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Irregular Heartbeat Lib/E
After nearly a decade as a professional drummer, Diana Petrell leaves her rock-star life behind to continue her residency in emergency medicine. She’s determined not to let anything stop her—not even falling in love with her aloof mentor, Dr. Emily Barnes.
Emily has only ever focused on her career as a senior attending in the emergency department, and she isn’t happy about having to babysit a resident with a ten-year gap in her résumé, no matter how intriguing she is.
But every time they work together, it’s not just their patients’ heartbeat that gets a little irregular. Soon, the once-clear lines between work and personal life begin to blur.
When Diana’s unorthodox secret past is revealed, putting her job in jeopardy, Emily has to choose between her career and her relationship. A lesbian romance that asks how much we’d risk for love.
Themes: medical romance · professional drummer · rock star life
94,000 words
Emily has only ever focused on her career as a senior attending in the emergency department, and she isn’t happy about having to babysit a resident with a ten-year gap in her résumé, no matter how intriguing she is.
But every time they work together, it’s not just their patients’ heartbeat that gets a little irregular. Soon, the once-clear lines between work and personal life begin to blur.
When Diana’s unorthodox secret past is revealed, putting her job in jeopardy, Emily has to choose between her career and her relationship. A lesbian romance that asks how much we’d risk for love.
Themes: medical romance · professional drummer · rock star life
94,000 words
Audio CD
First published October 15, 2018
104 people are currently reading
1068 people want to read
About the author
Chris Zett
12 books178 followersChris Zett lives near Berlin, Germany, with her wife. TV inspired her to study medicine, but she found out soon enough that real life in a hospital consists more of working long hours than performing heroic rescues. The part about finding a workplace romance turned out to be true, though.
She uses any opportunity to escape the routine by reading, writing, or traveling. Her favorite destinations include penguin colonies in Patagonia and stone circles in Scotland.
She is a graduate of the GCLS Writing Academy 2017.
She uses any opportunity to escape the routine by reading, writing, or traveling. Her favorite destinations include penguin colonies in Patagonia and stone circles in Scotland.
She is a graduate of the GCLS Writing Academy 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
October 9, 2018
4.25 Stars. I really enjoyed this one! This is my kind of book; a slow burn medical romance with an ice queen character. This storyline absolutely worked for me and I could not put the book down. This looks to be a full-length book debut for Zett, so it makes the book even more impressive for me.
Diana is starting new as an emergency room resident in Settle. She is older than most of the other residents because she took almost a decade off away from medicine. Emily is assigned as her mentor. Emily cares about her job, but is not afraid to put her residents through the ringer. Diana seems to know her stuff, but Emily doesn’t understand or trust someone who already gave up a medical career. What secrets about her past is Diana hiding?
I just first want to first mention I think the books blurb gives a tad too much away. I saw medical romance and just grabbed this without even reading the blurb. The first paragraph of the blurb gives away the secret Diana is hiding. If you are interested in this book and have not read the blurb yet, skip reading the first paragraph. It will be more fun finding out the secret while reading the book.
I believe the book is longer than the 261 page number that is currently is on Goodreads. I could not tell on my kindle but this felt closer to 350 pages. Anyway, it was a nice long length that let this slow burn romance really develop. And while it is slow burn, it’s not too slow burn, the pace felt perfect for who the characters were.
When it came to the romance I really enjoyed it. The chemistry is not off the wall, but it is there and I really liked these two as a potential couple. Emily is very closed off and comes off as an ice queen. I found the reasons for her character’s actions to be believable and I enjoyed watching her grow. Going from two characters not being able to stand each other, to a possible relationship really worked for me. While there is some angst, it doesn’t ever feel forced. It feels designed to make the characters or their relationship grow. I really liked Zett’s story choices and she stayed away from all my pet peeves.
I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely recommend this to medical romance fans. This was a great for a debut and it makes me very excited to read any new books by Zett.
An ARC was given to me by YLVA for a honest review.
Diana is starting new as an emergency room resident in Settle. She is older than most of the other residents because she took almost a decade off away from medicine. Emily is assigned as her mentor. Emily cares about her job, but is not afraid to put her residents through the ringer. Diana seems to know her stuff, but Emily doesn’t understand or trust someone who already gave up a medical career. What secrets about her past is Diana hiding?
I just first want to first mention I think the books blurb gives a tad too much away. I saw medical romance and just grabbed this without even reading the blurb. The first paragraph of the blurb gives away the secret Diana is hiding. If you are interested in this book and have not read the blurb yet, skip reading the first paragraph. It will be more fun finding out the secret while reading the book.
I believe the book is longer than the 261 page number that is currently is on Goodreads. I could not tell on my kindle but this felt closer to 350 pages. Anyway, it was a nice long length that let this slow burn romance really develop. And while it is slow burn, it’s not too slow burn, the pace felt perfect for who the characters were.
When it came to the romance I really enjoyed it. The chemistry is not off the wall, but it is there and I really liked these two as a potential couple. Emily is very closed off and comes off as an ice queen. I found the reasons for her character’s actions to be believable and I enjoyed watching her grow. Going from two characters not being able to stand each other, to a possible relationship really worked for me. While there is some angst, it doesn’t ever feel forced. It feels designed to make the characters or their relationship grow. I really liked Zett’s story choices and she stayed away from all my pet peeves.
I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely recommend this to medical romance fans. This was a great for a debut and it makes me very excited to read any new books by Zett.
An ARC was given to me by YLVA for a honest review.
October 8, 2018
'ARC Generously provided by Ylva-Publishing in exchange for a honest review'
**'Try not to put yourself as a writer into the story unless your perspective can really add something.Let the subject of your story be the star..Writing is a form of therapy..'
Good read!
'IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT' is the kind of narrative medical writing which also included a partial love story that may entice some first time readers to Ms.Zett debut book that also involves lots of hospital activities,it has a wide range of expert analysis on patients health,diagnosis and even the scientific method of testing. Ms.Zett has very clearly put maybe months or years of writing,storytelling,knowledge and thought into this book because the amount of good research and information given is quite impressive. There are some compelling aspects to this storyline that i think some readers might be interested to learn about the inner workings of this Seattle Hospital on how certain intern communicate when there is an emergency plus how both leads (Emily & Diana) try to maintain their independence,respect and dignity for each other while still under stress or pressure. Additionally,each of the cast in this storyline is defined by their own personalities whether vibrant,unfriendly at times,carefree or immature -- and made up of well-honed characters that all had a reason for being at Seattle General Hospital. A recommended read!
**'Try not to put yourself as a writer into the story unless your perspective can really add something.Let the subject of your story be the star..Writing is a form of therapy..'
