Love on Call (Silhouette Special Edition No. 1594) [Mass Market Paperback]

Shirley Hailstock (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Silhouette (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373245947
• ISBN-13: 978-0373245949
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,737,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A prescription for love., March 14, 2004

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love on Call (Silhouette Special Edition No. 1594) (Mass Market Paperback)

After defusing a rather volatile situation in the emergency room of the hospital where she works, Dr. Mallory Russell is pleasantly surprised when fellow physician Bradley Clayton takes a sudden interest in her. She is a little leery of his intentions, though, and refuses to believe that he sees her as a desirable woman, and not just as a fellow doctor.

Known as the hospital recluse, Bradley doesn't have time for anyone, unless it's the children he is determined to save. When he sees Mallory in trouble, his shell is cracked, his interest is peaked, and he decides to take a chance on love. Will true love prevail, or will the secrets that each of them harbor destroy any chance they might have at that once in a lifetime, all encompassing love every person so desperately seeks?

True to form, Shirley Hailstock has created another good story in LOVE ON CALL, but this one seemed to lack that extra flair that her previous works have included. Although I feel that this was not her best work, I am a huge fan and look forward to more works from this very talented author.

Reviewed by Renee Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tender Story, May 1, 2006

By 

Mirage08 (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love On Call (Mass Market Paperback)

Ms. Hailstock has done it again. She has given us another tender and heart warming story about two lost souls coming together, dealing with their issues and finding love. This is another story about the Clayton clan. Definite recommendation.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing, August 27, 2006

By 

lawlady (Lexington, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love On Call (Mass Market Paperback)

This book started out with a good premise and a good start to the story. Drama in the ER and he is there to help her after it is over- they get to know each other- they are both cautious about entering into a relationship but they fall in love. However, the book did not live up to its promise and it was very disappointing adn frustrating.

Dr. Malllory Russell is an ER doctor dedicated to her work with little time for friends. The book does little to explore her solitary life and other than mentioning that she has a sister, the book does not go into their relationship.

Dr. Brad Clayton is a pediatric surgeon who seems to be more of a regular pediatrician than a surgeon. The back cover describes him as wounded and lonely but there is little done to explore this. He did have tragedy in his childhood but the book does not explore how this shaped his inability to maintain a meaningful relationship with a woman.

It was very frustrating to read this book not only because it did not fit with the descriptions but also, it was too disjointed. Often the author would throw in facts that the characters were aware of but there would be no led up to them. For examples, the characters would reference conversations or events that supposedly occurred during the character's involvement, but these did not occur in the book. Also, when Mallory was talking to Brad about his family in their second conversation, she knew all of his family details which he had never told her before. It was as if the author was rushing and there was too much editing so alot of details were cut or left out. I found myself having to reread the book several times to find out when something occurred or if I missed something.

The book also took alot of liberties with time lines and hospital administration matters. Brad is supposed to be a pediatric surgeon who is the head of his own unit. However, he is only 30 if you believe the time line that the author puts in the book. Mallory states that she is 32. Yet she is only a first year resident. Even allowing for the time that she was out of school- 2 years, this time line is not consistent with reality. There were also alot of other inconsistencies which made reading this book very frustrating for me.

Also, the appeareance of some of the family members seemed forced and unnecessary to the story. The appearance of the sister Rosa seemed to be in the book solely to set Rosa up as the heroine of the next book. I found two of the scenes with her to be annoying and totally a waste of page space. Should have cut these scenes and used the space to flesh the story out better.

Normally I love medical romances. I love the drama and romance in a hospital setting. And like I said, this book started out with a lot of promise. However, it did not live up to it. I kept hoping it would get better but it did not. While reading this book, I kept feeling like it should be dark outside instead of daytime and reading it actually pulled me down. I knew it would have a happy ending because it is a Harlequin after all but frankly, I stopped caring whether they lived happily ever affter and I only finished it out of respect for the $4.99 I spent.

I hope this author's other books are better but I will only find out at the library.