Could I Have This Dance?

Rating:
Summary: Could I have this Dance
Review: As a retired general surgeon, I felt the author was authentic in the culture of surgical training and it's pitfalls. Very entertaining and suspenseful. Also cleverly done. I liked his recognition of the loss of quiet time and devotions with the stresses and demands of the training program.

Rating:
Summary: Could I have this Dance
Review: As a retired general surgeon, I felt the author was authentic in the culture of surgical training and it's pitfalls. Very entertaining and suspenseful. Also cleverly done. I liked his recognition of the loss of quiet time and devotions with the stresses and demands of the training program.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoy it for many reasons...
Review: Here's a winning fiction--a great story with many nuances.

I found this author did an excellent job at presenting the story in a way that demands your attention while molding the medical aspects of the story in a manner that is palatable to the non-clinical reader. It draws you in with a tempting mix of realism and romance. The characters were rich and interesting; their relationships were beautifully developed.

I was impressed with the author's style in presentation of Huntington's Disease as well as the cultural stigma that surrounds it--a nice blend of the clinical and the emotional. The realistic descriptions of the medical world surrounding the story make this a novel I'll enjoy recommending.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful book
Review: I was very drawn into this book.
I am not a "reader" but wanted something light, educating and interesting and this was it!
As I read this book, my sister was in the hospital so I was more drawn into the life of Claire as a resident and found unbelievable Godly interventions. While reading something in the book, my sister happened to be going thru similiar situations.
My only discontent was the ending of the story.
It was out of place and very strange.
I did learn so much about things I knew nothing about (Huntingtons and the life of a new resident )
I have strongly recommended the book to many of the nurses I encountered while reading the book.
Enjoy!!

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat contrived
Review: The book is interesting and I did finish it, but I would not read the sequel. Does the sequel reveal whether Claire has the HD gene? I don't know and don't really care.

This book does a good job of portraying Huntington's Disease, but many things are just not believable: Why would a woman as smart as Claire, studying to become a doctor, tops in her class, take so long to figure out what is wrong with her father? Why would she give any credence to a superstitious belief in a "curse"? Why would a woman as smart as Claire get so involved with a fellow intern whom she hardly knows?

The characters are mostly one dimensional; there's the stereotypical rivalry between the only two women in the residency program; there's Claire's whiny fiance and the "hunky" fellow intern. The plot reminded me a lot of the Grace Livingston Hill books I used to read in the 40's and 50's: beautiful, smart, woman, torn between two suitors. There's not much substance here.

There is one issue here that I often see in discussions about Huntington's. When Claire believes her father's behavior is caused by alcholism, she wants nothing to do with him. When she discovers that his bad behavior is because of Huntington's she forgives him. Why?

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat contrived
Review: The book is interesting and I did finish it, but I would not read the sequel. Does the sequel reveal whether Claire has the HD gene? I don't know and don't really care.

This book does a good job of portraying Huntington's Disease, but many things are just not believable: Why would a woman as smart as Claire, studying to become a doctor, tops in her class, take so long to figure out what is wrong with her father? Why would she give any credence to a superstitious belief in a "curse"? Why would a woman as smart as Claire get so involved with a fellow intern whom she hardly knows?

The characters are mostly one dimensional; there's the stereotypical rivalry between the only two women in the residency program; there's Claire's whiny fiance and the "hunky" fellow intern. The plot reminded me a lot of the Grace Livingston Hill books I used to read in the 40's and 50's: beautiful, smart, woman, torn between two suitors. There's not much substance here.

There is one issue here that I often see in discussions about Huntington's. When Claire believes her father's behavior is caused by alcholism, she wants nothing to do with him. When she discovers that his bad behavior is because of Huntington's she forgives him. Why?

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book
Review: This is the best fiction plot involving Huntington's Disease I have ever read. Dr. Kraus did an excellent job with his research to be able to include so many issues that invariably arise when dealing with this neurological disease. His portrayal of the young intern, Claire, struggling with being at-risk for a genetic disease, was dead on. He captured many issues that one has to consider when deciding to have genetic testing. Issues such as discrimination, insurance, having kids, future job performance, her relationship with her fiance, and many more are covered in Could I Have This Dance? His descriptions of the physical and mental symptoms of Huntington's Disease were excellent.

I enjoyed the plot and found myself thinking of people I know who need to read the book. As the author of two non-fiction books about Huntington's Disease and a frequent speaker and HD conferences, I was impressed with the details and how well he wove them into the plot. I was a full time caregiver for husband with HD and the founder and facilitator for HDCaregivers, an online support group for those who caregive loved ones with Huntington's Disease. Because of my continued writing and speaking to HD groups I am often asked to endorse books that have some connection to Huntington's Disease. I usually find major flaws or omissions in these books and am reluctant to endorse them. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to read and enjoy Could I Have This Dance? and to be able to give it a five star rating.

For too many years Christian fiction was boring, badly written or didn't ring with authenticity. What a delight to find that in recent years Christian fiction has changed for the better. Dr. Kraus did an excellent job of weaving faith issues into the plot without being preachy or heavy handed. So often it is when a crisis arises that one begins to question God and why bad things happen to good people. Even non Christians should be able to read this book without flinching because Could I Have This Dance? shows a young woman struggling with sin and with her relationship with God, just like we all do.

The plot moves at a nice pace and has enough tension and twists to satisfy any reader.

Thank you, Dr. Kraus for creating an excellent book that I am excited to share with the thousands of families suffering with Huntington's. I also hope millions who have never heard of HD will read this book because it is an honest, well written look at the issues surrounding Huntington's Disease. It is also a honest look at how flawed human beings and how much we need a sovereign God.

Carmen Leal, Author of Faces of Huntington's and Portraits of Huntington's, Choosing Joy Through Life Lessons

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: This is the first book by Kraus that I have read, and I plan to buy more. I was completely caught up in the story and quite surprised by the ending. A joy to read.