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An Unexpected Healer
Carlos Taino was living a simple life in Washington Heights, New York, until he fell in love with Amy Del Torro. In a desperate attempt to win the respect of her wealthy, Mexican-American family, he reluctantly enrolled in nursing school. After barely graduating, he spent the next five years assessing some of the wildest and weirdest, homebound people in New York City.
After Carlos loses his job, Amy tells him she’s pregnant and he’s forced to leave his beloved New York, and his family, for Los Angeles. Carlos finds himself immersed in a Latino culture he does not recognize, and overwhelmed by his first hospital job, in a predominately woman’s world. In the meanwhile, Carlos realizes that he may have to abandon his dream of becoming a writer, which he hoped was going to be his escape from nursing.
Carlos struggles and grows from the stress of working with desperate patients, irritated doctors and over-worked staff.
Join him as an act of heroism earns him an invitation to the hospital’s elite Trauma Department. It’s a promotion he does not want, but his wife and overbearing in-laws have other plans. In the Trauma ICU, he witnesses the horrors of suicides, stabbings and shootings, even as his dreams of publication fade.
Unfortunately, every nurse’s worst nightmare comes true, when his family is brought to the ER after a massive car crash. Will Carlos learn the meaning of mercy, love and destiny trying to save what’s left of his family?
An Unexpected Healer is part medical drama, part love story. It’s message is that overcoming disappointments, and facing challenges, is sometimes necessary to make us who we need to be.
After Carlos loses his job, Amy tells him she’s pregnant and he’s forced to leave his beloved New York, and his family, for Los Angeles. Carlos finds himself immersed in a Latino culture he does not recognize, and overwhelmed by his first hospital job, in a predominately woman’s world. In the meanwhile, Carlos realizes that he may have to abandon his dream of becoming a writer, which he hoped was going to be his escape from nursing.
Carlos struggles and grows from the stress of working with desperate patients, irritated doctors and over-worked staff.
Join him as an act of heroism earns him an invitation to the hospital’s elite Trauma Department. It’s a promotion he does not want, but his wife and overbearing in-laws have other plans. In the Trauma ICU, he witnesses the horrors of suicides, stabbings and shootings, even as his dreams of publication fade.
Unfortunately, every nurse’s worst nightmare comes true, when his family is brought to the ER after a massive car crash. Will Carlos learn the meaning of mercy, love and destiny trying to save what’s left of his family?
An Unexpected Healer is part medical drama, part love story. It’s message is that overcoming disappointments, and facing challenges, is sometimes necessary to make us who we need to be.
Paperback
Published October 17, 2020
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About the author
Lucho Castillo
1 book14 followersAn Unexpected Healer is a fictional novel inspired by my twenty-five years in nursing. It is a homage to a beautiful profession. I've had a wonderfully well rounded nursing career: visiting nurse, Surgical/Orthopedics, Trauma ICU, Critical Care, Post Anesthesia, OR.
I am a Latino-American writer, who along with my mom, dad and older brother, arrived via Pan Am Airlines in 1971. My younger brother was born in the U.S. a few years later. I grew up in the Bronx and lived there until 2001. I began my love affair with L.A. during my time in the Navy in the early eighties.
As for me, I am a plantain chip in a stack of french fries. My goal is to tell a Latino-American story, which is not being told enough in today’s literature, music or film. I want to read about the American experience of Latinex Millennials, Gen X’s and Gen Y’s. I tell the stories of those who are caught between the old world and the new.
Visit me at:
Blog: luchowrites.blogspot.com
Website: writerluchocastillo.wordpress.com
Twitter: luchocastillo@writerlucho
Instagram: writerluchocastillo
Facebook: writerluchocastillo
I am a Latino-American writer, who along with my mom, dad and older brother, arrived via Pan Am Airlines in 1971. My younger brother was born in the U.S. a few years later. I grew up in the Bronx and lived there until 2001. I began my love affair with L.A. during my time in the Navy in the early eighties.
As for me, I am a plantain chip in a stack of french fries. My goal is to tell a Latino-American story, which is not being told enough in today’s literature, music or film. I want to read about the American experience of Latinex Millennials, Gen X’s and Gen Y’s. I tell the stories of those who are caught between the old world and the new.
Visit me at:
Blog: luchowrites.blogspot.com
Website: writerluchocastillo.wordpress.com
Twitter: luchocastillo@writerlucho
Instagram: writerluchocastillo
Facebook: writerluchocastillo
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 24, 2020
Thanks to “ Goodreads “ for the opportunity to read and review this book. This was a relatively fast and easy read about the life and career of a reluctant nurse. Carlos went into nursing to impress his fiancée , who ultimately became his wife, and also to impress her parents. The book discussed in detail the beginnings of his job in LA, and how he progressed to different areas and how he became very competent and proud of his career. Carlos faced many family difficulties but he persevered and he did not give up, this was a very positive and uplifting book.
January 29, 2021
The Unexpected Healer was an unexpected delight. I couldn't help cheering on Carlos, the main character. This story is an uplifting tale of one man's journey to self satisfaction and self respect, through a convoluted and 'unexpected' chain of events. I loved how he discovered who he really was and his 'adventures' in the nursing field. Bravo and thank you Goodreads Giveaways.
May 13, 2021
An Unexpected Healer is a great medical drama that is also a love story. It takes you into the world of a trauma nurse, giving you a better understanding of the stress, challenges, and rewards of nursing.
Carlos Taino grew up in Washington Heights, New York and always had dreams of being a writer. Everything changes for him when he falls in love with Amy Del Toro and must find a job to impress her wealthy family. He goes to nursing school reluctantly and works with homebound patients until he loses his job. Amy is pregnant and they decide to move near her family in Los Angeles. Carlos is sad to leave and finds a job in a hospital which is hard at first. Carlos proves himself time after time and never gives up even though the job is the hardest thing he has ever done. He is soon invited to work in the Trauma ICU and has patients who were victims of gunshot wounds, stabbing, horrendous accidents and suicide attempts..
When there is a tragedy in Carlos’ family, he learns what is really important in his life and does everything in his power to save the ones he loves.
Thanks to Goodreads for this wonderful E book that I received in exchange for an honest review. It really gave me an understanding of the hard work, stress and dedication that nurses go through. Loved the story as well as Carlos’ optimism.
Carlos Taino grew up in Washington Heights, New York and always had dreams of being a writer. Everything changes for him when he falls in love with Amy Del Toro and must find a job to impress her wealthy family. He goes to nursing school reluctantly and works with homebound patients until he loses his job. Amy is pregnant and they decide to move near her family in Los Angeles. Carlos is sad to leave and finds a job in a hospital which is hard at first. Carlos proves himself time after time and never gives up even though the job is the hardest thing he has ever done. He is soon invited to work in the Trauma ICU and has patients who were victims of gunshot wounds, stabbing, horrendous accidents and suicide attempts..
When there is a tragedy in Carlos’ family, he learns what is really important in his life and does everything in his power to save the ones he loves.
Thanks to Goodreads for this wonderful E book that I received in exchange for an honest review. It really gave me an understanding of the hard work, stress and dedication that nurses go through. Loved the story as well as Carlos’ optimism.
May 24, 2021
Great Story
I really enjoyed reading this novel. Had never considered the lives nurses lead, but I was inspired as I read. The descriptions of the ER cases were really interesting, and I loved the families in this book. Left me very appreciative of the life I have!
I really enjoyed reading this novel. Had never considered the lives nurses lead, but I was inspired as I read. The descriptions of the ER cases were really interesting, and I loved the families in this book. Left me very appreciative of the life I have!
November 1, 2021
I'm a native NYer & I was transported to my old neighborhood in Washington Heights and the Dominican slang. I really loved reliving those memories thanks to this story.
This is great insight into the life of a multi cultural couple. A deep look into the life of a Dominican male nurse Carlos from the Heights who moves with his Mexican wife Amy to L.A. where she's from to try and better their lives. There are many hardships which Carlos must undertake at the hospital, but they teach him humility and that helping to save a life, or somehow better one is the greatest gift aside from his family that he has ever had. There are may medical terms used in this story that counfounded me, but at the end I found that I didn't have to know what they meant in order to understand the situation. Thtough this all Carlos is writing a book in the hopes of one day becoming a best selling author and bettering their lives.
Carlos and Amy live through many trials and adversities, they go through some very strong hardhips, but manage to get through them with love. And then there is the suspense of not knowing if Carlos the Dominican from the Heights will crack under pressure. One message is relayed throughout the story, no matter the culture, love of family is always the strongest and will prevail.
This author combines humor with hurt and suffering for a very deep and entertaining read. You know good writing when you feel transported into different situations as if you were there.
This is great insight into the life of a multi cultural couple. A deep look into the life of a Dominican male nurse Carlos from the Heights who moves with his Mexican wife Amy to L.A. where she's from to try and better their lives. There are many hardships which Carlos must undertake at the hospital, but they teach him humility and that helping to save a life, or somehow better one is the greatest gift aside from his family that he has ever had. There are may medical terms used in this story that counfounded me, but at the end I found that I didn't have to know what they meant in order to understand the situation. Thtough this all Carlos is writing a book in the hopes of one day becoming a best selling author and bettering their lives.
Carlos and Amy live through many trials and adversities, they go through some very strong hardhips, but manage to get through them with love. And then there is the suspense of not knowing if Carlos the Dominican from the Heights will crack under pressure. One message is relayed throughout the story, no matter the culture, love of family is always the strongest and will prevail.
This author combines humor with hurt and suffering for a very deep and entertaining read. You know good writing when you feel transported into different situations as if you were there.
October 25, 2021
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unexpectedly, this turned out to be a good read. As a nurse in New York City, Carlos learns a lot in his job. Losing this job, he finds himself in LA, working with stressed doctors, to ultimately be offered a position in the trauma department. The evolvement of his career and his family dynamic is an interesting counterpoint in this book.
Unexpectedly, this turned out to be a good read. As a nurse in New York City, Carlos learns a lot in his job. Losing this job, he finds himself in LA, working with stressed doctors, to ultimately be offered a position in the trauma department. The evolvement of his career and his family dynamic is an interesting counterpoint in this book.
May 26, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this novel. Had never considered the lives nurses lead, but I was inspired as I read. The descriptions of the ER cases were really interesting, and I loved the families in this book. Left me very appreciative of the life I have!
July 27, 2021
Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Would recommend to a friend. Thank you for a great read.
May 22, 2021
Goodreads giveaway. Fast, easy read that could use another run past an editor/proofreader. The main character is hard to like, he does redeem himself as the story continues, however, I hope I’m never in a hospital with a nurse with the lack of knowledge and experience that he shows at the beginning of the book. Potential, not a bad story, but could use some work.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews