Helpful Score: 5
As a rule, I'm not overly fond of wagon train stories, but I could not read this one fast enough! It's not often that I have an opportunity to practically fly through a book as good as this one, but in 24 hours time, I read this book every moment I could spare. Thankfully, my husband was very understanding as we went through an evening with me cooking no dinner, folding no laundry, and watching no tv. And yes...he survived. ;o)
Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.
And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story, either. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.
For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)
Jody Hedlund has created a masterpiece in The Doctor's Lady. She had me smiling at the teasing nature of Priscilla and Eli's early relationship, and conversely, she had me in tears during a moment that no mother every wants to experience. If that wasn't enough, she created romantic tension so thick, I could cut it with a knife.
And this was not your typical marriage of convenience story, either. Priscilla and Eli's marriage was quickly thrust into the dangers of what would become the Oregon Trail as they dealt with rapid rivers, dishonest guides, and fatal diseases. Not only did they butt heads occasionally with their traveling companions, they also struggled to share their true thoughts with one another which created unnecessary, yet believable, emotional turmoil.
For those who are fans of Laura Frantz or Deeanne Gist, I guarantee The Doctor's Lady is a story that you will love in its entirety. As I said before, wagon train stories are not my thing as there are usually several portions that lag and I find my attention drifting. That is definitely not the case with this one! The action is continuous, the hardships believable, and the romance new and exciting. I have already carved out a place on my keeper shelf for this gem of a novel, and you better believe that it's there to stay. :o)
Helpful Score: 3
Starts out a little slow but quickly becomes a book so very hard to put down. By the time it ended I had already cried several times. Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 3
After disliking Jody's first book, The Preacher's Bride, I was pleasantly surprised by Jody's second book, The Doctor's Lady, and I enjoyed reading it very much. Jody's story is based on a real-life missionary couple, Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, who traveled to Oregon Country to begin a mission to the Native Americans. Narcissa and her companion Eliza were the first white women to cross the Continental Divide, paving the way for all the women who would follow later along the Oregon Trail.
The setting of Eli and Priscilla's journey west to Oregon Country, the perils they faced along the way, the secrets they tried to keep from each other and others traveling along with them, and the characters of Priscilla and Eli all combined into a fabulous story. Priscilla thinks of herself as selfish and spoiled, but doesn't see her own strength and will power to finish what she started. Eli's gentleness and compassion appealed to me, though his pride was a bit overbearing. The story's pacing was great, and kept me up late at night, since I had to know what would happen to Priscilla and Eli next. I was happy that Jody separated fact from fiction in her Author's Note at the end of the story, and mentioned Narcissa's journal. I would like to read it next.
With thanks to Bethany House for my review copy.
The setting of Eli and Priscilla's journey west to Oregon Country, the perils they faced along the way, the secrets they tried to keep from each other and others traveling along with them, and the characters of Priscilla and Eli all combined into a fabulous story. Priscilla thinks of herself as selfish and spoiled, but doesn't see her own strength and will power to finish what she started. Eli's gentleness and compassion appealed to me, though his pride was a bit overbearing. The story's pacing was great, and kept me up late at night, since I had to know what would happen to Priscilla and Eli next. I was happy that Jody separated fact from fiction in her Author's Note at the end of the story, and mentioned Narcissa's journal. I would like to read it next.
With thanks to Bethany House for my review copy.
