| Title | : | Once a Good Girl... (Madrin Memorial Hospital, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published November 1, 2011 |
Prim Victoria Forley's perfect life changed forever the night she slept with Kyle Karlinsky, baddest boy in town. These days, single mom and über-perfectionist nurse Victoria has goals that nothing, not even Kyle's shocking reappearance, can derail. But behind Victoria's oh-so-frosty exterior is a heat that only Kyle can unleash.... Maybe it's the right time to be with the wrong guy after all?
Also available in UK, Aus/NZ, and France
Once a Good Girl... (Madrin Memorial Hospital, #2) Reviews
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What can I say about this book that wouldn't be full of overdone superlatives and gratuitous pandering to the ego of the author. I loved her first book and I OMG loved this one. There is a whole different vibe to these books I haven't come across before in category romance and I love it.
The characters engage beautifully with a realistic precision that pulls me into the story immediately. Her heroines are amazing women who overcome odds that would drown lesser people. Yet they are not annoyingly perfect paragons, they are fighting every step of the way to make their world better, to protect those they love, to get through each day.
And what can you say about the heroes. These guys are to die for. Flawed, adorably and occasionally irritatingly so, yet with a capacity to love that comes through right from the start and makes you want them in your lives.
Victoria and Kyle have history. Some of it amazing as only first love can be. And like sometimes happens, true love wasn't enough to overcome the burdens of history and interference from the outside world. It left scars on both of them but also left Jake, their son. A son Kyle didn't know about.
How these two work out their destiny is a sometimes funny and always moving and emotional read. I love reunion romances and this was an amazing one. Well done Wendy S. Marcus. -
Victoria Forley was ONCE A GOOD GIRL. A brilliant student, she seemed destined for medical school. Until she went and fell for Madrin Falls' bad boy Kyle Karlinsky. Their one and only sexual encounter changed both their lives forever. Kyle got out of town in order to escape conviction for a trumped up rape charge. Victoria, left behind to face the music, suffered the humiliation of being a teenage single mother, disowned by her self-righteous father for refusing to abort her baby. Sacrificing her dream of medical school and pursuing a career in nursing, she faced the world alone with her son. Meanwhile, almost coming to grief in a near fatal accident, Kyle found himself among kind friends who supported him through college to get his PhD in physical therapy. That's how he ended up as Dr. Kyle Karlinsky while she was the head nurse of her unit in Madrin Falls Memorial Hospital. Intrigued? That's just the back story.
This book, however, is more than just a reunion story. It's the story of a woman who came through a difficult childhood with a rather bad case of claustrophobia. So much so that even bearing the weight of a lover in bed can set off a panic attack. For years, she's lived her love life vicariously, reading romance instead of experiencing it. An understanding partner could help her to get over her phobia. Is Kyle up to the job? Victoria is ambitious and aims to reach the top of her profession. Is her ideal match the hotshot eligible bachelor doctor who's gathering acclaim? Would a man like Kyle, who marches to the beat of his own drum with his 'rules are made to be broken' attitude cramp her style and put her dreams in jeopardy?
This book doesn't shy away from sexual issues and deals with them in a manner which is both frank and compassionate. There is none of the 'show and tell' titillation of erotica, nor the lush violin soaked language of the more coy contemporary romances. The word which struck me about the sexual description was 'clinical', but to use that word would do the book an injustice because it implies something cold and sterile, which this story most certainly is not. It is one hundred and eighty pages packed with warmth and humanity. Category romance with it's ability to take the reader out of her everyday life and give her an emotional experience with a guaranteed satisfactory ending. Yet it reads like mainstream literature.
I hope this wonderful story sells and sells. It certainly deserves to. -
Posted on Romancing the Book blog
Reveiwed By~Desere
Review Copy Provided By~Author
Imagine being 17 years old, pregnant, disowned, alone and scared watching all your dreams for the future shatter into a million pieces. For Victoria Forley life has taken a downward spiral into a hole she never thought she would be able to dig her way out of. She is the single parent to a beautiful baby boy but her dreams of going to Harvard is something that is just that - a dream.
Fast forward 9 years into the future and we see Victoria as an independent, stunning, grown woman, who worked hard to achieve her position /promotion as Director of Nursing. She has everything under control as it would seem to the outside world. But behind close doors Victoria holds a deep dark secret. The secret is revealed when the only man she ever truly loved walks into her hospital, of all places, as the new on-trial physical therapist. He rocks her perfect little well organized life into complete and utter chaos!
Kyle is, yes you guessed it, the father of Victoria's little boy but behind the story there is always another story and that is where the book gets even more interesting. What I truly loved about the book was that the author bit by bit sucks you into the world of Victoria and everything and everyone that goes with it. However, this is not with the long dragged out "this and that's" that I usually see in some books, this author gets right to the point.
I also absolutely adored the passion between Victoria and Kyle, not to mention that as in her previous books we also learn a valuable lesson,;when two worlds collide, no matter what if a child is involved, there is no force in the world that would stop two parents from making sure their son is taken care of. This, in my opinion, is something a lot of co-parents out there tend to forget and instead get caught up in the battle of "us".
