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Prescription: Romance!
The Burnout Cure
When it comes to burnout, Lily Reid is an expert. Determined to turn her personal tragedy into a cautionary lesson for other physicians, she travels the country, lecturing about life balance and stress management. But her words falls on deaf ears—until she hits on a plan to appeal to a broader audience.
Enter Dr. Wolf Knox, aka “Wolfman MD.” He’s gorgeous, charismatic, and his patients love him. So do millions of fans who follow him online, watching the music video parodies he makes in his spare time. Too bad Wolf believes “burnout” is synonymous with weakness. His motto? Suck it up—and if you can't handle the pressure, get the hell out of medicine.
As Lily and Wolf clash over plans for a joint project, their mutual disdain gives way to desire. But when a fellow physician’s suicide forces them to confront their own fears and prejudices, will their fledgling relationship survive?
(Please note: This is a steamy contemporary romance that contains mature themes and explicit content, meant for adults 18 and over. It is a stand-alone novel, with no cliff-hangers, and a guaranteed HEA.)
Enter Dr. Wolf Knox, aka “Wolfman MD.” He’s gorgeous, charismatic, and his patients love him. So do millions of fans who follow him online, watching the music video parodies he makes in his spare time. Too bad Wolf believes “burnout” is synonymous with weakness. His motto? Suck it up—and if you can't handle the pressure, get the hell out of medicine.
As Lily and Wolf clash over plans for a joint project, their mutual disdain gives way to desire. But when a fellow physician’s suicide forces them to confront their own fears and prejudices, will their fledgling relationship survive?
(Please note: This is a steamy contemporary romance that contains mature themes and explicit content, meant for adults 18 and over. It is a stand-alone novel, with no cliff-hangers, and a guaranteed HEA.)
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2017
About the author
Jill Blake
25 books157 followersJill Blake loves chocolate, leisurely walks where she doesn’t break a sweat, and books with a guaranteed happy ending. A native of Philadelphia, Jill now lives in southern California with her husband and three children. During the day, she works as a physician in a busy medical practice. At night, she pens steamy romances.
The Doctors of Rittenhouse Square :
Pursued by the Playboy (Kate & Marc) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1S1EJQ
Taking a Chance (Samantha & Alex) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG936YC
This Time for Keeps (Isabelle & Luca) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I6SYS60
The Santa Monica Trilogy :
Without a Net - (Eva & Max) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00LDVF1VS
Coming Home - (Grace & Logan) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00OZR19C2
Balancing Act - (Angie & Zach) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00VUKNZ60
The Silicon Beach Trilogy :
Beyond the Ivory Tower - (Anna & Ethan) - http://amzn.to/1FQQceo
Sweet Indulgence - (Becca & Leo) - http://amzn.to/1ndlclu
A Matter of Trust (Klara & Vlad) - http://amzn.to/2cvDqvv
The Doctors of Rittenhouse Square :
Pursued by the Playboy (Kate & Marc) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1S1EJQ
Taking a Chance (Samantha & Alex) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG936YC
This Time for Keeps (Isabelle & Luca) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I6SYS60
The Santa Monica Trilogy :
Without a Net - (Eva & Max) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00LDVF1VS
Coming Home - (Grace & Logan) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00OZR19C2
Balancing Act - (Angie & Zach) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00VUKNZ60
The Silicon Beach Trilogy :
Beyond the Ivory Tower - (Anna & Ethan) - http://amzn.to/1FQQceo
Sweet Indulgence - (Becca & Leo) - http://amzn.to/1ndlclu
A Matter of Trust (Klara & Vlad) - http://amzn.to/2cvDqvv
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 1, 2017
Readers always ask where I get my ideas.
With The Burnout Cure, I didn’t have far to look. While Wolf, Lily, and the characters who inhabit their world are fictional, the issues of physician burnout, depression, and suicide are very real—as are the sobering statistics that Lily quotes about how many physicians are affected.
The first seeds of this story were planted back when I was a young doctor-in-training. As Lily, the heroine of The Burnout Cure describes in the book, the hours and work conditions during internship and residency were brutal. I lucked out with a program that provided wonderful role models and great institutional support. Unlike many of my peers, I didn’t have to race from one hospital room to another throughout the night, drawing blood and starting IV’s—our main teaching hospital had in-house phlebotomists and a great nursing staff who were paid to do that.
But there were still entire months when I never saw the sun because I was pre-rounding on patients at 4:30 a.m., spending the day in the O.R., doing evening rounds on post-op patients in the SICU (surgical intensive care unit), and then signing out to the night team at 9 or 10 p.m.—when I wasn’t on call myself.
Speaking of call, I lucked out there too. I was never on call more often than every third night, and my longest stretch of working straight through without sleep was forty-two hours. I had friends, though, who suffered through training programs like Nick’s. They took call every other night, worked a hundred-plus hours each week, and lied to Joint Commission inspectors to keep their programs—and ultimately themselves—out of regulatory hot water for flouting the rules.
Fast forward ten years to another milestone event, when three excellent, successful, well-respected physicians in our community committed suicide within months of each other. Our local medical society held a dinner to honor their memory, and the keynote speaker talked about physician burnout.
I’d never heard about burnout prior to that night. But before long, the term seemed to be on everyone’s lips. As Wolf notes in the opening chapter:
"Whenever he opened a medical journal, or stepped into the doctors’ lounge, or went to the ER to admit a patient, there was always someone talking about wellness, burnout, or both."
Practically overnight, it seemed that physician burnout burgeoned to epidemic proportions, and even the popular press started quoting the grim statistics that those of us in the trenches lived with every day.
A few years ago, I came across a TEDMED talk by Pamela Wible, a family physician from Eugene, Oregon. She talks about “Why Doctors Kill Themselves”—and she doesn’t mince words. She describes a broken system that dehumanizes aspiring physicians and perpetuates abuses in medical education and practice.
Dr. Wible’s passion about the topic got me thinking.
What if a woman who is smart, mouthy, and willing to challenge the establishment decides to turn her personal tragedy into a cautionary lesson for other physicians? What if the one man who can help her spread the message is an irreverent, unapologetic chauvinist who doesn’t believe in burnout? And what if they strike sparks off each other, hot enough to burn up the sheets?
And so, The Burnout Cure was born.
With The Burnout Cure, I didn’t have far to look. While Wolf, Lily, and the characters who inhabit their world are fictional, the issues of physician burnout, depression, and suicide are very real—as are the sobering statistics that Lily quotes about how many physicians are affected.
The first seeds of this story were planted back when I was a young doctor-in-training. As Lily, the heroine of The Burnout Cure describes in the book, the hours and work conditions during internship and residency were brutal. I lucked out with a program that provided wonderful role models and great institutional support. Unlike many of my peers, I didn’t have to race from one hospital room to another throughout the night, drawing blood and starting IV’s—our main teaching hospital had in-house phlebotomists and a great nursing staff who were paid to do that.
But there were still entire months when I never saw the sun because I was pre-rounding on patients at 4:30 a.m., spending the day in the O.R., doing evening rounds on post-op patients in the SICU (surgical intensive care unit), and then signing out to the night team at 9 or 10 p.m.—when I wasn’t on call myself.
Speaking of call, I lucked out there too. I was never on call more often than every third night, and my longest stretch of working straight through without sleep was forty-two hours. I had friends, though, who suffered through training programs like Nick’s. They took call every other night, worked a hundred-plus hours each week, and lied to Joint Commission inspectors to keep their programs—and ultimately themselves—out of regulatory hot water for flouting the rules.
Fast forward ten years to another milestone event, when three excellent, successful, well-respected physicians in our community committed suicide within months of each other. Our local medical society held a dinner to honor their memory, and the keynote speaker talked about physician burnout.
I’d never heard about burnout prior to that night. But before long, the term seemed to be on everyone’s lips. As Wolf notes in the opening chapter:
"Whenever he opened a medical journal, or stepped into the doctors’ lounge, or went to the ER to admit a patient, there was always someone talking about wellness, burnout, or both."
Practically overnight, it seemed that physician burnout burgeoned to epidemic proportions, and even the popular press started quoting the grim statistics that those of us in the trenches lived with every day.
A few years ago, I came across a TEDMED talk by Pamela Wible, a family physician from Eugene, Oregon. She talks about “Why Doctors Kill Themselves”—and she doesn’t mince words. She describes a broken system that dehumanizes aspiring physicians and perpetuates abuses in medical education and practice.
Dr. Wible’s passion about the topic got me thinking.
What if a woman who is smart, mouthy, and willing to challenge the establishment decides to turn her personal tragedy into a cautionary lesson for other physicians? What if the one man who can help her spread the message is an irreverent, unapologetic chauvinist who doesn’t believe in burnout? And what if they strike sparks off each other, hot enough to burn up the sheets?
And so, The Burnout Cure was born.
February 22, 2019
Two commitment-phobe doctors with conflicting views about burnout reluctantly fall in love
Dr. Lily Reid, M.D., is 34. Seven years ago during her residency training, her fiance, a fellow resident doctor, committed suicide. Lily has avoided romantic relationships ever since and has no desire to ever have children. This horrendous tragedy also led to a permanent change of career for Lily. Unlike practicing medicine, which she realized at the time of her loss that she had only been pursuing because of family expectations, her new career became a passionate mission which got her through the darkest days of her life. Lily researches and lectures on the highly prevalent condition that led to her fiance's death, "physician burnout."
Dr. Wolf Knox, M.D., is 39. As a gorgeous, successful doctor, it is no surprise that he has never lacked for female companionship, even though he has made it extremely clear to every woman he has allowed to temporarily pass through his life that he is a confirmed bachelor who has no desire to marry or have children. He has no wish to be responsible to anyone but himself, and his only commitment is to his profession as a "hospitalist," a dedicated inpatient physician who works exclusively at a hospital.
Ironically, though Lily preaches work/life balance, her own schedule is far more relentless than Wolf's. She travels frequently for speaking engagements, and she has no outside interests besides her cause. She informs Wolf that burnout can be helped by cultivating interests outside medicine to relieve stress and put medicine in perspective, rediscovering what makes one go into medicine in the first place, and that hobbies can include anything from mountain climbing, to knitting, to joining a book club, to doing karaoke. But Lily has no hobbies, other than running for exercise.
Ironically, as well, though he argues forcefully and cynically in conversation with Lily against her passionate belief that physicians' very survival depends on a healthy, work/life balance, Wolf himself is a living example of what Lily preaches. Though he vociferously defends systematic hazing of trainee-doctors in hospitals, he himself is well past his trainee days, and for many years now, he has had no reason to be burned out. He has no family obligations, and he has a terrific schedule at the Santa Monica hospital where he is employed. He works 7 days straight, 12-14 hours per day. Then he gets 7 days off. Repeat. As a result, he has plenty of free time to work out at the gym, ride his mountain bike regularly on a scenic, 14-mile trail, surf at the Santa Monica beach, and play a pickup game of hockey every other weekend. On top of that, he has a second passion, which he calls his "side gig." He and his long-time friend Doug, another doctor, write parodies of hit songs substituting their own humorous lyrics which deal with important health issues. They call themselves Wolfman and WildDogg and have millions of followers on YouTube. These musical public-service announcements not only help the general public, but they also generate substantial extra income over and above Wolf's hospital salary (which is presumably around $250,000/year, see below).
Though the sexual chemistry is explosive between Lily and Wolf, after their first date, during which he bluntly derides everything her life's work stands for, she never wants to see him again. He presents himself as the embodiment of everything she is working to change in medicine, with an arrogant attitude reeking of the "suck it up or get the hell out of medicine" machismo that encourages and perpetuates the abuse hospitals heap on trainee-doctors.
Unfortunately for the powerful, shared determination of both protagonists to stay away from each other and stay comfortably single, they can't resist the risky attraction between them.
I am a huge fan of Jill Blake's romance novels about doctors. As a doctor herself, she writes with great authenticity about what it is like to be a doctor. As a therapist myself, with close friends who are doctors, I have long been appalled by the brutal system of hazing that interns and residents endure during their training in hospital settings. Dr. Blake has done a fabulous job of introducing this vital topic to romance fans as a gripping, dramatic backdrop to the main romance plot between these two fascinating, sympathetic protagonists. (I've added some more comments on the way physician burnout is presented in this terrific novel at the bottom of this review, for anyone as excited about that aspect of this romance novel as I am.)
Jill Blake consistently writes wonderful, multi-faceted protagonists. They are always decent, honorable people with strong growth arcs based on fascinating moral dilemmas. These two protagonists are especially memorable. We are allowed to get to know both the heroine and hero equally through their alternating points of view.
One of my biggest pet peeves in romance novels is when an author offers readers the prime requirement of a romance novel, a hero with a ripped physique, without the hero visibly doing anything to earn his sixpack. Ditto for the heroine having a sleek figure. I love it that Dr. Blake's protagonists are healthy and fit because they eat well and exercise.
The sex scenes in this novel are sensuous, but never crude. They are romantic and tender and they aren't just thrown in for their own sake. They contribute to the growth of the powerful connection between Lily and Wolf.
The setting of this book is Santa Monica, California, an area Dr. Blake is very familiar with and has written about extensively in this and other romance novels. It is accurately and enjoyably described.
I have read this book three times already, and I will probably read it many times again. I love all of this author's books, but this is a particular favorite. It is definitely a "keeper."
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Physician Burnout Subplots: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Below are some additional thoughts I have on the "ripped from the headlines" topic of physician burnout included in this outstanding romance novel:
Lily reminds Wolf, who knows this and doesn't care, that doctors-in-training are supposedly protected by mandates from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Their rules, which must be followed if hospitals hope to achieve and maintain accreditation, state that hospitals cannot force trainee-doctors to work more than 80 hours per week, which is already double time. However, in blatant rejection of these vital rules, hospitals routinely force trainee-doctors to work up to 100-120 hours per week. These doctors are also not supposed to be on duty more than 28 hours in a row, which is in itself destructively excessive, but many are required to be on duty, with no sleep, for up to two days straight. Sleep deprivation causes poor reaction time, cloudy thinking and can lead to chronic muscle pain. As a result, far too many trainee-doctors live off a terrible diet of coffee, junk food from vending machines, and fistfuls of Tylenol and Ibuprofen for pain from headaches, neck and back aches.
