#100 The Surgeon's Meant-to-be Bride by Amy Andrews, HM&B Medical

Surgeon, Guillaume Remy, and his wife Harriet Remy (a nurse) have been traveling to war torn areas for years, treating all war casualties. But past few years have been rocky for their relationship as she wants to ‘change the rules’ of their relationship. He has 24 hours to change her mind or she will walk away from him and their marriage.

This is one of the most intense reads I have read in a long time. Have you ever been sucked into a vortex? This book pulls the reader in (picture a full size cartoon character being sucked in through an old-fashioned key hole) and then swirls the reader through this kaleidoscope of emotions as it counts down the last 24 hours of Gill and Harry’s time on assignment. Andrews has this ability to start the reader off by thrusting the reader into an intense scene, she brings you down just a little, and then punches up the intensity level again. It is a lot like working in a fast paced, high intensity ICU or ER (ED or A&E). I love it!

One of my favorite sentences in the book is found on page 36, "From the people she worked with to the locals who were unfortunate enough to end up on their operating tables, it was like living in an opera composed by the UN." What great imagery! And this book is filled with other equally expressive sentences. I felt like I was right there it seemed so real. But one of her last sentences in the book sums it up so well, “And the last twenty-four hours had been a cram-packed roller-coaster of emotions…”

I selected this book for my 100th read (for this challenge) and I am very glad I did. I wanted a book that would take me on a fast-paced ride and would have an emotional intensity—this book did not disappoint. The best part about it was meeting up with characters I fell in love with before. This book introduced Dr. Ben and Nurse Katya who now have their own story, The Italian Count’s Baby, HMR Mar08. Andrews is a must read, autobuy for me. Thumbs up!

Nancy