Crisis Team #3

ER nurse Sloane Ferrell escaped her risky past—new name, zip code, job, and a fresh start. She’s finally safe, if she avoids a paper trail and doesn’t let people get too close. Like the hospital’s too-smooth marketing man with his relentless campaign to plaster one “lucky” employee’s face on freeway billboards.
Micah Prescott’s goal is to improve the Hope hospital image, but his role as a volunteer crisis responder is closer to his heart. The selfless work helps fill a void in his life left by family tragedy. So does a tentative new relationship with the compassionate, beautiful, and elusive Sloane Ferrell.
Then a string of brutal crimes makes headlines, summons responders . . . and exposes disturbing details of Sloane’s past.
Can hope spring from crisis?

Expected publication: February 3rd 2017

 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  BARNES & NOBLE  CHRISTIANBOOK

Meet the Author:

Former ER nurse, wife, Mom and proud grandmother, Candace Calvert believes that love, laughter, and faith are the best medicines. Her popular medical fiction offers charismatic characters, pulse-pounding drama, romance, humor, suspense--and a prescription for hope. Think, “Grey’s Anatomy finds its soul.” She is . . . A Northern California native who spent several years in Hill Country Texas--where she learned to check her shoes for scorpions and plucked an armadillo from her swimming pool. Thinks cruising is the best way to travel: honeymooned in Venice, swam with stingrays, rode a camel at the pyramids, and sang (badly) with a Newfoundland country band. She’s passionate about cooking, loves bird watching, gardening, and gets goose bumps when her handsome husband hits the low notes at karaoke.  She writes inspirational fiction because . . .
God blessed her with a quirky wit, buoyant optimism, and a contagious sense of fun--but she didn’t come to know him until after the Triple Whammy that turned her life into a bad country song. A painful and unexpected divorce, the Northern California floods of 1997, and (just when she was coping like a champ, no problem) an equestrian accident that left her with fractured ribs, a bleeding lung, broken back, neck fractures and a spinal cord injury. She’ll tell you that God took drastic measures to get her attention.
In the months of rehabilitation, Candace healed in body and spirit. And came to fully understand the difference between being a strong woman and a woman of strength. The difference is faith, and that lesson has been her biggest blessing. Her story, “By Accident,” appears in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, and launched her writing career. Now . . .
She is honored to bring readers medical fiction that offers exciting entertainment and a healthy dose of hope.

Connect Online:

WEBSITE 

FACEBOOK 

TWITTER 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. 

~Psalm 139:14

My Thoughts:

I loved this book!
This is the third installment in the Crisis Team series from Candace Calvert.  
With that being said I feel that this is a stand alone story even though it's part of a series. I do recommend to read the two previous books so you can get the full impact of this series.   Candace Calvert is a retired ER nurse and brings a wealth of medical knowledge which only adds to the overall experience when reading one of her books.  
This is the story of Sloane Ferrell who we have met in her previous books and she was not a nice character at all.  She is a beautiful, young woman who had a tragic childhood, but instead of overcoming it she let it define her as a person.  Mistakes on top of mistakes, but you can't change your past no matter how hard you try.  It takes faith, hope and a lot of grace just to live with some of the choices you make.  At the story opens we find Sloane as a relatively new hire at Los Angeles Hope with only being there for about 3 months.  She likes to keep to herself and is trying to heal, both physically and emotionally.  This has not been a good year for her, but she has made positive changes in her life.  
Micha Prescott is a wonderful character who is kind and caring.  He works at Los Angeles Hope in the PR department and also volunteers as a crisis responder for the area.  Micha has a tragedy in his past that he hasn't really dealt with.  This has shaped him into the person he is.  Fireworks ignite when he first meets Sloane and he tries to understand her opinions, but deep inside feels that he can change them.  
This is a heart wrenching story that touches on some tough issues (alcoholism, sex trafficking, etc.) but they are resolved realistically. I didn't immediately like Sloan, but I respected her for trying to change her life.  As the story progressed her character just jumped to life for me and I could feel her turmoil, fear and joy.  She literally broke my heart a little.  In no time at all I was cheering for her to succeed in turning her life around. 
  This story also has elements of suspense, romantic tension, faith, forgiveness and grace. 
I guess what I liked best about this story was how it showed that we are none so lost that we can't be saved by God's grace.  
This is a book I would definitely recommend, but I worn you to be prepared to read it in one setting.  
**I received this book from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.  

