A City Not Forsaken

Cheney Duvall, M.D. #3

by Lynn Morris, Gilbert Morris

Upon her return to New York from the Ozark Mountains where she had tried to help the mountain folks, Cheney Duvall is ready for lighter duty. She ll go into private practice with Devlin Buchanan, the handsome doctor who had proposed to her, and work with the city s wealthy and elite. But an outbreak of cholera is imminent. The steamship Virginia is on its way back from London where a cholera outbreak has been reported, and it s just a matter of time before the deadly disease begins spreading in New York. Her past work with the underclasses has left a deep mark on Cheney s soul. Can she be content in a world of high society even as the city s poor are facing the horrors of a deadly pestilence?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Historical, Romance, Adult Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Lynn Morris (born 1954) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on some of her books.

Series:
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Gilbert Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Gilbert Morris)
* The Creole (with Gilbert Morris)
* Omega (with Gilbert Morris and Alan Morris)

Reviews

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just has me all in a lather over it. I never can decide to like it for keeps... and there's just some puzzling elements that leave me hanging.

How can Cheney act like she doesn't care much about the cholera victims -- when she herself is a doctor?!

Why can Cheney never stick around somewhere very long?! Is this just a human flaw in her personality, or what?

These are just a couple of the bigger questions I still have... there are others, but I digress.

The redeeming quality that the book has for me, is that it is Christian fiction. There is enough quality, spiritual content that it makes me feel good about reading it.

There's several scenes that even include Fanny Crosby, hymn writer extraordinaire -- and some of that amazing lady's wisdom! Truly, I looooooved all the historical references in this volume. Turns out, there is a lot of history in there!

So, for a few reasons, I want to say I love the book. This one has a jaw-clenching climax, I must say... and another memorable and hilarious riot of a scene close to the end that I won't soon forget. But then I still have unanswered questions about Cheney's personality and her reasons for spontaneously always leaving just as soon as she seems to settle in. Perhaps it's just in her nature, but the story doesn't really seem to reflect that too well, so I'm just not sure yet.

I'm putting this series on hold for a while, but will probably (just out of curiosity) end up reading more at a later time...

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gol, I love this book ... and yet, it's also a hard read a) during a pandemic #irony, and b) in the days leading up to a surgery, lol. But, really insightful on the pandemic front, and encouraging on the surgery front. We've come a long way in medical discoveries, and this read clarifies that all too well.

I love watching Cheney & Shiloh's relationship grow in this read, as well. So good. <3 #shilohfangirl

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of a horrendous cholera epidemic in New York City in the mid 1800's which was not well written. There were too many extraneous details, the plot switched back and forth far too much, which made me lose interest. The ending left me wondering what happened to Dr. Cheney, Shiloh and the doctor she thought she loved. I did learn about cholera, the bravery of Cheney as a female doctor, Fanny Crosby's hymn writing (she wrote over 5000 hymns) and the spirituality was very appealing.

[joy *the clean-reader extraordinaire* · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little bit pat, a few preachy passages, but overall a great backdrop and tight storyline

definitely clean and enjoyably safe

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this installment much more than the previous one. I like that the location changes for each book, as it gives us a new setting and supporting characters and keeps things interesting and moving, but I also don’t like that these authors are so good that you come to care about the secondary characters and the new location, and then you miss them when the book ends and Cheney and Shiloh move on.

I struggled a bit at the beginning with Cheney’s character being so different than she was in the previous books – all of a sudden she only cares about fashion and frivolity and wanting to be a doctor to wealthy, clean people – a real change from when she was more interested in being a doctor than in what people thought about it. I was glad that that thread dropped midway through the book.

I did enjoy getting hints about Shiloh‘s backstory and I’m eager to see that plot play out through the series.

The inclusion of real historic figures (Fanny Crosby and Ulysses S Grant, among others) was a really interesting touch. There were several moving passages that brought a tear to my eye, particularly the scene with General Grant and Richard Duvall.

I still am not a big fan of the romance plot(s) here but that is just my taste. Be close friends, be a romantic pair, just make a choice. I also feel like Dev’s reappearance as a love interest was out of character with how he was introduced in book one and is just being used to create some sort of tension or romantic triangle that isn’t necessary for this reader.

[Shoujo85 · Rating 3 out of 5]

** This is just a QUICK REVIEW of my thoughts on the book **

I liked this book much better than the second one but still not much really happens and the feelings and relationships between the four characters aren't really clear or understandable; they're not communicated fully enough for us to grasp what they're thinking, only cryptic little looks and so forth.

@ Cheney: GET OVER DEV! I don't even like him. Let Victoria have him.

@ Shiloh: STOP BOXING! It’s bad for your brain cells and just plain stupid.

Is there a Happy Ending? The series continues…

Content Rating: The usual for a Cheney novel; not much except some pugilism.

Romance Rating: Definitely lacking.

P.S. This is my second time reading this series.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was ok, but I have read other Cheney Duvall books I liked better. For some reason I did not care much for Cheney through much of this book. It may be because I had a hard time understanding why she left her previous practice and what she actually wanted out of life. Interesting historical details made me glad I read it. Cholera is something I am glad I have not had to deal with.

[Elizabeth Trela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not care for the pugilists, but love learning about the cholera epidemic and seeing Cheney study it.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to the back of the book, some of these events took place....historical fiction!

[Hope Elias · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still havent read book 1. I read book 2 earlier this year and didnt think id have the patience to read 1 before 2. im sticking with that and planning on reading 1 last as a prequel... we'll see 😝

I didn’t like this one as much as 2. I wasnt a fan of Cheney's attitude toward Shiloh (tho i understood it) and didnt like the fighting Shiloh did for money (though i understood that too).
Like the previous book I had to skip some parts that were too medical or graphic for me 😆
But also like the previous book I LOVED the characters and the humor and the faith laced throughout. The humor and the faith were my favorites of this one for sure.

[ScriptLit-You Are What You Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

#BookReviewFriday
#2024readingchallenge
#2secondchance

Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

# 2 Second Chance

Book: A City Not Forsaken
Author: Gilbert and Lynn Morris

I'm rereading this series because I loved it and was excited to listen to it once I realized Kate Forbes was narrating. After listening to book one, I wondered if I really loved this series the way that I remembered, but after listening to books two and three, it's all coming back to me. Five stars! I loved this book!

This series really is like catching up with old friends. The authors really did a great job of incrementally growing the characters and developing the story.

For their third outing, Cheney and Shiloh are back in New York dealing with a cholera epidemic while making new friends and enemies and finding themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually.

The book also perfectly fit the challenge category because it is filled with second chances. A second chance at life, both physically and spiritually. A second chance at connection. A second chance at forgiveness and a second chance to get it right!

I highly, highly recommend these authors and this entire series!

https://www.facebook.com/share/sGXRCu...

[annabeth ☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

I think this is my favorite of the series so far (I know, a whole three books in). It just connected to the real world issues of the times so well, while still maintaining the integrity of its own fictional characters.

Also, Richard Duvall is a gem and the fact that we got him for the entire book this time is such a gift!!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I want to smack Cheney, but I love the historical aspects of this book. Everything I know about cholera I learned from this book (and a recent podcast). Plus, Shiloh is just as dreamy as ever, even if he is still caught up on another woman ;)

[Paris Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in the Cheney Duvall M.D. series has done it again! Not only is there great character development, but old favorites return and new characters enter! Backstory on Shiloh brings a new understanding to his character, and makes for an enjoyable read!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Cheney Duvall!

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book!

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite one of the series. Drama! Cholera! More drama!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is fun revisiting the Cheney Duvall series, and I think this one is my favorite ones this far. Also, a story about a cholera outbreak felt very relevant to the moment.

[Dru · Rating 2 out of 5]

An OK book. Maybe it was because this was number 3 in the series and I hadn't read the other two. But I probably won't read any more.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

gory in parts; difficult to which to listen!

[Brooke796 ☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

re-read

[Roslyn Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheney is amazing and there need to be more Shilohs in my life!

[red_rose_purple_prose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheney has returned to New York and her family. After the stress of her previous positions she longs to open up a nice clinic for nice people to treat her nicely. Preferably this plan will include working with Dr. Devlin Buchannan, the man who is awaiting Cheney’s answer for his proposal. Cheney is fairly sure she wants to marry him. Eventually.

But as Cheney arrives, so does a ship carrying a deadly plague. Soon, a cholera epidemic sweeps New York.
As Dev spends his time at the cholera hospital, Cheney handles routine patients, including one impossible woman named Victoria de Lancie.

Meanwhile Shiloh is kept busy between helping Cheney, working at the Cholera hospital, fixing up a old tenement to make it livable, attending Society parties with Cheney, and prizefighting to raise money for the orphanage he’s from.

​
Likes:
- Dev! Yay! I don’t know why, but he’s always been one of my favorites in this series. (Maybe because the first three letters in my name are also Dev??)

- There is somewhat of a love triangle between Shiloh, Cheney, and Dev, and the two men involved are equally moral. In other books I’ve read with a love triangle, there is the usual (A.) A rich guy, who the parents like. Marrying him will solve financial or social problems, but he is either a snob or does deceitful things (B.) Handsome poor guy who the heroine truly loves, but her parents would disapprove of the marriage, and she keeps telling herself she likes said rich guy. In this, both Shiloh and Dev have flaws, but are good people in different ways.

- You can tell Shiloh truly loves Cheney in the scene when Phillip Teller verbally mistreats Cheney. Shiloh is the only one who notices in that crowded, noisy dining room, and it’s just by Cheney’s expression. He watches Teller throughout the whole banquet.

- I love the scene in pages 260 to 263. It’s obvious how much the characters care for one another. Richard and Irene demand to see their daughter, even if it puts their lives in danger. And Shiloh intends on literally breaking in to get to Cheney. And poor Dev is trying to lock them out because he can’t bear the thought of them contracting Cholera and dying.

- The series subplot of Shiloh's history begins!

Dislikes:

- Cheney is overemotional a bit of a snob for the first part. Though I can understand why, it takes a little while for her to overcome it. It’s ironic that she’s prejudiced over people whom she thinks will have prejudice of her.



MEMORABLE QUOTES:
“You sound like it’s a sentence passed on you.”
“Oh, it’s fun to buy new clothes,” Cheney retorted. “But it turns into work! All the decisions to make, all the accessories, all the fittings! I’m exhausted. And you’re in my chair.”
“I know.” Shiloh grinned. “You have such a hard life Doc.”

Shiloh skipped the steps, bounded up on the portico, and almost knocked himself down trying to open the door. His face darkened, and he almost beat on it and yelled something concerning Devlin Buchanan's chances of remaining alive in the immediate future. But then he remembered that Cheney’s parents were in the house, and he stopped himself just in time.

“I shall never forgive him.”
“I know exactly how you feel. Once I promised never to speak to him again. And I didn’t, for forty or fifty seconds.”
“I’m much more hateful than you are, though. It will likely take me hours.”

And pretty much the whole conversation from pages 52 to 55.


Historical figure cameos:

Ulysses Grant, The Marquess of Queensbury (and Arthur Chambers), Fanny Jane Crosby, William Henry Vanderbilt, James Elliot.

[Julie Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheney and Shiloh are back in New York after leaving Arkansas. Cholera has started its evil rounds but Cheney has no desire to be amongst the dirty. She refuses to help out at the cholera hospitals. Cheney and Shiloh seem to be growing apart yet they still make a great doctor/nurse team. While Cheney rubs elbows with the rich and famous, Shiloh is busy raising money for one of the sisters orphanages that raised him. He also helps out at the cholera hospital. Ulysses S. Grant, the Vanderbilts, Astors, Fanny Crosby, the Marquess of Queensbury and a few other notables make an appearance among Cheney's acquaintances in this read. Shiloh fights a couple of interesting boxing matches and of course Cheney is there to help him out when he's in need of doctoring. Cheney meets and becomes friends with Victoria Steen De Lancie and they have a few unpleasant adventures together. Cheney's faith is growing as well as her confidence. Some people still treat Cheney with contempt because of her profession, but others are learning to accept her competence. Irene and Richard DuVall are quite proud of her and supportive. It's sad to see Cheney unsettled about her relationship with both Dev and Shiloh and also a bit frustrating that Cheney gets so scattered sometimes. Looking forward to more growth as the series moves on.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Much better than the previous two books in the series, with surprisingly non-judgmental treatment of a woman seeking an abortion, expressing that it is possible to be good (but not good enough, naturally--this is Christian fiction, after all...) person without religion, and relatively deft handling of Cheney's struggle to fit back into New York society while figuring out who she is and what she wants out of life.

Even after reading this book many times, I never quite felt like Jane Anne and Laura Blue are fully realized characters, and Victoria's conversion felt like it came out of nowhere. (I also never saw how Cheney and Victoria could become close friends so quickly, but it's a very solid friendship that mostly seems to pass the Bechdel Test, so I'll allow it.)

[Ashley Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is polite society? Ironically, Cheney thinks she is finding happiness when she returns home and only wants to see people who are nice and clean after having her heart broken by the "hill people" of Arkansas. But what is brilliant to me, and a little obnoxious, is that Cheney isn't just running from the vulgarity of the lower class, but of the rejection of Shiloh falling for another woman. Cheney may not understand the depths of her feelings yet, but she certainly has them and that is even debt in her reactions--the authors developing that in her desire for a new and more gratifying practice which she finds quickly isn't as easy as she thinks it will be. And so the struggle for equality continues to be highlighted throughout the series through this dynamic character.

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Cheney Duvall M.D. series by Lynn and Gilbert Morris, and of the 3 I like it the best.

(Dawn Michelle - I agree with you about the series really picking up with this novel and now 'm looking forward to reading more in the series)

I was fascinated with learning about the cholera epidemic in New York City in the late part of the 19th century. Reading about how today's rules for boxing matches have their roots in that time period was of interest, too.

The main characters (Cheney, Shiloh, and Dev) were more fully developed in this book as well, and were quite interesting to read about.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so refreshing after the second one (that I didn't like).
Cheney goes home to Manhattan to her family and also to try and open and private practice there. She has decided that she wants some refinement after all her travels and struggles. What I think she fails to see is that the struggles and hardships she faces at home amongst her peers is MUCH harder than anything she faced while traveling (with the exception of when they crossed Panama by foot in book 1...that was something).
It is interesting to see Cheney grow and stretch in this book. And the new characters that are introduced are a real treat as well. Many you read about in later books. The best is Victoria.

[Olivia Lyndaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hilarious to read, mostly, or course, because of Shiloh. Lol ;) I liked the plot a lot better than the others, partly because it wasn't just about the romance, which I thought it would be. And I liked it how Shiloh and Dev actually respected each other, where I thought they would just hate each other because they both liked Cheney.
All in all, this is definitely my favourite book out of the series so far.