An emotional story that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I loved the first meeting between Carter and Avery. It was New Year's Eve, and she was riding a mechanical bull, trying to win the cash prize. One sight of the handsome stranger intently focused on her, and she lost her concentration and her seat. I loved Carter's offer to win it for her and his understanding of her reaction. In the end, Avery succeeded, and they shared an intense midnight kiss. Then Avery walked away, never expecting to see him again.

Fate, of course, had other plans. The next day Avery, a nurse practitioner at Nashville's busy ER, gets a shock during the welcoming of new hires. One of them is Dr. Carter Booth, the sexy stranger from the night before. The tension between them is off the charts as Avery gives Carter a tour and assists with his first couple of cases. It isn't long before they have to admit there is something between them

I loved seeing the relationship develop between Carter and Avery. It starts as a no-strings fling between friends. Carter is upfront about his inability/unwillingness to do any long-term commitments. His younger sister is in prison and also suffers from a chronic disease. She frequently gets in trouble and is moved to another prison, and Carter follows along to the closest hospital. She is the only family he has, and his protectiveness runs deep. Avery also avoids relationships. She still grieves the death of her sister two years earlier. She has locked up her emotions between her grief and being dumped in her last relationship. But as the weeks go on and they spend time together, something more than attraction builds between them. I loved seeing them open up and share things they'd never told anyone else. The support and understanding they have for each other are fantastic.

When an incident at the hospital breaks the walls Avery built around her emotions, Carter was there to pick up the pieces. I loved how he helped her rediscover her music and the big decision she made because of it. Then a medical crisis involving Carter's sister causes him to pull away from Avery. I wanted to shake him for his unkind words before walking out and ached for Avery and her heartbreak. I loved the lecture he got from his sister, who'd gone through some changes in her own outlook, and called him an idiot for walking away from Avery. It was an eye-opening experience for Carter, and I loved its effect on him. His big moment at the end was sweet and emotional.

As is usual with Harlequin's Medical line, a few medical issues played significant parts in the story. They were well done without overshadowing the romance. The detail was sufficient for the seriousness of the scene without feeling like I was reading a textbook. I always seem to learn something new from one of these books.

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