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The Californians #4
Donovan's Daughter
When an angry snowstorm forces Marcail Donovan to seek shelter for the night at the town doctor’s house, the pretty new schoolteacher is thrust into a scandal that threatens her career. The unfortunate but innocent circumstances bring harsh condemnation to Marcail, but the compassionate bachelor doctor offers her a way to remain the town’s teacher. Now she must face an inner turmoil worse than any storm.
Is Donovan’s Daughter willing to give up her own dreams to bring God’s love to the children she teaches?
Is Donovan’s Daughter willing to give up her own dreams to bring God’s love to the children she teaches?
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
49 people are currently reading
1730 people want to read
About the author
Lori Wick
101 books1,654 followersFROM THE PUBLISHER:
Lori Wick is known as one of the most versatile Christian fiction writers on the market today. From pioneer fiction to a series set in Victorian England to a contemporary novel, Lori's books (over 5 million in print) continue to delight readers and top the Christian bestselling fiction list. Lori and her husband, Bob, live in Wisconsin with "the three coolest kids in the world."
Lori Wick is known as one of the most versatile Christian fiction writers on the market today. From pioneer fiction to a series set in Victorian England to a contemporary novel, Lori's books (over 5 million in print) continue to delight readers and top the Christian bestselling fiction list. Lori and her husband, Bob, live in Wisconsin with "the three coolest kids in the world."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
May 17, 2017
I actually enjoyed the story more than the rating would make you think, but there was a fair amount of content I was uncomfortable with, hence the lower rating.
I loved the character of Marcail! I have ever since the first book. She's so sweet, and gentle, yet still tough, but not in a feministic way. I love her gentle shyness and demurity. I also ADORE Dr. Montgomery!! He is pretty much the only male interest in a romance book that I actually LIKED. He is just so sweet, and kind, and thoughtful . . . seriously, and he's a DOCTOR! (No wonder I liked him. :P) I just loved the story overall, except for some content.
What made me uncomfortable was the amount of intimacy, or rather, talking about intimacy. While it wasn't *wrong* especially because they were, after all, married, it still made me feel awkard and cringe at times. Nothing super explicit, but definitely pretty clear what they are talking about. Can we have a romance novel that isn't super romancey and doesn't have any explicit stuff!?! Is that too much to ask? Oh wait! Somebody DID write such books! Read Lauraine Snelling if you are looking for clean, non-explicit romance! And while this wasn't *explicit*, it was enough to make me uncomfortable, as I said.
So anyway! Great story, not happy with the content.
I loved the character of Marcail! I have ever since the first book. She's so sweet, and gentle, yet still tough, but not in a feministic way. I love her gentle shyness and demurity. I also ADORE Dr. Montgomery!! He is pretty much the only male interest in a romance book that I actually LIKED. He is just so sweet, and kind, and thoughtful . . . seriously, and he's a DOCTOR! (No wonder I liked him. :P) I just loved the story overall, except for some content.
What made me uncomfortable was the amount of intimacy, or rather, talking about intimacy. While it wasn't *wrong* especially because they were, after all, married, it still made me feel awkard and cringe at times. Nothing super explicit, but definitely pretty clear what they are talking about. Can we have a romance novel that isn't super romancey and doesn't have any explicit stuff!?! Is that too much to ask? Oh wait! Somebody DID write such books! Read Lauraine Snelling if you are looking for clean, non-explicit romance! And while this wasn't *explicit*, it was enough to make me uncomfortable, as I said.
So anyway! Great story, not happy with the content.
July 24, 2025
Ugh this was just too good!! It had everything I love about marriage of convenience stories: them starting as strangers, watching them get to know each other, start to trust one another, and then ultimately fall in loveeee (of course with some bumps along the way)
I loved both Marcail and Alex and I adored the sweet dynamic between them. I was rooting for them from the very start, and their romance was so satisfying to read. Of course, I loved catching up with their family as well, their family honestly feels like my family at this point haha
Overall, a delightfully romantic read, I know I'll be coming back often to re-read this!
I loved both Marcail and Alex and I adored the sweet dynamic between them. I was rooting for them from the very start, and their romance was so satisfying to read. Of course, I loved catching up with their family as well, their family honestly feels like my family at this point haha
Overall, a delightfully romantic read, I know I'll be coming back often to re-read this!
April 28, 2019
Marcail’s story.
Nice wrap-up ending for this series.
I hope to read more books by this author.
