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Randolph Family #5
Prairie Courtship
No one could love a female doctor—Emma Allen knows that well. But her spinsterhood bothers her less than the lack of opportunity to use her medical training. In Missouri, no one trusts a female doctor, either. Then the opportunity arises to join a wagon train headed to the Oregon Trail. A new frontier offers a new hope for the life she wants to lead. But first she must deal with the hazards of the journey—including infuriating wagon master Zachary Thatcher. Zach riles Emma's temper until she's convinced no man could be more wrong for her. Yet when the treacherous trail challenges them, it takes his experience and her skill working together to bring them safely home.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 17, 2010
23 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Clark
55 books85 followersMarried to her own personal hero for over fifty-eight years, mother of three, grandmother of four, and great-grandmother to a beautiful baby girl, Dorothy calls on her life’s experiences—including designing and helping her husband build their home, complete with beams they hewed by hand and a real, old-fashioned walk-in kitchen fireplace she occasionally cooks in, to add color and depth to her stories. But, while she still knows how to clean used bricks, mix mortar and swing a mean hammer, she now only designs homes for the characters in her books. An antique lover, she fills those homes (and her own) with furnishings appropriate to the time.
When she is not busy writing, Dorothy enjoys visiting with family—who live much too far away—and traveling with her husband throughout the United States doing research for future books. She values her American heritage and believes in God, love, family and happy endings, which explains why she feels so at home writing Christian historical romance.
When she is not busy writing, Dorothy enjoys visiting with family—who live much too far away—and traveling with her husband throughout the United States doing research for future books. She values her American heritage and believes in God, love, family and happy endings, which explains why she feels so at home writing Christian historical romance.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 19, 2022
Преди години, когато малките джобни книжки на " HARLEQUIN" се превеждаха у нас, много обичах да се губя сред различните им поредици. И изпитвах голямо желание да видя техните оригинали. Е, сега " HARLEQUIN" у нас няма. Голяма мъдрост от страна на издателствата!!!Но пък аз имам възможност да съм с оригиналите на книгите. И с всичките им поредици, за които дори не подозирах, че съществуват. Особено любимите ми исторически томчета.
Този път исках да прекарам времето си с разказ за Дивия Запад. Припомняйки си книги като " Малка къща в прерията " или " Ласи ", се върнах времената, когато емигранти и заселници са търсели точното място за своя нов живот. " Prairie Courtship " на Dorothy Clarck ме накара да погледна на много неща от различен ъгъл. На ухажването в онези времена ,например. На начина, по който вървят дните в един керван, пресичащ територията на американския континент. На отношенията между членовете на семействата в това рисковано, тежко и продължително пътуване.
Природните описания са изумителни! Но едва ли на някой от пътниците му е било да се любува на ширналата се прерия с всички уникални цветя и треви, с гордите птици, летящи над долините и с ромона на бистрите реки. Особено когато, вдигайки глава към околните скали, са виждали там силуетите на индианските войни, наблюдавайки всяка тяхна крачка през племенните им земи.
И за любовта. Как в семейството жената се е превръщала в безгласна буква. В послушна готвачка, перачка, чистачка и машина за раждане на деца. А нейния талант, умения и мечти са умирали, заглушени под авторитаризма на мъжа. Понякога дори нейното здраве и потребности са били пренебрегвани за сметка на животните в кервана. Смъртността сред жените и сред децата е била ужасяващо огромна. След като съпругата умре, мъжа се стреми да си намери друг пазител на дома. Защото любовта си е любов , но мъжа си има потребностите.
Разбира се не всички мъже са били от един дол дренки. Имало е бащи, които са поощрявали амбициите и желанията на дъщерите си в области, които са били окупирани от мъжете от време оно. Като медицината. Образът на Ема Алън в Prairie Courtship е точно такъв - тя е обучавана от осиновителя си в тънкостите на лечението, за да да й остави собствените си знания и умения. Но когато се стига до практикуването им, Ема среща пренебрежение, отхвърляне и насмешка твърди като Скалистите планини по пътя на кервана. И то дори от хора, които са склонни да останат инвалиди или да загубят детето си, ако не позволят на Доктор Ема Алън да ги лекува.
