The Naughty One: A Doctor’s Christmas Romance (Season of Desire, #2)

*Mild Spoiler* I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It was a real page turner with a few twists to keep you wondering. Dr. Blue is the Teaching Physician at the small town hospital. He is an exceptional Surgical Cardiologist yet he is kind and does not have an ego. Dr. Romy is in her last year of residency and because of a terribly abusive ex she moves back to the town her family lives in and does her last year at their hospital. First day of rounds she is late and Dr. Blue instead of giving her a hard time he just smiles at her and then wants to see her in his office after. Dr. Romy is feels herself falling for Dr. Blue just from his smile. She figures she is in trouble for being late but he has something to tell her that will change everything. Or will it? They find that they can’t keep from lusting after one another but can’t share with the families yet. Dr. Blue has a half brother who has always been jealous of him and seeks revenge on Dr. Blue. He partners up with an unlikely foe of Dr. Romy’s because he wants revenge against her. So they decide they can each take out their rival and win after all. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a love story, a HEA story or a mystery.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The Blessings and Curses of Family: A Truly Darkly Evil Tortured Tale with Little Holiday Cheer

Blue Allende’s childhood in Italy was filled with the love of his single mother and the constant love, but the intermittent presence, of his father, Stuart Eames. Blue’s parents where lovers who were blessed with a child after their very first coupling, but their love was not allowed to fully express itself in a unified family. His father, a tech multi-billionaire, lived in a world located an ocean away were he already had a family with a wife and an older son.

But, when 12-year-old Blue’s mom died, the quiet, kind, intense, intelligent, compassionate boy who had his dad’s beautiful green eyes was surrounded by his father’s love and support. And, since dad’s world was in Seattle, Washington, Blue was transplanted into that world. But Blue’s introduction to his dad’s world included his father’s wife, Hillary, who enjoyed her position of wealth, in addition to an older brother, Gaius who resented the younger brother’s addition to the small family. And, despite his less than welcoming reception to his new family, Blue retained his father’s support and love which allowed the young boy’s sweet, loving nature and his gifted mind to continue to grow.

So, as an adult, it was not surprising that the intelligent, compassionate child would become a skilled, compassionate doctor, the chief of surgery at Rainier Hope Hospital in Seattle, Washington. And, now, at the advanced age of 37, he is once more being introduced by his dad to a new family. After years of unhappiness in his marriage to Hilary, Stuart is divorcing her and remarrying. Blue’s new step-mother will be Magda Sasse, a divorcee with 3 adult daughters, and the middle daughter, Romy, will be joining the surgical residency program at Rainier Hope—the program he supervises.

Romy Sasse grew up as the middle child of a loving family of three gifted girls whose heart and spirit came from their single parent, hippie raised mom, Magda Sasse. As the only daughter who did not have Magda’s blonde hair and willowy build, the petite, curvy Romy assumed that with dark, wavy hair, chocolate brown eyes, and olive complexion, she must have taken after her dad’s family. But after 3 girls, Magda and her husband had separated, divorced, and with his remarriage, he had relocated to England, so Romy never had the opportunity to learn of his family, of her genetic inheritance. Magda’s story was that of many young university women— her professor, a handsome, dynamic older man, enchanted a younger woman, and children soon followed.

So, without a man in the house, and Magda’s strong, independence perfuming the air her girls breathed, Romy and sisters, Artemis and Juno, were encouraged to explore their talents and dreams. And, while not physically present, Romy’s father was engaged in helping the girls achieve their educational goals with his financial support.

Now, the three successful young women, pursuing engaging careers in the sciences and arts, are gathering to support their mom’s upcoming marriage. And, with Romy’s relocation from New York, all Magda’s chicks are home to meet and greet their new step-family. And, despite, Romy’s joyful return to Seattle, her life is more complicated than simply welcoming a new family.

Romy has fled NY for her life. After months of abuse, she had had the audacity to ask for a divorce. In response, her ex, Darce Mortimore, a member of a wealthy and powerful New York family, had almost beaten to death. After Romy’s violent beating, causing internal injuries and a broken femur, she faced a year of recovery including the hospitalization and the emotional trial of her ex on charges of assault.

Finally, she has returned to Seattle to start over, to finish her interrupted surgical residency and to celebrate with her sisters the upcoming marriage of their mom. And, she learns amazingly, that her chief surgeon who will supervise her final months of residence, Blue Allende, is the son of Stuart Eames, her mother’s fiancé. And, as Romy is pleased to gain the admiration of Blue, she is not as comfortable with the familiarity that Gaius flaunts without apparent purpose in front of their shared family, especially Blue.

But, almost as soon as she settles into her residency, the surgical unit begins to see a rash of violent and horrific knife attacks against young women in the city. During the first such attack executed at a sorority house, Romy and Blue spent desperate futile minutes frantically working to save the life of a young girl, but with extensive life stealing cuts, a shredded artery and a broken femur, there was not hope. But what Blue noticed most was how much the young girl with her dark hair and eyes and olive complexion resembled his Romy. And as such acts of brutally continue with the same profiles, Romy begins to fear that her past has entered her present.

Michelle Love does a job on the reader’s expectations of a traditional, holiday “feel good” read, especially when the word “romance” is added to the mix. “Bringing the family together” takes on all new meanings when the family contains psychopaths seeking to inflict pain and harm without any limits or mercy. Additionally, when a narcissistic spoiled rich boy who is a Jack the Ripper in training is hovering on the periphery, this feel-good, holiday romance swirls into a leave-the-lights-on-at-night thriller. Romance and hot sex is present, but the reader needs to be prepared for a terrifying rollercoaster ride to get to the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.