Jenna Kernan

Lucie West was captured, scarred and married to Eagle Dancer, Sioux Indian. He saved her from enslavement to be his wife. Her parents rescued her and took her East, but kept her as a virtual prisoner in fear of her being stolen again. When she could stand it no more she ran away and took a teaching job at an Indian school. Eagle Dancer sends Sky Fox to bring her back to him. Sky was also captured but as a very young child and raised as Indian. As a young man he was pulled from the tribe and sent to the white world where he never fit in. He owes a debt and goes for Lucie. How these 2 lonely outsiders fulfill their debts and find a place for themselves is a good story.… (more)

Lily Shanahan, first generation Irish immigrant, has made it to the coast of Alaska and is looking for a partner to make the 500 mile trek across the Yukon to the Dawson gold fields. She is looking for adventure and a new life. She can sew, cook and sing and hopes people will pay. She has a Newfoundland dog and sled and is looking for an unprepared greenhorn willing to partner a woman. Jack Snow's father has lost his fortune and died leaving his family destitute. His fiance has dropped him and his mother and sister are living on family charity. Jack has an invention that he thinks will make his fortune in the gold mines and restore him to his former life. However, he has to haul all his equipment to Dawson. Despite his concerns he agrees to partner with Lily. They are instantly attracted but with different agendas.

The bulk of the story is the hard trek to Dawson. The Mounties require a 1000 pounds of provisions along with clothing and tools before starting out. Jack has boxes of metal parts besides. Much of the trail requires carrying loads a distance within sight to avoid thievery, then returning for another load, etc, etc. Making the trek many times longer in actual steps. They have to build a boat at Lake Bennett and navigate the Yukon River when the ice breaks, through several sets of rapids. Many died or lost all their provisions and had to head back. The Mounties made men paint a serial number on their boats and give next of kin contact information; then after each rapids they had to check in. Women and children had to walk around the rapids. This was an amazing story for a category romance.… (more)

Just out of nursing school and struggling financially, main character Emily is thrilled when a wealthy psychiatrist wants her to care for his wife. What seems like a dream job turns out to be anything but when Emily sees what’s going on behind closed doors. Clearly, something odd is going on with his wife. Is she in danger from her husband? Emily wants to help, but after signing a strict NDA, what can she do?

THE NURSE is a simmering domestic thriller that put me on edge wondering who could be trusted. The first half of the book was a slow burn with lots of details about the workings of the Roths’ bizarre life and their expectations of Emily. Maybe a bit too slow for my taste, but the mystery about what’s really going on kept me reading as secrets are revealed.

The last third of the book was very exciting and super twisty. While I loved the final outcome, I felt like much of the ending was just an explanation of how things fit together, instead of showing. Still, I thought that the conclusion was wildly entertaining and satisfying.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.… (more)