Caribbean Paradise, Miracle Family - Julie Danvers (HMED #1184 - July 2021)

Series: Island Clinic (Book 2) 

His shocking revelation…
 
…for the single mom!
 
For nurse Willow Thompson, taking on parenthood alone certainly wasn't easy, but her daughter, Maisie, is her world…and life on St. Victoria is near perfect. Only, everything changes when jaw-droppingly handsome Dr. Theo Moore strolls along the beach and into their lives -- to tell Willow that he's her daughter's biological father! And now that he's able, he's determined to be there…for them both.
 
Good book. Willow is the single mother of a little girl. She always wanted to be a mother, but after eight years together, her fiancé finally admitted that he never wanted children. He didn't tell her because he didn't want her to break up with him. After that betrayal, she gave birth to Maisie by using a sperm donor. Partway through the pregnancy, she learned of a mix-up and that she received someone else's sperm. Not wanting to be selfish, she agreed to be contacted by the donor if he wished to do so. When he didn't, she figured he didn't care and put the whole thing behind her. Not long after, she left London for a better job and life at the Island Clinic on St. Victoria. That life changed dramatically when Dr. Theo Moore showed up on her beach to tell her he is Maisie's father.
 
Theo is a research and cancer doctor in London who has just finished a three-year battle with cancer. During that battle, he refused to contact Willow because he didn't want to risk getting to know Maisie and then have her lose him. Now that Theo is in remission, he wants to get to know her and Willow. He'll do whatever he must to be there for them.
 
I liked both Willow and Theo, but they each had issues that caused some frustration with them too. Willow has trust issues after the way her fiancé kept his views on children a secret. Because of it, she intends to keep men out of her life. Theo kept his cancer a secret from most of his family, protecting them from worrying about him, the same reasoning he used to keep his distance from Maisie. Willow wasn't pleased to have Theo show up at this late date, but she won't keep him away either. However, she has some conditions he must agree to, showing his commitment to Maisie. He must have a place to live that isn't a hotel, and he must have a job.
 
I liked watching the relationship develop between Willow and Theo. Theo stunned her when he got hired to work at the Island Clinic, putting him in frequent contact with her. Neither one expected the attraction that flared between them, nor were they pleased about it. Both worked hard to suppress it and vowed to be friends instead. I liked seeing Theo get to know Maisie. Theo's and Willow's parenting techniques differed, with Willow being somewhat overprotective and Theo more adventurous. As Theo and Willow spent more time together, the feelings between them began to grow. But just when the future looks bright for them, Theo makes the boneheaded mistake of keeping a big secret from Willow. Understandably angry and feeling betrayed, Willow pushed Theo away.
 
I ached for both Theo and Willow. Each of them allowed their pasts to come between them, and both of them had to face their shortcomings before they could fix their relationship. Each of them could see what the other's problem was while being blind to their own. I loved that each received eye-opening advice from unexpected sources. Willow's came honestly but gently, giving her much to think about. Meanwhile, Theo pretty much got bludgeoned with his via his twin sister but also saw the truth in what she said. I liked seeing them come together at the end, renewing their commitment to honesty and being a family for Maisie and each other.
 
The main medical issue in this book was cancer. Theo had both his remission and the complications of follow-ups and a possible recurrence, his fears, and his reluctance to accept help. Theo and Willow worked with a patient at the Island Clinic who fought her own battle. The clinic treats many celebrities, and seeing the woman, the staff, and others deal with paparazzi and the health issues made the medical aspects that much more believable.

The Princess and the Pediatrician - Annie O'Neil (HMED #1189 - Aug 2021)

Series: Island Clinic (Book 3)

One Caribbean night together
 
One pregnant princess!
 
When Dr. Lia Trelleburg -- aka Princess Amelia of Karolinska -- meets hot pediatrician Oliver Bainbridge at a fundraiser, she decides to break the habit of a carefully controlled lifetime and indulge in a breathtaking night of passion. Only, Lia falls pregnant, and Oliver stuns her by agreeing with palace protocol -- yes, they must marry! Despite the odds, could they really find the happiness they desire together…as a family?
 
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.

Reunited with His Long-Lost Nurse - Charlotte Hawkes (HMED #1190 - Aug 2021)

Series: Island Clinic (Book 4)

An unexpected reunion…
…in paradise!
 
Leading heart surgeon Liam Miller has come to St. Victoria to perform lifesaving surgery. He never imagined the distraction of bumping into the woman who loved him and then left him without a word! Avoiding nurse Talia Johnson is far harder than he thought -- especially when their inconvenient but still-burning attraction keeps boiling over! As their painful secrets come tumbling out, are they ready to finally confront the truth?
 
Good second chance romance. Talia is a nurse at the prestigious Island Clinic on St. Victoria Island, the small Caribbean island where she grew up. When she was younger, she couldn't wait to leave the island and spent some time at Duke Hospital in North Carolina. There she met and fell in love with Liam, a leading heart surgeon. But breaking through the walls around his heart proved to be impossible, and when her mother became ill, Talia went home without a word to Liam.
 
Liam is a man driven by the guilt he feels over his mother's death in childbirth. His father blamed him and hammered home his opinion of Liam's worthlessness at every chance. As a result, Liam has no experience with love and doesn't believe in it. Talia's departure reinforced his beliefs.
 
When the heart surgeon at the clinic is injured in an accident, Talia suggests Liam as a temporary replacement, knowing he's the best choice for an upcoming surgery. Talia plans to do a month's rotation at St. Vic's Hospital on the other side of the island to avoid seeing him. She's never forgotten how he broke her heart. There's no way Liam would refuse the invitation to work at the clinic. He knew it would be good for his reputation and career. He tried convincing himself that the chance to see Talia again had nothing to do with it.
 
I enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Liam and Talia. Their reunion got off to a rocky start, with Liam confronting Talia over the way she left three years earlier. Though he wouldn't admit it, he still hurt over what he saw as her abandonment. Talia gave as good as she got, calling him on his inability to share anything of himself with her. But underneath the antagonism were the undeniable sparks of an attraction that had never died. Talia and Liam agree to put their hostility aside for the sake of their professional relationship and attempt to resume at least their friendship.
 
I loved watching Talia show Liam around her island home, seeing it through fresh eyes as she does. Spending time together allows their simmering attraction to grow until they can no longer resist it. Liam believes giving in will give him a chance to get Talia out of his system, but instead, she moves further past his walls. Talia knows she's falling for him all over again and attempts to get him to open up to her. Even when he does, his belief in his inability to love prevents him from seeing what they could have together. When Talia slips and confesses her feelings, Liam freaks out. After saying many hurtful things, Liam flees back to North Carolina, where he buries himself in his work while trying to forget. Meanwhile, Talia undergoes some soul-searching before going after what she wants. I loved the ending and seeing her show Liam how she feels and what is essential. Liam's "aha" moment was heartwrenching but opened his eyes to his feelings. I loved his big moment, and the epilogue showed a beautiful future for them.
 
As usual with the medical romances, there were several intense medical scenes. In this case, I liked the emergency they encountered on their island tour and their smooth teamwork under pressure. I also liked the detail provided on the heart surgery.

How to Win the Surgeon's Heart - Tina Beckett (HMED #1183 - July 2021)

Series: Island Clinic (Book 1)

Things are heating up……
in their Caribbean paradise!
 
For Dr. Nate, work is everything. Without him, his renowned hospital wouldn't exist! Now he's ready to step up to the plate -- again! -- as nearby St. Victoria Hospital faces a staff shortage. Surgeon Sasha is beyond grateful for the help, but she's not so sure about Nate… Her heart's been broken by wealthy and far-too-attractive men before! Can Nate prove to Sasha he's different?
 
Good book. As a young doctor, Nate was part of a team sent to a Caribbean island to help after a hurricane. What he experienced there affected him profoundly, especially the death of a little girl. He left the island determined to do something to help, only to face opposition from his famous plastic surgeon parents. Turning his back on their disappointment, Nate used his trust fund to start the Island Clinic.
 
Sasha is a surgeon at St. Victoria Hospital on the island where she grew up. As the book opens, she waits for Nate's arrival from the clinic as he offered to help out the short-staffed hospital. Sasha, who's been burned in a relationship with a wealthy doctor, views Nate with a great deal of skepticism. His clinic caters to the rich and famous; as chief of staff, she wonders if he even practices medicine anymore.
 
Sasha came across as very judgmental of someone she knows nothing about. She knows it and tries to stop, but her cynicism runs deep. I liked how Nate began smashing her preconceptions from the moment he got off the shuttle. Her eyes opened when they immediately faced a critical heart case, and Nate leaped right in, evacuating the patient to the clinic when he needed a specialist. After three years of avoiding the clinic like the plague, Sasha was forced into it when she wanted to check up on the patient. I liked how she saw how wrong she'd been as Nate gave her a tour, and she learned that the wealthy patients funded the clinic's work with the island's residents.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Nate and Sasha. The sparks fly immediately though both try to resist them. Each has a reason to protect their hearts. Sasha finds it difficult to trust her judgment after her last relationship, and Nate still feels the sting of rejection by his parents. I liked watching them find ways to spend time together and seeing them get to know each other. I liked how Sasha spoke her mind, from the gala planning session to her own needs and desires. I also liked Nate's caring and compassion, as shown in the scene with Sasha's uncle.
 
As their physical attraction grows, so do their feelings for each other, though neither is ready to admit it. I ached for them both when Sasha's fears sent her running from her feelings. A little help from Sasha's mother helped Nate see what he needed to do. I loved the depth of their emotions as they broke free of the chains of the past and moved toward a future together. I liked the epilogue too.
 
As is usual with this line, actual medical issues are a big part of the story. I enjoyed learning about both issues in a way that was easy to understand for the average reader.