llamallamacallurmama 's review for:

Doing No Harm by Carla Kelly

2.75

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**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers and general tags.  I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.** 

2.75/5

Ebook

* Summary:  Recently retired from the navy, surgeon (of the historical variety) Mr Bowden reluctantly takes up residence in a small Scottish town, caring for it’s residence including many displaced Highlanders and falling in love with do-gooder saintly tea-room proprietor Miss Olive Grant.

* Stats: HR - Regency, M/F, no sex, stand alone.

* Notes:  I’m taking rather a lot off this book for the easy redemption for an intimate partner and child abuser side character.  The main characters were fine, I liked seeing how the MMC was really deeply affected by his war service, and thought the FMC was basically a nurturing saint and a bit boring, but alright enough.  I didn’t like how the author chose to write some of the side characters/plots, but overall, it was… fine.  I’m not sure I will return to this author though, I think we’re a mismatch.

OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:

Veteran MMC (navy), 1816, death, survivour’s guilt/PTSD, 37M/30F, white MCs, child soldiers (young teens), alcohol, injuries/illnesses (including of children), blood and gore, medical care, death (including of children), domestic abuse/domestic violence/intimate partner abuse (of side characters), heterochromia, MMC was a POW, gentle touch, opiate use (for medical purposes), stillbirth, fistfight, funeral (of an infant), tattooed MC, religion, description of the Highland Clearances (including house burning, violence, rape, death), childbirth (of side character), traumatised children, starvation, drowning (mentioned), reconciliation between domestic abuser/victim (and redemption of abuser in MCs’ eyes), description of a slave ship, FMC teasingly slaps mmc, injured animal, description of death of animal, pregnancy, infant