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Sunday, October 9, 2022

Sunday's Book Code Blue #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #medical #Susoense #hospital #nurses #doctors

In the medical suspense Code Blue by Janet Lane Walters, published by Books We Love and previously published as Obsessions, nurse Susan finds the body of the hospital’s “gossip queen” in the orthopedic storage room. She doesn’t realize this is the first of a series of murders involving her colleagues or that her life is in danger. She is a widow and is exploring a new romantic relationship that promises love but she fears the man she is falling for is as controlling as her dead husband. The arrival of courtship gifts, at first, seen as innocuous soon takes on a sinister note.

Reviews

This book kept me on edge from the first page to the last. Several times I just 'knew' I'd figured out who the killer was, but each time, there was a bit of doubt there until the very last paragraph! I highly recommend this book. 4 Stars (Excellent!)"--Tracie's Book Reviews by Kathy's Faves and Raves

"A series of murders, suspense, action, a tad of love makes OBSESSIONS an intriguing tale designed to mystify your mind. If you love mysteries, you'll love Janet Lane Walters newest release. 4 Stars!"--Just Views

"Fast-paced mainstream novel ... Walters plots carefully, each scene constructed to perfection. For readers who enjoy being terrified, this is an author to turn to for entertainment. She tells all, while managing to create paranoia among the characters."--Affaire de Coeur

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Wednesday, October 5, 2022

The Aries Libra Connection Free #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #romance #medical #hospital #union vs management

Join the authors at MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some tempting excerpts. Mine is from the first book of Opposites in Love series found at eclecticwriter.blogspot.com The Aries Libra Connection is free

Blurb:

Jenessa is Aries, a nurse, union advocate and likes a good fight.

Eric is Libra, Director of Nursing, and believes in compromise.

Can these two find a way to uncover the underhanded events at the hospital? They’re on opposite sides but the attraction between them is strong. She’s a widow who fought to save her husband’s life during a code. She feels guilty because the love she and her husband shared had died before his death. He assisted at the code but he feels guilty since he was the one who was responsible for the short staffing the night her husband died.

Now they face falling in love and trying to solve the problems between the nurse’s union and the president of the hospital’s Board who wants a take over of the hospital by his hospital group. Is their connection strong enough to survive?

Excerpt:

The apartment door slammed. She looked up and saw her roommate. Megan kicked off her shoes. “Are you ready for a bomb? Guess what the Board has done.”

“Sandra.”

“Is out.” Megan grinned. “Josh and I were at the Cove for dinner. Sam introduced Eric Bradshaw. Would you believe he’s the new Director of Nursing? And what a hunk he is.”

Jenessa pushed back long strands of dark brown hair that had come loose from her braid. “You’re kidding.”

“Not one bit.”

“It’s a ploy. Can’t you hear Mr. Bishop’s laughter? We’ll give the girls a man to drool over. That’ll shut them up.”

“Come on, Jen. At least they didn’t name Her.” Megan headed across the living room, discarding pieces of clothes as she walked. “He’s every woman’s dream. Tall, blond, broad shoulders. I positively drooled. He’s got the greatest dimples. That’s because he’s a Libra.”

Trust Megan to ask his sun sign, Jenessa thought. Her roommate’s description confirmed her suspicions of the Board’s motives. “Sounds like you’re adding him to your string.”

“Wrong. A Libra and a Pisces. Odd couple material.” Megan’s blonde curls bounced with the force of her denial. “He’s for you, my Aries friend. Remember what I always say. An opposition can be exciting.”

Not again, Jenessa thought. For the past year, Megan’s attempts at matchmaking seemed designed to drive her crazy. “Megan, no.”

“You can’t be alone forever.”

“You’re surviving.”

“Alone I’m not. My problem is too many and being unable to hurt anyone.” She shrugged. “Give it a shot.”

Jenessa frowned. Megan and she had been friends since they were five, but there were things she couldn’t tell her… Things about Chuck and the marriage.