Good read!
'IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT' is the kind of narrative medical writing which also included a partial love story that may entice some first time readers to Ms.Zett debut book that also involves lots of hospital activities,it has a wide range of expert analysis on patients health,diagnosis and even the scientific method of testing. Ms.Zett has very clearly put maybe months or years of writing,storytelling,knowledge and thought into this book because the amount of good research and information given is quite impressive. There are some compelling aspects to this storyline that i think some readers might be interested to learn about the inner workings of this Seattle Hospital on how certain intern communicate when there is an emergency plus how both leads (Emily & Diana) try to maintain their independence,respect and dignity for each other while still under stress or pressure. Additionally,each of the cast in this storyline is defined by their own personalities whether vibrant,unfriendly at times,carefree or immature -- and made up of well-honed characters that all had a reason for being at Seattle General Hospital. A recommended read!
April 24, 2019
The fact that the lead couple in this story ACTUALLY communicates is what elevated this somewhat trite romance to greater heights. The story choices I've seen in other reads and overall was okay but the author's execution was still done well. Zett really nailed it with writing great couple interactions and intimacy, making the relationship strong and believable. If you're looking for a solid, feel good romance, you've found one.
Quick notes: Slow burn, ice queen, medical setting, co-workers to lovers storyline.
Also, I listened to the audiobook version (available on Scribd) and Abby Craden does an excellent job.
Quick notes: Slow burn, ice queen, medical setting, co-workers to lovers storyline.
Also, I listened to the audiobook version (available on Scribd) and Abby Craden does an excellent job.
March 27, 2020
This was a slow burn medical romance between an ice queen and sort of celebrity with really good chemistry. The last medical romance I read made me feel like I was back in pre-med. Too much medicine and not enough romance. This one had the perfect balance. I really liked it but the book kinda lost my attention during the last few chapters. It was a bit longer than necessary.
October 9, 2018
After a nine year hiatus, Diana is returning to her medical residency. At 37, she is older than her peers but she is more interested in the work than making friends. Her first day with her mentor, Dr Emily Barnes, isn’t as smooth as she’d hoped but then Emily is not known for her friendliness. Diana is very cagey about the gap in her CV and Emily is concerned about what she’s hiding. Emily wears a mask of professionalism and severity. Her priority is the emergency department and her patients.
As hospital dramas go, this is a good one. The environment is built believably so that the characters are part of the emergency department rather than parading in front of a painted backdrop. Both characters are likeable which is aided by their ability to communicate with each other. This is a slow-burn romance and while their attraction for each other is pretty clear there were times I felt they could have had a bit more chemistry. Although, in terms of their backgrounds, how they were portrayed is far more plausible than my preferences.
This seems to be a debut novel although Zett has had short stories published in two anthologies. It is an engaging read and I loved the development of Diana and Emily’s relationship. The whole story held together well and even though Diana’s need to keep a secret seemed a little melodramatic it wasn’t completely implausible. Medical romance fans will enjoy this. I did.
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
As hospital dramas go, this is a good one. The environment is built believably so that the characters are part of the emergency department rather than parading in front of a painted backdrop. Both characters are likeable which is aided by their ability to communicate with each other. This is a slow-burn romance and while their attraction for each other is pretty clear there were times I felt they could have had a bit more chemistry. Although, in terms of their backgrounds, how they were portrayed is far more plausible than my preferences.
This seems to be a debut novel although Zett has had short stories published in two anthologies. It is an engaging read and I loved the development of Diana and Emily’s relationship. The whole story held together well and even though Diana’s need to keep a secret seemed a little melodramatic it wasn’t completely implausible. Medical romance fans will enjoy this. I did.
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
January 9, 2020
I really liked this book! I think had it not been for me actually not reading it but listening to it as an audio book, I could’ve easily given it a 4.5 rounded it up to 5!
Slow burn medical romance with a touch of celebrity drama in between :) who wouldn’t like it ?
While I really liked the idea of the book, I would’ve preferred it to be a bit less in terms of length. When I said slow burn, I meant it literally ! Was a bit too slow but yet I didn’t get bored :)
Diana the MC was such a nice character.. she was mature, composed and fun at the same time! The other MC annoyed me a little bit but I still liked their romance! I guess opposites did attract :)
Supporting characters were there as a concept, but didn’t add anything to the story ! However what I did like was the medical drama so basically the ER characters :)
There’s an angle that I really liked which is drug addiction, and I thought the author should’ve explored it a bit more.
Overall I enjoyed this a lot. It does not feel like a debut novel :)
Slow burn medical romance with a touch of celebrity drama in between :) who wouldn’t like it ?
While I really liked the idea of the book, I would’ve preferred it to be a bit less in terms of length. When I said slow burn, I meant it literally ! Was a bit too slow but yet I didn’t get bored :)
Diana the MC was such a nice character.. she was mature, composed and fun at the same time! The other MC annoyed me a little bit but I still liked their romance! I guess opposites did attract :)
Supporting characters were there as a concept, but didn’t add anything to the story ! However what I did like was the medical drama so basically the ER characters :)
There’s an angle that I really liked which is drug addiction, and I thought the author should’ve explored it a bit more.
Overall I enjoyed this a lot. It does not feel like a debut novel :)
November 13, 2025
Well, you'd know I love this - hospitals, show business, drama, angst - it's all there to read and love! Absolutely 5* - Good book, thanks.
June 4, 2022
Doctor rock chick.
I had this book and the next book (Heart Failure) in my Audible playlist for the longest time. Not sure why I waited to listen but I'm kicking myself now for not starting sooner.
This is my first Chris Zett book and it's a solid medical romance and this is true for both the medical part and the romance. Zett is a doctor so it's probably no surprise that she knows her stuff. But more importantly, she made the hospital scenes interesting and exciting, so that was fun to listen to.
Romance-wise, this is an excellent workplace romance between a resident and her attending physician. Some details about one of the character's sexual awakening years ago was a little incredulous but it's a minor point because this story turned out to be well-written and well-paced overall. The chemistry between the main characters is good and I absolutely love how their relationship deepens at a gradual pace. Both characters intrigued me too. Diana, the resident, has an interesting history, having been a rock musician in between a huge gap in her residency programme. Yet at the same time, she has none of the rock star stereotypes and a very down to earth and reliable personality that makes her extremely likeable. Emily, on the other hand, is harder to read. She's a strict mentor at work, icy and socially awkward in her private life and it took a while to peel the layers back, but the character development was progressive and also a very likable character when we get to know her.
Abby Craden did a wonderful job narrating, as always, so it was definitely a good choice to pick up the audiobook version. Love it!
