The Doctor's Secret

I’m struggling with this book. Heidi Cullinan’s earlier books are some of my favorites and I was excited to have her start a new series.Unfortunately for for the author, I am a nurse. Not only am I a nurse, I’ve worked in very small rural hospitals, and I once lived in the remote area where the story takes place. Because of all these things, I cannot get into the book. When I got to the part where one doctor says the hospital cannot get doctors from another hospital because the secondary hospital is across state lines? I had to close the book. Are you kidding me? Physicians can practice in more than one state. It’s not like there’s an invisible wall for physicians at the state lines. And since when does an HR Director manage schedules of nurses? Are there no department managers in this hospital? And the bizarre disbelief that a surgeon has music in an operating room? Has the author ever been in an OR? Metallica could be playing in one and Beach Boys in another. It’s pretty standard to have music in an OR.It’s just all so contrived I can’t finish it. I could go on, but I won’t. I’m not even halfway through the book. I’ll probably force myself to finish the book over the next year but it’s another disappointment from the author.

Let me just start by saying I usually love this author, but occasionally she has a big miss. Since I work in the medical field this book's painful representation of hospital operations and nursing just became cringe-worthy. There were also some unsexy consent issues between the main characters.Nurse Simon actually has this thought when dealing with a critical patient that a doctor was insisting on treating despite not having the appropriate equipment, drugs, or expertise. "Not your job to make that call....Your task is to follow your doctor." Um, nurses are professionals. Not sheep that follow doctors blindly. They also have licences they worry about. They express opinions. Simon is not a great representation of a nurse AT ALLThe eye-rolling continued through a contrived conflict where the hospital administration did not allow relationships. (which is ridiculous for peers or in a non-reporting relationship) So Simon, who doesn't want to lose his job, says no to his attraction. Then we are treated to these lines by Dr. Hung-Wei (Jack).Simon was going to cry. In fact, his eyes were full of tears. "Stop.""I won't. I've tried to woo you slowly, to figure out the way to court you and win you over, to be the best...."Simon's breath hitched on a sob. "Don't do this to me."Hong-Wei's laughter was bitter, sad. "What, you think I should be the only one to suffer?"After some back and forth, Simon tries to walk away. Then: Hong Wei blocked him with his arms, trapping Simon between them, pressing his forehead to Simon's own.While nurses don't often "report" to a doctor, the author established this as their dynamic so this entire exchange is is sexual harassment in my book.There are also way over-involved friends/roommates, a HR director who manages staffing, an OR staff that have never heard music in the OR, a single OB-GYN who can't leave town in case a patient goes into labor, it literally goes on and on and I only made it half-way.The last straw for me was after an "exhaustive" surgery, the nurse who is fearful of losing his job getting caught breaking hospital policy, decides to give in to his desires in the hospital.DNF 51%Do yourself a favor, skip this one and pick up the Carry the Ocean or Special Delivery series instead. They're fantastic.

This was a well written fun mm romance, with very strong and likable main characters and an interesting work and small town context. I assume it was as accurate as any soap opera in its presentation of the social world of a medical center. Our leading man, Dr. Hong-Wei Wu, is retreating in some disorder and confusion from an extremely prestigious and high pressure training situation to the smallest backwater medical hospital he could find in Copper Point. He has carried out his plan...but we get to experience the remaining tremors as he learns his new reality.Simon Lane, surgical nurse at Copper Point's St. Anne's Medical Center, was dragooned into the 1.5 hour drive to pick up the new doctor...but no one told him how handsome the new doctor was.Dialogue is smooth and believable, professionally edited, medical soap opera-esque drama in small teeny tiny medical center and town. Pretty instant attraction between our two guys, and the main drama comes from uncovering Hong-Wei's past and the new medical center policy: no dating other employees.The books has mild humor, is told from both MCs point of view in third person, and is a straightforward enjoyable mm romance with an enriched context of friends, family, small town, and hospital work life. The characters try to be somewhat intense about their issues, but their obstacles seem relatively unchallenging once they face up to them. Interesting layer of information about Hong-Wei's childhood immigration experience. Gets an extra star from me for the rich context. Although hard decisions are made by the MCs and they feel some heavy pressure and are overworked to near breakdown by the medical center...it's a low angst HEA. There is one detailed intimate mm sex scene between these two loving characters, appropriate to the storylines. Also, a set up clearly for at least two more books with other MCs...I look forward to them!For those familiar with other Heidi Cullinan works, this book is no kink and no poly.If you like the sound of The Doctor's Secret, then I can definitely recommend Heidi Cullinan'sDance With Me (slightly older MCs)Special Delivery Series (much kink), particularly Double Blind which I rate as one of the best mm stand alones.Other recommended mm romances:Dancing Lessons by R. CooperHow I Met Your Father by L. B. GreggCandy Man by Amy Lane

I cannot believe that Heidi Cullinan actually wrote this rubbish after the stunning novels she has written in the past, ie Roosevelt, Nowhere Ranch. This is like a fluff filler piece which she took out and decided to use her reputation to get it published. I was so disappointed with this story. I will not be purchasing the rest in teh series and will really have to study other reviews on newer novels before spending any more of my hard earned money on her.

Some readers familiar with Heidi Cullinan's writing may be disappointed since this book is a lot "cleaner" than some of her other series. I, however, liked it - especially getting to know the different characters. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series and finding out more about Owen and Andreas and the plot involving Andreas and the board/his dad that both this book and the excerpts I've read on Patreon hinted to.

Wenn man was fürs Herz sucht, ist man hier richtig. Dr. Wu und Simon, was für ein tolles Paar!Der attraktive Arzt beginnt ein neues Leben in einem kleinen Krankenhaus, so weit weg von seinem alten Leben als möglich. Keiner ahnt, was die Kleinstadt sich da als "normalen" Chirurgen angelacht hat und wie sehr Dr. Wu überqualifiziert ist.Der Plot beginnt hier und baut sich immer weiter auf, bis in Band 3 alle Geheimnisse rund um die Freunde gelüftet werden.Taschentuchalarm! Ich hab selten soviel geheult wie in dieser Serie. Das Buch an und für sich, kann auch einzeln gelesen werden, es endet in sich schlüssig und hat keinen Cliffhanger!

Book and Audio  🎧 narrated by Iggy TomiA okay book and a first narration for me for Iggy. A full of feelings "at times" as Hong-wai's secrets start unravelling.  The forbidden feeling vs hospital policies their love would be true or die in the closet.  As I listened to this I found myself skimming with the long bits drawn out storyline. This started out okay and I had a high expectations from the blurb but sadly didn't meet them, I love the author other works but a pass on this hmm. The narrator does an okay job with voices.Dr Hong-wai was wondering if he'd made the right decision to move to another location. Running from something and maybe family he makes a elderly friend on the plane.Met at the airport by Simon the hospitals surgeon nurse.  Forbidden relations where not allowed between staff.

I'm a long time fan of Heidi Cullinan's work, there's just something about the characters and the stories that gets me - reading a Heidi Cullinan book feels like re-visiting family.I loved Simon's embarrassment over his Asian drama obsession, Hong-Wei almost effortlessly becoming a big part of the local community after initially thinking he was making a big mistake in moving. I really enjoyed the comments and discussions over success and what each character considers success. Another fun, sweet story with great characters. Can't wait to read the next in the series!