Banner O'Brien (Corbin Series Book 1)

Another success for Linda Lael Miller. The heroine, Banner O'Brien, is a doctor in a land where men dominate in all areas. She has to tackle prejudice at every turn, but she is one determined lady, and she finds real happiness with Adam Corbin, once he realises he has met his match. A really good read.

This was the most ridiculous book I've ever read. And that is saying something because I have read a lot of ridiculous books in my time. (Looking at you, Fifty Shades of Grey!) It amazes me that this novel has a heroine who is an educated doctor and a divorcee, and yet she behaves with the emotional maturity of a third-grader. Then, there's the hero, who has more mood swings than a woman on PMS who is out of chocolate.Then, there is the plot and the villain. I could never really find out who the villain was. It kept seeming to change. Nor could I figure out what the plot was. In fact, this whole book read like something an 8-year-old would write. Everyone overreacts to everything. The "banter" between the hero and the heroine is more like inane chatter with a series of threats mixed in. Then, there are the secrets, secrets which could've easily been resolved within the first chapter. By the time the couple were still squabbling about them two-thirds of the way in, I was screaming at both of them to just shut up.Lastly, there is the part where the hero rapes the heroine, physically assaults her on more than one occasion, and pretty much calls her a whore any time he gets angry with her. (Oh yeah, ladies! This one is a keeper.) The writer seemed to believe that after each assault (verbal, mental or physical), it should be perfectly appropriate and reasonable for the "headstrong" heroine to melt into a puddle of goo just because her husband kisses her. Honestly, I wanted to beat the hero upside the head and throw the book across the room. Unfortunately, I could do neither because the hero (thankfully) doesn't exist, and the book was on my phone. Save yourself the trouble, and just avoid "Banner O'Brien."PS--If you decide to go against my advice and buy the book anyway, I suggest you play the "Banner O'Brien" drinking game. Every time the hero calls the heroine "O'Brien," you take one shot. Every time a hero calls to heroine "Shamrock," take two shots. Believe me, you'll be blackout drunk by the end of the third chapter.

I enjoy Linda Lael Miller’s stories. The characters are strong, and in this book there were several strong women. Banner is a survivor who put herself through medical school despite being a woman. After leaving an abusive husband, she finds love with Dr. Adam Corbin.I will say that I was disappointed with the chauvinism of Adam and I don’t think the story benefitted from the numerous lengthy love scenes. It was a quick read, but I’m not sure I’ll read any more in this series.

The Corbins fight hard and love just as hard. Banner comes to town to take over for a doctor who was injured. She finds he was injured by another doctor. Adam shows up to welcome the new doctor and finds it is a woman. He will have to evaluate her before he will let her see any patients. The other doctor was incompetent, and he won't let another quack see any patients. He doesn't expect the feisty woman to worm her way into his life and heart. When trouble comes to their door, Adam will do everything to protect the woman he has come to love. Can they make a life together?

This was written in the early 1980's. We have come a long way, and Ms Miller has come a long way in understanding what a healthy relationship is. Adam is very controlling, ignores Banner's feeling and opinions, and distracts her with sex. Her story indicates that she had to have been very determined, and also very aware that most nursing, much less doctoring, was not a profession accepted in polite society, but her behaviors throughout the book ignore this. She is rebellious but not at all strategic. She gives into Adam every time because of sex. Women had to live very constrained lives to be taken seriously as professionals. (Look at Florence Nightingale) None of that is shown in this book. I hope that young women today, who look for strong female characters and may consider modeling their behaviors on them will think about this. This book describes an appalling look at a marriage.