Favorite character: Dr. Alex.
Nice wrap-up ending for this series.
I hope to read more books by this author.
Favorite character: Dr. Alex.
July 29, 2008
This is a Christian romance set in the 1800s which is the last in the Californians series by Lori Wick. I hadn't read the previous books but this one is good enough to stand on its own. Marcail's dream was to be a school teacher in her own classroom. She moved to Willits on her own to accept her first teaching position. One grandmother of a bratty boy in her class that sat on the school board and ran the town became the "thorn in her side."
When Marcail's reputation was at stake, Alex, the town doctor who was falling in love with her came to her aid. All through the book is a Christian theme of sharing the gospel with the people in this town and her relationship with Alex developing into a real marriage.
As usual in Christian fiction, everything turns out perfect in the end. I enjoyed this book which showed dependence on God throughout and that communication is key in developing trust in a relationship. It is a light, quick read that has the predictable happy ending.
When Marcail's reputation was at stake, Alex, the town doctor who was falling in love with her came to her aid. All through the book is a Christian theme of sharing the gospel with the people in this town and her relationship with Alex developing into a real marriage.
As usual in Christian fiction, everything turns out perfect in the end. I enjoyed this book which showed dependence on God throughout and that communication is key in developing trust in a relationship. It is a light, quick read that has the predictable happy ending.
April 30, 2019
*reads nonstop until it's finished because it's so good* *realizes it's the last book of the series* 😢
This series was amazing and this book was no exception. I think I might have liked Marcail a little more when she was younger just because she was so cute but I still love her character in this book. At the beginning of the book, I didn't know whether to feel sorry for Sydney or be mad at him. In the end, I really like him. Alex is so nice and I get sometimes got really mad at Marcial because he would do something nice for her and she would just ignore it. I am so sad this series is done and I wish it could just keep going on. Well, I better be off and try to find another great series.
This series was amazing and this book was no exception. I think I might have liked Marcail a little more when she was younger just because she was so cute but I still love her character in this book. At the beginning of the book, I didn't know whether to feel sorry for Sydney or be mad at him. In the end, I really like him. Alex is so nice and I get sometimes got really mad at Marcial because he would do something nice for her and she would just ignore it. I am so sad this series is done and I wish it could just keep going on. Well, I better be off and try to find another great series.
July 17, 2008
This book is much better than its predecessor, but I found myself a little confused by the number of character in it -- too many names to keep track of. However, it's a similar story to "Sean Donovan" with Marcail's marriage of convenience, but it seems to be set on a more believable timeline (over the course of almost two years), which I like.
October 10, 2017
I have a weak spot for sappy christian romances, but this one I absolutely hated. I hated it because of one particular chapter where (slight spoilers) Marcail is injured (gets bruised rather badly along her backside from a nasty fall) and her doctor husband (in name only) forces her to let him examine her bruises. He later forces her to let him re-examine her bare backside multiple times, although Lori Wick intended that his intentions were only professional. At the time I did not know why that bothered me so much, I only knew that it seemed abhorrently messed up. Now, upon several years of reflection, I realize what is so wrong with the fact that the doctor forced Marcail to let him examine her.
It supports an unhealthy view of women as being weak creatures, only there to be dominated by men, and it reinforces the idea that men should make decisions for, be in control of, the women in their lives, e v e n t o t h e p o i n t o f i n v a d i n g t h e e x t r e m e l y p r i v a t e p a r t s o f h e r b o d y. This, in my opinion, is sexual abuse. The doctor would not have forced an examination of any woman who was not his wife, no matter how "dire" the circumstances, and he CERTAINLY would never have forced a man to allow him to invade his personal areas for an examination. His reasons for forcing her to allow him to examine her were that she was badly bruised, and apparently a bruise is life-threatening enough to justify the doctor forcing her to let him look at and touch her bare backside. The author fully intended for this to be a "necessary" evil that created a need to redevelop the relationship (because Marcail's trust in her in-name-only husband was rightfully destroyed), but the actual effect was that it was a utterly horrible plot choice and completely unsupported by any actual reasoning. It was filler. Good plot lines don't need filler, and good plot lines certainly don't include "Hey, I'll make the second half of the book a reconstruction of their relationship because the husband sexually abused the wife! But don't worry folks, it wasn't sexual abuse because he obviously had no choice. It was vital to her life and well-being that someone invade her most personal areas to check up on a couple of bruises. They were entirely life threatening, I assure you."
