Annie O'Neil

Good book. Rebecca, a GP and pediatric surgeon came to Bali to relax and regroup after her fiancé's betrayal. She had changed almost everything about her life for him, and now she's at a crossroads. Does she stay a GP or go back to surgery, and where? Either way, love is off-limits. Then a new friend's surfing accident introduces her to local doctor Noah.

Noah is a well-known doctor from Sydney who put his life there on hold when his sister and brother-in-law were killed in a crash. He came to Bali to care for his orphaned nieces and decide what to do with his sister's medical clinic. He barely knows the girls and feels overwhelmed by the challenges he faces. Then he meets Rebecca, and his life is further upended.

I liked watching the relationship develop between Rebecca and Noah. They meet on the beach when they both step up to help the injured surfers. They feel an immediate connection between them, both professionally and in the sparks of attraction. I loved how easily they talked together, sharing their pasts and worries about their futures. With no need to rush home, Rebecca agrees to help at the clinic and quickly feels at home. She also steps in to help Noah with his nieces, and they rapidly find a place in her heart.

Noah and Rebecca have failed relationships in their pasts that make them wary of risking their hearts again. Noah describes himself as an ostrich, meaning he buries himself in his work to avoid dealing with messy emotions. Rebecca's ex did a number on her self-esteem, and she has trouble seeing herself as attractive to Noah. I enjoyed seeing how they grew closer the more time they spent together. When they finally give in to the sparks that fly between them, the depth of their connection scares them both. Each finds an excuse to pull away from the other to protect their hearts. Lucky for them, two little girls didn't let that last for long. I loved the scene at the restaurant where their card for Rebecca opened her eyes to what she was doing. I was happy to see that Noah also realized his mistake. Their big moment was sweetly emotional. I also liked the epilogue and catching up with them a year or so later.

I also enjoyed the secondary storylines about Rebecca's grandmother and Noah's father. Rebecca's grandmother was a feisty lady who didn't mince words. I liked how she encouraged Rebecca to spread her wings. Gran also had an active life, and I enjoyed hearing about her boyfriend. She was a terrific example for Rebecca. Noah was partly estranged from his father, who came across as cold and critical. He was more involved in his business than in his children's lives when they were younger. Noah dreads his father's upcoming visit. I did not expect the twist that came out of this visit. His part in the epilogue was excellent, and I enjoyed hearing about his actions.

I loved the beautiful setting of Bali and learning a little bit about life there. The medical aspects of the book were interesting, from the little boy's gastroenteritis to the devastating consequences of an auto vs. scooter accident. I liked the realism of the surgery scene and its effect on Rebecca and Noah.

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An emotional story that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I loved the first meeting between Carter and Avery. It was New Year's Eve, and she was riding a mechanical bull, trying to win the cash prize. One sight of the handsome stranger intently focused on her, and she lost her concentration and her seat. I loved Carter's offer to win it for her and his understanding of her reaction. In the end, Avery succeeded, and they shared an intense midnight kiss. Then Avery walked away, never expecting to see him again.

Fate, of course, had other plans. The next day Avery, a nurse practitioner at Nashville's busy ER, gets a shock during the welcoming of new hires. One of them is Dr. Carter Booth, the sexy stranger from the night before. The tension between them is off the charts as Avery gives Carter a tour and assists with his first couple of cases. It isn't long before they have to admit there is something between them

I loved seeing the relationship develop between Carter and Avery. It starts as a no-strings fling between friends. Carter is upfront about his inability/unwillingness to do any long-term commitments. His younger sister is in prison and also suffers from a chronic disease. She frequently gets in trouble and is moved to another prison, and Carter follows along to the closest hospital. She is the only family he has, and his protectiveness runs deep. Avery also avoids relationships. She still grieves the death of her sister two years earlier. She has locked up her emotions between her grief and being dumped in her last relationship. But as the weeks go on and they spend time together, something more than attraction builds between them. I loved seeing them open up and share things they'd never told anyone else. The support and understanding they have for each other are fantastic.

When an incident at the hospital breaks the walls Avery built around her emotions, Carter was there to pick up the pieces. I loved how he helped her rediscover her music and the big decision she made because of it. Then a medical crisis involving Carter's sister causes him to pull away from Avery. I wanted to shake him for his unkind words before walking out and ached for Avery and her heartbreak. I loved the lecture he got from his sister, who'd gone through some changes in her own outlook, and called him an idiot for walking away from Avery. It was an eye-opening experience for Carter, and I loved its effect on him. His big moment at the end was sweet and emotional.

As is usual with Harlequin's Medical line, a few medical issues played significant parts in the story. They were well done without overshadowing the romance. The detail was sufficient for the seriousness of the scene without feeling like I was reading a textbook. I always seem to learn something new from one of these books.

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Terrific book. Lia isn't just a talented neurosurgeon at the Island Clinic; she is also Princess Amelia of Karolinska, a small Scandinavian country. Growing up as a princess was a lonely endeavor. Sent to boarding school after her parents' divorce and hemmed in by the strictures and protocols of royal life, Lia's life was anything but a fairy-tale. Even her first choice of medical specialty (combat medicine) was denied her. Fortunately, her interest in neurosurgery proved acceptable, and as soon as possible, she moved as far from her homeland as she could. She loves her work at the Island Clinic, even if she has to dust off the tiara now and then to help with fundraising.

As the book opens, Lia and her tiara stand ready to make small talk with the wealthy donors who help support the Clinic and the island's hospital. She admits her loneliness to herself and decides to indulge in one night of passion. I loved her first meeting with Oliver, who is drop-dead handsome, sweet, and fun-loving. I loved how he brought out a light-hearted and flirty side of Lia that she didn't know she had. Their banter during the evening was fun, and I loved how Oliver snagged the first dance with her. The sparks between them flew, making their night together almost inevitable. They both agreed that it was a one-time thing, as neither wants a relationship.

Fate has something else in mind, and when Lia becomes pregnant, she knows her life is about to change. Palace protocol demands that they marry, but Lia doesn't want a forced marriage. Oliver stuns her when he agrees to the marriage. Oliver hasn't been able to forget his night with Lia, and when he finds out about the pregnancy, he is thrilled. Like Lia, his childhood consisted of boarding school and distant parents. Unlike her, Oliver loved boarding school because the other students felt more like his family than his own did. A betrayal in his past took the choice of fatherhood from him, and he's ready for this second chance.

I loved the development of the relationship between Lia and Oliver. Both want what is best for their baby - a normal childhood rather than one bound by rules and loneliness. They take the time to learn about each other, knowing that will make their future together easier. The more time that they spend together, the more that their friendship begins to grow and change. But both Lia and Oliver have baggage that holds them back from opening up fully and embracing their future. But when Oliver's past runs up against Lia's fears, it drives a wedge between them. Fortunately, thanks to their friend Grace, whose gentle guidance helps get them truly talking to each other, it doesn't last long. Once they finally open up about everything, they can face the future as a team.

I loved how their support for each other enabled them to stand up for the lives they want to lead. Oliver's parents provided an unexpected twist, both in their attitudes and reactions to Oliver and Lia's plans. While Lia's reunion with her father wasn't quite so effusive, I enjoyed it. I liked his support for their wedding plans and laughed out loud at his comment about Lia's grandmother. The epilogue was fantastic. Not only did I love the wedding, Oliver's little patient Elodie was adorable, and I loved the twist about her future.

Each book of this series appears to feature a different aspect of the island of St. Victoria. This one included a heart-pounding crisis in the mangroves and a romantic night walk on the beach. I also loved the description of Oliver's unique home.… (plus d'informations)

I really enjoyed this book. Leon and Lizzy first met when they were interns in New York. There they were friendly competitors and later became lovers. Both focused mainly on their careers with no interest in a long-term relationship. They agreed that when their internships ended, Leon would return to Italy and Lizzy to Australia. Lizzy didn't count on falling in love with Leon. With no indication he felt the same, she took her broken heart home and channeled her pain into her work.

Years later, Leon and Lizzy met again at a conference in New York. To their surprise, the sparks between them burned just as hot as they used to. One night of passion, for old times' sake and closure, should have been the end of it. Then the little smiley face showed up on the pregnancy test. Ironically, Lizzy got a phone call from Leon shortly after that, asking her to come to Rome for three months. He wants her expertise in treating conjoined twins. There's no way she can say no to the opportunity, but the baby complicates matters.

I admired Lizzy. She remembers that Leon didn't want children or marriage, and she only wants him to be available when the child wants to know about its father. She doesn't expect anything else. I loved that she didn't beat around the bush or put off telling him, informing him almost as soon as she got off the plane. To say that Leon was stunned would be putting it mildly. He surprises himself and Lizzy by not only insisting on being part of the baby's life but proposing marriage. Lizzy refuses, of course, as she won't marry him without love. Leon insists on her staying at his home rather than a hotel, hoping to convince her over time.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Lizzy and Leon. Both of them have pasts that make them cautious. Leon's father left him and his mother when Leon was very young. His mother became bitter and taught Leon that love was trouble. Lizzy's mother loved her father obsessively, to the point he could do no wrong. She gave up everything to be what he wanted. Her father was very controlling, and nothing Lizzy did was ever good enough for him, so she is wary of men who "take charge." There are some instances where Leon and Lizzy butt heads, usually when she thinks he's overstepping, and she calls him out on it. I liked watching them spend time together, getting to know who they are now. I liked the scenes of Leon showing Lizzy around Rome and seeing both workaholics discover the benefits of having fun.

While Lizzy knew from the beginning that her feelings for Leon hadn't gone away, Leon took longer to admit to his. I enjoyed seeing his transformation from a committed bachelor to a man yearning for the family he didn't know he wanted. It wasn't an easy transition, and Leon fought hard at first. But once he hit that "aha" moment, he was all in. He just needed to convince Lizzy. It went pretty well until Lizzy misunderstood an overheard phone call and ran instead of confronting Leon about it. I loved his way of finding her and seeing Leon reveal his vulnerability. The ending was great, with one unexpected complication. I hope to see more of them in Giovanni and Autumn's story.

One of the other things I enjoyed about this book was the story of the twins and their parents. The details of the treatment and surgery fascinated me and kept my interest through those parts of the book. The intensity of Lizzy's surgery on baby Hope had me glued to the pages until it was done. I can't wait to read the rest of their story in the next book.

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