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Randolph Family #4
The Law and Miss Mary
It's disgraceful how St. Louis's orphans are treated. And Mary Randolph plans to do something about it. She's lost her faith, but she still has compassion and a drive to help innocents in need. If she has to battle with by-the-book police captain Samuel Benton to protect them...well, she'll give him a challenge he'll never forget.
A poverty-stricken childhood left Sam hungry for the social acceptance now within his reach. All he has to do is follow through with the city fathers' plans. But Miss Randolph's feisty perseverance gives him second thoughts, reigniting his faith--and showing him how true love can fulfill all their dreams...
A poverty-stricken childhood left Sam hungry for the social acceptance now within his reach. All he has to do is follow through with the city fathers' plans. But Miss Randolph's feisty perseverance gives him second thoughts, reigniting his faith--and showing him how true love can fulfill all their dreams...
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Dorothy Clark
30 books88 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 8, 2017
It's been a long time since I've read historical fiction. Dorothy Clark wrote a wonderful romance set in the early days of St Louis and revolving around the fate of the young orphans in the city.
February 28, 2026
I really liked this book and its characters.
January 6, 2017
The Law and Miss Mary written by Dorothy Clark
Another wonderful historical story written about St Louis in the 1800's.
Mary Randolph comes to town with her parents and when she learns how the abandoned children living on the streets are treated by the Mayor and sheriff she campaigns to make it better. Her heart hurts to see them so thin with hungry eyes and a hopeless look about them. She has to help.
Sam is the sheriff just doing his job and trying to not let his heart enter the picture. He has a dream that he has been working towards for years and he must not let Miss Mary enter the picture. He too had been hungry as a child and knows about children like this but he wants better and his goal is to have a large house and a beautiful wife to make him respectable. The mayors daughter seems to always be around and batting her lovely eyes at him.
Sam and Mary both need to open their eyes to what is really going on and come back to letting God guide their paths.
I enjoyed reading this story but then I always like to read Dorothy Clark books.
Another wonderful historical story written about St Louis in the 1800's.
Mary Randolph comes to town with her parents and when she learns how the abandoned children living on the streets are treated by the Mayor and sheriff she campaigns to make it better. Her heart hurts to see them so thin with hungry eyes and a hopeless look about them. She has to help.
Sam is the sheriff just doing his job and trying to not let his heart enter the picture. He has a dream that he has been working towards for years and he must not let Miss Mary enter the picture. He too had been hungry as a child and knows about children like this but he wants better and his goal is to have a large house and a beautiful wife to make him respectable. The mayors daughter seems to always be around and batting her lovely eyes at him.
Sam and Mary both need to open their eyes to what is really going on and come back to letting God guide their paths.
I enjoyed reading this story but then I always like to read Dorothy Clark books.
August 11, 2020
This was really a beautiful story. Its very unrealistic , but it was a wonderful story anyway. Mary and her brother are in St Louis because her brother has taken over a steam boat line.
It doesn't take long for Mary to get involved with the city's orphans who are being sent to jail and made to work for free, simply because they have the misfortune of being without parents. This causes her to have some issues with the city's police captain. He is currently courting the daughter of the city's mayor. She's very beautiful, but very shallow. It is very easy to hate her. Its also hard not to want to shake Sam, for even considering her as a wife. She's just a pretty arm decoration.
I loved Mary's determination to keep the children out of jail. Though this story took place during the time of orphan trains and an orphanage such as Mary's just wasn't the norm. Things were not good for orphans in this period of time in America, not that they are ever good.
This particular story was very "God" focused. Love Inspired novels are Christian fiction but the level of faith in each story is different. This one is definitely one of the more faith focused stories. God was always sending answers and people to Mary and Sam. It was a little bit much at times, but I loved Mary.
The other thing this story tried to drum down our throats was how you can be beautiful on the outside but be ugly on the inside. The big example her is Lavina, the mayor's daughter. She was easy on the eyes, but her personality was sorely lacking. Mary is described as plain by her ex fiancee and the other "beautiful" people, but her personality makes her beautiful.
I totally enjoyed this book even though nothing could have happened.
It doesn't take long for Mary to get involved with the city's orphans who are being sent to jail and made to work for free, simply because they have the misfortune of being without parents. This causes her to have some issues with the city's police captain. He is currently courting the daughter of the city's mayor. She's very beautiful, but very shallow. It is very easy to hate her. Its also hard not to want to shake Sam, for even considering her as a wife. She's just a pretty arm decoration.
I loved Mary's determination to keep the children out of jail. Though this story took place during the time of orphan trains and an orphanage such as Mary's just wasn't the norm. Things were not good for orphans in this period of time in America, not that they are ever good.
This particular story was very "God" focused. Love Inspired novels are Christian fiction but the level of faith in each story is different. This one is definitely one of the more faith focused stories. God was always sending answers and people to Mary and Sam. It was a little bit much at times, but I loved Mary.
The other thing this story tried to drum down our throats was how you can be beautiful on the outside but be ugly on the inside. The big example her is Lavina, the mayor's daughter. She was easy on the eyes, but her personality was sorely lacking. Mary is described as plain by her ex fiancee and the other "beautiful" people, but her personality makes her beautiful.
I totally enjoyed this book even though nothing could have happened.
May 12, 2022
Mary and her brother James Randolph move to St. Louis, Missouri to manage their father's shipping facility there. Mary sees that there is a need for a home for St. Louis's orphan. It is disgraceful how they are being treated in this town. She's willing to battle the by-the-book police captain Samuel Benton to protect them. Interesting how it all works out.
January 31, 2020
Sweet book, especially if you love orphan stories.
March 19, 2017
just a quick sweet romance novel
June 27, 2015
The Randolph Family
Book 4
I'm not sure which book I liked more - the first book in this series (featuring Mary's parents), or this book...
Mary comes from a rich family in Philadelphia. But she doesn't have beauty that so many people hold dear, and she is hurt deeply when she learns her fiance was marrying her for her money - not her. So she gets permission from her father to go with her brother, James, to St. Louis where he will manage his father's newly purchased ships.
But Mary soon learns that the children on the streets of St. Louis are mistreated badly. The mayor of the city is a monster, ordering Captain Samuel Benton to lock any homeless children in jail. His intent, they learn much later, was not for the safety of the children - or even for the town. Samuel, at first, does what he's told and thinks he's actually helping the children who now have a safe place to stay. And Mary fights him tooth and nail by taking in the children he tries to rest. But they soon both learn of the mayor's true intent and join forces to stop the horrible thing from happening.
Meanwhile, the feelings they have for each other grows. But they aren't right for each other, are they? After all, Sam wants to prove his worth by marrying well and climbing the political ladder in St. Louis. Mary believes she's too homely for any decent man to marry her for her.
This is a book that I could hardly put down. It kept me reading until the last page and left me feeling good about the nice people the author has created! I'm very much enjoying her series!
Book 4
I'm not sure which book I liked more - the first book in this series (featuring Mary's parents), or this book...
Mary comes from a rich family in Philadelphia. But she doesn't have beauty that so many people hold dear, and she is hurt deeply when she learns her fiance was marrying her for her money - not her. So she gets permission from her father to go with her brother, James, to St. Louis where he will manage his father's newly purchased ships.
But Mary soon learns that the children on the streets of St. Louis are mistreated badly. The mayor of the city is a monster, ordering Captain Samuel Benton to lock any homeless children in jail. His intent, they learn much later, was not for the safety of the children - or even for the town. Samuel, at first, does what he's told and thinks he's actually helping the children who now have a safe place to stay. And Mary fights him tooth and nail by taking in the children he tries to rest. But they soon both learn of the mayor's true intent and join forces to stop the horrible thing from happening.
Meanwhile, the feelings they have for each other grows. But they aren't right for each other, are they? After all, Sam wants to prove his worth by marrying well and climbing the political ladder in St. Louis. Mary believes she's too homely for any decent man to marry her for her.
This is a book that I could hardly put down. It kept me reading until the last page and left me feeling good about the nice people the author has created! I'm very much enjoying her series!
September 25, 2009
Award-winning author Dorothy Clark delivers another winner with The Law and Miss Mary. Her vivid descriptions make you feel as if you’re actually in St. Louis 1840 as she tells the story of Mary Randolph, who’s determined to save the town’s orphans, even if it means butting heads with police captain Samuel Benton. A charming story of healing, both physical and spiritual, The Law and Miss Mary will linger in your memory long after you’ve turned the last page.
July 6, 2010
I enjoyed this book. Set in St. Louis on the edge of the new wilderness of the early 1800's, I envisioned what St.Louis must have been like at the time. I liked the main idea of the story in that others see us differently than we sometimes see ourselves. The attitude of the heart is what truly affects our outward appearance.
November 7, 2012
Loved the characters and the story was amazing! To think Mary wishes that she was short and blond is crazy, but thank Sam he got her to see reason! Lol this is truly a unique and fascinating story and I am now wondering what else I can find from this author:)
January 21, 2013
Set in St. Louis, 1840, Mary Randolph strives to find a place for all the orphans. Police captain Samuel Benton must enforce the new law that jails these children. Together they face the mayor and his beautiful daughter to provide for these poor children.
January 26, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. The plot is all about Mary's quest to help the orphans; a quest I loved because orphans are near and dear to my heart. Along the way, Mary learns to love and trust again. A sweet romance is a nice back plot to the orphans and their journey home.
September 28, 2014
This was a good christian, historical romance. Mary might have over thought her problem with her attractiveness throughout the book, but I enjoyed the book.
June 15, 2015
I enjoy this book. I still can't believe how those so called influential people would treat those poor orphans so poorly.
February 24, 2013
Overall fun easy enjoyable historic read :D
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews