I didn't read the first novel in this series, but I really didn't feel at a disadvantage when taking on this book. It's about a female doctor who takes a job working in a medical clinic at Yellowstone National Park. It's hard being away from her partner (in both life and work) who remains at the Grand Canyon. But her job is interesting, with lots of unusual emergencies coupled with the ever changing landscape of Yellowstone. The people she works with are unique characters, each with their own quirks. The plot involves some mysteries, her romance, and personal relationships. I enjoyed the book. It made me want to visit Yellowstone again.

Where Light Comes and Goes by Sandra Cavallo Miller is a 2020 University of Nevada Press publication.

Medical mysteries and intrigue!

This second installment in the Dr. Abby Wilmore series begins with Abby accepting a summer position at a clinic in Yellowstone National Park. This means a separation from her lover, but the change of scenery might be good for her. However, upon arrival she is faced with an entirely different set of problems that cause her anxiety levels to skyrocket- such as the mysterious killing area bison and an intense patient she would like to help but who remains an enigma.

I am so happy I stumbled across this series. The first installment did place more of an emphasis on the romantic elements, although it could also be classified as a novel of suspense. However, the first installment was all about setting the stage for future installments. Now that our main characters have been established, this story has a bit more of an edge to it, with the focus more on the mystery and adventures of working in a national park than on the romantic element. The characters in this chapter were also a bit more interesting, if I may say so, and I enjoyed meeting the people Abby worked with.

The setting, mingled with the medical conundrums, drama, and suspense are a truly distinctive combination. Abby is such a relatable and realistic character, and the well-drawn secondary characters add another level of depth to the story.

I am excited to see how things will progress from here- this series has a real potential to grow and develop- and could have a broad appeal across several genres. Anyone who enjoys mysteries, light romantic suspense, or medical dramas, will find these books appealing.

Overall, this is an interesting and unique series. It flows well, is easy to read, and hard to put down!

4 stars

I happened to take a very nice trip down memory lane today. Growing up as the eldest daughter of a family practice physician (called a GP in the old days), I spent many hours in my father's office and so much about this book took me way back to those days. How I loved working there, meeting the patients, learning some skills, and performing all sorts of other duties. You just can't beat the variety of illnesses and ailments seen in such a place. As an RN now, I really enjoy novels with a medical bent and this one hit that sweet spot. Enough clinical detail to satisfy with a continuation of the story that started when I "met" Dr. Abigail (Abby) Wilmore in THE COLOR OF ROCK. Abby is a family practice physician who goes to Yellowstone National Park for a 3-month summer stint at a new clinic there that caters to tourists and the people who live or work in the area.

It was particularly fun to be able to read this second in the series immediately after finishing the first. I must say that I enjoyed this one more, probably because I just skimmed the parts that had to do with Abby's sex life and focused on the parts that interested me. I love how the author describes the beauty of the National Parks and it certainly gave me some travel lust to visit both the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. The patients and their cases were varied and the activities in the clinic demonstrated that family practice is always surprising as one never knows who, with what, will come through the doors. It was a great mix of scenery and medicine augmented by the geology, astronomy, and seismology that the author inserts to further educate and entertain.

Abby is a fun character but she certainly manages to get herself into some predicaments and she is growing on me. I really liked all the other secondary characters in the story as well as the author provides them with personality and depth. This one also had a bit of a mystery: who is killing the bison and why. In all, a very enjoyable book and I am really hoping for another in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and University of Nevada Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

An engrossing and highly entertaining mystery that kept me hooked.
I loved the description of the park, the fleshed out characters and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last as I loved it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I read this book, and then had to re-read it again immediately, because I was so taken with the characters and the summer spirit of our national parks. The book centers on Abby Wilmore, a doctor at the Grand Canyon who accepts a summer position at Yellowstone National Park to build her self-confidence. Abby has ongoing anxiety, not due to any traumatic past, but because she suffers from general anxiety disorder. Unsatisfied with merely surviving, she has begun learning to thrive, to trust, to live, and to love. I loved the description of Yellowstone, and Old Faithful, and was drawn to Abby and her colleagues as they dealt with ill-prepared tourists, macho rangers, and the everyday concerns of the staff who work at the park.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Thanks to University of Nevada Press for providing access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

Sandra Cavallo Miller has found a niche, thrillers with our most iconic National Parks as setting. Although I didn't read the first in the series set at the Grand Canyon, I thoroughly enjoyed this follow-up with Old Faithful geysering away in the background. My visit to Yellowstone decades ago, left lasting memories, and I can still smell the sulphur overlaid by pine. Miller does a fine job of bringing her story to life, with a doctor at its center, a doctor with problems (naturally). There were a few problems in inconsistency with some characters, but overall, this was a pleasant read especially during a year when travel is difficult if not impossible.

The premise of this novel was very interesting and as a medical professional, I was drawn to it and the settings in which these main characters are in. I have not previously read any of Miller's work, but this book features a character from The Color of Rock.

I was pleasantly surprised at how many topics this novel actually covered, yet how realistic they were and how the main characters responded to these issues. This novel even has a mystery component that made it that more compelling. It seems as though there could be a continuation of either this story or of some of the characters.

Overall, a great read!

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Miller. I was truly impressed with this experience! This book was in the mystery/thriller genre, and did a wonderful job of keeping the reader drawn in and guessing.

This book was the perfect length for the storyline. I loved how the ending even left the reader feeling like the story continues, but yet did not leave anything in the air. It was not an abrupt ending! The characters were wonderfully in depth. I loved the twists and turns as the reader discovered the hidden little secrets in each of the characters. All of the characters had flaws, which made the storyline that much more intriguing.

I especially loved the descriptions of the landscapes, wildlife, and all of the surroundings. Ms. Miller proved to be a wonderful story teller. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys not being able to guess every event before it happens! I will be watching for more of her works! Happy reading!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from University of Nevada Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A entertaining book that covers a variety of topics and also has a mystery component to it. This book is detailed in its descriptions of nature, geysers, volcanoes and the beauty of the terrain of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Park areas. Entwined with this we have two physicians who not allow appreciate this beauty but also the captivating celestial skies but more importantly the people they administer health care too in these regions. There are some villains in this book but for the most part the characters are appealing and somewhat unique . The book discusses such topics as anxiety, rape, mental illness, isolation, healing and is full of compassion, caring and love.

Dr. Abby Whitmore has taken the job as director of a summer clinic at Yellowstone National Park. There’s plenty of activity, both with her patients and with the park volcano, which is becoming increasingly restless. As if that weren’t enough to make her nervous, it appears someone is poisoning the park’s bison herd. This is a great story for fans of Nevada Barr and Jessica Speart