REVIEW: Swept Away by the Seductive Stranger by Amy Andrews
B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended ReadsAustralia / Contemporary / doctor hero / nurse / second chances1 Comments
When that guy on the train turns out to be your boss!
Nurse Felicity Mitchell’s train journey of a lifetime is even more unforgettable when she meets Callum Hollingsworth. Neither is looking for temptation, but that doesn’t stop them from sharing one hot, wild night!
Except when they disembark, they learn that what happened on the train won’t stay on the train. Because the gorgeous stranger is Flick’s new boss…and it’s increasingly difficult to keep their chemistry under control and leave it at just one night!
Dear Ms. Andrews,
I saw this book being offered at netgalley when I requested “Playing It Cool.” In a “in for a penny” mood, I requested it as well. Wow, I’m glad I did as this turned out to be a lot more than the fairly generic “sexy” blurb promised.
Callum has Something In His Past that he’s putting behind him. Felicty is taking the trip of a lifetime – well for 24 hours – on a luxury train before she returns to her day job life as a nurse in a small town to whom everyone tells their aches and problems. But both of them feel the instant attraction and on the anonymous train journey – WTH not? They also decide not to spill what they do for a living as they’re surrounded by a crowd of older retirees – admitting to being a doctor or a nurse will just invite rambling discourses on aches and pains. Hey, I’m not far from resembling that attitude! So as a “technical writer” and as a “public servant,” they blend into occupational obscurity. Then on to some ogling and flirting.
The slow, delicious build of exsual tension segues into being beyond coy about their interest in each other. And that’s before they both admit to being train buffs. Instant affinity. They mutually blow their covers when the sudden need to save one of the “Cocooners” requires them to spring into action with CPR. Is this the end of their plans for a hot train pick up?
The adrenaline rush hits but they pick back up gain slow and sweet before quickly moving onto hawt and horny. The next morning both are separately then jointly adamant that what they deliciously enjoyed was only one night, in a bubble, to be remembered fondly but that’s all. Hahahaha, sure, like that’s going to happen. When the expected anvil drops on their heads, the mutual reaction is to want to stick a rusty fork in their eyes. Oh, Lordy how will they work together for the next two months remembering their awesome night together the whole time?
The reality of working together in a GP clinic hits them like a roaring 40s wave. She’s annoyed he’s curt and he’s annoyed to have lost his hot shot surgical career for the ho-hum of asthma, boils and being fed up with yummy food by the ladies of the district. His “keep ‘em moving” style of seeing patients does little to endear him to Felicity either. Maybe that works in the big city but country folk like to chat. Suddenly Felicity wonders if she even likes this man anymore who she still lusts after. He’s hot but his patient relations suck. Then Felicity finds out just what wrecked his dream and why his bedside manner is as it is. Okay, he has a reason she can understand and he’s trying to keep being a doctor. Slack will be cut.
Cutting of slack doesn’t yield peaceful auras though and the tension between the two of them winches tighter and tighter. Thinking he’s going to set her mind at ease about not being a kisss and tell kind of one nighter, Callum starts a dialogue that quickly morphs into a play of words that frankly goes from 0-60 on the erotic scale. Before they know it, zoom!
I almost laughed out loud at the dash of cold water administered by Callum’s nosy neighbor to their make-out session. Well it was in the car … Finally Felicity and Callum begin to work out their relationship and that of him to his patients. Flick yanks a pretty hard knot in someone when she needs to. The town grapevine might be smoking due to it being used so much but she’s not going to let things get out of hand again. Callum will be gone soon while she has to live here. As Felicity puts Operation Friendship into practice, she rediscovers the fun man she met on the train, the one she can laugh with, talk to and with whom she can build a friendship. She also understands his grief at losing the career he loved and was good at.
Cal starts to earn my respect as he realizes how complex it can be taking care of the total needs of a patient. GPs (family medicine in the US) don’t get the respect I think they deserve. No it’s not sexy like surgery but it’s vital. They see you as a patient and not just a diagnosis. He and Flick are also working out their friendship, being partners in delivering healthcare to the rural people of the area. Too bad for Callum that it isn’t Flick who shows up to drive them to a local do for charity. Nope, it’s Felicity and she’s in another LBD – with a bow on the side. And heels. Callum is having real trouble resetting his mind to workmate polo shirt Flick when faced with LBD Felicity.
Callum comes up trumps with how he handles one “at home” case though. Yeah, I was sniffling and trying not to bawl in public as I read this bit. The emotions that swamp them both in the wake of a patient’s death makes sense – it’s time to celebrate being alive. But Flick’s decision the next morning, based on her past painful relationship and knowledge of how her heart works, also makes sense. It’s just not going to work having this short physical relationship because she knows she’ll end up wanting more – she’s that kind of woman. But with Cal leaving in an already set time and heading back to Sydney, there’s no future. At least not one that won’t hurt. Cal is mature enough not to press for more as he’s come to feel that Flick is a friend, maybe his first female friend, and he doesn’t want to mess that up.
Kudos that Flick is tempted by Cal’s offer to go back to Sydney with him at the end of his locum time but holds firm not only for herself but for him as well. He’s still transitioning to the new Cal in his new MD specialty and needs his time and space back on familiar stomping grounds before he can truly say what he wants in his life. When he comes to the realization of what he wants (Flick) and where he wants to be with her (Small town country life) both she and I believe it.
I was very impressed with this book given the “I’ve read this type of blurb 100 times” description. Yes, there’s sexy galore here – and it’s very well done, slow simmer to boiling – but there’s also some heart and soul. Felicity and Cal have physical attraction in spades but they have to work out the rest of their relationship and glory be, they do. I didn’t feel things were rushed which can sometimes be an issue with these shorter Medical line stories. The word count might be compact but this book packs a lot of punch. B+
~Jayne
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I love Ms. Andrews’ work–when she’s on, she’s really on. This story sounds as if it has a lot in common with my favorite of her books, No More Mr. Nice Guy.
I’ll buy this one. Thanks.