I wasn’t able to get to this before it was archived. It sounds really good though and I’ll add it to my TBR!

Tina Beckett


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Many AAR reviewers, including me, have been buzzing about the good things coming out of Harlequin lately. I haven’t read a book from the Harlequin Medicals line before, so it seemed like a good time to give one a try. Tina Beckett is a prolific Medical author, and her latest, How to Win the Surgeon’s Heart, takes place between two physicians on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Victoria. While the book had room for improvement, I enjoyed it, and the medical content in particular.

Harvard-educated Saint Victoria native Dr. Sasha James is the surgeon at the island’s public hospital. Mistrusting rich boys due to a bad relationship, she’s avoided meeting Dr. Nate Edwards. Nate served in Saint Victoria during a hurricane with a Doctors Without Borders-type group and lost a young patient, which has made him feel called to relocate to and work on the island. Now he is widely known as a health philanthropist and the founder of the nearby private, high-end The Island Clinic, which offers subsidized care to locals alongside the global elite patients who come for its top-notch care and seclusion.

He visits Sasha’s Saint Victoria Hospital one day, and she is unable to avoid being his host. The visit is interrupted by a patient having a heart attack, even more of a crisis because Saint Vincent’s cardiologist is unavailable. Nate immediately offers to have the man air-lifted to The Island Clinic. Sasha, being a diligent physician, wants to check up on her patient, which means she’ll have to see Nate again. Thus begins a relationship.

The plot arc is pretty standard. Nate’s parents and potential fiancée cut all contact with him when he decided to return to Saint Victoria instead of joining his parents’ high-end plastic surgery practice, so he’s uncertain that anyone actually intends to love him. Sasha worries that Nate will be the same self-centered user as her previous boyfriend. The author does one of the better versions of this type of conflict, using legitimate misunderstandings instead of bullheaded denial, but I wouldn’t call them wildly original. Especially at the beginning, Sasha’s refusal to even meet Nate comes across as immature.

As I mentioned, I’m new to Harlequin Medical, so I didn’t know what to expect from the medical side of the book. I was impressed! The medical side of the story, from procedures (the facial reconstruction of a patient with a deep-rooted melanoma) to public health measures (checking for schistosomiasis at an island population level), are detailed without being dry infodumps. We see the challenges of patient access to care and transport on an island, as when Sasha talks about how her father died of a heart attack when she was a teenager because they couldn’t get him to treatment. The author talks about the difference between Sasha’s emergency surgery and vascular microsurgery, and has procedures take hours. Patients must give consent for other physicians to observe their procedures or review their cases. Test results come back in a realistic two to three weeks. The surgeons scrub in and then the nurses help them put on gloves to maintain sterility. All the little details are there, and I loved it.

I appreciate the clear research that went into making The Island Clinic’s business model plausible. Nate’s hospital was established on the back of his presumably-massive trust fund, it maintains itself by providing top-of-the-line care in a luxurious, ultra-private setting, and charges out the eyeballs for doing so. Even then, it still has to host an annual gala fundraiser to subsidize the treatment it makes available to locals at low or no cost. In a genre that often hits you with complete financial illogic, this thoroughness delighted me.

But the well-developed details of the medical setting just make it more obvious how wallpaper the Caribbean setting is. The island is called Saint Victoria, but we don’t know anything about it. How big is it? Does it have cities? It seems to have French colonial history because Sasha, two or three times, uses “French Creole” expressions, but I don’t know where she got them from because every other islander speaks standard American English. Sasha, on the cover, is a stunning Black woman, but the text barely describes her physically – she could be any race, as long as she has curly hair. Her mother is a chef, whose catering for The Island Clinic’s gala is a plot point, but the only Caribbean dish we read about is conch soup. We don’t even have a description of how it tastes, besides “good”. And is it really sexy – or even hygenic – to have sex on a salt-water beach, in the sand? I couldn’t help contrasting this with the rich details of the #OwnVoices Caribbean books I’ve read.

I also had an issue with a medical situation that comes up partway through the book which fizzles out. I don’t want to go into detail because spoilers, but you’ll know it when you see it.

Harlequin Medicals absolutely delivers on its promise to provide a medical story and setting. I wish that the romance and the Caribbean setting had been as strong. On the whole, though, this was a strong first start for me with Harlequin Medicals, and I’ll absolutely be back to the line in the future.

