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Duty of Care

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Abandoned at Christmas...

Foster carer Penny Miller knows only too well how it feels to be unwanted and unloved. She is determined the baby girl left at Seacrest Hospital will never feel that way.

Consultant paediatrician Adam Reynolds insists, as the baby's uncle, he is the person who should care for the child.

They both believe they are right but neither of them expect the overwhelming attraction between them to confuse an already impossible situation.

Only one of them can become baby’s parent!

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2015

9 people are currently reading
40 people want to read

About the author

Catherine Coles

38 books306 followers
The daughter of a military father, Catherine was born in Germany and lived most of the first 14 years of her life abroad. She spent her school years devouring everything her school library had to offer!

Her favourites were romance and mysteries. Her love for the Nancy Drew books led Catherine to check out every mystery story she could find. She soon found Agatha Christie who quickly became Catherine's favourite author.

Catherine writes cosy mysteries that take place in the English countryside. Her extremely popular Tommy & Evelyn Christie mysteries are set in 1920s North Yorkshire. Her new series, the Martha Miller cosy mysteries, are set in the years following the Second World War in Berkshire.

Catherine lives in northeast England with her two spoiled dogs who have no idea they are not human!

You can connect with Catherine on her website - www.catherinecoles.com

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5 stars
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21 (37%)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
204 reviews1 follower
June 24, 2020
I enjoyed this sweet romance about a foster care mom and her new foster child’s uncle, who also happened to be a doctor in the same hospital the newborn was receiving care. The story was well-paced, the characters likable, and it was an interesting look into some of the workings, both good and bad, of the foster care system. Having grown up in the system herself, Penny had first-hand knowledge of the feelings these children go through, as well as many of the same insecurities herself. Adam had his own set of baggage to deal with, so they were quite a pair, bumbling through their new and scary relationship. I did find it odd that Penny would have developed such intense feelings for the baby in such a short amount of time, but this could have been because of her own baggage. This book had most everything I look for in a good romance, and there was enough drama to keep me turning the pages and hoping for their happy ending. I look forward to reading more of this series to find out if Penny ever connects with any of her siblings. I received a copy of this book from the author, and recommend it highly.
Profile Image for Nebulous.
343 reviews8 followers
July 2, 2020
Catherine Coles "Duty of Care" is a compelling read. Set in Seacrest, the protagonists' Penny Miller and Dr. Adam Reynolds are thoughtfully crafted and are well developed. They have their secrets and their own inner -demons to battle. Both of them couldn't be more different from each other when it comes to their upbringing and their individual choices. But they are very identical in more ways than one when it comes to the matters of the heart. There are a few grammatical errors, but that didn't come in the way of discovering more about Penny & Adam. Their dialogues are written beautifully, and the gradual build-up between the two characters makes it a delightful read. There are moments where your heart tugs for both of them. What I enjoyed about this book is how they realistically process and make peace with the pains of the past. The supporting characters of Mr. & Mrs. Reynolds, Megan, Ethan, Courtney and Tyler integrate well with the overall plot. A heartfelt ending that made me smile.

I received this book from Voracious Readers Only via the author. This honest review is left voluntarily.
Profile Image for Deanna.
1,083 reviews19 followers
June 13, 2020
Normally I would say that is was an enjoyable read, but that would not be quite the right words to use to describe a book that has its fair share of pain but also has its joys.

Penny is a survivor of the foster system, so that is the reason she feels she is best suited to help other kids who find themselves in the system too. Her caring, sympathetic and firm nature are exactly what these kids needs. And she showers them with as much love as she can.

Adam is a successful doctor but he comes with his own baggage too. He blames himself for his sisters death and he’s unsure how to show love as this is something he and his sister missed out on when growing up. But when his sister dies she leaves a daughter behind and he will do everything in his power to not let her down.

What ensues is a give and take relationship as Penny has to once again slowly lose a other child while teaching the new parent how to care for it. Along the way the two form a bond that is undeniable and the chemistry is strong but because of their past they are afraid to commit.

Will these two stand a chance of a happy ending or will they let their past get in the way?

