Title: Come Closer Author: Brenda Rothert
Series: Standalone
Release date: February 7, 2017
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 209
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
I received this book from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Sometimes appearances deceive. Take me, for instance. I look like a respectable doctor with his shit together, but the rural Montana mental hospital I work at is actually a sanctuary from my demons. At just thirty-five years old, I’ve already failed on an epic scale. Treating patients at Hawthorne Hill is part of my atonement.
I’ve found peace when a new patient turns me inside out. Allison Cole is a beautiful, haunted survivor who fell into silence after witnessing a murder. But even without words, I’m drawn to her. The closer we get, the more I’m tempted to cross my professional boundaries and give in to my desire.
Soon I find myself in a desperate race to put the pieces of Allison’s silence together. Her life becomes inextricably entwined with mine as I fight to save the second chance I never thought I’d have. I’ll break whatever rules I have to in order to protect this woman who’s been to hell and back. For her, I’ll do harm.
“I need to cry until my head pounds, so I can feel something—anything—other than the ache that’s burned its way into my very soul.”
Daniel is a content man, he works and lives in rural Montana and he loves it. After his relationship went wrong, he spiraled out of control, which costed him his job and his reputation. Hawthorne Hill Mental Hospital is his chance to start over; to work with the patients and make them better, or at least help them to stay as comfortable as possible. Daniel is very aware falling for a patient is out of the question, but he can’t help himself with Allison.
“Her cheeks are flushed pink from the run down the stairs, and I find myself just looking at her for a couple seconds. I’ve never seen a patient as anything but a patient, but right now, I’m just looking at a pretty woman. A very pretty woman.”
Allison has been silent since she witnessed the murder of her beloved sister. She hasn’t gone crazy, but since she doesn’t speak at all, her family brought her to Hawthorne Hill, hoping for her to get better. Allison keeps to herself at the institution, but slowly she starts to make friends with other patients. The general practitioner – Daniel – is a different story. She feels save with him and she sees him as more than just her doctor.
“I reach for his hand and entwine our fingers. For an instant, he stiffens, but then his hand closes around mine and he brings my hand up to his lips. He brushes his lips over the back of my hand, the gentle scrape of his stubble making me tingle. “I wish we’d met at a different time and place,” he murmurs, closing his eyes.”
For some time, Daniel and Allison are in total denial about their feelings for each other. After all, they are doctor and patient, a relationship is out of the question. Allison trusts Daniel, and even starts speaking with him, just with him. Slowly, the boundaries between the couple start to fade, and it’s inevitable something will happen. Although they don’t meet in a normal situation, Daniel and Allison just match, you feel a connection and I can’t blame them for falling in love.
Come Closer is my very first book by Brenda Rothert, and I like it. Daniel and Allison are very likeable people, and the secondary characters add to the story. I’m not sure I would have hired Daniel as a general practitioner after his breakdown, but hey, this is fiction and in this story it works. Come Closer starts out as a romantic story, but after some big revelations it takes a turn into a more suspenseful direction. Daniel and Allison go through some rough stuff before they can enjoy their happily ever after.
“When she kisses me, her hair brushes my shoulder. She tugs my lower lip between her teeth and I groan, gripping her hips and pulling her down against me. “Did you think I’d stop loving you?” she murmurs. “I can’t stop, Daniel. You’re a part of me now.”
I’ve enjoyed reading Come Closer, and this certainly isn’t my last book by this author. I give the story of Allison and Daniel 4 stars.
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