Revived

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Synopsis

Pediatrician Walker Hunt is ready to settle down and start a family, but he hasn't found the right woman yet. That all changes when a New Year's Eve kiss with a stranger rocks his world. He feels more for her in that one stolen moment in time than he's ever felt for any woman before, but when an unexpected interruption sends her running, he thinks he'll never see her again. However, a couple of months later, Walker is called in to consult on the case of a boy who nearly drowned after falling through ice and finds himself once again face-to-face with the woman of his dreams.

Jasmine Willows only kissed Walker because she was angry with her philandering husband, but the kiss ended up being just as meaningful to her as it was to him. Not only was it memorable for her, too, but it also reminded her of her own self-worth and gave her the strength to finally serve her husband with divorce papers. When her son's unfortunate accident reunites her with the man she hasn't forgotten, she wants to give their connection another chance. Walker's kindness and fatherly demeanor toward her son, Tony, is everything she's always wanted in a man but never had. When her husband refuses to sign the divorce papers, though, and starts making noise about seeking full custody of Tony, Jasmine and Walker have to fight for the opportunity to become a family.

Review

Revived is the second book in Stacy Eaton's contemporary, medical romance series, Heal Me. Walker is an emergency medicine pediatrician who is good friends with Cole, the hero of the first book, Cured. Jasmine is the sister of Cole's new step-father, Stewart, who is considerably younger than his mother. Walker and Jasmine meet at a New Year's Eve party at Stewart's house, where they share an earth-shattering kiss at midnight. However, they're interrupted and Jasmine flees, leaving Walker thinking they'll never see each other again. For Jasmine the kiss provided the much-needed impetus to finally serve her philandering husband with divorce papers, but two months later, he's still reluctant to sign. Walker and Jasmine reunite when an accident leaves her young son, Tony, fighting for his life after falling through the ice in a lake, and Walker is called in by Stewart to consult on his case. Once Tony is out of the woods, they have a heart-to-heart about what happened on New Year's Eve, and Walker finds himself falling for both Jasmine and her son, but Jasmine needs to get her life in order first and find a way to get her husband to let her go. Before that can happen, though, Tony's wish to invite Walker to his birthday party brings them back together once more. This time, Walker is determined never to let them go without a fight as long as Jasmine gives him hope of a future together. She's eager for that to happen, but with her husband now making noise about trying to take custody of Tony away from her, even though he hasn't seen the boy in six weeks and had never been much of a father in the first place, they could have a fight on their hands.

Walker loves kids and has always wanted to have a family, but he hasn't found the right woman yet. His New Year's kiss with Jasmine leaves him stunned and wanting more, but the woman he brought to the party as his plus one interrupts them. She's nothing more than a friend to him, but she felt otherwise and her unfortunate timing drives Jasmine away. Walker thinks he'll never see his mystery woman again until she appears in his emergency room with her son's life hanging in the balance. Not wanting an awkward scene at such a sensitive time, he hides his identity behind a medical mask, so it's not until later that she finally realizes who he is. Still, he keeps his focus on Tony until the boy is out of the woods. Then Walker and Jasmine discuss what happened between them. Once he realizes she's about to be divorced, he decides to pursue her if that's what she wants, too. She's open to the idea, but thinks it's best to finalize her divorce first and focus on her son who still isn't talking, which Walker believes is psychological in nature. It's not until Jasmine calls to invite Walker to Tony's birthday party that they finally reunite for good, and this time, Walker isn't leaving even though Jasmine's husband is making things difficult for them. Walker is a fantastic guy, a great pediatrician who's wonderful with kids and who's more of a real father to Tony than his biological dad. He's also loving and sweet toward Jasmine, giving her time and space, even though it's hard for him, and he doesn't stop thinking about her when they're apart. I also love how protective he is toward her when her soon-to-be ex starts making trouble.

With her husband away on business a lot, Jasmine is practically a single mom already. Even when he's home, he isn't much of a husband or a father, and she knows that he's been cheating on her with multiple women. Still, it's been hard for her to take that final step to end her marriage. However, her bold come-hither look sent Walker's way on New Year's Eve leads to a searing kiss that reminds her of her value, so that she finally gives her husband the divorce papers she'd had drawn up. Even though she thinks the kiss was a mistake because of the woman who interrupted them, she hasn't stopped thinking of Walker. When her son falls through the ice and is left fighting for his life, her brother, Stewart, asks Walker to consult on the case. The masked doctor seems oddly familiar, but she's so focused on Tony that she doesn't think much about it until she sees him unmasked in the corridor later. They decide to keep their attention on Tony for the time being, and Jasmine is beyond thrilled with the care and kindness Walker shows toward her son. Once Tony is better, he blossoms under Walker's attention. Although both Jasmine and Walker want to pick up where they left off, she thinks it might be better to wait a little while until she can get her life in order, but when Walker comes to Tony's party, she knows she wants a future with him if only they can find a way to get her husband out of her life. Jasmine is a great mother, always looking out for her son's best interests and taking wonderful care of him. She didn't deserve the cold fish of a husband she ended up with and I'm glad that she found a great guy like Walker to help her rebuild her life.

Revived is basically a longer novella of about 150 pages and the shortest book in the series as well, so the plot and characterizations aren't super-involved. However, for a shorter format, it's still very good. I liked both Walker and Jasmine, as well as little Tony. Walker was ready for something real with the right person, and he helps Jasmine to see she's still a desirable woman in spite of her husband's cheating and coldness that's beaten her down a bit. Tony is adorable and rendered very age-appropriately. His reasons for not talking after the accident really hit me in the feels. I like how the book ended with a much-deserved comeuppance for Jasmine's soon-to-be ex. In spite of my enjoying most of the story, it wasn't without a few flaws, which is why I dropped a half-star from the rating. Much like with the first book, a few more contractions were needed in the dialogue to keep it from sounding too formal and the wording in a few places could have been smoother. Also, while not exactly steamy, the first book did have at least one (maybe more) sensual love scenes, while this one fades to black. It would have been nice to have at least one love scene written out in a bit more detail to help solidify Walker and Jasmine's love for one another, but in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a deal-breaker for me. In some ways, I liked this book slightly better than the first one, which is why it got a half-star higher rating. Revived is an emotional story that had many of the key elements I look for in a good romance, and Walker, Jasmine, and Tony as a family unit were perfection. In that respect, I couldn't have asked for more. I very much look forward to continuing the series. The next book, Mended, is about Tucker, the police officer who was briefly seen in this book, helping to save Tony's life.

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Stacy Eaton

Themes

Babies & Children
Doctors, Nurses, & Medical Professionals
Medical Drama