Wednesday 20 July 2022

Guest Review: The New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow

All’s fair in love and…medicine?

Dr Katie O’Neil has only been in Heartcross a few hours when she finds herself already ruffling feathers – not least with medical school nemesis and new colleague Ben Sanders.

Katie’s the woman Ben loves to hate and until now he’d hoped he’d never set eyes on her again but now she’s back – and living next door!

When a charity boat race down the River Heart puts the two in direct competition, sparks fly. The winner takes it all, but who will it be? And will their prize be far more than they were expecting…



This is the eighth book in the Love Heart Lane series, in which the stories are set in Heartcross, a fictional village in the Scottish highlands. With each successive book, readers learn more about returning characters, while being introduced to one or more newcomers. Although part of the series, each book can be read as a standalone, but it is better to read them all in order to get the most out of the continuing saga. 


In this story, the focus is on the medical practice in the village, where Dr Ben Sanders has been in charge for just 6 months. Feeling overwhelmed by the workload, Ben has contacted an agency who are sending another doctor to join the practice. However, Ben gets a shock when help arrives in the person of Dr Katie O’Neil, a figure from his past, and not a welcome one. The pair had been at university together, where they had always competed for the top spot. As the two doctors start to work together, Ben wonders whether Katie may have mellowed over the years since they graduated, but when a charity boat race with the two of them as opposing captains is planned, it seems that the competition may be back on. 


I have enjoyed returning to Heartcross and finding out a little more about the village and its inhabitants. I feel sure that other readers will find this book equally enjoyable and entertaining. The storyline deals with some serious topics including dementia, with its damaging effect on so many families. There are also a number of secrets coming to light along the way as Ben and Katie get to know more about their personal lives and histories. As well as the central characters, I loved the practice receptionist, Helly. She sounds a really fun person to work with, but also very capable in a crisis. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series, which should be along soon.


To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

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