The Heart of Doctor Steele
My Rating: 4.25
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: eARC*
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Author: Colette Dixon
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~Book Blurb~
Are the rumors about him true? She intends to find out.
The mysterious Dr. Steele has taken up residence next door, and scandalous rumors about him are spreading through Margaret Landeau’s small Massachusetts town. Rumors of women he’s ill-used and exploited for his experimental surgeries. Never one to believe gossip, Margaret arms herself with a basket of baked goods and ventures to discover the truth from the man himself.
John Steele has lost everything. His parents, his aunt, too many women he intended to save, and his good name. All he has left is his aunt’s home in a far-flung village and a library he’s stocked with whiskey. He has nothing to offer anyone. Especially not the bold woman next door whose passion for healing reminds him of the man he once was.
But when a dangerously ill girl arrives on his doorstep, pleading for help, Margaret is thrust into his world. She will learn who the real Dr. John Steele truly is, and soon, not even his dark past can stop her from fighting for the brilliant doctor she now loves. But he must deny his crushing desire for her—loving a man like him can only cast a shadow over her own bright future.
~My Thoughts~
I am already a huge historical fiction fan, but if you throw in a heroine that is breaking barriers for women, then I am over the moon.
In The Heart of Doctor Steele, we find Margaret, a single female with aspirations of practicing medicine in a time when women can’t even attend medical school let alone be hired to actually heal people. Enter the mysterious Dr. John Steele, with his scandalous past and heart for caring for women’s health issues, and Margaret finds an inspirational medical mentor and possibly much more.
I loved Margaret and John’s love story because it changed both of their lives. Margaret was able to break through John’s walls and John turned the tables on Margaret’s future plans.
Their romantic scenes were good, but. not too steamy. I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the physical aspects of their relationship, which was nice. I still felt the heat and passion between them, but it wasn’t the sole focus and driving force behind the story.
The Heart of Doctor Steele would have been five stars, but the book has my main pet peeve as a reader. At one point in the story (shhh, no spoilers), a large part of the conflict could have been avoided multiple times if the characters would have simple talked to one another. At one point, it could have been as simple as explaining a previous statement, and the story could have continued on. This won’t bother some people, it just happens to be my personal annoyance.
Other than the miscommunications, The Heart of Doctor Steele is a lovely novel about a couple finding their life purpose while finding each other.
~About the Author~
Colette Dixon writes steamy stories with heart and humor about slightly tortured people who learn how love can heal. For more years than she cares to admit, she worked in a hospital while dreaming up love story plots. A farm girl who landed in Chicago, she loves to eat (food made by others), drink tea, and sun herself at every chance she can get to survive the Midwest winter.
*Special thanks to Colette Dixon, Crimson Fox Publishing, and Rachel’s Random Resources providing a copy of The Heart of Doctor Steele in exchange for an honest review.
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