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A review by georgiewhoissarahdrew
The Doctor's Date by Heidi Cullinan
2.0
"Enemies-to-marshmallows" - that's a trope, isn't it? Certainly it's what happened here. A very promising opening few chapters scuppered by the forces of sugar.
There was real potential here in bristling personality clashes between Owen the hospital ogre and Coolly Professional HR Director Erin. Improbably, though, a relationship of equals quickly morphed into a less interesting hurt/comfort narrative. I don't have a problem as such with hurt/comfort*, but when it comes with so many many references to Erin (who is male, in spite of the name) as a princess in need of rescuing, I find it hard to enjoy what Caz (in her review of the first book) called a "regressive presentation".
Certain scenes seemed to be much more suited to a high school story - for instance, when Erin is a nervous wreck because he can't decide what to wear, and big scary Owen says
"I know the sweater you’re talking about. I remember packing it and thinking it would flatter your complexion...None of those socks will do, though."
Erin (Coolly Professional HR Director Erin) replies, "I can’t wear socks as wild as yours."
[You what?! You're CPHRD Erin, you can put what you flipping well want on your plates of meat.]
Where the book and I parted company totally, though, was in the sub-plotregarding embezzlement by the hospital board. FOR GOODNESS' SAKE, IF YOU INTRODUCE A SUB-PLOT ABOUT FINANCE, MAKE IT REALISTIC. Do authors (Cullinan is not the only culprit) just think, "Oh well, no one understands money, I can do what I like?" Do they? Because that's how it reads.
You can't just say, "I looked at the records and it's clear there has been embezzlement," because it doesn't work like that. Embezzlers - particularly ones who have got away with $25m - don't make it easy by including a column in the books marked "Ill-gotten Gains". Nowhere does Cullinan even mention the hospital having an accountant - the role that stops embezzlement happening. Why not? BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE TOO REALISTIC. And don't get me started on why Owen, Erin and their "Scooby" gang don't involve the police....
Should any budding authors be interested, I have many many many workable ideas about how finances could be siphoned off creatively and realistically in plots and can make them available for a very reasonable sum. For strictly fictional purposes. . Rant over.
In short, the personality transplants and the loopy plot nixed this book for me, and I won't be looking out any more.
* Trigger warning
I should mention that what was done to Owen by one of his parents is indescribably awful - a psychological wound that makes it amazing he's got himself on track to the extent he has.
There was real potential here in bristling personality clashes between Owen the hospital ogre and Coolly Professional HR Director Erin. Improbably, though, a relationship of equals quickly morphed into a less interesting hurt/comfort narrative. I don't have a problem as such with hurt/comfort*, but when it comes with so many many references to Erin (who is male, in spite of the name) as a princess in need of rescuing, I find it hard to enjoy what Caz (in her review of the first book) called a "regressive presentation".
Certain scenes seemed to be much more suited to a high school story - for instance, when Erin is a nervous wreck because he can't decide what to wear, and big scary Owen says
"I know the sweater you’re talking about. I remember packing it and thinking it would flatter your complexion...None of those socks will do, though."
Erin (Coolly Professional HR Director Erin) replies, "I can’t wear socks as wild as yours."
[You what?! You're CPHRD Erin, you can put what you flipping well want on your plates of meat.]
Where the book and I parted company totally, though, was in the sub-plot
You can't just say, "I looked at the records and it's clear there has been embezzlement," because it doesn't work like that. Embezzlers - particularly ones who have got away with $25m - don't make it easy by including a column in the books marked "Ill-gotten Gains". Nowhere does Cullinan even mention the hospital having an accountant - the role that stops embezzlement happening. Why not? BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE TOO REALISTIC. And don't get me started on why Owen, Erin and their "Scooby" gang don't involve the police....
Should any budding authors be interested, I have many many many workable ideas about how finances could be siphoned off creatively and realistically in plots and can make them available for a very reasonable sum. For strictly fictional purposes.
In short, the personality transplants and the loopy plot nixed this book for me, and I won't be looking out any more.
* Trigger warning
I should mention that what was done to Owen by one of his parents is indescribably awful - a psychological wound that makes it amazing he's got himself on track to the extent he has.