When I read The Doctor and the Diva, by author Adrienne McDonnell, I knew this would be a novel to treasure for its storytelling. I was completely captivated by the tale of Erika, a talented opera singer, and her botanist husband Peter, who for years try to conceive a baby. When Erika finally realizes her goal of going to Italy to perform, she must choose between her career and her treatments to conceive, with the help of charismatic Dr. Ravell. By present day standards the treatments would be considered primitive. Erika's desires to perform and become a mother are complicated by not only the physical limitations of the time, but also the emotional limitations put on women which lead to misunderstandings and anger.
To make this story even more amazing, it is based on a true story from the author's family and letters that were written at that time.