In Could I Have This Dance?
, board-certified general surgeon Kraus spun the inspirational tale of a physician who uncovered an undiagnosed pocket of Huntington's disease ("HD," or "the dance") in her hometown and in her own family. Here, Kraus picks up the story of Claire McCall, M.D., as she awaits the outcome of her own genetic testing for HD. As Claire and her mother care for her father, who is in the advanced and desperately debilitating stages of the disease, she decides to postpone knowing whether she has it. Claire is in love with John Cerelli and afraid of what the results of the test might mean for their future. Her concern about the strength of John's love for her takes a sudden turn, however, when a serial rapist begins victimizing her patients, and John falls under suspicion. Does she know him as well as she thought? And where is God in all of this? The reader will have to suspend disbelief in places to enjoy the story, including a scene where John throws away an expensive diamond ring and it finds its way to a new owner in an unlikely manner. The author's practical experience as a doctor lends authenticity to the plot and results in some detailed descriptions of medical conditions and of the postrape examination of victims (which may be a bit graphic for the novel's intended Christian audience). Brisk pacing keeps the pages turning, and fans of the first novel will enjoy discovering how the romance between Claire and John reaches a surprising conclusion. (Jan.)
