Heroes Wear Stethoscopes

by J.M. Spade

Kate has worked as a nurse in the emergency room for over twenty years, is married to a successful orthopedic surgeon, and is raising three teenagers. When she starts experiencing personality changes, such as telling her patients what she's thinking, she must find the cause before she loses her family and her career. Is it the stress from family drama or something more serious? Once she discovers the cause, she must make a decision that will alter her life forever.

Follow Kate through her shifts in the busy emergency room and her chaotic personal life on her journey to discovering the root of the issues.

NOTE: Best read with a dark sense of humor...

Genres: Medical, Fiction, Contemporary

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2019

About the author

JM is a mother, a wife, a nurse, a pit bull owner, and an author. She loves Michigan Football, traveling, spending time with her family, and listening to audiobooks! Reading and reviewing books are things she enjoys in her spare time, when she isn't writing the next hit novel.

She loves to write about nursing because it's the type of books she would like to read. Writing has always been a passion of her's but writing medical fiction is exhilarating!


Check out her Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thisreadingn...

Reviews

[Andrea (Hammock and Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally read this type of book but it was like watching a medical drama on TV with a major twist at the end. It was interesting to see the medical field through the authors eyes and get an idea of what it was/is to be an ER nurse. You are wondering the whole time what is happing with the lead character and love what she is saying and truly feeling about it all. There are LOL moments for sure.

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

[J.M. Spade · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOTE: Best read with a dark sense of humor...

[Coucher de soleil]

Unfortunately with this whole saga (see above) I lost this review. My apologies.

Here is a summary of the main points I made in my original review, however.

I did not rate this book as I did not read the entire book, but rather an excerpt. Please note that my review is for the excerpt only.

I couldn't help but feel that the purpose of the free sample I read was not fulfilled: any free sample should make us want to read the book, and I don't feel this sample really accomplished that. For one thing, it was very very short which makes it more difficult to get an idea of the book. The sample I read also seemed to assume that I knew various things about the setting and characters, things which were not explained in the sample (confusing!).

Finally what I can say regarding the book, based on the sample I read, is that it would have been nice to have a bit more explanation of the medical setting (i.e., because while I recognize the author is a nurse and familiar with this setting this will certainly not be the case with all readers). In other words, acronyms such as EKGs should be spelled out and what this is should be explained (i.e., for a long time I was not clear on the difference between an EKG and an EEG so...). Also there is a mention of 'charting' by a nurse: what does this mean? What does this involve?

Anyways, just some brief comments.

[No Books]

We were very kindly sent a copy of Heroes Wear Stethoscopes by @jmspadewrites and we enjoyed it!
.
Heroes Wear Stethoscopes follows Kate, an ER nurse with what seems like the perfect life; a gorgeous husband and a doctor to boot!, three amazing kids and she loves her job! But as with everything that seems ‘perfect’ there is a LOT more to it. The characters are relatable and the dialogue realistic! A lovely read. •
If you enjoyed ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ and ‘This Is Going To Hurt’, then you’ll surely enjoy this. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heroes Wear Stethoscopes (Nursing Diaries, #3), my third read from author J.M. Spade. Well-written medical fiction, the third in this series. After reading The Wish Lists (Nursing Diaries, #1) & Surgical Complications: A Sweet Nursing Novella (Nursing Diaries, #2). I looked forward to this third book in the series. Very different than the first two books, I was been given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Therese M. McLaughlin’s sweet-voiced narration adds to the book's enjoyment. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Sara Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a well-written, fast-paced story of tales of steamy romps in the hospital break room and crazy stories about emergency room patients. This story has twists and turns as the main character balances the demands of her job as a nurse in a busy hospital environment, with raising teenagers, and dealing with drama in her marriage. This book is a must read humorous story

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

[Inger Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will be on your toes as you watch our main character go balance the demands of her job as a nurse in a busy hospital environment while raising teenagers and dealing with unexpected drama in her marriage. The stories from the ER are intensely written and come with a slap of witty humor. An absolute page turner to the very end.

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

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is an ER nurse and is married to a doctor. They have three children. She seems to have changed and has mood swings and headaches. She is very concerned about her patients and not herself. I read this in one sitting.

This is an interesting book to read. After finishing it, I am not sure how much was real and how much was a dream. I like reading about hospitals and nurses and I am currently a volunteer at a hospital. I believe you have to read this book and decide for yourself.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I wasn't sure where this book was going to end up, but I kept with it because I enjoyed the main character - Kate (her honesty while working as an ER nurse was FANTASTIC) and I wanted to learn how she was going to fair in the end. You aren't disappointed! There were so many twists and turns that you can't imagine anything else happening and then BAM - the ending. 
You need to read this book!

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

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

I'm a RN and so much of what was written is very much what happens in hospitals. So many times I wanted to tell a patient or their family off but knew that the hospital wouldn't support my actions. I've been pinched, bit, punched and verbally abused over the years and it was not defended by my employer. This book was so real and I would love to to read more by this author like this.

[Jess Kranenburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this story started off a little slow it definitely came through at the end with a very unexpected ending. Very relatable at times and an easy read, I really enjoyed it!

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

[Cair-Paravel Emyth Brenn De Luney Morrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had such a surprising end. I did not see it coming and that rarely happens. I loved it. The story was realistic, the characters believable, the flow smooth and complete.

I received a free copy from the author in return for an honest review.

[Karen (kmo.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I must admit this is the first medical drama-ish type book I have read. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into what work life is like for an ER nurse thanks to Kate Cordova,the main character. It was realistic, fast paced and had an unexpected twist at the end that I never saw coming.

Thank you to the JM Spade for the ARC.

[Ashlee Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the fact that the book is very descriptive, it is so cool that JM Spade is a real nurse and the things she describes are very much based on true events. I didn’t expect the ending, that was definitely cool. It was a little bit of an unbelievable situation however, because of how many different things she went through in the book. I really loved the plot of the book but I felt like the book dragged on a bit.

[Mikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're expecting a satisfying read about medical dramas (which I really like) with an ending that makes sense, this isn't the book for you. Or me, as it happens. I can't believe I spent so much time reading it. It was a freebie ebook via one of those companies that offer them online (Robin Reads). I should've quit reading it halfway through, as I was inclined. I just thought it would get better. And it did, to some degree in relation to character development, but then I found out I'd been duped into reading it.

I thought this would be fast paced ER type of novel, but it became plain that it was more a focus on sexual romps, both within and outside the main character's family and coworker groups. I'm not a prude, but come on! Gimme a break! Sex upon sex upon sex, interspersed with the occasional fleeting work-related visit to the hospital ER and dealings with supposedly real patients!?! Really?

And THEN, spoiler alert! It turned out that the whole story was meant to be a dream while the main character was under anesthetic! So the side drama about what happens when a person gets a brain tumor fizzled to nothing. It didn't happen. No tumor. No supposed marital and extramarital sexual encounters, no vacations, no wayward husband and teenage kids. Just a VERY weak ending.

Was it supposed to be a cliffhanger? Can't see a follow up book and anyway, I HATE when authors do that! Just to hook their readers into getting the next in the series, assuming there is a next about the same characters - which there doesn't appear to be in this instance.

Has the author ever been anesthetized? I have been 'put under' using general anesthetic many, many times (because my body doesn't function as it should in many respects and has needed repair) and I can categorically state that I didn't dream anything. Nothing. Nada. That's the whole point of being 'taken out of circulation' for the duration of a surgical procedure - that you don't remember anything. No pain. No dream activity. The brain is effectively in stasis. The period under anesthetic is a blank - an unfilled blip between the regular, waking states of consciousness which make up human lives.

The only time I did dream while anesthetized was when I had gas at the dentist's office to remove my wisdom teeth - and then I had a terrible dream which I still recall to this day, many years later. I remember saying then that I'd never have gas again. And I never have. And the point is - the dream I had then was nowhere near book length. Just a menacing dream about being chased in a movie theatre. (I never did get caught by the bad guys in the dream, I just awoke, feeling terrified, in the dentist's chair.) But I've digressed. ;-)

And I can't see that Kate - supposedly the sufferer of family fools, blinding headaches and altered states of self-consciousness (which I can believe happens when a tumor grows in the brain) - had gas during a routine surgery to replace her knee, during which she had a book-long dream, and after which she woke up confused and 'normal'.

I need to check a book's blurb before I start reading it, I guess.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ummm… What?

I am not quite sure what to make of this book. It is long and meandering without the typical ups and downs of a three-act story structure. For the most part, it seems like unconnected slice-of-life moments that really have no true conflict or building tension. There is the underpinning theme of something being wrong with the main character, but even that doesn't seem to have any rising action until the end. I am actually a nurse myself, and I found myself appalled that a nurse would ever talk to a patient in the ways the main character did. The switcheroo at the end made the whole book feel rather pointless to me. Just bizarre. I cannot recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[PJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

VERY FRUSTRATING BOOK!!! I stuck with it through all the cursing, details of sexual relationships inside and outside of marriage, teenage angst & acting out, and a crabby nurse who had no patience with anyone -- all in hopes of getting to a satisfying conclusion, but NO!! What did this author do? Put a big ol' twist at the end of the story which offered me only FRUSTRATION!!!

So if you love a big ol' TWIST -- have at it!! I did keep myself occupied while I was reading by doing plenty of proofreading and correcting of spelling and punctuation mistakes.

Sorry for all the negativity and sarcasm. I will say the author is a good writer. I will try something else that she has written. I will just check to see if there are any twists in the story first!!

[Judi Stecklow · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Verified ARC Reader
A bit repetitive although an interesting look into the Emergency Room
by Anonymous

An interesting look into the working of the emergency room and the professionals who work there. Description of patients was often humorous . A quick read with a quirky ending.

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

[Kali Cannizzaro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very happy to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a fast paced read that might engage those who enjoy tales of steamy romps in the hospital break room and crazy stories about emergency room patients. However, the storyline was implausible, the characters and dialogues were not engaging, and the ending was straight out of a soap opera from the 80’s. I sincerely wish this author lots of luck as she develops her craft!

[Katt Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was sometimes hard to follow. There were times when the would spend a lot of time on one particular scene, and other times when it zipped from scene to scene. It took me a while to get into the story because it was hard to follow. About two thirds of the way through, the pace started picking up, and the story began flowing a lot better. Then came the ending, and I was so confused. It through me for a loop, and then nothing made sense.

[Jenny Blaszczyk · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I got this book free from the author herself. I was working a COVID clinic with her when she mentioned she was a social media influencer for books. I love reading. We talked and she told me she was an author and gave me her book. It’s boring. A lot of it made no sense along the way and then you come to find out none of it is real? Maybe I’m being harsh but this book wasn’t good. I wanted to like it tho I really did. That just didn’t happen.

[Alflannery · Rating 2 out of 5]

What did I just read?

A short of confusing mishmash of things I was told "this is not like me at all" with no evidence that they were true. A story that just barely made sense.

And then a "twist" at the end that, while it did explain all the weaknesses of the whole rest of the book... It felt like cheating.

[Carole D Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting stuff

The story shows the courage that nurses have to go through and put up with with people are rude and unnecessary visits are made to emergency rooms. I had a an experience similar to Kate's With regards to the brain tumor. Mine also turned out to be okay and removed but I could relate to her feelings of fear and uncertainty great read thank you

[Candie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hero’s Wear Stethoscopes

I couldn’t put this book down! I read until my eyes got blurry, got up and got eye drops and kept on reading. Just repeated that cycle most of yesterday and read most of the book. I finished it up today. I
I would definitely recommend this book. It’s very funny too.

[Saphire Aqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story overall, just a few things had me rating it 4 stars. For one, especially near the end, lots of typos and little mistakes- they're not huge but took away from the reading experience. Secondly, I think the way the author wrote the teenagers was rather exaggerated. Again, I enjoyed the book a lot (although I do wish the ending was different!) so 4 stars!

[Mary Escarraz · Rating 3 out of 5]

You've got to be kidding.


Thru the entire book, while a little over the top at times, it was a great story. Spoiler alert... a disappointing explanation when they used it for an entire season of Dallas, and just as disappointing here. I doubt I'll bother to look for other books in the Nursing Diaries.

[Gail Stifle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very Disappointed

It had a good story line in the beginning about being a triage nurse was interesting. It never said she fell running and hit her head or hurt her knee. The ending really threw me because the story was all over the place. I didn’t care for the play by play detailed description of the couples sex.

[Orella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed

I felt ripped off by the ending. It was a total cop out, in my opinion. A real waste of my time which is too bad cuz it could have been a really good story if the ending was better. It felt like the author either lost their train of thought or just got lazy and lost interest.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very good. Not at all what I expected for the end. It took me by complete surprise. I liked the book though.

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

[Aurélie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not connect with the writing style. I kept on reading because I was sure that the story had something to offer. The language chosen lessened the quality of the book, though. However, the story about Kate’s personal and professional life as an ER nurse is interesting.