The book is written with passion and lust like no other, and what I am sure every woman out there needs every now and then ...a sensitive man! The book really grabbed a hold of my heart and made me remember that there is always two sides of a story and simply dismissing someone from your life before confirming the facts and taking off is not the answer.
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ONCE A GOOD GIRL by author Wendy S Marcus is a Mills & Boon Medical December 2011 release in UK and Harlequin Medical January 2011 release in NA.
Victoria Forley was a single mum and after lot of struggle was now on her way to her dream job of Director of Nursing at Madrin Memorial Hospital. She had worked hard for her promotion but will the appearance of the town’s bad boy, Kyle Karlinsky change that? After all Kyle was the father of her son Jake and he had left town the same day she lost her virginity to him!
Does he expect to walk back in her life and just take off where he left off? Isn’t he nine years too late for that? And she realized he was the Dr.K everyone was talking about!
When Kyle comes face to face with his son, he realizes the sacrifices Victoria must have made to bring up his son. How she must have stood up to her strict father at seventeen just to have the baby. Kyle realizes he never stopped loving her. But would Victoria see the man behind the previous betrayal she felt, and let the attraction she feels for him now grow? Because meeting Kyle was like coming out of deep freeze after nine years! And Kyle aims to make her crave him like he craved her. Once he accomplishes that then he’ll go for her heart!
ONCE A GOOD GIRL is a beguiling romance that tugged at my heartstring and kept me on the edge of my seat. A fabulous teenage story is depicted of illicit attraction, forbidden passion and the healing power of love in adulthood.
Wendy S Marcus’s has written this tale with such depth, sensitivity and heart that readers will not be able to resist devouring this romance amid all the medical drama in a single sitting. The witty dialogue and the mesmerizing emotions will keep the reader glued to the pages. -
A Fantastic Book, March 1, 2012
I already knew Wendy S. Marcus was a great writer after I read her first novel, When One Night Isn't Enough. But her second novel completely blew me away. Tightly written, with a kick butt heroine I adored, and a hero who was strong enough to admit when he was wrong - these characters haunted me for a long time after I read The End. A must read for category fans and anyone who loves a good love story with real characters and obstacles to overcome. Highly recommended! -
A steamy story with a sweet ending! Loved the "opposites attract" couple, and the main character's son was so darn cute. Something I really like about Marcus's writing is that she gives us the perspective of both the heroine and hero, so we know what both are thinking. I liked that about her last book, too. Overall, this was an enjoyable book!
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I loved this book. Kyle is so hot. Fabulous!
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Author, Wendy Marcus, does not disappoint with the second medical romance from her Madrin Memorial Hospital series titled, “Once a Good Girl...”. It’s overflowing with tender feelings for a young love that was lost, while trying to capture that magnetic electrifying spark that now could ignite it to a “happily ever after”. Victoria Forley is the epitome of hard-working. Nothing could remotely ever stand in her way to show the people of Madrin Falls that she is more than capable of becoming the new Director of Nursing at the hospital even without a diploma from a distinguished university, despite the fact that her father is on the Board of Directors. Kyle Karlinsky, now turned Physical Therapist, was the dark, pale blue-eyed rough-around-the-edges hellion that caught Victoria’s heart in high school nine years ago. Just recently returning to Madrin Falls from an alleged past circumstance that yielded to Kyle’s abrupt departure from the small town, Victoria learns that Kyle, along with his therapy dog Tori, is the newly hired member of physical therapy for “her” hospital, which she is not thrilled about. Unbeknownst to Kyle, Victoria gave birth to their son, Jake, precisely nine years ago. Through endless determination and unconditional love, Victoria has worked to give Jake the life that he so richly deserves...fullfilling both acolades as mother and father. Kyle now wants to be an eminent part of Jake’s life while still harboring unresolved feelings for Victoria. He wants to resume their relationship, while she is just not sure where the relationship will lead...whereby, designating it her first priority to try and protect Jake’s heart from getting hurt should Kyle take off and leave again. There are many poignant heartfelt moments throughout the novel that the reader will find sweet and touching. Ms. Marcus’s ability to combine steamy romance and raw emotion amidst the backdrop of the medical romance genre was very entertaining and passionate. I enjoyed reading about the two main characters, Victoria and Kyle...her being the protective and sometimes know-it-all that was living the life of a single mom while doing the best she could for her young son, and him being the just recently realized new dad that was trying to fit in and make a good impression on his son while trying to win his soulmate’s heart. Will this couple reunite back together, completing the family that young Jake so desperately wants and needs? Looking forward to reading the next installment to the series with Roxie’s story. Two thumbs up!!
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25 year old Victoria Foley is a perfectionist when it comes to everything that she does. Always the good girl whose childhood had been the furthest thing from ideal, Victoria’s only rebellion as a teenager had come when she had gotten involved with the bad boy of the town and ended up pregnant at the age of sixteen.
26 year old Kyle Karlinsky left home under duress and is now back, partly with the intention of showing those who had thought he was good for nothing that things had turned out quite well for him in the end. Holding a doctorate in Physical Therapy, Kyle is surprised when he encounters Victoria at the Madrin Memorial Hospital working as a nurse and not as the doctor that she had dreamed of becoming ever since he had known her.
The biggest surprise of all comes from the fact that Kyle is a father to an 8 year old boy and the fact that Victoria had never deemed it important enough to seek him out to let him know. Naivety and mistakes on both sides in believing the lies that had been fed to them both to drive them apart comes out into the open to clear up the air, but would Kyle be able to convince the prim and proper Victoria that his wild and impulsive nature is just what she needs in her life forever and ever?
Wendy has a way of writing heroes that are heartwarming, sweet, sexy and endearing and Kyle is no exception. Kyle has a lot of hurt bottled up inside of him, anger at the double standards that had existed in his hometown that had always found a reason to blame him for anything bad that happened. I loved him for his innate kindness, that inner strength that refuses to back down from a challenge, and of course his understanding of the woman who brings a whole new meaning to the word complex, but whom he loves with every fiber of his being.
Victoria is a heroine who is a bit hard to get into. She is ambitious, there is no question about that, but her love for her son surpasses any other ambition she might have and it is her desire to give him a sound future that has her juggling a hectic career amidst the hurdles of being a single parent. She is fiercely loyal and independent and has a painful past from which she still suffers, something that Kyle with his gentle yet searing touch heals and that was indeed one of the defining moments of the story. I loved the beautiful marriage proposal tucked inside the epilogue and cannot wait for the 3rd book in this series to come out.
If you loved medical romances with heart, give Wendy S. Marcus a try. She is an author who definitely knows what she is doing.
Rating=4/5 -
My Reviews:
harlequinjunkie.blogspot.com
‘Once A Good Girl' is another winner from Wendy S Marcus from her Madrin Memorial Hospital series. This is the story Prim and proper Victoria Foley and town rebel and bad boy Kyle Karlinsky who were teenage sweethearts. Victoria’s one act of rebellion changed her life forever leaving her pregnant and alone at sixteen when Kyle skipped town. Now 8 years later Dr. Kyle Karlinsky returns to Madrin Memorial and the town that shunned him as a teenager, While at Madrin Memorial hospital he runs into head nurse and old flame Victoria Foley; this is where the story takes off.
This is not your average re-union story; it was fresh, heartwarming and totally captivating. I absolutely loved Kyle; he was kind, caring and a real darling. There was a lot of depth to the characters in this story, which tackled some serious issues. We were also introduced to Roxie in this book (The Nurse’s Not-So-Secret Scandal)
The writing was humorous, compelling and kept me engrossed to the end. The Epilogue was awesome. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I would highly recommend this book and author (Wendy S Marcus) to anyone looking to read a good Harlequin Medical romance.
Madrin Memorial Hospital Series:
1. When One Night Isn’t Enough - Nurse Ali Forshay Story
2. Once a Good Girl - Victoria’s story
3. The Nurse’s Not-So-Secret Scandal - Roxie’s story.
Read an excerpt here. -
After reading 'When One Night Isn't Enough' book one in the Madrin Memorial series I just had to read number two. And I wasn't disappointed! I loved it. Although it's part of a series it can easily be read as a stand alone book as it so seamlessly written that you wouldn't feel as though you'd missed out on anything.
'Once a Good Girl' tells the story of perfectionist and high achiever Victoria Forley when she becomes reaquainted with blast from the past, sexy Kyle Karlinsky. It has many laugh out loud moments and lots of tender moments too. Without spoiling the sweet, wonderful ending, it did have me in tears - all happy ones of course. As an extra treat you get a sneaky peek into the possibilities of book three. If the banter between Roxie and 'Fig' is anything to go by it's going to be as wonderful as the first two. Can't wait to read it! -
Why Once a Good Girl is a Red Hot Read: I recently read my friend’s, Wendy Marcus’s, debut book and so enjoyed it. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to fall in love with a friend’s work. It just makes me feel like all is right in the universe.
Once a Good Girl is both a reunion and hidden baby story, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s the same ole-same ole. Wendy’s characters, a heroine with a good girl complex and a bad boy hero turned good guy, are what really made this story shine for me. Their son and the hero’s therapy dog were just icing on the cake! -
"Although Kyle has grown up to be successful, he still has a bit of that bad boy streak that endears him to readers."
Full review on cataromance.com
http://cataromance.com/2012/03/review... -
Book two of my 2013 batch is finished. I haven’t read many Harlequins in my life, so I was again pleasantly surprised at the caliber of writing. The plot is somewhat simple (perhaps a symptom of Harlequins in general), but Marcus’ skill makes it an enjoyable read.
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The way Wendy Marcus gives depths and unexpected twists to her characters keeps me into her stories from beginning to end. Love the realism of exploring past relationships. Great read!
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Loved it! Wendy S. Marcus writes with just the right touch of humour and compassion. This was a compelling read that had me happily sobbing at the end. Absolutely recommend Once A Good Girl.