Crisis Team #2

Three years after a tragic accident left her a widow, ER nurse Taylor Cabot is determined to move on, checking off one item after another on her survival list. Her relationship with a handsome plastic surgeon even gives her hope for the last point—“fall in love again.” At least until crisis chaplain Seth Donovan steps back into her life, reawakening unanswered questions about her husband’s death.

While in San Diego to train community volunteers, Seth hopes to learn why Taylor is backing away from the crisis team and from their friendship. But nothing prepares him for the feelings that arise when he sees Taylor again . . . and sees her moving on with another man.

When a community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high and buried truths are unearthed. Will hope make the survival list?

 

Expected publication: February 1st 2016

 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.  

5 Stars

In his heart a man plans his course, 

but the Lord determines his steps.

  ~Proverbs 16:9

To say I am a huge fan of Candace Calvert's writing would be an understatement to say the least.  I found her first book years ago and have been hooked every sense.  She brings a story that will weave it's way into your heart and characters that stay on your mind even after you close the last page.  When I saw this book was available on Netgalley I couldn't wait to read it.  

Step by Step is the second book in the Crisis Team series, but this is a stand alone story.  She incorporates familiar characters, but it's not necessary to have read the first book.  Ms. Calvert is a seasoned ER nurse and she incorporates her experience and knowledge into each and every story.  

This story is about a lot of things, but mostly it's about grief.  Grief has it's own timetable and it's not the same for everyone. 

Taylor Cabot has been a widow for 3 years and knows in her heart it's time to move on.  She makes a plan which is basically consists of a list of items that she wants to accomplish by the anniversary of Greg's death.  The very last item is to fall in love. Actually that item was falling into place as she had been dating world renowned plastic surgeon and things had been progressing nicely.  Taylor has decided to step back from the Crisis Team, but a day on the beach pulls her back in quickly.  

Seth Donovan has traveled to San Diego to help train community volunteers for the crisis team and hopes to run into his old friend Taylor Cabot.  Seth has been dealing with the possibility of leaving the Crisis Team all together since the death of his father.  After inheriting his father's business he doesn't think he will have the time or energy to continue with the team,  but he has always felt this was his calling.  

Seth and Taylor's worlds literally collide when a plane makes and emergency landing on the beach.  

This is a very touching story that when bought should be accompanied by a box of tissues.  
Yes, I would recommend this story to anyone.  
I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley for a honest review without bias or outside influence.  

Meet Candace:

Former ER nurse, wife, Mom and proud grandmother, Candace Calvert believes that love, laughter, and faith are the best medicines. Her popular medical fiction offers charismatic characters, pulse-pounding drama, romance, humor, suspense--and a prescription for hope. Think, “Grey’s Anatomy finds its soul.” She is . . .
A Northern California native who spent several years in Hill Country Texas--where she learned to check her shoes for scorpions and plucked an armadillo from her swimming pool. Thinks cruising is the best way to travel: honeymooned in Venice, swam with stingrays, rode a camel at the pyramids, and sang (badly) with a Newfoundland country band. She’s passionate about cooking, loves bird watching, gardening, and gets goose bumps when her handsome husband hits the low notes at karaoke.  She writes inspirational fiction because . . .
God blessed her with a quirky wit, buoyant optimism, and a contagious sense of fun--but she didn’t come to know him until after the Triple Whammy that turned her life into a bad country song. A painful and unexpected divorce, the Northern California floods of 1997, and (just when she was coping like a champ, no problem) an equestrian accident that left her with fractured ribs, a bleeding lung, broken back, neck fractures and a spinal cord injury. She’ll tell you that God took drastic measures to get her attention.
In the months of rehabilitation, Candace healed in body and spirit. And came to fully understand the difference between being a strong woman and a woman of strength. The difference is faith, and that lesson has been her biggest blessing. Her story, “By Accident,” appears in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, and launched her writing career. Now . . .
She is honored to bring readers medical fiction that offers exciting entertainment and a healthy dose of hope.

Connect Online:

Website 

Facebook 

Twitter 
 

A Romance Collection

 Chance of Loving You

An anthology by three bestselling romance authors

For Love of Money by Terri Blackstock
Trying to launch her own design firm while waitressing on the side, Julie Sheffield was drawn to the kind man she waited on at the restaurant last night . . . until he stiffed her on the tip by leaving her half of a sweepstakes ticket.

The Recipe by Candace Calvert
Hospital dietary assistant Aimee Curran is determined to win the Vegan Valentine Bake-Off to prove she’s finally found her calling. But while caring for one of her patients—the elderly grandmother of a handsome CSI photographer—Aimee begins to question where she belongs.

Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren
Grad student Abigail Cushman has agreed to enter the annual Deep Haven fishing contest. She’s a quick learner, even if she doesn’t know the difference between a bass and a trout. But nothing could prepare her for competing against the handsome charmer she’s tried to forget since grief tore them apart.

One chance for each woman to change her life . . . but will love be the real prize? 



 Published May 1st 2015
 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 
5 Stars

Okay so I know it comes as no shock to say I absolutely love Candace Calvert's writing.  All you have to do is look back through my blog and see that every time one of her books release I am anxious to read it.  So needless to say when she announced she was doing a book collaboration I could hardly wait to read it. Yes, I know I it was released it May and I'm just now reviewing it, but I must admit my TBR stack keeps getting bigger and bigger. Also "darling daughter" came home from college for the summer and we spent time catching up and getting ready for this fall semester.  To say the summer was busy is an understatement.  As summer progressed, very quickly I might add, I found with the start of school that I had more free time to read.  With the "darling boy" starting high school this year and taking chemistry honors and AP Human Geography I'm really not certain how long my free time will last though. 
So with my free time and feeling somewhat lonely I decided to make new friends and picked up Chance of Loving You. Needless to say I couldn't put it down until I turned the very last page.
This is a wonderful collection!
I know everyone who picks up a book usually looks for a good story and I am the same.  These three met all my requirements for a great book.  
-They are all well written.
-The characters are well developed.
-The story lines will readily pull you in and keep you turning the pages. 
-Most importantly they give a good message about faith.

For Love of Money reminded me about trust.  We must always pray for guidance in all we do.  Yes, our faith is important, but we must also trust that God is there walking with us. 
The Recipe reminded me that sometimes what we think is the path to follow is not the path God has planned for us.  If we listen he will point us in the direction he wants us to go.  
Hook, Line and Sinker reminded me about forgiveness.  Sometimes we not only have to forgive others, but also forgive ourselves for something. 
Each story brings us a sweet romance. I would recommend this book to anyone. 

Terri Blackstock

http://www.terriblackstock.com/

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She is the winner of two Carol Awards, a Christian Retailers Choice Award, and a Romantic Times Book Reviews Career Achievement Award, among others. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist.

Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in a U.S. Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.

 Candace Calvert

http://www.candacecalvert.com/ 

Former ER nurse, wife, Mom and grandmother, Candace Calvert believes that love, laughter, and faith are the best medicines of all. Her new Mercy Hospital Series for Tyndale House offers readers charismatic characters, pulse-pounding medical drama, romance, humor, suspense--and a prescription for hope. Think, “Grey’s Anatomy finds its soul.” She is . . .

A Northern California native who began her nursing career in rural Oregon, and later moved to Hill Country Texas--where she learned to check her shoes for scorpions and plucked an armadillo from her swimming pool. Thinks cruising is the best way to travel: honeymooned in Venice, swam with stingrays, rode a camel at the pyramids, and sang (badly) with a Newfoundland country band. She loves cooking, dancing the Two Step, bird watching, and gets goose bumps when her handsome husband hits the low notes at karaoke. She’s wild about Beth Moore Bible studies, and recently graduated from The Community of Hope training for lay chaplains. Candace published a series of madcap cruise mysteries in the mainstream market, and now writes inspirational fiction because . . .

God blessed her with a quirky wit, buoyant optimism, and a contagious sense of fun--but she didn’t come to know him until after the Triple Whammy that turned her life into bad country song. A painful and unexpected divorce, the merciless Northern California floods of 1997, and (just when she was coping like a champ, no problem) an equestrian accident that left her with fractured ribs, a bleeding lung, broken back, neck fractures and a spinal cord injury. She’ll tell you that God took drastic measures to get her attention.

In the months of rehabilitation, Candace healed in body and spirit. And came to fully understand the difference between being a strong woman and a woman of strength. The difference is faith, and that lesson has been her biggest blessing. Her story, “By Accident,” appears in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, and launched her writing career. Now . . .

She is honored to bring readers a new medical drama series offering exciting entertainment and a healthy dose of hope. In these challenging times, she thinks it’s exactly what the doctor ordered!

 Susan May Warren

 http://www.susanmaywarren.com/

 I can't help be amazed at the gifts God has delighted me with - a wonderful husband, four amazing children, and the opportunity to write for Him.

I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.

Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.

Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, "Measure of a Man," in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.

Susan and husbandI grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it's where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series.based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I'm terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.

Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 -- and now we live in the beautiful town I'd always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings -- and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.

I 'm delighted you've stopped in to visit. My hope is that you'll be blessed and encouraged by soul-stirring stories of regular people interacting with a God who loves them.

Life Support

5 Stars

Release Date Feb. 21,2014

Candace Calvert brings us a wonderful romance interlaced with suspense that will keep you turning the pages.  This is a story of second chances, both on a personal and spiritual level.

We are introduced to Lauren Barclay, a young ER nurse who works at Grace Medical.  After living in Huston for a year she has returned home to help keep an eye on her troubled sister, Jess.  Lauren knew from the time she saw her sister that she would be expected to be her keeper.  she loves her sister with all her heart  and wants to help her in any way possible, of course there are times when your love for someone can cloud your judgment.  Being a shift coordinator for the ER comes with a lot of responsibilities, but when her parents suddenly leave to assist an aunt in her recovery Lauren's life is about to become very complicated. 

Elijah Landry is a PA (Physician's Assistant) at the walk in clinic attached to the hospital and a single father.  He has had his own tragedies to contend with, but some have had a more lasting consequences than others.  His older brother, Drew, suffered a near drowning while a teenager and as a result has lots of medical issues.  Elijah hates to see his brother suffer and fights with his parents constantly about his medical treatment.  As a result his father, a retired judge, has placed a restraining order against him intervening on any medical treatment. 

Lauren is not a fan of Elijah, but she empathizes with his predicament when Drew arrives by ambulance having breathing problems.  she knows when Jess needed help the most he had let her down and that was not something she was going to forgive or forget.  The problems is the more they are thrown together she starts seeing Elijah differently.  Elijah is attracted to Lauren and wants to get to know her better.  He feels badly about her situation with Jess, but knows Jess' problems run much deeper than anyone knows. 

When a hurricane sweeps into town both Elijah and Lauren will not only have their abilities, but their very faith tested.  Will Elijah learn to put everything in God's hands?  Will Lauren finally see Jess' problems and address them?

My Review

I loved this story.  A signature of Candace Calvert's writing is that her characters give you a glimpse of their heart and soul through true to life dialogue that details family and relationship concerns.  Ms. Calvert's medical background give her the ability to convey true emotions of each step of this medical drama.  Her wonderful imagery will transport the reader into the story.  She never disappoints on any level.  I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great read. 

I received this ARC from the author for a true and honest review without prejudice.

Meet the Author

Former ER nurse, wife, Mom and proud grandmother, Candace Calvert believes that love, laughter, and faith are the best medicines. Her popular medical fiction offers charismatic characters, pulse-pounding drama, romance, humor, suspense--and a prescription for hope. Think, “Grey’s Anatomy finds its soul.” 

http://candacecalvert.com/index.php