Vital Signs: Book #4 in The McFadden Series

By Mary L. King

Summer in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts revs up with passion, a new Corvette engine, and Michael's seventeenth birthday as the McFadden story continues. Lauren is looking forward to a relaxed schedule when school lets out. Bryan has planned a surprise vacation despite the doctor's protest of traveling with nine teenage boys and young men. As for the young residents, it's been two weeks since Adam's TORP surgery, but it'll be weeks before he knows if the ossicular prosthesis will allow him to hear again. Terry, Devon, and Cameron continue to thrive while Philip and Michael enjoy the company of girlfriends. It's not all sun and fun at the multi-million-dollar estate, however. Noah and Buddy face unresolved conflicts in their relationship. David continues the search for Shadow's Star, but Bryan has doubts they'll find the horse. Ten days before the family embarks on their two-week adventure, Bryan receives word that his father was killed in prison. A meeting with his father's attorney uncovers secrets of the past that Bryan would prefer to bury forever. On the road at last, bugs and sunburn are the least of Lauren's worries as the family hits the Mohawk Trail. She can't understand why her husband is suddenly irritable and preoccupied. Later in the story, as summer winds down, the boys and college men prepare to return to school. In the university town of Westfield, things rarely go as planned for Ian Fielding. He lost his academic scholarship and his job. Now he fears he'll lose his boyfriend after Dr. McFadden and her husband hire Kevin Fitzgerald to work at their estate as a physical therapy assistant. At the estate, Bryan and Lauren learn from the school crowd that Craig Fisher is bad news; his reputation leaves Lauren questioning Michael's choice of friends. When a deadly turnpike crash sends Craig to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Michael asks Dr. McFadden and Bryan to intervene. Lauren explains that the challenges of daily care and long-term rehab for someone with a traumatic brain injury will place heavy demands on the staff's workload. A commitment means compromises-and compassion-from everyone in the family. Everyone in the household, she states, must be on board with the decision to accept Craig. Bryan and she won't have it any other way.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1533444099
• ISBN13: 9781533444097
• Release Date: November 2018
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 334 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"