It supports an unhealthy view of women as being weak creatures, only there to be dominated by men, and it reinforces the idea that men should make decisions for, be in control of, the women in their lives, e v e n t o t h e p o i n t o f i n v a d i n g t h e e x t r e m e l y p r i v a t e p a r t s o f h e r b o d y. This, in my opinion, is sexual abuse. The doctor would not have forced an examination of any woman who was not his wife, no matter how "dire" the circumstances, and he CERTAINLY would never have forced a man to allow him to invade his personal areas for an examination. His reasons for forcing her to allow him to examine her were that she was badly bruised, and apparently a bruise is life-threatening enough to justify the doctor forcing her to let him look at and touch her bare backside. The author fully intended for this to be a "necessary" evil that created a need to redevelop the relationship (because Marcail's trust in her in-name-only husband was rightfully destroyed), but the actual effect was that it was a utterly horrible plot choice and completely unsupported by any actual reasoning. It was filler. Good plot lines don't need filler, and good plot lines certainly don't include "Hey, I'll make the second half of the book a reconstruction of their relationship because the husband sexually abused the wife! But don't worry folks, it wasn't sexual abuse because he obviously had no choice. It was vital to her life and well-being that someone invade her most personal areas to check up on a couple of bruises. They were entirely life threatening, I assure you."
April 15, 2022
Am I allowed to say I enjoyed this book while not liking the psychology of it? This was a throwback read for me. I remember LOVING this book when I was a pre-teen. I'm fairly certain I was intensely jealous of Marcail and her petite beauty and longed to just step into this book and live her very romantic life. This is your standard Christian "historical" romance: conversions, Bible studies, lack of true historical context/details (the snowstorm in Willits was a little far-fetched), and people too good to be true abound. As I re-read this last night and this morning, I realized why I loved it so much as a pre-teen, and some of these reasons I find troubling. First, Marcail is a magnet for accidents. She gets hurt several times throughout the book, which affords her Doctor husband convenient opportunities for touching her. As a young girl I found this soooo romantic. As an adult, I found it ridiculous, and possibly unhealthy. In true Christian romance fashion, Wick sets up the reader to think Marcail is strong and independent, but oh wait, she's actually a delicate little doll who is dotted on by ALL the men in her life! How strong do you really have to be when you have a medical man who worries over you night and day and several male family members caring about your every move? Then there is the fact that instead of standing up to the townspeople, Marcail thinks that in order to bring the light of Christ to the people of the good town of Willits she has to marry someone she doesn't know and who she doesn't really want to marry. This was bizarre to me. Leaving would have made much more sense. Finally, the second half of this book revolves around the doctor's longing to have a "real" marriage with Marcail and everyone worrying that they haven't consummated their marriage. There's nothing wrong with this, but if you are sensitive about what your kids read you should be aware that this book focuses a lot on this topic. I say "kids" because even though this is an adult book, it's written so simply that I think it would be easy reading for a 4th grader. After dipping back into my reading past, I have concluded that this book probably did me no harm, but my time would have been spent more profitably reading books with real literary quality.
March 5, 2018
January 1992
This was my favorite book of this series.
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Re-Read
January 20, 2010
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Re-Read~November 8, 2011
STILL my favorite of the series. And much needed right now!!! Even though it still makes me cry!
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One last book for this year. Reading it now. :-)
RE-READ~ December 31, 2013
Last book of 2013. Perfect way to end the year!!!
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Re-read: September 2016
Needed a book to get me back into the love of reading. SO many heavy books lately and this one was perfect for that.
This was my favorite book of this series.
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Re-Read
January 20, 2010
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Re-Read~November 8, 2011
STILL my favorite of the series. And much needed right now!!! Even though it still makes me cry!
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One last book for this year. Reading it now. :-)
RE-READ~ December 31, 2013
Last book of 2013. Perfect way to end the year!!!
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Re-read: September 2016
Needed a book to get me back into the love of reading. SO many heavy books lately and this one was perfect for that.
September 12, 2008
I really don't get into this type of book, the romance novel, Christian or not, but these kept my attention and were highly recommended one summer by my mother. They are excellent and not simply romance novels. They are about real struggles with life and Christianity. I tried to read others and never got through them. These are the best.
August 29, 2016
One of my all-time favorite books. One of the three I reach for on a bad day, when I need to curl up with a "security blanket" book. I love the tender way Alex takes care of Marcail and sees to all her fears.
