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Taking on Twins
Doctor Daddy
Jake Hadley expects challenges when he returns to his frontier hometown to establish a medical practice—but caring for orphaned toddler twins wasn't part of the equation. The new doctor would be out of his depth without Coralee Evans's help. Once his sweetheart, now his best friend's widow, Coralee has a tender way with the children that makes him long for a second chance. Until Jake is faced with a Coralee or his career…
When Jake left Spring Hill for medical school, Coralee believed he'd abandoned her. And though a reunion might be possible, he's working for the man trying to ruin her apothecary business. Could caring for these sweet children bridge the gulf between them and provide a prescription for rekindled love?
Jake Hadley expects challenges when he returns to his frontier hometown to establish a medical practice—but caring for orphaned toddler twins wasn't part of the equation. The new doctor would be out of his depth without Coralee Evans's help. Once his sweetheart, now his best friend's widow, Coralee has a tender way with the children that makes him long for a second chance. Until Jake is faced with a Coralee or his career…
When Jake left Spring Hill for medical school, Coralee believed he'd abandoned her. And though a reunion might be possible, he's working for the man trying to ruin her apothecary business. Could caring for these sweet children bridge the gulf between them and provide a prescription for rekindled love?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published June 6, 2017
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November 6, 2017
Fear washed over him, but Jake forced it away. Now was the time. He was ready to lay out his love for her to see, ready to risk rejection again. The chance of winning her heart was worth it. And this time, he was going to be perfectly clear about all of his intentions. Even if she said no at the end, he was going to do this right. Gathering every ounce of his courage and love, Jake reached for her.
Okay, this is a historical Christian romance that takes place in the Old West, Nebraska Territory 1859. Jake has come back to his hometown to practice medicine. He is under the tutelage of old Dr. Samuel. Also living in town is his past love, Coralee.
He has a lot of anger towards Coralee because... he's a fucking idiot. Wait, I'm not explaining this well. He loved her and came over to tell her that he was leaving for St. Louis to study medicine. I think a proposal or at least a wait-for-me was supposed to be tacked on the end there, but all Coralee heard was "I'm leaving to spend seven years in St. Louis." So she was upset and ran out. A year later, she marries his best friend Alan. After five years of marriage, Alan gets sick and dies.
Jake is really full of anger and dislike for Coralee. He sees what she did as a 'betrayal' or somehow untrustworthy. This makes me pissed off. She completely has a right to marry someone after he leaves for St. Louis and is gone for a year. Did he seek her out to clear things up? Did he propose? Share his feelings? No, he did not. I agree her running out of the room wasn't the most mature thing, but he's a putz.
He still hasn't 'forgiven' her and he has a huge chip on his shoulder where she is concerned.
This can manifest itself in ugly ways, like jealousy.
Jake couldn't stop thinking about what Coralee might be hiding from him. He tried to be reasonable and remind himself that she was still upset about their last encounter. But the more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that it had to do with Charlie. Surely she wasn't still holding a grudge about their fight, so it had to be something else. Someone else.
He sees red when she talks to and spend time with another man. Even though there's nothing romantic or sexual in it.
But they looked so familiar there, hidden away together in the intimate location. Even as he advanced, Coralee laughed at something Charlie said. Jake's jaw clenched. ... It was better that he interrupted the tryst than anyone else.
Calm the fuck down.
This culminates with him saying extremely hurtful things to her, unwarranted things.
"And you're behaving like a naïve schoolgirl. I guess I shouldn't expect any less from a woman who runs straight into another man's arms when things don't go her way."
CARMEN: "Whoa!"
And I said that out loud, by the way. What a jerk.
The air whooshed from Coralee's lungs. Her eyes burned. She didn't know where this horrible accusation had come from, but she had a feeling...
The man she's with, Charlie, offers to step up.
The banker shrugged. "Eh, he's got a chip on his shoulder about something, but I don't think it's really about me. I hate that he accused you of being anything less than a virtuous lady, though. That crossed the line. I'll deal with him for it, if you want me to."
