Jody Hedlund’s newest novel, The Doctor’s Lady, is a must read for any fan of historical fiction. This fictionalized story of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, missionaries to the Nez Perce Indians in the Oregon Territory in 1836, tells the story of their long and difficult journey to reach Oregon and fulfill their calling as missionaries.
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 funds and awareness for missions to the natives before heading out West once more.
Then, the mission board declares they will no longer send unmarried men and women into the field.
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. However, as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the longings of their hearts.
Continually on a deadline to reach their next checkpoint, and several times missing their rendezvous, there is constant stress and lurking danger.
I became so engrossed in the characters lives; this fascinating and gripping tale kept me turning pages in anticipation. Eli’s strong, but gentle ways combined with Priscilla’s patience and determination made for a believable and enjoyable story about the first white woman to cross the western plains.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale which was even better than her debut novel, The Preacher's Bride. Jody Hedlund is a talented story weaver who cannot create her third book fast enough for me. I highly recommend you read The Doctor’s Lady!
To learn more about Jody Hedlund or her books, please visit her blog.
3 comments:
This is such a lovely review, Sylvia! Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to write it! I appreciate it SO much! :-)
this sounds like a great book. I will add it to a growing list of books that intrigue me.
I love historical fiction,and this sounds like a great story. Jody, I stopped over at your blog and loved what you said about encouragement. For a while there, it seemed like at every workshop or conference, all they talked about was how HARD it was going to be. I decided to tune it out and just do it anyway...Why discourage when we can encourage?
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