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Vital Temptations: A Heart's Betrayal
Dr. Bethany McNeal is living her dream as a pediatric resident in one of the most sought-after medical centers in Seattle. Beautiful and intelligent, she’s missing only one thing—love, which she put on hold to focus on her career after ending a tumultuous relationship. Everything changes when she meets Dr. Brent Anderson, a charming and handsome fellow resident. Despite her reservations, Bethany falls for Brent—hard. When she learns Brent is married several months into their relationship, she immediately breaks it off. After graduating residency and going their separate ways, Bethany tries to move on with another man—real estate broker and personal trainer Charles Blakely. But just when things get serious with Charles, she realizes she’s still in love with Brent, and she finds herself caught between the two men, facing a series of difficult decisions and harrowing events that will change her life forever. Will she be able to recover from the vital temptations that turned her perfect life upside down?
218 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2016
1 person is currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
K.L. Lewis
4 books23 followersK. L. Lewis is a novelist and poet who writes emotionally rich stories about love, healing, and self-discovery. A military veteran with a background in behavioral health nursing, she draws on real-life complexity to create characters that feel honest, flawed, and deeply human. Her novel Vital Temptations: A Heart’s Betrayal was a Readers’ Favorite Award finalist. The Author’s Table is her third novel.
Stay tuned for Vital Temptations: A Heart's Desire
Stay tuned for Vital Temptations: A Heart's Desire
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 8, 2016
VITAL TEMPTATIONS
Story line sounded interesting as she will put love on hold and it's based in Seattle.
Bethany and her friend are gonna head out for the Greek performance...they bump into some men and she ends up finding him sitting next to her in the seminar the next day, Brent.
She's a resident at the WA hospital and she is trying to get over her ex boyfriend. They meet often and she gets advice from her roommate, Danielle about dating.
Love hearing of the Seattle places they've frequented-we long to go back, wish we could go more often than once a year to visit the kids.
They become more than friends and hot steamy sex scenes as they learn more about one another. Her friend Caleb takes her for a ride and she is able to see Brent with another woman and she's so hurt...
She recalls her childhood and when her mother was on the floor crying her eyes out because her father was seeing many other women. She finds out the truth about Brent and it hit her like a ton of bricks...
Bethany still has her career to concentrate on and new relationships to discover. Brent still haunts her no matter where he relocates.
Enjoyed the other travel available and the details of a new place. Very detailed descriptions of the pediatric doctoring.
When she becomes pregnant she has to make the right choice and there are so many ways it could go. Surprise ending for many.
Although there are just a handful of characters it's easy to keep them straight as people they work with come in and out of their lives.
Enjoyed the book, travel, learning a bit about the pediatric career and the romance.
I received this book from Story Cartel in exchange for my honest review
Story line sounded interesting as she will put love on hold and it's based in Seattle.
Bethany and her friend are gonna head out for the Greek performance...they bump into some men and she ends up finding him sitting next to her in the seminar the next day, Brent.
She's a resident at the WA hospital and she is trying to get over her ex boyfriend. They meet often and she gets advice from her roommate, Danielle about dating.
Love hearing of the Seattle places they've frequented-we long to go back, wish we could go more often than once a year to visit the kids.
They become more than friends and hot steamy sex scenes as they learn more about one another. Her friend Caleb takes her for a ride and she is able to see Brent with another woman and she's so hurt...
She recalls her childhood and when her mother was on the floor crying her eyes out because her father was seeing many other women. She finds out the truth about Brent and it hit her like a ton of bricks...
Bethany still has her career to concentrate on and new relationships to discover. Brent still haunts her no matter where he relocates.
Enjoyed the other travel available and the details of a new place. Very detailed descriptions of the pediatric doctoring.
When she becomes pregnant she has to make the right choice and there are so many ways it could go. Surprise ending for many.
Although there are just a handful of characters it's easy to keep them straight as people they work with come in and out of their lives.
Enjoyed the book, travel, learning a bit about the pediatric career and the romance.
I received this book from Story Cartel in exchange for my honest review
July 10, 2016
Life must be met as an adult
Dr. Bethany McNeal is a new pediatric resident in one of the best medical centers in Seattle. Beautiful and intelligent, she's missing only one thing--love, which she hesitates to seek since she remembers only too painfully the ending of a former tumultuous relationship. She is really gun-shy of love now. Then one day she meets Dr. Brent Anderson, another pediatric resident, extremely charming and handsome. Without knowing hardly anything about him, she becomes entangled in a passionate, physical love affair. Off and on, Brent vaguely relates that he has some things to tell her, but she doesn’t press him, and is so passionately blind to everything about him except his love making abilities, she just accepts him. She is warned by her girlfriend and another male friend, to be careful. That there is more here than what it seems. Regardless and rather juvenile, she can think of nothing but their passionate experience. Then one day, this male friend drives her by a residence where Brent is in the yard along with a handsome woman and a crippled child in a wheelchair. Of course, she assumes this is another of Brent’s girlfriends.
