Wednesday, May 5, 2021

A Surgeon with a Secret - Alison Roberts (HMED #1154 - Feb 2021)


It's time…
 
…for the surgeon to take a chance!
 
Pediatric surgeon Lachlan doesn't do emotion. Until nurse Flick comes crashing into his orbit! She may be poised and professional, but it's Flick's warmth that tempts Lachlan to open up. Now, as his world begins to crumble, Lachlan knows she may be the only person he can trust with his secrets. Can Flick also show him they deserve a future -- together?

 
Good book. This is the companion book to A Pup to RescueTheir Hearts and takes place mainly at the same time. Lachlan is a pediatric plastic surgeon who is at the top of his field. The book opens as a documentary film crew plans to record one of his more challenging cases. Lachlan also must deal with a parental crisis as his mother fires yet another caregiver, leaving him scrambling for a replacement. Lady Josephine is a cold, bitter woman who resists all attempts to help her. Lachlan is at his wit's end until the temp agency suggests Felicity, aka Flick, as the perfect solution.
 
Flick's life consists of moving from one temp nursing job to another. She likes the travel and the variety and knowing that the constant movement keeps her from forming any unwelcome attachments. Flick is well known for her ability to deal with demanding clients. She gets the call about this position just hours after returning home from a job in Australia. She tells Lachlan she'll decide after meeting his mother later that evening.
 
I liked the first meeting between Lachlan and Flick. He is desperate for her to accept the position and tries using his tried-and-true flirtatious charm on her as soon as he meets her. Flick immediately calls him out on it, and Lachlan quickly changes his approach. The first meeting with his mother shows a feistiness in Flick that gets her past the first hurdle and to dinner, where she and Lachlan get to know each other a little. By the time dinner is over, each experiences unexpected attraction and buries it under a professional façade.
 
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Flick and Lachlan. They formed a nice friendship as they spent time together in the evenings while doing their best to ignore the sparks of attraction. Those sparks went a little out of control during a tour of the house before they both pulled back. Lachlan knows that Flick's presence changes his life, but he can't figure out what it is. I especially enjoyed watching as Flick began to see past Lachlan's façade to the man underneath. That perception became vital when Lachlan learned something that upended his life.
 
I liked seeing the revelation of Lachlan and Josh's twinness from Lachlan's point of view. I ached for him and his feelings of shock and betrayal. But that was nothing compared to the blow he received when he confronted his mother about it. Meanwhile, Flick was caught in the middle. I liked her conversation with Lady Josephine and the empathy she exhibited while at the same time worrying about Lachlan. A heart-wrenchingly emotional scene ensued when Lachlan returned to the house, and I loved how Flick reached out to him. With all of the emotions flying around, it was no surprise that the attraction between Lachlan and Flick found an outlet that night. It's Flick's presence in his life that helps Lachlan deal with the changes, and they continue to grow closer. Flick realizes that she's fallen hard for him but can't bring herself to leave.
 
Fate continues to throw Lachlan's life into turmoil. He grows closer to Flick, but without the experience to recognize it doesn't realize he loves her. He and Josh spend a lot of time together, both personally and professionally. Lachlan's life appears to be getting back on track until he collapses during a dinner out. A devastating medical diagnosis causes him to push everyone away in an attempt to protect himself and them from the grief of loss. I ached for Lachlan when he realized what he'd done and the regret he felt. I hurt for Flick also as she had flashbacks to her past, ramping up her own fears of loss. Then a surprise diagnosis on her part caused her to reconsider. I loved the scene in the hospital when Flick showed up just as Lachlan felt his lowest. It was sweet and emotional and what both of them needed. I also liked that Josh didn't give up on him and provided another ray of hope. The epilogue was terrific and a great wrap-up to the duology.
 
Lady Josephine was the character that surprised me the most. She started as a very unlikeable person, cold and demanding. But even in that first scene with her, there was a hint that there might be a better person lurking below the surface. She infuriated me with her reaction to Lachlan's questions about Josh but gained sympathy during her conversation with Flick. I liked the glimmers of change that appeared, especially after Lachlan became ill. Her part in the epilogue showed what a difference love makes.
 
As in the first book, I enjoyed the medical side of the story. The surgery on the young boy's face was fascinating, and I loved Lachlan's care and determination to make a difference in his life. I also liked the information about Lachlan's disease and treatment.


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