By Your Side

GIVEAWAY

CALVERT, CANDACE
BY YOUR SIDE

ER nurse Macy Wynn learned essential, gritty lessons in the California foster care system: land on your feet and trust no one. She's finally located the fellow foster child she loves like a sister, but the girl's in deep trouble. Macy's determined to help, no matter what it takes. Her motto is to "make it happen" in any situation life throws at her -- even when she butts heads with an idealistic cop.

Deputy Fletcher Holt believes in a higher plan, the fair outcome -- and his ability to handle that by himself if necessary. Now he's been yanked from Houston, his mother is battling cancer, and he's attracted to a strong-willed nurse who could be the target of a brutal sniper.

When everything goes wrong, where do they put their trust?

My Review:

I can't tell you how much I loved this book!!!! But I'm sure going to try. Kind of like an ER episode (remember that show?) where the drama in the ER spills over into the every day lives of the characters. The medical scenes are compelling, but not overwhelming, and they add an extra thrill to an already edge-of-your-seat read. There's action and suspense, heart-tugging sorrow and the thrill of romance.

Hard-hitting and full of gritty realism, Calvert doesn't shy away from tough topics like mental illness and addiction. But she also doesn't shy away from the hope and peace that can come through trusting God even in the hard times. That's something Macy and Fletcher struggle with to varying degrees. Fletcher, solid in his faith but still questioning his circumstances. I could so relate to that! And Macy, well, she's been burned too many times and she doesn't place her trust easily -- in man or God.

The story is told from multiple points of view, though this is clearly Macy and Fletcher's story. Still, there's a wealth of complicated relationships and situations -- both good and bad. And Calvert has such an incredibly unique way with words. So expressive, and totally in character with a medical drama. Like this:

"Sometimes it happened that way. Just when things were going great, when Taylor dared to trust that she was through with the worst of it, the grief would come back and pick at the edges of that wound -- whisper that she'd lost too much to ever really heal. There were no sutures for this." (p.93)

And I mustn't forget the toe-curling, heart-palpitating, weak-in-the-knees kisses...which more often than not morph into side-splitting laughter. Love that touch of humour no matter how frustrating it could be at times. I will never look at marmots in the same way again. :-)

A truly stunning and unforgettable read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  By Your Side please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 5 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!