“I’m union. He’s management. Can you see me falling for someone from the opposition?”

“And what will you be when you finish your Master’s?”

“Not here. I’ll work for a doctor. Head to the city. Become a consultant.” She followed the trail of clothes and gathered them as she walked. “With my reputation here, they won’t promote me.”

“Your reputation is undeserved. Just because you organized the union, sent a petition to recall Sandra, started the protest forms, negotiated the contract…” The click of the bathroom door cut off Megan’s words.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Do you know what you've done #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Committee of angels #romance #hospital #suspense

Join the aturors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some intriguing excerpts. Mine is found @https://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com from the Committee of angels

BLURB:

The article passed around the table on a hot August night. “Five to ten percent of the nation’s doctors are so impaired or incompetent they cannot or should not practice medicine.” The nurses at Bradley Memorial thought they had them all. That night they formed a group they called The Committee of Angels.

Nearly a year has passed and Laura Bancroft wonders why little has been done to change things. She also wonders about some of the nurses fitting the pattern. Laura has three doctors on her list of incompetents. She seldom meets with the other members and several of the others are upset with her. When her ex-husband joins the medical staff, she realizes she still has feelings for him. One of her list of doctors dies after emergency surgery and Laura finds her suspected since she was assigned to the doctor. She must deal with suspicions, her feelings for her ex. Then a second on her list commits suicide and speaks of blackmail.

Can Laura learn the truth of who is responsible before she faces arrest?

EXCERPT:

“Mrs. Bancroft, what right have you to interfere? Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Kept a patient from walking out. Mr. Jackson was furious when he learned about his surgery. His son had no legal right to give a phone consent or any other kind.”

He leaned forward. “Just a minute, young lady. What are you accusing me of doing?”

“Not listening to your patient.”

“You’ll be sorry. When I report this, you will lose your job. Do you like owning a house?”

Laura clenched her hands. The house was her dad’s. “Don’t threaten me. You could have spent time with Mr. Jackson explaining the reason for the surgery and showing him the results of the tests.”

“That old man insisted on no surgery.” He grasped her arms. “You’ve condemned him to an awful death.”

Laura froze. Moore’s pale eyes glittered. The odor of alcohol reached her. He was drunk. She wanted to run. Had Doug managed to reach the supervisor?

“You…you…,” he sputtered. “You’re doing this for revenge. You still blame me for your mother’s death.”

“We could have sued you but my dad wouldn’t.” Though Laura knew she should stop, she couldn’t. “How many more patients.” She saw his raised fist headed for her face.

“I wouldn’t do that, doctor.”

Laura’s eyes widened. She knew that voice. What was he doing here?

Dr. Moore whirled. “Do I know you?”

“We haven’t met yet. I’ve just joined the staff. Rich Slater’s partner.”

“You had no right to interfere.”

Laura didn’t wait to hear more. She hurried to the lounge. Why was Alex here?

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Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Committee of Angels New Release #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor # Medical #romantic suspense #hospital

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine is a new release found @https://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com and is a romantic suspense

Blurb:

Excerpt:

Exhaustion swept through Laure’s body. She bent her head and sipped the cola savoring the taste and the coolness on her dry throat. She listened to the gossip sweeping around the table.

“So I said.” One of the nurses began. “Doesn’t an elevated temp happening three days after surgery mean something’s brewing.” She groaned. “This is the third pending infection for Blunder Doc this month.”

“And it’s only August sixth,” another nurse said. “Give him a chance to better his record.”

“Guess what Princess Doc said this afternoon. ‘Don’t call me. Call the service and someone will get back to you. I have a busy evening.”

“She must have tickets to the opera, Laura mumbled.

A nurse with graying hair Laura had never seen before leaned forward. “Seems things here aren’t much different from the last place I worked.” She unfolded a piece of paper. “Months ago I read this article. ‘Five to ten percent of the nation’s doctors are so impaired or incompetent they cannot and should not practice medicine.”

