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Courting the Doctor's Daughter
A widow with three boys to raise, Mary Graves has no time for peddlers of phony medicine. She's a dedicated healer working alongside her doctor father. When a handsome stranger blows into town with his "elixir of health" and asks questions about her newly adopted son, Mary's determined to uncover the truth behind all his claims.Once the reckless heir to a Boston fortune, Dr. Luke Jacobs travels the country with his herbal medicine while searching for his long-lost son. After meeting the feisty doctor's daughter and her youngest boy, Luke has found what he's been looking for at last. But can he convince her to let him into her home, her family-and her heart?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
17 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dean
22 books85 followersJanet Dean grew up in a family who cherished the past and had a strong creative streak. Her father recounted fascinating stories, like his father before him. The tales they told instilled in Janet a love of history and the desire to write.
She married her college sweetheart and taught first grade before leaving to rear two daughters, but Janet never lost interest in American history and the accounts of strong men and women of faith who built this country.
With her daughters grown, she eagerly turned to Inspirational historical romance. Today Janet enjoys spinning stories for Love Inspired Historical.
When she isn’t writing, Janet stamps greeting cards, plays golf and is never without a book to read. The Deans love to travel and spend time with family.
She married her college sweetheart and taught first grade before leaving to rear two daughters, but Janet never lost interest in American history and the accounts of strong men and women of faith who built this country.
With her daughters grown, she eagerly turned to Inspirational historical romance. Today Janet enjoys spinning stories for Love Inspired Historical.
When she isn’t writing, Janet stamps greeting cards, plays golf and is never without a book to read. The Deans love to travel and spend time with family.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 1, 2009
Janet Dean has written the historical fiction book of my heart. I love a hero who must fight past his inner wounds to win the girl. In fact, in Courting the Doctor’s Daughter, Dean writes of two people, wounded by life’s harshness and the failure of those they had depended upon, who come together over the fate of a young orphan boy.
Mary Graves, the heroine, raises three sons as a widow, one of which she took in after an orphan-train placement fell through. She assists her aging father’s medical practice, praying and plotting for an assistant to relieve some of her father’s burden.
Enter Luke Jacobs, a peddler of tonics—the bane of Mary’s existence. How dare he bilk her beloved townspeople out of their money for his snake oil? What she learns about him, through the layers of his self-defense, and about his medicine, will not only affect her, but set a chain of redemption in motion for all she cares about: her father, her sons, and the people she loves and serves.
I loved the way this romance covered topics ranging from disability, to alcoholism, lying, forgiveness, trust, and even anxiety. Dean accomplishes this in a realistic and deeply satisfying way through well-fleshed-out characters who journey through their conflicts to find faith in God, faith in themselves, and faith in one another. This story resonated with me, and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come.
Mary Graves, the heroine, raises three sons as a widow, one of which she took in after an orphan-train placement fell through. She assists her aging father’s medical practice, praying and plotting for an assistant to relieve some of her father’s burden.
Enter Luke Jacobs, a peddler of tonics—the bane of Mary’s existence. How dare he bilk her beloved townspeople out of their money for his snake oil? What she learns about him, through the layers of his self-defense, and about his medicine, will not only affect her, but set a chain of redemption in motion for all she cares about: her father, her sons, and the people she loves and serves.
I loved the way this romance covered topics ranging from disability, to alcoholism, lying, forgiveness, trust, and even anxiety. Dean accomplishes this in a realistic and deeply satisfying way through well-fleshed-out characters who journey through their conflicts to find faith in God, faith in themselves, and faith in one another. This story resonated with me, and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come.
November 18, 2009
I really enjoyed this book ! I am going to continue to read more of her books.
November 27, 2025
Courting
Book 2
This is the sequel to "Courting Miss Adelaide." It was a sweet book with some conflict.
This book was sweet as well. It focuses on Mary, a widowed mother of three (the four year old is newly adopted). She works alongside her doctor father in his clinic but desperately wants him to find another doctor to assist him so he can start working "more normal hours." Her sons desperately need a father figure.
Enter Luke Jacobs. He and Mary do not hit it off since she is angered by his peddling what she believes is a phony medicine. She doesn't ask questions - just shoots off her mouth first. The confrontation between these two is very good! But Luke is more than a peddler. Her father takes Luke in as his new helper (temporary, of course) and nobody knows that Luke is there to make sure his son is healthy.
I liked Mary through most of the book, but I thought she was way too hard on herself and Luke when she finds out the truth. I can completely understand why Luke did what he did - and will stand behind him on that decision. I'm glad things turned out the way they did though! I thought Mary was being to high and mighty with herself thinking she was to blame for her husband's failure. I don't think she ever realized that she had nothing to do with it...
The romance was sweet. I found myself getting frustrated with Luke, but was happy how it all turned out in the end!
Thank you, Mrs. Janet Dean, for such a wonderful story!
Book 2
This is the sequel to "Courting Miss Adelaide." It was a sweet book with some conflict.
This book was sweet as well. It focuses on Mary, a widowed mother of three (the four year old is newly adopted). She works alongside her doctor father in his clinic but desperately wants him to find another doctor to assist him so he can start working "more normal hours." Her sons desperately need a father figure.
Enter Luke Jacobs. He and Mary do not hit it off since she is angered by his peddling what she believes is a phony medicine. She doesn't ask questions - just shoots off her mouth first. The confrontation between these two is very good! But Luke is more than a peddler. Her father takes Luke in as his new helper (temporary, of course) and nobody knows that Luke is there to make sure his son is healthy.
I liked Mary through most of the book, but I thought she was way too hard on herself and Luke when she finds out the truth. I can completely understand why Luke did what he did - and will stand behind him on that decision. I'm glad things turned out the way they did though! I thought Mary was being to high and mighty with herself thinking she was to blame for her husband's failure. I don't think she ever realized that she had nothing to do with it...
The romance was sweet. I found myself getting frustrated with Luke, but was happy how it all turned out in the end!
Thank you, Mrs. Janet Dean, for such a wonderful story!
October 5, 2020
This was such a cute story. I loved the faith aspect of the book, and the character development. Luke was such a respectable, caring gentleman and I thought he was the perfect example of what a Christian man should be. Mary was a broken character at the beginning of the book who blamed herself for things in her past, but at the end of the book, we find out that she is healed through God’s forgiveness and love.
So, the theme of this book, so effortlessly weaved throughout was: God’s love exceeds far greater than your human brokenness. You may feel like all hope is lost, but in Christ there is hope.
So, the theme of this book, so effortlessly weaved throughout was: God’s love exceeds far greater than your human brokenness. You may feel like all hope is lost, but in Christ there is hope.
August 19, 2019
The story was beautifully written. Shows how honesty is is the best policy. Honesty to others, but also to self. It is amazing how you can help others, but not feel your own self worth. It really touched home with me.
December 13, 2017
A good Christian romance read set in the 1800's west.
November 11, 2019
Ditto to sister book's review. :P
October 3, 2025
Great read. I really enjoyed this one
November 23, 2011
Mary Graves is a widower with three young boys. Her father is the local doctor and she longs to join his practice. When Dr. Luke Jacobs stops in town, he ignites her doctoring ambitions. Jacobs is selling medicine and Mary is determined to prove the medicine and the doctor are worthless. Surprisingly, Dr. Graves brings Dr. Jacobs onto his practice to help...temperately.
Janet Dean wrote a very compelling tale. Many lines I wanted to quote and share with everyone. Yet the best way to understand the quotes is to read the story. So I invite you to enjoy Courting the Doctor's Daughter. Happy reading, friends!
"You're on a mission to save the human race. Trouble is you're not God. You don't have the power to control this world, not even your little piece of it."
"If you feel an easy life proves God's love and a hard one denies it, then you don't know scripture."
Time Period: 1890's
Location: Indiana, USA
Janet Dean wrote a very compelling tale. Many lines I wanted to quote and share with everyone. Yet the best way to understand the quotes is to read the story. So I invite you to enjoy Courting the Doctor's Daughter. Happy reading, friends!
"You're on a mission to save the human race. Trouble is you're not God. You don't have the power to control this world, not even your little piece of it."
"If you feel an easy life proves God's love and a hard one denies it, then you don't know scripture."
Time Period: 1890's
Location: Indiana, USA
January 8, 2015
A delightful story about a young woman with one thing in mind; to become a woman doctor. She set her goal and she wasn't about to let any man, especially some uneducated medicine man, change her mind. What she didn't realize was what she saw and what was really there were two different things. She met a man of substance, of education, still to distrust the outside. Her father was an important player in her life, but also children she was left with as a widow. She was privileged to also add to her family an orphan boy, but he was in need of a father and she could see it almost immediately. Would she consider marriage? Would it mean she would give up medical school? Read this story and find out!
March 9, 2010
It was a cute and easy read. I do agree it was a bit predictable, but I liked it anyways. I loved most of the characters although some were a bit annoying or odd. This was my favorite of the three Historical Romances I got for Christmas.
February 2, 2010
Learned alot about trust, forgiveness, solving challenges with communication.
A great book, lots of lessons, without being preachy and stuffy...just a great story!
A great book, lots of lessons, without being preachy and stuffy...just a great story!
Want to read
December 1, 2009Just won this through first reads! It looks like a great story!!
January 4, 2010
Cute historicalish romance. Great characters who have tough lives yet find a second chance at love. Faith and honesty triumph in the end. Good clean book.
February 15, 2010
I received this book after registering for a free copy on GoodReads. It was an enjoyable, although predictable, read. Set in the 1800's, the author clearly researched the time period.
August 1, 2010
An excellent story
I enjoyed this book
Luke & Mary have an awesome story to be told.
This is the 2nd book in this series and both were good but I really liked this one.
I enjoyed this book
Luke & Mary have an awesome story to be told.
This is the 2nd book in this series and both were good but I really liked this one.
October 21, 2010
I enjoyed the setting and time period in the book. It fit well with the story. It was an enjoyable read.
July 12, 2015
While this was a good read, I wasn't overly fond of Mary who came across as being cold and erratic with her behavior. She did change throughout the book, but I couldn't warm up to her.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews