Tierney reviews Heartsick by Tracey Richardson

Paramedic Angie Cullen and doctor Vic Turner work at the same hospital, but hardly know one another – until Angie’s lover and Vic’s wife are brought to the hospital together after a car crash, and it comes to light that they have been cheating with each other. After their respective relationships implode, Angie and Vic start to see each other everywhere, and against all odds begin to develop a friendship – which slowly turns into something more, though they initially fight their new feelings at every turn, afraid of being burned again.

It’s delightful experiencing Angie and Vic’s love story as it unfolds, as quirks of fate keep throwing them together, and they undergo an emotional rollercoaster ride processing their feelings about the dissolution of their previous relationships, their introspective look at their own emotional issues and hang-ups, and their dawning realization, then denial, and finally acceptance of their love for one another. I love a romance novel that hits the right emotional notes, and for the most part Heartsick does this wonderfully. There are definitely moments where things seem to be moving weirdly fast, especially with this more realistic emotional approach – but so much of that is par for the course with romance novels, and the story is still thoroughly enjoyable. Angie and Vic both go on separate, thoughtful emotional journeys (Angie even sees a therapist to work through her own issues and unhappiness with her previous relationship – love it!) that really resonated with me.

The story flows nicely, and the writing is quite good, though there are some passages that just sound a little off. There are occasional metaphors don’t quite seem to illustrate things to the desired effect (for example: “It was strange this spontaneity that seemed to grow like moss on a wet stump when she was around Vic”), and some odd phrases that are meant to sound sexy but for me kind of ground things to a halt (for example, the narration of a sweater that “hinted at the gentle swell of the goods below” and a description of an orgasm “making Vic its bitch”). For the most part, the writing is engaging, and my attachment to Angie and Vic’s soul-searching and romantic plot-line kept me going.

Heartsick showcases a sweet love story, and two well-fleshed-out protagonists whose introspective emotional journeys make their coming-together all the sweeter. After all they go through, both plot-wise and internally, Angie and Vic deserve their romance novel happy ending. If you’re looking for a feel-good romance with a thoughtful emotional progression, Heartsick is the book for you.


Rebecca reviews Heartsick by Tracey Richardson

Heartsick is a pretty good read with a decent slow-build romance between an ER physician and a paramedic. While I do like this book and I recommend it, I would have really loved this book if it had slightly better characterization and writing.

The book switches perspectives between our two protagonists, Angie Cullen, a former soldier now paramedic and Dr. Victoria Turner, an ER physician. I do like the idea of having two different perspectives in one book. However, I really would have liked to see their voices be much more distinct because sometimes, they blend into each other.

The main characters are brought together by a car crash which reveals their partners’ infidelity. Angie’s long-time girlfriend Brooke is cheating on her with Vic’s wife Karen. Soon after the crash, Brooke and Karen move in with each other. Angie and Vic are left to pick up the pieces of their lives and try to move on. The two women become friends as they rely on each other to figure out this difficult time in their lives. Their relationship blossoms into a romance that has some cute and steamy moments but also has setbacks like the huge dilemma of getting back into a serious relationship so quickly.

I really like how realistically Richardson handles the theme of infidelity. Both Angie’s and Vic’s reactions to their cheating partners are well-written and really makes you feel their pain. Moreover, their responses are extremely plausible. While there are a few instances which could have been cliché like Karen attempting to get back together with Vic as well as Angie’s repeated near-death experiences, Richardson maturely confronts these situations which actually do contribute to the plot.

However, I really did not enjoy the prolonged “will they or won’t they” relationship drama between Angie and Vic. I do like that both women are hesitant to get back into a serious relationship so soon after such devastating heartbreak and I believe that, at first, their indecision makes complete sense. But, the unnecessary drama draws out for far too long. Furthermore, the constant changes in their attitudes are confusing. One moment, Angie will be ready to take the plunge while Vic won’t…but, only a few pages later, Vic will be ready and Angie won’t.

I really love Angie who has a heart of gold and is sweet and loyal. However, I feel like I don’t know as much about Vic as I do about Angie. Therefore, I cannot connect with Vic in the same way that I do with Angie. I would have really liked to see some more character development for Vic because she is a great character, but I wish she was a little more fleshed out.

Tracey Richardson’s Heartsick is a good and quick read. Although I wish the writing and characterization could have been a little better, this is a solid book. If you like medical romances, some angst, and happy endings, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Rebecca is a Creative Writing student and freelance proofreader. Come say hi at her brand new blog: https://rebeccareviews.tumblr.com/

Anna M. reviews The Campaign by Tracey Richardson

I read and enjoyed Tracey Richardson’s 2008 book The Candidate*, about presidential candidate Jane Kincaid and her secret service agent Alex Warner. At the conclusion of The Candidate, Jane had been elected vice president of the United States and was openly involved with Alex. When I heard about Richardson’s follow-up, The Campaign, I couldn’t resist–especially since it’s an election year. Unfortunately, the sequel left me a little bit cold, perhaps because the glut of embarrassing (for both parties) political advertisements have made it almost impossible for me to believe that any candidate would be as idealistic and high-minded as Jane Kincaid–and actually get elected.

Jane is back on the campaign trail as her running mate, Dennis Collins, runs for re-election. She’s got Alex on her side as always, as well as her sister, who manages her campaign. Corey Kincaid is younger than Jane, and has recently realized that she too might be a lesbian. Almost all parties agree that the last person Corey should be experimenting with is Alex’s ex-lover, Julia Landen, who is covering the campaign for her Florida newspaper. When Julia receives some sensitive information about President Collins that could blow the campaign wide open, she’s torn between bringing it to Corey and doing her duty as a journalist. In the meantime, Jane and Alex struggle with an overly interfering gay rights group, the pressures of the campaign schedule on their relationship, and the persistent rumors that Jane will be breaking from Collins to run for president herself.

If this sounds like a lot of irons in the fire, it is. Richardson flips between Jane and Alex’s established relationship and and Corey and Julia’s blossoming attraction successfully enough, but the book could have used . . . something else. I had to push myself to finish it. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right move to believe that an out lesbian could successfully run for the highest office in the land, and one day I hope that we will be able to point to The Campaign and hail Tracey Richardson as a sage. But in the meantime, I’m too tied up in knots about the actual election to have much faith in this one.

*If you haven’t read that book and want to remain unspoiled, read no farther.