by: Juliette Hyland
Genre: Contemporary Medical Romance
Release Date: March 29, 2022
Publisher: Harlequin Medical Romance
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Will a fake relationship turn into a forever romance? Find out in Juliette Hyland’s latest Harlequin Medical Romance, the first story in the Neonatal Nurses duet!
A picture is worth a thousand words…What about a viral video?
When Dr. Benedict saves an infant on the Washington Metro, the treatment he performs with nurse Penny becomes the talk of the town—and social media! Not least because the world thinks they’re a couple… While a real relationship is a no-go zone for divorced Benedict, prolonging their “faux-mance” is the perfect way to raise vital hospital funds. But the longer their ruse goes on, the more real it feels!
From Harlequin Medical: Life and love in the world of modern medicine.
This is a fake relationship story that was a blast to write. I loved the thought of playing with the idea of a viral video. I was personally far too invested in one that resulted in a couple dating…awe inspiration. After saving a child’s life on the subway, the real story of two people in the right place at the right time shifts to the narrative that they are dating. Benedict convinces Penny to play along to raise money for a hospital project.
This is actually my first duet, I wrote Penny’s happily ever after and Scarlet Wilson wrote her sister Alice’s happily ever after. So there is also a sisterly love dynamic to this story that was very neat to include.
Oh. That’s pretty cool. Tell me about Dr. Benedict and Nurse Penny.
It was a ton of fun hooking Benedict and Penny up. They both have pasts that make them hesitant to fall into a new relationship, but the fake dating last all of two seconds for these two. Though when feelings get real, they each pull back into themselves. Pulling them back out and forcing them to deal with their issues was satisfying.
Penny is a trivia nut. She has a brain full of useless knowledge. Did I write her this way so I could include some of my own useless trivia knowledge…maybe!
Benedict is my quiet hero with a secret that could ruin everything. He’s worked so hard to help premature babies, and he supports their families beautifully. Honestly, he’s the type of doctor that I pray anyone who finds themselves in a NICU has.
What do you love about them individually and together?
I love that Penny is trying to figure out how to get back in the dating game after finding out her ex-fiancée was a cad. She wants to try finding love, but also is so aware that the world of fairytales isn’t real. Unfortunately, I think this is something many people deal with when relationships end. Getting hurt and continuing to try is hard but so worth it.
Benedict is loyal. He is so loyal, even when maybe he shouldn’t be. And he loves deeply. His feelings for his brother, his patient, and then Penny are sincere. He is what I hope everyone finds in their partner, a person who genuinely wants to be with them and will always care about them.
Together the two of them are playful and always trying to make each other smile.
What was your favorite part of this book to write?
It’s the opening relationship between Penny and her sister. Alice and Penny’s relationship is very similar to mine with my sister. My sister gave me the statements that Penny needed a “palate cleanser” following her breakup and said, “the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.” Both of these ideas worked into the opening scene with the sisters. I laughed more than a few times incorporating their dynamic.
Tell me about one of your favorite scenes from the book, and why is it a favorite?
The epilogue! I love this epilogue. It is one of my favorite things that I have ever written. Without giving too much away, it revolves around Penny and Benedict’s first date and beautifully ties it all together.
Was there anything that surprised you about this story?
I was surprised how much fun it was to incorporate some of my own sisterly relationship into a book. My sister and I are close in age and have always been close. We even went on the Categorically Romance Podcast together to discuss our love of category romance books. Usually, category books are solely focused on the hero and heroine and the side characters are really limited. It was nice to be able to include Alice as a fully formed character.
Can you tell me a fun fact or two about A Nurse to Claim His Heart?
- This is my first duet. I fangirled a bit when I met Scarlet Wilson via zoom. And by a bit…I mean I showed up almost fifteen minutes early to the meeting and clapped when she showed up. She is lovely and so knowledgeable, and I loved writing these two stories with her.
- In order to help Scarlet, who is from Scotland, with the Washington, DC settings, I let her know all about the subway stations, which I used to travel on all the time before the pandemic stopped my business trips. She thought the name of one station, Foggy Bottom, was one of the funniest things she’d ever heard. We had a great laugh at it.
Juliette, thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions for me.
Purchase A Nurse to Claim His Heart from:
The Neonatal Nurses Series:
Neonatal Doc on Her Doorstep by Scarlet Wilson also releases on March 29, 2022
Places to find Juliette Hyland:
You can follow the A Nurse to Claim His Heart Blog Tour here.
Fake romances can be so much fun.
ReplyDeleteThey usually are. I LOVE the moment when they realize their fake feelings are real.
DeleteHappy Book Birthday, Juliette, I enjoyed reading the interview and A Nurse to Claim His Heart sounds like a great book for me to enjoy and I like the cover! Good luck with your book and the blitz! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a terrific day!
ReplyDeleteHey Stormy.
DeleteJuliette is a good author. I'm looking forward to reading this book because she really makes you feel the characters. I'm just going to be a little upset if she makes me cry.
Thanks for being on the tour! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWhat a great interview! Looks like a good read and interesting about the duet part.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julia.
DeleteI really enjoy reading Juliette's books. I'm definitely looking forward to reading this one.
I enjoy fake romance stories.
ReplyDeletedenise
This sounds like an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteThe story sounds really good. I love the cover. Looks great.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book. I like the cover.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds like a wonderful read. Thanks!
ReplyDelete