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about the book

When her mother suffers a stroke, medical student Deirdre O’Leary makes the difficult choice to put her career on hold to care for her. Dr. Matthew Clayborne is renowned for his amazing results with patients, but when Deirdre approaches him about helping her mother, she finds him challenging and surly. Deirdre has had enough of complicated men in her life. After her fiancé left her, she vowed never to give a man that kind of power again.

Widower Dr. Matthew Clayborne is devoted to two things: his work with wounded soldiers and his four-year-old daughter, Phoebe. He won’t abandon either of these priorities to care for one older woman. However, when Phoebe suffers a health scare, they’re offered respite at the Irish Meadows farm, where his daughter’s weakened lungs can recover–but only if he cares for Mrs. O’Leary.

Matthew intends to hate Irish Meadows, yet he immediately feels at home, and soon both Mrs. O’Leary and Phoebe are showing improvement. But since he has no intention of leaving his life up north forever, and Deirdre has sworn off marriage in favor of her career, how will they deal with the undeniable attraction between them?

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My Thoughts

If I had to pick a favorite book in the Courage to Dream Series… well, I just couldn’t! I love them all, the entire series is included in my all-time favorite titles. These spunky, flawed, independent, hard working characters have earned a place in my reader heart.

The two youngest O’Leary siblings, Deirdre and Connor, have the spotlight here in book 3. Connor has been working his way up the ranks in the family business and Deirdre is a nurse and medical student in Boston. As the O’Leary family again rallies around an ailing parent, Deirdre puts her dream of becoming a pediatrician on hold and dedicates herself to her mama’s recovery.

Deirdre is an intelligent, compassionate, and gifted healer. I love the way she cares for the whole person, body, mind, and spirit. Deirdre won’t take no for an answer from rehabilitation expert, Dr. Matthew Clayborne. She’s so determined to obtain the very best care for her mama. What a devoted daughter!

Matthew is stuck in the mire of fear and burying himself in his work. The pain of his past has nearly paralyzed him and keeps him from truly experiencing life. I love his little daughter, Phoebe! She loves her daddy to pieces and she shows readers just how resilient children can be.

Connor’s love interest shows up in a most unexpected form and that’s all I’ll say about that since spoilers aren’t nice. Oh, bittersweet goodness!!! I can’t say enough about this wonderful family saga. I have not had my fill of the O’Learys! Have mercy on this reader’s heart, Susan. A second O’Leary series is most definitely necessary!

I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason’s debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA.

Also a member of ACFW, Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children.

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Here are my reviews of book 1 Irish Meadows and book 2 A Worthy Heart.

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