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A brilliant child protégée, she dreams of becoming a doctor and a surgeon…and accomplishes her goals. Unfortunately, her youth and round, child-like face work against her. No matter how skilled she becomes, how knowledgeable, the old school, male-dominated medical hierarchy wants to keep her in ‘her place.’
Deanna has worked hard to become an expert in her chosen field, but few believe this ‘child’ capable. Specializing in infectious diseases, she travels the world—from the States to Europe to South America—honing her skills before winding up in Africa where her skills are desperately needed.
Meeting a nurse by the name of Madison MacGregor, she finds they share an insatiable curiosity and a love of helping others, but falling in love was not what she intended. Later, when she loses Maddie to a misunderstanding, she is haunted by the one that got away…
Ten years have passed and both the doctor and nurse have moved on with their lives, but fate intervenes when they find themselves working at the same hospital. Their friendship is revived…can their love be rekindled? Will the past haunt them or bring them closer? Will the secrets that both harbor keep them from realizing a future together?
Deanna has worked hard to become an expert in her chosen field, but few believe this ‘child’ capable. Specializing in infectious diseases, she travels the world—from the States to Europe to South America—honing her skills before winding up in Africa where her skills are desperately needed.
Meeting a nurse by the name of Madison MacGregor, she finds they share an insatiable curiosity and a love of helping others, but falling in love was not what she intended. Later, when she loses Maddie to a misunderstanding, she is haunted by the one that got away…
Ten years have passed and both the doctor and nurse have moved on with their lives, but fate intervenes when they find themselves working at the same hospital. Their friendship is revived…can their love be rekindled? Will the past haunt them or bring them closer? Will the secrets that both harbor keep them from realizing a future together?
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2016
21 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 23, 2016
This story is different than I expected. Not that I’m entirely sure what I expected. The synopsis suggests this is Deanna’s story. However, it begins with Madison and her family, her husband dropping off her two young children. They are amicable for the kid’s sake, but by the end of the story he has a head transplant and becomes a violent man with a restraining order slapped against him.
A few chapters in, the story rewinds ten-years and there are pages upon pages of Deanna and Maddie’s time in Africa. As per the title suggests, there’s a lot of medical talk, complete with maggot therapy, a girl with a tape worm in her gut, and talk of guinea worms crawling out of a person’s skin. EKE!
Fast forward to the middle of the story and we jump forward ten years, when the ladies cross paths again. The story goes in many directions, some that bored me to tears and did little to advance the plot, the trip to the lake for one. Deanna is rich and wants to take care of Madison. The biggest obstacles they have to overcome are Madison’s fear of coming out as a lesbian, and Deanna being technologically challenged and unable to keep in contact via mobile phone/texting. The one and the same genius who graduated at the age of fourteen and manages a business, can’t figure out how to use a mobile phone? Hell, my grandmother knows how to send text messages.
Numerous times I became confused who was saying what, as the story is told from everyone’s point of view. Every time a new character enters a room, or conversation, the reader is thrown from one head to another and back again… it made my head hurt. This type of narration totally throws me out as a reader. At one stage the cat even got a say, I quote “Spot wanted nothing to do with it and left the humans to this disgraceful display of behavior that didn’t befit his dignity!”
The overuse of adverbs and ridiculous dialogue tags frustrated me to no end… she said importantly, she said musingly, he began whiningly. And the killer – “Shit!” Deanna ejaculated under her breath. I have no clue what that even means, no sex was involved. Speaking of such, the story contains some explicit sex, something I normally love, but…*shrugs*
When I become frustrated with a book, the smallest of things become annoying, so I will stop with my negative comments. The story had potential but the writing style drove me to distraction.
As the story stands, I cannot recommend it. However, the story has a number of 5 star reviews, so I urge potential readers to check those out. We all know not every book can be for everyone
copy provided in exchange for an honest review
A few chapters in, the story rewinds ten-years and there are pages upon pages of Deanna and Maddie’s time in Africa. As per the title suggests, there’s a lot of medical talk, complete with maggot therapy, a girl with a tape worm in her gut, and talk of guinea worms crawling out of a person’s skin. EKE!
Fast forward to the middle of the story and we jump forward ten years, when the ladies cross paths again. The story goes in many directions, some that bored me to tears and did little to advance the plot, the trip to the lake for one. Deanna is rich and wants to take care of Madison. The biggest obstacles they have to overcome are Madison’s fear of coming out as a lesbian, and Deanna being technologically challenged and unable to keep in contact via mobile phone/texting. The one and the same genius who graduated at the age of fourteen and manages a business, can’t figure out how to use a mobile phone? Hell, my grandmother knows how to send text messages.
Numerous times I became confused who was saying what, as the story is told from everyone’s point of view. Every time a new character enters a room, or conversation, the reader is thrown from one head to another and back again… it made my head hurt. This type of narration totally throws me out as a reader. At one stage the cat even got a say, I quote “Spot wanted nothing to do with it and left the humans to this disgraceful display of behavior that didn’t befit his dignity!”
The overuse of adverbs and ridiculous dialogue tags frustrated me to no end… she said importantly, she said musingly, he began whiningly. And the killer – “Shit!” Deanna ejaculated under her breath. I have no clue what that even means, no sex was involved. Speaking of such, the story contains some explicit sex, something I normally love, but…*shrugs*
When I become frustrated with a book, the smallest of things become annoying, so I will stop with my negative comments. The story had potential but the writing style drove me to distraction.
As the story stands, I cannot recommend it. However, the story has a number of 5 star reviews, so I urge potential readers to check those out. We all know not every book can be for everyone
copy provided in exchange for an honest review
February 17, 2017
*ARC provided by Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review*
I am going to start by mentioning the things I actually liked in this book because the list of things that I don't like could go on forever. The one thing that kept me reading was Dr Deanna Kearney. If I could I would pluck this character from the pages of this story and start from scratch because this character was charming and interesting and actually made me keep reading when all I wanted to do was admit defeat. The premise of the story was also a good one but unfortunately that is where my positive feelings about this book stop because the execution was not good at all. If this had been a fan fiction that I found online then I would have been more lenient and may have even rated it at a 3.5 but since this is a book that people are expected to buy, I can only be disappointed in its quality. The character changes were hard to follow and I found myself having to go back many times to try and figure out who was talking and even that didn't help.
The author spends a large chunk of the book talking about Madison and Deanna's time in Africa, in a place I was disappointed to realise doesn't exist. I feel like she should have slotted that time in as flashbacks throughout the story instead of it being one long flashback that felt like a waste of time to me because it didn't create any chemistry between the characters.
There was also the rather graphic descriptions of their medical procedures,which I normally wouldn't complain about but it seemed like the author was just trying to up the gross factor.
Aside from all of this the thing that really caused me to dislike this story was the lack of continuity in the story, I could actually tell where the author had taken a break in writing and come back later, but instead of reading over what was previously written it seems like she just started writing so their are a lot of parts where the characters are repeating or contradicting themselves.
Overall I feel like this book was just not well thought out and the characters were really not likeable, especially not Madison who is the most unlikable character I have ever read.
I am going to start by mentioning the things I actually liked in this book because the list of things that I don't like could go on forever. The one thing that kept me reading was Dr Deanna Kearney. If I could I would pluck this character from the pages of this story and start from scratch because this character was charming and interesting and actually made me keep reading when all I wanted to do was admit defeat. The premise of the story was also a good one but unfortunately that is where my positive feelings about this book stop because the execution was not good at all. If this had been a fan fiction that I found online then I would have been more lenient and may have even rated it at a 3.5 but since this is a book that people are expected to buy, I can only be disappointed in its quality. The character changes were hard to follow and I found myself having to go back many times to try and figure out who was talking and even that didn't help.
The author spends a large chunk of the book talking about Madison and Deanna's time in Africa, in a place I was disappointed to realise doesn't exist. I feel like she should have slotted that time in as flashbacks throughout the story instead of it being one long flashback that felt like a waste of time to me because it didn't create any chemistry between the characters.
There was also the rather graphic descriptions of their medical procedures,which I normally wouldn't complain about but it seemed like the author was just trying to up the gross factor.
Aside from all of this the thing that really caused me to dislike this story was the lack of continuity in the story, I could actually tell where the author had taken a break in writing and come back later, but instead of reading over what was previously written it seems like she just started writing so their are a lot of parts where the characters are repeating or contradicting themselves.
Overall I feel like this book was just not well thought out and the characters were really not likeable, especially not Madison who is the most unlikable character I have ever read.
October 22, 2016
This is the first book that I've read by this author. I read the blurb and decided to give it a try but unfortunately it didn't work for me.
I found the book too descriptive of the main characters' feelings and events so much so that sometimes it got on the boring side. It didn't help either the annoying overuse of exclamation marks or the repetitive description of Deanna as a "brilliant doctor" or "prodigy". I think these problems could have been solved with a better editing work.
