Contemporary Romance published by Montlake 11 Aug 20
I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed Marie Force’s books in the past, so I was a bit surprised this story for me doesn’t quite live up to her previous works. Now, that’s not to say it isn’t a good book. I think my issue is the fact the last Force books I read before this are Five Years Gone and One Year Home, and she outdid herself with those romances. So maybe it’s not fair of me to compare, especially when it comes to the emotional pull, but it is what it is and I can’t change it at this point.
Carmen has just begun a new job with Miami-Dade General Hospital, and her first assignment isn’t what she’d expected, especially when her “charge,” Dr. Jason Northrup, shows up in a fancy car with a bimbo sitting next to him. Now suddenly Carmen’s job is take care of the bimbo, which doesn’t turn out well, and she hopes the hospital board takes up the doc’s issues quickly and efficiently so she can get back to her regular work. That doesn’t turn out well either.
Jason has been sent to Miami as punishment for a huge faux pas in New York, one he’s mostly innocent for, but scandal has resulted nonetheless. As he gets to know Carmen, he realizes she’s his salvation when it comes to his promising career and the work he’s spent years on. Miami is her playground, and when he gives her free rein to show the hospital board members he’s happy to be among them and ply his research in their domain, he knows things have to turn out well. He just doesn’t know yet how well that will be.
I enjoyed these two characters a lot. As we get to know them and hear about their backgrounds, you can’t help but like them. Carmen lost her police officer husband five years earlier, and it’s wonderful to see Jason accepts the previous love in her life as he begins to acknowledge his feelings for her. I also like how Carmen takes Jason at his word, because she is experiencing the good man at heart he is, about what happened in New York and she’s determined to work doubly hard to make him look good in Miami. So he will hopefully stay in Miami. With her.
Ms. Force’s research of the Miami area shows. You get the Latin flavor as they make the rounds of the city, as well as the Cuban and Italian flare at Carmen’s family’s local restaurant. Her entire family is full of fun, and you embrace them just as much as Jason does. Of course, there’s always that hiccup that makes life difficult, and Jason has a huge decision to make near the end of the book. It’s one of those times in romance you wonder how the author will work it all out.
So while there is emotion in this story, for me it doesn’t come close to the two books I mentioned previously. But this is still a fun read and you won’t go wrong at all with it.
Grade: B
Summary:
Carmen
Babysitting a handsome, arrogant neurosurgeon isn’t how I imagined my first day at Miami-Dade General Hospital. This is supposed to be the start of my dream career—something I’ve worked hard to achieve after the tragic loss of my husband. Dr. Jason Northrup isn’t going to mess up my plans, even if he makes my lady parts stand up and say hello. Especially since the surgeon sends up every kind of red flag. However, my heart—and other parts—seem intent on ignoring those signs…
Jason
I have more important things to do than bail out an attractive new colleague, but I need her. Carmen is my only hope in convincing the Miami-Dade board to overlook my tarnished reputation—and she makes me feel optimistic again. Romantic entanglements are the last thing I can afford, but Carmen isn’t an entanglement. She’s a beautiful breath of fresh South Florida air. My feelings for her are quickly becoming the best kind of scandal.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
