Healing Hearts
(Savage Wells #2)
by
As the only doctor in the frontier town of Savage Wells, Gideon MacNamara knows his prospects for a bride are limited. The womenfolk in town are either too young, too old, or already spoken for. So, being a practical man, he decides to take advantage of the matchmaking service of the day—mail-order brides—and sends away for a woman with nursing experience.
When Miriam steps off the stagecoach in Savage Wells, she sees a bright future in front of her. But when the town—and Gideon—meets her, ready for a wedding, her excitement quickly turns to horror. Somehow Dr. MacNamara's message had gotten turned around. He didn’t want a nurse, he wanted a wife. When she refuses to marry him, she finds herself stranded in Savage Wells with some very unhappy townspeople.
But Gideon is not like the other men Miriam has met. Embarrassed by the misunderstanding, he offers her a job, and the two begin an awkward—and often humorous—dance of getting to know each other as they work to care for the people of their town. Romance blossoms between the two, but when a former medical associate of Miriam’s arrives in town, Gideon and the other townsfolk must rally around Miriam to protect her from a dangerous fate. Gideon and Miriam must decide if they are willing to risk their hearts for each other even as buried secrets are brought to light.
My Review: 9/10
This book was fantastic! The themes of nursing, mental health and asylums in the 1800's are new ones for me. As a woman, it is easy to take for granted the rights and opportunities we have now. And it was horrifying to read and imagine what it would be like to have a medical condition that was unknown or misunderstood... and being at the mercy of male relatives.
The familial relationships were complex and well done. The villain was terrifying in his ability to manipulate and twist things. And the love story was sweet. The story over all was layered and while most of the subplots were intense and serious, there were moments of humor tucked in.
Highly recommend!
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