Island Doctor

Thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Island Medics series. I have been following the cast of characters since "Isle of ...Where?" and having them show up as part of the story is wonderful. I'd say this book can stand alone as a lovely read, but having some background via Ms. Brown's previous Island books gives added depth.<br />The main characters were wonderfully rendered although times there were when I wanted to grab them by the lapels and give them a good shake, to get some common sense into them. This applied to both characters. (so yeah, I can get immersed in this world.)<br />All said, though, loved it. Definitely worth the wait...but, am anticipating the next book with bated breath. I too wonder if it will be Logan's story next. He really set some bells ringing even in the brief appearance he made.<br />Thank you Sue Brown for another wonderful story.

<b>2.5 Stars</b><br /><br />I'm a Sue Brown newbie; I've not read any of her other series, but I found no trouble keeping up with the characters and situations in the story, which does reference friendships and situations between characters from Sue's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/110318-the-isle" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Isle</a> series and even a cameo appearance by two more characters from her <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/104264-lyon-road-vets" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Lyon Road Vets</a> series.<br /><br />Jeff Martin has been in a ten year relationship with Tristan Smithers. For the last five years Jeff's commuted every chance he's had to Manchester from his home and practice on the Isle of Wight to see Tris. When he discovers Tris has cheated on him Jeff dumps Tris and goes home. On the ride home Jeff bumps into Cameron Gillard, the gorgeous great-grandson of one of Jeff's patients.<br /><br />Cameron quickly stakes his claim, and the two begin a new relationship.<br /><blockquote> <i>He could hear Cameron muttering something, and he raised his head. “What did you say?”<br />Cameron looked him in the eyes. “He’s not having you back. You’re mine now.”<br />Still lost in the haze of his orgasm, Jeff stared at him. It was too soon for such a declaration. God, he’d just split from Tris. This was a hookup, rebound sex. Wasn’t it? “I don’t want him back.”<br />Cameron nodded. “I know what you’re thinking, but I promise you I’ll look after you. I won’t hurt you.” He tucked Jeff’s hair behind his ear. “You don’t need to be scared.”<br />“I’m not scared of you,” Jeff protested. That much was true. He wasn’t scared of Cameron, but he was scared of falling again so quickly. He’d never been a player. Tris had been his third relationship ever. “You seem so sure.”<br />“I’ve known you were it from the moment I met you.”</i> </blockquote><br /><strong>I think fans of Sue Brown's will be very happy with the new series and eager to see where it goes.</strong><br /><br />Personally, there were some situations that had me shaking my head. (Examples: Because Tris has never once in five years bothered to come to visit Jeff on the Isle, and Jeff always commuted to see Tris he tells everyone that he's going to see his girlfriend "Trisha". But Jeff can never remember the name of his fictitious girlfriend...even though he's apparently been lying about it for FIVE years. Also, Brown writes that Jeff's suspected, then that he's been aware, of Tris' infidelity for years, but writes later about how Jeff didn't know and was gutted.)<br /><br />Regardless, it's a sweet, romantic story that covers the relationship growth between Jeff and Cameron, some hot smexy times, and has only minimal angst and some light miscommunication and hard-headedness.<br /><br />I wish it weren't so, but I didn't really get that invested in the story and didn't really connect to the characters. Bottom line: For me, it wasn't a hardship to read, but it didn't thrill me either.<br /><br /><i>Advanced Review Galley copy of <a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7304" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Island Doctor (Island Medics #1)</a> provided by <a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Dreamspinner Press</a> in exchange of an honest review.</i><br /><br /><i>This review has been cross-posted at <a href="http://gaybook.reviews/2015/12/28/island-doctor/" rel="nofollow noopener">Gay Book Reviews</a>.</i>

Ein schöner Auftakt einer neuen Insel-Reihe, vor allem da wir alte Bekannte wiedersehen und auch mitbekommen wie es ihnen ergeht. <br /><br />Jeff und Cameron sind eigentlich relativ sympathisch, nur ging mir Cameron teilweise mit seinen Aktionen und Entscheidungen auf die Nerven. Da hätte ich ihn oft am liebsten auf die nächste Wand geklatscht. Nachdem man herausfindet, was er selbst erlebt hat, konnte ich zwar zum Teil verstehen, warum er manchmal so reagiert hat wie er es nun mal hat, aber so richtig nachvollziehen wollte bzw. konnte ich es dann doch nicht. *g* <br /><br />Aber alles in allem eine schöne Geschichte - typisch Sue Brown halt. :)

