The Doctor’s Little Miracle
The Doctor’s Little Miracle (2011)
Harlequin Press
Chandy McDaniel was seventeen and pregnant when her world crashed around her. Fifteen years later, she’s not stupid enough to let Justin McCall back into her life. But there’s one small problem. She still loves him. And that’s not the only secret she’s keeping.
Leaving Chandy was the hardest thing Justin ever had to do. Seeing her again a beautiful, grown-up doctor makes him realise how much he still cares. And she already seems to be head-over-heels for his son. Is it too late to make things right between them? And maybe, together, create the miracle they’ve both been waiting for.
Returning soon…
- Publisher: Harlequin American Romance; Original edition (September 14, 2010)
- Language: English
- Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
- ISBN-10: 0373753276
- ISBN-13: 978-0373753277
- Item Weight: 4 ounces
- Dimensions: 4.22 x 0.59 x 6.61 inches
What are Reader’s Saying:
Michele Dunaway Delivers Again
The Doctor’s Little Miracle by Michele Dunaway brings back some much loved characters from her previous book, Bachelor CEO. The McDaniel family appears again in this delightful story, featuring Chandy McDaniel – a doctor living with unhealed emotional wounds of the past. She is forced to reckon with these when she comes face to face with the her first – and really only – true love, Justin McCall. All grown up, the two discover that time in many ways stands still when it comes to maters of the heart.
Michele is an awesome storycrafter and you will not want to miss this wonderful addition to her booklist.
Well written and can’t put it down!
This was a wonderful read! It was well written, at various parts of the book, I felt the character’s pain as if I were there witnessing; very emotional at times. This is the story about Chandry and Justin. They were sweetheart since the eight grade and were in love. On their junior year, Justin leaves for Chicago with his mom and promises to call & write. He never did and that left Chandry broken hearted. Not only was Justin her first love and lover, he had left her pregnant. She miscarries the baby & was told she couldn’t have any more kids. Not only did she lose Justin, she lost her baby & the hope of ever having children of her own. She was completely devastated. 15 years later, she is a pediatrician who does lots of volunteering with children, as a mean to compensate for the child she lost and for the children she wouldn’t have. One day during her rounds at the ER, a 14 year old boy comes in with his father, no other than Justin. Chandry acts professionally, but inside her anger & hurt are resurfacing after so many years carrying it. Justin is shocked to see her, but he knows he owes her an explanation. Chandry does not want one, she blamed him for everything bad that had happened to her. And it was fairly obvious why he never called her, he had replaced her with someone else while she was back home waiting for his calls.
Story is about second chances, finding forgiveness and true happiness. It was about overcoming differences, accepting each other and truly appreciating the love you have. It is about soul searching, realizing your mistakes and accepting responsibility. Wonderful read, went by quick!
Raven Raye’s Review
Michele Dunaway’s, The Doctor’s Little Miracle, is a very well written affirmation of life. After going through a teenager’s worst nightmare, the emotional scars remain. This book is a true testament to just how long wounds can fester and how long hurt and betrayal can foster our grown-up anger. Miracles happen every day though, Michele shows us how new romance in an old relationship can nip at the heels of closure. Sometimes you can’t fix what’s irrevocably broken, but you can start from scratch.
Read an Excerpt
Prologue
For Chandy McDaniel, life as she knew it was officially over. She wrapped her arms around her waist and tried to fend off the winter chill that had enveloped Chenille, Iowa, and her heart. She stood on the icy sidewalk, the wet slush from last night’s snowstorm soaking through her tennis shoes. She didn’t care. Nothing mattered when her seventeen-year-old heart was breaking.
“It’s going to be okay. I’ll write. Phone. Hey, don’t cry.” Justin McCall, her boyfriend ever since eighth grade, crooked his finger and lifted her chin. “You know I love you. Nothing’s going to change even though I’ll be in Chicago. I’ll come back this summer. That’s only five months from now. You’ll see. Everything will be fine. We’ll be together like we planned. This is just a detour.”
Chandy blinked back tears. “It’s our senior year. Couldn’t you have stayed? Finished high school in Chenille?”
“You know I wanted to. But my mom said no. She needs me. She can’t raise Derek by herself. We wouldn’t be going to Chicago if my uncle wasn’t there. He’s promised to help out.”
Justin’s father had died suddenly of a heart attack, and the small life-insurance policy wasn’t enough to make ends meet. Despite community support, the situation was dire. Mrs. McCall had been struggling with twelve-year-old Derek’s behavior, and she had no family nearby to help. The closest was her brother in Chicago.
Chandy knew she was being selfish in wanting Justin to stay. But ever since the tall, shaggy-haired jock sitting in front of her in first-hour history class had turned around and pierced her with those baby-blue eyes, he’d been the only guy for her.
He wrapped his arms around her and then drew back. “Hey, I have something for you. Don’t open until Christmas.” The holiday was four days away. He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a small wrapped box. He closed her bare, cold fingers around the present. “Promise me you won’t peek.”
She nodded and fought back tears. “I promise.”
“Good.” Justin’s lips smiled but his eyes were sad. Behind them the front door slammed as his mom and younger brother exited the house. Justin’s uncle had already driven away with the U-Haul truck containing all the
McCall family’s worldly possessions. As his mom and brother cleared the porch and headed to the car, the house was a silent and empty testament to the death of a dream. Icicles hung from the for-sale sign.
Mrs. McCall loaded Derek into the back of the aged SUV and called to her older son. “Justin. We have to go. It’s a long drive. I’m sorry, sweetie. He’ll write.” She gave Chandy a sympathetic smile and, with a shiver, climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
Chandy and Justin had said their goodbyes last night, parked on the old Quarry Road. There, wrapped in each other’s arms in the back of Chandy’s car, they’d let the engine idle and the heat blow as they’d made love for the very first time. They’d always planned on waiting until they were married, but neither had ever expected this separation. They’d had it all laid out. Graduation. College. Marriage. Jobs at McDaniel Manufacturing. A house. Dog. Kids.
She failed to contain the tears, and they streamed down her face and froze to her cheeks. “I love you.”
“Ditto.” Justin used the words Patrick Swayze had said in Ghost, the movie out a few years back that they’d claimed was their movie. He kissed her gently and then stepped away as his mother honked the horn twice. Chandy held his hand, and he stretched his arm out behind him, finally losing her fingertips as the distance between them grew too great. Her arm fell to her side and Justin waved once as he climbed into the car.
Chandy remained rooted to the sidewalk, her lips quivering and nose running as Mrs. McCall backed out of the driveway. Justin gave her another sad wave, his face pressed to the glass as the car drove by. At the end of the block, the SUV made a turn on Cedar Street and disappeared from view.
It was the worst moment of her young life. As Chandy stood there shivering, she held on to the hope of dozens of letters and long-distance phone calls, the hope that somehow they’d bridge the gap. That their love would survive.
She never saw or heard from him again.