He's such a man. I love when romance novels have other men and women besides the hero and heroine who are good people and who act right. Charlie is not romantically or sexually interested in Coralee, but he still is a decent man who offers to do the right thing, and offers to do things for her when she needs them. Other instances: he goes with her into the woods to gather willow bark and he offers her his protection when grubby thugs start staring intensely at her and loitering outside of her store.
Even though this makes our little immature hero see red, it is good and manly behavior.
WIDOW
Another great thing about the book is how Coralee's dead husband, Alan, is presented. They were married for five years, and despite our little immature hero's hissy fit, Alan was a good husband and they had a loving and warm marriage.
During their five years of marriage, she and Alan had been the best of friends. She had known him as long and as well as she had Jake. When Jake left so abruptly for medical school, Alan had been there. His support had helped heal her shattered heart. She still ached from losing the one person she could share the most personal parts of her life with. For a few moments, talking with Jake had felt almost as intimate as talking with Alan.
Oftentimes, romance novels paint ex-husbands as abusive, cold, weak, or otherwise inadequate. Now that the HERO is here, he's going to show the heroine what a REAL MAN is like. Often this is shown by her having her first orgasm with him and etc. The whole thing is fucking ridiculous. One good thing I can say about Christian romance is that they usually sidestep this trope. Alan was a great husband. There's no easy, unnecessary ripping down of her past love/lovers/husband in order to build up Jake. That's good because it's weak and lazy writing.
I don't mind a good romance about someone who had an abusive or cold husband in the past. Actually, I really enjoy them. But there's a difference between crafting a good story about this and just slapping shit on an ex to fake-build-up the hero. That is what is weak.
BABIES
Coralee is convinced she's infertile. This is due to a five-year, childless marriage with Alan. But he could have easily been the infertile one. The book ends with So it's completely possible she could still have children with Jake.
That's never discussed or presented as a possibility, but it's true.
Another baby issue presented, is, of course, adoption. When cholera kills off two-year-old twins' parents, Jake steps in and takes responsibility for them. Slowly over the course of the book he realizes that adopted families can be as close and loving as biological ones.
Jake's mind flashed back to Coralee's revelation that she might never have children of her own.
At first he had thought it must be devastating for her to be denied a family. But after coming to care so much for the twins - children who weren't his own - Jake hated that his initial response had been negative.
There was something wonderful about giving orphans a chance to have a loving family. It didn't matter how that family was formed, it was just as vital as one created through biology. He prayed that Louisa and Phillip would find that kind of love wherever God placed them.
Campbell also does a good job of making the kids cute, but not overdoing it with the cutesy-wootsy crap.
Christianity
God/prayer/Jesus etc. is mentioned 73 times in this book. That's actually not too bad. It's not mentioned on every single page like in some Christian romance novels.
These characters pray and talk about God and God's will a lot, but it's not overwhelming. Although some of it seems a little too born-again for this time period. For instance, when visiting an old man sick with cholera, the old man says,
"My hope isn't in this life. It's in Jesus and He doesn't quit when I do."... Jake's spirit stirred at Mr. Wallace's confident faith. Where Jake had always struggled to live out his convictions, this man was bold even in the face of death. A longing lodged in Jake's heart. Could he learn to rest in his faith so completely that even death didn't frighten him?
I doubt someone in the Old West would say something like "My hope is in Jesus and He doesn't quit when I do." That's pure born-again rhetoric talking. I find this a lot in Amish romance, also.
GROW AND CHANGE
Yet another good thing about this book is how Campbell makes both Coralee and Jake grow and change. Especially Jake, ugh. He has a lot of growing to do.
First, he has to confront and deal with his anger and jealousy. Which are unwarranted. It takes a lot to see that he fucked up and he can't just blame Coralee for everything.
Jake learning to stop being such a fucking coward is also hard. We're shocked when he There's always more Jake does after I think I've reached my limit on despising him.
But, as we can see in this opening quote I've used on this review, Jake eventually finds his spine and not only stands up to the Doctor, but also makes a honest and admirable effort to tell Coralee how he feels.
Another problem Jake struggles with (ANOTHER ONE) is that he tends to railroad Coralee. She didn't notice it when she was younger, but...
Looking back, she was able to see all the times he had insisted they do things his way. The times he'd seemed to listen to what she had to say, then turned around and did what he'd wanted in the first place. If she hadn't been so blinded by her youthful feelings, maybe she would have seen it earlier. Maybe she would have realized he was more worried about what he wanted from their relationship than about her feelings.
But here he was, encouraging her to follow her process even though he doubted the ingredient. Calm washed over her, a stark change from the anxiety that had settled in the pit of her stomach the last few days. Jake helping with her research might not be such a burden after all. Maybe he had changed more than she realized.
Coralee has things of her own to get over. For instance, the death of both her father and her husband leads her to have a fear that any man she loves will be taken away from her. This especially comes out when she has to see Jake She has to be brave enough to love again. Trope, trope.
MEN'S PROTECTION
One thing that was going on in this novel that really annoyed me was Coralee constantly turning down men's protection.
"Coralee, just what is going on out there that you're so interested in?" Charlie searched the street as she flushed at being called out.
"It's nothing. Just a couple rough characters I've seen out there a few times."
Charlie snapped to attention. "Have they approached you? Threatened the store?"
"Oh, nothing like that." She waved off his concern, hoping he didn't push the issue. She didn't want to draw attention to her paranoia. But deep down her gut screamed at her to listen to the unsettled feeling their presence caused.
"If you're worried, I can walk you ladies to and from the store." His eyes strayed to Cat as he offered and Coralee suppressed a grin at his obvious desire to spend time with her sister.
"No, Charlie. We don't need you to do that. If anything happens, we'll come to you."
You are so fucking stupid.
"I can get there and back just fine on my own."
Jake took hold of her shoulders. "I don't like the idea of you going out there alone. Not with those men loitering by the shop."
Coralee's lips pressed into a tight line. "I'm not a damsel in distress, Jake. I'm sure I've blown the situation out of proportion and those men won't even be around so late in the evening. I'll be fine."
Sigh. When dangerous men are hanging around and making you feel scared and uncomfortable, and men you know and trust offer to escort you places, LET THEM. FFS, even go up and ASK THEM.
I thought you were a feminist, Carmen.
*Carmen blinks* What the FUCK are you talking about. I use men as protection almost every single day of my life. A man ALWAYS walks me to my car and watches me drive away after work. Also, I ask men to travel with me if I am going anywhere not local, like out of state or into an area I'm unfamiliar with. I'm a feminist, not a fucking idiot. Often just the presence of a man - he doesn't need to be able to fight or even look that intimidating - is enough to keep most fuckers away.
Shouldn't women be able to travel on their own and take care of themselves?
Yes, they SHOULD. SHOULD being the key word here. Ideally, I'm fighting for a world in which I don't have to worry about getting raped on a daily basis. Thus the whole thrust of feminism, the dire need for it. The importance of fighting the patriarchy every day and tearing down this woman-hating culture we've built.
In the meantime, men are welcome to escort me if they volunteer, and if they don't volunteer, I will sweetly ask available men for help. They are always happy to help. *shrug*
It's also highly bizarre that this kind of behavior on Coralee's part would happen in the Old West. I could see a woman in the modern ages acting like this, but certainly the dangers of life in the Nebraska Territory and also her upbringing would make Coralee grateful for any offers of protection she could get. It's really hard for me to believe she could be so blasé about this when she not only lives in a dangerous place and time, but also in a culture that doesn't raise women to have these kinds of ideas.
I don't mind her being a business woman - owning and running her own apothecary - and I don't mind [someone] offering her Actually, I like it. So I'm picking and choosing what time period inaccuracies to be angry about, LOL. I'm judging the book with my own views.
APOLOGY
Jake truly apologizes, sees the errors of his ways, and makes attempts to be a better person. This is good. Oftentimes heroines forgive heroes for no reason and I don't feel like the hero made any effort to better himself. Not the case here.
Just the thought that this kind, intelligent, beautiful woman chose to walk at his side was enough to bring Jake to his knees in thankfulness.
Yes, good. Get down on your knees and beg forgiveness.
How's the sex, Carmen?
There's no sex, this is a Christian romance novel. There is a hug. There is some gentle kissing - but not sexually exciting kissing.
Then he leaned in and lowered his lips to hers. The sweet kiss held all the promises she wanted to make, all the things she had hoped for, but didn't dare believe could be hers.