I had this book and the next book (Heart Failure) in my Audible playlist for the longest time. Not sure why I waited to listen but I'm kicking myself now for not starting sooner.
This is my first Chris Zett book and it's a solid medical romance and this is true for both the medical part and the romance. Zett is a doctor so it's probably no surprise that she knows her stuff. But more importantly, she made the hospital scenes interesting and exciting, so that was fun to listen to.
Romance-wise, this is an excellent workplace romance between a resident and her attending physician. Some details about one of the character's sexual awakening years ago was a little incredulous but it's a minor point because this story turned out to be well-written and well-paced overall. The chemistry between the main characters is good and I absolutely love how their relationship deepens at a gradual pace. Both characters intrigued me too. Diana, the resident, has an interesting history, having been a rock musician in between a huge gap in her residency programme. Yet at the same time, she has none of the rock star stereotypes and a very down to earth and reliable personality that makes her extremely likeable. Emily, on the other hand, is harder to read. She's a strict mentor at work, icy and socially awkward in her private life and it took a while to peel the layers back, but the character development was progressive and also a very likable character when we get to know her.
Abby Craden did a wonderful job narrating, as always, so it was definitely a good choice to pick up the audiobook version. Love it!
October 12, 2018
I've been taking a break from reading medical romances for a while now. I'm a little over Radclyffe and her collar-length haired heroins and Camryn Eyde seems to have forgotten about Darcy & Olivia. Then along comes Chris Zett with this book that peaked my curiosity.
Diana Petrell returns to the world of medicine at Seattle General Hospital and finds herself under the watchful eyes of her supervisor Dr Emily Barnes. Emily, while closed off and sometimes brusque, is clearly good at her job and Diana finds herself learning a lot from her.
While Diana adjusts to her life as a resident again, Emily becomes more and more curious about her. Why did she leave her residency in the first place, what has she been doing all those years, why is she back now and is she even serious about being a doctor?
Though eventually all the answers to these questions are slowly revealed throughout the book, there were moments when I felt the author was stretching out the mystery a little too much. There were quite a few other questions that kept me reading as well, especially in regards to Emily and her often strange behavior regarding sunlight.
Oddly enough I wasn't very interested in the romance aspect of this book. The main characters have chemistry but would I call it great or passionate? No. The author seemed to be more focused on their personal growth than on their love lives. If you're looking for a steamy read brimming with passion, keep looking.
The story was interesting enough to keep me reading because I wanted answers but it was not a real page turner that I had trouble putting down. Overall this gets a 3.25* rating.
Diana Petrell returns to the world of medicine at Seattle General Hospital and finds herself under the watchful eyes of her supervisor Dr Emily Barnes. Emily, while closed off and sometimes brusque, is clearly good at her job and Diana finds herself learning a lot from her.
While Diana adjusts to her life as a resident again, Emily becomes more and more curious about her. Why did she leave her residency in the first place, what has she been doing all those years, why is she back now and is she even serious about being a doctor?
Though eventually all the answers to these questions are slowly revealed throughout the book, there were moments when I felt the author was stretching out the mystery a little too much. There were quite a few other questions that kept me reading as well, especially in regards to Emily and her often strange behavior regarding sunlight.
Oddly enough I wasn't very interested in the romance aspect of this book. The main characters have chemistry but would I call it great or passionate? No. The author seemed to be more focused on their personal growth than on their love lives. If you're looking for a steamy read brimming with passion, keep looking.
The story was interesting enough to keep me reading because I wanted answers but it was not a real page turner that I had trouble putting down. Overall this gets a 3.25* rating.
October 15, 2018
Congratulations to Chris Zett for this full-length debut novel, I’m impressed.
Dr. Emily Barnes is known for her dedication to her work in the hospitals Emergency Department, and not for her friendliness. She strictly separates her work and private life, not that she has a private life, but that’s nobodies concern. When she gets a new resident to supervise, she’s wary, what brings a person to break out of a residency and come back after nearly a decade? She is very suspicious of Diana but also intrigued by her.
Diana has to hide her past, on command of the superior, it’s an agreement not to tell what she has done the last nine years. She doesn’t know how hard this would be. Her supervisor Emily is a hard ass at work, but there is something, that draws Diana to her. When they meet by chance during a concert, their lives are becoming intertwined.
The storyline is well developed and kept me reading. The characters were well written and I liked both. I saw with pleasure how Emily came out of her shell more and more. And to understand why she is as she is was plausible too. I think I would fall for Diana too (don’t tell my wife please ). Her past was very interesting to get to know and also her reasons why to go back to work in a hospital at the age of thirty-seven.
The romance part was sweet and wonderful, it is slow burning, but everything else wouldn’t be believable. Also, the action and work in the Emergency Department was credible and written very well.
Highly recommended to all the medical romance fans. I’m looking forward to reading another book by this author.
My rating 4.25
Thanks to Ylva for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
Dr. Emily Barnes is known for her dedication to her work in the hospitals Emergency Department, and not for her friendliness. She strictly separates her work and private life, not that she has a private life, but that’s nobodies concern. When she gets a new resident to supervise, she’s wary, what brings a person to break out of a residency and come back after nearly a decade? She is very suspicious of Diana but also intrigued by her.
Diana has to hide her past, on command of the superior, it’s an agreement not to tell what she has done the last nine years. She doesn’t know how hard this would be. Her supervisor Emily is a hard ass at work, but there is something, that draws Diana to her. When they meet by chance during a concert, their lives are becoming intertwined.
The storyline is well developed and kept me reading. The characters were well written and I liked both. I saw with pleasure how Emily came out of her shell more and more. And to understand why she is as she is was plausible too. I think I would fall for Diana too (don’t tell my wife please ). Her past was very interesting to get to know and also her reasons why to go back to work in a hospital at the age of thirty-seven.
The romance part was sweet and wonderful, it is slow burning, but everything else wouldn’t be believable. Also, the action and work in the Emergency Department was credible and written very well.
Highly recommended to all the medical romance fans. I’m looking forward to reading another book by this author.
My rating 4.25
Thanks to Ylva for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
April 21, 2021
4 Stars.
Huh. I read this last year in 2020, but I was surprised to find that I never added it to my Goodreads list. But since I wanted to read the "sequel" Heart Failure, I decided to read the first couple of chapters of this book to remind myself about the book. Well, I ended up re-reading the entire book.
I enjoyed it as much as I remembered. But I'm partial to opposites attract and Ice Queen characters and this had both. You have Dr. Diana Petrell, who had quit her ER residency to continue her career as a rock drummer. Now, ten years later she has returned to finish up her last year of her residency. The Ice Queen, is Dr. Emily Barnes who is the head of ER and is not trilled to have to take on a new resident, Dr. Petrell with a 10 year career gap. Two great characters and an enjoyable romance.
Huh. I read this last year in 2020, but I was surprised to find that I never added it to my Goodreads list. But since I wanted to read the "sequel" Heart Failure, I decided to read the first couple of chapters of this book to remind myself about the book. Well, I ended up re-reading the entire book.
I enjoyed it as much as I remembered. But I'm partial to opposites attract and Ice Queen characters and this had both. You have Dr. Diana Petrell, who had quit her ER residency to continue her career as a rock drummer. Now, ten years later she has returned to finish up her last year of her residency. The Ice Queen, is Dr. Emily Barnes who is the head of ER and is not trilled to have to take on a new resident, Dr. Petrell with a 10 year career gap. Two great characters and an enjoyable romance.
October 19, 2018
Diana Petrell is a former rock star who left nine years of music and fame behind to resume her career as an emergency medicine doctor. Her residency supervisor is Dr. Emily Barnes, an aloof and hard working attending who is distrustful of her skills. Just when Emily starts letting her guard down and letting the former musician in, Diana’s past threatens to destroy everything that they’ve both fought for.
This is a solid medical romance novel by debut author Chris Zett. She uses her own experience in the medical field to create a realistic hospital environment without overwhelming readers with medical terms or procedures, making it entertaining and credible. I particularly liked her clever use of medical metaphors:
“… the warmth of the contact coursed through her system like an anxiolytic and strengthened her resolve.” (Chapter 19)
Written in third person from the point of view of both main characters, we get into their headspaces enough to understand their actions. Emily is a stereotypical ice queen but soon the readers discover her vulnerable side, which makes her more real and appealing. Diana is also a well rounded character as we can empathise with her need of secrecy. Together they have great chemistry that grows with each page. All the secondary characters, no matter how small their parts in the plot, are credible and have a distinctive voice which makes the story more realistic. The plot is tightly woven as are the subplots that enrich the story and contribute to the reading enjoyment.
Overall, a realistic and entertaining medical romance and a promising debut novel. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at:
www.lezreviewbooks.com
This is a solid medical romance novel by debut author Chris Zett. She uses her own experience in the medical field to create a realistic hospital environment without overwhelming readers with medical terms or procedures, making it entertaining and credible. I particularly liked her clever use of medical metaphors:
“… the warmth of the contact coursed through her system like an anxiolytic and strengthened her resolve.” (Chapter 19)
Written in third person from the point of view of both main characters, we get into their headspaces enough to understand their actions. Emily is a stereotypical ice queen but soon the readers discover her vulnerable side, which makes her more real and appealing. Diana is also a well rounded character as we can empathise with her need of secrecy. Together they have great chemistry that grows with each page. All the secondary characters, no matter how small their parts in the plot, are credible and have a distinctive voice which makes the story more realistic. The plot is tightly woven as are the subplots that enrich the story and contribute to the reading enjoyment.
Overall, a realistic and entertaining medical romance and a promising debut novel. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at:
www.lezreviewbooks.com
October 16, 2018
Irregular Heartbeat is a fantastic debut novel by Chris Zett. Now I will be the first to say, I love hospital romances. Can't get enough! So this one was right up my alley.
Dr. Emily Barnes is a no-nonsense hardass when it comes to the hospital’s emergency department. She is all business. She has no time for friendliness, idle chit-chat, all work all the time. Needless to say, she does not have a lot of friends at work. She expects the best from her staff and even more so from herself.
Diana Petrell is Emily’s newest resident. She’s older than the others and has a backstory, one Diana isn’t sharing and that intrigues the serious Dr. Barnes. These two become colleagues but there is just a little something simmering there. Neither is willing to take the first step, their careers mean too much. So when a chance encounter in a bar lets Diana’s secret past get out these two take a giant step towards friendship with a little something extra.
This story is well developed, the characters are solid, the dialogue is seamless and there is some simmering heat. You really cannot ask for more with a romance novel this has all the elements of a good book. And yes, it is a good one. I loved how Emily is perceived as cold and unfeeling when she is anything but. As her mask gets pulled away you have these great moments of really seeing the character Zett was sculpting.
If you are a hospital romance junkie you will definitely want to pick up this sweet, and sexy slow burn romance. I will totally be on the lookout for Zett’s next work. 3.75 stars
Dr. Emily Barnes is a no-nonsense hardass when it comes to the hospital’s emergency department. She is all business. She has no time for friendliness, idle chit-chat, all work all the time. Needless to say, she does not have a lot of friends at work. She expects the best from her staff and even more so from herself.
Diana Petrell is Emily’s newest resident. She’s older than the others and has a backstory, one Diana isn’t sharing and that intrigues the serious Dr. Barnes. These two become colleagues but there is just a little something simmering there. Neither is willing to take the first step, their careers mean too much. So when a chance encounter in a bar lets Diana’s secret past get out these two take a giant step towards friendship with a little something extra.
This story is well developed, the characters are solid, the dialogue is seamless and there is some simmering heat. You really cannot ask for more with a romance novel this has all the elements of a good book. And yes, it is a good one. I loved how Emily is perceived as cold and unfeeling when she is anything but. As her mask gets pulled away you have these great moments of really seeing the character Zett was sculpting.
If you are a hospital romance junkie you will definitely want to pick up this sweet, and sexy slow burn romance. I will totally be on the lookout for Zett’s next work. 3.75 stars
February 2, 2019
Irregular Heartbeat is a super easy book to get into. The story is told well, the medical side of things is interesting and never gets into info overload territory, and the pacing is great too.
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/irre...
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/irre...
November 2, 2019
4 stars. This was a good easy read. The writing is well done and the romance was believable. The chemistry between these two was my favorite part of the story and although their relationship developed slowly, it kept true to the relationship they were building.
The two protagonists are Emily and Diana. Emily, an ER attending, is a cold ice queen who rules her domain with an iron fist. Work has become everything to her, giving up the idea of dating long ago. Diana is a new resident who begins the story by working with Emily as her supervisor. Patient and strong willed, she tackles her new job with a passion that causes Emily to quickly take notice.
Once you took a dive into the mind of the veritable ice queen, she revealed her rapidly developing feelings, which developed far quicker than her younger Protegé. For someone so cold, it was pleasantly surprising to see this softer side of her. Somewhere alone the way her icy demeanor transformed into that of a socially awkward dork. Her inability to say exactly what she means comes across and cold and uncaring, which in reality couldn’t be further form the truth. Diana became a place of strength and security to Emily, her unwavering steadiness became a pillar of strength for her to rely on in the wake of a family tragedy.
