Maybe It's You

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RANDOM RETRO RE-READ DAY!

CALVERT, CANDACE
MAYBE IT'S YOU

Nurse Sloane Ferrell escaped her risky past -- new name, zip code, job, and a fresh start. She's finally safe. If she avoids a paper trail and doesn't let people get too close. Like the hospital's too-smooth marketing man with his relentless campaign to plaster one 'lucky' employee's face on freeway billboards.

Micah Prescott's goal is to improve the Hope hospital image, but his role as a volunteer crisis responder is closer to his heart. The selfless work helps fill a void in his life left by family tragedy. So does a tentative new relationship with the compassionate, beautiful, and elusive Sloane Ferrell.

Then a string of brutal crimes makes headlines, summons responders...and exposes disturbing details of Sloane's past.

Can hope spring from crisis?

My Review:

Published in 2017

So, I was trying to restore order to my contemporary shelves and got as far as the Cs because...this book! I was so sad when Candace Calvert announced her retirement. She had-this-one-of-a-kind  medical drama with oodles of romance and a heap-full of faith thing going on and there's no one else like her! She wrote about tough life issues with grit and grace and her career as an ER nurse brought such depth and detail to her stories. Anyway, once I held this book in my hands I just knew I had to revisit Sloane's story. She gave me such grief in the series and it's fitting that this is the last book Calvert published. :-(

A medical drama that challenges and convicts.

Maybe It's You is the third book in the Crisis Team series. It reads like a standalone -- though if you have been keeping current you'll be all too familiar with Sloane. A prickly character with a gnarly reputation and a questionable past.

After finishing Step by Step (Book 2 in the series) did I really want to read an entire book dedicated to Sloane? Probably not if anyone but Candace Calvert was writing the story. But, thankfully, she is the author and she wooed me onto Team Sloane in pretty short order.

Yes this heroine is hot-headed and defensive and annoyingly aloof. But she's also an incredible nurse -- fiercely protective of her patients. Kind and compassionate, treating them all with equal respect. What a curious contrast between her personal life and professional one! And so much fodder for enthralling storytelling as Calvert slowly peels back the complicated layers that protect Sloane's fragile, broken heart.

By comparison, Micah seems to have it all together. Raised with the foundation of a strong Christian faith, he's working at a prestigious hospital marketing job while balancing volunteer hours as a crisis responder. But a past tragedy has chiseled some serious cracks in that solid foundation.

There are some interesting dynamics between this hero and heroine. Awkward. Fumbling. Hope thwarted by wariness. A tumultuous romance. The only way a relationship will ever work is if they are both brutally honest...but there's an equally good chance that will tear them apart instead. Talk about tension and emotional overload! I was in romance reading heaven!

Forgiveness and the true meaning of saving grace are at the heart of Sloane and Micah's journey. They have a lot to learn (as did this reader!) before faith can make them whole.

Delectable. Absorbing. Unforgettable. And a deliciously 'meaty' read -- 418 pages!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Maybe It's You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 15 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Maybe it's You

GIVEAWAY

CALVERT, CANDACE
MAYBE IT'S YOU

Nurse Sloane Ferrell escaped her risky past -- new name, zip code, job, and a fresh start. She's finally safe. If she avoids a paper trail and doesn't let people get too close. Like the hospital's too-smooth marketing man with his relentless campaign to plaster one 'lucky' employee's face on freeway billboards.

Micah Prescott's goal is to improve the Hope hospital image, but his role as a volunteer crisis responder is closer to his heart. The selfless work helps fill a void in his life left by family tragedy. So does a tentative new relationship with the compassionate, beautiful, and elusive Sloane Ferrell.

Then a string of brutal crimes makes headlines, summons responders...and exposes disturbing details of Sloane's past.

Can hope spring from crisis?

My Review:

A medical drama that challenges and convicts.

Maybe It's You is the third book in the Crisis Team series. It reads like a standalone -- though if you have been keeping current you'll be all too familiar with Sloane. A prickly character with a gnarly reputation and a questionable past.

After finishing Step by Step (Book 2 in the series) did I really want to read an entire book dedicated to Sloane? Probably not if anyone but Candace Calvert was writing the story. But, thankfully, she is the author and she wooed me onto Team Sloane in pretty short order.

Yes this heroine is hot-headed and defensive and annoyingly aloof. But she's also an incredible nurse -- fiercely protective of her patients. Kind and compassionate, treating them all with equal respect. What a curious contrast between her personal life and professional one! And so much fodder for enthralling storytelling as Calvert slowly peels back the complicated layers that protect Sloane's fragile, broken heart.

By comparison, Micah seems to have it all together. Raised with the foundation of a strong Christian faith, he's working at a prestigious hospital marketing job while balancing volunteer hours as a crisis responder. But a past tragedy has chiseled some serious cracks in that solid foundation.

There are some interesting dynamics between this hero and heroine. Awkward. Fumbling. Hope thwarted by wariness. A tumultuous romance. The only way a relationship will ever work is if they are both brutally honest...but there's an equally good chance that will tear them apart instead. Talk about tension and emotional overload! I was in romance reading heaven!

Forgiveness and the true meaning of saving grace are at the heart of Sloane and Micah's journey. They have a lot to learn (as did this reader!) before faith can make them whole.

Delectable. Absorbing. Unforgettable. And a deliciously 'meaty' read -- 418 pages!

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Maybe it's You please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 19 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Step by Step

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CALVERT, CANDACE
STEP BY STEP

Three years after a tragic accident left her a widow, ER nurse Taylor Cabot is determined to move on, checking off one item on her Survival List after another. Her relationship with a handsome plastic surgeon even gives her hope for the last point -- 'fall in love again.' At least until crisis chaplain Seth Donovan, reawakening unanswered questions about her husband's death.

While in San Diego to train community volunteers, Seth hopes to learn why Taylor is backing away from the crisis team and from their friendship. But nothing prepares him for the feelings that arise when he sees Taylor again...and sees her moving on with another man.

When a community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high and buried truths are unearthed. Will hope make the Survival List?

My Review:

Oh, I do so love the way Candace Calvert delves into the rawness of real life. She doesn't hold back any punches but she also laces her stories with faith-fueled hope. Step By Step is just such a book.

Life is complicated -- especially when you are struggling to move on after a profound loss. Both Taylor and Seth are doing just that with varying degrees of success. Complicated lives lead to complicated relationships and that would be an understatement where these two are concerned. Rich dialogue carries emotion through every scene. Taylor with her pre-planning and constant list checking. Seth with his heart to follow where God leads no matter how uncomfortable that might be. The angst of their love story plays out against the chaotic backdrop of a bustling hospital.

I found the Crisis Response details particularly fascinating. Not sure if we have similar programs in Canada but I can see the huge benefit the volunteer team members would bring to a myriad of tough situations. Brings an extra edge to an already gripping story.

Soul-stirring and faith-bending from start to finish. A breathtaking read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Step by Step please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 7 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Chance of Loving You

GIVEAWAY

BLACKSTOCK, TERRI
CALVERT, CANDACE
WARREN, SUSAN MAY
CHANCE OF LOVING YOU

Beloved authors Terri Blackstock, Candace Calvert, and Susan May Warren bring you three delightful stories about the risks we take for love.

For Love of Money by Terri Blackstock -- Trying to launch her own design firm while waitressing on the side, Julie Sheffield was drawn to the kind man she waited on at the restaurant last night...until he stiffed her on the tip by leaving her half of a sweepstakes ticket.

The Recipe by Candace Calvert -- Hospital dietary assistant Aimee Curran is determined to win the Vegan Valentine Bake-Off to prove she's finally found her calling. But while caring for one of her patients -- the elderly grandmother of a handsome CSI photographer -- Aimee begins to questions where she belongs.

Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren -- Grad student Abigail Cushman has agreed to enter Deep Haven's annual fishing contest. She's a quick learner, even if she doesn't know the difference between a bass and a trout. But nothing could prepare her for competing against the handsome charmer she's tried to forget since grief tore them apart.

My Review:

My heart got all skittery over this talented trio of authors. Together. In one book. Insert bibliophile swoon. How could I resist? Well, obviously I couldn't. I started reading the second the mailman popped it in my mail box. Three snappy, swoony and scrumptious romances sent me into a whirl of reader bliss.

For Love of Money by Terri Blackstock -- Oh my goodness, what a great premise for a love story. But argh...the angst. I could totally relate to Julie and her reactions. My tummy flip-flopped and I came near to hyperventilating a time or two. A whimsical love story that will leave you grinning.

The Recipe by Candace Calvert -- Funny and sweet and touching. It fits in with the Crisis Team series but you don't need to have read the books in order to enjoy this novella. Aimee's still trying to find her passion in a family of decisive over achievers. A great faith thread about following God's leading...and surprise, when Aimee does she finds her heart's desire!

 Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren -- A gnarly second chance love story. And mercy, but I wanted to grab this hero and heroine by the scruffs of their necks and shake some sense into them. And then lock them in a closet until they kissed and made up. :-) The author had other plans though and I rabidly devoured this twisty-turny romance until I reached the end and could let out a great sigh of relief.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Chance of Loving You please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 31 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

By Your Side

GIVEAWAY

CALVERT, CANDACE
BY YOUR SIDE

ER nurse Macy Wynn learned essential, gritty lessons in the California foster care system: land on your feet and trust no one. She's finally located the fellow foster child she loves like a sister, but the girl's in deep trouble. Macy's determined to help, no matter what it takes. Her motto is to "make it happen" in any situation life throws at her -- even when she butts heads with an idealistic cop.

Deputy Fletcher Holt believes in a higher plan, the fair outcome -- and his ability to handle that by himself if necessary. Now he's been yanked from Houston, his mother is battling cancer, and he's attracted to a strong-willed nurse who could be the target of a brutal sniper.

When everything goes wrong, where do they put their trust?

My Review:

I can't tell you how much I loved this book!!!! But I'm sure going to try. Kind of like an ER episode (remember that show?) where the drama in the ER spills over into the every day lives of the characters. The medical scenes are compelling, but not overwhelming, and they add an extra thrill to an already edge-of-your-seat read. There's action and suspense, heart-tugging sorrow and the thrill of romance.

Hard-hitting and full of gritty realism, Calvert doesn't shy away from tough topics like mental illness and addiction. But she also doesn't shy away from the hope and peace that can come through trusting God even in the hard times. That's something Macy and Fletcher struggle with to varying degrees. Fletcher, solid in his faith but still questioning his circumstances. I could so relate to that! And Macy, well, she's been burned too many times and she doesn't place her trust easily -- in man or God.

The story is told from multiple points of view, though this is clearly Macy and Fletcher's story. Still, there's a wealth of complicated relationships and situations -- both good and bad. And Calvert has such an incredibly unique way with words. So expressive, and totally in character with a medical drama. Like this:

"Sometimes it happened that way. Just when things were going great, when Taylor dared to trust that she was through with the worst of it, the grief would come back and pick at the edges of that wound -- whisper that she'd lost too much to ever really heal. There were no sutures for this." (p.93)

And I mustn't forget the toe-curling, heart-palpitating, weak-in-the-knees kisses...which more often than not morph into side-splitting laughter. Love that touch of humour no matter how frustrating it could be at times. I will never look at marmots in the same way again. :-)

A truly stunning and unforgettable read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  By Your Side please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 5 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Life Support

GIVEAWAY

CALVERT, CANDACE
LIFE SUPPORT

Nurse Lauren Barclay put her life on hold to keep a watchful eye on her troubled sister. It’s why she’s back in Houston. But that means confronting the brooding physician assistant who caused painful turmoil in her family--and left Lauren with memories her heart can’t forget.

PA and single parent Elijah Landry is no stranger to stormy relationships, including one with his father, who is threatening him with a restraining order. It won’t stop Eli from protecting his disabled brother--or from making peace with Lauren. He wants that and so much more.

But as Lauren and Eli draw closer, a powerful hurricane roars toward Houston. Survival instincts take priority and everything changes. Can hope weather the storm?

My Review:

Calvert has to be one of my favourite authors for a tough and uncompromising read. This is realism at its best...and its worst. Complicated relationships, human foibles, emotional angst and a loving Father in Heaven who oversees it all.

There's so much to recommend this book. An aging Newfoundland dog for starters. And a precocious eight-year-old who will charm your socks off. Then there's her beleaguered dad. Solid, dependable, compassionate. Perfect hero material. Just sayin'. :-) And let's not forget the hospital backdrop -- always ups the drama in a heart-racing way. And families that are far from perfect. And plenty of situations so desperate only God can see you through. Oh...and we can't forget the neurotic pampered pooch, Hannah Leigh who is in therapy no less!

Life Support is the kind of read that plays with your emotions. You'll laugh over one page, weep over the next as you witness despair slowly turn into hope. An awesome read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Life Support please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 13  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Rescue Team

GIVEAWAY

CALVERT, CANDACE
RESCUE TEAM

Tired of running from her past, nurse Kate Callison intends to become Austin Grace Hospital’s permanent ER director and make Texas her home. Despite staff friction, she’s moving ahead. Then unthinkable tragedy wraps the ER in crime tape, brings swarms of media, legal chaos . . . and a search-and-rescue hero who seems determined to meddle in her life.

For Wes Tanner, nothing beats finding someone who’s lost; he’s known that helpless terror firsthand. That’s why he’s determined to extend a lifeline of hope to others as a search-and-rescue volunteer. He’s ready for anything—except Austin Grace’s prickly and dismissive ER director.

As Kate and Wes discover more about each other, new respect becomes something deeper. Kate wonders if her heart might finally have found a home. But when a startling missing person’s case unearths secrets and opens old wounds, she fears that all they’ve found will just as quickly be lost.

My Review:

Calvert has cornered the market on hospital dramas. Drawing on her own ER experience she brings a great perspective to this genre. It's a fascinating world and she gives us a glimpse into all its aspects from technical to emotional.

Complex characters like Kate and Wes bring depth and dimension to the hospital setting. Wes has Kate pegged on their first meeting. Prickly. But there are layers of hurt beneath that surface and his compassionate insightfulness won't let him give up on her. Loved the dynamics between these two!

This is a story about the futility of guilt and the redeeming grace of forgiveness. The plot builds to an emotional pinnacle that will take your breath away. A story that will linger with you long after you've closed the book.

Giveway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Rescue Team, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 26 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck! 

Trauma Plan

GIVEAWAY

CALVERT, CANDACE
TRAUMA PLAN

Sidelined by injuries from a vicious assault, nurse chaplain Riley Hale is determined to return to ER duties. But how can she show she’s competent when the hospital won’t let her attempt even simple tasks? Determined to prove herself, Riley volunteers at a controversial urban free clinic despite her fears about the maverick doctor in charge.

Dr. Jack Travis defends his clinic like he’s commander of the Alamo. He’ll fight the community’s efforts to shut its doors, even if he must use Riley Hale’s influential family name to make it happen.

As Riley strives to regain her skills, Jack finds that she shares his compassion—and stirs his lonely heart. Riley senses that beneath Jack’s rough exterior is a man she can believe in. But when clinic protests escalate and questions surface about his past, Jack goes into battle mode, and Riley wonders if it’s dangerous to trust him with her heart.

My Review:

Calvert is truly a remarkable writer. Her characters are multidimensional and so easy to relate to and root for. I love a good character-driven story, and this definitely is one. But Calvert doesn't skimp on plot either. There's a thread of suspense -- actually, a couple of them -- that she weaves together towards a cunning climax. And then there is the controlled chaos of the ER and other emergency situations that are peppered throughout the book. Fast enough to set my heart-pounding, detailed enough to bring images to mind, but not so technical that the average reader would get lost in the medical-jargon. She really has found the perfect balance in this medical romance.

Speaking of which -- Dr. Travis is the perfect enigma of a hero. His bedside manner is divine, his passion explosive and his past just a tad checkered. Larger than life and ready to do battle for what he believes in, he almost intimidates Riley, until she acknowledges her attraction to the maverick doctor. That's when she starts running for her life only Calvert doesn't let her get too far. There are some wonderful secondary characters, including a special needs dog, that fill out the cast and keep Jack and Riley in close proximity of each other.

With a multitude of surprises along the way, including a few dramatic twists I didn't see coming, Trauma Plan is a page-turning compulsion of a read. Bet you'll finish it in one sitting.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Trauma Plan, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Make sure to put the book title in the subject line of your email so that I can easily spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 3 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Code Triage

CALVERT, CANDACE
CODE TRIAGE

Dr. Leigh Stathos likes her ER shifts fast, furious and adrenaline-infused -- "Treat 'em and street 'em" -- with no emotional complications. Life's taught her a soul-rending lesson: nothing lasts forever, including marriage. And the clock is ticking toward the end of hers. Then an unwelcome confrontation with 'the other woman' beings a whole new set of lessons.

San Francisco police officer Nick Stathos never gives up, whether protecting his patrol neighbourhood, holding fast to faith, or trying to save his marriage. Seven days is all he has to reach Leigh's heart. But when a desperate act of violence slams Golden Mercy Hospital into lockdown, it starts a chain of events that will change lives forever.

THIS WAS A HARD READ FOR ME...A MAGNIFICENT ONE, BUT HARD JUST THE SAME. LEIGH'S EMOTIONS WERE SO RAW...NICK'S TOO FOR THAT MATTER AND THEY SEEMED TO BE SO FAR APART IN ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. IT HURT TO READ CODE TRIAGE. MY STOMACH WAS IN KNOTS -- I EVEN FOUND MYSELF GRINDING MY TEETH AT NIGHT AND YES, I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING WORRYING ABOUT THEM. LUCKILY I DIDN'T SUFFER FOR TOO MANY NIGHTS SINCE IT WAS HARD TO PUT THE BOOK DOWN. SOMETIMES I PICKED IT UP WITH A FEELING OF DREAD BUT I COULDN'T STOP READING DESPITE THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER RIDE.

CALVERT HAS AN INCREDIBLE GIFT OF WRITING DEEP POINT OF VIEW. I FELT EVERYTHING EACH CHARACTER FELT -- AND SHE DOESN'T LIMIT THAT TALENT TO JUST THE HERO AND HEROINE. EVEN THE 'VILLAINS', THE PEOPLE I WANTED TO HATE WERE MULTIDIMENSIONAL, WITH A HISTORY THAT MADE ME RELUCTANTLY SYMPATHETIC.

THIS IS A BRILLIANTLY CRAFTED BOOK AND I AM BEREFT NOW THAT IT'S OVER. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW THAT I'M ALL CAUGHT UP WITH THE SERIES? ANXIOUSLY WAIT FOR HER NEXT RELEASE. I HOPE IT'S ABOUT RILEY.

Disaster Status

CALVERT, CANDACE
DISASTER STATUS

ER charge nurse Erin Quinn escaped personal turmoil to work on the peaceful California coast. But when a hazardous material spill places Pacific Mercy Hospital on disaster status and stresses staff, she’s put to the test. And thrown into conflict with the fire department’s handsome incident commander, who thinks her strategy is out of line.

Fire captain Scott McKenna has felt the toxic effects of tragedy, he’s learned to go strictly by the book to advance his career, heal his family, and protect his wounded heart. When he’s forced to team with the passionately determined ER nurse, sparks fly. As they work to save lives, can they handle the attraction kindled between them…without getting burned?

SO I DO A LARGE PART OF MY READING WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK. IT MAKES THE BUS RIDE SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE…AND SOMETIMES EMBARRASSING BECAUSE I GET SO ENGROSSED IN MY BOOK THAT I FORGET TO GET OFF…OR ON…THE BUS. THAT WAS THE CASE TODAY WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO GET TO WORK AND READ DISASTER STATUS AT THE SAME TIME.

I WAS NEAR THE END…AT THIS SURPRISINGLY SUSPENSEFUL, NAIL-BITING, GUT-WRENCHING PART AND I WAS SO WRAPPED UP IN THE READ THAT I STOOD AT THE WRONG BUS STOP FOR NEARLY HALF AN HOUR! THERE’S A DETOUR ON ONE OF THE BUS ROUTES BECAUSE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND I WAS HAPPILY READING AWAY AT THE BUS STOP NO LONGER IN USE. SOME KIND PERSON FINALLY CLUED ME IN. SO I ARRIVED LATE TO WORK, BUT I FINISHED THE BOOK!!!!!

I DON’T THINK I CAN QUITE DEFINE WHAT IT IS ABOUT CALVERT’S APPROACH TO STORYTELLING THAT CAPTURES ME TO SUCH LENGTHS. HER WORDS JUST PULL ME IN AND WON’T LET GO AND I’M WRAPPED UP IN A WHOLE NEW WORLD AND PEOPLE I JUST MET BUT IT SEEMS LIKE I’VE KNOWN THEM FOREVER AND I CAN FEEL IT AND TASTE IT AND SMELL IT AND SEE IT ALL HAPPENING RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES. IT’S LIKE I STOP READING IT AND START LIVING IT.

CALVERT EXCELS AT CHARACTERIZATION…SHE GOES DEEP AND HAS TAKEN CARE TO CRAFT PEOPLE WHO THOUGH FLAWED ARE EASY TO IDENTIFY WITH. BUT SHE DOESN’T STOP THERE. SHE TWISTS THINGS AROUND IN THEIR GRITTY LIVES AND MAKES THEM FACE THEIR GREATEST FEARS IN THE EYES OF THE VERY PERSON WHO HAS COME TO MEAN SO MUCH TO THEM.

ERIN AND SCOTT COULD BE A PERFECT COUPLE IF THEY DIDN’T TRIGGER DEFENSIVE REACTIONS IN EACH OTHER OVER UNRESOLVED ISSUES FROM THEIR PASTS. THEY CLASH…BUT THEY ALSO CONNECT AND CALVERT EXPERTLY WEAVES TO THE TWO EXTREMES TO AN EMOTIONAL CLIMAX. HER ROMANCE IS TOE-CURLING!

I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE THIRD IN THE SERIES LAST SATURDAY WHEN I BOUGHT THIS ONE BUT I TRIED TO EXERCISE SOME SELF-RESTRAINT. PFFFFT. NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BOOKSTORE THIS SATRUDAY BEFORE WORK BECAUSE MY SELF-RESTRAINT IS ALL USED UP. I JUST HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO DR. LEIGH IN CODE TRIAGE. THIS SERIES IS A DEFINITE MUST READ.

Critical Care

CALVERT, CANDACE

CRITICAL CARE

After her brother dies in a trauma room, nurse Claire Avery can no longer face the ER. She's determined to make a fresh start -- new hospital, new career in nursing education -- move forward, no turning back. But her plans fall apart when she's called to offer stress counseling for medical staff after a heartbreaking daycare centre explosion. Worse, she's forced back to the ER, where she clashes with Logan Caldwell, a doctor who believes touchy-feely counseling is a waste of time. He demands his staff to be as tough as he is is. Yet he finds himself drawn to this nurse educator...who just might teach him the true meaning of healing.

I'M KICKING MYSELF FOR WAITING SO LONG TO READ THIS. I'M NOT A GREAT FAN OF MEDICAL DRAMAS ON TELEVISION AND I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE MEDICAL JARGON WOULD BE TOO DETAILED AND PULL AWAY FROM THE STORY.

I WAS SO WRONG!

CRITICAL CARE IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ! I LOVE CALVERT'S STYLE -- HER WRITING IS SMOOTH, DESCRIPTIVE AND COMPELLING. HER WORDS ENTICED ME TO READ MORE...AND MORE...AND MORE. I HAD A HARD TIME PUTTING THIS BOOK DOWN.

THE PLOT WAS SOLID -- AND YES THERE WERE ER SCENES, BUT THEY WEREN'T WEIGHTED DOWN WITH TERMINOLOGY. IT WAS THERE, BRINGING A SENSE OF REALISM TO THE SCENE, BUT CALVERT ALSO LET US INSIDE HER CHARACTERS' MINDS SO WE COULD FEEL THEIR EMOTIONS AS WELL. IRONICALLY, THE ER SCENES BECAME SOME OF MY FAVOURITES.

I LOVE THE WAY THE ROMANCE BETWEEN LOGAN AND CLAIRE IS DEVELOPED AS WELL. CALVERT DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF PORTRAYING THAT AWKWARD RELUCTANCE TO AN ATTRACTION YOU'RE NOT SURE YOU'RE READY FOR. BUT SHE DIDN'T BELABOR IT AND THE ROMANCE BUILDS INTO SOME INCREDIBLY ROMANTIC SCENES.

THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT ME WAITING SO LONG TO PICK UP ONE OF CANDACE CALVERT'S NOVELS IS THAT I CAN NOW RUSH OUT AND READ BOTH THE SECOND AND THE THIRD IN THE MERCY HOSPITAL SERIES.