Just one thing that I must mention, the blurb is not exactly accurate. The baby was not abandoned at the hospital, it’s where she was born and her mother died.
1,054 reviews6 followers
July 4, 2020
Adam's sister has died leaving behind an infant daughter but shes been placed in foster care. Adam wants to raise her himself so starts the procedure and gets to meet the woman who is looking after her. Sparks are flying between them but they both have their own issues to work through. Can they find the best solution for the baby?

Aww what a cute story. This was such a sweet story and yes it's easy to tell how it ends but sometimes that's just what we need. The story itself is well written and touches on some hard issues associated with fostering and adoption. The characters are easily likeable especially Adam. Plus I loved Tyler too. The plot is steady and builds to a perfect ending. A cute, light read.
Profile Image for Brittany Goodman.
920 reviews127 followers
October 22, 2016
Ok

I had a hard time getting into this book. Honestly, I didn't finish. Usually by 25%, I have "bonded" with the characters and I am eagerly awaiting to see what happens next. In this case, at almost 50%, I am struggling to to care what happens, let alone continue on. I don't know why either. The writing is clean and the characters are well described. They are both struggling and perhaps there just isn't enough difference in their personalities or not enough going on to grab my attention. Perhaps there's not enough interaction between the main characters and the baby. I am not sure. I just couldn't get into it.
I received this book free from one of the book subscription emails.
986 reviews3 followers
June 17, 2020
A really enjoyable story.
Fell in love with Tyler and the love he craves. Adam and his sister and their parents to selfish to love their own children.
And Penny who craves the family she lost and the love she has to lavish on her foster children.
Profile Image for Lena.
1,738 reviews17 followers
August 13, 2020
A very sweet romance with likeable characters.
Both Adam and Penny are affected by their childhood, but in slightly different ways.
Profile Image for Rachael Bromley.
1,664 reviews16 followers
August 16, 2020
A really good read from a new author to me.

A great read and a new author to me. This was an emotional read of two people apparently broken by their parents actions coming together with the death of a sister and the care of the resulting baby. Penny is a foster carer and Adam is the pedeatrition Adams's sister has passed and he shocked to find that she left a newborn baby with a few problems. Penny is the foster carer tasked in looking after the baby. We hear about their sets of parents and how in their own ways they didn't care for the kids they had, how penny is looking for her siblings that were separated from her when they were young and in foster care. I loved the main characters and could feel both of their internal struggle as they fight each other feelings for the other, the baby's care, the assessments needed to determine a final home and the foster kids Penny already has. Hope book 2 is as good as the first.
Profile Image for Incy Black.
Author 3 books74 followers
January 5, 2016
A sweet (with a hint of spice) delightful read. Penny is all giving, Adam really isn't sure what to do with all that heart. Watching these two shadow step each other and their growing feelings of attachment is a warm invitation into the trials and tribulations of a developing relationship set against the backdrop of the foster care system. A book chock full of compassion and empathy, enhanced by Penny's foster children who were drawn with a remarkably skilled hand.

If I have one complaint, it is that the ending--yes, a definite happy ever after--was a little sudden. I would love to have seen more friction with Adam's parents and how Penny stood by Adam's side through this.

The kind of book you want to read in front of an open fire on a bleak winter's day...because it's warming and the relationship is refreshingly unforced and natural.
Profile Image for Tracey.
Author 6 books34 followers
January 4, 2016
Absolutely loved this story. What a wonderful voice the author has.
I had to check several times to see if the book was published by Mills & Boon. If you enjoy their medical line then you will adore this one.
There's a lovely relationship build-up between foster carer, Penny and Doctor, Adam, who meet under tragic circumstances. The heat and chemistry between them is perfectly balanced and doesn't detract from their intriguing and troubled pasts. I loved them both and had an enormous soft spot for the wonderful secondary characters, who are Penny's foster children. This books a heart-tugger folks!
I'm so glad this book is part of a series!
Profile Image for Kerry Richardson.
1,651 reviews14 followers
January 2, 2016
I really liked this book. The story was good, if rather emotional, and I loved the characters and how it all developed. My only complaint is the grammatical errors, there were far too many and I hope the author corrects this for the next instalment as I'm very much looking forward to it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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