September 4, 2015
This is one of my all time favorite reads! Love the plot. I have probably read it at least ten times.
February 10, 2015
So romantic...loved the doctor!!!
July 21, 2019
Finished this book in one day as well. This is really helping me get caught up on my reading.. and even get ahead. This one was a riveting as book 3 was. This book is about the youngest of the Donovan children. It is time for her to step out on her own and fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. She, too, has thoughts and feelings from her past, from her mother's death, her father leaving them and her brother running off. She has felt abandoned and has a deep fear of doctors due to blaming the doctor for her mother's death. Along comes Doctor Montgomery, Alex. Can she trust him enough to let him in and fall in love? That is a big enough problem. She can't face more than that... or could she? Read it and find out.
Here are my favorite quotes from this wonderful 4th and final book in this series.
"She might not have been so confident or ready to smile if she could have read the banker's thoughts, the first of which was that she was beautiful. The second was that she looked innocent enough to be malleable. It would be some time before Marcail would find out that she was Willits' ninth school teacher in three years." (pg 19)
"Church was not at all what Marcail expected. The building was fairly large and packed with people. They sang good hymns of faith for most of the service, but not a word of Scripture was read, even during the short sermon. Marcail wondered if this was something out of the ordineray and not the norm. She certainly hoped so." (pg 32)
"Mr. and Mrs. Warren were gracious, hardworking people, and they welcomed Marcail into their home as if she were a long-lost daughter. But when the dishes were passed and everyone began eating without a prayer of thanks to God, Marcail began to wonder if there wasn't something very important missing from the lives of these dear people. " (pg 33)
"There was nothing he had done to cause the death of her mother, or the way her father and then her brother had suddenly exited her life. After each departure, however, she had mentally prepared herself to be a very good girl so they would want to come back.
When Marcail was still a teen, she had done this with God, but her heavenly Father, in His perfect love, showed her that His acceptance was all-encompassing. That wasn't to say she could mindlessly sin and do as she pleased, but it did mean that full fellowship was just a prayer away. Marcail came to understand that God would never cast her aside." (pg 270)
I won't spoil the story, though you, like me may be able to guess what will happen in the end...I did... but the journey to get there may surprise you.... I know it kept my attention.
Here are my favorite quotes from this wonderful 4th and final book in this series.
"She might not have been so confident or ready to smile if she could have read the banker's thoughts, the first of which was that she was beautiful. The second was that she looked innocent enough to be malleable. It would be some time before Marcail would find out that she was Willits' ninth school teacher in three years." (pg 19)
"Church was not at all what Marcail expected. The building was fairly large and packed with people. They sang good hymns of faith for most of the service, but not a word of Scripture was read, even during the short sermon. Marcail wondered if this was something out of the ordineray and not the norm. She certainly hoped so." (pg 32)
"Mr. and Mrs. Warren were gracious, hardworking people, and they welcomed Marcail into their home as if she were a long-lost daughter. But when the dishes were passed and everyone began eating without a prayer of thanks to God, Marcail began to wonder if there wasn't something very important missing from the lives of these dear people. " (pg 33)
"There was nothing he had done to cause the death of her mother, or the way her father and then her brother had suddenly exited her life. After each departure, however, she had mentally prepared herself to be a very good girl so they would want to come back.
When Marcail was still a teen, she had done this with God, but her heavenly Father, in His perfect love, showed her that His acceptance was all-encompassing. That wasn't to say she could mindlessly sin and do as she pleased, but it did mean that full fellowship was just a prayer away. Marcail came to understand that God would never cast her aside." (pg 270)
I won't spoil the story, though you, like me may be able to guess what will happen in the end...I did... but the journey to get there may surprise you.... I know it kept my attention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2018
I'm gonna be honest. At first I only picked up this book because I thought it had "Loki" on top. Then while I read it I really fell in love with these characters. If you read a Lori Wick you are in for a treat when it comes to characters. They all have their own personalities that make me giggle, cringe, and think about myself.
If anything please read this book for adorable marriage moments. Her cutesie couple moments are some of the best I've ever read. Even something as simple as stealing a cookie or splashing water in someone's face is just enhanced into this realistic wonderful fluff.
Even if you aren't religious this book will strike a cord with you. Give it a try.
If you still aren't convinced just consider this: I read Donovan's Daughter imagining Alex as Adam Driver (Kylo Ren)...he played the cutsie husband perfectly!
