The Surgeon

The Surgeon has everything one wants in a historical romance novel. From the first page to the last, it's smart, sassy, thoroughly entertaining and plain pleasurable to read! Absolutely first rate!Be sure to first read 1. The Surgeon 2. The Engagement and soon to be released 3. The Proposition. All three contain some of the same characters.

This was one of the best romance novels I have read in a long time. I could not put the book down. I kept saying I would read just one more chapter, but after that chapter I had to keep reading to see what would happen next.I really liked that this story was set in the Canadian west. It was really nice to read a story which took place in the "old west" that didn't revolved around Indians and cattle drives.I enjoyed that the male lead character wore two hats, of law officer and doctor. It created a multidimensional character that evolved independently of the main story. This book is full of twists that I didn't expect. I rarely read books a second time, but this will be going on my shelf for a second viewing.

For the Canadian Mountie surgeon John Calloway turning forty causes him to consider his lack of family.Even under the shock of meeting Sarah O'Neill he finds an attraction that he refuses to consider. She was a temptation.Sarah found a pleasant surprise when John entered his room minus his shirt. Maybe this man would learn to love her.Ah, but for her hidden agenda! Keenan O'Neill who was probably in trouble with the law. And John Calloway saw the of right and wrong in "Black 'n White", a nickname given to him by his fellow mounties.Poor John was short of help both in his medical profession and in the number of Mounties needed to keep the law in Calgary.The ranchers were being plagued by the ellusive Grayveson gang who were responsible for killing his friend, Wesley Quinn.I was intrigued with Sarah's knowledge of guns and gunsmithing and loved the way she worked to help John and the quaralsome blacksmith. He thought he knew it all about gunsmithing.By that time Sarah was already John's wife and had finally decided to trust him with her secret agenda and provided all the help she could give to him.It is a very moving love story of two deserving people and how their lives affect the town and history of their part of the world. What great characters and a wonderful story to be enjoyed by those of us that love to read.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - A story that will be enjoyed a second time around. Definitely a keeper!

In 1889 Calgary, Dr. John Calloway serves as chief surgeon for the North West Mounted Police. After a long day of what seems like assembly line surgery since someone murdered his best friend fellow surgeon Wesley Quinn, John needs rest. However, the weary John finds Sarah O'Neill in his room going through his closet. John has no idea who Sarah is or why she is here in his room.As a joke on their commander, John's unit advertised for a bride for him, ultimately selected Sarah as his wife, and sent her a ticket to come to Calgary. After the initial shock passes and John learns the truth that she is his mail order bride, he sanctimoniously informs Sarah that no real woman would accept that type of proposal unless she was desperate or running away. John plans to send her home, but Sarah blithely shakes him further by courageously rejecting his offer. She intends to find work as a gunsmith and remain in town. As John feels responsible for her, she rejects his protection. Still, they fall in love, but will he realize this his first impression about Sarah was off the mark and that they can share a lifetime of love if he heeds his heart and if she trusts him with hers.Based on a real 1880s incident, THE SURGEON is a delightful Canadian historical romance that provides a bridge into a bygone era. The story line is character driven led by a strong lead couple, interfering and smirking support cast, and Calgary, which takes on a dimension of its own. Kate Bridges vividly conveys living and loving in late nineteenth century in the province of Alberta.Harriet Klausner

Dr. John Calloway, chief surgeon for the North West Mounted Police in Calgary, Canada had finished surgery after a very long day. Short handed since his best friend and assistant surgeon, Wesley Quinn, had been murdered the only thing he needed was a little rest. Heading for his quarters he couldn't help but notice some strange smirks and smiles on the faces of the men he passed. Once he reached his room, he was surprised to find a pretty young woman who appeared to be going through his closet - slightly embarrassed at being caught - yet smiling as if he should know who she was. Sarah O'Neill was not expecting to see such a handsome man walk through the door, although very pleasantly surprised, and even though she had arrived early - something didn't seem quite right that her future husband didn't seem to even recognize her name! What Sarah didn't know, of course, was that he had no idea who she was! The men under his command, as a practical joke but with good intentions, thought that their commanding officer needed some companionship. They paid for an advertisement, exchanged letters in his name, selected a woman, then sent her a ticket to come to Calgary! Unfortunately, for Sarah, John's opinion on mail-order brides was that he didn't believe that any self-respecting woman should be that desperate to accept that type of marriage and probably had no backbone to begin with! John, thinking that all he had to do was furnish her a ticket home, was surprised when she announced that she would be getting a job and staying! The author based this story upon an actual incident where North West Mounties procured a mail order bride for their commanding officer. In the real life incident the woman was sent home but in this story the author gave us a charming story of what could have been! She used the incident to create a beautifully drawn out, plucky and courageous heroine who possessed a very unusual talent for her day and age, that of being a gunsmith. While the author portrays the physical attraction between John and Sarah with a deft hand showing humor and sensuality, she also lets you feel the pain and anguish of two people who really knew nothing of each other and holding back that very important element of any good relationship, namely communication and trust. Personally, there were times reading this that I wanted to shake them both! All else aside, I found this author's writing rift with wit, charm and portraying life in Northwest Canada as the next best thing to being there. Bottom line, I found this was a very enjoyable and original story that I do highly recommend.