Crossing the Line

In this stodgy debut, Armstead infuses medical suspense with romance, but neither manages to jolt the heart. The last thing paramedic Megan Henderson needs is to make up for a useless partner, so when her regular partner goes on medical leave, she’s less than thrilled to find out the substitute, Nathan Thompson, is an amputee combat medic. Nathan is fully capable of carrying out his duties, and he makes that clear to everyone he works with, especially condescending Megan. Soon friendship replaces rivalry. When he finds out her bruises are not casualties of the job but were caused by her abusive police officer husband, he steps in to be her white knight, while Megan wrestles with her growing love for Nathan and her devotion to her marriage. Perhaps believing that readers won’t accept a cheating heroine, even one who’s being battered by her husband, Armistead resolutely limits Megan and Nathan’s connection to discussions of their work. With constant descriptions of medical techniques, the story reads more like a med school textbook with a hint of romance than an actual romance novel. (Sept.)