New Releases
The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore
From the author of The Nurse’s Secret comes a gripping new novel based on true events, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Ellen Marie Wiseman, and Donna Everhart. This haunting tale follows a determined female doctor who, in a desperate bid to support her son, is drawn into the world of a devious swindler’s traveling medicine show. Set against the backdrop of the catastrophic 1900 Galveston Hurricane, this story is filled with raw, unflinching prose and emotional depth.
Description
Once a pioneering doctor, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since a tragic mistake in the operating room. Now, she works in a corset factory, struggling to earn enough to care for her disabled son. When even that job is threatened, Tucia has no choice but to join Huey, a charismatic showman, in his traveling medicine show. Her medical credentials lend the show an air of legitimacy, but the so-called cures she is forced to sell are little more than empty promises. Though she despises the deception, Tucia forms uneasy bonds with the other performers, vowing to leave once her debts are settled and start a new life with her son—if Huey will ever let her go.
When the show arrives in Galveston, Tucia tries to break free, but instead, she is pulled deeper into Huey’s schemes. As a September storm threatens, it rapidly transforms into a devastating hurricane that will devastate the Gulf Coast. In the face of this disaster, Tucia must find the strength to believe in herself, in the healing power of medicine, and in the goodness of others.
Karla Bohn –
This book took me on a journey through a single Mother of a special needs Down Syndrome son to keep him safe and fed in earlier times. She is a trained Doctor in a time where it is not condoned or understood that woman can do that well. Survival makes us do things that are possibly underhanded but necessary to keep going. Historical facts are great, settings very believable, and the characters keep you guessing what next! Worth reading for sure!
Ginger Russell –
I’ve read several books by this author, and I was not as thrilled with this one, but it was still interesting and entertaining. It was sort of frustrating to read, because I felt perhaps the main character could have done something about her circumstances. Part of the point of the book, though, was to highlight her mental illness. I knew some things about the “snake oil salesmen” but not about the 1900 hurricane in Galveston. Even though the title of the book mentions Galveston, though, the hurricane was a short section at the end of the story, and I thought it could have played a bigger role. The author is a nurse, and the medical issues are described thoroughly and accurately. Not a bad story, all in all.