In terms of character building, I didn't feel the chemistry between Maddie and Deanna but maybe it was just me. Some secondary characters also seem too flat and stereotyped. Additionally, the intersection of past and present times of the plot by just incorporating the past in a big chunk in the middle of the book didn't work for me. There are finer examples in this genre on how to do this, such as Letters never sent by the late Sandra Moran.
Overall an ok read if you like medical romances and you are not too demanding about the editing issues.
ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I found the book too descriptive of the main characters' feelings and events so much so that sometimes it got on the boring side. It didn't help either the annoying overuse of exclamation marks or the repetitive description of Deanna as a "brilliant doctor" or "prodigy". I think these problems could have been solved with a better editing work.
In terms of character building, I didn't feel the chemistry between Maddie and Deanna but maybe it was just me. Some secondary characters also seem too flat and stereotyped. Additionally, the intersection of past and present times of the plot by just incorporating the past in a big chunk in the middle of the book didn't work for me. There are finer examples in this genre on how to do this, such as Letters never sent by the late Sandra Moran.
Overall an ok read if you like medical romances and you are not too demanding about the editing issues.
ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2022
This is my first book by the author and what a great pick! I loved it. This book has adventure and romance. The characters were endearing and I was very invested in the outcome. I highly recommend this book and this author.
Read
April 28, 2019Believable, enjoyable!
I loved this book. I loved the long flashback to service work in Africa. I loved the suspense and the surprizes. The hard stuff was presented carefully and believably. As a Doc, I found the medical aspects believable.
I loved this book. I loved the long flashback to service work in Africa. I loved the suspense and the surprizes. The hard stuff was presented carefully and believably. As a Doc, I found the medical aspects believable.
May 9, 2019
Dr. Deanna Connor (Kirney) has spent much time in Africa. Learning from the medicine men in the small tribes and reading medical journals and anything she can get her hands on. While in her six mth stay in one of the villages she meet a nurse Maddie. They become good friends. They then decide to move forward with a relationship but need to be careful that they are not caught. One evening they have a discussion regarding having children which is something Maddie truly wants, but it is not something that Deanna wants. She believes that all the children she helping is all she needs to enjoy them. Maddie decides she doesn't want the ridicule of being a lesbian and Deanna has never told her she loved her so she immediately requests to move on. Both women are heartbroken.
After Maddie leaves something terrible happens to Deanna and she returns to the states.
After 10yrs they come across each other while working in the same hospital in California. Deanna begins to taking Madison out to dinner to learn about her since 10 yrs have past. Madison tells Deanna she had gotten her white picket fence and 2 children though she had gotten divorced.
Deanna finally admits to Madison that she had loved her, thought about her every day since Africa and still was in love with her. Can Madison go against her Catholic families beliefs? Can she deal with her ex husband? What would her children think? Her friends? Deanna's 6 mths are up at the hospital and it's time to move on with it without Madison.
It was a wonderful story! K'Anne never disappoints. The narrator was also very good as she had a number of characters voices to portray in this novel!
After Maddie leaves something terrible happens to Deanna and she returns to the states.
After 10yrs they come across each other while working in the same hospital in California. Deanna begins to taking Madison out to dinner to learn about her since 10 yrs have past. Madison tells Deanna she had gotten her white picket fence and 2 children though she had gotten divorced.
Deanna finally admits to Madison that she had loved her, thought about her every day since Africa and still was in love with her. Can Madison go against her Catholic families beliefs? Can she deal with her ex husband? What would her children think? Her friends? Deanna's 6 mths are up at the hospital and it's time to move on with it without Madison.
It was a wonderful story! K'Anne never disappoints. The narrator was also very good as she had a number of characters voices to portray in this novel!
May 14, 2021
Well written, great story
I liked the characters in this book and the author's writing style. I appreciate a well written story. P!us is character development, no cons. I enjoy books with a medical theme.
I liked the characters in this book and the author's writing style. I appreciate a well written story. P!us is character development, no cons. I enjoy books with a medical theme.
August 30, 2021
Una bonita historia que te adentra a África y a la loable labor que hacer los médicos sin fronteras y si te gustan las historias románticas esta es una buena opción.
October 17, 2016
via netgalley
an ok read.
an ok read.
January 29, 2017
See my review on Onlinebookclub.org at this link: http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/view...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews