Monday, April 30, 2012

Trauma Plan - A Book Review


Back of the Book:  Sidelined by injuries from a vicious assault, chaplain Riley Hale is determined to return to her former duties as an ER nurse. But how can she show she’s competent when the hospital won’t let her attempt even simple tasks? Determined to prove herself, Riley volunteers at a controversial urban free clinic despite her fears about the maverick doctor in charge.

Dr. Jack Travis defends his clinic like he’s commander of the Alamo. He’ll fight the community’s efforts to shut its doors, even if he must use Riley Hale’s influential family name to make it happen.

As Riley strives to regain her skills, Jack finds that she shares his compassion—and stirs his lonely heart. Riley senses that beneath Jack’s rough exterior is a man she can believe in. But when clinic protests escalate and questions surface about his past, Jack goes into battle mode and Riley wonders if it’s dangerous to trust him with her heart.

Synopsis: Trauma Plan centers around Riley Hale, a nurse who is currently serving as and ER chaplain, and Jack Travis, a maverick, rough around the edges ER physician.  Riley isn't happy she's sidelined after a vicious assault leaves her without full use of one of her arms.  Jack is fighting community activists trying to shut his free community clinic.  These two are both thrown together during ER shifts and it isn't exactly love at first sight.  Over time, however, both start to drop their defenses and work together.  Jack reaches out to Riley, offering her shifts in his clinic to try and help her resurrect her nursing career.  As the novel continues, a relationship begins to develop between the two.  Jack's not an easy man to love and Riley isn't sure she can fully trust him.  So what happens?  Read the book to find out. :-)

Review:  In the interest of full disclosure, let me say up front that I love Candace Calvert's work and this one was no exception.  Just like her other books, I loved Trauma Plan!  I appreciate the fact that Calvert's works are usually complex - more than one storyline and not your typical romance.  Trauma Plan is no different.  There are multiple plot lines (Jack's clinic, relationship between Jack and Riley, Riley's famous family, secrets of minor characters) that keep the story moving at a brisk pace.  I also liked the fact that there are social justice needs like poverty, homelessness, and health care needs interspersed throughout the novel.  (Hopefully it will make people think about these issues.)  If you like a good story with a romance thrown in, this is the book for you.  It's also a quick read, I finished it in a day and a half.  I will say that you will get sucked into the storyline so plan accordingly. ;-)

Score: 4.5 bookmarks out of 5.

Tyndale House Publishers gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

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