Имало е и мъже, които са осъзнавали амбициите и таланта на любимите си или на съпругите си. Гордеели са се с тях и са ги подкрепяли. Но са били прашинки в морето от патриархална закостенялост.Закостенелите разбирания са били атакувани векове наред, докато се проумее, че хората са еднакви, равно способни и с еднакви права на щастие. Такива са били времената. Но добре е , че са се променили .И сега само четем за тях. И цъкаме с език.
Макар че, подозирам как и днес на някои места, в някои семейства, продължават да не мърдат и на сантиметър. И жените пак са там някъде, в миналото.
Въпреки цялото женско негодувание, което ме глождеше през всички страници, аз се насладих на Prairie Courtship. Заради силата на образите, заради променящата се атмосфера на пътуването, заради природата и географията на местата, през които преминаваше кервана емигранти.В слушалките ми звучеше Wild Love на Surilla , навън дъжда освежаваше майския ден, а аз бях много щаслива да прекарам няколко часа с историческата измислица от сериите на HARLEQUIN.
Този път исках да прекарам времето си с разказ за Дивия Запад. Припомняйки си книги като " Малка къща в прерията " или " Ласи ", се върнах времената, когато емигранти и заселници са търсели точното място за своя нов живот. " Prairie Courtship " на Dorothy Clarck ме накара да погледна на много неща от различен ъгъл. На ухажването в онези времена ,например. На начина, по който вървят дните в един керван, пресичащ територията на американския континент. На отношенията между членовете на семействата в това рисковано, тежко и продължително пътуване.
Природните описания са изумителни! Но едва ли на някой от пътниците му е било да се любува на ширналата се прерия с всички уникални цветя и треви, с гордите птици, летящи над долините и с ромона на бистрите реки. Особено когато, вдигайки глава към околните скали, са виждали там силуетите на индианските войни, наблюдавайки всяка тяхна крачка през племенните им земи.
И за любовта. Как в семейството жената се е превръщала в безгласна буква. В послушна готвачка, перачка, чистачка и машина за раждане на деца. А нейния талант, умения и мечти са умирали, заглушени под авторитаризма на мъжа. Понякога дори нейното здраве и потребности са били пренебрегвани за сметка на животните в кервана. Смъртността сред жените и сред децата е била ужасяващо огромна. След като съпругата умре, мъжа се стреми да си намери друг пазител на дома. Защото любовта си е любов , но мъжа си има потребностите.
Разбира се не всички мъже са били от един дол дренки. Имало е бащи, които са поощрявали амбициите и желанията на дъщерите си в области, които са били окупирани от мъжете от време оно. Като медицината. Образът на Ема Алън в Prairie Courtship е точно такъв - тя е обучавана от осиновителя си в тънкостите на лечението, за да да й остави собствените си знания и умения. Но когато се стига до практикуването им, Ема среща пренебрежение, отхвърляне и насмешка твърди като Скалистите планини по пътя на кервана. И то дори от хора, които са склонни да останат инвалиди или да загубят детето си, ако не позволят на Доктор Ема Алън да ги лекува.
Имало е и мъже, които са осъзнавали амбициите и таланта на любимите си или на съпругите си. Гордеели са се с тях и са ги подкрепяли. Но са били прашинки в морето от патриархална закостенялост.Закостенелите разбирания са били атакувани векове наред, докато се проумее, че хората са еднакви, равно способни и с еднакви права на щастие. Такива са били времената. Но добре е , че са се променили .И сега само четем за тях. И цъкаме с език.
Макар че, подозирам как и днес на някои места, в някои семейства, продължават да не мърдат и на сантиметър. И жените пак са там някъде, в миналото.
Въпреки цялото женско негодувание, което ме глождеше през всички страници, аз се насладих на Prairie Courtship. Заради силата на образите, заради променящата се атмосфера на пътуването, заради природата и географията на местата, през които преминаваше кервана емигранти.В слушалките ми звучеше Wild Love на Surilla , навън дъжда освежаваше майския ден, а аз бях много щаслива да прекарам няколко часа с историческата измислица от сериите на HARLEQUIN.
