Doctor in Petticoats

CONNEALY, MARY

DOCTOR IN PETTICOATS

When nurse Beth McCallen survives a stage coach accident, she soon realizes the derelict traveling alongside her is a doctor, and she forces him to help tend the injured. Alex Buchanan, arm deserter, finds he can only care for the patients as long as Beth is right beside him, giving him courage...by yelling at him.

Beth thinks he's a lunatic when he proposes that they marry and work together in her hometown. But there's no denying his skill, and she can see the emotional price Alex pays to help hurting people. Besides, she owes the guy for saving her own sister.

So she agreed to marry him.

And that's when the real trouble begins. A murderous bounty hunter is on Alex's trail. Alex only has to live long enough to turn himself in, and then may face a firing squad. Not exactly the honeymoon of Beth's dreams.

Alex may find the faith he lost while surrounded by the horrors of war, but will doing the right thing by facing his past cost him his wife...and his life?

MARY CONNEALY IS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE WILD WEST AND THE WOMEN WHO CARVED OUT A NICHE FOR THEMSELVES IN IT. SHE HAS CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF THEIR PIONEERING SPIRIT, ADDED A LIBERAL DOSE OF COMEDY TO COUNTER THE INTENSE ACTION SCENES AND SPRINKLED IT WITH ROMANCE IN ORDER TO CREATE ANOTHER RUNAWAY BEST-SELLER.

HER ZIPPY DIALOGUE AND TONGUE-IN-CHEEK HUMOUR LEAP FROM THE PAGE, CONNECTING SCENES WITH AN ECONOMY OF WORDS THAT STILL PACK A PUNCH AND CREATE AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH THE READER.

I LOVE HOW SHE TAKES FLAWED CHARACTERS AND APPEALS TO HER READERS' COMPASSION. SHE HAS CREATED SOME OF THE MOST UNLOVABLE HEROES THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF FALLING FOR. ALEX BUCHANAN IS ONE SUCH HERO. HIS STORY SUPPLIES THE DRAMA IN DOCTOR IN PETTICOATS AND CONNEALY DOES AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB OF FOLLOWING THAT THREAD WITH COMPASSION AND DIGNITY.

I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW SHE PLANNED TO SAVE POOR ALEX'S HIDE AND CHEERED OUT LOUD WHEN SHE SUCCEEDED. I HADN'T SEEN THAT COMING AT ALL! AND IF YOU'RE A CONNEALY FAN (AND WHY WOULDN'T YOU BE?) YOU'LL BE THRILLED TO MEET A FEW OLD FRIENDS DURING YOUR READ. IT JUST CAN'T GET BETTER THAN THAT!