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Laura Elliston/Sawbones #1
Sawbones
Outlander meets post-Civil War unrest in this fast-paced historical debut.
When Dr. Catherine Bennett is wrongfully accused of murder, she knows her fate likely lies with a noose unless she can disappear. Fleeing with a bounty on her head, she escapes with her maid to the uncharted territories of Colorado to build a new life with a new name. Although the story of the murderess in New York is common gossip, Catherine's false identity serves her well as she fills in as a temporary army doctor. But in a land unknown, so large and yet so small, a female doctor can only hide for so long.
"Packs a big punch with grit and raw passion. There is mystery, murder, Indians, bounty hunters and intrigue. The women are brave, intelligent and don't take crap from anyone. Lenhardt is a talented, creative writer; she has a grand slam out of the park with Sawbones." -- RT Book Reviews (Top Pick!) 4.5 stars
"Raw, gritty and sometimes graphic, Melissa Lenhardt has crafted a page-turner. In Sawbones, the women are smart, brave and at times 'incorrigible.' The plot twists, unique characters and intriguing story of passion and betrayal make this a book well worth discovering." -- Jane Kirkpatrick, New York Times bestselling author of A Light in the Wilderness
"Absolutely loved it! I couldn't tear myself away from Sawbones. An epic story of love and courage that sweeps from east to west, Sawbones will rip right through you." - Marci Jefferson, author of Girl on the Golden Coin
"Melissa Lenhardt has given us an amazing heroine and sent her on a thrilling journey from the teeming streets of New York City to the vast wilderness of the Texas frontier. Dr. Catherine Bennett's adventure will keep you turning pages long into the night!"-- Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue
"You will fall in love with Catherine, as I did, as she struggles to assert herself in a violent and treacherous world, fighting not only prejudice but evil."-- Sandra Dallas, New York Times bestselling author
When Dr. Catherine Bennett is wrongfully accused of murder, she knows her fate likely lies with a noose unless she can disappear. Fleeing with a bounty on her head, she escapes with her maid to the uncharted territories of Colorado to build a new life with a new name. Although the story of the murderess in New York is common gossip, Catherine's false identity serves her well as she fills in as a temporary army doctor. But in a land unknown, so large and yet so small, a female doctor can only hide for so long.
"Packs a big punch with grit and raw passion. There is mystery, murder, Indians, bounty hunters and intrigue. The women are brave, intelligent and don't take crap from anyone. Lenhardt is a talented, creative writer; she has a grand slam out of the park with Sawbones." -- RT Book Reviews (Top Pick!) 4.5 stars
"Raw, gritty and sometimes graphic, Melissa Lenhardt has crafted a page-turner. In Sawbones, the women are smart, brave and at times 'incorrigible.' The plot twists, unique characters and intriguing story of passion and betrayal make this a book well worth discovering." -- Jane Kirkpatrick, New York Times bestselling author of A Light in the Wilderness
"Absolutely loved it! I couldn't tear myself away from Sawbones. An epic story of love and courage that sweeps from east to west, Sawbones will rip right through you." - Marci Jefferson, author of Girl on the Golden Coin
"Melissa Lenhardt has given us an amazing heroine and sent her on a thrilling journey from the teeming streets of New York City to the vast wilderness of the Texas frontier. Dr. Catherine Bennett's adventure will keep you turning pages long into the night!"-- Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue
"You will fall in love with Catherine, as I did, as she struggles to assert herself in a violent and treacherous world, fighting not only prejudice but evil."-- Sandra Dallas, New York Times bestselling author
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2016
132 people are currently reading
2544 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Lenhardt
10 books494 followersMelissa Lenhardt writes women’s fiction, historical fiction, and mysteries. The New York Times called HERESY an “unapologetically badass western” and “an all-out women-driven, queer, transgender, multiracial takeover of the Old West.” Heresy also won the 2022 Audie Award for Best Multi-Voiced Performance. Her debut women’s fiction novel, THE SECRET OF YOU AND ME, was the first LGBTQ+ novel published by Mills and Boon in the UK. A lifelong Texan, Melissa is currently traveling the world as a digital nomad.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
May 18, 2016
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
I fell in love with Catherine Bennett's character! She is such a strong woman and does all she can to be a good doctor. She worked with her father in the War dressed as a man so she could help with the medical stuff, she trained with her uncle, or she calls him uncle at any rate, and they started doing the sanitizing of instruments and wounds, etc. She cares deeply for her patients.
BUT.....
She gets accused of murdering a prominent citizen and gets called all kinds of names and a bounty put on her head! I mean really? These people are jerks and you know some jerk just set her up. Soooooo, she has to run for her life. She gets the help of her friend Camille to go to Colorado and her traveling companion is Maureen who raised her and helped her dad when her mother died. She is a sweet woman. But, when they get there, the person Camille had set them up with was not available for certain reasons so they joined a wagon train heading out to Texas to some settlement. She thought maybe she could be the first doctor there. All she wants to do is be a doctor people.
On their away, they all get attacked and she is left alone in the world. She is saved by Captain William Kindle and it turns out she saves him by doing surgery on his arm and leg. They are taken back to Fort Richardson and she is promptly set up as the temporary doctor until the new one arrives with supplies, whenever that may be. Yay! She's so happy.
Oh and she changes her name to Dr. Laura Elliston. I just love her spunk and snark and the way she treats everyone as equals. She does butt heads with some men in the fort but we know that's bound to happen. And one of the women, Harriet, who seems like a jerk in the beginning, turns out to be a great friend.
I love the relationship that slowly grows between Captain Kindle and Laura. It's so sweet and funny and I loved reading about it. But they have a lot of trials to go through. There is someone after Laura, she thinks a bounty hunter has found here when she starts getting secret envelopes with her picture and reward on it. This has her pretty freaked out, as it would anyone.
I don't want to give out any major spoilers but I loved the ending. It does get rough for a bit, actually a lot of parts of the book are gruesome. It does all seem like it's going to work out in the end and that's all that matters.
I leave you with an EXCERPT:
"Furthermore, if I wanted to attach a man, which I decidedly do not, I would not need the aid of the heightened emotions of a sickbed. I am a doctor and Captain Kindle's health is what I am interested in ministering to. My second objective is perform the duties set upon me by General Sherman, then leave this country, which--the beautiful sunset notwithstanding--resembles nothing more than the seventh circle of hell to me."
"Dr. Elliston, your language is hardly appropriate."
"There is that word again! Oh, how I have always loathed the word appropriate! It is a word used most often by women without the courage or imagination to think and do for themselves and by men who routinely engage in inappropriate behavior behind closed doors."
