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Gemini by Carol Cassella

Thursday, April 3, 2014


A stranger's life hangs in the balance. What if you had the power to decide if she lives or dies?

Dr. Charlotte Reese works in the intensive care unit of Seattle's Beacon Hospital, tending to patients with the most life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Her job is to battle death, to monitor erratic heartbeats, worry over low oxygen levels, defend against infection and demise.

One night a Jane Doe is transferred to her care from a rural hospital on the Olympic Peninsula. This unidentified patient remains unconscious, the victim of a hit and run. As Charlotte and her team struggle to stabilize her, the police search for the driver who fled the scene.

Days pass, Jane's condition worsens, and her identity remains a mystery. As Charlotte finds herself making increasingly complicated medical decisions that will tie her forever to Jane's fate, her usual professional distance evaporates. She's plagued by questions: Who is Jane Doe? Why will no one claim her? Who should decide her fate if she doesn't regain consciousness; and when?

Perhaps most troubling, Charlotte wonders if a life locked in a coma is a life worth living.

Enlisting the help of her boyfriend, Eric, a science journalist, Charlotte impulsively sets out to uncover Jane Doe's past. But the closer they get to the truth, the more their relationship is put to the test. It is only when they open their hearts to their own feelings toward each other; and toward life itself; that Charlotte and Eric will unlock Jane Doe's shocking secret, and prepare themselves for a miracle.

Filled with intricate medical detail and set in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest, Gemini is a riveting and heartbreaking novel of moral complexity and emotional depth.


Goodreads Summary

Many would not want the power to decide if someone lives or dies, and some would be hungry for the chance to have it. In medical situations it is better for doctors to know as much as they can about a patient's history, however when some dive too deeply it can uncover things that the shouldn't know and lead to moral dilemmas. Charlotte and Eric make a great pair in this novel and as they dive deeper in discovery of their Charlotte's patient they find a bond, and a lot of information that can conflict with Charlotte's ability to be an unbiased doctor.

I always love reading anything with a scientific or medical background and this book even throws in a side of mystery which completes the circle of what makes a great book. I would never want to deal with the issues that plague Charlotte in this case, however they create an awesome tension that makes the story intriguing. Also those who like a little bit of romance in their novels, this one will not disappoint. You do not get the steamy scenes from a full on romance novel, however you do get a good love story. The author does a great job at developing the bond between Charlotte and Eric, while also keeping you thinking about the mystery aspect through a good part of the book. If what you have read so far interests you, you definitely should check out "Gemini."

*4 Stars*

Reviewed by Chris

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

2 comments:

  1. Unknown said...:

    I like books with a strong medical/scientific premise esp when it's mixed with fantasy.

  1. bn100 said...:

    Interesting question and premise