Trainee-doctors are also routinely forced to lie about these hospital, workplace violations to inspectors from the Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that accredits more than 21,000 US health care organizations and programs. These generations-long, institutionalized abuses of trainee-doctors have continued unabated primarily due to a profit motive. Trainee-doctors are paid a very low salary (in a hospital, doing the same work, the average salary of a resident specializing in internal medicine in 2017 was $57,200, compared with the average pay of $247,319 for licensed medical doctors who have completed training in internal medicine). Salaried professionals, unlike hourly workers, are NOT paid overtime for hours worked beyond 40 hours/week. Thus, a resident working 120 hours per week makes about 1/5th of the salary of a regular doctor at the same hospital while working four times as many hours. In short, the hospital would have to pay four regular doctors approximately $1 million for the same work it pays a trainee-doctor a measly $57,200 for!
To enforce this corrupt system, the prevailing mentality that abusive hospitals force upon trainee-doctors is, "Take it until you die." And hundreds do every year, due to clinical depression leading to suicide. These deaths are callously viewed as necessary collaterol damage in a constant effort to maintain a steady flow of cheap labor. Any trainee-doctors who dare to admit to being depressed, a depression that is almost entirely "situational depression" (depression directly caused by the horrible working conditions they are subjected to), are threatened with being reported to the state medical licensing board and potentially losing their license.
On top of the danger for the doctors themselves, sleep-deprived, unhealthy and depressed doctors are more prone to making mistakes which can lead patient injury and death. Johns Hopkins patient safety experts have calculated that, in the USA, more than 250,000 deaths per year occur due to medical error.
Dr. Lily Reid, M.D., is 34. Seven years ago during her residency training, her fiance, a fellow resident doctor, committed suicide. Lily has avoided romantic relationships ever since and has no desire to ever have children. This horrendous tragedy also led to a permanent change of career for Lily. Unlike practicing medicine, which she realized at the time of her loss that she had only been pursuing because of family expectations, her new career became a passionate mission which got her through the darkest days of her life. Lily researches and lectures on the highly prevalent condition that led to her fiance's death, "physician burnout."
Dr. Wolf Knox, M.D., is 39. As a gorgeous, successful doctor, it is no surprise that he has never lacked for female companionship, even though he has made it extremely clear to every woman he has allowed to temporarily pass through his life that he is a confirmed bachelor who has no desire to marry or have children. He has no wish to be responsible to anyone but himself, and his only commitment is to his profession as a "hospitalist," a dedicated inpatient physician who works exclusively at a hospital.
Ironically, though Lily preaches work/life balance, her own schedule is far more relentless than Wolf's. She travels frequently for speaking engagements, and she has no outside interests besides her cause. She informs Wolf that burnout can be helped by cultivating interests outside medicine to relieve stress and put medicine in perspective, rediscovering what makes one go into medicine in the first place, and that hobbies can include anything from mountain climbing, to knitting, to joining a book club, to doing karaoke. But Lily has no hobbies, other than running for exercise.
Ironically, as well, though he argues forcefully and cynically in conversation with Lily against her passionate belief that physicians' very survival depends on a healthy, work/life balance, Wolf himself is a living example of what Lily preaches. Though he vociferously defends systematic hazing of trainee-doctors in hospitals, he himself is well past his trainee days, and for many years now, he has had no reason to be burned out. He has no family obligations, and he has a terrific schedule at the Santa Monica hospital where he is employed. He works 7 days straight, 12-14 hours per day. Then he gets 7 days off. Repeat. As a result, he has plenty of free time to work out at the gym, ride his mountain bike regularly on a scenic, 14-mile trail, surf at the Santa Monica beach, and play a pickup game of hockey every other weekend. On top of that, he has a second passion, which he calls his "side gig." He and his long-time friend Doug, another doctor, write parodies of hit songs substituting their own humorous lyrics which deal with important health issues. They call themselves Wolfman and WildDogg and have millions of followers on YouTube. These musical public-service announcements not only help the general public, but they also generate substantial extra income over and above Wolf's hospital salary (which is presumably around $250,000/year, see below).
Though the sexual chemistry is explosive between Lily and Wolf, after their first date, during which he bluntly derides everything her life's work stands for, she never wants to see him again. He presents himself as the embodiment of everything she is working to change in medicine, with an arrogant attitude reeking of the "suck it up or get the hell out of medicine" machismo that encourages and perpetuates the abuse hospitals heap on trainee-doctors.
Unfortunately for the powerful, shared determination of both protagonists to stay away from each other and stay comfortably single, they can't resist the risky attraction between them.
I am a huge fan of Jill Blake's romance novels about doctors. As a doctor herself, she writes with great authenticity about what it is like to be a doctor. As a therapist myself, with close friends who are doctors, I have long been appalled by the brutal system of hazing that interns and residents endure during their training in hospital settings. Dr. Blake has done a fabulous job of introducing this vital topic to romance fans as a gripping, dramatic backdrop to the main romance plot between these two fascinating, sympathetic protagonists. (I've added some more comments on the way physician burnout is presented in this terrific novel at the bottom of this review, for anyone as excited about that aspect of this romance novel as I am.)
Jill Blake consistently writes wonderful, multi-faceted protagonists. They are always decent, honorable people with strong growth arcs based on fascinating moral dilemmas. These two protagonists are especially memorable. We are allowed to get to know both the heroine and hero equally through their alternating points of view.
One of my biggest pet peeves in romance novels is when an author offers readers the prime requirement of a romance novel, a hero with a ripped physique, without the hero visibly doing anything to earn his sixpack. Ditto for the heroine having a sleek figure. I love it that Dr. Blake's protagonists are healthy and fit because they eat well and exercise.
The sex scenes in this novel are sensuous, but never crude. They are romantic and tender and they aren't just thrown in for their own sake. They contribute to the growth of the powerful connection between Lily and Wolf.
The setting of this book is Santa Monica, California, an area Dr. Blake is very familiar with and has written about extensively in this and other romance novels. It is accurately and enjoyably described.
I have read this book three times already, and I will probably read it many times again. I love all of this author's books, but this is a particular favorite. It is definitely a "keeper."
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Physician Burnout Subplots: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Below are some additional thoughts I have on the "ripped from the headlines" topic of physician burnout included in this outstanding romance novel:
Lily reminds Wolf, who knows this and doesn't care, that doctors-in-training are supposedly protected by mandates from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Their rules, which must be followed if hospitals hope to achieve and maintain accreditation, state that hospitals cannot force trainee-doctors to work more than 80 hours per week, which is already double time. However, in blatant rejection of these vital rules, hospitals routinely force trainee-doctors to work up to 100-120 hours per week. These doctors are also not supposed to be on duty more than 28 hours in a row, which is in itself destructively excessive, but many are required to be on duty, with no sleep, for up to two days straight. Sleep deprivation causes poor reaction time, cloudy thinking and can lead to chronic muscle pain. As a result, far too many trainee-doctors live off a terrible diet of coffee, junk food from vending machines, and fistfuls of Tylenol and Ibuprofen for pain from headaches, neck and back aches.
Trainee-doctors are also routinely forced to lie about these hospital, workplace violations to inspectors from the Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that accredits more than 21,000 US health care organizations and programs. These generations-long, institutionalized abuses of trainee-doctors have continued unabated primarily due to a profit motive. Trainee-doctors are paid a very low salary (in a hospital, doing the same work, the average salary of a resident specializing in internal medicine in 2017 was $57,200, compared with the average pay of $247,319 for licensed medical doctors who have completed training in internal medicine). Salaried professionals, unlike hourly workers, are NOT paid overtime for hours worked beyond 40 hours/week. Thus, a resident working 120 hours per week makes about 1/5th of the salary of a regular doctor at the same hospital while working four times as many hours. In short, the hospital would have to pay four regular doctors approximately $1 million for the same work it pays a trainee-doctor a measly $57,200 for!
To enforce this corrupt system, the prevailing mentality that abusive hospitals force upon trainee-doctors is, "Take it until you die." And hundreds do every year, due to clinical depression leading to suicide. These deaths are callously viewed as necessary collaterol damage in a constant effort to maintain a steady flow of cheap labor. Any trainee-doctors who dare to admit to being depressed, a depression that is almost entirely "situational depression" (depression directly caused by the horrible working conditions they are subjected to), are threatened with being reported to the state medical licensing board and potentially losing their license.
On top of the danger for the doctors themselves, sleep-deprived, unhealthy and depressed doctors are more prone to making mistakes which can lead patient injury and death. Johns Hopkins patient safety experts have calculated that, in the USA, more than 250,000 deaths per year occur due to medical error.
December 26, 2017
“(Medicine)…highest suicide rate of any profession. We lose four hundred physicians a year to suicide.”
California author Jill Blake is a practicing physician who brings insight to her book that addresses issues of physician burnout, depression, and suicide. Her initial idea for this novel – ‘What if a woman who is smart, mouthy, and willing to challenge the establishment decides to turn her personal tragedy into a cautionary lesson for other physicians? What if the one man who can help her spread the message is an irreverent, unapologetic chauvinist who doesn't believe in burnout? And what if they strike sparks off each other, hot enough to burn up the sheets?’ Jill has published ten romance novels – WITHOUT A NET, COMING HOME, BALANCING ACT (The Santa Monica Trilogy), TAKING A CHANCE, THIS TIME FOR KEEPS, PURSUED BY THE PLAYBOY (The Doctors of Rittenhouse Square Trilogy), SWEET INDULGENCE, BEYOND THE IVORY TOWER, A MATTER OF TRUST (The Silicon Beach Trilogy) and now THE BURNOUT CURE – Book 1 of a new Trilogy she calls A Prescription: Romance!
A physician who writes Chick Lit! Dr. Jill Blake has made a successful second career as a writer and to offer a bit of her expertise at setting a scene for a drama, the following is excerpted from Chapter One: ‘“As some of you may have noticed, I’m not Dr. Williams,” he began. “My name is Wolf Knox, and I’m a hospitalist. For anyone who’s been living under a rock for the last decade or so, a hospitalist is the guy who takes care of your patients while they’re overnight guests at St. Mary’s. Now you’re probably asking yourself: why am I here today? Putting aside the existential question—because I hear they’re kicking us out of this room at one p.m., ready or not—the reason I’m here at this podium is because Doug asked me to step in while he’s off having a baby—” “Doug’s pregnant?” someone called out from a back table. Wolf waited for the laughter to die down. “I stand corrected. Doug’s wife was the one who went into labor last night. So while Doug and the missus are busy ushering in the next generation of Williamses, I’m going to introduce a few folks who’ve traveled a long way to talk to you today. You ready? All loaded up on caffeine? Feeling a bit jittery from all that java? Well, don’t worry. Our keynote speaker is here to share her secrets about relaxation. Which, for those of you keeping track of this sort of thing, is the keyword of the day. Come on, folks, say it with me. Reee-laaax-aaa-tion. Oh, and don’t forget to sign up for the free yoga and meditation session in the courtyard after lunch.”… “Sorry, folks, looks like the yoga session’s been canceled. The Physician Health Committee will work on getting it rescheduled, once Dr. Williams returns from paternity leave. In the meantime, please help me welcome Dr. Lily Reid, who comes to us straight from a sold-out engagement on the lecture circuit. In case you’re wondering why Dr. Reid is so popular, here’s the twenty-second version of her CV.” He retrieved Doug’s notes from his pocket and smoothed out the creases. “Dr. Reid received her medical degree and Master of Public Health from UCSD. She joined the RAND Corporation seven years ago, where she is now a research fellow in healthcare policy. Her articles on health and wellness have been published in top medical journals as well as the lay press, and she is a regular talking head—uh, guest—on radio and cable TV news. Please put your hands together for Dr. Lily Reid.” A flurry of movement along the far wall caught Wolf’s attention. This was Lily Reid? She wore a pencil skirt that ended just above the knee, a white button-down shirt, and a black belt that emphasized her narrow waist. With her auburn hair slicked back into a neat bun, a single strand of pearls around her neck, and those red, red lips, she was the embodiment of every sexy librarian fantasy he’d had as an adolescent.’
And Jill moves from that clever into into the plot as summarized: ‘When it comes to burnout, Lily Reid is an expert. Determined to turn her personal tragedy into a cautionary lesson for other physicians, she travels the country, lecturing about life balance and stress management. But her words fall on deaf ears—until she hits on a plan to appeal to a broader audience. Enter Wolf Knox, aka “Wolfman MD.” He’s gorgeous, charismatic, and his patients love him. So do millions of fans who follow him online, watching the music video parodies he makes in his spare time. Too bad Wolf believes “burnout” is synonymous with weakness. His motto? Suck it up—and if you can't handle the pressure, get out of medicine. As Lily and Wolf clash over plans for a joint project, their mutual disdain gives way to desire. But when a fellow physician’s suicide forces them to confront their own fears and prejudices, will their fledgling relationship survive?’
Naughty? Yes, but also rich in humor and character development and some fine insights into Medicine today. There is a good reason her books sell so well!
California author Jill Blake is a practicing physician who brings insight to her book that addresses issues of physician burnout, depression, and suicide. Her initial idea for this novel – ‘What if a woman who is smart, mouthy, and willing to challenge the establishment decides to turn her personal tragedy into a cautionary lesson for other physicians? What if the one man who can help her spread the message is an irreverent, unapologetic chauvinist who doesn't believe in burnout? And what if they strike sparks off each other, hot enough to burn up the sheets?’ Jill has published ten romance novels – WITHOUT A NET, COMING HOME, BALANCING ACT (The Santa Monica Trilogy), TAKING A CHANCE, THIS TIME FOR KEEPS, PURSUED BY THE PLAYBOY (The Doctors of Rittenhouse Square Trilogy), SWEET INDULGENCE, BEYOND THE IVORY TOWER, A MATTER OF TRUST (The Silicon Beach Trilogy) and now THE BURNOUT CURE – Book 1 of a new Trilogy she calls A Prescription: Romance!
