The Doctor's Wife by Jody Hedlund

The Doctor's Lady is a Christian Fiction.

Priscilla White wants to be a missionary and serve God's word.  She feels she has been chosen to travel to Africa to convert the poor lost souls who live there.  When Priscilla finds out she is barren, it becomes the family secret and not wishing to bring any shame to them, she makes missionary work her life's mission.

Dr. Eli Ernest is traveling with two young Nez Perce youths in order to raise money for awareness of a mission he wishes to create in the wild untamed country of Oregon.  When he arrives at the town's Church, he hopes to gain some financial support from the Mission Board.  However, the board insists he must take a wife in order to gain their funding.

Priscilla soon learns that she is not eligible to travel to Africa as she is unchaperoned and if she wishes to complete any missionary work in the States, then she must marry.  Not liking where her future appears to be heading, Priscilla tries to argue her way out of another man's arms and into those of God.  Not wanting to marry anyone, Priscilla must come to terms with her own demons in order to fulfill the destiny she feels God has set before her.

As the two travel across untamed country, through the cold and snow, each must come to terms with the path they have been set upon.  Will Priscilla see that in order to help those around her, she must first be willing to help herself?

I thought this was a charming read.  I liked the history involved with the plot and enjoyed reading the trials and trails across the then, virtually unknown, state of Oregon.  I thought some of the scenes had the correct amount of graphics depicted for the type of story this is.  It was done with taste and decorum for the  reader but giving it enough edge to realize the seriousness of any situation.

I wasn't drawn to Priscilla and preferred reading about the back story characters more.  I didn't find anything within her that I could relate to and there were only a few instances where I found her character shone.  I enjoyed Eli's character more, as it felt more believable and realistic.  I wish we could have had more interaction with John and Richard and learned more about them.

I would give this a three and a half out of five stars.  I found some of the dialogue forced and the comfort levels weren't apparent in some interactions.  I liked that The Doctor's Wife is based loosely on a true story and thought it was a good depiction on what could have been.

Jody Hedlund

SYNOPSIS:
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.

 

 ** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **