The beautiful, yet wildly untamed New Mexico landscape, combined with the violent uncertainty lingering behind the Great Plains Indian Wars sets the stage for Donna MacQuigg's passionate historical romance novel, "The Doctor's Daughter." Newly released, her book has already received much critical praise, including a notable Booklist review. "The Doctor's Daughter" has a fast-moving plot that strikes a captivating balance between romance, scenery details and historical information--a distinctive technique that sets MacQuigg's work apart from the rest of the genre. "The West was a majestic, yet violent, place where life was precarious and precious," says MacQuigg. "So romance and passionate love probably offered reprieve from the day to day struggle to survive."

The Doctor's Daughter

Donna MacQuigg
Five Star Books (2007)
ISBN 9781594145964
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (11/06)


“The Doctor’s Daughter” is a classic tale about young English woman Rebeccah Randolph and her journey to the American frontier to be reunited with her estranged father. Donna MacQuigg gets the story rolling quickly. By the end of the first chapter, Rebeccah has arrived in America and the adventures begin. She immediately learns that New Mexico is nothing like England. This rough country is full of cowboys and Indians. The novel rapidly evolves into a love story between Rebeccah and Colonel Sayer MacLaren, a handsome American cavalry officer. Rebeccah is torn between her promise to her fiancé, who is back in England, and her attraction to this American man. The reader is drawn into her internal struggle as the book progresses into a romance.

I really enjoyed the lessons that this book taught. As a young woman arriving in America for the first time from England, Rebeccah was skilled in the finer ways of social graces and a life of luxury, but she had no practical skills. By the end of the book she is riding a horse, fishing, shooting a gun, cooking, and making her own decisions. These are skills she never would have learned in a pampered lifestyle back in England, and ultimately they make her a stronger, more independent person.

Rebeccah also learns how to follow her heart. She is so consumed by the proper way of doing things that she feels she must break off her engagement in person with her fiancé in England before professing her love to Sayer. Up until the last heart-wrenching and hilarious moment at the train station, she holds her ground.

I look forward to seeking out more books by this author. Her fresh writing is a joy to read. Donna MacQuigg’s fast-paced witty writing style kept me entranced through the entire book and I finished wanting more. She brings the characters to life and gives them each a distinct personality. Her knowledge of the terrain and lifestyle of the American West is notable. I recommend “The Doctor’s Daughter” to anyone who wants to curl up with a good romance/western book. Be prepared to be swept off your feet along with Rebeccah by the captivating young soldier.