She challenges him and he admits that he has been married for five years, but he is not in love with the woman. He wants to tell her everything, but she escapes him and when he calls, he offers to fill in his past, but although she does want to know, she will not listen and so never learns about him. Two years go by, during which time he continually calls her, trying to talk to her, and also is transferred to Wisconsin. She desperately wants to know, but refuses to listen like a teenager, and he continually says he wants to explain and that he is divorcing his wife.
In the meantime, Bethany meets Charles, a real estate broker, who is also a personal physical trainer, most attractive and they spend much time together, eventually becoming lovers. He tells her up front he is in love with her, and she shies away, doesn’t admit to him that she loves Brent, although in the meantime she meets Brent twice for the evening, and they spend all of their time passionately making love. Brent continues to tell her he has more to reveal about his life, but she won’t listen.
The romance has a good plot, but there is too much action and not enough dialogue. There are lines and lines of description of places where she is or what it looks like, which does not move the story along, is not pertinent to the story, and seems to be just filler. Also it struck me as a mature woman, that she is behaving extremely juvenile, which in real life the woman would have acted much more maturely by seeking the truth of Brent instead of walking off on him and then pining to know his background.
The book is well written, is certainly worth four stars and I would recommend it as an interesting romance with the above caveats. I was given a complimentary e-book for an honest review.
Dr. Bethany McNeal is a new pediatric resident in one of the best medical centers in Seattle. Beautiful and intelligent, she's missing only one thing--love, which she hesitates to seek since she remembers only too painfully the ending of a former tumultuous relationship. She is really gun-shy of love now. Then one day she meets Dr. Brent Anderson, another pediatric resident, extremely charming and handsome. Without knowing hardly anything about him, she becomes entangled in a passionate, physical love affair. Off and on, Brent vaguely relates that he has some things to tell her, but she doesn’t press him, and is so passionately blind to everything about him except his love making abilities, she just accepts him. She is warned by her girlfriend and another male friend, to be careful. That there is more here than what it seems. Regardless and rather juvenile, she can think of nothing but their passionate experience. Then one day, this male friend drives her by a residence where Brent is in the yard along with a handsome woman and a crippled child in a wheelchair. Of course, she assumes this is another of Brent’s girlfriends.
She challenges him and he admits that he has been married for five years, but he is not in love with the woman. He wants to tell her everything, but she escapes him and when he calls, he offers to fill in his past, but although she does want to know, she will not listen and so never learns about him. Two years go by, during which time he continually calls her, trying to talk to her, and also is transferred to Wisconsin. She desperately wants to know, but refuses to listen like a teenager, and he continually says he wants to explain and that he is divorcing his wife.
In the meantime, Bethany meets Charles, a real estate broker, who is also a personal physical trainer, most attractive and they spend much time together, eventually becoming lovers. He tells her up front he is in love with her, and she shies away, doesn’t admit to him that she loves Brent, although in the meantime she meets Brent twice for the evening, and they spend all of their time passionately making love. Brent continues to tell her he has more to reveal about his life, but she won’t listen.
The romance has a good plot, but there is too much action and not enough dialogue. There are lines and lines of description of places where she is or what it looks like, which does not move the story along, is not pertinent to the story, and seems to be just filler. Also it struck me as a mature woman, that she is behaving extremely juvenile, which in real life the woman would have acted much more maturely by seeking the truth of Brent instead of walking off on him and then pining to know his background.
The book is well written, is certainly worth four stars and I would recommend it as an interesting romance with the above caveats. I was given a complimentary e-book for an honest review.
June 10, 2016
I was interested in reading Vital Temptations: A Heart’s Betrayal because I enjoy a good love story. Many of us have been in the position where we loved to fast or loved the wrong person. The protagonist in this story is no different, which piqued my interest. Dr. Bethany O’Neal is finishing up her residency, so she doesn’t have time to fall in love. But usually when you don’t have time to fall in love isn’t that when you ALWAYS fall in love?