Although Emily is described as an ice queen at work, there wasn’t much to prove this. A few harsh words to underlings and a stone face is all it takes to receive the ice queen moniker. I wish this side of her personality was shown more, but the story revolves around her relationship with Diana, so it can be forgiven.
There was little drama within the story itself and what little happened wrapped up within a page or two, which while refreshing, left me to wonder why it was added at all if the characters move on so quickly.
Overall the story is super sweet. While I wouldn’t say that there was a ton of angst in this story, it made for a pleasantly easy read.
The two protagonists are Emily and Diana. Emily, an ER attending, is a cold ice queen who rules her domain with an iron fist. Work has become everything to her, giving up the idea of dating long ago. Diana is a new resident who begins the story by working with Emily as her supervisor. Patient and strong willed, she tackles her new job with a passion that causes Emily to quickly take notice.
Once you took a dive into the mind of the veritable ice queen, she revealed her rapidly developing feelings, which developed far quicker than her younger Protegé. For someone so cold, it was pleasantly surprising to see this softer side of her. Somewhere alone the way her icy demeanor transformed into that of a socially awkward dork. Her inability to say exactly what she means comes across and cold and uncaring, which in reality couldn’t be further form the truth. Diana became a place of strength and security to Emily, her unwavering steadiness became a pillar of strength for her to rely on in the wake of a family tragedy.
Although Emily is described as an ice queen at work, there wasn’t much to prove this. A few harsh words to underlings and a stone face is all it takes to receive the ice queen moniker. I wish this side of her personality was shown more, but the story revolves around her relationship with Diana, so it can be forgiven.
There was little drama within the story itself and what little happened wrapped up within a page or two, which while refreshing, left me to wonder why it was added at all if the characters move on so quickly.
Overall the story is super sweet. While I wouldn’t say that there was a ton of angst in this story, it made for a pleasantly easy read.
October 23, 2018
I found the story a little bit boring and disappointing in the end.
June 21, 2022
So the blurb gives you most of what you need to know for background. Emily and Diana are nearly the same age, but one chose to stay a doctor and is in charge of the residents and the other is returning to the residency she abandoned ten years ago to be a drummer in a rock band. I liked that Diana wasn't super famous and we don't see her throwing around money, though she obviously has some. So it's not the wish-fulfillment lean-in you might expect.
Indeed, I liked Diana quite a bit. She was anxious about taking her original career back up and conscious of being more mature than she had been when she left. In a good way. She's even-keeled and hard-working so she isn't as rusty or out-of-practice as she feared she might be. Seeing her be all competent in the face of Emily's suspicion and mistrust was awesome.
Emily was a bit more predictable as the joyless boss everybody respects but nobody actually likes. She has backstory for all that freeze-out persona and it fits in a romance-landy way. As soon as it cropped up, I knew we'd be seeing that as her character arc and I wasn't wrong.
Anyway, the romance and relationship was fun to engage with. I liked them gaining some respect. I liked Diana seeing more of Emily than she wanted to let people see, particularly during a crisis. And I liked their growth together.
I'm not as sanguine about the plot. Diana has a weird clause in her employment contract about not bringing bad PR on the hospital due to her past and I'm all "Hospitals have PR concerns?" I mean, I suppose you don't want a story about druggy party-people crashing down the halls, but employing a former rock drummer doesn't seem like much of a scandal. Unless she sucks as a doctor, of course. Assuming at least average competence, though, and a hospital might put something like a drumming doctor on a banner to hang on their front door for all the difference it is going to make of whether people want their various ailments treated there or not. I mean, when's the last time you read about your local hospital in the news? Don't you kind of expect weird crap to happen there? My only question if I learned a doctor there had once been a drummer in a rock band is "yeah, but an actual doctor, right? How does this matter, again?"
So Diana stressing that she's going to lose her job the whole story just felt tacked-on. I had a hard time taking it seriously, at any rate. And it doesn't help that Emily is all about the good reputation of the hospital. This put enough stress on the story that I'm going to call this four stars. I mean, it's an awesome relationship that I loved seeing develop. But a bunch of plot things just didn't connect for me.
A note about Steamy: There are a few explicit sex scenes putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. The last one was completely gratuitous, actually, but the rest were fairly well-done as story support.
Indeed, I liked Diana quite a bit. She was anxious about taking her original career back up and conscious of being more mature than she had been when she left. In a good way. She's even-keeled and hard-working so she isn't as rusty or out-of-practice as she feared she might be. Seeing her be all competent in the face of Emily's suspicion and mistrust was awesome.
Emily was a bit more predictable as the joyless boss everybody respects but nobody actually likes. She has backstory for all that freeze-out persona and it fits in a romance-landy way. As soon as it cropped up, I knew we'd be seeing that as her character arc and I wasn't wrong.
Anyway, the romance and relationship was fun to engage with. I liked them gaining some respect. I liked Diana seeing more of Emily than she wanted to let people see, particularly during a crisis. And I liked their growth together.
I'm not as sanguine about the plot. Diana has a weird clause in her employment contract about not bringing bad PR on the hospital due to her past and I'm all "Hospitals have PR concerns?" I mean, I suppose you don't want a story about druggy party-people crashing down the halls, but employing a former rock drummer doesn't seem like much of a scandal. Unless she sucks as a doctor, of course. Assuming at least average competence, though, and a hospital might put something like a drumming doctor on a banner to hang on their front door for all the difference it is going to make of whether people want their various ailments treated there or not. I mean, when's the last time you read about your local hospital in the news? Don't you kind of expect weird crap to happen there? My only question if I learned a doctor there had once been a drummer in a rock band is "yeah, but an actual doctor, right? How does this matter, again?"
So Diana stressing that she's going to lose her job the whole story just felt tacked-on. I had a hard time taking it seriously, at any rate. And it doesn't help that Emily is all about the good reputation of the hospital. This put enough stress on the story that I'm going to call this four stars. I mean, it's an awesome relationship that I loved seeing develop. But a bunch of plot things just didn't connect for me.
A note about Steamy: There are a few explicit sex scenes putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. The last one was completely gratuitous, actually, but the rest were fairly well-done as story support.
February 17, 2019
Excellent!
Emily is no princess charming, Diana is determined to make a fresh start. The closer they get, the harder it becomes to work together. One is emotionally distant because of her past and the other hides a secret. Can they both heal from the past and find love? This is a great romance with a little angst and with complex characters. I'm a big fan of hospital romance and this one I can highly recommend.
Emily is no princess charming, Diana is determined to make a fresh start. The closer they get, the harder it becomes to work together. One is emotionally distant because of her past and the other hides a secret. Can they both heal from the past and find love? This is a great romance with a little angst and with complex characters. I'm a big fan of hospital romance and this one I can highly recommend.
October 19, 2024
An enjoyable read! Emily and Diana were both wonderful characters with great chemistry. I enjoyed the low angst and gradual way their relationship built into a believable and sweet romance.
December 29, 2022
I loved this book… until I got to the end.
And not because the end was bad but was incomplete, the main topics were covered and closed but there was ambiguity and many question marks for me.
Diana Petrell is back, after stepping away from her residency 9 years ago. She’s trying to complete it and become the physician she dreams to be but there’s a past that she’s not ashamed of but she has been limited to share. Emily Barnes is a dedicated physician, she lives and breathes it, her goals are to provide and be the best, her ways not the friendlier but accurate. Then these two worlds collide.
I enjoy the premise, having a rock star turned physician is refreshing. When your conventional and non-conventional doctor’s destinies meet, cool things happen. Their relationship was very well portrayed, Emily is the one who recognizes her attraction to Diana first and is this what makes Diana to be aware of what’s happening with her towards Emily.
After Diana’s secret is out, she gives an interview. I hated it. I think that she provided more information than needed, I think she disrespected Katie (her ex), her privacy and being her doctor (when she arrived to the hospital) is even more sensitive. I would have changed my mind if we were told what was said and how it was edited (considering that the interviewer was Emily’s best friend) but the author didn’t give us that side of the story.
Courtney was a character that barely has lines in the book, but her presence was felt but we don’t get any feedback on that either. Same happened with Jen and Mel the MCs best friends that happened to get together. And Liz, she’s the first to find out about them, is in the epilogue but nothing else. I don’t know why I felt there was enough space (a few lines) that could have done more. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for their book but just something.
But let’s not get that too far away, I don’t know what happened to our main characters? Did they keep hiding their relationship? How did the PR stunt go? Did Emily finally reject the promotion?
The book was good but I felt something was missing.
And not because the end was bad but was incomplete, the main topics were covered and closed but there was ambiguity and many question marks for me.
Diana Petrell is back, after stepping away from her residency 9 years ago. She’s trying to complete it and become the physician she dreams to be but there’s a past that she’s not ashamed of but she has been limited to share. Emily Barnes is a dedicated physician, she lives and breathes it, her goals are to provide and be the best, her ways not the friendlier but accurate. Then these two worlds collide.
I enjoy the premise, having a rock star turned physician is refreshing. When your conventional and non-conventional doctor’s destinies meet, cool things happen. Their relationship was very well portrayed, Emily is the one who recognizes her attraction to Diana first and is this what makes Diana to be aware of what’s happening with her towards Emily.
After Diana’s secret is out, she gives an interview. I hated it. I think that she provided more information than needed, I think she disrespected Katie (her ex), her privacy and being her doctor (when she arrived to the hospital) is even more sensitive. I would have changed my mind if we were told what was said and how it was edited (considering that the interviewer was Emily’s best friend) but the author didn’t give us that side of the story.
Courtney was a character that barely has lines in the book, but her presence was felt but we don’t get any feedback on that either. Same happened with Jen and Mel the MCs best friends that happened to get together. And Liz, she’s the first to find out about them, is in the epilogue but nothing else. I don’t know why I felt there was enough space (a few lines) that could have done more. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for their book but just something.
But let’s not get that too far away, I don’t know what happened to our main characters? Did they keep hiding their relationship? How did the PR stunt go? Did Emily finally reject the promotion?
The book was good but I felt something was missing.
September 27, 2019
Dr. Emily Barnes has a new resident, Dr. Diana Petrell, a semi-retired drummer who after almost a decade on the rock circuit decided to go back to medicine and give it one last try. Emily isn't sure about her at first but soon realizes that she is not only a good doctor but also a blast from her past, read the book for that fun twist.
I always think that I won't read more hospital romances, you can only read so many hospital romances but you know what, it is like wonderful comfort food and Irregular Heartbeat is a hospital romance with the best of them, a couple with chemistry, nice instances of twists and turns and you can't forget the awesome tattoos.
Diane is a really cool character and I low-key want her, I'm afraid to say but you I'm kind of weak for tattoos. The secondary characters were well written and helped expand the books settings outside of the Hospital and Emily is an ice queen type character which honestly isn't my favorite but we soon find out she's quite a softy.
I enjoyed the combination of the celebrity and medical narrative, it had more to offer than the usual workplace romance because as we all know, when it comes to writing in this genre it's not about re-inventing the wheel, it’s about the unique bumps and turns on the road.
There are quite a few funny moments, the drama was done right and the steamy scenes were explicit enough.
First time reading this author and thoroughly enjoyed it.
3.75/5.00
I always think that I won't read more hospital romances, you can only read so many hospital romances but you know what, it is like wonderful comfort food and Irregular Heartbeat is a hospital romance with the best of them, a couple with chemistry, nice instances of twists and turns and you can't forget the awesome tattoos.
Diane is a really cool character and I low-key want her, I'm afraid to say but you I'm kind of weak for tattoos. The secondary characters were well written and helped expand the books settings outside of the Hospital and Emily is an ice queen type character which honestly isn't my favorite but we soon find out she's quite a softy.
I enjoyed the combination of the celebrity and medical narrative, it had more to offer than the usual workplace romance because as we all know, when it comes to writing in this genre it's not about re-inventing the wheel, it’s about the unique bumps and turns on the road.
There are quite a few funny moments, the drama was done right and the steamy scenes were explicit enough.
First time reading this author and thoroughly enjoyed it.
3.75/5.00
September 23, 2020
This was a nice story... the slow-burn was nice... the narration was nice... overall it was... nice. I was hoping for something more than nice though - something more sizzling and angsty (even though I'm not really a huge angst fan,) perhaps?
A medical/hospital romance set in Seattle sees Dr Emily Barnes in charge of new resident Diana Petrell. Emily is of course a succesful and highly-strung perfectionist and doesn't initially appreciate having to mentor another resident halfway through the year... and why does her mysterious new resident have a nine-year gap on her resume?
Two things that didn't quite do it for me - Emily's character and the narration. I didn't find much to love about Emily, she was a bit bland for me and I kept asking myself why super-cool, former drummer, Diana, would be interested? That's a harsh statement coming from me, but I just couldn't connect with her! And then, the narration... don't get me wrong - Abby Craden is in my top 3 (which includes Lori Prince and Angela Dawe) but I found her reading of the story pretty low-key and (dare I say it) bland.
So, I'm giving this *almost* 3.5 stars. I think if I had read this rather than listened to it, it would have been a 4 for sure!
