Dr. Galen Burguess is the chief surgical resident at Boston City Hospital. She works hard and plays hard, her reputation as a player is well known. But when she meets a new intern, Dr. Rowan Duncan, she's soon smitten with the very reserved and very straight resident. As Galen decides not to act on her attraction, Rowan discovers new feelings for her boss. But she's got a boyfriend waiting in Texas and she's straight anyway, or is she?

'All of me' is a medical romance, Radclyffe style, with a butch/androgynous and a femme doctors as main characters in a fast and stressful hospital setting. Normally these types of books showcase several medical cases and emergency situations where patients' lives are at risk. In this case, these elements are present with the addition of some family drama consisting of a cold and strict father (Galen's) and a long-distance boyfriend (Rowan's).

The medical scenes and a couple of secondary characters are the best parts of this book. However, I have a few issues that justify my low rating. My first issue is that the leads sometimes act out of character. For example, the reader is told that Rowan is shy but she acts anything but. To avoid spoilers, let me just say that both characters go through sudden and unrealistic changes from what would be their expected actions which is puzzling and sometimes downright annoying.

My other problem is that some parts of the plot are resolved very superficially, in particular Galen's relationship with her parents. The story leads us to think this is a crucial matter while it was only mentioned in passing. It seems as if the author didn't commit to the story completely. The main characters' chemistry is ok but the insta-love is hard to believe.

Overall, sometimes ok, sometimes frustrating read. 2.5 stars.

ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com

First we have Dr. Galen Burgess, who is the chief surgical resident at Boston City Hospital. Nice position but for the fact that her supervisor is her father, who no matter how hard she tries is never satisfied with her work . Galen likes women and has over time shared herself with numerous female co-workers. She just wants to have some fun not a relationship. Dr. Rowan Duncan has just started her internship working under Galen’s supervision. Rowan has lived a somewhat sheltered life. She is still in a relationship with her high school boyfriend. Everything changes for both of them when they meet. Both Rowan and Galen start questioning their choices regarding their professional and love life. Ms Smith tell us a familiar story but she does it in such a way as to make this seem like we have never read a romance story set in a hospital before. Very nice read. Very enjoyable.
ARC via NetGalley

All of Me is a medical romance set in Boston. Galen is a surgeon and a player, Rowan is the sheltered, straight intern. They meet, and sparks soon fly. Their budding romance comes unstuck when Rowan (talented and naive) puts her real affection for her boyfriend (ordinary and immature) before a deepening love and lust for Galen (extraordinary and still a bit immature).
I guess this book is very much a variation on a theme, rather than something completely original, but it is well-written, and I found it enjoyable to read. Some readers might find the story to be unrealistic, but I know a straight young woman who suddenly wasn’t, and an older gay lady who fell for a man later in life. So nothing about Galen and Rowan’s relationship seems impossible to me.
Did I love this book? Probably not but I certainly liked it, so a solid 4 stars and a recommendation if you like doctors in your romance.

So right up front, I need to confess that I'm a HUGE fan of medical romances. For some weird reason, it's one of my favorite themes, so I picked up this book with huge anticipation!

For the first 50-60% of the book, I was hooked. I was at a work conference, and I ended up staying up into the wee hours of the night (against my better judgment) just to get 'one more chapter' in. I loved the character's chemistry from the onset - Galen (the player) and Rowan (the girl next door with the boyfriend back home). It did really irritate me that both of their names end with an "en" though... Why, Emily Smith? Why? If you're an aspiring author and happen to be reading this - just don't do that. Their chemistry sizzled, and I loved them as a couple, but another thing that really bothered me is that Smith never showed us any reason for Galen's character to stop with her player ways. One minute she's bumping uglies with every single female in the hospital, then the next minute she's a one woman's woman, with eyes only for Rowan. I would have loved to understand more about why Galen chose to stop being such a player.

And then the inevitable twist came. And it was a bad one. Total, and absolute stupidity and a bomb of a twist. IT was so unrealistic that it made me hate both of the MCs. Rowan for being so stupid, and Galen for taking her back. Frustrating, and unnecessary. That could have been handled very differently and it would have made this novel much better. Of course, the ending was wrapped up WAY too quickly, and the apologies and forgiveness was just too trite with it's perfect little bow for me to stomach. What started out as a great novel really lost me due to the twist and the ending.

All in all, 3 stars. Could have been so much better...

**Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.**

Straight lady and the player. The straight lady is a doctor and has a boyfriend. The player is a doctor and well she plays. Dr. Rowan Duncan, desperately wants to be a surgeon. She has a lovely disposition and a caring heart. What she is missing is passion. Dr. Galen Burgess, wants to be a surgeon and does not want to be tied down and have anything or anyone get in her way. I like medical romance and doctors doing what they do best, saving lives. The devotion both have to their career is to be admired. It also makes you wonder about the focus and care you receive when in a hospital. This read is also a little bit choppy as you move from current issues of the day with women's' rights, sexual harassment, various social movements, hospital drama, and family. Galen's friend Teddy is supportive in his off handed way. Rowan's friend Makayla is fantastic is her directness and super funny come back lines. She is one of the best secondary characters I have ever read in lesfic.

This is a first book for me by this author so I didn’t go in with any expectations (good or bad) just an open mind and looking for a good read. Unfortunately after I finished the book, or more accurately, about halfway in I wanted to just not finish it-but I did-my 1 rule if I requested a book to review I will read it to the end no matter what.

The book started out well, you meet Galen who has just been announced as the new Chief Resident at a Boston hospital (yes many start to think Radclyffe-like, but not even close) and a new batch of residents, one being Rowan (predictable cute, innocent 'straight' girl). Now Galen has been written as the ‘bad-boy’ of the hospital (predictable ‘handsome’, sleeps with any woman that crosses her path, one night stand lust them and leaves them). As the story continues you can guess what happens, Rowan end up with Galen on a rooftop and well Rowan just can’t help herself, she kissed Galen and her whole life all of a sudden shifts (did I say predictable yet?). Ok I’ll stop being snarky, but in my opinion the characters were superficial, stereotyped, and well just lacked any luster to hold my attention. In fact by the end of the book I really disliked Rowan (self-centered, selfish), and I kind of wished Galen took another path.

From what I see on Amazon, this is not this authors first novel, so I can’t chalk this plot and writing up to first book she has written, thinking maybe a better editor or beta readers to help her in the future?. And when she used the word ‘mammy’ to describe Rowan’s boyfriends’ mom, I just about threw the book across the room-I know it is an acceptable word via Webster, but maybe do some googling the Urban dictionary next time.

Don’t get me wrong there were some parts/characters of the book I like, Galen’s mom, Galen herself. And the author does a good job of describing the environment/scenes without going down a medical text book recount, but it just wasn’t enough for me to really enjoy the book overall and have it still linger with me after I finished. Unfortunately this one will be on the ‘won’t read again’ shelf but I’ll keep an open mind on other books and read the reviews first before I think about purchasing this author in the future.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this book on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it will be under CC-Just wasn’t for me, when the book is published.

The cover of this book really pulled me in, and to be fair the story inside did not disappoint.
I liked both Galen and Rowan but there was a little bit of me that was irritated by how Galen would sleep with girl to girl without any thought of her position of authority.

Personally I totally related with Rowen's straight girl to gay girl feeling and it was written and portrayed really well

If you like a medical drama with a budding romance then I would certainly recommend this book

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The only other book by Emily Smith I’ve read was part of the wedding novella series so I thought I’d give a novel a go, unfortunately this wasn’t the book for me.

This book is about Galen, who, like many main characters in medical lesfic, is sleeping her way around the hospital. Once again I have to wonder why authors think anyone could get away with this in this day and age, and also, how many lesbians work in hospitals anyway? Judging by these books, hospitals are a lesbian utopia. I blame Radclyffe. Anyway, I digress. Galen is sleeping her way around the hospital (made even more unlikely by the fact that her father is the Chief of Surgery), and she’s also just been made Chief Resident.

Rowan is a new resident, she’s straight and has a boyfriend (and I know this because she tells everyone this 100 times in the first 1/4 of the book), and she’s fresh out of med school in Texas. She’s also instantly attracted to Galen, (though I’m not sure why, Galen’s actually not that great, but whatever).

So far the premise wasn’t exactly grabbing me, but I knew I was in trouble in the second chapter when Rowan describes her boyfriend this way.

“He was good to her. He let her be a surgeon.”

He LET her be a surgeon? Welcome to 2018 Rowan, can’t wait for you to join us.

Anyway, the two meet, have some awkward conversations that I think were supposed to be cute and develop feelings for each other. When I say ‘feelings’, it’s actually lust, followed very quickly by declarations of love. Now up to this point, Galen’s avoided commitment like a plague and Rowan was ‘straight’ , so I’m not sure how either of them arrived at this conclusion so fast and we’re not given enough time or content to draw the same one.

Meanwhile, Galen’s mother then gets sick enough to require surgery and her FATHER operates on her. I mean, come ON. There were no other doctors that could have done it? By this point I’d rolled my eyes so much I think I sprained the left one.

Anyway, they’re in their ‘not at all believable’ insta-love relationship when the ‘angst’ plot line rears it’s ugly head. I’m not going to spoil it, but it was... yeah, there aren’t really words for what I thought of the ‘plot’ or Rowan at that point. This is all then wrapped up in the last 5-10% of the book with no dramas, and also, no apology from Rowan. Not exactly how I like my HEAs.

So, can’t say I enjoyed it, can’t say I’d recommend it. In fact, parts of it felt like I was reading one of Rad’s stories (Turn Back Time, I can recommend that one).

2 stars.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42242920-all-of-me" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="All of Me" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1539004025m/42242920.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42242920-all-of-me">All of Me</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8197014.Emily_Smith">Emily Smith</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2584812668">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I rec'd an ARC from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books for review. No synopsis needed.<br />Galen (Chief Resident) and Rowan (intern) are the main characters in this medical romance. I'm a fan of romances with hospitals, doctors, etc., but this one was flat for me. Rowan comes over as an immature, manipulative individual and Galen (once a "player") suddenly is an emotionally needy person. The angst of a no-no romance between staff evaporates and all is well after Ro's romantic change of heart. While I have enjoyed previous books by Ms. Smith, this was a quick but not very memorable read. I was disappointed overall and can only rate this 2.5 stars.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

First-year intern Rowan has lived a sheltered life, simple and happy and uncomplicated. She's engaged to her high-school sweetheart Brian, back in Texas. But her first day on the job at Boston city hospital sets her life on a brand new path in more ways than one. Chief surgical resident Galen and Rowan find themselves working together more often than not, and their attraction is undeniable. Galen never expected to fall for anyone seriously, and certainly not a first year intern. But true love isn't something that can't be denied.

I'm really torn about this book because the way this author writes, their style of dialogue and prose, is just perfect for my tastes. The characters were really nicely developed and unique, I liked both Rowan and Galen a lot. However, the plot side of this book was just way to fast. Basically overnight, super straight Rowan was suddenly super lusting over Galen. It didn't feel very realistic and didn't allow for a build up of tension or emotional chemistry in their relationship. Galen's journey was slower and more reasonable for sure. A little more balance would have turned this book into a five-star read for me. It was a cute read for sure and I would recommend this to someone looking for something quick and sweet to read.

This is my first book by Emily Smith, and I adored her writing, so I will definitely go check out other books she may have written.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This medical-centered romance focuses on chief resident Dr. Galen Burgess and intern Dr. Rowan Duncan. Galen is a powerful, always-in-control doctor who spends her time being a hot-shot surgeon and having short-term, commitment free flings with various nurses. Known as a playboy, she has little interest in anything permanent. Until, of course, she meets new intern Rowan. Rowan is a straight girl from Texas with a long-term and long-distance boyfriend, but that doesn't stop her from being instantly attracted to Galen. And, I mean, who wouldn't?

I really liked the character of Galen and discovering her backstory and insecurities, watching her evolution as a person. I was less enthralled with Rowan, who seemed to vacillate between extreme confidence and extreme stupidity. The "twist" was inevitable, but the way it was dealt with was absurd. Then, the end came much too quickly for there to be any real resolution.

