The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund
September 1, 2011 by Bethany House
Paperback, 378 Pages
Review Copy
Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.
Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.
Review
Do marriages of convenience really happen in America anymore? Probably not....but there was a day when this commonly happened....even to people who were not in love. When Eli Ernest blows into town, and blows into Priscilla's life, he stirs up a lot more than just the dust behind him.
Eli and Priscilla each have dreams of becoming missionaries, while hopeful of the same missions from God, they each have different goals for that mission. Priscilla has trained as a teacher and longs to go to India, teaching children and wiping the world clean of heathens. Eli longs to cross the Continental Divide, reaching out to Indian Tribes and helping push into a new American territory. While both noble in deeds, the mission board will not support either of them, the reason: each of them being unwed. There are people in the community though that want to see things happen and a plan is concocted for the two to get married, receive the funding and head out west. However this was never Priscilla's dream- she wanted to go to India...not California and despite her community and her parents pushing her towards this move, she's terrified to travel west and she most certainly did not want to travel with a husband, because Priscilla has nothing to offer a husband, she has love but a barren womb from mumps as a child. Knowing all this and even with his own reservations, Eli agrees to marry Priscilla anyway and continues on with his dream to mission for the Indians, even with the hiccup of bringing along a wife, he has travel guides ready and people he's meeting along the way- Priscilla is just a means to an end, there will be no love, no relationship and certainly no chance for intimacy or children........at least that's what he thinks.....
This was a well researched and compelling take on the story of the first white woman who crossed the Continental Divide, based on a true story- Hedlund adds dramatic flair and her own twists to what must of been a terrifying and harrowing journey. She also takes the cheese out of convenience marriage stories and riddles it with stolen glances, passionate thoughts and simple progression. Towards the end of the story there was so much tension and sexual attraction going on that I wanted to jump in the book and drag both of them into a bedroom and lock the door. Mostly due to the fact that Eli and Priscilla were each sharing their secrets with us- the readers- but they were keeping everything from each other, making the romance development frustrating, sometimes its a hard place to know where the story is going, but waiting for the characters to catch up.
Each obstacle the couple faced made them stronger, yet by the end I wanted the trials to be over, for me as the reader, it was a tad annoying to see a few life/faith lessons on pride play against main character Eli, it was also hard to suspend belief on the ending scenarios, as I thought the story ended a few chapters shy of where it did......(my patience ended with the fleas).....but ~ALAS~ dear readers.......this is fiction and our characters needed time to come to the logical conclusion of their feelings for one another.
Jody has a great style of her own, bringing intense passion to her writing, always taking her readers on an emotional journey of nail biting suspense to see how far she will go. Despite my mixed feelings with the ending, I thought Eli and Priscilla's story was rich in historical detail, visual imagery and had a lot of heart.
Jody has a great style of her own, bringing intense passion to her writing, always taking her readers on an emotional journey of nail biting suspense to see how far she will go. Despite my mixed feelings with the ending, I thought Eli and Priscilla's story was rich in historical detail, visual imagery and had a lot of heart.
Rating
The Doctor's Lady is recommended to adult readers (mature teens as well) who enjoy wholesome historical romance. Contains: Missionary work, traveling in the uncharted west, violence, attempted rape, attempted murder scenes, sensuality, faith and religious undertones.
4/5- Inspy-Historical
Thanks to Bethany House for Review Copy
Ha. I'm reading a story about a marriage of convenience and the thing about it is that they never really seem convenient...until they fall in love. *le sigh*
ReplyDeleteThe sexual tension in this one sounds pretty intense, especially since you wanted to get involved. Hehe....
I'm so immature sometimes.
Love your review! And yes, I think I wanted to shove Eli and Priscilla together sooner too! But alas, the romance genre dictates that we keep our love relationship apart until the end. :-) Thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteJody Hedlund
I like the sound of this one. But I'll admit...if you wanted to lock them in a room to speed things up, that means I'll be chomping at the bit! I like my couple to decide a little earlier that a marriage of convenience can be a real marriage.
ReplyDeleteThat being said I still might check this one out. Love that it's based on a true story and the promise of a good romance has me a little hooked ;)
"Towards the end of the story there was so much tension and sexual attraction going on that I wanted to jump in the book and drag both of them into a bedroom and lock the door."
ReplyDeleteComplete win. I love when the romance is like that and you feel like you cannot possibly go another minute without something happening! Lovely review Tina:)
I have this book sitting on the coffee table beside me. It is next in line.
ReplyDeleteGood gracious Tina! You could just about make me want to read any book you review. You're such a great salesperson. I don't really read these historical romance-y books but when I read your reviews I WANT TO. You do serious damage to my TBR, gal!
ReplyDelete~Asheley
LOL- awww thank you Ashley...;)
ReplyDelete@Julie- You'll love it- Its for sure Jody style and I loved The Preachers Bride...:)
@Jenny- it was hair pulling frustrating!!
@Missie- HAHAHA- yup I sometimes wonder if Im really 32...hmmmmmm....
@Jody- Thanks for stopping by Jody I think your a lovely author..>:D