One Weekend in Prague - Alison Roberts (HMED #1268 - Sept 2022)

For one weekend…
Or forever?
 
Before attending a medical conference, trauma specialist Mac meets stranger Hanna under the astronomical clock in Prague. Their intense connection takes him by surprise. Straitlaced Mac has never met someone like free-spirited nurse Hanna, and suddenly he's dropping his guard and stepping out of his comfort zone! Their unforgettable and spontaneous weekend together, touring the city and then tangling between the sheets, makes him see the world differently. But what happens when they leave Prague?
 
Good book about two people who meet when they attend the same medical conference in Prague. Mac and Hanna have very different outlooks on life, but their chemistry is undeniable.
 
Mac is a trauma specialist in high demand as a conference presenter. He is methodical in everything he does, believing that staying in control prevents unpleasant surprises. That control also applies to his emotions, and my heart breaks for him as his reasons are slowly revealed. He looks forward to his stay in Prague because of his lifetime fascination with its astronomical clock. When he arrives, one of the first things he does is sign up for a tour that includes the clock. While looking out his hotel window at the clock, he notices the arrival of another hotel guest, a beautiful young woman who looks around her with joy.
 
Hanna is an emergency room nurse who has also come to Prague for the conference, after which she will take a few weeks of vacation to explore Europe. When it comes to travel, Hanna is a free spirit who prefers to "follow her nose." Too much planning takes the fun out of it, so she goes wherever her whims take her. The one thing she planned for this trip was a walking tour of Prague to get a feel for the city.
 
Mac and Hanna bond when they assist their walking tour guide during a medical emergency. They continue the tour independently and spend the day wandering around Prague. I especially enjoyed this part because it brought back terrific memories of my visit there. They didn't expect to see each other again when they parted after the tour. But after encountering each other in the hotel hall, they shared a bottle of champagne, followed by a terrific night together. Imagine Hanna's surprise when she discovered Mac was the lead presenter at the medical conference! I liked the disaster scenario they did together and Mac's respect for Hanna's abilities.
 
Mac and Hanna realized they weren't ready to part ways when the conference was over. This is where their differing personalities come to the surface. Hanna joins Mac on his scheduled tour, but her influence on him gets them kicked out for breaking the rules. So Mac goes along with Hanna's "follow your nose" method, and they find themselves in Barcelona (another city I love). But their growing closeness freaks out Mac, who has spent years protecting his heart, and he pulls away. Though he's tempted to ask for more, he isn't sure of her feelings, so he says nothing. Hanna knew she was falling for him and knew there was no future for them, so she said nothing to him.
 
When she arrives home after her holiday, she's trying to recover from missing Mac and realizing her loneliness without him. She's stunned to find him in her ER, serving as a temporary replacement for a doctor on maternity leave. After an awkward reunion, Hanna is first fearful of what his appearance means to her heart, then hopeful that it means he wants to be with her. Mac is still cautious about admitting, even to himself, that she has stirred emotions in him that he fights to control. I loved watching them combine their work relationship with their growing personal one. However, they are still thinking in temporary terms.
 
Mac and Hanna have been clear about their lack of interest in marriage or children, creating an extra connection between them. Then an emergency delivery of a friend's baby makes Hanna realize she's not as anti-children as she thought. Mac sees this and decides that it is incompatible with his views and that he needs to pull away from Hanna. An emergency with another baby stirs emotions in both, and Hanna accepts that she can't push Mac into accepting his feelings for her. I loved her sensitivity, even in the face of her heartbreak.
 
But there's one last surprise for Mac as Hanna helps him connect with a bit of his past. A car accident opens Mac's eyes to his feelings for Hanna and his need for her. I loved the emotional scene where they finally opened up about their feelings and made plans for the future. I loved the result of Hanna's surprise for him and the difference it made in his life. The epilogue was fantastic, and I loved the glimpse into their future and the changes in both.
 
As always, the medical scenes in this category of romances were fascinating, and I always learn something new. From disaster prep to complicated births to signs of child abuse, this book was fascinating.

 

Roselynde - Roberta Gellis (Playboy Press - Feb 1978)

Series: Roselynde Chronicles (Book 1)
 
In an era made for men, Alinor is at no man's mercy. Beautiful, proud and strong-willed, Alinor is mistress of Roselynde and of her own heart as well--until she meets Simon, the battle-scarred knight appointed to be her warden, a man whose passion and wit match her own.
 
Boldly Alinor defies lionhearted King Richard's command to marry one of the land-greedy nobles swarming around her and shrewdly maneuvers through Court intrigues and alliances to be near the man who has awakened her to tender yet volatile love. Their struggle to be united against all obstacles sweeps them from the pageantry of the Royal Court to a daring Crusade through exotic Byzantium and into the Holy Land. As they plunge into the events of a turbulent age, they endure bloody battles, political treacheries and heart-rending separations before their love conquers time and destiny to live forever.
 
I read this book when it first came out and have reread it multiple times. I love the well-researched setting and insights into historical figures. The main characters are well-written and realistically portrayed for their times. The author did a skillful job weaving fact and fiction, creating a story that has kept me coming back to it year after year.
 
Alinor is the sixteen-year-old heiress of the vast lands of the Sire of Roselynde. She is bold, beautiful, confident, and unwilling to cede her rights to any man. After her parents' deaths when she was a child, her grandparents (The Sword and the Swan) raised her. Lord Rannulf taught her how to care for the land and lead those under her, while Lady Catherine guided her in caring for the people. When Lord Rannulf dies (after an incredibly long life for the period), Alinor is unmarried and, therefore, a rich prize for any man who can take her. Her situation comes to the attention of Queen Alinor, who ensures that Alinor becomes a ward of King Richard, a method of protecting her. The book opens as the Queen arrives to visit Alinor and Roselynde, and the opening scenes are vividly described. Here, Alinor learns the Queen's right-hand man, Sir Simon, will become her warden to protect her and her lands in the King's name.
 
Simon is a knight who has been the Queen's man for many years and fulfilled many roles. He is a king's justiciar, as a younger man, he spent time as Prince Richard's shield bearer (protector) and most recently was the one sent to release the Queen from the confinement imposed by the late King Henry II. He is an experienced warrior in his forties and well-versed in Court intrigues and behaviors.
 
I loved the first encounter between Alinor and Simon. He is struck dumb by her beauty, while Alinor looks at him as the Queen's man. But Fate, and the Queen, have a twist in store for them. The Queen is unwilling to leave Alinor unprotected and must ensure the King receives the funds earned from Roselynde's lands, so she assigns Simon to be Alinor's warden. Simon is not exactly happy about this assignment, believing it to be more punishment than reward. Alinor is angry and worried that Simon will strip her lands to help the King. He has no idea how deeply involved she is in managing everything to do with her properties, and his investigations do nothing to make him believe that everything is okay. I always laugh at his reaction to "my lady's book" and the disaster he thinks it holds. The confrontation with Alinor is hilarious and eye-opening for Simon, and it is also the beginning of the volatile relationship between them.
 
The chemistry between Simon and Alinor is undeniable, but they are also trapped in the reality of their time. As an heiress and King's ward, Alinor is a pawn awaiting her turn to be given in a marriage that will add to someone's power. Simon is not a noble and has no real wealth or power of his own. But Alinor is determined to have the man she wants and will do whatever is necessary to make it happen.
 
The action moves from Roselynde to the King's Court, where Alinor works her wiles to get what she wants. Going from an active life to being a court member is a recipe for disaster, and she draws her share of unwanted attention. Alinor is quick-witted, and I loved how she used those wits to change her situation. The scenes of her work with the Queen were great, and her stolen moments with Simon showed their longing to be together. There's a bit of miscommunication when Simon's honor runs up against Alinor's misunderstanding of something the Queen says. I loved seeing Alinor's satisfaction with her work and the difference it made to her time at court.
 
Significant changes are ahead when King Richard announces his plans to go on Crusade. The politics involved were fascinating, both in what it meant for the Crusaders and those left in England. After some political wrangling, Simon commits to going with Richard, and Alinor accompanies the Queen, who will collect Richard's bride-to-be and deliver her for the wedding. The trip's details were fascinating and gave a vivid picture of the conditions and activities. The Queen and her party, including Alinor, follow Richard to the Holy Land.
 
The ins and outs of the fighting and the royals' personalities created many edge-of-the-seat situations. Simon and Alinor possess a dangerous secret that puts them both at risk. Through it all, their love never falters, nor does their determination to find a way to marry. Though they get their wish, the circumstances are less than ideal and make for an awkward wedding ceremony.
 
Even with their long-desired arrival back in England, their troubles are still ongoing. Unaware of her marriage, others have plans to cement alliances using Alinor, and her resistance is not well-received. The consequences put both her and Simon in danger. I loved Simon's solution, and seeing his plan carried out was great fun.
 
I love the characters in this book. Alinor has an unusual, but not unheard of, upbringing, which frequently puts her at odds with those around her. She is strong-willed and stubborn, sometimes getting her in hot water with authority figures. She can be manipulative in pursuit of her goals, but always with the best intentions. I loved her clear vision regarding other characters and their personalities, motives, and failings. There were plenty of scenes of Alinor's interactions with people, some impressive in their forcefulness.
 
Simon is written accurately for a man of his time, which can make things a little uncomfortable for modern sensitivities. Overall, though, he is a man whose honor is a huge part of who he is. As much as he desires Alinor, he refuses to do anything underhanded to gain her hand in marriage. His interactions with Alinor can be sweet or explosive, as she frequently tries his patience. He is an experienced knight who relates well to Alinor's vassals and castellans and quickly earns their respect. He is respected by King Richard and the Queen also, which pays off for him in the end. 

Plains of Passage - Jean Auel (Crown - Sept 1990)

Series: Earth's Children (Book 4)
 
With her companion, Jondalar, Ayla sets out on her most dangerous and daring journey--away from the welcoming hearth of the Mammoth Hunters, and into the unknown. Their odyssey spans a beautiful but treacherous continent, the windswept grasslands of Ice Age Europe, casting the bold pair among strangers. Some will become friends, intrigued by Ayla's ways of taming wild horses and wolves. Others will become fierce enemies, threatened by what they cannot understand. But always the orphaned Ayla and the wandering Jondalar will heed the voice and vision that urges them on, deeper into the dark and spectacular heart of an unmapped world. For they are driven to reach that place on earth they can call home. Together, they hold their future in their hands.
 
A reread of this book. I always enjoy this series, and this book is my favorite. Ayla and Jondalar have decided to leave the Mamutoi and make the trip back to Jondalar's home. Along the way, they meet up with several other groups of people, some good and some not.
 
Ayla is nervous about leaving the Mamutoi, who have adopted her and given her a family. But she loves Jondalar and will go with him despite her qualms. Because she was raised by "flatheads" after her own family died in an earthquake, she frequently faces prejudice from those who don't understand. However, she can always win over her detractors through her healing skills or personality.
 
Jondalar started his Journey with his brother but ended with Ayla after a cave lion killed and injured him. While happy to be with Ayla, he is homesick for his own people and convinces Ayla to come with him. After spending several months with the Mamutoi, it is time to move on. Having made the Journey this far, Jondalar knows the way back home and is anxious to get there.
 
I liked the descriptions of the land and animals that they saw along the way, but my favorite parts were when they encountered other people. The first is the Sharamudoi, with whom Jondalar and his brother had stayed. They find that the leader's wife has been hurt, and Ayla immediately steps into healer mode to help her. She is successful, of course, which puts her in good graces with the rest of the people. I also enjoyed the reactions to Ayla's wolf and horses. They stay for a while with the group, who want them to stay, but Jondalar insists that they keep moving. 
 
The next group they encounter is the S'Armunai, with a welcome that is not so pleasant. The leader of the group is a woman who stole the leadership and is mentally unbalanced. Jondalar is captured and confined with the other men. He does what he can to help the other men while he tries to figure out how to escape and find Ayla. Meanwhile, she has been looking for him and watches the camp for several days while trying to find the best way to rescue him. How she does so is very dramatic and intense. Of course, she also insists on staying long enough to treat those injured and neglected before they leave to continue their Journey.
 
Next is the Losadunai, who live at the edge of the glacier Jondalar and Ayla must cross to get to his home. Again, they are warmly welcomed and treated well. I enjoyed seeing Ayla getting to know everyone. There is also some drama involving a young girl who some young men assaulted. Ayla's empathy helps the girl move past it and embrace her future. As Ayla and Jondalar continue their journey, they run into those same young men who have attacked a Clan (flathead) man and woman. After reading them the riot act and sending them on their way, Ayla treats the injured man as they share their fire and a meal. I liked how seeing Ayla with a man of the Clan helped Jondalar understand her a little better.
 
There is danger as they cross the glacier at the end of the winter, and the arrival of spring temperatures can cause dangerous melting, putting them at greater risk of injury or death. After several close calls, they make it off the glacier to the home cave of some of Jondalar's family. A bit of a romantic tangle is present with a young woman, which adds a bit of angst. Ayla also encounters a man of "mixed spirits," half clan and half Other, who reminds her of her son Durc, left behind in the series' first book. I enjoyed their connection and seeing Ayla ease his anger about how his mother was treated. After a brief period with them, they finally reach Jondalar's home, with a cliffhanger ending as we wait to see how they are welcomed.
 
I always enjoy seeing Ayla win over new people; this book was no exception. I also loved seeing reactions to the animals, especially Wolf, and I especially loved his part in the rescue of Jondalar from the S'Armunai. It is also adorable to see Wolf with the various children.
 
This was not my first reread of this book, and it won't be the last.