4.5 Stars

Escape to the Caribbean with Tina Beckett’s heartfelt, emotional and compelling new novel How to Win the Surgeon’s Heart which kicks off Harlequin Medical Romance’s brilliant new continuity, The Island Clinic quartet.

Workaholic Dr. Nate lives and breathes his job. Nate simply cannot imagine doing anything else and his every waking thought is occupied by his job and the hospital he runs. Nate is used to the challenges of his profession and he has never been one to shirk his duties. He is wholly dedicated to his patients and takes his job extremely seriously, so when he hears the news that the nearby St. Victoria’s Hospital is in dire need of doctors, Nate does not hesitate to step up to the plate – even if he is going to have to face a challenge he finds himself ill-prepared for: falling in love with surgeon Sasha…

Sasha is overjoyed that Nate agreed to help the hospital out. His generosity and collegiality has got the St. Victoria Hospital out of the very tight spot they had found themselves in, so why does Nate’s presence make Sasha feel so unsettled? Nate is a consummate professional who puts the well-being of his patients first – but he also happens to be handsome, charismatic and somebody Sasha simply cannot stop herself from thinking about even if relationships are strictly off the agenda for her!

Having been burnt once before, Sasha had always believed that her heart was off limits. Yet, the more time she spends in Nate’s company, the more she finds herself falling for him. Wealthy and handsome men had nearly destroyed Sasha’s life once before, but Nate is cut from a different cloth. Will he manage to show her that he is not like those men who had hurt her before? Is Sasha ready to let love into her life? Or is she going to continue to be haunted by the past and let Nate slip through her fingers?

Tina Beckett’s How to Win the Surgeon’s Heart is a captivating tale that delivers heart-racing medical details, red-hot chemistry, searing intensity and tender and touching romance in an irresistible love story that will delight readers from start to finish.

A compelling page-turner about letting go of the past, healing from old wounds, starting over and falling in love, Tina Beckett’s How to Win the Surgeon’s Heart is not to be missed.

This is a contemporary romance between two surgeons who work in hospitals located on a Caribbean island.

He is Dr Nate, the person responsible for setting up both hospitals on the island, causing a huge rift with his parents. She is Surgeon Sasha, someone who has been heartbroken by a wealthy man in the past and has managed to avoid anything involving seeing, meeting or speaking to Dr Nate for three years. However, staff shortages mean she can’t avoid working with him. There’s attraction between them but having been hurt by the actions of those they’ve loved and trusted in the past, both are reluctant to open themselves up to romance. Can love find a way to help them heal and trust again?

There are great back stories, a fantastic community and heartwarming romance in this lovely start to a new series. I enjoyed reading it and will be looking out for other books in this series in future!

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

How to Win the Surgeon's Heart is a great book. The lead characters have to work through various misunderstandings before they are able to fully open their hearts to each other. I loved seeing how the characters worked through their issues and were a great team when working on medical cases.

Good book. As a young doctor, Nate was part of a team sent to a Caribbean island to help after a hurricane. What he experienced there affected him profoundly, especially the death of a little girl. He left the island determined to do something to help, only to face opposition from his famous plastic surgeon parents. Turning his back on their disappointment, Nate used his trust fund to start the Island Clinic.

Sasha is a surgeon at St. Victoria Hospital on the island where she grew up. As the book opens, she waits for Nate's arrival from the clinic as he offered to help out the short-staffed hospital. Sasha, who's been burned in a relationship with a wealthy doctor, views Nate with a great deal of skepticism. His clinic caters to the rich and famous; as chief of staff, she wonders if he even practices medicine anymore.

Sasha came across as very judgmental of someone she knows nothing about. She knows it and tries to stop, but her cynicism runs deep. I liked how Nate began smashing her preconceptions from the moment he got off the shuttle. Her eyes opened when they immediately faced a critical heart case, and Nate leaped right in, evacuating the patient to the clinic when he needed a specialist. After three years of avoiding the clinic like the plague, Sasha was forced into it when she wanted to check up on the patient. I liked how she saw how wrong she'd been as Nate gave her a tour, and she learned that the wealthy patients funded the clinic's work with the island's residents.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Nate and Sasha. The sparks fly immediately though both try to resist them. Each has a reason to protect their hearts. Sasha finds it difficult to trust her judgment after her last relationship, and Nate still feels the sting of rejection by his parents. I liked watching them find ways to spend time together and seeing them get to know each other. I liked how Sasha spoke her mind, from the gala planning session to her own needs and desires. I also liked Nate's caring and compassion, as shown in the scene with Sasha's uncle.

