Without Borders

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WITHOUT BORDERS

A Wanderlove Novel

Amanda Heger

Releasing April 19th, 2016

Diversion Books

For Annie London, a month in a Central American rainforest means handing out mosquito nets, giving medical aid, and teaching children about the birds and the bees. With any luck, it will also land her application in the “accepted” pile at a top tier medical school. But as soon as she steps off the plane, Annie realizes her bug spray, feeble Spanish, and medical supplies won’t help her deal with her new feelings for Felipe—her best friend's older brother, who's much hotter than she remembers, and who also happens to be the doctor in charge of the trip.

Gawking “volun-tourists” may keep his family’s medical clinic afloat, but Dr. Felipe Gutierrez doesn’t have to like them. Or the way they make snap judgments about his practice and the people he cares for. But when his old crush, Annie, shows up to volunteer, her killer curves and kind smile fan the embers of a flame Felipe didn’t realize he’d been carrying. A flame that makes him question all his preconceived notions.

As ideas and cultures clash, Annie and Felipe must decide how far outside their comfort zones they are willing to go—both for their work and for one another.

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The girl strained and cried out, and it took everything Annie had to keep her upright. Felipe and the midwife swapped positions with every contraction, taking turns at easing the infant into the world. But with every push, Felipe’s face darkened and the midwife’s voice grew shriller as she half cried, half encouraged her daughter.

                Annie had no idea how long it had been since they’d arrived in this dim hut, but every second that passed with those arms and legs dangling outside the womb made her heart ache.

                In a rare moment between contractions, Felipe and the midwife began arguing. They pointed and stomped and shook their hands as the words flew between them.

                Angela sagged in Annie’s arms, pale and sweaty.

                “What’s going on?” Annie asked.

                For a moment, the arguing stopped and they both stared silently at Annie.

                The girl’s mother pointed and nodded at her, shrieking in Spanish, but Annie didn’t understand a word of it.

                Felipe held up a hand. “We are having some trouble delivering the baby’s head.”

                The midwife yelled and pointed again, and before Annie could ask what she was saying, the woman stood and nudged her out of the way with her rotund mid-section. She looped her arms through Angela’s and took the girl’s weight.

                Annie stumbled, her muscles too tired to change position. She squeaked to something that resembled standing, but her back refused to straighten. Felipe looked at her, eyes flashing with fear.

                “We need you to deliver the baby,” he said.

I was given a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

Annie London’s long awaited dream of A Brown Medical School Education hinges on acquiring a good recommendation upon spending a month in the Central American rainforest helping with medical aid. With three classes of high-school Spanish under her belt, she steps off the plane realizing that classroom preparation is far from adequate when dealing with the natives who lack electricity and running water.

Dr. Felipe heads the group of volunteers that travel from village to village, caring for the natives. When his sister’s old friend from the U.S. joins their month long adventure, he realizes his life is about to change, in many ways, questioning his beliefs and testing his restraints.

I loved the story line of Annie and Felipe. The characters were fully and well developed. Tight tension was kept throughout the book.

Supporting characters added to the plot and helped move the story forward in an easygoing and enjoyable way. Events unfolded in a natural way, adding plenty of action.

I did question a couple of things. Quite a few of the scenes appeared as if they were cut off at the end of a chapter, which was disconcerting, leaving the reader wondering what happened. Second, as far as being in a rainforest, I’d hoped for more descriptions of the beauty to be found there, to balance all the bad (lack of electricity and clean water). Also, as far as flipping your boat on a river, I’d be terrified of the many dangers to be found there, which gave that scene a surreal kind of feeling.

Even so, the author did a good job keeping the attraction alive between Annie and Felipe.

I’d give this book three stars.

 

Amanda Heger is a writer, attorney, and bookworm. She lives in the Midwest with three unruly rescue dogs and a husband who encourages her delusions of grandeur.

Her debut romance, Without Borders, is forthcoming from Diversion Books. The story was inspired by the summer Amanda spent in rural Nicaragua, eating gallo pinto, speaking mangled Spanish, and showing high school students how to slide condoms onto over-sized plantains.

Her stories are represented by Jessica Watterson of the Dijkstra Literary Agency.

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