A physician who writes Chick Lit! Dr. Jill Blake has made a successful second career as a writer and to offer a bit of her expertise at setting a scene for a drama, the following is excerpted from Chapter One: ‘“As some of you may have noticed, I’m not Dr. Williams,” he began. “My name is Wolf Knox, and I’m a hospitalist. For anyone who’s been living under a rock for the last decade or so, a hospitalist is the guy who takes care of your patients while they’re overnight guests at St. Mary’s. Now you’re probably asking yourself: why am I here today? Putting aside the existential question—because I hear they’re kicking us out of this room at one p.m., ready or not—the reason I’m here at this podium is because Doug asked me to step in while he’s off having a baby—” “Doug’s pregnant?” someone called out from a back table. Wolf waited for the laughter to die down. “I stand corrected. Doug’s wife was the one who went into labor last night. So while Doug and the missus are busy ushering in the next generation of Williamses, I’m going to introduce a few folks who’ve traveled a long way to talk to you today. You ready? All loaded up on caffeine? Feeling a bit jittery from all that java? Well, don’t worry. Our keynote speaker is here to share her secrets about relaxation. Which, for those of you keeping track of this sort of thing, is the keyword of the day. Come on, folks, say it with me. Reee-laaax-aaa-tion. Oh, and don’t forget to sign up for the free yoga and meditation session in the courtyard after lunch.”… “Sorry, folks, looks like the yoga session’s been canceled. The Physician Health Committee will work on getting it rescheduled, once Dr. Williams returns from paternity leave. In the meantime, please help me welcome Dr. Lily Reid, who comes to us straight from a sold-out engagement on the lecture circuit. In case you’re wondering why Dr. Reid is so popular, here’s the twenty-second version of her CV.” He retrieved Doug’s notes from his pocket and smoothed out the creases. “Dr. Reid received her medical degree and Master of Public Health from UCSD. She joined the RAND Corporation seven years ago, where she is now a research fellow in healthcare policy. Her articles on health and wellness have been published in top medical journals as well as the lay press, and she is a regular talking head—uh, guest—on radio and cable TV news. Please put your hands together for Dr. Lily Reid.” A flurry of movement along the far wall caught Wolf’s attention. This was Lily Reid? She wore a pencil skirt that ended just above the knee, a white button-down shirt, and a black belt that emphasized her narrow waist. With her auburn hair slicked back into a neat bun, a single strand of pearls around her neck, and those red, red lips, she was the embodiment of every sexy librarian fantasy he’d had as an adolescent.’
And Jill moves from that clever into into the plot as summarized: ‘When it comes to burnout, Lily Reid is an expert. Determined to turn her personal tragedy into a cautionary lesson for other physicians, she travels the country, lecturing about life balance and stress management. But her words fall on deaf ears—until she hits on a plan to appeal to a broader audience. Enter Wolf Knox, aka “Wolfman MD.” He’s gorgeous, charismatic, and his patients love him. So do millions of fans who follow him online, watching the music video parodies he makes in his spare time. Too bad Wolf believes “burnout” is synonymous with weakness. His motto? Suck it up—and if you can't handle the pressure, get out of medicine. As Lily and Wolf clash over plans for a joint project, their mutual disdain gives way to desire. But when a fellow physician’s suicide forces them to confront their own fears and prejudices, will their fledgling relationship survive?’
Naughty? Yes, but also rich in humor and character development and some fine insights into Medicine today. There is a good reason her books sell so well!
February 19, 2018
I volunteered to review this book without any promises about the review (the rating or the posting).
When I first started this book my excitement was quickly overshadowed by the feeling of having facts, legal terms and actions being shoved in my face. I pushed forward because I wanted to see how the overall story would play out. I was happy I did.
The following is my personal opinion and thoughts about many aspects of this book and its author.
COVER: ✯✯✯ - I found the cover to be bright and colorful. It matched the story but only received 3 stars since the cover seemed a little generic.
PLOT: ✯✯✯✯ - The plot was very well planned and executed. There was a message there for anyone in any high stressful and busy profession. I’m unsure if Ms. Blake was trying to put the message so obvious, but I gained a greater appreciation for doctors and nurses. Besides the message, the story and romance between Lily and Wolf was very realistic and hot.
WRITING STYLE: ✯✯✯ - This is the first book by Ms. Blake I’ve read. However, I love her style. She brings a lot of descriptive writing into her book which is one of my favorite things. I unfortunately have to take away stars because of the legal terms. Some sections of the book specified certain actions and the order they have to proceed. I know Ms. Blake is a physician by day, but as an author...I felt she added too much unnecessary information that took away from the book.
CHARACTERS: ✯✯✯✯✯ - Lily is a firecracker. I absolutely fell in love with her from the get-go. She’s an independent woman with a mission. No time to stop from achieving her goal even when someone like Wolf walks into her life. Wolf, on the other hand, is handsome, sexy and professionally driven. But, he felt a little self-centered and full of himself. He never stopped to think about others when it came to certain topics. I’m awarding 5 stars for two characters that had me on a love/hate roller coaster.
OVERALL FLOW: ✯✯✯ - Once you move past the “documentary” feel that the facts about “doctor burnout” gives you, the flow was awesome. Everything moved towards a climax and conclusion. Unfortunately I didn’t even see the climax coming. Ms. Blake was incredible in hiding a climax that should’ve been so obvious. That being said I felt the book ended so abruptly that I was left wondering…”that’s it...where’s the rest”. Since this book is part of a series of stand alone books...I’m thinking there will be more in a future book.
Lily read lost her fiance to “doctor burnout”. She’s made it her mission, despite her famous physician father’s protests, to make sure the medical world and the world in general understands that stress and anxiety in any profession (specifically medicine) can have terrible consequences. Wolf is one of those doctors who believes that burnout shows weakness. He lives with the motto of “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. Despite their difference in opinions these two find a way to be together and cause a lot of heat in the bedroom.
Under no circumstances was I approached by the author to read or review this book. I offered without any agreement or promise for any compensation. I am voluntarily giving my opinion about this book. My only affiliation with the author is that I am a fan and want to support by reading and posting this review of my own free will.
When I first started this book my excitement was quickly overshadowed by the feeling of having facts, legal terms and actions being shoved in my face. I pushed forward because I wanted to see how the overall story would play out. I was happy I did.
The following is my personal opinion and thoughts about many aspects of this book and its author.
COVER: ✯✯✯ - I found the cover to be bright and colorful. It matched the story but only received 3 stars since the cover seemed a little generic.
PLOT: ✯✯✯✯ - The plot was very well planned and executed. There was a message there for anyone in any high stressful and busy profession. I’m unsure if Ms. Blake was trying to put the message so obvious, but I gained a greater appreciation for doctors and nurses. Besides the message, the story and romance between Lily and Wolf was very realistic and hot.
WRITING STYLE: ✯✯✯ - This is the first book by Ms. Blake I’ve read. However, I love her style. She brings a lot of descriptive writing into her book which is one of my favorite things. I unfortunately have to take away stars because of the legal terms. Some sections of the book specified certain actions and the order they have to proceed. I know Ms. Blake is a physician by day, but as an author...I felt she added too much unnecessary information that took away from the book.
CHARACTERS: ✯✯✯✯✯ - Lily is a firecracker. I absolutely fell in love with her from the get-go. She’s an independent woman with a mission. No time to stop from achieving her goal even when someone like Wolf walks into her life. Wolf, on the other hand, is handsome, sexy and professionally driven. But, he felt a little self-centered and full of himself. He never stopped to think about others when it came to certain topics. I’m awarding 5 stars for two characters that had me on a love/hate roller coaster.
OVERALL FLOW: ✯✯✯ - Once you move past the “documentary” feel that the facts about “doctor burnout” gives you, the flow was awesome. Everything moved towards a climax and conclusion. Unfortunately I didn’t even see the climax coming. Ms. Blake was incredible in hiding a climax that should’ve been so obvious. That being said I felt the book ended so abruptly that I was left wondering…”that’s it...where’s the rest”. Since this book is part of a series of stand alone books...I’m thinking there will be more in a future book.
Lily read lost her fiance to “doctor burnout”. She’s made it her mission, despite her famous physician father’s protests, to make sure the medical world and the world in general understands that stress and anxiety in any profession (specifically medicine) can have terrible consequences. Wolf is one of those doctors who believes that burnout shows weakness. He lives with the motto of “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. Despite their difference in opinions these two find a way to be together and cause a lot of heat in the bedroom.
Under no circumstances was I approached by the author to read or review this book. I offered without any agreement or promise for any compensation. I am voluntarily giving my opinion about this book. My only affiliation with the author is that I am a fan and want to support by reading and posting this review of my own free will.
January 5, 2018
Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
Lily Reid, the only daughter of an eminent physician had dropped out of medicine during her residency and had instead focused her life and career on helping medical professionals deal with the overwhelming stress, depression and incredibly high suicide rate that so often is the bane of the medical profession. In The Burnout Cure: A Prescription Romance by Jill Blake, Lily believes vehemently in her advocacy and is a determined, strong and independent woman who has no desire or plans for a long-term relationship or a family. Her work and her passion to help medical professionals is her life. Wolf, was a doctor, who had it all - drop-dead gorgeous, he lived his life according to his own dictates. He loved women, but he didn't want a relationship. Sex was fantastic, but who wanted to overcomplicate it all with feelings? Wolf was of the old-school of thought. "If you can''t hack the pace of medicine, then look for another job." He looked at medicine like a soldier looks at Special Forces. It takes a special breed of man or woman to be a medical professional. "Suck it up!" was his opinion. When Lily and Wolf meet, the physical attraction is undeniable, but they are such poles apart in their views, can anything ever develop?
The Burnout Cure: A Prescription Romance by Jill Blake has absolutely no pretensions. It is pure light-hearted romance (chick-lit, if you like), but what I loved and what lifted it above your normal hospital, steamy romance book, was the seriousness and importance of the backstory to the two characters. Clearly depression, stress and suicide is a major problem within the medical profession and Blake has cleverly used the romance between Lily and Wolf to highlight something she feels strongly about. This is still a story about two disparate people, with virtually nothing in common, who find themselves, deeply physically attracted to each other, but the subtext gives it so much more depth. There is the full requisite of hot and steamy love scenes, which are totally necessary and I might add extremely well written by Blake, to not be over emphasised or incredibly crude as so often can be the case. I'm probably not the target market for this kind of steamy romance, but I was certainly glued to the pages and dying to know where it led us next. This is an excellent read and well above the usual hospital, romance pap, that can be so repetitive and boring. An excellent read from Jill Blake.
Lily Reid, the only daughter of an eminent physician had dropped out of medicine during her residency and had instead focused her life and career on helping medical professionals deal with the overwhelming stress, depression and incredibly high suicide rate that so often is the bane of the medical profession. In The Burnout Cure: A Prescription Romance by Jill Blake, Lily believes vehemently in her advocacy and is a determined, strong and independent woman who has no desire or plans for a long-term relationship or a family. Her work and her passion to help medical professionals is her life. Wolf, was a doctor, who had it all - drop-dead gorgeous, he lived his life according to his own dictates. He loved women, but he didn't want a relationship. Sex was fantastic, but who wanted to overcomplicate it all with feelings? Wolf was of the old-school of thought. "If you can''t hack the pace of medicine, then look for another job." He looked at medicine like a soldier looks at Special Forces. It takes a special breed of man or woman to be a medical professional. "Suck it up!" was his opinion. When Lily and Wolf meet, the physical attraction is undeniable, but they are such poles apart in their views, can anything ever develop?
The Burnout Cure: A Prescription Romance by Jill Blake has absolutely no pretensions. It is pure light-hearted romance (chick-lit, if you like), but what I loved and what lifted it above your normal hospital, steamy romance book, was the seriousness and importance of the backstory to the two characters. Clearly depression, stress and suicide is a major problem within the medical profession and Blake has cleverly used the romance between Lily and Wolf to highlight something she feels strongly about. This is still a story about two disparate people, with virtually nothing in common, who find themselves, deeply physically attracted to each other, but the subtext gives it so much more depth. There is the full requisite of hot and steamy love scenes, which are totally necessary and I might add extremely well written by Blake, to not be over emphasised or incredibly crude as so often can be the case. I'm probably not the target market for this kind of steamy romance, but I was certainly glued to the pages and dying to know where it led us next. This is an excellent read and well above the usual hospital, romance pap, that can be so repetitive and boring. An excellent read from Jill Blake.
January 7, 2018
The Burnout Cure is billed as a contemporary romance/medical romance. Yes, it’s a love story. Yes, it includes smoking hot sex scenes. Yes, it has a happy ending. But it also has a serious message that author Jill Blake deftly interweaves with the plot and character development, in a way that enhances the story.
Full disclosure: I recently finished residency, so the world described in The Burnout Cure is very familiar to me. Blake is spot on with her rendering of the high-stress, high-demand, soul-sucking pace of medicine today. While it’s true that we’re hearing more about burnout these days, as far as I can tell nothing’s changed. If anything, conditions have gotten worse. Big institutions that train and employ physicians now pay lip service to the idea that we need better support to do our jobs, but they haven’t done much to help the situation. In a recent op-ed piece in the New England Journal of Medicine, a resident whose colleague committed suicide writes that the onus of dealing with burnout falls on the physician. We are given resiliency training and then sent right back into the thick of things. WTF? Nothing gets done to address underlying issues that lead to burnout in the first place, things that Blake talks about in this book: bureaucracy, insurance companies, the government, computerized medical records that are built for billing rather than for ease of use or patient care, etc.
So, anyway, this book tells the truth. The truth is depressing, but the heroine, Lily, offers hope and even a blueprint for how physicians can fight burnout. The slow evolution in the hero’s attitude from a**hat to believer is well done, and even though there were times I wanted to slap Wolf, I ended up falling in love with him. Because who can resist a man who’s funny, sexy, and carries your hairband in his pocket as a memento and then offers it to you when you forget to bring one yourself and the wind’s whipping your hair every which way? (I love those little details!)
Bottom line: The Burnout Cure is a great feel-good read with a message that stays with you long after you finish the last page.
An advance review copy of this book was provided by the author.
Full disclosure: I recently finished residency, so the world described in The Burnout Cure is very familiar to me. Blake is spot on with her rendering of the high-stress, high-demand, soul-sucking pace of medicine today. While it’s true that we’re hearing more about burnout these days, as far as I can tell nothing’s changed. If anything, conditions have gotten worse. Big institutions that train and employ physicians now pay lip service to the idea that we need better support to do our jobs, but they haven’t done much to help the situation. In a recent op-ed piece in the New England Journal of Medicine, a resident whose colleague committed suicide writes that the onus of dealing with burnout falls on the physician. We are given resiliency training and then sent right back into the thick of things. WTF? Nothing gets done to address underlying issues that lead to burnout in the first place, things that Blake talks about in this book: bureaucracy, insurance companies, the government, computerized medical records that are built for billing rather than for ease of use or patient care, etc.
So, anyway, this book tells the truth. The truth is depressing, but the heroine, Lily, offers hope and even a blueprint for how physicians can fight burnout. The slow evolution in the hero’s attitude from a**hat to believer is well done, and even though there were times I wanted to slap Wolf, I ended up falling in love with him. Because who can resist a man who’s funny, sexy, and carries your hairband in his pocket as a memento and then offers it to you when you forget to bring one yourself and the wind’s whipping your hair every which way? (I love those little details!)
Bottom line: The Burnout Cure is a great feel-good read with a message that stays with you long after you finish the last page.
An advance review copy of this book was provided by the author.
January 16, 2018
I borrowed The Burnout Cure via Kindle Unlimited and really enjoyed it. I also learned a lot about physician burnout. I'd heard that medical residents have to work around the clock with minimal sleep, but this romance really brings home the toll it takes in terms of depression, exhaustion, and the possibility of something as horrible as suicide for residents and doctors.
In The Burnout Cure, Lily Reid is a passionate motivational speaker who tries to help physicians avoid becoming a statistic. As a doctor herself, she knows what they go through. Wolf Knox is a doctor who is infatuated with Lily, but not with her message. He thinks that the rigorous standards for med students and doctors are a good thing because they'll weed out those who can't hack it. These two are attracted to each other, but underneath the romance, they butt heads trying to get the other person to respect their opinion. Wolf comes across as arrogant and unyielding, yet we can see the good in him. Lily is equally in-your-face about her belief that doctors need balance and stress management. Nevertheless, they start to fall for each other. The problem is, how do they "live and let live" - can they accept each other, knowing they are such diverse opposites on this subject that means so much to each of them?
The story was engaging, as were the characters. Wolf was pretty obnoxious at first, but you could see him softening as the story progressed. Lily was a nice challenge for him - she's strong and not someone who caves under pressure. The story was well-written and different. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
In The Burnout Cure, Lily Reid is a passionate motivational speaker who tries to help physicians avoid becoming a statistic. As a doctor herself, she knows what they go through. Wolf Knox is a doctor who is infatuated with Lily, but not with her message. He thinks that the rigorous standards for med students and doctors are a good thing because they'll weed out those who can't hack it. These two are attracted to each other, but underneath the romance, they butt heads trying to get the other person to respect their opinion. Wolf comes across as arrogant and unyielding, yet we can see the good in him. Lily is equally in-your-face about her belief that doctors need balance and stress management. Nevertheless, they start to fall for each other. The problem is, how do they "live and let live" - can they accept each other, knowing they are such diverse opposites on this subject that means so much to each of them?
The story was engaging, as were the characters. Wolf was pretty obnoxious at first, but you could see him softening as the story progressed. Lily was a nice challenge for him - she's strong and not someone who caves under pressure. The story was well-written and different. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
January 2, 2018
Dr. Lily Reid was planning on becoming a doctor but when her life took a sharp turn she decided instead to becoming a speaker on the burnout that many doctor's face but don't seek help from. The problem she has now is that she needs a way to reach a larger audience and she is struggling.
Dr. Wolf Knox is attending the 65th Annual Postgraduate Medical Assembly as a favor to his close friend, Dr. Douglas Williams. He has no interest in the presentations at all but finds himself attracted to speaker Dr. Lily Reid.
As Wolf and Lily go out for lunch, Lily asks for help from Wolf in promoting her cause. The problem is that Wolf doesn't believe it is as relevant as Lily says it is. Will Wolf help Lily with her cause or will she be forced to resort to other measures?
This was a good book and an interesting look at a topic that I did not know much about at all but think it is super important to be discussed.
I think Lily was a great character and was definitely on the right track with what she wanted to promote but I could see many of her audience not believing it could happen to them.
Wolf was interesting and I loved the side job that he and Doug did. I was super curious to see if he would just placate Lily to have sex with her and then kind of drop her after. I was frustrated at him when he learned who Lily's dad was and then pretty much dropped her after.
I found the stuff with Parker kind of weird and seemed almost out of place with everything else as it just kind of added more drama.
The ending was sad but I was glad that it brought things together as they should be.
Dr. Wolf Knox is attending the 65th Annual Postgraduate Medical Assembly as a favor to his close friend, Dr. Douglas Williams. He has no interest in the presentations at all but finds himself attracted to speaker Dr. Lily Reid.
As Wolf and Lily go out for lunch, Lily asks for help from Wolf in promoting her cause. The problem is that Wolf doesn't believe it is as relevant as Lily says it is. Will Wolf help Lily with her cause or will she be forced to resort to other measures?
This was a good book and an interesting look at a topic that I did not know much about at all but think it is super important to be discussed.
I think Lily was a great character and was definitely on the right track with what she wanted to promote but I could see many of her audience not believing it could happen to them.
Wolf was interesting and I loved the side job that he and Doug did. I was super curious to see if he would just placate Lily to have sex with her and then kind of drop her after. I was frustrated at him when he learned who Lily's dad was and then pretty much dropped her after.
I found the stuff with Parker kind of weird and seemed almost out of place with everything else as it just kind of added more drama.
The ending was sad but I was glad that it brought things together as they should be.
February 23, 2018
I received a free complimentary book through Reading Deals and voluntarily reviewed it.
When I first started reading this book, I was wondering if I was reading a factual book about “physician burnout.” Since I knew this book was fiction, I knew that this could not be true. However, I had never read anything by this author before, so I thought that, maybe, this author was just, overtly, concentrating on an issue that was very dear to her heart while tying it up in a small fiction story.
Boy, was I wrong! As I read further, I realized that this author wrote a novel based on an issue that she, as a real doctor, wanted to communicate to her readers. As a result, The Burnout Cure is a fantastic story that has a subject different from any other book I have ever read.
Ms. Blake states in her biography that she went through a lot of these feelings when she was a doctor-in-training. Then, years later, she heard about three doctors who had committed suicide, and, thus, a book is born. Ms. Blake, in her characters, seems to embed many of the feelings she felt from her own first-firsthand experience. As a result, her characters are very realistic and, thus, easy to understand.
I have to admit that, at first, I didn’t like Dr. Wolf Knox, the hero in this book. He is a joker who likes to act like a “smart-aleck.” He is known for his “prankster reputation” and “off-color humor.” In fact, his attitude seems to suggest an uncaring and unsympathetic person who should not be a doctor. As I continue to read, I realize that nothing could be further from the truth.
When I first started reading this book, I was wondering if I was reading a factual book about “physician burnout.” Since I knew this book was fiction, I knew that this could not be true. However, I had never read anything by this author before, so I thought that, maybe, this author was just, overtly, concentrating on an issue that was very dear to her heart while tying it up in a small fiction story.
Boy, was I wrong! As I read further, I realized that this author wrote a novel based on an issue that she, as a real doctor, wanted to communicate to her readers. As a result, The Burnout Cure is a fantastic story that has a subject different from any other book I have ever read.
Ms. Blake states in her biography that she went through a lot of these feelings when she was a doctor-in-training. Then, years later, she heard about three doctors who had committed suicide, and, thus, a book is born. Ms. Blake, in her characters, seems to embed many of the feelings she felt from her own first-firsthand experience. As a result, her characters are very realistic and, thus, easy to understand.