When Dr. Brent Anderson enters Dr. O’Neal’s life at the tail end of a residency program, which is pretty unusual, things become complicated pretty fast. Of course he’s handsome, charming, and all the things that Dr. O’Neal likes in her man. The romance takes off and Bethany finds herself in love, but she’s not sure if Brent loves her too, and a nagging feeling tells her he is just too good to be true.
I enjoyed this book because it was very familiar to me. It reads a lot like a Lifetime movie. Woman denies she needs love but falls in love anyway and gets hurt in the process. There is also a character that is seemingly “Mr. Right,” Charles, a nosy friend, and a gay friend. Lifetime-ish, right!? Bethany never finds a way to tell Charles that she loves him and she gets mad at both friends too many times to count. Bethany struggles with her love for Brent because he doesn’t rightly belong to her, but she can’t help but be in love with him. She struggles with her feelings for Charles because he is genuinely a good guy, but she just doesn’t love him. In the end everyone finds the one they are supposed to love, and I guess that’s what makes for a happy ending. That’s where I can relate to this novel because in the end, you love who you love.
At times, I was disappointed with Bethany’s indecisiveness. Towards the end when she decides to make a clean break from Brent it was frustrating. At this point she’s in situation that he needs to be informed about but this the is time she chooses not to deal with him. Also, the fact that she didn’t want to do the “right” thing until her situation at work became endangered was disappointing to me. Overall I enjoyed the plot and story line because at times your heart does betray you.
I was able to receive this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Amazon carries the Kindle and paperback edition. I opted for the Kindle for PC edition. Vital Temptations: A Heart’s Betrayal is also available at Walmart.com in paperback, and Barnes and Nobles in Nook format or paperback.
When Dr. Brent Anderson enters Dr. O’Neal’s life at the tail end of a residency program, which is pretty unusual, things become complicated pretty fast. Of course he’s handsome, charming, and all the things that Dr. O’Neal likes in her man. The romance takes off and Bethany finds herself in love, but she’s not sure if Brent loves her too, and a nagging feeling tells her he is just too good to be true.
I enjoyed this book because it was very familiar to me. It reads a lot like a Lifetime movie. Woman denies she needs love but falls in love anyway and gets hurt in the process. There is also a character that is seemingly “Mr. Right,” Charles, a nosy friend, and a gay friend. Lifetime-ish, right!? Bethany never finds a way to tell Charles that she loves him and she gets mad at both friends too many times to count. Bethany struggles with her love for Brent because he doesn’t rightly belong to her, but she can’t help but be in love with him. She struggles with her feelings for Charles because he is genuinely a good guy, but she just doesn’t love him. In the end everyone finds the one they are supposed to love, and I guess that’s what makes for a happy ending. That’s where I can relate to this novel because in the end, you love who you love.
At times, I was disappointed with Bethany’s indecisiveness. Towards the end when she decides to make a clean break from Brent it was frustrating. At this point she’s in situation that he needs to be informed about but this the is time she chooses not to deal with him. Also, the fact that she didn’t want to do the “right” thing until her situation at work became endangered was disappointing to me. Overall I enjoyed the plot and story line because at times your heart does betray you.
I was able to receive this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Amazon carries the Kindle and paperback edition. I opted for the Kindle for PC edition. Vital Temptations: A Heart’s Betrayal is also available at Walmart.com in paperback, and Barnes and Nobles in Nook format or paperback.
March 18, 2016
Charming, handsome, and sexy, pediatric resident Dr. Brent Anderson can make any woman fall hard – which is exactly what Bethany McNeal does. A fellow resident, Bethany can’t help surrendering to the overpowering feelings she develops for Brent; however, when she learns he’s a married man, she immediately ends the affair.
Enter Charles Blakely, charming real estate broker and personal trainer. As Bethany’s involvement with Charles grows deeper, she begins to believe he may be “the one” – that is, until Brent resurfaces, sparking old flames of passion in her still longing heart. What follows for Bethany is a series of difficult decisions sure to change her life in ways she can’t even imagine.
Vital Temptations: A Heart’s Betrayal, is a solid, well-written offering by author and poet K.L. Lewis. Clearly crafted for a female audience, Lewis’ emotionally-charged tale takes the reader on a tortuous journey through the nebulous depths of the feminine heart. The delicate balance between professional ambition and personal need is one with which career-minded women are all too familiar, and Bethany’s ongoing plight highlights that conundrum in vivid, realistic detail. One may fault her for her choices, but she can hardly be blamed – as can any of us – for simply pursuing what makes her happy. As Bethany ultimately discovers, the road to bliss may be long and winding, but the destination makes the journey more than worth it.
