Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC of 'The Medicine Woman of Galveston' by Amanda Skenandore.

While the book description led me to expect a different setting, I found great pleasure in the narrative. As someone attracted to stories involving 'circus, curiosities, oddities, and medicine shows,' this book resonated with my interests.

Although the Galveston setting doesn't take center stage until the end, the characters are vividly brought to life through compelling storytelling. The exploration of healing, cultural identity, and human connections adds significant depth to the narrative. Each character’s story was explored and their uniqueness brought to light.

'The Medicine Woman of Galveston' is a captivating and memorable read, blending history and resilience in a unique way.

A story of a tough woman whom back in the late 1890’s not only became a woman doctor, but did so with honors. She tried to make it in a man’s world, but was beaten down.
We meet Dr. Tucia Hatherley when she is really on the down and out, trying to work in a factory and take care of her handicapped son, but she is ripe for a con man to take more advantage of her.
We meet Huey and the band of troopers, or performers, and we travel with his medicine show, and soon learn what they and Huey have in common.
The author gives us a bit of everything, including some sweet romance, a hurricane, and some very unscrupulous people. This quickly became a page turner, and will be looking for more by this author!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review can also be found on Goodreads.

I feel I was very mislead by the title and description for this novel, the two things that instantly drew my attention for this ARC request. The blurb states: "Caught in the great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, a female doctor who's joined a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son is forced to weather the storm and its aftermath in a town hostile to the troupe's unconventional ways but desperate for their help."

From this quote, my understanding was the greater part of this book would take place in Galveston, during the 1900 Storm. This was the main reason I requested this book with such excitement. However, only the last 15% of the book takes place in Galveston and has anything to do with the 1900 Storm. I was left extremely disappointed, mainly because of the inaccurate description of what this book was about.

This book is much more focused on Tucia and her young son Toby, who is disabled. Down to their last penny and an increasing debt, doctor turned factory worker Tucia accepts a job off from Huey who runs a traveling medicine show. Huey has promised to pay off all her debts in return for her doctoral expertise on the road. Looking for relief and safety for her disabled son, they join his troupe. 85% of the book is Tucia traveling with the ragtag group and trying to accept the fact that she is conning people out of money in the traveling show, in order to pay off her own debts. I often found myself bored with the monotonous happenings of the medicine show group, and I was never truly interested in any of the characters. I wanted much more on her experience in Galveston before, during, and after the Storm.

I know this will be some people's cup of tea, but sadly, I did not enjoy it. I really disagree with the book blurb being used, as I don't think it truly captures what this book is actually about.

This book was a great tale of a mother who will do anything, at any cost to take care of her child. This story made me laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between. I really enjoyed this story.

4.5. It’s 1900, and Tucia, a woman, has attained her medical degree, against all odds. But she works in a corset factory and has not worked as a doctor for 8 years due to an incident in surgery. She has a son who has a weakened heart and she is in debt and barely surviving when a man comes to her door making her an offer she can’t refuse. Be the “doctor” behind his traveling medical show where he sells medicines to people.

As this book goes on, every once in a while a chapter will delve into each person’s background and why they ended up in this circus-type show. I loved this background into the eccentric but loving people who made up the shows.

As the medicine show continues on Tucia is asked to take on more and more tasks. All comes to a head when they arrive in Galveston and a hurricane arrives.

I loved this story. Firstly, because I’m fascinated by traveling medicine shows/circuses etc and the people that put on these shows. Secondly, being one of the first women doctors could not have been easy, especially when men didn’t think them capable. Excellent story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Skenandore and Kensington Books for this ARC. This will not be my last book by Ms Skenandore.

“The Medicine Woman of Galveston” by Amanda Skenandore is a wonderful and captivating historical fiction that weaves together the threads of love, resilience, and self-discovery. The story follows Tucia, a disgraced and destitute female physician who joins a traveling medicine show as a way out of her dismal situation. While the novel is set against the backdrop of a nomadic medicine show, Skenandore did a great job showcasing the resilience and resourcefulness of its unique characters. "The Medicine Woman of Galveston” is a four-star gem that invites readers to embark on a captivating journey filled with magic, camaraderie, and self-discovery. Skenandore’s ability to blend historical elements with enchanting storytelling makes this book a delightful read for those seeking a unique and immersive experience.

I received an ARC copy

Such a beautifully written historical fiction novel. Basically forced to join a traveling medicine show, Tucia learns her way with her son. She is a medical doctor, rare at the time for a woman. The group ends up in Galveston just before the great Galveston hurricane of 1900. Will everyone in the group survive? Will Tucia ever get to leave the medicine show?

A must read for historical fiction fans. Great characters, great plot, great read.

Amanda Skenandore just keeps getting better and better! Tucia and the others fairly jump off the pages of the book and into your heart. The story takes place in 1900 and is about a woman who will do anything to protect her young son with Down's syndrome. Life hasn't been easy for Tucia, despite having trained to be a physician, and she finds herself jobless, broke, and without options. She is offered a job in a traveling medicine show, and she has no choice but to accept. Of course, things don't turn out the way she hoped, and we travel with her through towns and villages as she tries to remain true to her calling as both a physician and a mother. The writing is vivid, and the struggles are real. I strongly recommend this book. You can't help but love it, too.

Loved this book again this author writes what it like as a women thrown into the world and surviving what is front of her.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston written by Amanda Skenandore, was a beautiful historical fiction for me! The characters were charming! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This author is new to me and she managed to keep my attention until the last chapter.

Caught in the great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, a female doctor joined a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son. She is then forced to weather the storm and its aftermath. Once a in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope, instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. In this story, we follow Tucia through out her journey of twists and turns and danger.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Set in the aftermath of the deadliest natural disaster in America and highlighting unscrupulous medical practitioners on show circuits, this fantastic book examines the different trajectories our lives take when we make one wrong move.

Tucia Hatherley is a formidable woman; she has always fought for her future. Readers see the challenges women of the time faced when wanting to pursue further education and a career in a traditionally male field. Dr. Hatherley fought for the right to be allowed a place at medical school, fought to be considered good enough to work in an emergency room at a busy hospital, fought to be on the cutting edge of medicine, fought to mother a disabled child, and now fights for her future after a workplace error. Working in a corset factory isn’t what she had in mind after climbing to be recognized in her career but it pays the bills…almost. When she’s forced to consider another alternative, a morally questionable one, she discovers that it takes her life in another direction she hadn’t prepared for.

Tucia joins a misfit troupe of medicine show performers who get caught in the Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900. Her choices help her believe in herself again, believe in her dream and her belief in medicine and the natural disaster ties it all together by showing her the goodness in others. I enjoyed this exploration into an area none of us like considering - what do we do next when it all goes sideways?

I appreciated the inclusion of a boy with Down syndrome and the examination of a vaguely familiar term - ‘snake oil.’

I was captivated by the colourful world of medicine shows, their vibrant performances and the touting of infamous miracle elixirs. Congratulations on a unique plot featuring unique characters!

I was also intrigued by the author's exploration on the link between our mental health and our physical health during a time when little was known about either.

I was gifted this copy by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This was a great story about Tucia and her special needs son Toby.. Down on their luck after Tucia loses her job, her only option is to join a traveling medicine show.. The other people in the show soon become like a family to her. Each of these people have their own secrets, but they form a strong bond that strengthens even more when tragedy strikes.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston was a good read, and it had more to the plot and characters than I'd expected. Set in 1900, and ultimately in Galveston, TX. The young woman in the book has a son with Down's Syndrome. Due to a great many mishaps and the difficulty of the times then for unmarried women, she comes upon hard times. In order to save herself, and her son, she is approached to make use of her medical degree. Nothing comes without a cost, and she was actually to be part of a medicine show. The traveling group is interesting and well done. I grew to like them, and this book actually caused me to look into additional books on medicine shows (thank you to the author for including a list of titles.) I read this one late into the night.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Net Galley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Doctor Hatherley fought to be allowed to go to medical school, fought to be taken seriously in the field, until the day it was all taken away in a matter of minutes. Now she works in a factory just barely making enough to support her and her son. When she loses her job and with debtors knocking at her door she receives an offer, while distasteful to her morals, she has no choice but to accept. Joining a medical show to give them credibility with her medical license will keep her and her son together and out of the poor house. But she quickly learns that the show has a lot more secrets then meets the eye.

I first really got interested in medicine shows when I listened to a @maintenancephase episode on snake oil, and what it really was and how it came to be associated with grifting.

This was a really interesting look at the people who worked these shows and the choices that lead them their. And of the entire practice of shows and their exploitative nature.

I absolutely enjoyed this and am very thankful to @amandaskenandore and @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for letting me have this early in exchange for a review.
Look for it May 21 2024
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Whereas I have loved The Nurse's Secret by the author, I was rather disappointed in her new novel . I had big problems getting into the story and most of the characters were uninteresting for me. They were way too predictable. It could well be because I had expected a novel more focused on medicine. The last part of the novel was much more compelling when the flood got in the way.... However I did enjoy reading about a boy with Down syndrome as I have one myself and worked with many. What the author mentioned about their medical condition was correct, but when Toby was talking he didn't sound at all like a child with Down syndrome. His language skills were too good (particularly at his age), and he was given a behaviour much too mature that did not fit.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore, published by Kensington Books, is a full length, stand alone, historical fiction novel.
Set in the 1900 in Galveston, TX a female doctor is caught in a major hurricane. Set to help the injured and sick she's joined a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son.Now she has to weather the storm in a town hostile to the troupe's unconventional ways but in need of their help.
An intriguing story, unique, captivating, literally unputdownable I read the book, cover to cover, in just one sitting. Outstanding and unique, I love it.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore is a great historical fiction that is engaging, unique, and held me interest throughout.

I really enjoyed the author’s previous books, The Nurse’s Secret and The Second Life of Mirielle West, so I was excited to read this turn of the 20th century, western-US novel.

Incorporating the real events of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the author weaves a story of hardship, overcoming obstacles, finding faith in life and also within yourself. She presents these concepts through the fascinating, unique, and complex character of Dr. Tucia Hatherley, and her experiences and travels with the traveling show. Her journey, internal and literal, make for an interesting read that had plenty of angst, events, and heart.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/21/24.

I really enjoyed reading about the hurricane that swept over Galveston.
I think my heart beated pretty fast over those scenes.
Some really great writing going on here too. This is a new to me author and I feel that she has done an excellent job with this novel.
I think it was the blurb that drew me me to read this.
I must say that a medicine show wasn't quite what u was expecting but yet quite interesting.
Kind of reminds me of the original Pete's dragon movie.
A great read none the less.
The only character that I didn't really like was Huey. He was a sly one that one. I kinda felt sorry for his troupe.
I can't imagine plucking my hair out daily either. A weird kind of nervous habit.
I enjoyed reading about the different towns that they traveled through and each town had a different personality.
Just like people do.
I am giving this novel 5 stars because I enjoyed reading a different type of story.
I recommend this novel.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.