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Redhook Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
I fell in love with Catherine Bennett's character! She is such a strong woman and does all she can to be a good doctor. She worked with her father in the War dressed as a man so she could help with the medical stuff, she trained with her uncle, or she calls him uncle at any rate, and they started doing the sanitizing of instruments and wounds, etc. She cares deeply for her patients.
BUT.....
She gets accused of murdering a prominent citizen and gets called all kinds of names and a bounty put on her head! I mean really? These people are jerks and you know some jerk just set her up. Soooooo, she has to run for her life. She gets the help of her friend Camille to go to Colorado and her traveling companion is Maureen who raised her and helped her dad when her mother died. She is a sweet woman. But, when they get there, the person Camille had set them up with was not available for certain reasons so they joined a wagon train heading out to Texas to some settlement. She thought maybe she could be the first doctor there. All she wants to do is be a doctor people.
On their away, they all get attacked and she is left alone in the world. She is saved by Captain William Kindle and it turns out she saves him by doing surgery on his arm and leg. They are taken back to Fort Richardson and she is promptly set up as the temporary doctor until the new one arrives with supplies, whenever that may be. Yay! She's so happy.
Oh and she changes her name to Dr. Laura Elliston. I just love her spunk and snark and the way she treats everyone as equals. She does butt heads with some men in the fort but we know that's bound to happen. And one of the women, Harriet, who seems like a jerk in the beginning, turns out to be a great friend.
I love the relationship that slowly grows between Captain Kindle and Laura. It's so sweet and funny and I loved reading about it. But they have a lot of trials to go through. There is someone after Laura, she thinks a bounty hunter has found here when she starts getting secret envelopes with her picture and reward on it. This has her pretty freaked out, as it would anyone.
I don't want to give out any major spoilers but I loved the ending. It does get rough for a bit, actually a lot of parts of the book are gruesome. It does all seem like it's going to work out in the end and that's all that matters.
I leave you with an EXCERPT:
"Furthermore, if I wanted to attach a man, which I decidedly do not, I would not need the aid of the heightened emotions of a sickbed. I am a doctor and Captain Kindle's health is what I am interested in ministering to. My second objective is perform the duties set upon me by General Sherman, then leave this country, which--the beautiful sunset notwithstanding--resembles nothing more than the seventh circle of hell to me."
"Dr. Elliston, your language is hardly appropriate."
"There is that word again! Oh, how I have always loathed the word appropriate! It is a word used most often by women without the courage or imagination to think and do for themselves and by men who routinely engage in inappropriate behavior behind closed doors."
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Redhook Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
April 8, 2016
I went through a lot of different emotions with this book, but I think my final feeling is that it pushed me too far out of my comfort zone.
This book is being marketed as "Outlander-esk," which is a very tall order, in my book. Outlander is my favorite book of all time, and anything compared to it would have to be spectacular. This book simply isn't at that level, but I see why the comparison is being made. We get Dr. Catherine Bennett, an independent, outspoken female physician at a time where that was an extreme rarity, similar to in Outlander. However, I think that is where most of the similarities end.
I enjoyed the historical setting and historical details of the story, as I always do in any good historical romance. I adored the medical aspect, though I think Diana Gabaldon by far has the upper hand when it comes to the precise and absolutely correct details of medical procedures. The writing was also very polished with the skills of someone who is an experienced writer. But this book was lacking for me in a couple important ways.
The thing that I had the most issue with was the amount of graphic violence in the story. I'm not a reader of things that are painful or sad, and the level of violence in this story pushed my comfort level. I'm okay with a few traumatic things spread out over a number of books, but this story just crammed them in, one after another. The ending was just gruesome for me, and absolutely turned me off of ever reading book two.
I also thought that the romance was underdeveloped. The feelings seemed to come out of nowhere for me, and the level of emotional intimacy that I was expecting wasn't quite there. I wanted more, and it left me feeling a little cold.
The final straw for me was the over-the-top story line towards the end. It was way too much, too much of a caricature and not something that could or would actually happen.
While this book was enjoyable for me overall, I wouldn't ever want to revisit it. It wasn't an easy read for me, and I think I was sufficiently scared away from the second book in the story.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
This book is being marketed as "Outlander-esk," which is a very tall order, in my book. Outlander is my favorite book of all time, and anything compared to it would have to be spectacular. This book simply isn't at that level, but I see why the comparison is being made. We get Dr. Catherine Bennett, an independent, outspoken female physician at a time where that was an extreme rarity, similar to in Outlander. However, I think that is where most of the similarities end.
I enjoyed the historical setting and historical details of the story, as I always do in any good historical romance. I adored the medical aspect, though I think Diana Gabaldon by far has the upper hand when it comes to the precise and absolutely correct details of medical procedures. The writing was also very polished with the skills of someone who is an experienced writer. But this book was lacking for me in a couple important ways.
The thing that I had the most issue with was the amount of graphic violence in the story. I'm not a reader of things that are painful or sad, and the level of violence in this story pushed my comfort level. I'm okay with a few traumatic things spread out over a number of books, but this story just crammed them in, one after another. The ending was just gruesome for me, and absolutely turned me off of ever reading book two.
I also thought that the romance was underdeveloped. The feelings seemed to come out of nowhere for me, and the level of emotional intimacy that I was expecting wasn't quite there. I wanted more, and it left me feeling a little cold.
The final straw for me was the over-the-top story line towards the end. It was way too much, too much of a caricature and not something that could or would actually happen.
While this book was enjoyable for me overall, I wouldn't ever want to revisit it. It wasn't an easy read for me, and I think I was sufficiently scared away from the second book in the story.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
October 13, 2015
Author Review
I love all of my books but SAWBONES holds a special place in my heart. My father loved to watch Westerns, Lonesome Dove especially, but any Western would do. (He wasn't much of a reader.) When he died, I spent the summer watching Westerns on AMC and TCM, and reading Westerns, especially Lonesome Dove. More often than not, I would go onto the internet and research, wondering how much was based on real events. What I discovered was a wealth of stories of the American West which went way beyond the white hat/black hat mythology Hollywood sold for decades. With a few exceptions, what I also discovered when trying to find Westerns to read was a male dominated genre with a lack of fully realized female characters. So, I decided to write my own. Seven years, and multiple iterations and drafts later, SAWBONES is here. I think my dad would be proud of it.
I hope you love Catherine Bennett as much as I loved creating her and telling her story.