I have to admit that, at first, I didn’t like Dr. Wolf Knox, the hero in this book. He is a joker who likes to act like a “smart-aleck.” He is known for his “prankster reputation” and “off-color humor.” In fact, his attitude seems to suggest an uncaring and unsympathetic person who should not be a doctor. As I continue to read, I realize that nothing could be further from the truth.
December 21, 2017
The Burnout Cure is a well-written and exciting medical romance. Author Jill Blake is a full-time physician, so her story is replete with an in depth knowledge and understanding of what goes on in the medical profession. This narrative is a welcome addition to Ms. Blake's established book library.
Lily Reid is a highly qualified motivational speaker that specializes in physician burnout and depression. She knows from personal experience that it is extremely difficult for doctors to establish a work/life balance. During one of her lectures she meets Dr. Wolf Knox, a good-looking hospitalist, who believes that working until you can't see straight is just a part of doctoring. Although Lily is taken aback by Wolf's viewpoint, she finds him very attractive. Wolf senses a spark as well, and overtime they fall in lust and love.
This novella is another winner for Ms. Blake. The characters are well-defined, the plot is engaging, and the sex scenes between Lily and Wolf are extremely hot. Thanks to this book, I have a better understanding of physician burnout and how the life of a dedicated doctor belongs to his or her patients. Ms. Blake's passion for this topic is executed with humor, warmth, and foresight. Overall, this is a solid romance that should be added to your TBR list.
Complimentary copy provided.
Lily Reid is a highly qualified motivational speaker that specializes in physician burnout and depression. She knows from personal experience that it is extremely difficult for doctors to establish a work/life balance. During one of her lectures she meets Dr. Wolf Knox, a good-looking hospitalist, who believes that working until you can't see straight is just a part of doctoring. Although Lily is taken aback by Wolf's viewpoint, she finds him very attractive. Wolf senses a spark as well, and overtime they fall in lust and love.
This novella is another winner for Ms. Blake. The characters are well-defined, the plot is engaging, and the sex scenes between Lily and Wolf are extremely hot. Thanks to this book, I have a better understanding of physician burnout and how the life of a dedicated doctor belongs to his or her patients. Ms. Blake's passion for this topic is executed with humor, warmth, and foresight. Overall, this is a solid romance that should be added to your TBR list.
Complimentary copy provided.
December 28, 2017
Looking for a steamy romance to keep you company during the holidays (or throughout the year)? Look no further! The Burnout Cure is here and truly delivers some hot sex scenes. The story is not just about that: you also have a very good and captivating storyline involving two good-looking doctors who don’t see eye to eye in many situations, leading to a love/hate relationship.
Although it’s a romance, there’s a very serious topic approached here. Burnout affects a growing number of professionals these days and its numbers within the medical professionals are staggering. It’s very interesting to read about it and you get the feeling that the author is quite well-informed about the topic.
The story is quite engaging and the characters are what you expect from this genre. The two main characters will see their relationship evolve when they have to face their own demons. It’s well-written and balanced, with a coherent plotline. Please, be aware that language and content are not appropriate for under 18 or for people who get offended by sex language/descriptions.
Although it’s a romance, there’s a very serious topic approached here. Burnout affects a growing number of professionals these days and its numbers within the medical professionals are staggering. It’s very interesting to read about it and you get the feeling that the author is quite well-informed about the topic.
The story is quite engaging and the characters are what you expect from this genre. The two main characters will see their relationship evolve when they have to face their own demons. It’s well-written and balanced, with a coherent plotline. Please, be aware that language and content are not appropriate for under 18 or for people who get offended by sex language/descriptions.
January 1, 2018
Jill Blake has a purpose to show the struggles physicians have when they feel burnout out at the pace their profession runs. They aren’t allowed to complain about the hours because it gives them bad reviews and if they show any form of mental weakness or reservations they could be ostracized without getting the help they desperately need. Often the only way they see out is to quit either the profession or end their life. Suicide is scary and it shakes a community when it is a doctor, they are there to heal us and often their symptoms are overlooked.
By taking the foundation of suicide awareness and wrap it into a steamy romance/love story and you have a very enjoyable book. Wolfman’s insensitivity to suicide awareness is the biggest conflict in his relationship with Lily, until it hits home in his hospital. Their physical relationship could only take them so far, until Wolf realized he needed everything she offered.
By taking the foundation of suicide awareness and wrap it into a steamy romance/love story and you have a very enjoyable book. Wolfman’s insensitivity to suicide awareness is the biggest conflict in his relationship with Lily, until it hits home in his hospital. Their physical relationship could only take them so far, until Wolf realized he needed everything she offered.
February 19, 2018
I received the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a different story which starts with two doctors, one a practicing hospitalist and the other a researcher who studies doctor's burnout and suicide. Although they are instantly attracted to each other, they seem to disagree on her work in the area of doctor suicide and other issues. It makes for an interesting dynamic and it is something that I knew nothing about.
Overall, I liked the book but did not love it. The main characters were hard to enjoy as a couple because they seemed so contrary. They argued a lot and it seemed valid that they should not be together, so the evolution of their relationship did not ring true to me. I felt the ending was a bit rushed as well.
This is a different story which starts with two doctors, one a practicing hospitalist and the other a researcher who studies doctor's burnout and suicide. Although they are instantly attracted to each other, they seem to disagree on her work in the area of doctor suicide and other issues. It makes for an interesting dynamic and it is something that I knew nothing about.
Overall, I liked the book but did not love it. The main characters were hard to enjoy as a couple because they seemed so contrary. They argued a lot and it seemed valid that they should not be together, so the evolution of their relationship did not ring true to me. I felt the ending was a bit rushed as well.
December 31, 2017
The Burnout Cure is a romance with a message- doctors need to have relaxation time too and recognize, manage and overcome their burnout symptoms. The story has other subtle messages too such as making use of humor to reach wider audience and keeping the listeners engaged and interested. The story obviously has the romantic element. The story is hot and sexy.and has the regular spice element, but it is the varied messages that makes the book above average.
March 23, 2018
I received this arc for an honest review! This book is a decent contemporary romance about physician burnout and the rise in their suicides because of it. Lily Ried is giving lectures about her research but no one seems to be listening until she meets Wolf. However these two colleagues don't always seem to see eye to eye until it came to the bedroom!. Can these two lovebirds find the cure for burnout or will they just get burned?
February 20, 2018
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I loved this book. It is a shame that it is a work of fiction, because physician burnout and suicides are a real issue today. As a romance novel, this book was super! Lily and Wolf are a great couple and have a lot of spunk and spice between them. I cannot wait to read more books from this author.
April 20, 2018
“The Burnout Cure” is a fast, sexy read that includes several scenes that could set the pages on fire.
Read full review in the 2018 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
April 30, 2019
OMG I was thinking is the continuation of Oh Baby
February 17, 2020
Do you feel burnout? This book gives you and insight of the nasty world that can be the medical profession while also showing you what can be done about it. The romance parts was so real and touching
I received a copy of this story through Candid book reviews, and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.
I received a copy of this story through Candid book reviews, and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.
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March 12, 2018I received this book for free from the author/publisher in response for an honest review of the book. I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.
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