A blast of chill air sent shivers along Laura’s spine. Mentally she listed the doctors at Bradley Memorial who fit that description. “I think the numbers are too low unless there are four or five hundred doctors on staff.”

“Maybe we have them all,” someone whispered.

Laura frowned. The clipped voice belonged to one of the evening supervisors. What was Edith doing here? How often did someone from administration socialize with staff nurses? The older woman sat next to the young blonde who had just completed her month long orientation.

“Something should be done,” someone said.

Laura scanned her companions. Who had spoken? “What can we do?” Her question joined the chorus.

There’s more.” The supervisor moved the globed candle closer. For an instant the flickering flame changed her round smiling face into a grotesque mask. “Only a doctor can determine if another doctor is incompetent.”

“Wrong,” the stranger nurse said. “Nurses can act.”

“Sure.” Skepticism colored the speaker’s voice. “We all know how they avoid and close their ranks around the incompetent. They’re afraid of what they might find.”

“And if any of the doctors agree with us they’re black-listed.”

“So, what can we do?” Laura’s question halted the buzz of conversation.

“Nothing.” Doug said. “Look at what happened to Alice when she complained about Blunder Doc. She lost her job. While this isn’t always a fun job, it pays the bills.”

A second woman slapped the table. “He’s right. The doctors will continue with business as usual.”

How right they were. Laura drew a deep breath. For more than twenty years, Dr. John Moore had been a sloppy surgeon, Her nails dug into her palms. The infection he had caused when he’d operated on her mother had caused her death. Laura had been forced to face her teenage years motherless. How many times had a similar scenario been repeated because of him?

The stranger nurse rested her elbows on the table. “Who says we must work alone. I’ll tell you what the nurses at the last hospital where I worked did.” She lowered her voice to a near whisper. “They formed a committee.”

Doug laughed. “We could do the same and call ourselves the Committee of Angels.”

Born that hot August night, the Committee began collecting data and investigating the doctors at Bradley Memorial Hospital. During the days and months , though few of the members knew, letters were sent to a select group of physicians on staff.

Dear Doctor,

Five to ten percent of the nation’s doctors are unfit to practice medicine, We have determined you are one of them. A reckoning is due. You are being watched.

The Committee of Angels.

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Sunday, May 8, 2022

New Release - Committee of Angels #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #medical #suspense #hospital #doctors #nurses

Released the end of April

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Friday, April 29, 2022

Coming Soon Committee of Angels to be released in May #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Romantic suspense #hospital #nurses #doctors

This book has taken over twenty years to write. Once, a publisher put out a call for manuscripts and I sent a query. They wanted a detailed synopisi and three chapters. I sent this off and waited. A rejection came with a lot of nice comments about the writing but they hated that one of the nurses in the story was a "slut." I wrote a bit more and talked about the idea at the hospital where I worked. Everyone knew I wrote stories and had managed to publish a few. The nurses were enthralled by the idea but several doctors overheard us discussing the idea and they were not happy. Then my critique group was of two minds about the story so I put it aside and went on to write other stories.

One day, I was looking through my file cabinet for another story I had begun and put aside and found the partial for this story. As I read, I liked what I read and I set out to write it as medical suspense. Suddenly in the middle of a draft, I hit a snag and the story took a twist. After pondering this for days, I decided to begin again, using much of what was initially written but changing it to a sort of romantic suspense. Hopefully I've done what I intended.

Here's the Blurb;

Nearly a year has passed and Laura Bancroft wonders why little has been done to change things. She also wonders about some of the nurses fitting the pattern. Laura has three doctors on her list of incompetents. She seldom meets with the other members and several of the others are upset with her. When her ex-husband joins the medical staff, she realizes she still has feelings for him. One of her list of doctors dies after emergency surgery and Laura finds her suspected since she was assigned to the doctor. She must deal with suspicions, her feelings for her ex. Then a second on her list commits suicide and speaks of blackmail.

Can Laura learn the truth of who is responsible before she faces arrest?

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A chance to overcome odds, will they take it?

