In Could I Have This Dance?, board-certified general surgeon Kraus spun the
inspirational tale of a physician who uncovered an undiagnosed pocket of
Huntington's disease ("HD," or "the dance") in her hometown and in her own
family. Here, Kraus picks up the story of Claire McCall, M.D., as she awaits
the outcome of her own genetic testing for HD. As Claire and her mother care
for her father, who is in the advanced and desperately debilitating stages of
the disease, she decides to postpone knowing whether she has it. Claire is in
love with John Cerelli and afraid of what the results of the test might mean
for their future. Her concern about the strength of John's love for her takes
a sudden turn, however, when a serial rapist begins victimizing her patients,
and John falls under suspicion. Does she know him as well as she thought? And
where is God in all of this? The reader will have to suspend disbelief in
places to enjoy the story, including a scene where John throws away an
expensive diamond ring and it finds its way to a new owner in an unlikely
manner. The author's practical experience as a doctor lends authenticity to
the plot and results in some detailed descriptions of medical conditions and
of the postrape examination of victims (which may be a bit graphic for the
novel's intended Christian audience). Brisk pacing keeps the pages turning,
and fans of the first novel will enjoy discovering how the romance between
Claire and John reaches a surprising conclusion. (Jan.) Copyright 2003 Reed
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