Cassandra Bellow has been seriously injured while on search and rescue work in a war zone. Her canine partner was killed when a wall fell on him. Distressed and embittered, she reluctantly arrives for rehab at Heatherglen Clinic in Scotland for a HIGHLAND DOC’S CHRISTMAS RESCUE. The somewhat heavily laden title refers to Dr. Lyle Sinclair, who manages the clinic, and the time of year from mid-November onwards. Wintry weather has already set in and the Christmas decorations and green boughs are being hung. Cassandra’s not in the mood. continues

Another lovely romance that brings holiday cheer to us readers. You will find yourself cheering that Dr. Lyle Sinclair a clinic manager is able to get Cassandra to heal in more ways then one. Cassandra was in an accident which requires physical therapy and Dr. Sinclair believe that a therapy dog is beneficial to her healing. What she wont say is she refuses because she lost her rescue dog in her accident and cannot get past the pain physically and mentally. Their banter with each other makes this another fantastic read and you will cheer both on . Taking place during the holidays adds a little more sparkle to the story. wonderful book.

4 1/2 STARS!

Filled with emotion! With the kick-off book in the brand new Pups That Make Miracles series in the Harlequin Medical Romance line, Susan Carlisle brings us HIGHLAND DOC'S CHRISTMAS RESCUE centering around a recovering search and rescue member and the doctor who runs the clinic she is sent to for rehabilitation.

Cassandra's story quickly hooks the reader as we learn of the devastating loss of her canine partner during the rescue she herself was injured in. She's not sure where to go from here ... will she ever be able to do the job she once adored if her trusted partner is no longer at her side?

Lyle is easy to like and makes her recover a little more lighthearted than we might have expected once they start falling for each other.

I recommend this story to anyone looking for an emotion filled holiday read filled with a beautiful happily ever after. Really enjoyed the first book in this series and look forward to more to come!

Complex Heroine and Kind, Supportive Hero

Oh, my! What a story! The author has an incredible way of pulling you right into the story and into Cass’s world. She is hurting in so many ways, physically and mentally especially. She was involved in a horrible accident during a search-and-rescue in Europe that killed her canine partner. Finally out of the hospital, her doctor has insisted that she go to this rehab facility in the Scottish Highlands without telling her precisely why (other than they have a very good track record with injuries like hers). The heroine tries to be so strong, not wanting help even though she needs it and only wanting to get through the physical therapy as fast as she can so she can get home to the United States. She's at a crossroads in her life, too, because she's unsure what to do now that she may never fully recover from her physical injuries and that she may never be able to build another partner relationship was a search-and-rescue animal. The heroine is definitely a complex ball of emotions, but given her background, it is completely understandable. The author has created a relatable and very believable heroine.

The hero is a book is the Scottish physician administrator at the facility. He is very kind and supportive of the heroine, and you get the sense that he cares deeply about all of his patients' recoveries. Though, of course, it goes a little deeper with Cass! I liked how he handled the heroine at first, trying to be firm when necessary but often handling her more with kid gloves. She doesn't reveal the entire backstory to him, so he doesn't understand why she refuses to work with the therapy animals at the center. Both the hero and the heroine had more depth than the average romance (especially a holiday romance). I quite enjoyed their story.

After an accident left Cassandra broken in more ways then one shes left dealing with going to physical therapy and the loss of her rescue dog. Cassandra is on a mission to get back in the saddle and get her body back to working but isn't ready for the therapy dogs there. Dr. Lyle Sinclair is the clinic manager and wants to make sure his patients and doing what they need to to heal and Cassandra is no difference.

This was a nice little holiday contemporary romance. I enjoyed seeing how everything played out in this book and getting to know the character. The romance was cute but unfortunately it had a clear deadline and was curious to see how things would end. I loved getting to know the characters and seeing them all work together not only healing themselves but others as well, being a listening ear and being there for eachother. Then because it was during the holidays there are a bit of holiday things going on which I appreciate. Overall pretty good book I really enjoyed it.

Susan Carlisle’s novel, Highland Doc’s Christmas Rescue is a lovely holiday read about the relationship between Cass, a women recovering from a traumatic injury and loss of her canine partner and Lyle, the medical director of the rehabilitation center where she is recovering from her accident. Readers will enjoy this book.

Cassandra is a rescue worker that had an injury in the line of duty and came to a rehab facility in Scotland, where she meets the manager of the clinic, Lyle Sinclair, who is in the rescue business too in his spare time in his little corner of the world. He loves his position at this clinic but is being pressured by his father to go back into active military duty. Cassandra is not sure what she will do when she is discharged from care at the clinic. She doesn’t know if she can do rescue work again after the loss of her dog who died saving her.

This is an interesting story. I loved the location – the highlands of Scotland. The people in the story were people you would want to get acquainted with. This is one of those stories you don’t want to put down until you finish it.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.