<b> <i>Review originally posted at <a href="http://sinfullymmbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/01/release-day-review-island-doctor-island.html" rel="nofollow noopener">Sinfully</a>.</i> </b><br><br>This was a light, easy romance with minimal angst, a bit of stubbornness and some sweet sexy times as Jeff and Cameron fall into an unexpected romance.<br><br>Although the start of a new series set on the Isle of Wight, this series also incorporates the characters from Sue Brown’s Isle of Wight series. Fans of Sam and Liam (<a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/14779553.The_Isle_of____Where___Isle_of_Wight___1_" title="The Isle of... Where? (Isle of Wight, #1) by Sue Brown" rel="noopener">The Isle of... Where?</a>) and Paul and Olaf (<a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/18216845.Isle_of_Wishes__Isle_of_Wight___2_" title="Isle of Wishes (Isle of Wight, #2) by Sue Brown" rel="noopener">Isle of Wishes</a>) will definitely want to pick this one up as those couples and their continuing stories are featured as secondary characters. If you haven’t read those books, you’ll have no problem with this one as enough information is given about these characters and Jeff and Cameron have not appeared before.<br><br>When Jeff, a general doctor on the Isle of Wight, breaks off his 10 year relationship after having confirmed his suspicions that Tristan was cheating, he just wants to return home and lick his wounds. When he runs into Cameron on the ride back, he reluctantly takes the man up on an offer to go out for a drink the next day. Jeff had only briefly met Cameron before, but knows him as the great-grandson and carer for a patient of his. When their drink turns into a day out with the Owens’, Jeff begins reevaluating the choices he’s made in the past five years. The chemistry between him and Cameron is strong, and socializing for the first time with other gay men on the island, it becomes clear that his days in the closet are going to have to end.<br><br>Although their relationship moves rather quickly it’s not completely insta-love, but Cameron does stake his claim early on. Cameron is a force of nature basically moving into every aspect of Jeff’s life and turning it upside down. He is sweet, fun, a little possessive and very stubborn. He also has moments where the disparity between his job as a mechanic and Jeff being a doctor makes him question why Jeff would want him and suspect Jeff’s true intentions towards him. While Jeff is a bit wary of things moving so quickly and of whether he is repeating the same behaviors that led to the demise of his relationship with Tristan, he clearly wants Cameron in his life for the long term.<br><br>The book is very relationship focused without too much outside interference. Jeff does have to deal with Tristan (the ex you’ll love to hate from the moment you meet him) and Cameron has his family matters, but none of that outweighs the romance. When Cameron ultimately makes a stupid, impulsive move, I liked that Jeff didn’t let him get away with it too easy, opting to “forgive but not forget”.<br><br>As far as the secondary characters go we’re introduced to the manager and the doctors at Jeff’s practice, therapist Logan (who I hope will be getting a book in the series) and Cameron’s family, but those featured most prominently are the men of the Isle series. As I’ve read all of those stories I was happy to see them again since there were threads that were not finished that carryover here. I’m not sure if new readers will find their stories confusing or distracting, but I think enough background is given when Cameron introduces Jeff to the men early on.<br><br>If you like a relationship focused story with walks on the beach, a coming out, and sexy times between two men who deserve some happiness, you’ll enjoy this story. It had a realistic feel and a lovely setting and I’ll be looking forward to the next book to see how everyone is getting along.<br><br><br> <a href="http://sinfullymmbookreviews.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1447774021i/17048962._SX540_.jpg" width="341" height="123" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br>

Sue Brown schreibt eine neuen Insel-Reihe? Da musste ich doch reinschauen und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht, denn wir treffen alte Bekannte wieder und erfahren auch, wie es ihnen in letzter Zeit ergangen ist. Gerade bei Liam &amp; Sam hat mich das Wiedersehen sehr gefreut.<br /><br />Hauptsächlich dreht sich die Geschichte aber um Cameron und Jeff, der sich gerade von seinem betrügerischen Freund getrennt hat und eigentlich bislang dachte, er wäre ungeoutet. Aber da unterliegt er einem Irrtum, vor allem als es mit Cameron ernster wird, erkennt er sehr schnell, dass im Grunde alle längst darüber Bescheid wissen, dass er Männer lieber mag. Und vor allem, dass er Cameron mag, auch wenn der teilweise ein Verhalten an den Tag legt, über das ich nur den Kopf schütteln konnte. Wie ein unreifer Teenager, sag ich nur. Man erfährt zwar später die Gründe dafür, aber wirklich nachvollziehen konnte ich seine Entscheidungen oft nicht. Ein bisschen erwachsenes Verhalten hätte Cameron da echt gut getan.<br /><br />Dennoch ist es eine schöne Wohlfühlgeschichte mit dem verdienten Happy End für die beiden. Ich vergebe zufriedene 4* und bedanke mich beim Dreamspinner Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar.<br />

This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be found here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/01/review-island-doctor-by-sue-brown/">http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/01/review...</a><br /><br />Dr. Jeff Martin is a closeted gay physician on the Isle of Wight. He’s been in a committed relationship with his college romance, Tris, for the past ten years, though they live hundreds of kilometers apart. It is always Jeff—on his rare weekends off—who drives for a visit. Never Tris, not once in the past five years. And though he resents this one-sidedness in their relationship, Jeff’s resisted all efforts and cajoling on Tris’ part to move to Manchester. Jeff has a strong suspicion that giving up his country practice to co-habitate with Tris will only frustrate him more. Because he doesn’t believe that Tris really respects him, and he secretly suspects—very, very strongly—that Tris is not (and will never be) faithful. Still, Tris flaunting his indiscretions is the final straw, and Dr. Jeff returns to his lonely Isle not quite alone.<br /><br />No, Jeff encounters the beautiful and lovely Cameron Gillard on the ferry back to Wight. Cameron is the great-grandson to one of Jeff’s more beloved patients and having her in common they strike up a conversation. And arrange a date. Cameron is a younger man, twenty-eight, and a car mechanic on Wight. He loves his family dearly, and especially his Gran, who he minds tirelessly. I loved the way Cam and his friends swallowed Jeff whole into their well of love. Jeff had isolated himself, even in his own space on Wight, and needed friends.<br /><br />Being seen in the company of “known gays” pretty much outs Jeff to the local populace, it seems, but he takes the second step to confront his partners in practice, and the support staff, who are almost totally supportive. And his attraction to Cameron is certainly ramping up. It was a bit heartbreaking, honestly, to realize the depths of isolation in which Jeff lived. He’d had a home for five years and never one guest. Cameron was soon installed all over his cottage. But Cameron was so cagey about his own history, and situation. Jeff was suspicious—and I think having Tris so fresh in his mind was problematic because Jeff was a man who wanted clear answers, and Cameron’s reluctance to reveal more caused Jeff to wonder and suspect issues that were never there.<br /><br />Cameron got serious fast. I liked his self-assurance, and the assurances he made Jeff, but Jeff and I shared reservations, especially as Cameron had a bit of a chip on his shoulder regarding being less educated, or wealthy, than Jeff. I really liked how Jeff handled those issues.<br /><br />I’m used to reading stories where a couple splits at the beginning and we never hear from the other as the story follows the new love story. Not the case here. Tris becomes more than “the former boyfriend” and bothers to drive out to visit Jeff—more than once. The first time as an attempt to win Jeff back. Upon learning that Jeff and Cameron are together, Tris tries to insert himself into their equation, and that does cause problems. Cameron’s an impulsive, heart-on-his-sleeve guy—which Jeff admires to some degree—but his reactions to Tris’ baiting were far more extreme than I think either of them could take. Expect an interlude of solitude, and some deep soul-searching.<br /><br />That said, this is a good read, with a calm plotline, nice sexy times, and interesting characters. Jeff is a faithful man and narrator, and his feelings, while confused at times, are always true. He adores Cameron’s affability and easy affection. Jeff had been so forlorn, even in his relationship with Tris, that he sucks up every ounce of care that Cameron lavishes on him. The book is filled with charming people, and quiet moments, only a bit of drama at the end, and even that is on the understated side. The love story develops kinda quickly but lasts long—months before we have any real hiccups—and it’s an HEA. It’s the first book in a series, and there’s a cast of characters here that will surely be fodder for stories down the road.

I needed two whole days to finish that story plot, but my God how boring it was.

I’m a big fan of Sue Brown and I was really loving this book right up until Cameron so over reacted to a text from Tris. I was so disappointed because it was completely irrational. When he explained his reasons for the way he acted I would have walked away. He showed a complete lack of trust and Jeff let him get away with it. I dropped two stars from my rating it upset me so much.

I enjoyed this book.<br />Jeff is a doctor on the Isle of Wight. He is in a long distance relationship with Tris. One weekend he arrives at Tris's to find he has been unfaithful. He breaks up with him.<br />On the ferry back to the Isle of Wight he meets Cameron.<br />This book was a quick, easy read. Low on amgst with some great family values.

Friend reviews have been poor. I'm going to officially pass.