Jake broke the kiss but came back for another. And another. When he finally pulled away and released her from his arms, they were both flushed and breathless.
How about this?
His hand slid around the back of her neck and he gently pulled her closer.
The moment their lips touched would be forever etched in his memory. The kiss was everything he could have hoped for. Her lips were soft and warm on his. She tensed for a moment but relaxed into his embrace as he moved his lips on hers. Jake knew he should pull away, but he couldn't make any effort to do so. He was sinking further into the swirling warmth when the sound of a polite cough came from the doorway, finally breaking the kiss.
That's about the extent of it. Although we can tell Coralee DOES want to do some beard-stroking.
Yes, Jake was handsome. Spending time in such close quarters while they worked, how could she not notice his broad shoulders and arms thick with muscle? Or the short beard that made her long to trace his strong jaw to feel the texture?
Sadly, there is no actual beard-stroking in the novel. :(
At one point, he feeds her a bite of his soup and that makes him sexually excited. I know this is a Christian romance, but... come on. Surely we can do a bit better?
TL;DR - Actually not a bad little book. Not so Christian your eyes are going to be weeping from all the talk about God, and not so stupid you feel like throwing the book across the room. Sure, both Jake and Coralee tried my patience a bit, but in general, I was happy with it and how it turned out.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Cowboy/Western Romance - Actually takes place in the Old West
Historical Romance
Inspirational Romance
Virgin Hero Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Okay, this is a historical Christian romance that takes place in the Old West, Nebraska Territory 1859. Jake has come back to his hometown to practice medicine. He is under the tutelage of old Dr. Samuel. Also living in town is his past love, Coralee.
He has a lot of anger towards Coralee because... he's a fucking idiot. Wait, I'm not explaining this well. He loved her and came over to tell her that he was leaving for St. Louis to study medicine. I think a proposal or at least a wait-for-me was supposed to be tacked on the end there, but all Coralee heard was "I'm leaving to spend seven years in St. Louis." So she was upset and ran out. A year later, she marries his best friend Alan. After five years of marriage, Alan gets sick and dies.
Jake is really full of anger and dislike for Coralee. He sees what she did as a 'betrayal' or somehow untrustworthy. This makes me pissed off. She completely has a right to marry someone after he leaves for St. Louis and is gone for a year. Did he seek her out to clear things up? Did he propose? Share his feelings? No, he did not. I agree her running out of the room wasn't the most mature thing, but he's a putz.
He still hasn't 'forgiven' her and he has a huge chip on his shoulder where she is concerned.
This can manifest itself in ugly ways, like jealousy.
Jake couldn't stop thinking about what Coralee might be hiding from him. He tried to be reasonable and remind himself that she was still upset about their last encounter. But the more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that it had to do with Charlie. Surely she wasn't still holding a grudge about their fight, so it had to be something else. Someone else.
He sees red when she talks to and spend time with another man. Even though there's nothing romantic or sexual in it.
But they looked so familiar there, hidden away together in the intimate location. Even as he advanced, Coralee laughed at something Charlie said. Jake's jaw clenched. ... It was better that he interrupted the tryst than anyone else.
Calm the fuck down.
This culminates with him saying extremely hurtful things to her, unwarranted things.
"And you're behaving like a naïve schoolgirl. I guess I shouldn't expect any less from a woman who runs straight into another man's arms when things don't go her way."
CARMEN: "Whoa!"
And I said that out loud, by the way. What a jerk.
The air whooshed from Coralee's lungs. Her eyes burned. She didn't know where this horrible accusation had come from, but she had a feeling...
The man she's with, Charlie, offers to step up.
The banker shrugged. "Eh, he's got a chip on his shoulder about something, but I don't think it's really about me. I hate that he accused you of being anything less than a virtuous lady, though. That crossed the line. I'll deal with him for it, if you want me to."
He's such a man. I love when romance novels have other men and women besides the hero and heroine who are good people and who act right. Charlie is not romantically or sexually interested in Coralee, but he still is a decent man who offers to do the right thing, and offers to do things for her when she needs them. Other instances: he goes with her into the woods to gather willow bark and he offers her his protection when grubby thugs start staring intensely at her and loitering outside of her store.
Even though this makes our little immature hero see red, it is good and manly behavior.
WIDOW
Another great thing about the book is how Coralee's dead husband, Alan, is presented. They were married for five years, and despite our little immature hero's hissy fit, Alan was a good husband and they had a loving and warm marriage.
During their five years of marriage, she and Alan had been the best of friends. She had known him as long and as well as she had Jake. When Jake left so abruptly for medical school, Alan had been there. His support had helped heal her shattered heart. She still ached from losing the one person she could share the most personal parts of her life with. For a few moments, talking with Jake had felt almost as intimate as talking with Alan.
Oftentimes, romance novels paint ex-husbands as abusive, cold, weak, or otherwise inadequate. Now that the HERO is here, he's going to show the heroine what a REAL MAN is like. Often this is shown by her having her first orgasm with him and etc. The whole thing is fucking ridiculous. One good thing I can say about Christian romance is that they usually sidestep this trope. Alan was a great husband. There's no easy, unnecessary ripping down of her past love/lovers/husband in order to build up Jake. That's good because it's weak and lazy writing.
I don't mind a good romance about someone who had an abusive or cold husband in the past. Actually, I really enjoy them. But there's a difference between crafting a good story about this and just slapping shit on an ex to fake-build-up the hero. That is what is weak.
BABIES
Coralee is convinced she's infertile. This is due to a five-year, childless marriage with Alan. But he could have easily been the infertile one. The book ends with So it's completely possible she could still have children with Jake.
That's never discussed or presented as a possibility, but it's true.
Another baby issue presented, is, of course, adoption. When cholera kills off two-year-old twins' parents, Jake steps in and takes responsibility for them. Slowly over the course of the book he realizes that adopted families can be as close and loving as biological ones.
Jake's mind flashed back to Coralee's revelation that she might never have children of her own.
At first he had thought it must be devastating for her to be denied a family. But after coming to care so much for the twins - children who weren't his own - Jake hated that his initial response had been negative.
There was something wonderful about giving orphans a chance to have a loving family. It didn't matter how that family was formed, it was just as vital as one created through biology. He prayed that Louisa and Phillip would find that kind of love wherever God placed them.
Campbell also does a good job of making the kids cute, but not overdoing it with the cutesy-wootsy crap.
Christianity
God/prayer/Jesus etc. is mentioned 73 times in this book. That's actually not too bad. It's not mentioned on every single page like in some Christian romance novels.
These characters pray and talk about God and God's will a lot, but it's not overwhelming. Although some of it seems a little too born-again for this time period. For instance, when visiting an old man sick with cholera, the old man says,
"My hope isn't in this life. It's in Jesus and He doesn't quit when I do."... Jake's spirit stirred at Mr. Wallace's confident faith. Where Jake had always struggled to live out his convictions, this man was bold even in the face of death. A longing lodged in Jake's heart. Could he learn to rest in his faith so completely that even death didn't frighten him?
I doubt someone in the Old West would say something like "My hope is in Jesus and He doesn't quit when I do." That's pure born-again rhetoric talking. I find this a lot in Amish romance, also.
GROW AND CHANGE
Yet another good thing about this book is how Campbell makes both Coralee and Jake grow and change. Especially Jake, ugh. He has a lot of growing to do.
First, he has to confront and deal with his anger and jealousy. Which are unwarranted. It takes a lot to see that he fucked up and he can't just blame Coralee for everything.
Jake learning to stop being such a fucking coward is also hard. We're shocked when he There's always more Jake does after I think I've reached my limit on despising him.
But, as we can see in this opening quote I've used on this review, Jake eventually finds his spine and not only stands up to the Doctor, but also makes a honest and admirable effort to tell Coralee how he feels.
Another problem Jake struggles with (ANOTHER ONE) is that he tends to railroad Coralee. She didn't notice it when she was younger, but...
Looking back, she was able to see all the times he had insisted they do things his way. The times he'd seemed to listen to what she had to say, then turned around and did what he'd wanted in the first place. If she hadn't been so blinded by her youthful feelings, maybe she would have seen it earlier. Maybe she would have realized he was more worried about what he wanted from their relationship than about her feelings.
But here he was, encouraging her to follow her process even though he doubted the ingredient. Calm washed over her, a stark change from the anxiety that had settled in the pit of her stomach the last few days. Jake helping with her research might not be such a burden after all. Maybe he had changed more than she realized.
Coralee has things of her own to get over. For instance, the death of both her father and her husband leads her to have a fear that any man she loves will be taken away from her. This especially comes out when she has to see Jake She has to be brave enough to love again. Trope, trope.
MEN'S PROTECTION
One thing that was going on in this novel that really annoyed me was Coralee constantly turning down men's protection.
"Coralee, just what is going on out there that you're so interested in?" Charlie searched the street as she flushed at being called out.
"It's nothing. Just a couple rough characters I've seen out there a few times."
Charlie snapped to attention. "Have they approached you? Threatened the store?"
"Oh, nothing like that." She waved off his concern, hoping he didn't push the issue. She didn't want to draw attention to her paranoia. But deep down her gut screamed at her to listen to the unsettled feeling their presence caused.
"If you're worried, I can walk you ladies to and from the store." His eyes strayed to Cat as he offered and Coralee suppressed a grin at his obvious desire to spend time with her sister.
"No, Charlie. We don't need you to do that. If anything happens, we'll come to you."
You are so fucking stupid.
"I can get there and back just fine on my own."
Jake took hold of her shoulders. "I don't like the idea of you going out there alone. Not with those men loitering by the shop."
Coralee's lips pressed into a tight line. "I'm not a damsel in distress, Jake. I'm sure I've blown the situation out of proportion and those men won't even be around so late in the evening. I'll be fine."
Sigh. When dangerous men are hanging around and making you feel scared and uncomfortable, and men you know and trust offer to escort you places, LET THEM. FFS, even go up and ASK THEM.
I thought you were a feminist, Carmen.
*Carmen blinks* What the FUCK are you talking about. I use men as protection almost every single day of my life. A man ALWAYS walks me to my car and watches me drive away after work. Also, I ask men to travel with me if I am going anywhere not local, like out of state or into an area I'm unfamiliar with. I'm a feminist, not a fucking idiot. Often just the presence of a man - he doesn't need to be able to fight or even look that intimidating - is enough to keep most fuckers away.
Shouldn't women be able to travel on their own and take care of themselves?
Yes, they SHOULD. SHOULD being the key word here. Ideally, I'm fighting for a world in which I don't have to worry about getting raped on a daily basis. Thus the whole thrust of feminism, the dire need for it. The importance of fighting the patriarchy every day and tearing down this woman-hating culture we've built.
In the meantime, men are welcome to escort me if they volunteer, and if they don't volunteer, I will sweetly ask available men for help. They are always happy to help. *shrug*
It's also highly bizarre that this kind of behavior on Coralee's part would happen in the Old West. I could see a woman in the modern ages acting like this, but certainly the dangers of life in the Nebraska Territory and also her upbringing would make Coralee grateful for any offers of protection she could get. It's really hard for me to believe she could be so blasé about this when she not only lives in a dangerous place and time, but also in a culture that doesn't raise women to have these kinds of ideas.
I don't mind her being a business woman - owning and running her own apothecary - and I don't mind [someone] offering her Actually, I like it. So I'm picking and choosing what time period inaccuracies to be angry about, LOL. I'm judging the book with my own views.
APOLOGY
Jake truly apologizes, sees the errors of his ways, and makes attempts to be a better person. This is good. Oftentimes heroines forgive heroes for no reason and I don't feel like the hero made any effort to better himself. Not the case here.
Just the thought that this kind, intelligent, beautiful woman chose to walk at his side was enough to bring Jake to his knees in thankfulness.
Yes, good. Get down on your knees and beg forgiveness.
How's the sex, Carmen?
There's no sex, this is a Christian romance novel. There is a hug. There is some gentle kissing - but not sexually exciting kissing.
Then he leaned in and lowered his lips to hers. The sweet kiss held all the promises she wanted to make, all the things she had hoped for, but didn't dare believe could be hers.
Jake broke the kiss but came back for another. And another. When he finally pulled away and released her from his arms, they were both flushed and breathless.
How about this?
His hand slid around the back of her neck and he gently pulled her closer.
The moment their lips touched would be forever etched in his memory. The kiss was everything he could have hoped for. Her lips were soft and warm on his. She tensed for a moment but relaxed into his embrace as he moved his lips on hers. Jake knew he should pull away, but he couldn't make any effort to do so. He was sinking further into the swirling warmth when the sound of a polite cough came from the doorway, finally breaking the kiss.
That's about the extent of it. Although we can tell Coralee DOES want to do some beard-stroking.
Yes, Jake was handsome. Spending time in such close quarters while they worked, how could she not notice his broad shoulders and arms thick with muscle? Or the short beard that made her long to trace his strong jaw to feel the texture?
Sadly, there is no actual beard-stroking in the novel. :(
At one point, he feeds her a bite of his soup and that makes him sexually excited. I know this is a Christian romance, but... come on. Surely we can do a bit better?
TL;DR - Actually not a bad little book. Not so Christian your eyes are going to be weeping from all the talk about God, and not so stupid you feel like throwing the book across the room. Sure, both Jake and Coralee tried my patience a bit, but in general, I was happy with it and how it turned out.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Cowboy/Western Romance - Actually takes place in the Old West
Historical Romance
Inspirational Romance
Virgin Hero Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
February 27, 2019
I found this story fascinating. For it dealt with prejudices. It draws you into the story right away with the meeting of Jake and Coralee. The story draws others in as well. It gives you an idea of the players in the story almost immediately. Thru the Dr training Jake we get a view of prejudice in the past. Its a great story and worth a read.
August 20, 2018
Jake Hadley and Coralee Evans, the hero and heroine, had a lot to overcome when he returned to Spring Hill to take over the medical practice of aging Dr. Jay. This story was filled with the tension between Jake, Coralee and Dr. Jay until Jake was working alone during Dr. Jay’s absence. When an investigation into Coralee’s family business, the apothecary, that came from a complaint proved to Jake she knew the tinctures and mixtures used for special ailments. There were unexpected happenings that caused destruction, brokenness and confession of past regrets. Will orphan children and willingness to set aside differences bring happiness to Jake, Coralee and others in this historical story?
Readers who enjoy Love Inspired Historical books will want to read this one by Mollie Campbell. It’s well written where emotions are involved throughout the story.
Readers who enjoy Love Inspired Historical books will want to read this one by Mollie Campbell. It’s well written where emotions are involved throughout the story.
August 31, 2017
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it was a really enjoyable read! It’s an easy yet captivating historical fiction book about forgiveness, bitterness, the past that needs healing because it is weighing down the future, fears, and learning to trust. The use of herbs for healing was fascinating. It was fun to see how the twins caused Coralee and Jake to grow up. I won this book on GoodReads, and chose to leave my own honest review. I will definitely read more by this author. This is GREAT historical fiction!!
June 22, 2017
3.75 stars
The characters are so stubborn I wanted to shake some sense into them, but overall this is satisfying read. It's just a frustrating when the inability to communicate causes so much grief for the protagonists.
Full review to follow
The characters are so stubborn I wanted to shake some sense into them, but overall this is satisfying read. It's just a frustrating when the inability to communicate causes so much grief for the protagonists.
Full review to follow
August 28, 2017
Taking On Twins by Mollie Campbell. Takes place in 1859. Jake Hadley returns to his hometown to take over a established medical practice from an older man. Jake use to date Coralee Evans years ago but left to go to medical school. With misunderstandings between Jake and Coralee, Coralee married someone else when Jake went to medical school. Her husband has since passed away. Coralee runs a apothecary store. When cholera breaks out in a nearby town Jake and Coralee go there to help the people. A couple died there leaving twin two year old children. The mother asked Jake to take care of the children and find them a good home. They had no other family. Jake and Coralee fall in love with the children. Romance happens between Jake and Coralee with several blocking stones in the way. A nice historical romance.
June 12, 2017
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book.
Coralee is suffering at the death of her husband from a few years ago and the death of her father awhile back. Now all of the sudden her apothecary shop is going down hill. The doctor in town is telling everyone that she is not to be trusted and they shouldn't go to her even though she grew up assisting her father and knows everything he did.
Jake comes back to his hometown after studying medicine. He has an offer from the town doctor to work under the doctor until the town Dr. decides to retire at which time he will inherit the practice.
To make matters interesting Jake and Coralee had been serious many years ago before Jake left for St. Louis to get his education. It is going to be difficult seeing Coralee around town now that he is back.
Can they ever get over their past and work together without getting into a fight?
I really enjoyed this book,
Coralee is suffering at the death of her husband from a few years ago and the death of her father awhile back. Now all of the sudden her apothecary shop is going down hill. The doctor in town is telling everyone that she is not to be trusted and they shouldn't go to her even though she grew up assisting her father and knows everything he did.
Jake comes back to his hometown after studying medicine. He has an offer from the town doctor to work under the doctor until the town Dr. decides to retire at which time he will inherit the practice.
To make matters interesting Jake and Coralee had been serious many years ago before Jake left for St. Louis to get his education. It is going to be difficult seeing Coralee around town now that he is back.
Can they ever get over their past and work together without getting into a fight?
I really enjoyed this book,
November 12, 2017
I reviewed this for RT Bookreviews Magazine: https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...
Campbell’s debut is a warm tale with easy to connect with characters. There are numerous heartfelt and uplifting scenes, even while the heroine is working through her insecurities. While there is some predictability, the pace is appropriate and the details are realistic for the time period.
Jake Hadley expected to encounter challenges when he returned to his hometown to start a medical practice. However, caring for orphaned twins was not in those plans. Coralee Evans is willing to help with the children’s care while they search for a family to adopt the twins. She is trying to keep her father’s business running, and she believes discovering a new pain medication will help with the revitalization. Jake and Coralee will be forced to confront their past relationship. Is it possible for them to have a second chance at love? (LOVE INSPIRED HISTORICAL, Jun., 224 pp., $5.99)
Campbell’s debut is a warm tale with easy to connect with characters. There are numerous heartfelt and uplifting scenes, even while the heroine is working through her insecurities. While there is some predictability, the pace is appropriate and the details are realistic for the time period.
Jake Hadley expected to encounter challenges when he returned to his hometown to start a medical practice. However, caring for orphaned twins was not in those plans. Coralee Evans is willing to help with the children’s care while they search for a family to adopt the twins. She is trying to keep her father’s business running, and she believes discovering a new pain medication will help with the revitalization. Jake and Coralee will be forced to confront their past relationship. Is it possible for them to have a second chance at love? (LOVE INSPIRED HISTORICAL, Jun., 224 pp., $5.99)
September 26, 2017
I was immediately drawn into Coralee and Jake's professional and personal struggles and conflicts, and I was rooting for them from the very beginning. Mollie Campbell does a terrific job of sustaining the romantic tension between the hero and heroine throughout the story, which makes this novel a real page-turner. Added to the mix are a couple of adorable children, a seemingly sinister doctor, and interesting historical apothecary practices (who knew?!), making the book at times both humorous and suspenseful. Its overall themes of growth and forgiveness are realistically rendered, and the romantic elements are utterly engaging. Can't wait to read Campbell's next book!
July 29, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book. Coralee and Jake took their time before talking their problems out Finally the mean guy admitted why he had his intolerant attitude. I would like for the story to continue with books about each sister, the aunt and the hateful doctor--if he could really become a better person.
May 18, 2018
This was a pleasant book, but nothing that I haven't really read before. I didn't care much for Jake, but by the end he redeemed himself a bit.
For those who like sweet Christian historical romances, this will totally hit the spot.
For those who like sweet Christian historical romances, this will totally hit the spot.
June 3, 2025
As far as Love Inspired paperbacks go it was fine, but that's it. I can usually get through one of these in a day or two, but this one took me weeks because it was so easy to set down and completely forget about.
September 7, 2017
This book dragged and it's resolutions were at times unbelievable and at other times just annoying. I ended up skimming the last few chapters as I just wanted to be done with it.
October 29, 2017
Such a heartwarming book! I found it hard to put down.
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June 1, 2017"Campbell’s debut is a warm tale with easy to connect with characters. There are numerous heartfelt and uplifting scenes, even while the heroine is working through her insecurities" (RT Book Reviews).
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