Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Review: The Doctor's Wife by Cheryl St. John

How could she say yes?
People like Ellie Parrish did not get proposals of marriage from someone like Dr. Caleb Chaney. Even if his offer was the answer to her prayers, a man as decent and kind as Caleb didn't deserve a woman whose past was a lie.

Caleb Chaney could see that Ellie Parrish was a woman with a troubled soul. But he could also see a woman with a heart big enough to love his infant son as though she were his mother, and big enough to teach Caleb himself how to love again.
The Doctor's Wife by Cheryl St. John is a Harlequin Historical romance I received as a gift from Leslie, and one I've had on my "to be read" pile for a few months. This is another well-written, heart warming historical set in the West by St. John.

In this story, St. John focuses her story on rank poverty in the West and how society viewed and treated those who were less fortunate. The heroine is the daughter of a prostitute. Ellie raises her two younger brothers in squalor from the time they're born until their mother dies and the boys are taken into foster care as free farm laborers. They've all been victims of violence throughout their young lives and Ellie herself was raped at age fourteen (the rape is alluded to, briefly sketched in the book, although not detailed). She changes her name and leaves town, finding a job as a waitress in a decent hotel and is saving money so she can bring her brothers to live with her.

Ellie meets Caleb, a doctor, when she breaks her arm. Caleb is a widower and a single father. After a series of events, Ellie agrees to take care of his infant son while he takes care of his practice. Eventually, Caleb recognizes that Ellie would make a good wife and wonderful mother to his son and proposes marriage.

The story deals with Ellie's self-doubts as she and Caleb embark on a relationship. She confronts different issues including trauma from the rape, the physical abuse that she and her brothers received throughout childhood and her personal shame. Ellie is a strong protagonist with a tough past and little self-esteem -- plus other concerns include the lies and omissions she uses to obfuscate her past. Caleb on the other hand is a wonderful man and portrayed as straight forward, compassionate and understanding, an almost perfect man at times. St. John incorporates all of the above while slowly, but surely, developing Ellie and Caleb's romance to make it believable. Secondary characters, particularly Ellie's brothers, give depth to this story and have much to contribute.

The Doctor's Wife was an emotional read for me. Although lukewarm when it comes to the romance, it's quite heart warming and family-oriented with excellent characterization, plot development, and a well-deserved happily ever after.

Genre: Historical Romance/Americana
Series: None
Release Date: Harlequin Historical/September 1, 1999
Source: Used copy received from Leslie
Grade: B

Visit Cheryl St. John here.

KMont's 2010 Year of the Historical Challenge - October Review

ETA: Available as part of Blogger's Bundle, Volume III: Super Librarian Selects The Harvey Girls: The Doctor's Wife, The Lawman's Bride, The Preacher's Daughter. 

12 comments:

  1. I've heard about this one before (maybe Wendy mentioned it?) and I've wanted to read it. Hopefully it'll be re-issued as an ebook some day.

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  2. So glad you liked it Hils. :) I still have mine on the tbr pile. Must dig it out. :)

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  3. It does sound like a lovely book - great review Hils. I have to ask, does she get her brother back? Because 'into foster care as free farm laborers' doesn't sound good...

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  4. This sounds good! And I think I've seen it at my local ubs but always put it down.

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  5. I hope so too, Phyl. I think you'll like the dynamics in this story. I was lucky that Leslie had two copies and sent me one. :)

    Leslie, I really did like it. Thank you! I'm looking forward to your review of this book. :)

    Orannia, thanks and yes she does. Her brothers are very much a part of the story.

    Ames, it's a good story. Different. You know? I don't think the blurb and cover do the book justice. Going by what I've read by Chery St. John, there's always more to her stories and that blurb is rather simplified.

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  6. Not only have I mentioned it, I suggested it as part of an ebook bundle for Harlequin. There are three connected books in this series (The Doctor's Wife is the first) and you can find all of them in The Harvey Girls bundle over at eHarlequin (and I'm assuming other ebook retailers....)

    http://tinyurl.com/24mxtks

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  7. Hah! Wendy, thank you! I saw that it was related to The Harvey Girls, but it didn't occur to me to look for the bundle! Now Phyl and others can get it. :)

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  8. I had forgotten about the blogger bundle! I didn't buy that particular one because I already own The Preacher's Daughter. I was hoping I could buy the other two separately, but so far it doesn't look as if I can. Well, I may just have to cave.... we'll see. I've been hitting up the Kindle store a little too heavily :-)

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  9. Great and honest review, Hils :) It sounds like an interesting book, I like the premise a lot. Hmmm, will keep it in mind :)

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  10. Thanks for the great review, Hilcia! That books holds a special place in my heart.

    Send me your address at SaintJohn@aol.com and I'll send you a preview copy of my next release.

    Smooches,
    Cher :-)

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  11. Wendy-thanks for that! I'm going to buy it. :P

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  12. LOL, Phyl... at least now you know where to find it. It's a great alternative.

    Nath, thanks. It really is a different premise. I enjoyed it. :)

    Cheryl, I can see why this book is special to you. It was an emotional read for me. Thank you so much for book offer, I'll send you an email. :D

    Ames, yay! I hope you enjoy this one and the other books too. :)

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