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misspippireads's review
4.0
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven ~ Luke 6:37 (KJV)
Time Period: Western, 1880
Location: Texas & Montana, USA
Prequels: Lassoed in Texas Trilogy & Montana Marriages Trilogy
Time Period: Western, 1880
Location: Texas & Montana, USA
Prequels: Lassoed in Texas Trilogy & Montana Marriages Trilogy
cleah's review
5.0
When Beth McCellen first meets Alex Buchanan, it is anything but love at first sight. The two of them narrowly escape a coach accident, and while helping those who were injured, realize they are both doctors. As important saving people is to Beth, she knows this means she will miss seeing her sister Mandy off with her new husband, Sidney. Mandy, meanwhile, does not take long to discover her married life is not exactly what she thought it would be. With the aid of Belle Harding (familiar, anyone?), Mandy finds the strength to seek the truth and follow her heart. And through the strength they arouse in each other, Beth and Alex come to chase away the ghosts of the past and create a bright future of helping people together.
Those of you that follow this blog will know that I am a fan of Mary Connealy. So it should not be a surprise that I totally liked this book. In fact, it may be my favorite story from Connealy yet! With the family I fell in with from Petticoat Ranch, this new series gives the reader another chance to get to know Sophie's daughters more deeply. Beth is an inspiring, strong, career minded woman. I loved reading about the patients and the sophisticated doctoring Beth and Alex could do, even in 1879. I wasn't sure my stomach was going to be strong enough in some places! A few scenes had absolutely hilarious dialog that I would be awesome to see on the big screen in a movie adaptation of this book. On a last note, I was totally into the simultaneous stories of Beth and Mandy, and couldn't wait to get updates on each. Sometimes when an author writes in this style, one story can stand out more than the other, but Connealy pulls it off with flying colors.
A great start to a new series, and I am highly anticipating Wrangler in Petticoats, coming out in the fall!
Those of you that follow this blog will know that I am a fan of Mary Connealy. So it should not be a surprise that I totally liked this book. In fact, it may be my favorite story from Connealy yet! With the family I fell in with from Petticoat Ranch, this new series gives the reader another chance to get to know Sophie's daughters more deeply. Beth is an inspiring, strong, career minded woman. I loved reading about the patients and the sophisticated doctoring Beth and Alex could do, even in 1879. I wasn't sure my stomach was going to be strong enough in some places! A few scenes had absolutely hilarious dialog that I would be awesome to see on the big screen in a movie adaptation of this book. On a last note, I was totally into the simultaneous stories of Beth and Mandy, and couldn't wait to get updates on each. Sometimes when an author writes in this style, one story can stand out more than the other, but Connealy pulls it off with flying colors.
A great start to a new series, and I am highly anticipating Wrangler in Petticoats, coming out in the fall!
caslater83's review
3.0
This book was good in some places and "okay" in others. I like Beth--she's a very determined woman who is far from "conventional." Her desire to be a doctor and minister to others is very admirable. Society in this era does not approve of women doing a man's work, so being a doctor is far from acceptable. But marryng Alex, a doctor, was probably the best decision she ever made in her life. Not only does she find love, but she still gets to pursue her passion.
Mandy strikes me as a woman who needs to be valued. She's so knowledgeable and her husband puts her down very quickly. While her heart was in the right place, her head certainly was not when she made the choice to marry that jerk.
The story line was good. But the book itself just doesn't fall into the "fantastic read" type of category.
Mandy strikes me as a woman who needs to be valued. She's so knowledgeable and her husband puts her down very quickly. While her heart was in the right place, her head certainly was not when she made the choice to marry that jerk.
The story line was good. But the book itself just doesn't fall into the "fantastic read" type of category.
elentarien's review
3.0
All in all I enjoyed this one. It was a light-hearted story (mostly). It was fast paced and action packed, and did not really give the reader a chance to be bored.
I did have a few complaints with it, however.
Given the title, I expected a story about a woman doctor. Instead, she had 'medical training', but was not much more than a nurse and not once was she allowed to practice without the aid of a real doctor - and a man - in the vicinity. Rather disappointing, given the expectations of reading of an actual doctor.
I also found the book a bit 'goofy' through much of it. In some ways the tone just didn't ring quite true. The way the women were so ready to bash and crash and shoot better than any man sort of had me raising an eyebrow at the whole thing. It wasn't *bad*, but it did sort of lend a silly feel to things.
The hero of the story, Alec Buchanan, sort of struck me as a wimp. I mean, he was rather traumatized, but he didn't seem to have any real. . .pride or strength. He seemed a bit too dependant on Beth and without her in the story, he would have just slid into a useless puddle. None of the men seemed particularly strong, when it comes down to it. The father coming closest, but he was still out-gunned by the women who didn't seem to particularly need any help from anyone to look after themselves.
I don't know, it was an interesting read, and I would not mind getting my hands on the second book to find out what happened with the sister who moved away. . .but. . .well, yeah, just seemed kind of a goofy story to me. Not one to be taken seriously.
Nice, light read.
I did have a few complaints with it, however.
Given the title, I expected a story about a woman doctor. Instead, she had 'medical training', but was not much more than a nurse and not once was she allowed to practice without the aid of a real doctor - and a man - in the vicinity. Rather disappointing, given the expectations of reading of an actual doctor.
I also found the book a bit 'goofy' through much of it. In some ways the tone just didn't ring quite true. The way the women were so ready to bash and crash and shoot better than any man sort of had me raising an eyebrow at the whole thing. It wasn't *bad*, but it did sort of lend a silly feel to things.
The hero of the story, Alec Buchanan, sort of struck me as a wimp. I mean, he was rather traumatized, but he didn't seem to have any real. . .pride or strength. He seemed a bit too dependant on Beth and without her in the story, he would have just slid into a useless puddle. None of the men seemed particularly strong, when it comes down to it. The father coming closest, but he was still out-gunned by the women who didn't seem to particularly need any help from anyone to look after themselves.
I don't know, it was an interesting read, and I would not mind getting my hands on the second book to find out what happened with the sister who moved away. . .but. . .well, yeah, just seemed kind of a goofy story to me. Not one to be taken seriously.
Nice, light read.
meezcarrie's review
5.0
I LOVED this book! I loved spending more time with Clay & Sophie and their family - a few years down the road. I loved intersecting with Silas & Belle from the other trilogy. The humor, the redemption, the strength, the romance - loved it all!
rachel_loves_2_read's review
4.0
This was an enjoyable book. Were some parts unrealistic? A bit. Was there humor that had me laughing out loud? Yes, lots. The romance was sweet and I really am glad I read this book
plettr's review
4.0
I really loved that Mary Connealy choose to write a story about Clay & Sophia's daughters. It is nice to see them all grown up.
The part that really got to me was Mandy's part in the story. I am really looking forward to her story (3rd book). I think Mary Connealy did a good job of introducing Mandy, Beth & Sally as adults.
In this book Mandy marries a no-account loser. You find out towards the end that the man Mandy married has lied to her about everything including where he comes from, what he does, and the fact that he has another wife!!! Imagine finding out your husband has another wife, and she died just hours before your wedding (but without your husband knowing it).
I liked both Beth & Alex. They were good together and seemed to understand each other. All though I didn't follow all of the escape scenes (how did the bad guy find them???), I really enjoyed the story.
The part that really got to me was Mandy's part in the story. I am really looking forward to her story (3rd book). I think Mary Connealy did a good job of introducing Mandy, Beth & Sally as adults.
In this book Mandy marries a no-account loser. You find out towards the end that the man Mandy married has lied to her about everything including where he comes from, what he does, and the fact that he has another wife!!! Imagine finding out your husband has another wife, and she died just hours before your wedding (but without your husband knowing it).
I liked both Beth & Alex. They were good together and seemed to understand each other. All though I didn't follow all of the escape scenes (how did the bad guy find them???), I really enjoyed the story.
kairosdreaming's review
4.0
This book is the first in a series called Sophie's daughters. Its based off of characters in a previous series known as Lassoed in Texas but its not really necessary to read that series first. I had actually gone backwards in this particular series but I was very relieved to find out that this first book is much better than the other two in the series.
Beth has been East receiving medical training and now is on her way home to become a doctor of sorts to her town. With her on the stagecoach is a man named Alex who appears to be drunk until the stage enters danger and he steps in to help. With the wreckage of another stagecoach Beth learns that Alex is a doctor, and a very good one at that, but he is haunted by his past and unable to do any medical procedures without Beth there to help him. Thinking it practical, they decide to marry and run a doctor's office together. But trouble doesn't leave them for long, with Alex a deserter from the army someone begins to hunt the both of them.
While I believe that all of Connealy's characters fall in love entirely too fast, the characters in this book are pretty good. I like how no-nonsense Beth is and Alex is a surprisingly sensitive character where most of her male characters are strong and gruff. Even her parents play a larger role in this book and are very strong supportive characters. I think about the worst character was the Lieutenant. I couldn't understand his rapid thought changes or the motivations behind them. He was just plain confusing.
The plot goes well enough. It adds a certain element of uniqueness in her writing for it to be the male character being tracked down for once. And the fact that she tried to throw in a woman doctor and show the hardships they faced in that era was interesting as well. The writing was as clear and easy to read as ever and even though they're simple, Connealy has a way with romances that keeps them entertaining. This is a Christian Fiction novel like many of her others but there's barely any mention of religion in this one. Which made it nice and non-distracting.
Definitely the best one out of the series although not the best of her work. I think anyone who liked any of her other books would probably enjoy this one.
Doctor In Petticoats
Copyright 2010
318 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
Beth has been East receiving medical training and now is on her way home to become a doctor of sorts to her town. With her on the stagecoach is a man named Alex who appears to be drunk until the stage enters danger and he steps in to help. With the wreckage of another stagecoach Beth learns that Alex is a doctor, and a very good one at that, but he is haunted by his past and unable to do any medical procedures without Beth there to help him. Thinking it practical, they decide to marry and run a doctor's office together. But trouble doesn't leave them for long, with Alex a deserter from the army someone begins to hunt the both of them.
While I believe that all of Connealy's characters fall in love entirely too fast, the characters in this book are pretty good. I like how no-nonsense Beth is and Alex is a surprisingly sensitive character where most of her male characters are strong and gruff. Even her parents play a larger role in this book and are very strong supportive characters. I think about the worst character was the Lieutenant. I couldn't understand his rapid thought changes or the motivations behind them. He was just plain confusing.
The plot goes well enough. It adds a certain element of uniqueness in her writing for it to be the male character being tracked down for once. And the fact that she tried to throw in a woman doctor and show the hardships they faced in that era was interesting as well. The writing was as clear and easy to read as ever and even though they're simple, Connealy has a way with romances that keeps them entertaining. This is a Christian Fiction novel like many of her others but there's barely any mention of religion in this one. Which made it nice and non-distracting.
Definitely the best one out of the series although not the best of her work. I think anyone who liked any of her other books would probably enjoy this one.
Doctor In Petticoats
Copyright 2010
318 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011