What I think you should know:
A Nurse for Jacob by Caryl McAdoo is a Christian Historical Romance. It is the fourth book in the Nursing the Heart series, however it is a standalone book. The book is set in New Orleans in 1868.

What You might need to know:
There is the mention of premarital sex, drinking and drug use in the book. It is not glorified and does discuss some of the problems that they can cause.

What I think about the book:
McAdoo is one of my favorite authors and I am excited anytime I get the chance to read one of her works. A Nurse for Jacob was a short fun read, while it has some serious topics it was not so heavy that I did not want to read it. I really enjoyed that Lydia was spunky and took care of her patients even when it didn’t make her popular with the other nurses. I loved how she was cautious, but spirited. Jacob was a complex character that had to grow on me. I enjoyed reading about the medical techniques of the day and look forward to reading more books in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

The term "short and sweet" certainly applies to this book by Caryl McAdoo. A Nurse for Jacob is just a little over 100 pages and it is a quick read with a sweet, entertaining story. Dr. Jacob Johnstone first notices the nursing skills of Lydia Andrews and her appearance surely adds to her attraction but it is her kind nature and her ability to see the best of people that makes her so special. There are many complications as their relationship continues, including an age difference between Lydia and Jacob and a mention of drug and alcohol use. This is, however, a faith-based story and hope, forgiveness, and redemption are all major points in McAdoo's story.

Lydia's background as a nurse during the Civil War and her association with the famed nurse Clara Barton add historical interest and the mentions of the medical practices of that era made me realize just how fortunate we are to enjoy the advanced medical practices of today! If you enjoy historical Christian fiction and clean romance, you will certainly want to read A Nurse for Jacob, one of the nine books in the Nursing the Heart series.

I received a digital copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. There was no obligation for a favorable review and these are my own thoughts. ( )

This lovely story is set in 1868 New Orleans. Lydia Andrews has finished her official nurse’s training and as a qualified nurse, is starting her first job. Plenty of experience has been thrown her way while helping with Lee’s Army In Northern Virginia. Now she has a certificate that states she is qualified to be a nurse even though knowledge has prepared her for so much more.

Dr. Jacob Johnson has seen his share of the war, and is glad to be in a well-run infirmary, even if he feels some patients should be cared for in a different way. Will Lydia’s experience help him provide even better care? Can the past be overcome by them both so that the future can bring new goals and maybe even love?

This ARC was received through CelebrateLit and the author. My impressions and comments were in no way solicited and a positive review was not expected. ( )

A Nurse for Jacob, Caryl McAdoo’s newest book, introduces us to Lydia Andrews and Jacob Johnston. Lydia is a new nurse assigned to Dr. Jacob’s hospital. Even though Lydia had extensive training at the Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, to include training under Clara Barton, imagine her surprise when she is called into performing a doctor’s job within minutes of arriving at her new placement and getting a promotion as well!

A Nurse for Jacob drops you into the adventure quickly and keeps up the pace throughout. Set in the post-Civil War era, the book’s plot is very realistic. I enjoyed the narrative. There were many scenarios I didn’t expect but added to the richness of the story.

McAdoo presents a variety of challenges that need to be overcome, including depression, addiction to morphine, alcohol abuse and an old girlfriend who doesn’t seem to want to let go. The time frame was unique, too, in that it was post-Civil War and not during the war. I appreciated the nuggets of history scattered throughout the book, showing attention to detail and thorough research.

I felt some of the storylines were wrapped up too neatly. However, I realize there are many space constraints when writing a novella, but as always, McAdoo provides a compelling, appealing and engaging romance.

I received A Nurse for Jacob from Celebrate Lit. However, I was under no obligation to post a review. ( )

Attention readers of historical fiction. If you are looking for a clean and fun book , look no further. This story is rich in history and I loved how the author includes a bit of history about nurses. Clara Barton has always been a person of interest for me. Having her mentioned in this story was exciting. It is not a long story but is packed with wonderful characters and a faith element that clearly resonates that God is first in the author’s life.

Lydia was a sweet character who is very skilled in nursing. I liked how she jumped in when needed and never let any doubts get in the way. It was nice to see how she interacted with patients and how caring she was. Lydia must have been on cloud nine knowing that Clara Barton had recommended her for the job. What a great privilege it would be to have someone like Clara sing your praises. There were a few nurses that were a bit envious of Lydia but I find that to be typical of women. Why can’t we be joyful for each other instead of allowing the enemy to become bitter over another’s accomplishments?

I’m not really sure I liked Jacob for most of the story. He was a little arrogant at times and took to Lydia much sooner than I liked. Maybe he was attracted to her faith and God was allowing Lydia to show him that God never stopped loving him? Whatever the reason, the author gives readers a story that will test Lydia as she begins to spend more time with Jacob.

This book is in a series but I feel like it could be read as a stand alone. I will say that you should read the entire series because the author is so gifted in writing stories that are faith filled and I always grow closer to God after finishing any book she writes.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )