I really liked this book. It's a story of courage, determination and love in the very worst of circumstances. Eleanor did during wartime what society said a woman could not do. I found it poignant and well-researched.

It’s 1917 when Eleanor graduates from medical school, a time when women are simply not accepted as doctors; it’s also at the height of World War I. She dreams of working to save lives on the battlefield, her parents insist she give up medicine and marry, the way a proper young woman should. She persists and finally makes her way to a clearing station in France, but she’s only allowed to care for one, particular patient. She wants desperately to help save lives, but faces opposition from everyone she encounters, both the military and the medical professionals she works with. This is a beautifully written story about a woman who refused to accept the role society insisted she must take.

This book has it all - heroism and courage and a female doctor who saved many lives during WWI despite being a “delicate” woman. Also has a gorgeous Scottish lead: Fraser I highlighted quite a few quotes. Here’s one of my favorites.

“I liked it,” she told him softly. “Not because men were hurt, but because I was useful—I helped, I made a difference. They needed me.” Her eyes met Fraser’s, and he saw the flame burning there, the sense of purpose and determination, the realization that she was alive amid the carnage, had come through it. “Was I useful?”

The story of a talented young doctor who should have been more appreciated, respected and encouraged than she was. She didn't even find that from her own family. When she defies their expectations and heads to France to escort the local viscount (wounded) home to his family she knows nothing will be the same.
I think fans of Downton Abbey and WWI era dramas will be drawn to this novel. It was obviously well-researched. I liked it even though I thought the pacing was a bit uneven. It was as easy to pick the book up as it was to set it down. So I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC.

Nevertheless she persisted…. Dr. Eleanor Atherton grew up loving medicine and wanted nothing more than to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor. At this time women were rarely admitted to medical school. She achieved that goal despite the roadblocks placed in her path. WWI begins. Despite her continued efforts, she was not allowed to enlist or serve at the front. When she finally makes it to a casualty clearing station, she is denied the opportunity to serve anyone other than her assigned patient. She is treated negatively by both men and women. There is some romance in this story that helps drive the plot, however, my focus remained on Eleanor and the hurdles she overcame as she pursued her dreams.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fantastic book! Women can do anything they put their mind to. Eleanor is a great example of determination to be a doctor in a society that said it was not a place for women.

This story kept me engrossed in wondering what would happen next. From coming into a war zone as a civillian, to helping near the front lines, leading in dire circumstances, and a bit of romance made this a book hard to put down.

As a women in a mostly male dominated field, this book was truly inspiring. How many young girls can be like Eleanor now over 100 years later.

This is one of the best books I have read! Can I give it more than 5 stars?

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free digital copy of this ARC for my honest review.

This is a moving novel about a woman in WWI, trying to navigate not only the new world struck world rules, but also to survive as a female working in a male dominated profession.

This is heavily doused in romance, as much as it is a historical fiction.

Definitely a 4 out of 5 star read for me, and a novel I will be recommending to people who love historical fiction (WWI time piece) as well as to those that love the romance genre.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and author for the electronic ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I feel that this is more a romance book than it is true historical fiction. There was not really anything new or different in this story and the romance is the focus. It was just not my genre at all.

This is a moving story about the struggle of one women who is trying to succeed in a male dominated profession. Dr. Eleanor Atherton faces discrimination while trying to contribute to the war effort. After her tireless efforts, she begins to earn the respect of her male peers. This book consists of fear, intrigue, romance, and victory. I will be recommending this book for our Reader's Choice book club at the library. I will also be adding this to our collection at our local branch.

<b>Note:</b> I received an advanced copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

When Eleanor Atherton graduates from medical school near the top of her class in 1917, she dreams of going overseas to help the wounded, but her ambition is thwarted at every turn. Eleanor's parents insist she must give up medicine, marry a respectable man, and assume her proper place. While women might serve as ambulance drivers or nurses at the front, they cannot be physicians—that work is too dangerous and frightening.

Nevertheless, Eleanor is determined to make more of a contribution than sitting at home knitting for the troops. When an unexpected twist of fate sends Eleanor to the battlefields of France as the private doctor of a British peer, she seizes the opportunity for what it is—the chance to finally prove herself.

But there's a war on, and a casualty clearing station close to the front lines is an unforgiving place. Facing skeptical commanders who question her skills, scores of wounded men needing care, underhanded efforts by her family to bring her back home, and a blossoming romance, Eleanor must decide if she's brave enough to break the rules, face her darkest fears, and take the chance to win the career—and the love—she's always wanted.

While I found Eleanor to be a fascinating and straightforward character, the story as a whole dragged on a bit. I found the different perspectives of people with whom Eleanor came in contact with to be greatly interesting to the story regarding how people viewed a female doctor at the time.

Wow, just wow. I have a history of DNF'ing historicals to a fault but this one was absolutely stunning. The research that had to have went into this book was gripping. The determination of Eleanor, the unfolding story of the war, the romance, just the entire book took hold of my heart and kept me turning page after page to the very end. I absolutely adored this book and truly recommend. Thank you to Lecia Cornwall, Netgalley, and the publisher for the ARC. ♥️

The Woman at the Front - Lecia Cornwall
Eleanor has dreamed of following in her father's footsteps, becoming a doctor and one day taking over the family practice. If only it were that simple. She lives in a time where women are meant to be a wife, a mother and nothing more. She is determined to break out of that role expectation and when presented with a chance to prove herself, she jumps at it.
She finds herself in the battlefields in France, ready to help bring home a pilot/old family friend who has broken his leg. Her presence as a female doctor is alarming to many and she is given strict instructions to not touch another patient.
Eleanor begins to win over the trust of many of the men when put in situations where she must jump in and do what's right for the patients. She does what many men cannot and faces the gruesome horrors with dignity and grace, living up to her title of Doctor.
I've said it before, I am hit or miss with historical fiction, and most definitely have to be in the right mood, but The Woman at the Front captured me right from the beginning and I wasn't able to put it down. Eleanor's character growth was almost addictive. I had to see her prove herself and grow into her own self. She had such good intentions and such strong determination that I was rooting for her success from page 1. I can say this easily, this is now my favorite historical fiction and I can't wait for everyone to have a chance to fall in love with this as well! Keep an eye out in October folks!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thanks so much to Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved this book! Eleanor Atherton, who graduated from medical school in 1917, near the top of her class, wants to do much more than what little medicine she’s been able to practice so far.
Her parents want her to marry and give up the thought of a career as a doctor. World War I is on, and Eleanor wants to go to the battlefield to help save soldiers. Oddly enough, the military will allow her to go, but only as an ambulance drive or nurse because they don’t believe that a woman can face the surgeries that will need to be performed.
She is allowed to go, but the doctors already there are skeptical of her abilities. It doesn’t take long before most of them change their minds.
Meanwhile, Eleanor’s family is doing their best to get her shipped home so that she will come to her senses.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC of The Woman at the Front by Leica Cornwall. I have always been fascinated by perspectives from World War One. In truth, there are not many historical fiction stories set in this time period, and especially ones not told through the eyes of a female doctor at the front. Eleanor’s trials of acceptance as a true doctor, while also saving the lives of hundreds of patients in the most terrible of conditions makes for a heartfelt and triumphant story. There was also the added sweet romance of a soldier. I enjoyed this story and I think others will too.

I had no idea until I picked up The Woman at the Front that female doctors were NOT allowed to serve during WW1. The amount of research that Cornwall put into Eleanor's story blew me away and at the same time angered me beyond belief that it wasn't all too long ago that women were still deemed incapable of treating patients in a war. Inspired by true stories of women who worked as doctors on the front lines of the first world war, Eleanor's story is steeped in drama, compassion, and of course passion. As always, give me a romance with a Highland Scot and I'm sold! I appreciated that not everything in Eleanor's life was perfect and her family life and her parents' treatment of her life choices was disappointing...but realistic. I found her ability to continue on her path despite her family's objections to be the most satisfying bit of the whole novel. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this incredible WW1 story.

I was not sure if I could read another book on WWI but this one grabbed my attention from the first chapter. A young female doctor against all odds goes to the frontlines of battle in France. What began as a journey to bring home a son to his mother becomes much more as she becomes involved in treating the wounded at the front lines. Not for the squeamish, this book will let the reader recognize the true horror of this war,.

Eleanor Atherton, a recent medical school graduate, has been turned away from applying for a position as a medical doctor in France during WWI because she is a woman. Assisting in a medical emergency and demanding that a farmer be admitted to the medical wing of Chesscroft Park brings her to the attention of Lady Somerton, who asks to speak to her in private. Her son, Louis Chastaine, is serving as a pilot and he was wounded after his plane caught fire while he was involved in a fire fight. He was fortunate to land near a casualty clearing station and was being looked after. His older brother, Lord Cyril, who was raised to be the next Earl of Kirkswell, had died in a riding accident and the countess appoints Eleanor to be her son's private doctor and to go to France to escort him back to West Yorkshire. The countess promises Eleanor that she will be well rewarded and would serve as a doctor to her circle of female friends.

While her parents object to her decision, Eleanor leaves for the front and gets her first taste of being on her own and not accepted within her profession. She is bullied by an aristocrat VAD, who pushes her out of her first-class carriage, and she is harassed by soldiers going to the front until she is saved by a Scottish sergeant, Fraser MacLeod, who is a stretcher bearer.

Eleanor is given a ride to the 46 Casualty Clearing Station by Reverand Strong and finally makes her way to Louis' bedside accompanied by Matron Connolly. She is introduced to Colonel Bellford, the commandant of the station by Captain David Blair, a surgeon. The meeting does not go well, but Louis gets his way and Eleanor is able to stay. Eleanor spends her time visiting Louis and checking his splint but is not allowed to help in any way until she saves Captain Findlay, who was suffering from a pneumothorax, because his chest bandages were too tight. Louis now realizes that Eleanor isn't the little girl who followed him and her brother, Edward, around as a child.

While Edward and Lady Frances Parfitt, Louis' girlfriend, have a champagne party in the tent, Fraser takes Eleanor away to help with triage. With one week to go before Louis can return to West Yorkshire, she is finally using her education on the front lines. Colonel Bellford requests that she assist in case of an emergency with a list of restrictions. Louis is not happy that Eleanor has been away for so many hours.

When Edward returns to the CCS to escort Louis to Paris over Eleanor's objections, she finds out the truth that could endanger her career as a doctor. She froze during the examination and was not able to complete the exam. Her brother, Edward, returned to the exam room and changed her exam paper for his. She was given a place in the medical school, and he flunked. She entered medical school through a lie. How to keep this from affecting her career, how she sees herself, and her future?

Ms. Cornwall presents a story about a female doctor in the front lines during World War I. I found the story interesting, and I rooted for the heroine. While the story also has a romantic storyline, it served more to bring into focus the strictures that society placed on women, what they could do at the time, and the horrors of war.

If you are an avid reader of historical fiction than you should include this title in your TBR pile.

I have to admit that I love reading about others adventures, but I don't know how many I could actually handle. I am quite sure that- from everything I've read about WWI- I could not have done what this woman did. Since I read a lot of historical fiction, I have read much about how women doctors were not accepted by male doctors, nor were they well thought of during this time period. The fact the main character has to fight her own family to reach her goal shows how strong and how determined she was. I did like that the family did not change its idea and kept its disdain obvious during the whole book. I really liked this book and I was rooting for her the whole time. The romance between her and the Scot was more in the background until he is missing. Other than that, I couldn't read fast enough to see what she accomplished!

I was lucky enough to win an e-galley of THE WOMAN AT THE FRONT by Lecia Cornwall through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thanks for the early look, and I hope you have a safe and happy weekend!

This was a breathtaking read. The Woman at the Front is a beautifully written story about one woman's desire to use her medical training to serve as a doctor during WWI. As a female, Dr. Eleanor Atherton is opposed at almost every turn, subject to misogynistic attitudes and demeaning behavior. And yet, her character is an example of determination and grit -- and a reminder of all the women who strove for the rights we have today. I was captivated by both the realism and the humanity that the author was able to impart into the story. Well-researched and emotionally stirring, this is a historical fiction read that I gladly recommend!