Book Review: "Disaster Status" by Candace Calvert

Summary from BN.com: ER charge nurse Erin Quinn escaped personal turmoil to work on the peaceful California coast. But when a hazardous material spill places Pacific Mercy Hospital on disaster status and stresses staff, she’s put to the test. And thrown into conflict with the fire department’s handsome incident commander, who thinks her strategy is out of line.

Fire captain Scott McKenna has felt the toxic effects of tragedy; he’s learned to go strictly by the book to advance his career, heal his family, and protect his wounded heart. When he’s forced to team with the passionately determined ER nurse, sparks fly. As they work to save lives, can they handle the attraction kindled between them . . . without getting burned?

It's always aggravating when you are prepared to take a day off and then you get called into work. Most of the time you think that they don't really need you but if you work in the medical field you know you HAVE to go or lives will be lost. I was a bit frustrated along with Erin when Scott would not let her into the building because of her ID badge. I completely understand the need for him doing this but at the same time it's frustrating because she is there to help and she can't get in. Thus starts the beginning of a relationship between two different people. The chemistry between them is great and really is able to showcase their conflicting personalities by creating the right kind of sparks.

I felt the writing in this book to be be a lot tighter and focused than that in the first book. The relationship is a big factor of the story but I found that equal attention was paid to the chemical spill and the aftereffects as well. There's quite a bit of suspense in this book involving a character who is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after serving in Desert Storm. He believes that what he is doing is right but not necessarily everyone else will think the same way he does. It's suspenseful because only he knows what he is doing and most of it consists of an argument inside his mind.

There were a few weak spots in the book where the some characters seem a bit cardboard and a few scenes seemed a bit bland. Christian faith is evident throughout the book so that should not come as a surprise. Overall though it's a good blend of medical drama mixed with romance and a touch of suspense. Even though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone.

Disaster Status by Candace Calvert is published by Tyndale (2010)

This review copy was provided by the author

Other books in the Mercy Hospital series that I've reviewed:

Critical Care (Book 1)