“Mayo brings her characters and settings to life with deft prose and careful research… A compelling and diverse historical novel.”            — Kirkus Reviews

A young nurse in turn-of-the-century New York City believes she knows right from wrong, but soon finds out that making ethical decisions about terminally ill patients while fending off unwanted attention from a powerful doctor is anything but clear cut.

Lillian Dolan is optimistic about her new job at the New York Cancer Hospital after dreaming for years of becoming a nurse.  But she struggles to fit in, and her only friend at the hospital is Jupiter, a Black man who runs the crematorium.  When the confident Dr. Bauer arrives as the new surgeon and takes a shine to Lillian, she is thrilled to be noticed.

Lillian has been warned not to get too close to the patients, but Mrs. Sokolova draws her in, and Lillian wins praise from the nurses for making progress with a difficult patient.  But when Mrs. Sokolova’s situation becomes dire, she puts Lillian in an impossible situation – all while the young nurse slowly loses control of her relationship with Dr. Bauer, which has taken a turn she did not foresee or want.  Her decision to help her patient throws her life into chaos, and Jupiter may be the only person who can help her with an impossible choice:  capitulate to Dr. Bauer’s demands or face possible arrest.

Available Now from Heliotrope Books.
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Cover Design:  Lindy Martin

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