Read
February 12, 2017DNF @ 43%
Despite the awesome premise, this just didn't work for me. The pacing was too erratic, the romance was non-existent, and the story just wasn't holding my attention. The descriptions of journey West were engaging, but I didn't like the characters enough to keep reading.
Despite the awesome premise, this just didn't work for me. The pacing was too erratic, the romance was non-existent, and the story just wasn't holding my attention. The descriptions of journey West were engaging, but I didn't like the characters enough to keep reading.
January 25, 2011
A wonderfully written book! I really enjoyed reading about Dr. Emma and her journal from Missouri to Oregon country. How the people on the Oregon Train accepted her as a Doctor and she healed many people. It was great how the author managed to weave Dr. Emma and Mr. Thatcher together throughout the story, you just knew they would agree someday! And a great ending for a great book! Thumbs up Dorothy Clark!
October 2, 2010
Wagon train stories always appeal to me. This one is a gem!
June 9, 2011
I always get sucked in by free kindle books.
August 26, 2016
I'm glad that I didn't have to brave the Oregon Trail, but I'm fascinated with stories written about it.
August 7, 2022
Emma went to school to be a doctor, trained under her adopted father, and has the dream of being a physician... in a males-only physician world. She's frustrated and stubborn and determined to make it. And apparently these character traits offend Karen-reviewers, who hate her for fighting for her dream instead of cupcaking in a puddle of tears.
Storyline: Emma's brother William prepares to go West in a wagon train to be a teacher at a mission. Her sister is in a carriage accident and loses her husband and child, sustaining painful injuries of her own. Then William's wife has complications in her pregnancy, and they can't go West... so sister Annie decides she's going to take the teaching position, far from home (where painful memories are suffocating her). But she can't travel injured alone, so Emma is to go along, see her to the mission, and take a ship back home.
On the way, Emma has to 1) prove her skills as a physician, 2) tend to her sister/try to pull her only family out of the mourning funk, 3) stand up for the rights of her patients with the domineering wagonmaster (who is only domineering because they're battling time, weather, sickness, dwindling provisions and nature... not to mention Indian attacks. Every hour counts, in order to keep everyone alive).
Of course Emma and wagonmaster Zachary fall in love, but there is miscarriage, illness, epidemic, battling the elements, and other hardships - ALL REALISTIC TO THE TALE - to be had in the journey.
If you don't like that kind of a story? WHY pick it up? Why give it lousy reviews, knowing how it was for them, how they had to be, and what they're fighting so hard to achieve? Nevermind the negative reviews, the author did a fantastic job giving a realistic telling of how arduous the journey West was, in those days. And it's a lovely tale.
The *ONLY* reasons I withheld stars was because 1) Clark craps on the 'Inspirational' part of the story. The characters cry out to God when there's trouble, but unbelievers do as much. There's no real faith, and while a few verses from 'childhood' surface, neither of them have a living, breathing faith.
The other reason I withheld a star is because 2) Clark craps on the 'Romance' part of the story. Most of the time, the two of them are fighting, at loggerheads about what the train needs, and irritating each other. The romance doesn't really happen until the last two pages, and it's so brief as to NOT be credible as a 'romance'... but "oh, hey, it was an adventure tale. Annnnnnd... they got together. The end." I really wish 'Love, Inspired' romances actually *CONTAINED* romance.
But as an adventure story goes? It was definitely enjoyable.
Storyline: Emma's brother William prepares to go West in a wagon train to be a teacher at a mission. Her sister is in a carriage accident and loses her husband and child, sustaining painful injuries of her own. Then William's wife has complications in her pregnancy, and they can't go West... so sister Annie decides she's going to take the teaching position, far from home (where painful memories are suffocating her). But she can't travel injured alone, so Emma is to go along, see her to the mission, and take a ship back home.
On the way, Emma has to 1) prove her skills as a physician, 2) tend to her sister/try to pull her only family out of the mourning funk, 3) stand up for the rights of her patients with the domineering wagonmaster (who is only domineering because they're battling time, weather, sickness, dwindling provisions and nature... not to mention Indian attacks. Every hour counts, in order to keep everyone alive).
Of course Emma and wagonmaster Zachary fall in love, but there is miscarriage, illness, epidemic, battling the elements, and other hardships - ALL REALISTIC TO THE TALE - to be had in the journey.
If you don't like that kind of a story? WHY pick it up? Why give it lousy reviews, knowing how it was for them, how they had to be, and what they're fighting so hard to achieve? Nevermind the negative reviews, the author did a fantastic job giving a realistic telling of how arduous the journey West was, in those days. And it's a lovely tale.
The *ONLY* reasons I withheld stars was because 1) Clark craps on the 'Inspirational' part of the story. The characters cry out to God when there's trouble, but unbelievers do as much. There's no real faith, and while a few verses from 'childhood' surface, neither of them have a living, breathing faith.
The other reason I withheld a star is because 2) Clark craps on the 'Romance' part of the story. Most of the time, the two of them are fighting, at loggerheads about what the train needs, and irritating each other. The romance doesn't really happen until the last two pages, and it's so brief as to NOT be credible as a 'romance'... but "oh, hey, it was an adventure tale. Annnnnnd... they got together. The end." I really wish 'Love, Inspired' romances actually *CONTAINED* romance.
But as an adventure story goes? It was definitely enjoyable.
July 28, 2019
I really loved this book. The struggle they had, the strength of heart and body, and the bonds that are made from strong goals. People need to check in on their backgrounds and remember that this life has never been easy but these people still found joy in the end. There was no giving up, only moving forward.
September 16, 2023
Great Story
It’s absolutely delightful reading, and the characters are imaginative to the story line. So, much to gain from the story, and that our paths are chosen by God but it’s not always clear. Sometimes it’s over and above what we imagine, and truly all things are working for us to get there.
It’s absolutely delightful reading, and the characters are imaginative to the story line. So, much to gain from the story, and that our paths are chosen by God but it’s not always clear. Sometimes it’s over and above what we imagine, and truly all things are working for us to get there.
June 4, 2018
I enjoyed this story.
I gave it 4 stars. It held my interest and was well thought out. It allowed my imagination to conjure up pictures of the journey, and the characters seemed believable. I would gladly recommend this to my friends.
I gave it 4 stars. It held my interest and was well thought out. It allowed my imagination to conjure up pictures of the journey, and the characters seemed believable. I would gladly recommend this to my friends.
December 31, 2018
Beautiful story. Wonderful book to end my 2018.
April 29, 2020
Lovely romance. Hard won romance.
March 16, 2022
good story . I enjoyed reading it.
October 27, 2010
I bought this book with my hard-earned and would do it again (but I don't need two copies).
PRAIRIE COURTSHIP plays out on the Oregon trail. Emma, a privately trained physician, is unwillingly bound for Oregon Country in lieu of her brother and his wife, who were kept from making the trip due to the wife’s troubled pregnancy. With Emma travels her adopted sister Anne, who’s sunk in grief over the loss of her husband and child in an accident.
Like the other pioneering women physicians, Emma doesn’t have an easy time despite her skills and qualifications. The wagon train’s women accept her, for when they or their youngsters get in a pickle, they have little choice. The men are another story – particularly the wagon master, Zach Thatcher (say that three times, fast!) He’s particularly snotty at first, but the combination of Emma’s insistence on the welfare of the travelers and her beauty and grace gradually temper his rough treatment. The trail over prairie and mountain, fording rivers and avoiding hostile tribes, is smoother than the trail to True Love for this pair.
I read Ms. Clark’s HOSEA’S BRIDE some time back and became an instant fan. Her writing style is fluid, flowing and masterful. Though her wagon train pioneers must go through some dicey times on the trail, Ms. Clark skirts over the rougher parts and shows only the aftermath. Anne, the heroine’s sister, drifts through the story without affecting anyone, hiding in her wagon and drowning in grief. I’d like to have seen Anne’s character interact at least a bit with others, but of course it was not her story. Zach’s realization that he’s in love with the outspoken Dr. Emma also comes rather abruptly, seeming a bit rushed.
I rarely buy prairie romances (not my time period of choice) but since Ms. Clark is an auto-buy for me, and was a very enjoyable read.
PRAIRIE COURTSHIP plays out on the Oregon trail. Emma, a privately trained physician, is unwillingly bound for Oregon Country in lieu of her brother and his wife, who were kept from making the trip due to the wife’s troubled pregnancy. With Emma travels her adopted sister Anne, who’s sunk in grief over the loss of her husband and child in an accident.
Like the other pioneering women physicians, Emma doesn’t have an easy time despite her skills and qualifications. The wagon train’s women accept her, for when they or their youngsters get in a pickle, they have little choice. The men are another story – particularly the wagon master, Zach Thatcher (say that three times, fast!) He’s particularly snotty at first, but the combination of Emma’s insistence on the welfare of the travelers and her beauty and grace gradually temper his rough treatment. The trail over prairie and mountain, fording rivers and avoiding hostile tribes, is smoother than the trail to True Love for this pair.
I read Ms. Clark’s HOSEA’S BRIDE some time back and became an instant fan. Her writing style is fluid, flowing and masterful. Though her wagon train pioneers must go through some dicey times on the trail, Ms. Clark skirts over the rougher parts and shows only the aftermath. Anne, the heroine’s sister, drifts through the story without affecting anyone, hiding in her wagon and drowning in grief. I’d like to have seen Anne’s character interact at least a bit with others, but of course it was not her story. Zach’s realization that he’s in love with the outspoken Dr. Emma also comes rather abruptly, seeming a bit rushed.
I rarely buy prairie romances (not my time period of choice) but since Ms. Clark is an auto-buy for me, and was a very enjoyable read.
February 15, 2016
I really did not care for the characters in this book. I only got about 50 pages into the story before I just had to stop. The hero seems to be a controlling jerk, and the heroine is stubborn/uppity but willing to change, but the hero won't even try to tolerate her. Furthermore, the hero is portrayed as the one that is "godly" and has a "personal relationship with God", while the heroine doubts whether or not God is really listening. This did not bode well with me because his actions don't match up well with his closeness to God.
Maybe it got better as the story went on, maybe he started to change, etc. However, I could not stand it.
Maybe it got better as the story went on, maybe he started to change, etc. However, I could not stand it.
December 29, 2011
I loved the sense of community in the book.
Romance though wasn't the best because I felt like the characters didn't spend a lot of time together and when they did, it was usually the same thing. The book had a lot of potential to be better and I kept waiting, but it left a lot to be desired.
One of the things, for example, is that the author completely left some characters without an ending or closure...
The writing was very nice though and fluid. It kept the reader engaged and taught some good lessons like faith and perseverance.
Romance though wasn't the best because I felt like the characters didn't spend a lot of time together and when they did, it was usually the same thing. The book had a lot of potential to be better and I kept waiting, but it left a lot to be desired.
One of the things, for example, is that the author completely left some characters without an ending or closure...
The writing was very nice though and fluid. It kept the reader engaged and taught some good lessons like faith and perseverance.
January 25, 2012
I didn't finish this book. I couldn't. I was really looking forward to it, but right away deaths of people I couldn't bear to read about losing were immenint. There is enough death in the world, I don't really want to read about when I'm out to read fiction. I wish there was a warning on books somewhere so I could just avoid the titles altogether.
March 28, 2013
I love to read pioneer stories. This one was interesting because th woman was a doctor. I liked the aspects of traveling and her attempts to gain acceptance as a doctor. I didn't fully buy into the love relationship and felt many of the characters needed more development.
June 22, 2011
DNF. I can't stand a haughty heroine.
January 11, 2011
Christian fiction/romance. This was a great book about a girl heading west to fulfill someone else's dream... This book would lend itself well to a discussion group. I really enjoyed it.
July 12, 2012
AWESOME wagon train romance! I teared up several times and the ending is lovely :) Highly recommend.
March 3, 2014
pretty good read, I love historical fictions!
July 9, 2014
A simple and enjoyable book. very disappointed with the slap- bam ending.
February 7, 2015
Doctor Emma and her foster sister Annie start out on the long Oregon Trail. Zachary Thatcher leads the group and keeps them safe as they travel.
February 9, 2013
Loved! I love this time period and especially the Oregon Trail but this book needed more romance.
April 25, 2017
I've always wondered what it was like on the wagon trains that came west so long ago. Dorothy Clark did a great job portraying such a trip. Our heroine, a woman doctor, earns her place in history. The hero is a fine man looking out for those under his care. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
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