Second Opinion

Healing Touch #1

by Hannah Alexander

When widower Dr. Grant Sheldon moves with his teenaged twins to Dogwood Springs, Missouri, they are still reeling from the death of his wife--their mother. He's hoping the idyllic setting of this small town will help ease the transition. He discovers too quickly that even this isolated place of beauty isn't free of all the problems he left behind in the city.

Experienced ER nurse, Lauren McCaffrey, arrives in Dogwood Springs hoping for a fresh start in her career--and her family's humiliating pressure for her to find a husband.

When the community's tranquility is threatened by a mysterious epidemic and an antagonist with a lust for money and hatred for authority, Grant and Lauren find themselves and their new friends racing the clock in a desperate search for answers.

Second Opinion combines emergency medicine and small-town America in a story of loves discovery and a faith that lasts.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Mystery, Romance, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

READY FOR THE NEW YEAR?

At this time of year, we have just finished reflecting on Christmas, when God gave us the greatest Gift ever possible. Now our thoughts are to the new year, with its upcoming rewards and challenges. Many of us will once again come up with New Year’s resolutions. This year I’m going to stick to my diet. This year I’m going to get into shape. This year I’m going to break that 5-minute mile. Okay, okay; it’s been a LONG time since I had that New Year’s resolution. And many will once again fail to live up to those resolutions, with their often unrealistic expectations. But enough about that.

Cheryl has chosen her word for the new year. It is solace. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, solace means:

1. comfort in grief: alleviation of grief or anxiety

2. a source of relief or consolation

Rather than discouraging anyone, our prayer for you is that God will grant you solace as you face the new year's rewards and challenges.

Happy reading and God bless you.

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read! It surrounded the happenings at a small town hospital and their staff, almost like a ER TV show except it had the inspirational moments and people who need God. This is far better than any TV show out there because you aren't inundated with sexual content. I liked how the church and Pastor is part of the happenings because of his volunteer work at the hospital. This is well written and will definitely pull you in to each character's life. You won't be able to put it down.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

An entertaining medical drama that dishes up both thrills and romance. Fans of Christian fiction will definitely love this.

Score: 4/5

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book

I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next in the series. This author has some great series that I have enjoyed reading.

[Manette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book from Hannah Alexander, I will be reading more. It is a faith based/mystery/romance set in the small town of Dogwood Springs, Missouri. I grew up in a small Midwestern town and this was quite true to the feel of small town life.

There is a mysterious epidemic happening and though this was written in 2002 the author caught the fear and anxiety that quickly spreads with unknowns, like our current Covid-19 pandemic.

Much of the story takes place in the small-town hospital ER. I loved getting a glimpse at what the life of those professionals is like. Hannah Alexander kept the story real without loosing the reader in heavy medical terminology.

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The small town of Dogwood Springs, Missouri is the setting for this medical mystery. I was expecting a laid back community. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not to be the case! I was instantly caught up in the excitement of the unfolding drama. Dogwood Springs had become the epicenter of a mysterious epidemic. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages. I devoured this novel in one sitting.

Recommend to readers who enjoy inspirational, medical mysteries.

I won a copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Hannah Alexander; I will read more. The story focuses on some newcomers to Dogwood Springs, coming for many different reasons. They all have ties to the hospital, where there is some kind of epidemic going on. In the race to figure it out and save lives, Dr Grant finds his faith again, Lauren is deathly sick, Gina has puzzling spells, and Archer is about ready to give up on his church congregation. Very well-told story, that really keeps you guessing.

[Heather Puddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series for many years! Just found it again after desperately searching for it.
It's a great medical/mystery series, keeps you on your toes, and very well written, giving you a look into the life of a medical worker with the drama of an ER (without all the extra, ridiculous drama these kinds of books tend to have.) Faithbased and well done. Thank you so much Hannah Alexander for giving us a wonderful series! Now, excuse me as I'm off to keep reading!

[Faith Posten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Help Me

Extraordinary story by such a prolific author. The fascinating medical themes reflect the real things that happen to medical professionals. Page one had me hooked. I found it difficult to put the book away until I finished the story. But I was sorry when it ended!!!

[esc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!!

This was a fast paced medical mystery with low-key romance and a lot of drama between characters. I loved the interactions between characters and the growing in, or coming to, faith. I was a little disappointed when the story ended though as it left me wanting a more conclusive wrap up. All in all it was a fantastic book.

[Rebecca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast pace medical mystery. So many different avenues of issues to explore with the surprising symptoms in the ER. I really enjoyed getting to know the various characters especially ER nurse Lauren and seeing her trust God in the midst of struggles, she is the kind of friend I would want in real life.

[Mary Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Lauren's story! And happy it's not done yet. Enjoyed the characterization and especially the twins--Brooke is so outrageous, I had to keep reading to find out what she would do next. Plenty of depth, comforting spiritual message, and a plot that kept me guessing. Looking forward to Book 2 of this series.

[Doranne Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Healing Touch Series; as well as the previous series by Hannah Alexanger: Sacred Trust, Solemn Oath, and Silent Pledge. The characters and life themes feel real, as do the emergency room experiences.

[Jacki Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 days

I finished this book in two days. I’m going to start Book Two now! I feel like I’m a part of Dogwood Springs. The characters seem so real because they deal with real life issues like faith, fear, and family.

[Alice LaJuett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best medical mystery

This is the best medical mystery I have read in a while! It has a great contemporary plot, a widowed father of two, a single pastor, a very sick mother. It has it all! This is a book that can't be missed!

[Connie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining

I truly enjoyed getting to know Hannah Alexander's latest group of characters. The suspense was intense yet not over the top. The humor was so good I laughed out loud.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked by the middle of Chapter 1. and found this medical suspense book hard to put down. The medical information rang true and the plot unfolded in a a exciting way. I look forward to the next book in this series.

[Lori Goroski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author. The only complaint is that I stayed up all night to finish it. The characters seemed real. I liked how the nurse referred to total commitment to God as second opinion. A reminder that I need to rely on him 1st rather than my take on own instincts.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Opinion

Excellent. Full of mystery, excitement, drama and God love! Love the medical drama and information. I recommend this book to adult, teenager and if medical claims you mind read!

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story line, loved the characters. Looking forward to reading book #2 in the series.

[Sarah Jungels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it... On to the second book.

Great story so far! Recommended for anyone with faith! Love the stories twists and characters... Love is brewing. Nice plot!

[Charly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. The tension built up nicely over the course of the story. However I found the writing and choice of words to be too simple with sometimes repeated sentences.

[Mandy Huot · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this series. beautifully written!!!!!

[Lorraine Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Tiffany Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

The book was good albeit a little slow moving for part of it! I thoroughly enjoy Hannah Alexander and will continue to read her work!

[Diane Fazioli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put down.

Great job of incorporating characters. Strong Christian theme. Looking forward to the next book. Hope it tells us more about the town.

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series! I will definetly be reading more of this author's work.

[Julie Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps I misread the synopsis, but I was expecting romantic suspense. This had more the feeling of a soap with no real main character. There isn't any romance, just people being attracted to people who don't reciprocate. It kept my attention but I felt it covered too many issues to do any of them justice. I won't be reading the rest of the series.

[Sarah-Marie Rosin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Very thoughtful read. Laurens character was so relate able to me, and I really enjoyed the characters. Just enough suspense with lots of heartwarming moments!

[Trinity Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexander is a fantastic book that I love. I’ve read many books by Hannah Alexander and love them all.
Dr. Grant Sheldon and Nurse Lauren McCaffrey are two very impressive characters. You just feel like they are real people and that they can be trusted.
Grant lost his wife two years ago and he hasn’t talked to God since then. He has teenaged twins who are so very opposite of each other, but love each other dearly.
Lauren has a fantastic parents and siblings, who are all married. Lauren feels like she is in a trap, everyone fixing her up with eligible men. So she decides to move to a different town to get on with her own life and leave the matchmaking behind.
Put all of that together with a mysterious epidemic going around. people dying, drug lords and you have a novel worth reading.
Highly recommended. Love this book.

I own this book and was not required to write a review.

[Kim]

This was a good book and I enjoyed reading it very much.