The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund
I reviewed Jody's first book, The Preacher's Bride, in this post from January 2011. That book made me take another look at Historical Romance. I was always a more 'contemporary' reader, until I fell in love with that book. Thank you Jody for broadening my horizons.
Her second book, The Doctor's Lady, was published in September of 2011. It currently holds a terrific 4.24 star rating on goodreads, and I think it's well deserved.
I first read this book without realizing that it is based on historical facts. (I found that out after the last chapter.) The Doctor's Lady is a story about the journey of two 1800s missionaries that were the first white women to cross the continental divide. Jody gives a fantastic description of what that rugged journey must have been like. I wish History class would have been this fun! But it is fiction, so Jody has added lots of intriguing details.
Of course, this story is also a romance. (I almost never read romances, but this is a Christian romance -- I don't have to blush. And, if you haven't read any Christian fiction in a while, you might be surprised by what you find. It's not Grandma's fiction anymore.) The MC feels called to be a missionary to India, but the mission board passes a ruling that only married couples can serve in the mission field. Enter Dr. Ernest. He, too, longs to serve, but on a different field -- Oregon country working with the natives. Even though Priscilla and Eli almost detest each other, the two soon realize that only by 'joining forces' can they obtain their dream, and thus enter into an agreement -- a marriage in name only. A business partnership. But what happens if one or both decide to move beyond the 'agreement'?
This adventure/love story is not to be missed.
So why am I reviewing a book that came out last year? Well, it didn't seem right to review her first and third books without including the second. That's right -- she has a third book coming very soon!
Unending Devotion will be released in September. But guess what? Yours truly will be reviewing it ahead of the release. An advance copy of this novel will soon be in my mailbox. I'm excited! Wanna know the best part? The MC's name! Yep, Lily. That just tickles me pink.
Here's some more good news: Jody will be doing an interview right here on Becoming An Author. Keep your eyes open for my next post. And maybe even a future post about A Noble Groom. Oops! Getting a little ahead of myself there. We'll take it one year at a time.
Please check out Jody's website and learn a bit about her. (For instance the fact that she home-schools five children! How does she find time to write?)