If anything please read this book for adorable marriage moments. Her cutesie couple moments are some of the best I've ever read. Even something as simple as stealing a cookie or splashing water in someone's face is just enhanced into this realistic wonderful fluff.
Even if you aren't religious this book will strike a cord with you. Give it a try.
If you still aren't convinced just consider this: I read Donovan's Daughter imagining Alex as Adam Driver (Kylo Ren)...he played the cutsie husband perfectly!
February 11, 2026
Having always dreamed of becoming a schoolteacher, nineteen-year-old Marcail Donovan is excited to leave home and relocate to a town called Willits for a teaching position. But a snowy disaster involving the town doctor, Alexander, puts Marcail's career in jeopardy in Donovan's Daughter by author Lori Wick.
The Californians historical ChristFic series used to be my favorite from this author. More recently, I've revisited three of the books for nostalgic reasons. While I've always had some issues with the writing style and never cared for the blatant preoccupation with physical beauty in this author's books, I enjoyed my return to Books Two and Three of this series for comfort reading.
Concerning this fourth book, however, I wasn't able to take certain events for granted as I did in my younger days. This time, I became disturbed as I read.
*My following concerns in relation to the novel may be spoiler-ish.*
I realize Alex is worried about Marcail's health on the day she ends up in his barn in her cold, wet clothes after she gets caught in a snowstorm. But when Marcail tells Alex "no" about leaving the barn to go into his house with him (she's been afraid of doctors for years), he throws her over his shoulder and carries her to the house. When she again tells him "no," he threatens to take her clothes off for her if she doesn't do it herself. He proceeds to take her by the arm, take her to his bedroom, and pull off her sweater "before she [has] time to think." He then spins her around and unbuttons the back of her dress before he demands her to take everything else off.
That is not okay. Doctors acting in their professional capacity can let patients know what their options are and inform them of the dangers of failing to take important steps for their health or survival. But for a doctor to force his care on a conscious individual who expressly refused it?
Aside from the possible medical angle here, Marcail isn't Alexander's child or his property. The two of them aren't even friends at this point in the story, but he takes this woman he already knows has been nervous around him since the day they met (a woman who's now stuck alone with him in his home), and he strong-arms her into compliance.
His overbearing reaction to her refusal isn't heroic. His reaction is the kind that certain abusers would have.
See, Alex would be free to explain the severity of the situation in case Marcail, in her state of distress, didn't realize it. (She grew up in much warmer climates and has never even seen it snow before.) He could have told her she's bound to become ill and may possibly die if she doesn't get warmed up fast enough. He should have articulated that and met her reluctance by asking her to please let him help, but he instead crosses the line by threatening Marcail before he starts to physically force her out of her clothes. When he then leaves her in the bedroom to finish changing, she's "so angry and humiliated that she [wants] to weep."
Yes. Being bullied is indeed infuriating and humiliating.
Moreover, it really bothers me now that because of one other character's tyrannical pull over the town, Marcail acquiesces to a sudden marriage proposal despite the fact that she wanted to remain single for some time. When I was younger, I likely figured Marcail to be strong for choosing to just get married, since she does it to keep her teaching job and she insists that "quit" isn't in her vocabulary.
But deciding not to bow to the town tyrant's unreasonable expectations or demands wouldn't have made Marcail a quitter. She wouldn't have had to quit being a teacher, since that position in Willits wasn't the only teaching position available anywhere. (Marcail's qualifications even landed her two other job offers before she chose Willits.) Neither would it have been a weak or immature move on Marcail's part to forego being hurried into a marriage she doesn't want and to instead go back to her caring and supportive family when she's in serious trouble.
I think sometimes, knowing there will be a "Happily Ever After" at the end of a romance story can make it easy to give a pass to some questionable or bad behavior in the middle, or merely to view it all as entertainment. Still, although Alex is getting what he wants because he "[finds] the idea of being married to Marcail nothing short of splendid," no man should be happy to get a wife who's being pressured into marriage by unjust circumstances.
"You need to either leave town or take a husband," Alex tells Marcail after he's asked her to marry him, but because he knows from the start how "upsetting" his proposal is to her, he should have suggested/encouraged her to turn to her family for help or at least for their advice. Alex makes no such suggestion, though. In a significant way, his manner of going about this comes off as selfish, like he's taking advantage of this woman who's ten years his junior, a woman who hasn't lived on her own for that long and who now feels backed into a corner.
I don't remember if Alex eventually apologizes for his behavior or if Marcail later deals with any regrets over her quick decision to wed. I only got a third of the way through the novel this time before I decided not to finish it.
As I said in another review recently, I felt compelled to address all of this because of the overall journey I'm taking with Christian Fiction (a genre that's changing) and because of the social climate we're living in, where we need to tackle some critical issues with open honesty. Even when it comes to stories.
Nevertheless, I think I'm likely to still enjoy a few other comfort reads I'll revisit from this author sometime.
The Californians historical ChristFic series used to be my favorite from this author. More recently, I've revisited three of the books for nostalgic reasons. While I've always had some issues with the writing style and never cared for the blatant preoccupation with physical beauty in this author's books, I enjoyed my return to Books Two and Three of this series for comfort reading.
Concerning this fourth book, however, I wasn't able to take certain events for granted as I did in my younger days. This time, I became disturbed as I read.
*My following concerns in relation to the novel may be spoiler-ish.*
I realize Alex is worried about Marcail's health on the day she ends up in his barn in her cold, wet clothes after she gets caught in a snowstorm. But when Marcail tells Alex "no" about leaving the barn to go into his house with him (she's been afraid of doctors for years), he throws her over his shoulder and carries her to the house. When she again tells him "no," he threatens to take her clothes off for her if she doesn't do it herself. He proceeds to take her by the arm, take her to his bedroom, and pull off her sweater "before she [has] time to think." He then spins her around and unbuttons the back of her dress before he demands her to take everything else off.
That is not okay. Doctors acting in their professional capacity can let patients know what their options are and inform them of the dangers of failing to take important steps for their health or survival. But for a doctor to force his care on a conscious individual who expressly refused it?
Aside from the possible medical angle here, Marcail isn't Alexander's child or his property. The two of them aren't even friends at this point in the story, but he takes this woman he already knows has been nervous around him since the day they met (a woman who's now stuck alone with him in his home), and he strong-arms her into compliance.
His overbearing reaction to her refusal isn't heroic. His reaction is the kind that certain abusers would have.
See, Alex would be free to explain the severity of the situation in case Marcail, in her state of distress, didn't realize it. (She grew up in much warmer climates and has never even seen it snow before.) He could have told her she's bound to become ill and may possibly die if she doesn't get warmed up fast enough. He should have articulated that and met her reluctance by asking her to please let him help, but he instead crosses the line by threatening Marcail before he starts to physically force her out of her clothes. When he then leaves her in the bedroom to finish changing, she's "so angry and humiliated that she [wants] to weep."
Yes. Being bullied is indeed infuriating and humiliating.
Moreover, it really bothers me now that because of one other character's tyrannical pull over the town, Marcail acquiesces to a sudden marriage proposal despite the fact that she wanted to remain single for some time. When I was younger, I likely figured Marcail to be strong for choosing to just get married, since she does it to keep her teaching job and she insists that "quit" isn't in her vocabulary.
But deciding not to bow to the town tyrant's unreasonable expectations or demands wouldn't have made Marcail a quitter. She wouldn't have had to quit being a teacher, since that position in Willits wasn't the only teaching position available anywhere. (Marcail's qualifications even landed her two other job offers before she chose Willits.) Neither would it have been a weak or immature move on Marcail's part to forego being hurried into a marriage she doesn't want and to instead go back to her caring and supportive family when she's in serious trouble.
I think sometimes, knowing there will be a "Happily Ever After" at the end of a romance story can make it easy to give a pass to some questionable or bad behavior in the middle, or merely to view it all as entertainment. Still, although Alex is getting what he wants because he "[finds] the idea of being married to Marcail nothing short of splendid," no man should be happy to get a wife who's being pressured into marriage by unjust circumstances.
"You need to either leave town or take a husband," Alex tells Marcail after he's asked her to marry him, but because he knows from the start how "upsetting" his proposal is to her, he should have suggested/encouraged her to turn to her family for help or at least for their advice. Alex makes no such suggestion, though. In a significant way, his manner of going about this comes off as selfish, like he's taking advantage of this woman who's ten years his junior, a woman who hasn't lived on her own for that long and who now feels backed into a corner.
I don't remember if Alex eventually apologizes for his behavior or if Marcail later deals with any regrets over her quick decision to wed. I only got a third of the way through the novel this time before I decided not to finish it.
As I said in another review recently, I felt compelled to address all of this because of the overall journey I'm taking with Christian Fiction (a genre that's changing) and because of the social climate we're living in, where we need to tackle some critical issues with open honesty. Even when it comes to stories.
Nevertheless, I think I'm likely to still enjoy a few other comfort reads I'll revisit from this author sometime.
June 15, 2017
Donovan’s Daughter Bk 4 ISBN: 078622147X LP
Story of Marcail Donovan as she leaves home to be a teacher in a small town. Marcail is met with all types of obstacles, including the rich widow and her grandson. But with love and compassion through Christ, Marcail is able to weather the storms that come her way. I enjoyed the story, although I find that the characters seem very dense when love is right in front of them.
Story of Marcail Donovan as she leaves home to be a teacher in a small town. Marcail is met with all types of obstacles, including the rich widow and her grandson. But with love and compassion through Christ, Marcail is able to weather the storms that come her way. I enjoyed the story, although I find that the characters seem very dense when love is right in front of them.
December 31, 2017
The fourth and last book in the Californians series, a historical Christian fiction romance. The youngest member of the Donovan family, Marcail, gets her first teaching job. During a snowstorm, she gets turned around and winds up at the handsome doctor's house down the road from her house and the school. She has to spend the night during the storm. The schoolboard finds out and demands Marcail marry the doctor or lose her teaching job.
February 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I love Lori Wick's books, and this one was excellent!
Marcail is such a great character! She has such innocence. She loves God, and she wants to show God's love to her students. She has many mishaps, but one pushes her to a marriage she wasn't expecting. Alex is amazing! He steps in many times to help Marcail.
There is a lot of romantic talk, but nothing is explicit or graphic.
A definite must read!!
Marcail is such a great character! She has such innocence. She loves God, and she wants to show God's love to her students. She has many mishaps, but one pushes her to a marriage she wasn't expecting. Alex is amazing! He steps in many times to help Marcail.
There is a lot of romantic talk, but nothing is explicit or graphic.
A definite must read!!
February 16, 2021
I’m kinda of shocked, I did Not enjoy this book at all. I felt It dragged, thy Marcail’s character was unlike her character in the other books. I felt that this could have been a stand alone book instead of the finale of a series. I love Lori Wick and own almost all of her books. I just felt this was the worst book of the series which was a let down. Oh well.
September 8, 2023
Fantastic, heart-warming series
I loved all 4 books in this amazing series. The author grabbed your attention right from the start of each story, and kept it to the last page. The story caused many emotions throughout the series, highlighting many different characters facing unique trials and triumphs. I love all of Lori Wick’s books.
I loved all 4 books in this amazing series. The author grabbed your attention right from the start of each story, and kept it to the last page. The story caused many emotions throughout the series, highlighting many different characters facing unique trials and triumphs. I love all of Lori Wick’s books.
December 29, 2024
** spoiler **
4 stars because I wasn’t expecting it to be similar to the previous book in the series as far as how the marriage came to be about. Circumstances not love. It was a great book and if I could give it 4.5 I would for how Lori Wick turned it around but I just wish either the 3rd would’ve been different or the 4th in that aspect.
4 stars because I wasn’t expecting it to be similar to the previous book in the series as far as how the marriage came to be about. Circumstances not love. It was a great book and if I could give it 4.5 I would for how Lori Wick turned it around but I just wish either the 3rd would’ve been different or the 4th in that aspect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2019
Loved this book and series!!!
Don't miss The Californians by Lori Wick. Fantastic books (that have to be read in order)!! Loved this book and getting to know the Donovan's and following their stories. You will smile and you will cry but the books are worth it!
Don't miss The Californians by Lori Wick. Fantastic books (that have to be read in order)!! Loved this book and getting to know the Donovan's and following their stories. You will smile and you will cry but the books are worth it!
June 12, 2023
Well, this was an unexpected delight. I love marriage of convenience books and this one is a new favorite. Alex was an absolute dream; so tender and patient and sweet- I lost track of all the heart melting moments! I haven't read the other books in the series, but enjoyed this one a lot.
January 12, 2018
ITS PRETTY COOL
February 15, 2018
Fun christian romance. A little predictable - a little preachy
July 9, 2018
A journey of learning to trust and learning to love. Such a sweet story by Lori, a great finish to The Californians series!
March 12, 2020
Love it! So sweet and romantic. I love marriage of convenience plots and this is one of my favorites now!
August 27, 2020
Loved the series. Especially the first and last book.
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