Overall, this was an enjoyable romance read, and Galen was a character I wanted to know more about. I wish that more focus was on her and less on the ridiculously contrived twist.

This one is a hospital romance between Dr. Galen Burgess and Dr. Rowan Duncan. The author, Emily Smith, starts it off promisingly enough. Galen is Chief Surgical Resident at Boston City Hospital and Rowan is the newest intern.

Galen is an expert at one-night-stands or quick couplings not seeking or wanting anything more. Rowan is straight and practically engaged to long time beau, Brian. There are instant sparks. Also, there are initial struggles and stumbling blocks in terms of Galen’s reputation, the ‘no fraternization’ policy in the hospital and the fact Rowan believes she is straight. These parts are nicely dealt with. The irresistible attraction and succumbing to it is also very well handled.

Midway through the story, Rowan and Galen are so, so, so in love. Rowan had also ended it with her boyfriend. So the first half flows. You even feel for and with Rowan. Galen seems just too confident and cocky, but with her success with women, which is really rubbed in, it kinda works as a personality.

It is in the second half that we had problems.

Rowan’s boyfriend chucks his job in Texas and lands up in Boston – a unilateral decision that he takes. Driven by guilt, habit, duty or compulsion, Rowan immediately dumps Galen to be with Brian.

Here come the problems.

How does Rowan believe that Galen, who has completely gone out-of-character with her, never given her cause for doubt, and committed to her will be okay if she just unceremoniously dumps her?

Brian was already in her life when she falls for Galen. She chooses love at that time. So her volte face later seems weird.

And then equally abruptly she breaks her engagement with Brian (with whom she is now living) to go back to Galen.

While we liked Rowan initially, we struggled to get a hang of this character – and haven’t yet understood the drivers, motivations and trajectory of this personality.

The author touches real emotions again when Rowan asks Galen to take her back, and Galen has all these conflicting emotions…she wants to get back, is scared to open up to Rowan again and cannot trust her again – these are things that are so honest. But Smith chooses the simplistic solution of HFN -- which is literally 'for now' as in that moment in the bar.


On the whole a very light read…but completely forgettable.

I love medical romances they are definitely one my favourite tropes so I was really excited about this book when I read the synopsis.

I really enjoyed the first 50% of the story and found myself really engaged and I actually liking both the characters and the chemistry between them as it was incredibly passionate. Especially the section where Galen the known player softens and start to fall for Rowan. It was really sweet and romantic... swoon!

But unfortunately as the twist (that I knew inevitably was coming) happened I was still a little shocked. At that point the character that I loved the most, Rowan became a little frustrating. I also felt that the ending was very sudden and I got a little confused how they bounced back so easily. It just felt a little unrealistic.

3 stars

This medical romance.is a very well written story. Although I have never read any of Emily Smith's books before, I plan to read more of her work. This book was done very tastefully and I was unable to put it down. The storyline and characters were very well put together. The chemistry between the characters jumped off the page.
I smiled, I cried and I cheered through s entirity.
This book is a must read!

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for an honest review'

**'Writers should want readers to be wholly engaged,gripped rather than shocked or disappointed by their story..Good writing is specific writing and specific writing is good writing.Be specific and not dull..'

'ALL OF ME' reads like a combination of how the current practice of medicine actually works in a hospital,part love story and also looks at a few unsympathetic behind-the-curtains unfortunate affairs & telltale odious actions between Chief resident,nurses,interns etc. Well 12% into this story and suddenly both leads (Galen & Rowan) are into each other -- no chemistry or relationship development but from their quick romance both had many fears and questions on whether they should be together but with all the encouragement from a few of their supportive colleagues things might be looking up for them. It is,I suspect that this little bit of meaningful thread that might resonate with some readers where there is notable cause for both on-the-job sexual harassment and abuse of power in this storyline -- this is mention by me because in this present-day of the #MeToo movement & culture,this stigma of most working women being sexually harassed is very much a taboo subject: which also might make people/readers uncomfortable to read about,think about or even deal with. Infuriating storytelling and writing at times. And yet that 's not what you as readers might feel at the end. What you are left with, oddly is a sense of relief maybe. And to top it off,some readers might view this interlocking medical drama and insta love story through the empathetic eyes of the author with a some what quirky at times and detailed story.

It seems an easy love story at first but then the angst hits, oh my, so much angst. Sometimes you just want a good dose of angst. One would expect Galen to be the difficult one but it was Rowan that I wanted to smack on the back of her head. It's rare that a modern-day lesbian romance deals with this issue. But I guess still not everyone is at ease with choices they make in life. A good read for a cold winter day with nothing to do.

I found this book to have many positives with a few negatives. I am going to be vague on details, because sometimes even the best generalizations can still give spoilers in thematic storylines. As many other reviewers have mentioned, this book is a find love fast type. Personally, that's my favorite; find love early and fight adversities together and get the HEO. The conflict in this book was less than desirable. The character's descriptions in the blurb will give you a good idea of what the conflict is related to. It's not that it's not understandable, generally what happens, but I think this book could have been longer to delve deeper into the "whys" of one character's decision making process for the readers. I also had some issues with the names. While I appreciate the attempt to not gender stereotype the characters by typically giving them a more masculine or dominant name and feminine name, it did make it a tad difficult to establish who was who initially. I don't think this detracts from the book, just a personal experience. I think this book is lighter than most medical lesfics, but it's accurate more realistic. This is an almost love for me. I received an ARC from Net Galley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

I chose 'All of Me' by Emily Smith because I like to read medical dramas and the beautiful cover caught my eye. Believe me, people sometimes do choose books for their covers.

I wish I could say that I loved all of this book. I did enjoy the medical aspect of the novel. The author is obviously an accomplished writer and can write about the medical field realistically. Her setting and the surrounding activity in the tale is perfect for this kind of story.

The problem I had with the book involved the main characters. I could never find a connection to them. In fact, I rather quickly became frustrated with both of them and especially with Dr.Rowan Duncan, the young intern who becomes the love interest of Dr. Galen Burgess, the chief resident and Rowan's teacher. In fact, Rowan shows a shocking amount of immaturity for someone her age. Her actions cause a lot of the angst in the story, and even at the end, I'm not sure she has grown enough. I was unsatisfied at the end of the story, and I don't like being left that way.

Knowing all of that, if you are a true lover of medical dramas, you might like this story. I hope so anyway.

I received an ARC from Net Galley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

This a a hospital romance, between two medical surgical residents Galen and Rowan. Galen have been just raised to residents chief wich entails the supervision of the new residents arriving to the hospital. Rowan is one of said new residents. It could cause a bit of conflict, about them becoming involved, but it is not so much at the end. What causes major trouble is the fact that Rowan is a straight girl from a little town in Texas and never have been atracted to another woman before. And from the moment they meet, the attraction is instant and unstopable.

Galen has been a player for most of her life, her father is a strict and authoritative man and also works in the same hospital, he is the OR chief and she is the only child that has followed his steps so he is a bit demanding. But regarding her love life, it revolves around quick hookups, preferably with hospital nurses, never going beyond a fast release.

And Rowan has never been attracted to a woman before and she does not know what to do about it when she meets Galen and starts feeling things very different that those she feels with her boyfriend.

Galen has a more logical behavior than Rowan, although at first it could seem that it will be Galen who will cause the previsible and expected drama it is Rowan who takes some odd decisions that make her less pleasant. But she is under a lot of stress to figure her things out clearly, so she can be forgiven.

There is some hospital lingo, not too annoying for those who don't know nothing about it, as it is me.

And the end could have been more elaborate, once some decisions have been taken, some extra explanation could have been appreciated

All in all, it is a recomendable romance.

I really wanted to like this book more but it became a struggle in overcoming cliches. Then it became a struggle to overcome predictable plot lines. The backdrop of a busy Boston hospital was intriguing with an energenic pace of a surgical residency. Deciding to choose predictable themes about players and small town straight girls was unfortunate because this story has a lot of potential and there’s some promising writing here. This story just didn’t work for me.