Solemn Oath

Dr. Lukas Bower is the temporary director at Knolls Community Hospital, but he's a doctor first. As an E.R. surgeon he took a solemn oath to put his patients' needs ahead of anyone else's—his own, the insurance companies' or the hospital's. Yet now the future of the small-town medical center hangs in the balance because of one powerful, vindictive man. And Lukas's faith, as necessary to him as air, becomes a barrier between himself and Dr. Mercy Richmond, a beautiful single mother who can't forgive him. But when a suspicious fire destroys the hospital, all their futures—and their faith—will be tested.

Dr. Lukas Bower faces more troubles in this medical thriller. Not only are he and the hospital under investigation but a local arsonist is keeping the ER busy. Even his personal life is affected when Dr. Richmond's ex-husband returns. Will anything go right?

"You're a doctor?" Cheryl leaned toward Mel and raised her voice to be heard over the din of restaurant diners. "You could help me paralyze someone, then, couldn't you?"

Mel stared at her with some trepidation. This was the "nice young lady" his pastor, Brother Ron, wanted him to meet?

"I only want to paralyze him temporarily, of course," Cheryl continued.

Mel glanced toward the nearest exit.

"I'd better explain myself," she said with a smile. "I write novels. I'm doing research for a book."

Ah, interesting. He relaxed slightly and gave her all the information she needed in good, graphic detail. He couldn't understand why she only ate half a slice of pizza the whole evening.

This was Mel's introduction into Cheryl's world of fiction. It was Cheryl's introduction into the life of an emergency room physician. They were both fascinated. A year and a half later, they were married.

The fascination grew as Mel downloaded at the end of his workday--never betraying patient confidentiality. Cheryl's imagination took over, and together they generated ideas for a completely new story, with a completely new novel. With Mel's medical input, encouragement and help with plotting, and Cheryl's writing skills gleaned over 13 years, they developed their first ER-style novel.

The Hoddes (pronounced Hoddee) have loved working together ever since that first meeting. Cheryl has been a professional writer for 19 years now. Mel is a board-certified ER physician with a degree in osteopathy. They work together under the pen name of Hannah Alexander. Their specialty is medical romantic suspense.

Mel and Cheryl live in theMissouri Ozarks, where they like to set the majority of their books.

They love to hear from their readers and can be reached through their web site, www.hannahalexander.com.