, I liked this book! I thought it was fun summer read that made me laugh out loud numerous times. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes hot doctors and cute romance!

3 / 5 Fangs

*This book was given to me in exchange for a honest review*
Profile Image for JoAnne.
3,148 reviews32 followers
November 25, 2020
Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:

http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/...

I rated it 4.5 but rounded to 5 on Goodreads.

RULY MADLY MONTANA returns us to the small town of Bear Paw, Montana. We pick up where we left off with book one, MONTANA ACTUALLY, and it doesn't disappoint. This is Will and Millie's story as well as Ethan and Tara's and both are heartwarming and get the juices flowing and my emotions engaged!


Lowe's TRULY MADLY MONTANA (MEDICINE RIVER #2) has complex characters that we get to know little by little. Will, Millie and Tara all have secrets that they are loathe to let others know about but little by little they begin to trust and let some of their barriers down. Millie has had diabetes from an early age and finds it hard to talk about. She has ups and downs and her illness shapes her life and her actions no matter how much she doesn't want it to. She's a nurse who is studying to be a doctor and should know better but just wants to be normal. Will who hails from Australia and is a doctor has his own demons he's fighting. As he and Millie get closer their secrets are often times pushed deeper. Enter Tara, a newcomer to Bear Paw, who has her own issues to deal with and can't believe that people can be friendly and nice without having an agenda or wanting something from her. Ethan, the librarian, and she start off on the wrong foot but there are sparks every time they are around each other which happens a lot in a small town. There was a lot of medical terms and procedures since the hospital is front and center in the story and many involved in the storyline are doctors and nurses including Josh and Katrina whose story was told in book one. There were a lot of emotions running through the book and I was hooked from the beginning. There were family and friends, sorrow, fear, loss, tears, happiness, laughter, adventures, businesses, a festival, romance and lots of burn up the sheets loving. There was nice closure and a happily ever after on several fronts. I for one am hoping that the series will continue!

Lowe is a new to me author having only read the first book in the MEDICINE RIVER SERIES, MONTANA ACTUALLY. I look forward to reading other books by this author that I've missed along the way and hope this series continues.
Profile Image for Brooke Blogs.
677 reviews203 followers
July 10, 2015
Truly Madly Montana by Fiona Lowe is the second book in the Medicine River romance series. I fell in love with Bear Paw, Montana and all the awesome characters in book one – Montana Actually. Truly Madly Montana gives us two developing romance stories: Millie and Will and Tara and Ethan. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I love falling for the secondary characters in this series. As much as I loved Will and Millie – Ethan was my favorite in this book.
The author does a fantastic job of really keeping two stories going at once. I like how everyone is connected and how the story follows the town as well as the characters. It is a joy to read Fiona’s stories. I really liked how Truly Madly Montana focused on medical emergencies with Millie and Will’s work. Ethan was such a fun, quirky character – from his kind, loyal demeanor to the fun outfits he wears, he’s just someone you want to know. Tara was slow to warm up to Bear Paw, but it was so easy to understand why.

With Truly Madly Montana by Fiona Lowe, I can definitely say this is going to be one my favorite series. I’m already looking forward to the next book. Bear Paw feels like somewhere I’d like to call home. If you love real-life small town stories balanced with scorching romance, Medicine River is a great series to read. It’s going on my auto-buy list for sure.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for review purposes. My honest opinion was not influenced in any way.
Profile Image for Cathy.
788 reviews
July 7, 2015
"Truly, Madly Montana" by Fiona Lowe - this is a fun filled story with some adventure, love, laughter and tears. Millie and Will - Loved Them!! Millie - an RN with some health issues, is everyone's best friend. She longs to be that special someone but accepts that it probably won't happen, especially with her crush, Will. She's funny and kind yet so vulnerable. Will, an Aussie doctor, is Mr. Alpha - uber-sexy, especially with his accent. He's a great doctor but boy, does he stick his foot in his mouth! Although I laughed at his assumptions, my heart also ached for Millie. Ms. Lowe does a good job of incorporating Millie's health issues and what are some real concerns, especially to those that love the person. Will's reaction to her illness and his subsequent actions are real and his feelings true. Ms. Lowe has written a story that had me right there in the middle of it, I connected with Millie and longed for Will! :o) I loved the scenery too - again, Ms. Lowe brings the reader into the scene with her descriptions of the beautiful landscapes, etc. Check this one out - it's worth it! (received copy from NetGalley for honest review)
Profile Image for Jen.
586 reviews17 followers
July 9, 2015
This series keeps getting better! Will and Millie get off to a rocky start, partly due to her crush on him and partly because of an assumption he makes about her. The following weeks of them getting to know each other as friends and then lovers are filled with humor, medical emergencies, sad memories and a bit of heartache. Fortunately for all of us who like HEA's, Will redeems himself and goes after Millie. As a bonus, there is a second romance between the nerdy town librarian and the stern new sheriff's deputy. Ethan is one the sweetest guys ever and I wish his and Tara's story would have been longer. I love this small town series and look forward to the next one. I hope Ty, the heartbroken cowboy from the first book in the series get his HEA soon!

I received an ARC via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.
Profile Image for Casey Dawes.
Author 95 books121 followers
July 7, 2015
I so loved that Fiona Lowe has connected with my fellow Montana author, Kari Lynn Dell, to get the facts about our great state correct. It shows in the story. When Kari Lynn planned the Montana Romance Writers conference in 2014, it included a stop at a medical helicopter outfit. Were those boys ... uh choppers ... neat! I could visualize the details in Lowe's book.

Add to that, a heroine with diabetes. Wow. The physical constraints of that disease were aptly described, giving me more sympathy for the heroine. I love romances where real issues are part of the core story.

I highly recommend this romance for reflecting real life, a realistic portrait of Montana, and real love coming to fruition.
Profile Image for Shari.
1,859 reviews24 followers
July 11, 2015
I was so excited to finally get Millie's story, whom we met in the first book of Medicine River. This book focuses on Millie. first year medical student whom returns home for the summer to work the clinic. Will, HOT aussie doc is also there for the summer helping out a good friend,, by working in Bear Claw. Can this just be a summer fling or will it be HEA? Of course we get also get the romance of Ethan, librarian and new cop in town Tara. Tara has been hurt in previous relationships, can Ethan win her love. Loved the story line of Millie and her diabetes, a great job was done.

I highly recommend this book, a stand alone story but fair warning you will go back back and read book one. I received this book from netgalley for an honest review.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
47 reviews
December 25, 2015
I once read a book where the characters were based in the hospital setting and a lot of medical terms were used to the point where I felt I was reading a medical book instead of a fictional story. This book didn't come as overwhelming me with medical terms.

It was a mix of romance not just between Millie and Will but also that ice queen, Tara, and the town's Jack of all trades, Ethan. The descriptions and conflicting feelings of those characters helped brought to life their internal thoughts. The past can sometimes hinder the present for the future as it showed for Will since his twin was very much in his life.

This book is meant for immersing oneself with a few cups of hot cocoa or whatever drink you like for the next few hours.
Profile Image for Sarah.
672 reviews27 followers
July 10, 2015
Fiona Lowe writes such great small-town romance. Humor, heat, and great characters keep me reading. While I enjoyed Millie and Will's story, it was like a 2-for-1 deal with Ethan and Tara's secondary storyline.
Profile Image for Kerrie.
Author 4 books6 followers
February 10, 2017
Absolutely adore Fiona's style of writing, reminiscent of Susan Elizabeth Phillips in all the nicest possible ways.
Profile Image for Ela (Mouse333).
2,090 reviews10 followers
September 12, 2024
This book was fine.

Millie and Will are in Bear Paw for the summer. Millie is getting experience working in a hospital, and Will is appointed as her kind of mentor. They spend time together, mislead each other on some things and decide that they want to try dating. At the same time, Tara has just moved to Bear Paw and gets to know Ethan.

I didn’t mind Millie or Will, but I wasn’t very invested in them. Tara was fine and I liked Ethan, but I thought that there could have been more of their relationship development and more scenes with them spending time together.

I don’t know how accurate either of these things were, but I liked reading about Millie and Will’s cases at work, even though there could have been more of them, and it was interesting to read about Millie dealing with her diabetes and how others (Will) treated her because of it.

There could have been more characters shown and I wanted to see more of Ethan and Tara.

I liked this book, but I don’t think I’m going to read the other book in this series, and I’m not sure that I’ll try other books by this author.
33 reviews2 followers
September 19, 2020
2 stories in one... While the main story focuses on Millie and Will, we also get a secondary story that just as sweet with Tara and Ethan. Ethan is just the cutest. Omgosh - I love him and he and Tara together are amazing. The two stories are a little interlinked which was also nice.

I loved Millie and Will. I cried a lot - both of them have been through a lot and the relationship was both funny (especially in the beginning) and heartwarming. Will especially has to take a big leap with his heart. The characters are well developed and they all go through good character development.

I truly, madly, deeply wish there had been a long epilogue though. And I hope Miranda has a story in Australia. This was my first book by this author but I’ll definitely check out the others now.
Profile Image for Clare.
1 review
October 15, 2017
Loved this book and its premise...hero falling for a heroine which is not his typical type but she has diabetes and this makes things more complicated. I love having the hero taking care of his heroine :) I wish more time was dedicated to their romance though (that's why i removed one star). The secondary romance was interesting but i would have preferred the couple had gotten their own book. I dont like when the main couple share their romance with another couple in books.
Profile Image for OpenBookSociety.com .
4,104 reviews135 followers
August 13, 2015
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Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jerjen

Millie Switkowski is a nurse and a medical student. When she returns home to Bear Paw for her summer clinical rotation, she is happy with her life. She is one year closer to earning her medical degree, she is managing her diabetes and she is sure that she is no longer in love with Dr. Will Bartlett. Nothing is going to prevent her from enjoying her summer and learning as much as she can during her clinical rotation. Even when Will shows up for a wedding that Millie is the best man for, she knows she can handle seeing him for a short period of time. But when she finds out that Will is going to be her supervising doctor for her rotation, things start falling apart. How can she spend an entire summer near him without letting her feelings show?

Will Bartlett is missing Australia and thinks maybe it is time to go back home. But he does not know if he will be able to deal with being back after the death of his twin, Charlie. He feels like he lost a part of himself when his twin died and everything back home reminds him of Charlie. So he is more than okay with accepting the position of supervising physician for Millie because it will delay his return home for three months. By then he may be better able to handle the loss of Charlie. He does not expect to develop feelings for Millie, because, after all, she has always been “one of the guys”. But when he spends more time with and gets to know her better, he no longer sees her as a “pal”. He does not know how he can spend an entire summer with her without letting his feelings show.

Ethan Langworthy is the town librarian and he is the one that everyone loves to make fun of. Every time he does something embarrassing, someone is right there to snap a picture and place it on social media. He does not seem to mind, though. He is happy living his life his way and if he can entertain the town he is alright with that. When he is arrested trying to break into his own house by a female policewoman, Tara, he is alright with the entire town laughing at him. He just wants to get to know her better.

Tara has taken a job in Bear Claw because she needs a change of pace. She has not had an easy childhood and after being in the military, she craves peace and quiet. She does not realize that policing is a small town will not be easy. She does not know about small town life and she finds it difficult to fit in. And when she accidentally arrests Ethan, she is not sure that she will be ever be able to adjust. And when she finds herself attracted to Ethan, she thinks she made a big mistake ever taking the job. She does not want anyone in her life because she has been disappointed too many times in her life by people she should have been able to trust.

Will and Millie are characters that you can enjoy reading about and want to learn more about. The fact that Millie is diabetic added another level to the story and it is very important to their relationship. Millie does not want anyone feeling sorry for her or mothering her because of her disease. She wants to be treated like everyone else and do things that she enjoys without worrying. She knows how to control her diabetes and she monitors it very closely. After Will finds out that Millie is diabetic, all he can do is worry about her. He wants to protect and keep her safe and smother her, which angers Millie. But he cannot help himself. Ever since he lost Charlie, he has an irrational fear of losing someone else he cares about. This seems to be an obstacle that they will not be able to overcome.

Ethan and Tara are my favorite characters. There is something so heartwarming watching them find their way to each and opening up to each other. Tara hides behind her badge and wants the world to think she is tough as nails. But in reality, at times she is still the little girl who had a rough childhood. She wants to have girlfriends and do the things that other women take for granted, but she does not know how. She wants to find someone special but she does not think that she is capable of having a trusting loving relationship. Ethan is happy with his life and the person that he is. He does not take life too seriously and he is able to laugh at himself. But when he meets Tara, he knows that he has met someone special and he wants to spend his life with her. But he knows he has to take things very slowly if he is to have a chance. Watching their relationship unfold just felt right and natural, and I could have read about them all day long.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. During the course of reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I sighed and I cheered. In my opinion, it would be difficult to elicit all those responses from the readers. But this author does it expertly and I really appreciate that.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted contemporary romance. In fact, you will be getting two romances because of the four main characters. And in my opinion, that is a great thing. This is the second book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Christine.
238 reviews
January 30, 2018
I love this series! I also loved the character of Ethan! So nice to know a hero doesn't have to be macho...and that the sexiest thing can just be being comfortable with yourself.
5,411 reviews
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January 16, 2021
I wasn't engaged by the writing, plot or the characters. I liked the depiction of the heroine's health issues but that wasn't enough to carry the book for me. Unhauling.
Profile Image for C.L. Fame.
44 reviews
July 24, 2024
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