5 Reasons to Read Jody Hedlund's The Doctor's Lady

The Doctor's Lady arrived in my mailbox and my heartbeat quickened as I skipped back inside. (Yes, I turn into a seven-year-old girl when extremely excited! And, for the record, I received a review copy from Bethany House Publishers.)

I couldn't wait to open this book! I knew from watching the trailer--embedded later in the post--it would be delightful. First of all, I love books set in the American west. Secondly, I adore marriage of convenience plots, and thirdly, I could NOT put down Jody's first book, The Preacher's Bride. Bonus points for such a gorgeous cover.

So I had to wait until I had a somewhat open schedule to begin reading The Doctor's Lady. I'm the type of reader who will ignore a house fire and zombie attacks if I'm into a book. When I found that pocket of time, I dove in and hoped my expectations weren't too high.

They weren't. I was BLOWN AWAY by this book!




Here are 5 reasons to read Jody Hedlund's The Doctor's Lady.

1. Excellent Writing

Jody's passion for writing pulses on each page of this book. It's a smooth, fast-paced, incredibly researched romance novel. Her use of language triggered my emotions. I've selected a few passages that really stood out for me.
          - He lifted his face to a sky covered with a sagging dirty blanket of clouds. (I live in Michigan where every February and March I gaze up to a sagging dirty blanket of clouds.)
          - Through blurry eyes, she glanced at the deserted chest. The spiraling pattern of brass dots stared back at her, dull from the dust of their travel. (Four words in these two lines pack a whopping punch: blurry eyes, spiraling pattern. They convey everything I need to know, that the sight of the chest is extremely painful to her. My heart tugged just typing this in!)

2. Adventure

I had no idea this was going to be such an adventure. From the opening chapters to the final page, this book doesn't let up, and I loved it. Fast-paced, high-tension, and a bird's-eye-view of traveling across America before the West had been settled--each chapter kept me riveted. Indeed, I read it in less than 24 hours. It was THAT good.

3. The Romance

Authors of inspirational romance have a special challenge when writing romance. How can we show chemistry and affection in a Christian manner that speaks to the reader without crossing a line? Jody mastered it here. Priscilla and Eli each have huge emotional obstacles to overcome before they can love each other, but their growing admiration for each others' strengths coupled with their natural chemistry sealed the deal for me. I felt Priscilla's thrill to be near Eli, understood his instinct to not get too close, and fell in love with both of them as they continued their journey.

4. History

When I finished the book, it hit me how much I learned about American history. Every page brims with historical details that really brought the book alive to me. I really grasped the difficulties of traveling across the country before it had been settled, and it made me sympathize with the characters even more.

5. Twists

No spoilers, I promise!! But I will say that there are several twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. Wait until you find out who Priscilla's and Eli's traveling companions are! Oh boy! Good stuff.
Here is the trailer:




To celebrate the debut of The Doctor's Lady, Jody Hedlund is graciously giving away a copy to one of my readers! Simply include your e-mail address in the comment section below by Friday, September 16, 2011. This contest is open only to U.S. residents with a U.S. mailing adress. I will put all entries into a hat and have my assistant (that's fancy talk for one of my kids) draw a name. Winner will be announced Monday, September 19, 2011 here on my blog!

And, whoa, there's more!! Jody is hosting an epic giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a prize package worth $300, including an antique trunk, a gorgeous ring, and assorted other prizes. For more information about the contest, here's an easy link.



Congratulations!

You've just discovered Puzzle Piece #4, in Jody Hedlund's BE A TRAILBLAZER Scavenger Hunt! If you want to learn more about the scavenger hunt, and earn 20 extra entries to her contest, visit this page on her web site: http://jodyhedlund.com/contest/earn-extra-entries/!

Have I convinced you to give The Doctor's Lady a try? Not yet? Read my 5-star review of The Doctor's Lady on Goodreads. And remember to

1. Leave your e-mail address in the comments below for a chance to win a copy!
2. Earn extra points for Jody's contest by clicking on the link http://jodyhedlund.com/contest/earn-extra-entries/
3. Tell your friends about Jody's contest! Click on the "retweet" button at the end of this post or click on the Facebook share button below this post.

Do you get giddy when you pick up a much anticipated book?

Have a terrific weekend!!

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