Holiday House Call spans from just before Halloween until Christmas Day and so I had to really adjust my summer brain to thinking about the fall and winter holidays. That being said, this was a good book it had depth and characters that while stable and happy, they weren’t really living a full life, but I felt the main characters kind of got lost in this story. I had great respect for both of the main characters and the difficult careers they have and the emotional toll it takes on them day in and day out. They had a lot of baggage in their past including a one night stand neither could forget and so seeing one another again in an unusual way just made it that much more difficult. There were a few lighter moments in Holiday House Call, but this story felt heavy, almost too heavy for a “holiday romance” and even for this series, I’m not saying that was a bad thing just kind of unexpected.

When Officer John “Tuck” Tucker see a car driving too slow and weaving he suspects a drunk driver, when that car stops in the road, he knows it’s time to make his presence known, when he sees the car and its bumper sticker he knows this traffic stop is going to be unlike any other because the woman in that car is one he had a one night stand with six years prior when he was working in Denver and now that car and that woman are in his hometown of Inspiration.

I always love books where a one night stand comes back to make life interesting and that’s exactly what happened in Holiday House Call. Tuck is pretty much revered in his hometown so he is thrown for a loop to find out that the woman he spent several very memorable hours with is Dr. Karen Carmichael, a renowned neurosurgeon, cousin to one of his friends, and is now living and working in a neighboring town. Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe Karen’s feelings on the situation, but one thing neither can deny is the attraction between them.

In the simplest of terms, both Tuck and Karen have issues about each other’s occupations and their messed up childhoods. There is a draw between them that no matter how hard they fight they can’t stay away and while they do open up to one another, their road is difficult. Tuck loves his small town and the people in it and goes out of his way to make sure everyone’s needs are met and Karen tries to stay out of other people’s lives and to not show her feelings or emotions in any way which drains her both mentally and physically. She has some good people around her who try to make her live life, but in reality her work is her life and opening herself up to someone so completely will make her weak. I liked both of these characters and even sympathized with what they’d been through and how it affected the way they live their lives, but I got frustrated with the push and pull between them and their inability to admit they wanted more from one another. That being said there were several wonderful moments in this book and not all of them had to do with this couple, in fact several had to do with another couple, Taylor and Gabe, going through a really difficult time and while both Tuck and Karen were instrumental to that part of the story, it was Taylor and Gabe’s story that really made this book special.

While not my favorite in this series and a bit heavy for the holiday season, I did enjoy Holiday House Call and was happy to see Tuck find the person to make his life complete.

This was a decent story and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and the heroine, Tuck and Karen. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

Dr. Karen Carmichael prides herself on being capable, optimistic and always in control. But even neurosurgeons have breaking points, especially as the holidays approach. When Karen finds herself on the side of the road, explaining to a cop that her less-than-stellar driving was due to stress and tears rather than too much booze, it’s humiliating. When that cop turns out to be a one-night stand from her past, it’s icing on the bad-day cake. Officer John “Tuck” Tucker didn’t expect to see Karen again after their night together. The circumstances may not be ideal, but convincing this beautiful, stubborn woman to get to know him with his clothes on is more fun than he could have imagined. Karen swore she’d never fall for someone who risks his life for his job. She sees enough heartbreak at work without inviting it into her personal life, and she has no interest in becoming involved in the small town Tuck calls home. But despite valiant efforts to keep her walls up, her affection for Tuck is growing into something much stronger. With a life built around work alone looking less appealing by the day, Karen will have to take a leap of faith—and trust that Tuck will leap with her.
This was a cute and quick holiday read. I liked both main characters as they went through the story. I enjoyed the plot. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I felt so bad for Karen through so much of this book. It is obvious that while her friends do what they can she’s not had the support she needs throughout her career. It’s hard enough being a doctor but the things she sees could break anyone. It takes a bit for Tuck to figure out that something is missing for her (and of course he has to have a few man moments) but when he does he steps up like the awesome guy he is. It’s not easy because she fights him every step of the way :) But he’s tenacious and willing to be patient when he needs to be. Everyone should be so lucky to have that kind of person to be at their side.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

I am such a huge fan of this series, but unfortunately, I didn’t completely warm to this story. This is probably the most serious book in this series so far and Tuck and Karen feel much older than characters in earlier books. For me, this story is missing some of the joy, the fun, and the self-deprecating humour I’ve come to expect from this series.

I did love Tuck. He is such a gentle, small town sheriff and I love the way he cares for everyone in his town. I also love the way Karen makes his head (and his heart) spin. Tuck is all heart and he struggles to understand Karen’s more cerebral approach to life. It annoyed me that Tuck makes all of the effort and all of the gestures in this relationship. He is wonderful and I’m not sure Karen ever fully appreciates him.