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Wedensday The Leo Aquarius Connection #MFRWHooks #BWL Author #romance #medical #Astrology #hospital

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some interesting stories. Mine is found @https://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com The Leo Aquarius Connection He's a Leo and she's an Aquarian.

BLURB:

The nurses stare as he exits the elevator on the Pediatric Unit. “Enter the handsome doctor.” Those are Doctor Caleb Winstone’s words as he steps off the elevator. Though he’s embarrassed, this Leo doctor rolls with the punches.

He’s returned home to join an older doctor in the practice. Before long he learns the new nurse manager of the unit is a woman he knows. Of all the women in the world, she is the last one he wants to see. How can he manage to work daily with her? Before the day ends, he discovers his mother has decided who he should marry and the woman is quite willing. Not for him.

Suzanna Rollins is an Aquarian and now the guardian of her half-brother who was badly injured in a car accident. She takes the position as nurse manager of the Pediatric unit for several reasons. One is the move from the city re-unites her with college friends, the Grantley Gang. The other is for the excellent Rehab Center. On the day of her arrival, she encounters Caleb. What is he doing here and why? Can she work with the man she fell in and out of love with the night he offered her less than marriage?

Caleb’s interest in helping her half-brother gives them more together time than they imagined

Reviews:

Diane Scott Lewis

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2018

Handsome, rich doctor Caleb is expected to marry a woman of status. Years earlier he fell for a nurse then asked her to become his mistress. She slapped him and left. Suzanna is a hard-working nurse who must now care for her brother who was badly injured in a car wreck. She takes a job at a different hospital to have access to their excellent rehab program. Too late she finds out that Caleb has transferred to the same hospital and now he's her brother's doctor.
The two clash, but Caleb grows close to the teenaged brother. Will he ignore his parents' wishes and pursue the only woman he's ever loved, Suzanna? Will Suzanna give him a second chance?
Ms. Walter's writes with smooth authority, giving her characters heart and strength. A beautifully written story about opposites and compromise-the workings of a hospital-and the choices we all must face.

Kindle Customer

Pulls You Into The Town and Characters

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018

Walters demonstrates her knowledge of hospitals to make the story real, but does so skillfully without slowing down the read. For Dr. Caleb Winstone returning home means more than a new job and an awkward encounter, it also means his parents incessant demands for him to marry the woman of their choice. Nurse Practitioner Suzanna Rollins hopes the move will help her brother whose healing from a car accident. To me some unresolved issues cost it a star, but it is still a worthwhile read and I recommend it and the other books in the series.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Wednesday Choices #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Hospital politics #romance #kitten

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine is from Choices and deals with romance and hospital politics

Blurb:
Johanna Gordon devotes her time and energy to her job as Director of Nursing at Hudson Community Hospital. With budget cuts hanging over her head, Johanna suspects the CEO of scheming a plan that threatens her job as well as the hospital, and she’s determined to find out why.

The choices she’s made for herself and her career leave her with no social life until she meets Dylan Connelly. He’s everything she’s always wanted, loving, devoted to his kids and everything she’s never had. Just when she finds love with the new man, an old flame returns with promises of a life together. Johanna has to decide between security and companionship, while trying to recapture the past, or moving forward with her new life.

SIL

Conflict Abounds

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2016

Verified Purchase

Excerpt:

JOHANNA GORDON RAKED HER fingers through her short curls and glanced at the clock centered on the wall between her diplomas. Seven-thirty. No wonder her shoulders ached. She’d been hunched over the desk since four.

With a sigh, she closed a folder and added it to the neat stack on a corner of the desk. She pursed her lips. For two weeks, the budget for the nursing department at the hospital had consumed her time. Unfortunately, money would remain her focus until she found areas to cut costs without compromising patient care or breaking the current contract with the nurses. Not that Hudson Community’s CEO cared about either option. She stretched to ease the tension between her shoulder blades.

“Why couldn’t I...” An idea occurred and she smiled.

Something to consider. Richard Jamison didn’t care which programs were dropped as long as his pet

projects remained intact. Just this morning he’d reminded her she belonged to administration and to remember where her loyalties lay. Not with him. She’d risen through the ranks and saw more than the profits and losses he tossed around.

The loudspeaker on the wall crackled. “Dr. Red to the Emergency Room.” In staccato fashion, the operator repeated the message three times.

With a well-honed response, Johanna rose, grabbed her briefcase and, in three strides, reached the door.

The call for any surgeon meant an emergency requiring immediate surgery. Her body quivered with excitement.

She dashed through the empty outer office, crossed the hall and hit the call button for the elevator.

Just like an old fire horse, she thought. The alarm clangs and I’m off running. She stepped into the empty car. What was her hurry? How much help would she be? She’d been away from the bedside for ten years.

As she exited on the first floor, she nearly collided with Rachel Hill. Her friend’s dark hair had slipped from

the neat bun at her nape. Like a sail, Rachel’s lab coat flew behind her. She carried two units of blood.

Johanna frowned. Rachel usually worked the day shift. “Bad accident?” Johanna asked.

“The worst. A six-year-old hit by a car. And to think I volunteered to switch.”

As Johanna matched strides with her friend’s half-running gait, the soft leather briefcase slapped against her thigh. “Need an extra pair of hands?”

“Hardly. If there was another body in the room, they’d be standing on the patient. Be glad you’re out of the

zoo. Not that I blame people for caring about a child, but if the patient was old, indigent or dying... Don’t let me get started.”

“Want to talk?” Together they dashed up the five steps to the emergency room level.

Rachel straight-armed the door. “Maybe I do. Dinner on—” The door closed and cut off the rest of her words.

Johanna frowned. By the time they found an evening to fit Rachel’s schedule, she would have forgotten the incident that had triggered her anger. Instead of talking about the hospital, she would discuss her children. Despite their closeness, this topic always added to Johanna’s aching knowledge that she had no one.

She continued to the exit. For the past few months, she’d wondered if the climb up the administrative ladder had been the right choice. Ten years ago, she’d been an ER nurse, meeting challenges and solving a dozen crises every day. The decision to leave the ER had been made for financial reasons. The higher salary had paid for her sister’s and her parents’, home health aides. Six months ago, the family obligations had ended, leaving Johanna

with an empty social life.

For a moment, she stared at the red brick building. The hospital’s center section was five stories, while the angled wings were four. The sight always made her think of a bird in flight. Lately, her office here had seemed more like home than the house eight blocks away.

A reluctance to move held her prisoner. Spray from the lawn sprinklers misted on her face and arms. She studied the bank of peonies along the walk leading to the hospital’s front entrance. Their sweet scent mingled with

the aroma of wet earth. With a sigh, she overcame the inertia and crossed the street.

Brisk steps carried her down the hill. In the distance, the Hudson River reflected the colors of the setting

sun. At the bottom of the hill, she turned the corner. She hurried past houses dating from colonial days to a turn-of-the-century Victorian that towered over two houses built in the last ten years. Each house had a unique

charm.

She paused beside the yew hedge surrounding the yard of the house where she’d lived all her life. As she strode up the walk, her hand brushed the clipped edges. The scent of roses reached her. Red, pink and white

blooms covered the trellises at either end of the porch.

She climbed the steps, turned and paused. With arms crossed on her chest, she stared at the street. As though trying to erase a chill, her hands moved along her arms. A soft sigh escaped. The ice of loneliness couldn’t

be rubbed away like frost from windows on a winter morning.

Her hands dropped to her side, but she made no move to go inside where shadows of the past gathered.

She had no desire to face memories of the years when she’d been a devoted sister and a dutiful daughter.

She looked at the darkening sky. Sometimes, she felt her entire life had been lived in the moments between day and night—with every instant tinged with gray, and every action controlled by duty and responsibility. Were they virtues or walls she’d erected to keep from reaching for life?

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