A recommended read.
Winnie Taylor
Apex Reviews
Enter Charles Blakely, charming real estate broker and personal trainer. As Bethany’s involvement with Charles grows deeper, she begins to believe he may be “the one” – that is, until Brent resurfaces, sparking old flames of passion in her still longing heart. What follows for Bethany is a series of difficult decisions sure to change her life in ways she can’t even imagine.
Vital Temptations: A Heart’s Betrayal, is a solid, well-written offering by author and poet K.L. Lewis. Clearly crafted for a female audience, Lewis’ emotionally-charged tale takes the reader on a tortuous journey through the nebulous depths of the feminine heart. The delicate balance between professional ambition and personal need is one with which career-minded women are all too familiar, and Bethany’s ongoing plight highlights that conundrum in vivid, realistic detail. One may fault her for her choices, but she can hardly be blamed – as can any of us – for simply pursuing what makes her happy. As Bethany ultimately discovers, the road to bliss may be long and winding, but the destination makes the journey more than worth it.
A recommended read.
Winnie Taylor
Apex Reviews
July 5, 2017
The story initially had my interest but soon became rather predictable and less enjoyable to read. It is a good book for someone wanting an "easy" read without complicated characters or plot. I know I'm in the minority with my review of this novel. I personally just did not find the characters lively enough to keep my attention.
I received a complimentary digital copy for honest review from Story Cartel.
I received a complimentary digital copy for honest review from Story Cartel.
May 10, 2016
I won this novel through Goodreads! Thank you! I received the book on Friday and finished it today!
It looked intriguing and I started it right away. The girl had a lot of hard choices and I feel she made the right ones. I wished it had of gone on longer about Brent as he seemed to take a heck of a long time getting his affairs in order!
It looked intriguing and I started it right away. The girl had a lot of hard choices and I feel she made the right ones. I wished it had of gone on longer about Brent as he seemed to take a heck of a long time getting his affairs in order!
May 11, 2016
I often fall into the trap of thinking high achievers have everything sorted out. It certainly seem this way with Dr. Bethany McNeal but she has her scars and life is far from perfect. This is what made A Hearts Betrayal a good read for me and I thought K L Lewis did a great job of articulating the conflict we often feel between what our hearts and heads are saying.
June 21, 2016
I liked the book. The characters were interesting. It was an easy read.
April 11, 2016
Vital Temptations - Review by Martha A Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish
The two chatted for several minutes as Bethany continued studying him. Something about him reminded her of her dad, who always told her to look for a sense of humor in a man. His beautiful complexion and perfect lips and teeth were an added bonus; she loved a man who took pride in his oral hygiene and nails. His pearly white smile sparkled at her when he spoke. Bethany sensed that he was much younger than the guys she usually dated and she was unimpressed that he came to the conference unprepared; nonetheless she accepted his offer for lunch since she hated eating alone.
Dr. Bethany McNeal has just met the love of her life - Dr. Brent Anderson. Both are attending a conference at the Seattle Children's hospital. The unprepared Dr. Anderson takes the only available seat left which is next to Bethany.
Just a couple years earlier Bethany had found herself in a relationship with a man she really loved and trusted. Turned out trust was the last thing he should have been given. They parted ways with her being extremely cautious when it came to men. Brent finally broke through the wall she had built and she had fallen so in love with him that she knew there would be no other. But... Brent came with secrets, both past and present. Secrets that should end any feelings she has for him. When she finally learns what he has been hiding from her the pain is unbearable but nothing can kill her love.
As I read Vital Temptations I found myself rooting for Bethany. Hoping she would open her eyes and see what was going on around her. Hoping she would listen to her best friends Danielle and Caleb. Listen to them when they tell her there are other women. Listen when Danielle introduces her to Charles who falls heavily for her. This love story will keep you in suspense all the way to the end, wondering what is going to happen to Bethany. I knew how I wanted it to end. I'll not tell you what I hoped for but will tell you that it didn't end the way I wanted it to which is good because I think it ended just the way it should. I had a hard time putting this book down and if you're a fan of a good 'what is she going to do' you'll be glad you picked this one up.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
The two chatted for several minutes as Bethany continued studying him. Something about him reminded her of her dad, who always told her to look for a sense of humor in a man. His beautiful complexion and perfect lips and teeth were an added bonus; she loved a man who took pride in his oral hygiene and nails. His pearly white smile sparkled at her when he spoke. Bethany sensed that he was much younger than the guys she usually dated and she was unimpressed that he came to the conference unprepared; nonetheless she accepted his offer for lunch since she hated eating alone.
Dr. Bethany McNeal has just met the love of her life - Dr. Brent Anderson. Both are attending a conference at the Seattle Children's hospital. The unprepared Dr. Anderson takes the only available seat left which is next to Bethany.
Just a couple years earlier Bethany had found herself in a relationship with a man she really loved and trusted. Turned out trust was the last thing he should have been given. They parted ways with her being extremely cautious when it came to men. Brent finally broke through the wall she had built and she had fallen so in love with him that she knew there would be no other. But... Brent came with secrets, both past and present. Secrets that should end any feelings she has for him. When she finally learns what he has been hiding from her the pain is unbearable but nothing can kill her love.
As I read Vital Temptations I found myself rooting for Bethany. Hoping she would open her eyes and see what was going on around her. Hoping she would listen to her best friends Danielle and Caleb. Listen to them when they tell her there are other women. Listen when Danielle introduces her to Charles who falls heavily for her. This love story will keep you in suspense all the way to the end, wondering what is going to happen to Bethany. I knew how I wanted it to end. I'll not tell you what I hoped for but will tell you that it didn't end the way I wanted it to which is good because I think it ended just the way it should. I had a hard time putting this book down and if you're a fan of a good 'what is she going to do' you'll be glad you picked this one up.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
March 27, 2016
Filled with beautiful people and set against the exciting city of Seattle, Vital Temptations is a fun, fast-paced read that ended all too quickly. In Dr. Bethany McNeal, K.L. Lewis has created the sort of female character that so many authors strive to create - strong, successful and committed to her values, yet real and relatable.
Nursing a broken heart from a previous relationship, Bethany is determined to take it slow in the romance department. This is easy enough; after all, she’s been shying away from love for years in order to focus on her career in medicine. Just when she thinks she’s found forever with Brent Anderson, another well-respected physician, she learns he is married. His betrayal destroys Bethany’s trust not only in men but in herself. Will she end up with Brent? Or will she overcome the pain to give Charles - a new man she meets through a friend - a chance? This was what I couldn’t wait to find out.
But what struck me most was that underneath the hot, steamy love scenes and lighthearted banter, Vital Temptations touches on the very real challenges facing professional women today. Bethany is clearly a catch – beautiful, brilliant and kindhearted - so why is it so hard to include love in her life? Why do so many women feel the need to put their personal lives on hold while pursuing their career, only to feel they’ve “missed the boat” or are in danger of doing so? This question has been asked for decades, yet we seem no closer to an answer. Luckily for us, we have books like this to remind us not to take our lives, or ourselves, too seriously, and to always have faith that things will work out in the right timing. K.L hits it out of the ballpark in this regard, and I certainly hope to see more from her soon.
Nursing a broken heart from a previous relationship, Bethany is determined to take it slow in the romance department. This is easy enough; after all, she’s been shying away from love for years in order to focus on her career in medicine. Just when she thinks she’s found forever with Brent Anderson, another well-respected physician, she learns he is married. His betrayal destroys Bethany’s trust not only in men but in herself. Will she end up with Brent? Or will she overcome the pain to give Charles - a new man she meets through a friend - a chance? This was what I couldn’t wait to find out.
But what struck me most was that underneath the hot, steamy love scenes and lighthearted banter, Vital Temptations touches on the very real challenges facing professional women today. Bethany is clearly a catch – beautiful, brilliant and kindhearted - so why is it so hard to include love in her life? Why do so many women feel the need to put their personal lives on hold while pursuing their career, only to feel they’ve “missed the boat” or are in danger of doing so? This question has been asked for decades, yet we seem no closer to an answer. Luckily for us, we have books like this to remind us not to take our lives, or ourselves, too seriously, and to always have faith that things will work out in the right timing. K.L hits it out of the ballpark in this regard, and I certainly hope to see more from her soon.
August 10, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
Although the book starts with a promising introduction and I actually felt that there is a connection with it. However, after few chapters, I lost interest in the book.
Maybe it was the way the characters were panning out or the style of writing by the author, something was off and I couldn't make myself continue it further.
Honestly, I don't even remember at what point I had stopped and did not even feel like resuming it.
I will not recommend it to anyone.
Although the book starts with a promising introduction and I actually felt that there is a connection with it. However, after few chapters, I lost interest in the book.
Maybe it was the way the characters were panning out or the style of writing by the author, something was off and I couldn't make myself continue it further.
Honestly, I don't even remember at what point I had stopped and did not even feel like resuming it.
I will not recommend it to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews