This book was enjoyable and reminded me of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. I really liked the historical fiction aspect of the travelling medicine shows. I thought the author did well with sharing the ethical concerns and how the main character stood up for her ethical standards and advocated for her patients. This book deals with themes of anxiety and abuse and I thought these were very well done. Now, the book advertises a story about the Galveston hurricane however this doesn’t happen until 85% into the book. I think the book was interesting as daily life for the travelling medicine show. I think the description should match what the book is primarily about not the ending. I received an ARC for my honest opinion.

The Medicine Woman Of Galveston is the fifth novel by American author, Amanda Skenandore. The audio version is narrated by Amanda Stribling. Once top of her class at the Women’s Medical College of Chicago, now, at the start of the twentieth Century, Tucia Hatherly is out of options. She owes the loan company six hundred and sixty dollars, she has an almost-seven-year-old son with Down syndrome to support, and she has just lost her job at the corset factory.

When Hugh Horn turns up on her doorstep with a solution, she’s wary, but the idea of Toby landing in an asylum while she ends up in the poorhouse? That has her signing a document she’d never have considered, had she a choice.

Huey owns the Amazing Adolphus and his Travelling Medicine Show Co, and he needs her qualifications as a doctor to stay on the right side of the law. While his patter is convincing, she knows he’s really just a huckster, a con man, but the extent of his deception only becomes apparent in the months that follow.

For now, it’s bad enough that she has to become Madame Zabelle, fortune teller and mind reader, and has to perform in front of a crowd, something that triggers the flashbacks to an awful episode in the operating theatre at Fairview Hospital, the reason she doesn’t practice as a doctor. Overcoming her stage fright takes some time, and the help of one of the other performers, most of whom think she won’t last long.

The others are surprisingly talented, and Tucia wonders why they’re working for this demanding, insulting man prone to mercurial moods. The mind reading act isn’t the worst of what Huey dreams up: while the yokels are sold Revivifying Rattlesnake Oil and Miraculous Corn-busting Salve during the main show, in the case-taking tent, Tucia has to play the role of nurse as Huey diagnoses ailments, then prescribes his Revitalizing Crystals. It goes against everything she swore to uphold when she took her oath. Huey has yet more indignity in store for Tucia when they arrive in Galveston.

When she tries to leave, she discovers just how vague but watertight her contract is, and it soon becomes apparent that he has some sort of hold over each of the others as well: the ballet-dancing giantess, her crippled musician husband, the “savage” Indian, and the aloof behind-the-scenes maintenance man. Uniting against a common enemy, and kindnesses shown, make them friends.

Tucia manages to surreptitiously offset some of the bogus health advice Huey spews during the show by giving proper medical care in addition to reading palms. The troupe has mixed feelings about arriving in Galveston, but before they can even start rehearsals at Darby’s Museum of Wonders, Toby goes missing, just as a hurricane hits the island.

Skenandore conveys her setting and era with consummate ease; her characters are appealing for all their flaws, except those who deserve to be despised, and she gives even the least of them insightful observations: “There’s more to a person than the worse thing they done”. The story deftly illustrates the lack of agency suffered by not just women, but non-whites and the handicapped, in the early years of the twentieth Century. A moving and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and High Bridge Audio

I’m always so fascinated by stories that take place in the 1800-early 1900s. I just can’t even imagine what it must’ve been like that for a woman, and this was such a great historical fiction about the medicine shows and the medical profession, set in Galveston, TX.

The audiobook narration was so good, and I highly recommend this format!

*many thanks to HighBridge Audio, Kensington and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

I listened to this book on audio and struggled to keep my attention focused on it. I typically like historical fiction, but I didn't find myself engrossed in this main character's story like I typically would be. Maybe I would have enjoyed this more via a physical copy, as I enjoyed one of this author's other books!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audibook ALC, all opinions are my own. While I am a heavy historical fiction reader, and many times pick up book based on places I have visited, this one was just an okay read. There were some parts that I enjoyed, like the history of traveling to different places to sell your magical elixir, but then other parts didn't work for me like her relationship. Then, and this is a me vs the book issue, I was reading when several hurricanes hit the US mainland, so it was just raw and real. I am sure that others will enjoy this one more than I did.

This was a super interesting topic and one I haven't read much about. I enjoyed what I was able to hear, but unfortunately the NetGalley platform for listening to audiobooks was so glitchy that I wasn't able to listen to the whole book. I look forward to reading it in it's entirety when it's published.

A great engaging historical fiction narrative about a a wonderful mother who offers medical assistance where she can in Galveston in the early 1900's. The story is good, following a female doctor and her son as she makes difficult choices in order to survive. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tusha and her son Toby are living a hand to mouth existence. As a single parent, she has challenges in balancing a full time job and parenting. One too many late arrivals at work puts them out of balance. Along comes a stranger with a unique offer. He asks her to join his medicine show because he needs to be propped up by a medical doctor and Tusha is a medical college graduate. Her situation is complicated by a loan due to a loan shark; she jumps at the chance for a new life. Her medical degree, earned from the Medical College of Chicago has been unused since her internship when a terrible attending physician abused her and drove her from practicing.

The work with the travelling medicine show is more than meets the eye. It is a huge change of pace for she and Toby. The troupe moves every 2-7 days and builds a family of sorts amongst the performers.

Great information of a topic I knew nothing about! Reads very much like a novel. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction as well as nonfiction.

Title: The Medicine Woman of Galveston
Author: Amanda Skenandore
Narrator: Amanda Stribling
Audiobook review

Tucia Hatherley used to practice medicine until a traumatic experience changed her world and her future. Now a single mother struggling to make ends meet by working in a corset factory, she has no choice but to join a travelling medicine show run by a charismatic showman named Huey when their livelihood is threatened.

Tucia faces numerous obstacles on her journey to become a doctor, including resistance from her stepmother, classmates, and a senior doctor during her internship. When the medicine show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia attempts to break free from Huey but is pulled deeper into his schemes. Set against the backdrop of the great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the story follows Tucia as she tries to recover her belief in medicine, the goodness of others, and in herself.

The story is full of wonderful characters and vivid descriptions that immerse you in the tale. I enjoyed the short retelling of each of the members of the travelling medicine show as their backstories were told during the story and the true friendships that were formed along the way.

I was really impressed by Amanda Stribling's narration of this story. She did a fantastic job, especially considering the various language accents involved with many characters. Her portrayal of the accents really brought the characters to life.

This is my third book from this author and I love her writing style.
A powerful and captivating story about second chances with a fierce and strong female doctor during a devastating hurricane. For fans of historical fiction this is a fantastic read.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 by Amanda Skenandore released May 21, 2024.

Loved the nurses secret by this author so was excited to get an advanced copy of this one!! I will say it wasn’t quite as good but definitely still worth a listen!

Really enjoyed the narrator, no issues there and could listen at my usual accelerated speed without any difficulty.

Tucia has completed medical school to be a doctor but is working at a corset factory while trying to support her son on her own. The book lists numerous times—to many really—that she had an event/accident and the trauma from this keeps her from being a doctor due to flashbacks and anxiety attacks. So this is just a bit unbelievable for me, I’m doing whatever I need to so my child is cared for and she’s on the verge of losing housing and hungry.

I loved how the author wrote and created family for Tucia and Toby despite them really having none. The bonds between characters that work with her at the traveling medicine show are strong and deeply developed. Enjoyed the short blurbs about each of their backstories and the true friendships that arise. Also even with the working girls close by the boarding house in Galveston. She definitely is an overcomer!

Bit slow at times but all in all I enjoyed and would recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for my advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you like historical fiction this follows the experiences of a female nurse who is discredited and forced out of medicine because of evil doctor. She finds herself alone with a child trying to earn a living which eventually lands her in the control of another evil man which she can’t escape. This novel follows her exploits and relationships she forms along the way. The climax is when she finds herself in Galveston before the big hurricane hits that killed hundreds. Can she put her life back together?. I enjoyed the audiobook. The main character has so many trials it’s depressing to see how people are controlled and manipulated against their will.

Thank you NetGalley and High Bridge Audio for a copy of the audiobook. This review is voluntary and my own opinions.

Tucia Hatherley is not living the life she once imagined. A pioneering female medical student at the end of a century, she persevered to accomplish her lifelong dream to be a doctor. But it was short lived. Now she finds herself working at a factory with deplorable conditions, struggling to care for her special needs son and buried in debt. She understands all too well that society is not kind to women. To find a way out, she makes a deal with the charismatic showman, Huey and joins his traveling medicine show. Tucia and the cast of unique characters and outcasts crisscross the country until they take residence in Galeveston. Join her on this journey to find herself, a family and reclaim her passion for medicine.

I was excited by the title of this book because I thought it would focus on the city of Galveston and the horrific hurricane in 1900. However, this is only a small part of the book in the last 25%. Most of the story is about her time in the traveling medicine show. I felt Amanda Skenandore did not create a compelling historical setting with enough details to transport the reader to the place and time, a required hallmark of historical fiction.

This was a HUGE let down. I saw Galveston and I was already thinking like hell yeah! But when it came down to it, it didn’t come to play until like 70% or something and that annoyed me so bad lol

Ok so for the historical aspect, I thought it was pretty good. The way people acted toward an educated woman just ugh I mean it’s still very much the same, but reading about this happening in the 1900’s just made me stick to my stomach. And all because she was a doctor. And the people that “helped” her along the way were also terrible. This time instead of disliking every adult in a book, I hated all of the men in the book. With the exception of like one.

Ok so the setting was my main reason of wanting to read this. Especially since it was set during 1900. I knew that meant the Great Galveston hurricane was coming and I thought it was going to be filled with some heart stopping times before the hurricane and during it, but I didn’t get any of that. First off they didn’t get to Galveston until like 70% and even though they talked about some Galveston staples (like Murdoch’s) she barely mentioned the way the air smelled and the way the beaches were, etc. I don’t really understand the way it has Galveston in the title and the synopsis starts with the 1900 storm when it’s only there for the climax of the story.

And because it was only there for the climax of the story, it felt hella weird because there was no like build up or anything. It came out of nowhere. And even tho I know that’s how people were back then because we didn’t have any like Dopplers that we do now, it just didn’t seem like they had any sense of urgency. Like even when the rain and stuff started coming and they realized it was more than just a little rain, it was still like meh to me. Maybe because I was jaded that I sat through that whole book waiting for them to get to Galveston, but I don’t doubt that others that were also waiting for that same thing would also be mad.

The circus and it’s members was cool, but it felt I thought it was out of place. Why? Because again, the synopsis made it seem like this was about something completely different. And when it started giving all the back stories of all the circus people, it just seemed weird. I can’t lie to you, I had no idea where this was going.

I do wish the conditions that she and her son had were more explored tho. The amount of times it was mentioned in this book alone should have warranted a better explanation than what we got. It just felt a bit weird to not know. Even if they had to make guesses on what it was based on the time it was. Idk, besides the way the evil ass men were in this book, it never felt like this book was historical.

This wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. I read this book to give my opinion for an adult program selection. Come back in a year and see if they pick it lmao

I'm not going to call myself a Galveston local, but I guess I'm getting pretty close to it with how often I go down to visit friends on the island. That being, said, Amanda Skenandore did her research for this book!!! It was cool to me to hear the narrator mention all these places I've been and streets I've walked down or views I remember! That was probably my favorite part.

However, this book being titled "The Medicine Woman of Galveston" feels VERY misleading. The setting of this story isn't in Galveston until you're over 75% of the way into it. I actually ended up skipping the entire middle of this book to get to the part that was set in Galveston because that's what I was actually interested in. The parts of the story I did hear, I enjoyed. I just feel like if you're going to call a book "The Medicine Woman of Galveston" the setting should largely be, well... in Galveston. I can't seem to get past that lol, but I think I'll definitely try to go back and read the physical version of this book another time to get the full story!

This was such a good historical fiction story about a down on her luck unwed mother and rare female doctor working in a corset factory to survive and support her disabled son only to find herself without a job and deep in debt.

Forced to make a deal with a devilish conman and owner of a travelling medicine show, Tucia finds herself befriending the other misfits, falling in love and learning to like medicine again all while trying to reconcile the deception she has to peddle against her will.

Moving, compelling and good on audio narrated by Amanda Stibling, this was a great read and perfect for fans of authors like Audrey Blake and Alice Hoffman's Museum of extraordinary things. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

CW: rape, gun violence

Disability rep: child with Down syndrome ; trichoctillomania (hair pulling compulsion)

TW for sexual assault/abuse and trichotillomania.

This book started a bit uncomfortable for me, it was a hard first 10%. That said, it's worth the wait because the rest of the story is phenomenal, and I would say that part was all meant to be world-building to understand why the character is making the decisions she does later. I do think some of it could have been cut, but overall it makes sense. I also will note that the trichotillomania shown in the book is situated to look like it is healed as the person gets more mentally healthy and has a more stable environment, which may not be the best for people who struggle with this disorder.

This was a really great redemption story, and the characters are all very well fleshed out. I appreciated the perspectives of different points of view throughout the book that you see through the MC's interactions with each character.

I'd definitely recommend this one to anyone who likes a little karma in their books.

What an amazing historical fiction book. I love books of that genre and this one was a very different read for me. It was interesting to read about a female physician in the 1900s. The primary character, Tucia Hatherly was a formidable individual. Her willingness to step outside of the normal expectations for women in that time period was amazing. And how she managed to survive poverty, raise a child with Down’s Syndrome as a single parent, and prove herself to be a worthwhile doctor was admirable. Being shown the life of the people who were part of the traveling medicine show was interesting and enlightening. The author obviously did a great deal of research about the time period and what life was like on the road with a traveling show. Though the amount of time spent in Galveston was only toward the end of the book ... making the title a little misleading ... the book was a wonderful read. I learned so much and found myself cheering for Tucia as she realizes that the performers who are part of the group have stories behind their facade. As she gets to know them and appreciate their contributions, she develops relationships that make a difference in her life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

This was my first of Amanda Skenabdore’s books and I had heard such good things about it. The premise for this novel was a woman named Tucia is a former doctor after a tragic event during a surgery goes badly. Years later and more and more in debt Tucia has found herself employed wherever will take her. After getting fired a man named Huey comes to her door offering to pay off her debts in exchange for her to join his traveling medicine. With her son Tucia agrees with very few other choices.

This is a historical fiction and depicts it only how life for women was in the 1900s but also the devastation of a hurricane that hit Galveston during this time. I felt like this one moved pretty slowly and it didn’t really capture my attention. This book just wasn’t one that grabbed me like some others have recently. If you are a fan of slower paced historical fiction you might enjoy this one more than I did.