By Kelly Bridgewater
Description (From Amazon):
Three years after a tragic accident left her a
widow, ER nurse Taylor Cabot is determined to move on, checking off one item
after another on her survival list. Her relationship with a handsome plastic
surgeon even gives her hope for the last point―“fall in love again.” At least
until crisis chaplain Seth Donovan steps back into her life, reawakening
unanswered questions about her husband’s death.
While in
San Diego to train community volunteers, Seth hopes to learn why Taylor is
backing away from the crisis team and from their friendship. But nothing
prepares him for the feelings that arise when he sees Taylor again . . . and
sees her moving on with another man.
When a
community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high and buried
truths are unearthed. Will hope make the survival list?
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| From Amazon |
My Review:
Candace Calvert’s book Step By Step gave me an emotional rollercoaster. I just lost my
father this past Halloween, and I still can’t imagine moving out without him.
He was my biggest fan and supporter, so when Calvert allowed Taylor Cabot to
grieve and show how she was moving on after the death of her husband Greg, I
totally understood what she was going through.
Even though the story is three years after her husband’s death while my
father just passed three and a half months ago. Calvert created characters that
were completely related to anyone who has lost someone important.
The action on the page centered on Taylor who is
working her way through a number of steps to move on with her grief. Taylor is
determined to eat healthier and walk more while going through Greg, her late
husband’s belongings. Calvert tugged at my heart with the aspect of Hooper,
Greg and Taylor’s older golden retriever who was fighting cancer. I also have a
golden retriever who is my only daughter and eight years old. If she goes
anytime now, I will probably fall apart. This story didn’t have the non-stop
action that I enjoy seeing in a story, but it really gripped me and kept me
turning the pages because I wanted to see how Taylor would move on.
As for the romance between Taylor Cabot and Seth
Donovan, I think it slowly grew. It didn’t appear to be too rushed like some
romances I have read in the past. Seth was a genuine hero because he waited for
three years while Taylor moved to San Diego and tried to date other men. He
never gave up on Taylor. He kept praying for her and waited on her to make the
first move. I really liked Seth. I hope to see him come back in later novels.
Calvert proves that she has worked for many years in
the medical field because of her knowledge of the procedures and all the
medical terminology. I am a huge fan of the television series ER, so some of the words just rolled off
my tongue when I read it because I have heard it mentioned a number of times. I
never once doubted Calvert’s words. It sounded completely genuine and right on
target.
Emotionally draining, Candace Calvert’s Step by Step kept my attention as I watched
Taylor struggle with how to continue on living without her husband while the
romance felt realistic and moving.
I received a complimentary copy of Step by Step from Tyndale Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Purchase Step by Step
Q and A with Candace Calvert about Step by Step
1. This is the second installment in your latest trilogy, the Crisis Team series. What is the
background on this series?
The Crisis Team series, set in my native California, offers exciting medical scenarios within
the fictional Hope medical system, and features the selfless and compassionate work of
volunteer community chaplains—true heroes.
2. How do you expect this series to resonate with your audience? What are you most excited
for your readers to experience through reading these novels?
I have found, almost universally, that most of my readers weren’t aware of the vital work
done by crisis responders (chaplains). It’s an honor to feature these dedicated volunteers
and puts an intriguing new slant on my exciting and highly emotional medical fiction. I also
think it adds to the element of hope for my readers, to know that these teams are “out
there” in real life.
3. Crisis teams are becoming increasingly vital and active in the world today. How would you
describe their role, and how can we learn more?
Crisis responders are volunteers from all walks of life, trained to assist survivors of tragedy,
whether it be from a major disaster (weather related catastrophes, fires, bombings, mass
shootings, etc.) or of a more personal nature like the sudden death of a loved one from a
heart attack, accident, suicide, homicide, sudden infant death, or other unexpected cause.
These volunteers work alongside other rescue personnel (fire, police, rescue) offering
support, a compassionate ear, and resources to folks trying to cope in the wake of an
incident that will forever change their lives. Crisis responders have been referred to as
“emotional paramedics,” and I think that says it well.
In creating my stories, I’m grateful for the assistance of U.S. Crisis Care. Here is a link:
U.S. Crisis Care
4. As a former ER nurse who has had crisis chaplain training, what has been your most
rewarding or memorable experience in the field?
In my role as a CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) peer counselor, I was part of
team that ministered to fellow medical team members affected by work-related tragedy.
We responded to (and conducted debriefings for) hospital staff after situations involving
infant and child death, mass casualties, personal assaults, and accidental death (or suicide)
of fellow team members. As often seen in my stories, medical (rescue, fire, law
enforcement, and chaplaincy) workers are not immune to the heartbreak of tragedy. The
cliché of a self-protective, indifferent, “professionally distant” service provider couldn’t be
further from the truth. We cry, too.
5. What was your inspiration for this particular book and the main characters, Taylor and
Seth?
Nurse Taylor Cabot and Chaplain Seth Donovan were secondary characters, friends and
volunteer team mates, in By Your Side. In this new story readers have the opportunity to
learn more about them and follow their heart tugging journey. The setting is beautiful San
Diego, California where, in opening scene, a small plane crashes onto the beach. The
continuing story offers exciting medical drama, an in depth look a crisis chaplaincy, warm
humor, romance . . . and a few tears (Kleenex advised).
6. What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel?
The unifying message in Step by Step is one of forgiveness and healing, by allowing God’s
loving plan to guide the way instead of stubbornly insisting on personal control.
7. As an author, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?
Readers have come to expect animals in my stories, and in Step by Step the relationship
between Taylor and her aging Golden Retriever, Hooper, was particularly poignant for me. I
also got a kick out of showing Taylor’s (controlling) tendency toward checklists, calorie
counting, and tracking her exercise by logging every “step”—I have a Fitbit bracelet, too!
8. What are some of the unique challenges of writing contemporary romance in a medical
setting?
I think the challenge of the medical aspect is to provide realistic (and accurate) medical
detail without talking over the heads of readers, but not talking down to them either.
Because of the popularity of medical TV drama and the opportunity for people to “Google”
their way into medical jargon, symptomology, and treatment adjuncts, readers are far more
savvy these days. I try my best to sort of parachute my readers into the medical scenes,
allowing them feel as if they are part of the team.
As far as the romance aspect goes, while it’s true that team mates working in life-and-death
situations often develop strong (and sometimes romantic) bonds, I can guarantee there is
no TV-type trysts going on in hospital storage rooms!
9. Have you received any feedback from your fans on the Crisis Team series? How are they
responding?
The response (I’m grateful) has been very positive; readers love these compassionate crisis
responders. And, of course, I’m so honored that Booklist chose this series’ first story, By
Your Side, as a Top 10 Inspirational Book of 2015.
10. What is the best advice or encouragement you have received either personally or
professionally?
I would have to say the best advice I’ve received both professionally and personally is also a
tenet of crisis chaplaincy: to simply listen.
We all (especially service providers) have a great need to “do and fix.”
And certainly talk, advise . . . sometimes lecture.
One of the biggest blessings, gifts, we can give another person is to listen, really hear them.
It also speaks, of course, to one of my favorite verses:
Psalm 46:10
“. . . Be still, and know that I am God . . . ”
11. What are you most proud of in your writing career?
I’m not sure “proud” is the word, but I think I’m most pleased (still pinching myself) that
readers say my stories have touched their hearts, encouraged them at a time of despair--
even changed their lives. It’s powerful, humbling, amazing.
I’m definitely proud of my publishing team—Tyndale House is beyond awesome.
12. What are some future projects you’re working on?
At this moment, I’m preparing for the redline edits on
Maybe It’s You, the third Crisis Team
story, scheduled for release in early 2017.