A medical/hospital romance set in Seattle sees Dr Emily Barnes in charge of new resident Diana Petrell. Emily is of course a succesful and highly-strung perfectionist and doesn't initially appreciate having to mentor another resident halfway through the year... and why does her mysterious new resident have a nine-year gap on her resume?
Two things that didn't quite do it for me - Emily's character and the narration. I didn't find much to love about Emily, she was a bit bland for me and I kept asking myself why super-cool, former drummer, Diana, would be interested? That's a harsh statement coming from me, but I just couldn't connect with her! And then, the narration... don't get me wrong - Abby Craden is in my top 3 (which includes Lori Prince and Angela Dawe) but I found her reading of the story pretty low-key and (dare I say it) bland.
So, I'm giving this *almost* 3.5 stars. I think if I had read this rather than listened to it, it would have been a 4 for sure!
October 10, 2018
This was a pretty fun read. Zett crammed a lot of stuff in here that added more to what is a typical workplace/ medical romance. So, Emily is a brillant attending doctor in a Seattle hospital who is reluctant to work with a new resident who mysteriously had a ten year absence from medicine. Diana is a medical veteran who came back from a ten year break from medicine. She has a pretty big secret as to why she stepped away, and if that secret is revealed, she could lose her job. When Diana and Emily finally meet, Emily is floored by the fact that Diana is someone from her past and the literal woman of her dreams. Sparks fly, feelings happen and the drama comes with it.
This is a warm romance that is a bit of a slow burn, as Emily and Diana needed to work through some of their issues before they could really commit to being with each other as a couple. The attraction is there, especially on Emily's part as her crush is from her past. I have to admit that Emily's ability to trip over herself every time she interacted with Diana is endearing. I loved that aspect of Emily and she is the more interesting of the main characters. Diana is a rock, and is great, but it really is Emily's story.
Overall, there's a lot of good things in this novel and has alittle something for all romance readers. There's some great characters and a decent plot. It's a great debut novel.
I received an ARC from Ylva in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a warm romance that is a bit of a slow burn, as Emily and Diana needed to work through some of their issues before they could really commit to being with each other as a couple. The attraction is there, especially on Emily's part as her crush is from her past. I have to admit that Emily's ability to trip over herself every time she interacted with Diana is endearing. I loved that aspect of Emily and she is the more interesting of the main characters. Diana is a rock, and is great, but it really is Emily's story.
Overall, there's a lot of good things in this novel and has alittle something for all romance readers. There's some great characters and a decent plot. It's a great debut novel.
I received an ARC from Ylva in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 4, 2019
3.75 ⭐️
A pretty good debut book. Likeable and enjoyable storyline but didn’t have me swooning over it though.
A pretty good debut book. Likeable and enjoyable storyline but didn’t have me swooning over it though.
October 24, 2019
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢👩🎤👩⚕🏥👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « Irregular Heartbeat » from Ylva Publishing…
So, here it is !!
Thank you so much for providing me this book. I really enjoyed discovering Chris Zett’s work …
My rating for this debut novel : 4.5 ⭐️
The story is mainly set in Seattle (WA, USA) and focuses on :
° Diana Petrell, aka « Dee Dragon » who leaves her rock-star life behind & comes back to medecine to continue her residency in emergency medicine after nearly a decade as a professional drummer. So now, please, call her Dr Diana Petrell ….
&
Emily Barnes who, until now has only ever focused on her career as a senior attending in the emergency department.
Of course, at first, Emily isn’t happy about having to babysit a resident with a ten-year gap in her résumé but, soon, the once-clear lines between work and personal life begin to blur because working close to the intriguing newcomer makes her heartbeat get a little irregular … The romance blossoms 💜💙💚💛🧡❤️ but when Diana’s unorthodox secret past is revealed, putting her job in jeopardy, Emily has to choose between her career and her relationship …
The Pros :
° the author’s good wording, humor and style.
° the storyline which really worked for me (Gosh !! Even bone-tired it was difficult for me to put the book down … but I had no choice ‘cause a laptop falling on a nose, trust me guys, it’s quite painful … )
° the sweet slow burn medical romance with a baby ice queen character & a good chemistery between the MCs.
° the good characters’s development (the originality of Diana’s background & Emily’s evolution)
° the good amount of medical terms and issues to make the book credible but without overwhelming the reader.
° the good secondary characters.
Additional remark : « Petrell » … OK there are 2 « l » in this one, but, still, as an ornithologist I think it’s funny (and cool !!!) to have a character with a bird name ..
The con :
° The too short epilogue which let me (and probably some other people too) with the feeling that’s something is missing. After all what happened in the novel, even more in the last quarter of the book, I think a longer epilogue would have been great to let us (readers) know : how the « drug story/scandal » ended after the publication of Jen’s articles, its consequences on Diana’s career ; the consequences of the coming out about Diana and Emily’s relationship ; how their boss (Dr Wallace) reacted to all of this and, I would have loved to know if the incompetent queen of gossips (aka Courtney) has been fired …
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review, it’d be something like this :
Did I enjoy this book? => Yes, a lot…
Did I find the characters believable? => Yes …
Is this book now included in my « must be re-read »-list? => Yes
Will I purchase the paperback? => Yes, ASAP
Would I read another book by this author? => Definitely yes …
Would I recommend this book => Yes … to everyone but espcecially to those who appreciate work place romances ; medical romances/doctor stories ; « opposites-attract » relationship stories.
Guys and gals, now it’s your turn to discover why, sometimes, having an irregular heartbeat is worth it … So … Grab your own copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy (or not) your reading …
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢👩🎤👩⚕🏥👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « Irregular Heartbeat » from Ylva Publishing…
So, here it is !!
Thank you so much for providing me this book. I really enjoyed discovering Chris Zett’s work …
My rating for this debut novel : 4.5 ⭐️
The story is mainly set in Seattle (WA, USA) and focuses on :
° Diana Petrell, aka « Dee Dragon » who leaves her rock-star life behind & comes back to medecine to continue her residency in emergency medicine after nearly a decade as a professional drummer. So now, please, call her Dr Diana Petrell ….
&
Emily Barnes who, until now has only ever focused on her career as a senior attending in the emergency department.
Of course, at first, Emily isn’t happy about having to babysit a resident with a ten-year gap in her résumé but, soon, the once-clear lines between work and personal life begin to blur because working close to the intriguing newcomer makes her heartbeat get a little irregular … The romance blossoms 💜💙💚💛🧡❤️ but when Diana’s unorthodox secret past is revealed, putting her job in jeopardy, Emily has to choose between her career and her relationship …
The Pros :
° the author’s good wording, humor and style.
° the storyline which really worked for me (Gosh !! Even bone-tired it was difficult for me to put the book down … but I had no choice ‘cause a laptop falling on a nose, trust me guys, it’s quite painful … )
° the sweet slow burn medical romance with a baby ice queen character & a good chemistery between the MCs.
° the good characters’s development (the originality of Diana’s background & Emily’s evolution)
° the good amount of medical terms and issues to make the book credible but without overwhelming the reader.
° the good secondary characters.
Additional remark : « Petrell » … OK there are 2 « l » in this one, but, still, as an ornithologist I think it’s funny (and cool !!!) to have a character with a bird name ..
The con :
° The too short epilogue which let me (and probably some other people too) with the feeling that’s something is missing. After all what happened in the novel, even more in the last quarter of the book, I think a longer epilogue would have been great to let us (readers) know : how the « drug story/scandal » ended after the publication of Jen’s articles, its consequences on Diana’s career ; the consequences of the coming out about Diana and Emily’s relationship ; how their boss (Dr Wallace) reacted to all of this and, I would have loved to know if the incompetent queen of gossips (aka Courtney) has been fired …
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review, it’d be something like this :
Did I enjoy this book? => Yes, a lot…
Did I find the characters believable? => Yes …
Is this book now included in my « must be re-read »-list? => Yes
Will I purchase the paperback? => Yes, ASAP
Would I read another book by this author? => Definitely yes …
Would I recommend this book => Yes … to everyone but espcecially to those who appreciate work place romances ; medical romances/doctor stories ; « opposites-attract » relationship stories.
Guys and gals, now it’s your turn to discover why, sometimes, having an irregular heartbeat is worth it … So … Grab your own copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy (or not) your reading …
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢👩🎤👩⚕🏥👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
December 29, 2019
Had a lot of elements that should make me like it, but my overall feeling is that it was very bland and generic and too long for the story it wanted to tell.
March 19, 2019
Probably would've enjoyed this even more if the whole band aspects wouldn't have been included and therefore more of the medical/hospital relationship development.
October 12, 2018
This is a debut novel for author Chris Zett and I pray there are many more to come our way.
Irregular Heartbeat is a romance set in an Emergency Department at Seattle General Hospital. The story encompasses dealing with our past and its affect on our todays while striving for personal growth to feel comfortable in our lives.
Dr. Diana Petrell is dropped into Dr. Emily Barnes residency program mid year with an unexplained nine year absence from her original partial residency in Los Angeles. Emily is a strict no nonsense Attending and head of the Residency program. She is a consummate professional and excellent teacher to her residents. Diana is a composed and steady resident with life experience on her side.
Ms Zett gently unravels her story in a balanced and compelling manner. The glimpses of the characters pasts are expertly woven into the story to colour in around the edges. The one main character’s personal growth is a very natural progression which is very believable and unforced. The slow burn love story also feels real at its core.
Irregular Heartbeat was a joy to read.
5⭐️
Irregular Heartbeat is a romance set in an Emergency Department at Seattle General Hospital. The story encompasses dealing with our past and its affect on our todays while striving for personal growth to feel comfortable in our lives.
Dr. Diana Petrell is dropped into Dr. Emily Barnes residency program mid year with an unexplained nine year absence from her original partial residency in Los Angeles. Emily is a strict no nonsense Attending and head of the Residency program. She is a consummate professional and excellent teacher to her residents. Diana is a composed and steady resident with life experience on her side.
Ms Zett gently unravels her story in a balanced and compelling manner. The glimpses of the characters pasts are expertly woven into the story to colour in around the edges. The one main character’s personal growth is a very natural progression which is very believable and unforced. The slow burn love story also feels real at its core.
Irregular Heartbeat was a joy to read.
5⭐️
October 11, 2018
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars: This story is a solid medical romance, and as a big fan of medical romances, I really enjoyed it. I will say that I wasn't so sure about the personality of one of the leading ladies, Dr. Emily Barnes, but she evolves as a person and character over the course of the story. I recommend giving this one a chance.
3.5 stars: This story is a solid medical romance, and as a big fan of medical romances, I really enjoyed it. I will say that I wasn't so sure about the personality of one of the leading ladies, Dr. Emily Barnes, but she evolves as a person and character over the course of the story. I recommend giving this one a chance.
November 5, 2018
This book confused me, not because there was anything too twisty or tricky about it but because I couldn't quite figure out how an author (and editing team) who produced a book with some outstanding sections, also allowed the text go to publication with some really sloppy elements uncorrected. Emily, one of the lead characters is introduced when she wakes up from a recurring dream and this not only makes her memorable but allow the reader an all too brief peep beneath the surface of her conscious mind and creates a great sense of mystery around her. This sections is technically very well written and definitely caught my eye. Other sections, however, are stilted and awkward, with dialogue shoved in to throw information at the reader without regard for the natural speaking tone of the character.
Zett also goes a bit too far with some of the characterisations for my liking, Diana can't just be a rock star turned doctor, she also has to volunteer at a LGBTQ youth centre, which is not really necessary to move the plot along and just seems to paint her as utterly saintly. Standing as a contrast to Diana and seemingly just to provide contrast and make Diana look even more amazing is Courtney, another resident who is lazy and declares that homeless people shouldn't be allowed in to the hospital for treatment if they smell. This just turns her into a cipher and renders her fairly pointless and she has no function in advancing the plot.
My final complaint (and bit of praise) is around the physical relationship between Emily and Diana. almost every progression they make as a couple is due to some accidental 'coming together'. They go for a hug but somehow manage to bump lips and wind up passionately kissing. They're dancing without touching and get pushed together in the crowd and just happen to end up grinding on each other. This just seems like lazy writing to me. On the other hand...it is one hell of a good first kiss!
Zett also goes a bit too far with some of the characterisations for my liking, Diana can't just be a rock star turned doctor, she also has to volunteer at a LGBTQ youth centre, which is not really necessary to move the plot along and just seems to paint her as utterly saintly. Standing as a contrast to Diana and seemingly just to provide contrast and make Diana look even more amazing is Courtney, another resident who is lazy and declares that homeless people shouldn't be allowed in to the hospital for treatment if they smell. This just turns her into a cipher and renders her fairly pointless and she has no function in advancing the plot.
My final complaint (and bit of praise) is around the physical relationship between Emily and Diana. almost every progression they make as a couple is due to some accidental 'coming together'. They go for a hug but somehow manage to bump lips and wind up passionately kissing. They're dancing without touching and get pushed together in the crowd and just happen to end up grinding on each other. This just seems like lazy writing to me. On the other hand...it is one hell of a good first kiss!
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