[PRE-ORDER] Bedside Manner (No-Strings, #1) by Stephanie Archer

Release Date: 12/08/2026

doctor romance • workplace romance • enemies-to-lovers • grumpy x sunshine • transactional relationship • age-gap romance

A sharp-tongued medical resident. A notoriously grumpy surgeon. And a strictly business arrangement that quickly becomes anything but professional. When financial desperation brings Linden Starling into an unexpected arrangement with the one doctor she can't stand, the lines between business and pleasure begin to blur. Bedside Manner is a steamy contemporary romance filled with sharp banter, irresistible chemistry, and the kind of emotional connection neither person planned on finding.

The Vibe

Dr. Linden Starling can get along with just about anyone, except Dr. Grant Cross. A prominent pediatric plastic surgeon with a reputation for being difficult, Grant makes Linden's professional life miserable. She wants nothing to do with him, and the feeling seems mutual.

But when financial struggles lead Linden to take a job as a high-end escort, she never expects Grant to become her first client. He makes her an offer that seems simple enough: a strictly transactional arrangement with no expectations and, most importantly, no feelings.

What begins as a business arrangement soon becomes more complicated. Behind Grant's intimidating exterior is a man Linden never expected to discover. As she helps him improve his bedside manner and navigate the interpersonal challenges threatening his career, he begins showing her a side of himself that challenges everything she thought she knew.

Between workplace tension, unexpected tenderness, steamy encounters, and plenty of witty banter, Linden and Grant's relationship becomes increasingly difficult to keep strictly professional.

Perfect for readers who love grumpy surgeons, confident heroines, workplace enemies-to-lovers, and spicy romances that balance humor with genuine emotional connection.

Spice Level

• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (5/5)

Tropes & Tags

• Contemporary romance
  
• Doctor romance
• Workplace romance
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Grumpy x sunshine
  
• Sex work representation
• Grumpy hero
• Strong heroine
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Emotional intimacy
• Steamy romance
• Romantic comedy