As their physical attraction grows, so do their feelings for each other, though neither is ready to admit it. I ached for them both when Sasha's fears sent her running from her feelings. A little help from Sasha's mother helped Nate see what he needed to do. I loved the depth of their emotions as they broke free of the chains of the past and moved toward a future together. I liked the epilogue too.

As is usual with this line, actual medical issues are a big part of the story. I enjoyed learning about both issues in a way that was easy to understand for the average reader.

Dr. Nate Edwards, the son of wealthy plastic surgeons, shocks his parents by turning down their offer to join their medical practice. Instead, he puts all his funds into a clinic on a Caribbean island. He has strong a belief that they need his help. When a nearby smaller hospital needs help, Nate offers his services.

Surgeon Sasha James isn’t sure she can trust Nate. She recently had a break up with a wealthy man who put fame and wealth first. She’s sure Nate must be the same way.

Nate and Sasha are thrown together when they organize a fundraiser gala. Between their careers and the fundraiser, they can’t help drawing closer all the time.

This is the first book in a new series, “Island Clinic”, which is part of the Harlequin Medical Romance line. It’s a quick read with strong, energetic, and fun characters. These characters are likeable people you can really care about and cheer for.

There is quite a bit of drama mixed with the romance to make a delightful read. The romantic scenes are not too steamy, but not sweet either. It’s somewhere in the middle. I could feel the sparks flying as I read this book. I, also, felt as if I was in the Caribbean. I was completely transported to this island.

I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. There are four books in the series. Each book is written by a different author. Sounds like fun to me.




FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is book # 1 in “The Island Clinic Romance” and this is the first time that I’m reading a book from Tina Beckett.

The romance between Nate and Sasha has an island setting. Sasha grew up in the Caribbean Island and she is a surgeon at Saint Victoria Hospital and Nate’s parents turn their back on him and he is a doctor with a trust fund who built a hospital for the rich and famous to come to the Caribbean Island to keep the media out of their business.

Sasha is uncertain about Nate because she has been hurt in the past and doesn’t want to go down that road again.

This is such an awesome read that takes place in the medical field, the characters are awesome and well developed with a past that they’re working on overcoming and there is an HEA; and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

How to Win the Surgeon's Heart is book one in a four-author series. It's also the first medical romance I've read in quite some time. If the rest of the books are as engaging as this one, it won't be my last in the series or in medical romance.
This is a quick read, so expect the romance to run quickly as well. That said, it's not so fast that I would consider it instalove, but it was kind of refreshing to see two people with such serious careers fall as fast as this couple. Nate and Sasha are likable and easy to root for. Sasha has some trust issues, but they're understandable, and she and Nate just fit so well together. The story is predictable as far as romance goes, which is rather comforting if you're looking for a bit of escapism, and given the setting, it's great for a beach read as you're soaking up some sun.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review.
This book was a nice sweet read. I liked the beachy Caribbean setting and the overall premise of the series overall, as well as the story itself.
The story is very low-stakes, and the conflict between Nate and Sasha was resolved very quickly, without really exploring it. I also felt the execution was a bit clumsy, with a chapter ending as the lovemaking was about to start and picking up again in the next chapter. I got the sense it was meant to create anticipation, but it felt more awkward than sexy.

This is my first time reading a book from the Harlequin Medical Romance category, and I'm happy to say I really enjoyed it.

How to Win the Surgeon's Heart tells the story of Doctor Nate and Surgeon Sasha. She works in the small Caribbean island clinic while he is reasonable for and works at the large Hospital nearby to assist the clinic when needed. Sasha thinks she has him figured out before she's even met him and wants nothing to do with him. She assumes he's in it for the money, when in reality that's far from his motivation. As they spend time together they both discover a connection between them, but they have both been burned my ex's in the past, and so they try to keep it feelings from being involved. That turns out to be hard to do with two unforgettable encounters and a shared passion for helping those in need. But will Sasha's let her past experience with the wealthy stop what's bloomed between them, and will Nate fight for what they have started.

I enjoyed both our main characters. Nate was a sweetheart and Sasha was strong and passionate. I love how she wasn't afraid to speak her mind, except for some when it came to matters of the heart because she did make a lot of assumptions when it came to Nate. The two had a lot of tender and sweet moments, and two extremely steamy ones. I wasn't expected the intimate scenes to be a hot as they were, but I'm not complaining! I also loved the books island setting the descriptions of the sand and waves made me ache for a vacation .

How to Win the Surgeon's Heart by Tina Beckett is a medical romance that is filled with compassionate doctors, a strong sense of community, steamy beach kisses, and a happily ever after epilogue that will put a huge smile on your face.

Dr. Nate Edwards has put everything he owned into his island clinic in the Caribbean. His parents are reknowned plastic surgeons and expected Nate to join their practice. Nate had other ideas, thus he started the Island Clinic.

Before Nate and Dr. Sasha James, a surgeon at nearby St. Victoria Hospital, have a chance to discuss their near kiss at a gala, a medical emergency has both doctors on hand when an accident victim comes into the ER. Sasha is almost relieved at the major distraction mainly due to the baggage she is still contending with. Having had her heart broken by another wealthy doctor she cannot imagine getting involved with Nate.

Nate is different. Although he does not know what is holding Sasha back he is determined to show her the kind of man that he is - dedicated and loyal being only two of his admirable qualities. Even with his growing practice, however, Nate is concerned about his relationship with his parents.

It has been quite some time since I have had read a medical romance and this book was the perfect fit for a subgenre that I actually enjoy. The characters were both wonderful and the story was sweet and satisfying. Nate had a stronger emotional edge that Sasha, but she held her own as a strong character as well.

This book was touching on several levels, especially when Sasha's uncle comes into Nate's clinic. That brought in a much more serious touch to this story and I love how it further connected Nate and Sasha. There was also really good interaction with other characters that I enjoyed. This is the first book in a four-author series and I would love to get my hands on the other titles.

Many thanks to Harlequin Medical Romance for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for this e-arc and Tina Beckett

I loved the setting. This takes place on a Caribbean island. And we get vivid scenes of sand under their feet while they walk on the beach, the ocean and waves, I enjoyed it. Sasha works at the Saint Victoria hospital as a surgeon, she loves her job and her patients. Nate used his trust fund to make a new hospital, The Island Clinic, which caters to celebrities who want to be discrete and not have the media knowing about their conditions. Sasha doesn't know that The Island Clinic isn't only for the rich, she just assumes so and she dislikes Nate for building on their Island and only taking in the rich. Not necessarily a hate to love romance, she just misjudged him and disliked him for it.

I didn't like how quickly they fell in love. It felt very very rushed. Their reasons for not wanting to be together was resolved very quickly as well. They fell in love and only knew each other for like a month or two. It didn't feel their connection or chemistry but it was a light read with a great setting.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Steam: 🔥🔥

This is a medical romance, and this is the first book in The Island Clinic series. I found the romance in this book very cute and fun. The two main characters in this book was getting over bad break ups, and they both found what they needed in each other. It took them a while to trust each other. I really enjoyed the writing in this book, and I loved the characters in this book. I also loved the storyline, and I loved the setting of this book. The only thing I really did not love in this book was how long it took for the two main characters to start to trust each other and let the other one in. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Medical) or author (Tina Beckett) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on June 29-2021.

Sasha is a surgeon on a little Caribbean island where she grew up. There she meets Dr. Nate, a physician at an elite clinic on the island. Sasha assumes that Nate is rich and not worth her time since she already had an encounter with a rich guy who treated her badly. The plot is fun to read but predictable. I enjoyed the medical details in the book, including a disease that Sasha’s uncle was diagnosed with. I really enjoyed the interactions between Sasha and Nate as they discovered truths about each other. The main characters were very well-developed in such a way that I felt as if I knew them personally by the end of the book. Nate was caring and compassionate, a young man who put the needs of others above his own needs. Sasha was wary and hesitant and a skilled surgeon who wants to guard her heart. The way the two of them meet and how they pursue a relationship made for a fun read. There were definitely some steamy sex scenes, so this book may not be for all romance readers.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Modern medicine and everyday life meets romance on a fairy tale island in the Caribbean. There's something about seeing the Harlequin logo that has me one-clicking, ready to indulge in a great romance. This was a nice escape.