Book Review: The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund/5 Stars

About the book:

They vowed to keep their marriage in name only.

But when the unexpected happens on the grueling journey west...

Their carefully constructed partnership will be put to the ultimate test.

Priscilla White knows she’ll never be a wife or mother and feels God’s call to the mission field.

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.

My thoughts:

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)

5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  Just enough for me to answer yes.  :o)

**Many thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.

**Be watching Monday as Jody will be here for her very own Southern-Style Meet & Greet where she'll be giving away a copy of this very book.  You don't want to miss it!