Karen is a more problematic character for me. Firstly, 37-year-old surgeons aren’t world experts. My husband and his friends are specialist doctors of a similar age – and they all still spend time learning from more experienced doctors. Secondly, she doesn’t seem to be able to handle her emotions and she has no professional detachment. I find it hard to believe that Karen is considered a world expert when her patient care is still bleeding into her personal life after ten years as a surgeon. I understood Karen’s weak social skills, but I really didn’t get on with her weepy, needy side.

Most of the women in this series have been funny, sweet, and engaging. Karen is just a little bit too serious and too anxious for me. Karen has a whole lot of baggage, but so did Lola in the third book. I just kinda wish Karen had even a touch of Lola’s sense of humour because I found it incredibly difficult to empathise with Karen – or to like her very much.

I have loved this series from the start and I’m hoping this one is just a blip. I’m sure other readers will enjoy Karen more than I did – she just didn’t work for me.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a shorter book than the others, and is described as book #3.5. I have loved all the previous books, and highly recommend them to you. This is about two new characters, but the previous couples do appear here.

Karen is a renown neurosurgeon, based in the next town over to Inspiration. She gets deeply involved with her patients, but refuses to show her tears due to criticism whilst training. This leads her to be more emotional inside, and colder outside than would seem natural. She has also seen so much heartache that she refuses to get close to people. In other words, she is bottling up most of her feelings, and kidding herself that her life is fine.

When Tuck decides that she is worth his time, and that he will prove to her that life is for living and emotions are perfectly normal, she slowly realises that he is possibly right. Obviously, there are plenty of roadblocks along the way, but he is not a man to be denied, luckily for her!

I liked the links between the backgrounds of these two people, and how differently they had chosen to live their lives, yet with the same principles of serving others. I really enjoyed that they had off-the-charts chemistry and could not deny themselves the pleasure – even when both of them know they shouldn't.

Another enjoyable read, and already want my next fix of Inspiration!

Tuck and Karen are reoccurring characters from the previous books, and this novella is a great bridge piece to give us their story. Karen was awesome - loved that she was no-holds-barred dedicated to her job, and that she was logically reluctant to give in to any situation that might bring her heartbreak. Tuck was equally great, and his dedication was inspiring. It was lovely to dip my toes back into the town of Inspiration with this one.
Great feel-good read, and one worth picking up. I'm a fan of Doyle's work and so happy I found her through NetGalley.

So, hear I go jumping into a series 3 (and a half) books in, but I suppose if I was going to do it, a novella about a new couple in the Calling It series was the perfect place to start. It gave me a taste of Jen Doyle's writing and a glimpse of Inspiration, the small town where the series takes place.

I kinda love small town romances and this one worked for me. Karen was not a small town person, but she cared about her patients and their families. Being part of a close knit community wasn't a bad thing, but she planned to keep her distance. Falling for the local cop was most definitely not part of the plan - which was easier said than done given the connection and attraction that there was between Karen and Tuck.

Tuck wasn't sure he was ready for commitment either, but he couldn't deny the attraction and he was just as stubborn as she was. Being part of a small town though also meant that EVERYONE knew EVERYTHING about EVERYONE else and given his position, he wasn't a fan of that aspect.

I really enjoyed their story and even though it was short, it wasn't really lacking. They had a couple of missteps and they didn't always communicate as well as they should have, but they both had big hearts and deserved the HEA more than either one of them realized.

I'll probably be back tracking with this series or at least keeping an eye out for what comes next. Stay tuned. ;)

This is a short and surprisingly angsty read. I feel so much for Karen; I get why she doesn't want to be attached to anyone. I love how she fell for Tuck anyway, and I love them together. Also the cameos! I really need to finish Fitz and Deke's book soon.

3.5 Stars

Holiday House Call is a Novella in the Calling it series. It's a fast paced, small town, second chance romance featuring Karen and Tuck. This story revolves around a one night stand reappearing in your life, and then discovering their lives are intertwined in multiple ways.

Karen Carmichael is a neurosurgeon, she's stubborn, and struggles to deal with her emotions, and has a tendency to lock everything down tight. She doesn't form many lasting relationships, which is really a form of self preservation.

John 'Tuck' Tucker is the Chief of Police, he's sweet, honest, patient, kind, caring and above all persistent. He's the opposite to Karen in the fact that he is very giving of his time, energy and fund to the community he lives in.

The chemistry between this pair is undeniable, they are both complex and wounded characters who are haunted by their childhoods.

I enjoyed this short and sexy, engaging and entertaining read, but think I would have gotten more out of it if I had read the previous titles in the series, at times I felt kind of lost as I didn't know the back stories or details that went with the names throughout the book. I really enjoyed Jen Doyle's writing style, and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

The hook for this book? It's the woman who is the doctor out saving other people with her knowledge. Love it. While it should not be uncommon, I still feel that this book stood out to me because the female character is a doctor.

Also, I cannot resist a hot, alpha male cop. *sigh*

Karen (Dr. Carmichael) just had a bad day at work and while she is crying, her driving becomes erratic. Of course, Officer Tucker pulls her over and administers a sobriety test. They both recognize each other as a past one night stand and things get awkward real fast. While the sex was hot, they were not looking to run into each other again. Karen is not interested in a long term relationship with someone who risks his life for a job every day.

The author will entertain you with her laugh-out-loud dialogue between the characters. Seriously. They both have some baggage, which they need to deal with to make their relationship work. I love that Carina Press allows writers to take liberties with the language and it just makes it sound more real.

The chemistry between Karen and Tuck is just super sexy. The sex scenes work and I love that Tuck was the one trying to convince Karen a "no-strings" relationship was not the best option. He did such romantic things for Karen...you will have a hard time not swooning.

This was the first book that I read by Jen Doyle and I enjoyed it so much, I will be on the look out for new books. This book is the perfect escape for cold winter nights. You will not be disappointed by this HEA.

I think every review I write for Jen Doyle's books starts out like this, but I absolutely love her writing. She has a way of bringing me into a story and making me care about her characters and their town and their lives and wanting to stay there and know more and not be ready to leave when I get to the end. Holiday House Call is no different. To be honest, I usually skip the holiday stories because they are sappier than what I am looking for in my stories, but because this was a Jen Doyle story I didn't think twice about picking this one up. I wasn't disappointed at all. This wasn't a typical holiday story at all, it was a story that happened to take place during that time of the year, but that was it. Otherwise, it was the same town with the same background characters I've come to fall in love with. Tuck and Karen have great chemistry from the beginning and as a reader, I was rooting for them even though they both had legitimate reasons for wanting to stay out a relationship with the other. Even though this is a short story, it is still an emotional rollercoaster full of humor and sadness and love. If it is the first of Jen Doyle's books you read I am certain you will be going out and reading the other three Insperation books and waiting for more just like I am.

Apparently classed as a novella, this book seemed like a full length romance and I’m yet to decide whether this is a good thing.

Our hero, Tuck, is a policeman who pulls over our heroine, Karen when he suspects she is drink driving. (I’m always fascinated that in American books/films police don’t just have breathalysers for this but make people walk lines etc etc. I mean, seriously? Is this true?)

Tuck and Karen recognise each other immediately -- they’d enjoyed an anonymous one-night stand a few years previous. This is one of my favourite romance tropes but I don’t think it worked here. It could have worked just as easily with the presumed traffic infringement being their meet cute. Their past encounter really didn’t add to the storyline but felt more like an excuse for the writer to spice up the pages with a little sex talk.

Anyway, their meetings continue when Karen, a brain surgeon, discovers Tuck lives in the small fictional town of Inspiration, which is a mere half an hour drive away. Karen visits Inspiration frequently to visit one of her relatives who lives there. It is also the town from which many of her patients come.

Tuck loves the town, and its residents, causing one of the potential couple’s conflict. Because of Karen’s past, she doesn’t want to let people get too close, especially small town peoples and police officers. Tuck is also conflicted due to a history of dealing with doctors (another aside, the American healthcare system is crazy).

These aren’t the worst conflicts I’ve ever read, but they didn’t have my heart racing. I could say the same about the sex scenes.

I have to mention the title. The story does not revolve around any holiday, nor are there any house calls. And as Tuck and Karen are both in their late 30s, I’m bemused by the cover.

This is a part of a series of romances. I’m not sure this book engaged me enough to make me rush out and buy the others unfortunately.

I might recommend it for a quick beach read.

For a novella length book, Holiday House Call packed a punch! Tuck and Karen were in their 30s, so it was fun to see how they had to change their routines to make things work between them. They both had baggage to put away, but the second chance aspect was a fun twist on the one night stand.

I think this is my favourite book of the series so far. I truly loved Officer Tuck & Dr. Karen, they were enjoyably sexy, down right damaging to the emotions with the baggage they carried. I loved Tuck's never give up attitude toward Karen even when he was fighting his feelings for her & his continuous dedication to his job & the community that took him in as a young boy. . Karen really made me cry, her job was so stressful & put a huge weight on her but she shouldered it so impeccably that unless you knew her you didn't see the cracks. They had a chemistry that burned up the pages, when Karen could get past Tuck's defenses & bring out his true feelings(you knew he wanted to but was scared she'd back away every time she advanced). It was a push/pull relationship for them with a relationship being their tug of war, Tuck wanted it & Karen wasn't sure she could do it. Definitely recommend this book.

Holiday House Call by Jen Doyle, is a nicely written romance with an engaging story-line. The two main characters, neurosurgeon Karen Carmichael, and police chief John Tucker, are likable and interesting. Both have some emotional baggage that they need to work through in order to form a lasting, loving relationship with each other.

Six years ago when they both lived in Denver, Karen and Tuck flirted in a bar, which resulted in an amazing night of passion in the back of Karen's old pick-up truck. They rediscover each other in the small town of Inspiration Iowa, where they now call home. Karen has no desire to get involved for fear of getting hurt, and Tuck only wants to prove to her that he won't hurt her. Along the road to happiness, Karen has to deal with the overwhelming sadness that comes with her job and Tuck has to learn how to be her rock.

Ms. Doyle combines excitement, longing, and honesty into this holiday treat. I immediately connected with both Karen and Tuck, and there was never a moment that I did not want them to be together. Most of the people of Inspiration are kind, and their personalities added a lot to the plot happenings. Overall, a solid read.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

This is my third visit to Inspiration, and I have to say, I love this town and it denizens more and more with each visit. I love when the towns become characters in a series, and I have added Inspiration to a list of places I want to live.

This time around, we got to know Tuck a little better. As chief of police, he was very involved in the day to day affairs of Independence. This was a town he grew to love, because of what it gave to him in his time of need, and being the police chief and an integral part of the community was his way of giving back. As everyone in his inner circle was pairing off, he was still unattached, by choice, but then fate reunited him with a one night stand from years ago, who had never been able to forget.

What can I say, Doyle knows how to write a great, sexy, heartfelt HEA romance. I know going into all her books, that I will get a story filled with humor, warmth, and emotion, that will leave my heart fuller than when I started.

This book continued that tradition. I liked both Karen and Tuck so much. I don't know what it is, but I love a slightly wounded character, and these two had some scars that were keeping them from seizing their own happiness. I liked watching the characters work through their issues with doctors and cops and I liked that this was partially accomplished together. I also really liked the way Doyle let it unfold. We knew from the beginning that each had a hang up with the others profession, but we did not know why. Bit by bit, Doyle fed us hints as to what it was all about, but the full on confession they made to each other was this important moment in the evolution of their relationship.

"I know you don't want the same things I do, but I don't want to give up on the idea of there being an us."

I know I am making it sound like this was such a smooth ride from their roadside reunion to their HEA, but this is a romance novel, so of course, there were tons of bumps in the road. Karen was the biggest obstacle, and I was quite taken with the way Tuck navigated those obstacles. He was patient and persistent. There were some really beautiful gestures he made and even a sort of "grand gesture" after one of his biggest missteps in the book.

"But I can assure you that I will spend every day I have with you savoring it and wishing for the next."

Karen had dealt with a lot of rejection and loss. She had been ridiculed for her emotions, and therefore, just packed them away with one day of the week, Tuesday, designated as her day to let it all out. It was sort of wonderful, the way the people of Independence were able to wedge their way into her heart and utilize those cracks in her armor. I wanted her to open up and live again. I wanted her to feel and enjoy and be part of something without fear. I was rooting for Karen and Tuck as a couple, but I was also rooting for Karen alone, and wanted so many things for her, because she really deserved it.

"Officer Hottie looks good on you."

This book had a great hero and heroine combined with a cosy town filled with some great characters, who were pretty wonderful, and a little Christmas thrown in there for good measure, which resulted in a mighty fine reading experience.

3.5 stars - He's a dutiful cop who loves his small town just as much as they love him. She’s a brilliant neurosurgeon who saves all her patience, compassion, and couched words for her patients. She saves her tears for a once a week cry in her old clunker of a car. They hook up one night and both think about that night often. Fast forward to where the story begins - she's driving in her new town, having her weekly cry and he pulls her over assuming she's drunk.

When they meet again all the chemistry is just as potent. The hero finds himself pushing boundaries he never would've imagined and they're both falling farther and faster than they imagined. The real question is can she trust her heart to someone and can he love something more than he does his small town.

It's a decent enough read, but never reached it's full potential for me. If you’re looking for something undemanding to kill a few hours, this fits the bill.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

LOVED, loved, loved!! These characters are wonderful and just what the other needs. Karen, the serious neurosurgeon gives herself a day to cry off the stresses of her job. Of course that's the day that Officer Tucker has to pull her over for her bad driving. Tuck of all people. Her one night stand from six years ago that she's never forgotten. Of course he can't even remember her name. Perfect. True, he couldn't remember her name at first but he definitely remembered the woman. Now that she's living in his town he really wants to get to know her. Convincing Karen to give him a chance might be a challenge but he's definitely up for it!!

A great read that should be on everyone's holiday reading list. I highly recommend it.