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The Doctor’s Wife |
| By Cheryl St. John
(Harlequin Historical, October 1999) Reviewed by Kathee S. Card |
 llie Parrish will do almost anything to keep her two brothers from harm. Placed by the county in the custody of a mean-spirited farmer, Ellie returns from her monthly visit to them only to fall and break her arm, effectively ending her career as a waitress at the local hotel. Caleb Chaney, the widowed doctor who sets her arm, takes pity on her plight and hires her to take care of his infant son. Thinking she’s died and gone to heaven, Ellie excels at new job; so much so that she inadvertently creates a real home for father and son.
A deep sadness surrounds Ellie, shining from her young eyes like twin beacons of pain that haunt Caleb and make him curious as to the nature of her suffering. No matter how hard he probes, she retains her secrets. An in love can be determined, but Caleb has no idea of the depth of despair Ellie harbors in her tortured soul. Cheryl St. John created a marvelous creature and named her Ellie; imbuing her with attributes of strength and courage that ensnare the reader’s heart. The sexual tension between Ellie and Caleb is taut as a bowstring and quivers for release, but Ellie’s secrets compel her to move with extreme caution because she fears exposure almost as much as she fears the loss of Caleb and her brothers. The Doctor’s Wife reads like a mystery. The action seems relentless, making it imperative we turn the pages faster and faster. Ms. St. John gifts her fans with a marvelous new book that will leave them sighing and eager for more.
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