I love all of my books but SAWBONES holds a special place in my heart. My father loved to watch Westerns, Lonesome Dove especially, but any Western would do. (He wasn't much of a reader.) When he died, I spent the summer watching Westerns on AMC and TCM, and reading Westerns, especially Lonesome Dove. More often than not, I would go onto the internet and research, wondering how much was based on real events. What I discovered was a wealth of stories of the American West which went way beyond the white hat/black hat mythology Hollywood sold for decades. With a few exceptions, what I also discovered when trying to find Westerns to read was a male dominated genre with a lack of fully realized female characters. So, I decided to write my own. Seven years, and multiple iterations and drafts later, SAWBONES is here. I think my dad would be proud of it.
I hope you love Catherine Bennett as much as I loved creating her and telling her story.
June 22, 2017
The story starts off with Dr. Catherine Bennett having to flee New York after being falsely accused of murdering a doctor. It's the wife of the doctor that is accusing her and Catherine hasn't a clue to why she would do something like that. And, what's worse is that Catherine does not have a good alibi. Catherine and her maid Maureen quickly leaves the town, and she changes her name to Laura Elliston, but it doesn't take long for someone to recognize her so she abandons her plans for California and set her sight on Colorado instead. However, this may not be the best idea since the uncharted territories of Colorado can be quite dangerous.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
April 4, 2016
Sawbones centers around the story of Catherine Bennett a doctor and surgeon in 1800’s New York City. She grew up with a love for medicine and helping people as her father was a physician. It was a rare thing for a woman to become a doctor and many people didn’t think it was appropriate for a woman to be practicing medicine especially seeing male patients.
She was a doctor during the Civil War and was then able to set up practice in NYC. However when the wife of a male patient wrongly accuses Catherine of murdering her husband she decides to flee along with her companion and helper Maureen. They make their way to Texas and it is there that she hears about the settlers moving west, in particular to Colorado. She and Maureen join a wagon train and slowly make their way out west.
Their wagon train is attacked by indians and everyone except for Catherine is tortured and killed. Catherine operate on Captain Kindle who has taken arrows and is seriously injured when they arrived at the scene of the attack. At any rate she is escorted back to Ford Richardson by Captain Kindle whose men arrived too late at the scene of the indian attack to do anything much except for loot the wagons.
I continued to be interested in the story because the personality of Catherine/Laura was compelling. She was a strong, willful and intelligent woman with a kind heart. The romance that blooms between Laura (her assumed name after she fled NYC) and the Captain was quite predictable but I guess a love interest always helps sell a story.
I was enjoying reading this book, even the difficult part of the attack by the indians and the descriptions of some of their very savage treatment of the settlers. The story kept my interest because there was another storyline going on, Laura was being followed by someone, and that continued to develop.
Where this book lost me and my endorsement was towards the end of the book when the reader is once again forced to witness an indian attack, this time capturing Laura. The scenes of extremely sexually graphic torture of Laura were so vile that it turned my stomach. I don’t know why the author chose to include so much graphic detail but it ruined the book for me. I managed to finish the book because I was invested in the story by this time.
So from a promising beginning and interesting story idea with some very good writing this book turned into a 2* for me because of the graphic violence. As a reader I was unprepared for this amount of explicit description and therefore I can’t recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She was a doctor during the Civil War and was then able to set up practice in NYC. However when the wife of a male patient wrongly accuses Catherine of murdering her husband she decides to flee along with her companion and helper Maureen. They make their way to Texas and it is there that she hears about the settlers moving west, in particular to Colorado. She and Maureen join a wagon train and slowly make their way out west.
Their wagon train is attacked by indians and everyone except for Catherine is tortured and killed. Catherine operate on Captain Kindle who has taken arrows and is seriously injured when they arrived at the scene of the attack. At any rate she is escorted back to Ford Richardson by Captain Kindle whose men arrived too late at the scene of the indian attack to do anything much except for loot the wagons.
I continued to be interested in the story because the personality of Catherine/Laura was compelling. She was a strong, willful and intelligent woman with a kind heart. The romance that blooms between Laura (her assumed name after she fled NYC) and the Captain was quite predictable but I guess a love interest always helps sell a story.
I was enjoying reading this book, even the difficult part of the attack by the indians and the descriptions of some of their very savage treatment of the settlers. The story kept my interest because there was another storyline going on, Laura was being followed by someone, and that continued to develop.
Where this book lost me and my endorsement was towards the end of the book when the reader is once again forced to witness an indian attack, this time capturing Laura. The scenes of extremely sexually graphic torture of Laura were so vile that it turned my stomach. I don’t know why the author chose to include so much graphic detail but it ruined the book for me. I managed to finish the book because I was invested in the story by this time.
So from a promising beginning and interesting story idea with some very good writing this book turned into a 2* for me because of the graphic violence. As a reader I was unprepared for this amount of explicit description and therefore I can’t recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2021
There's nothing particularly new or groundbreaking about this, but I really enjoyed reading it. It's a historical Western, complete with all the rough and graphically violent unpleasantness you can think of in that context, so consider yourself forewarned on that count.
I did love that the story focused on a strong and independent woman, who finds herself dealing with one difficult circumstance after another. I liked Dr. Laura Elliston enough to sign up for the next book, Blood Oath.
I did love that the story focused on a strong and independent woman, who finds herself dealing with one difficult circumstance after another. I liked Dr. Laura Elliston enough to sign up for the next book, Blood Oath.
August 8, 2016
* I received this book through NetGalley and Redhook Books in exchange for an honest review. **
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY RAPE. That is the first and most important thing I have to say in relation to this book. In fact, there's rape in the first chapter. There's rape in later chapters. A lot of detail is put into these rape scenes, as well as the prior molestation/sexual assault scenes, to the point where it made me very sick. I don't know why it was necessary to include- Game of Thrones has perpetuated this idea that women getting raped adds realism to the story, but it really just makes everyone reading uncomfortable. James makes several inappropriate comments to Catherine after her sexual assault (which she calls out).
Another thing I have to say about the content of the book is that there's a lot of passive racism, which makes me uncomfortable with a white author. While it is historically accurate to the time to call black people variations of the n word, it's still uncomfortable to read in context, as well as the fact that Kindle is so emphasized. It feels like the narrative uses the suffering of black characters (like Caro, who I loved but was such a minor character), Native Americans, and even passing antisemitism (people who are greedy were called 'Jews' as an insults) to boost up the white characters or add 'realism' when it really doesn't add anything to the narrative. In fact, the fact that the Native Americans are not only dehumanized by the narrative (literally labelled and treated as savages, with only one of them having speaking lines in the entire book) and their 'acts of savagery' were what drove the plot. Which is ridiculous, because there was little to no reason for these actions and it came off as a cheap way to push the plot when things seem to have stagnated.
One more issue I had with the book is the fact that I had very little to no idea how much time had passed in between scenes. In fact, the time between Catherine and company departing for Colorado (I think? I don't remember where, that far back) and the time that the was completely unmentioned, and never clarified. In fact, 74% into this book, Catherine literally says she's been in town for "Two weeks, though it seems much longer.". ??? The totality of her romance (and ~60% of this book) happens in the span of two weeks, and I was sitting there wondering how that could be possible.
As far as the romance goes, it was enjoyable. The main worry that was unfounded, but the later plot where came off as extremely unnecessary, especially since the plot was already tense . I liked the flirting, and I liked the culmination of the romance, but the fact that they weren't even allowed to be happy for a little while when they were together bumped this review down a star for me.
Good writing, but the racial tensions and commentary towards black people and Native Americans, as well as the gratuitous rape made it an uncomfortable read. The romance was nice, though it would've been better if they were allowed to actually be romantic for a while. I thought it'd be a lighter (or, at the very least, less rape-filled and racial tensions) read than it was, and the opening scene with the attempted rape immediately turned me off. It was an alright read, just not the book for me.
Quotes that made me uncomfortable:
* "Thank you, Ester. I will take good care of it."
"Better yet," she said, eyes glittering, "kill an Indian with it."
* "One of these days you're going to wander off and be snatched up by them savages, mark my word." [...] "They'll do all sorts of unspeakable things to you and I'll have to live with the vision of it my entire life." [...] "They don't think like us, Katie. Mind you listen to me for once and stay close."
* "Or are all whites the enemies of your Negros?"
* "I left when Kindle returned it. He may be able to embrace one Indian while fighting another, but to me they were savages, every one."
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY RAPE. That is the first and most important thing I have to say in relation to this book. In fact, there's rape in the first chapter. There's rape in later chapters. A lot of detail is put into these rape scenes, as well as the prior molestation/sexual assault scenes, to the point where it made me very sick. I don't know why it was necessary to include- Game of Thrones has perpetuated this idea that women getting raped adds realism to the story, but it really just makes everyone reading uncomfortable. James makes several inappropriate comments to Catherine after her sexual assault (which she calls out).
Another thing I have to say about the content of the book is that there's a lot of passive racism, which makes me uncomfortable with a white author. While it is historically accurate to the time to call black people variations of the n word, it's still uncomfortable to read in context, as well as the fact that Kindle is so emphasized. It feels like the narrative uses the suffering of black characters (like Caro, who I loved but was such a minor character), Native Americans, and even passing antisemitism (people who are greedy were called 'Jews' as an insults) to boost up the white characters or add 'realism' when it really doesn't add anything to the narrative. In fact, the fact that the Native Americans are not only dehumanized by the narrative (literally labelled and treated as savages, with only one of them having speaking lines in the entire book) and their 'acts of savagery' were what drove the plot. Which is ridiculous, because there was little to no reason for these actions and it came off as a cheap way to push the plot when things seem to have stagnated.
One more issue I had with the book is the fact that I had very little to no idea how much time had passed in between scenes. In fact, the time between Catherine and company departing for Colorado (I think? I don't remember where, that far back) and the time that the was completely unmentioned, and never clarified. In fact, 74% into this book, Catherine literally says she's been in town for "Two weeks, though it seems much longer.". ??? The totality of her romance (and ~60% of this book) happens in the span of two weeks, and I was sitting there wondering how that could be possible.
As far as the romance goes, it was enjoyable. The main worry that was unfounded, but the later plot where came off as extremely unnecessary, especially since the plot was already tense . I liked the flirting, and I liked the culmination of the romance, but the fact that they weren't even allowed to be happy for a little while when they were together bumped this review down a star for me.
Good writing, but the racial tensions and commentary towards black people and Native Americans, as well as the gratuitous rape made it an uncomfortable read. The romance was nice, though it would've been better if they were allowed to actually be romantic for a while. I thought it'd be a lighter (or, at the very least, less rape-filled and racial tensions) read than it was, and the opening scene with the attempted rape immediately turned me off. It was an alright read, just not the book for me.
Quotes that made me uncomfortable:
* "Thank you, Ester. I will take good care of it."
"Better yet," she said, eyes glittering, "kill an Indian with it."
* "One of these days you're going to wander off and be snatched up by them savages, mark my word." [...] "They'll do all sorts of unspeakable things to you and I'll have to live with the vision of it my entire life." [...] "They don't think like us, Katie. Mind you listen to me for once and stay close."
* "Or are all whites the enemies of your Negros?"
* "I left when Kindle returned it. He may be able to embrace one Indian while fighting another, but to me they were savages, every one."
dnf
June 15, 2019Started off good but fell flat for me after the love story started to develop. Skimmed the rest and a couple shining moments but overall meh.
Aah well *shrugs*
Aah well *shrugs*
December 24, 2017
24/12 - This is the third of three non-romance book I borrowed a few weeks back, but the only one I've really enjoyed.
Catherine Bennett/Laura Elliston is a doctor in late 1800s New York and she is accused of having an affair with one of her patients' husbands then murdering him when he broke up with her and so she decides to escape New York for the west (California, originally) - that's what the blurb tells us and I thought that was going to be enough of a challenge for Catherine/Laura. But then disaster after disaster befall her and when I was like "Can this woman not get a break? Life is hard enough for a female doctor accused of adultery and murder, on the run from the law and stuck at a military fort rife with corruption some not so nice men. Does she also have to It just seemed so unfair (although not unrealistic), but this book wasn't even nearly done with poor Laura.
I really enjoyed the first three quarters of the book, even after because I figured that was probably it in terms of torturing Laura, but then when the second (and much worse) wave hit at about 75% there were some pretty upsetting and disturbing scenes that were difficult to 'enjoy'. A lot of the lower starred reviews talk about the graphic violence and give that as a reason why they didn't overall enjoy the book, I don't have a problem with graphic violence, as long as it's not gratuitous or just there to be offensive. If someone is going to be murdered, then I expect (want, even) the scene to be properly described, just like with sex scenes in a romance (of which I don't think this can be included) I don't want the introduction to a murder and then fade to black and then we come back and it's all over. That's a copout, in my opinion. If you're going to write/read about murder you have to be prepared to write/read all the gory details. But, for me, . After thinking about my reading experience while I wrote this I've decided that I enjoyed it enough to give it five stars (originally it was four) - it's actually closer to 4.5, but it's definitely above a four.
The writing was very good and I felt like Catherine/Laura was a believable character who faced believable challenges (just a whole lot of them in the space of about two months) for a woman of those days. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series, in fact I can't wait to get my hands on #2 for my January holiday (reading a fantastic historical fiction while relaxing on the deck of a cruise ship sounds perfect).
Catherine Bennett/Laura Elliston is a doctor in late 1800s New York and she is accused of having an affair with one of her patients' husbands then murdering him when he broke up with her and so she decides to escape New York for the west (California, originally) - that's what the blurb tells us and I thought that was going to be enough of a challenge for Catherine/Laura. But then disaster after disaster befall her and when I was like "Can this woman not get a break? Life is hard enough for a female doctor accused of adultery and murder, on the run from the law and stuck at a military fort rife with corruption some not so nice men. Does she also have to It just seemed so unfair (although not unrealistic), but this book wasn't even nearly done with poor Laura.
I really enjoyed the first three quarters of the book, even after because I figured that was probably it in terms of torturing Laura, but then when the second (and much worse) wave hit at about 75% there were some pretty upsetting and disturbing scenes that were difficult to 'enjoy'. A lot of the lower starred reviews talk about the graphic violence and give that as a reason why they didn't overall enjoy the book, I don't have a problem with graphic violence, as long as it's not gratuitous or just there to be offensive. If someone is going to be murdered, then I expect (want, even) the scene to be properly described, just like with sex scenes in a romance (of which I don't think this can be included) I don't want the introduction to a murder and then fade to black and then we come back and it's all over. That's a copout, in my opinion. If you're going to write/read about murder you have to be prepared to write/read all the gory details. But, for me, . After thinking about my reading experience while I wrote this I've decided that I enjoyed it enough to give it five stars (originally it was four) - it's actually closer to 4.5, but it's definitely above a four.
The writing was very good and I felt like Catherine/Laura was a believable character who faced believable challenges (just a whole lot of them in the space of about two months) for a woman of those days. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series, in fact I can't wait to get my hands on #2 for my January holiday (reading a fantastic historical fiction while relaxing on the deck of a cruise ship sounds perfect).
June 25, 2016
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Redhook Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
During the early hours of an 1871 February morning, amidst the slight crunch and give of footsteps in thick snow, Dr. Catherine Bennett walks home from being fleeced by a resurrection man. Disguised as a man in an effort to secure a safe(r) walk home through the streets of New York, Catherine ruminates on death, battlefields, and a past ladened with both. Through a rapid fire succession of events, a walk home turns into a battlefield of its own and Catherine's future shifts abruptly. Home becomes a question rather than a defined destination as Catherine must run from a false murder accusation and into the trenches of a seething country wrought with division and treachery post-Civil War. She will travel territory filled with the angered and the insane, the running-froms and the desperate. While she has fought to be who she is already, taken risks to devote herself to learning the skills and advancements of her profession, her fight is far from over.
I enjoy historical fiction. Through reading everything from Dickens to Conan Doyle, I'm particularly enamored with historical fiction that takes place in the Victorian era. Even more particularly, historical fiction of the era that involves medical advancements from the use of ether to the discoveries made by Pasteur, Koch, et. al. concerning germs, vaccinations, the use of carbolic acid. It was a fascinating period for breakthroughs, a renaissance of the idea of patient care and disease treatment/prevention. I place the blame for this specific geeking out proclivity on often being a sounding board for my nurse mom and a steady consumption of her medical dictionaries.
Women doctors, while not solely a Victorian era area as the struggles of women to break through in education and scientific fields is a constant that has spanned multiple eras and cultures, are an immensely interesting facet of Victorian medical advancement. When you realize that it was largely women that provided physical/practical care in both institutions (both medical and religious) and wartime through the years, it is disheartening to read about their struggles to be taken seriously, to note that as of a 1901 (British) census there were only 335 female practitioners. But when you look at the individual stories of those determined women including those of the Edinburgh Seven, Dr. Jex-Blake, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, etc. and contemplate how skilled and dedicated they had to be and how hard they had to work, there is a wealth of inspiration and respect to be had.
That inspiration and respect makes historical fiction novels such as this immensely interesting to me so I was happy to pick it up based on the synopsis and had high hopes for it.
While the beginning felt overly choppy and abrupt to me, enough that high hopes began to dwindle, things did pick up eventually and I became much more invested in Dr. Catherine Bennett's character as the plot progressed. I will say that the synopsis did not prepare me for the overall tone of the book. Lenhardt's Sawbones is a darkly gory western that is populated enough by visceral experiences of violence that it's almost a character in and of itself.
While I'm not a fan of gore and victimization as shock-the-reader plot manipulation, I don't need to be surrounded by rainbows and unicorns to enjoy a plot. As I appreciate a historical fiction author that pays attention to the facts, so do I appreciate an author that can write about violence while being in tune with the emotional experience such violence precipitates in both character and reader. In a book such as this, whether the violence, abuse, etc. feels accurate to the plot, time, and place of the story matters most to me. I believe this accuracy is accomplished by Lenhardt for the most part. A large portion of this book could be triggering for many reasons, for those that might be concerned about if and when to read it or who to recommend it to. It contains
My rating of 2.5/3 stars primarily hinges on several scenes having too abrupt a development or being too drawn out. The concept of the book is interesting and there were several character interactions that truly shined for me but the flow of the book did feel awkward at times. All the same, knowing this book will be continued as either a series or trilogy (I'm not very sure which, I've seen reviewers that mention both but my version did include an excerpt from Blood Oath as a continuation), I am interested enough in both concept and character(s) to pick up the next book. I did make note of a couple anachronisms along the way, most notably in conversations/words that wouldn't have been used, but none that were glaring. A historical figure does make an appearance and was enough of a presence that my interest was piqued concerning his later life. Related to anachronisms, I enjoyed the title of the book but wish it would have made more of an appearance in the story. I believe it's mentioned once but not with any context that speaks to the origin of the term. The first time I encountered the slang was in Dicken's Pickwick Papers when Mr. Weller informs us that a Sawbones is a surgeon. (“‘What, don’t you know what a Sawbones is, Sir’, enquired Mr. Weller; ‘I thought every body know’d as a Sawbones was a Surgeon,'” Charles Dickens, Pickwick Papers, 1837)
Lenhardt mentions in her Author's Note that her father's love of watching westerns as well as her reading Larry McMurty and watching his favorite show Lonesome Dove after he passed away lead to her writing a western. I can identify with that pull; my father also loved westerns, especially those that starred John Wayne. I think he was more a fan of the adventure of the thing as he also loved Star Wars and Indiana Jones with equal fervency. I'm lucky to have shared Saturday movie nights with him with a bowl of cereal and The Duke, Indy, or Solo plunging into action and adventure on screen and can relate to the closeness felt in being able to experience similar movies all these years later. I think Lenhardt does credit to her father's love of westerns in this work and does a decent job of including historical events and frontier attitudes/actions. I haven't read many westerns and wasn't initially aware that this book was billed as a western so I don't have much to compare it to. The Outlander comparison of the synopsis also eludes me as I haven't delved into that series yet though it's on the TBR mountain. From the reviews I've read after finishing the book I've gathered that some have had a problem with this comparison. I'll stick with what I know and say that, as a historical fiction novel, Sawbones is grounded in enough history to grant it some atmosphere and interest to those that enjoy the genre. It will be interesting to see how further books progress.
During the early hours of an 1871 February morning, amidst the slight crunch and give of footsteps in thick snow, Dr. Catherine Bennett walks home from being fleeced by a resurrection man. Disguised as a man in an effort to secure a safe(r) walk home through the streets of New York, Catherine ruminates on death, battlefields, and a past ladened with both. Through a rapid fire succession of events, a walk home turns into a battlefield of its own and Catherine's future shifts abruptly. Home becomes a question rather than a defined destination as Catherine must run from a false murder accusation and into the trenches of a seething country wrought with division and treachery post-Civil War. She will travel territory filled with the angered and the insane, the running-froms and the desperate. While she has fought to be who she is already, taken risks to devote herself to learning the skills and advancements of her profession, her fight is far from over.
I enjoy historical fiction. Through reading everything from Dickens to Conan Doyle, I'm particularly enamored with historical fiction that takes place in the Victorian era. Even more particularly, historical fiction of the era that involves medical advancements from the use of ether to the discoveries made by Pasteur, Koch, et. al. concerning germs, vaccinations, the use of carbolic acid. It was a fascinating period for breakthroughs, a renaissance of the idea of patient care and disease treatment/prevention. I place the blame for this specific geeking out proclivity on often being a sounding board for my nurse mom and a steady consumption of her medical dictionaries.
Women doctors, while not solely a Victorian era area as the struggles of women to break through in education and scientific fields is a constant that has spanned multiple eras and cultures, are an immensely interesting facet of Victorian medical advancement. When you realize that it was largely women that provided physical/practical care in both institutions (both medical and religious) and wartime through the years, it is disheartening to read about their struggles to be taken seriously, to note that as of a 1901 (British) census there were only 335 female practitioners. But when you look at the individual stories of those determined women including those of the Edinburgh Seven, Dr. Jex-Blake, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, etc. and contemplate how skilled and dedicated they had to be and how hard they had to work, there is a wealth of inspiration and respect to be had.
That inspiration and respect makes historical fiction novels such as this immensely interesting to me so I was happy to pick it up based on the synopsis and had high hopes for it.
While the beginning felt overly choppy and abrupt to me, enough that high hopes began to dwindle, things did pick up eventually and I became much more invested in Dr. Catherine Bennett's character as the plot progressed. I will say that the synopsis did not prepare me for the overall tone of the book. Lenhardt's Sawbones is a darkly gory western that is populated enough by visceral experiences of violence that it's almost a character in and of itself.
While I'm not a fan of gore and victimization as shock-the-reader plot manipulation, I don't need to be surrounded by rainbows and unicorns to enjoy a plot. As I appreciate a historical fiction author that pays attention to the facts, so do I appreciate an author that can write about violence while being in tune with the emotional experience such violence precipitates in both character and reader. In a book such as this, whether the violence, abuse, etc. feels accurate to the plot, time, and place of the story matters most to me. I believe this accuracy is accomplished by Lenhardt for the most part. A large portion of this book could be triggering for many reasons, for those that might be concerned about if and when to read it or who to recommend it to. It contains
My rating of 2.5/3 stars primarily hinges on several scenes having too abrupt a development or being too drawn out. The concept of the book is interesting and there were several character interactions that truly shined for me but the flow of the book did feel awkward at times. All the same, knowing this book will be continued as either a series or trilogy (I'm not very sure which, I've seen reviewers that mention both but my version did include an excerpt from Blood Oath as a continuation), I am interested enough in both concept and character(s) to pick up the next book. I did make note of a couple anachronisms along the way, most notably in conversations/words that wouldn't have been used, but none that were glaring. A historical figure does make an appearance and was enough of a presence that my interest was piqued concerning his later life. Related to anachronisms, I enjoyed the title of the book but wish it would have made more of an appearance in the story. I believe it's mentioned once but not with any context that speaks to the origin of the term. The first time I encountered the slang was in Dicken's Pickwick Papers when Mr. Weller informs us that a Sawbones is a surgeon. (“‘What, don’t you know what a Sawbones is, Sir’, enquired Mr. Weller; ‘I thought every body know’d as a Sawbones was a Surgeon,'” Charles Dickens, Pickwick Papers, 1837)
Lenhardt mentions in her Author's Note that her father's love of watching westerns as well as her reading Larry McMurty and watching his favorite show Lonesome Dove after he passed away lead to her writing a western. I can identify with that pull; my father also loved westerns, especially those that starred John Wayne. I think he was more a fan of the adventure of the thing as he also loved Star Wars and Indiana Jones with equal fervency. I'm lucky to have shared Saturday movie nights with him with a bowl of cereal and The Duke, Indy, or Solo plunging into action and adventure on screen and can relate to the closeness felt in being able to experience similar movies all these years later. I think Lenhardt does credit to her father's love of westerns in this work and does a decent job of including historical events and frontier attitudes/actions. I haven't read many westerns and wasn't initially aware that this book was billed as a western so I don't have much to compare it to. The Outlander comparison of the synopsis also eludes me as I haven't delved into that series yet though it's on the TBR mountain. From the reviews I've read after finishing the book I've gathered that some have had a problem with this comparison. I'll stick with what I know and say that, as a historical fiction novel, Sawbones is grounded in enough history to grant it some atmosphere and interest to those that enjoy the genre. It will be interesting to see how further books progress.
June 23, 2020
The perfect western adventure story with a strong female main character. I was hooked from the start and can't wait to read the next book.
January 22, 2016
New York 1817, Catherine Benneth is a doctor which is a rarety in those times. She sometimes has to dress like a man to practice the job that she loves. One night, she's attacked and is saved by her friend James. Her gratefulness doesn't last when he tell her she's accused of murdering a man from a respected and wealthy family. Wrongly accused and afraid of being hang, she changes her name to Laura Ellington and runs away with her maid Maureen to Colorado.
On their way there, the are brutalized violently by Indians and she ends up in Texas. She becomes a war doctor but she still has to look behind her back afraid someone will recognize and turn her in.
Catherine/Laura is a fierce, stubborn and brave woman, a rôle model to some woman for her time but not respected with most of the men. With the murder accusation, the violence and the disrespect of many, she's still is strong, determined person.
I truly enjoyed this suspense/mystery novel. Lots of twists that will keep you guessing and of course there is love and passion included. There is graphic violence and language but it goes with the story.
Great characters, great story makes this one an amazing book.
On their way there, the are brutalized violently by Indians and she ends up in Texas. She becomes a war doctor but she still has to look behind her back afraid someone will recognize and turn her in.
Catherine/Laura is a fierce, stubborn and brave woman, a rôle model to some woman for her time but not respected with most of the men. With the murder accusation, the violence and the disrespect of many, she's still is strong, determined person.
I truly enjoyed this suspense/mystery novel. Lots of twists that will keep you guessing and of course there is love and passion included. There is graphic violence and language but it goes with the story.
Great characters, great story makes this one an amazing book.
April 13, 2016
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/04/13/...
Sawbones was a book that caught my eye the moment I saw it, because HELLO! Western setting? An independent, determined woman doctor as its protagonist? Only problem was, its genre was straight-up historical fiction without even the ittiest bittiest hint of a speculative element, and I was already being crushed under the weight of review books that I’ve committed myself to on behalf of my Sci-fi & Fantasy book blog. Reluctantly, I decided to give Sawbones a pass at the time, and probably wouldn’t have thought about it again if it weren’t for a strong recommendation I received weeks later, from someone whose bookish opinions I highly respect. Now I’m on the other side of reading it to say how utterly thankful and glad I am to have given this one a try after all, because it was damn brilliant and I absolutely loved it!
The book’s blurb likens the story to “Outlander meets post-Civil War unrest” which is a comparison I find both very appropriate and also a little misleading. Like I said, Sawbones is completely devoid of any magic or sci-fi, time traveling or otherwise, but that said, I believe it would indeed appeal to fans of Diana Gabaldon’s series who might be looking for a similar blend of romance and adventure set in a very harsh time and place, whose brutal realities we are not spared from at all. It is especially hard for our protagonist Dr. Catherine Bennett, a New York woman practicing medicine in the 1870s in spite of those who regard her profession as scandalous and highly unseemly for someone of her sex.
That is why when Catherine is falsely accused of murder, she finds little support in her societal circles and is forced to go on the run with a $500 bounty on her head. And for anyone looking to start a new life or to disappear, the answer lies west. With her loyal maid Maureen in tow, Catherine escapes to Texas and joins the Warren wagon train under the new identity of Dr. Laura Elliston. Even though female doctors are rare enough to draw attention, Catherine—now Laura—loves her work too much to give it up, and hopes to start fresh with her own practice out in the uncharted territories of Colorado where no one will know her face.
But of course, things don’t go as planned. Those who already know what became of the Warren wagon train can probably guess, but if not, I’m not going to spoil the details of the plot’s early bombshell. I think up until this point, I was still expecting a whole different kind of book, but afterwards it finally hit me what I was really in for. Suffice to say, if you’re like me and picked this one up thinking it would be your typical lighthearted historical romance, you’re going to be in for a huge surprise. To tell the truth, the first 20% of the novel didn’t impress me overly much, but when things took a graphically violent, traumatic, and heart-wrenching turn for our protagonist, that was the moment I realized the kind of story author Melissa Lenhardt has set out to tell, and she’s not pulling any punches. This book had my full attention after that.
The first thing you should know about Sawbones is the merciless, no holds barred portrayal of life on the frontier. Lenhardt confesses to taking a few minor liberties with history in order to make the story work, but a lot of the people, places and events in this book were real. Much research and effort was clearly put in to bring the setting and historical era to life in all its harshness. Racism was rampant. Women had very little say about anything, even when it came to their own business. Settlers in this part of the country were frequently raided by native tribes and white bandits alike. People were raped, killed, mutilated, abducted and abused in the worst of ways. The injured often did not survive, succumbing to infection, bad weather, poor nutrition, or any number of factors that could doom you. This book does not gloss over any of those gory, gut-twisting details.
The second thing you should know is that the characters are amazing. Told from Laura’s point of view, readers are accorded a real treat going deep into the mind of an unconventional protagonist who has followed her heart and given up so much to keep pursuing a dream. Her personal growth as a character follows a riveting arc made even more complex by the subtler themes, which come full circle by the end of the book when Laura is forced to acknowledge that life is not so clear-cut in the isolated wilderness of the west. As a doctor, her principle tenet is to save lives and do no harm, but when push comes to shove, she is also capable of making the difficult choices. Even in her stubbornness, she is likeable and relatable, and I wanted to see her succeed.
There’s also a fantastic love story, featuring a forbidden romance that is at once passionate and convincing. From the moment Laura saves the life of Captain William Kindle, they set off an undeniable chemistry. I enjoyed their sweet interactions and the well-written dialogue between them, making it easy to get on board with their blossoming relationship. Kindle himself is a dedicated and honorable soldier, good to his men and kind to Laura, so I’m glad that the romantic interest in this novel ended up being someone worthy of our protagonist’s devotion and respect.
It was this mix of loveliness with the book’s vicious, ruthless side that made Sawbones so compelling. I must emphasize again that this one is not for the faint of heart, but if you have a strong stomach for some of the more unpleasant things I described in this review, you might find plenty to like in this splendid hidden gem of a historical novel. The story is pretty much self-contained, even if the ending felt just a tad abrupt, but I was ecstatic to find out that there will be a follow-up called Blood Oath coming out later this year. You can be sure I’ll be devouring it as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Sawbones was a book that caught my eye the moment I saw it, because HELLO! Western setting? An independent, determined woman doctor as its protagonist? Only problem was, its genre was straight-up historical fiction without even the ittiest bittiest hint of a speculative element, and I was already being crushed under the weight of review books that I’ve committed myself to on behalf of my Sci-fi & Fantasy book blog. Reluctantly, I decided to give Sawbones a pass at the time, and probably wouldn’t have thought about it again if it weren’t for a strong recommendation I received weeks later, from someone whose bookish opinions I highly respect. Now I’m on the other side of reading it to say how utterly thankful and glad I am to have given this one a try after all, because it was damn brilliant and I absolutely loved it!
The book’s blurb likens the story to “Outlander meets post-Civil War unrest” which is a comparison I find both very appropriate and also a little misleading. Like I said, Sawbones is completely devoid of any magic or sci-fi, time traveling or otherwise, but that said, I believe it would indeed appeal to fans of Diana Gabaldon’s series who might be looking for a similar blend of romance and adventure set in a very harsh time and place, whose brutal realities we are not spared from at all. It is especially hard for our protagonist Dr. Catherine Bennett, a New York woman practicing medicine in the 1870s in spite of those who regard her profession as scandalous and highly unseemly for someone of her sex.
That is why when Catherine is falsely accused of murder, she finds little support in her societal circles and is forced to go on the run with a $500 bounty on her head. And for anyone looking to start a new life or to disappear, the answer lies west. With her loyal maid Maureen in tow, Catherine escapes to Texas and joins the Warren wagon train under the new identity of Dr. Laura Elliston. Even though female doctors are rare enough to draw attention, Catherine—now Laura—loves her work too much to give it up, and hopes to start fresh with her own practice out in the uncharted territories of Colorado where no one will know her face.
But of course, things don’t go as planned. Those who already know what became of the Warren wagon train can probably guess, but if not, I’m not going to spoil the details of the plot’s early bombshell. I think up until this point, I was still expecting a whole different kind of book, but afterwards it finally hit me what I was really in for. Suffice to say, if you’re like me and picked this one up thinking it would be your typical lighthearted historical romance, you’re going to be in for a huge surprise. To tell the truth, the first 20% of the novel didn’t impress me overly much, but when things took a graphically violent, traumatic, and heart-wrenching turn for our protagonist, that was the moment I realized the kind of story author Melissa Lenhardt has set out to tell, and she’s not pulling any punches. This book had my full attention after that.
The first thing you should know about Sawbones is the merciless, no holds barred portrayal of life on the frontier. Lenhardt confesses to taking a few minor liberties with history in order to make the story work, but a lot of the people, places and events in this book were real. Much research and effort was clearly put in to bring the setting and historical era to life in all its harshness. Racism was rampant. Women had very little say about anything, even when it came to their own business. Settlers in this part of the country were frequently raided by native tribes and white bandits alike. People were raped, killed, mutilated, abducted and abused in the worst of ways. The injured often did not survive, succumbing to infection, bad weather, poor nutrition, or any number of factors that could doom you. This book does not gloss over any of those gory, gut-twisting details.
The second thing you should know is that the characters are amazing. Told from Laura’s point of view, readers are accorded a real treat going deep into the mind of an unconventional protagonist who has followed her heart and given up so much to keep pursuing a dream. Her personal growth as a character follows a riveting arc made even more complex by the subtler themes, which come full circle by the end of the book when Laura is forced to acknowledge that life is not so clear-cut in the isolated wilderness of the west. As a doctor, her principle tenet is to save lives and do no harm, but when push comes to shove, she is also capable of making the difficult choices. Even in her stubbornness, she is likeable and relatable, and I wanted to see her succeed.
There’s also a fantastic love story, featuring a forbidden romance that is at once passionate and convincing. From the moment Laura saves the life of Captain William Kindle, they set off an undeniable chemistry. I enjoyed their sweet interactions and the well-written dialogue between them, making it easy to get on board with their blossoming relationship. Kindle himself is a dedicated and honorable soldier, good to his men and kind to Laura, so I’m glad that the romantic interest in this novel ended up being someone worthy of our protagonist’s devotion and respect.
It was this mix of loveliness with the book’s vicious, ruthless side that made Sawbones so compelling. I must emphasize again that this one is not for the faint of heart, but if you have a strong stomach for some of the more unpleasant things I described in this review, you might find plenty to like in this splendid hidden gem of a historical novel. The story is pretty much self-contained, even if the ending felt just a tad abrupt, but I was ecstatic to find out that there will be a follow-up called Blood Oath coming out later this year. You can be sure I’ll be devouring it as soon as I can get my hands on it.
March 29, 2019
Sawbones is the first book in the Sawbones series. It is a nitty gritty Western book about a female doctor right after the civil war who is falsely accused of murder. The book does get pretty graphic in describing the Indian attacks.
Published April 11th 2017 by Redhook (first published March 29th 2016)
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
Published April 11th 2017 by Redhook (first published March 29th 2016)
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 5, 2016
WOW Jill!! What a powerful book. This was one dark, gritty western. I hesitate to call it a romance because really the romance takes a backseat to what Catherine goes through. Catherine is a doctor accused of killing a man. Through a series of events, she ends up on the run headed West. But between Indians, a Lover and Outlaws, Laura, as she is now called is having her internal strength and fortitude tested. What happens to Laura is hard to get through, but you can't help but stay with the book to see what happens next. *Warning, there isn't any sugar-coating in this book. * I can't wait for the next book in the series.
May 22, 2017
*Source* Kindle Amazon
*Genre* Western, Historical, Romance
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
SAWBONES is the first installment in author Melissa Lenhardt's Laura Elliston trilogy. This is a series that is set in 1871 and it begins in NYC where Dr. Catherine Bennett has struggled for years to gain a foothold in a male dominated world. She's fought tooth and nail and has done things that no male would ever dream of doing. After being attacked by an unknown assailant, Catherine learns from her best friend James that she is being accused of killing one of her patients.
*Full Review Posted @ Talk Supe Blog -
http://www.talksupeblog.com/2017/05/g...
*Genre* Western, Historical, Romance
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
SAWBONES is the first installment in author Melissa Lenhardt's Laura Elliston trilogy. This is a series that is set in 1871 and it begins in NYC where Dr. Catherine Bennett has struggled for years to gain a foothold in a male dominated world. She's fought tooth and nail and has done things that no male would ever dream of doing. After being attacked by an unknown assailant, Catherine learns from her best friend James that she is being accused of killing one of her patients.
*Full Review Posted @ Talk Supe Blog -
http://www.talksupeblog.com/2017/05/g...
April 5, 2016
Ok, now that some of the trauma from the last 20% of the book has worn off I feel able to rate this now.
**3.5**
----------------------
24 hours earlier
I don't know what to rate this. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings.
I guess we can start with the ending. My hope that the cliffhanger (which I was thankfully aware of because I would be livid right now otherwise) wasn't a HUGE cliffhanger, was sadly unrealized. It's a big one. Nothing is resolved. A lot needs to be worked out. And now I have to wait months/years for the next one. I am not pleased by this.
Trigger warning: there is a lot of rape in this book. Relations between Indians and whites around this period were not good, to say the least, and this book does NOT pull any punches about that. I mean, be prepared. It's pretty upsetting to read even if rape isn't a trigger for you.
To jump back to the beginning now, I was really excited when I came across this book. The plot did sound very Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman which I love, so my expectations were high. I don't know about the Outlander comparison because I've never read it (and have zero interest in doing so). I'd say in some ways it is very Dr. Quinn-esque, but darker (in case you didn't guess that by my earlier trigger warning). Catherine is a strong, independent woman who's passion is medicine. She's determined to help people, sometimes despite their desires, to the point of stubbornness. I liked Catherine for many reasons.
Some issues I had though. For a professionally published book there were FAR too many typos and grammatical errors. No excuse there. Also there were a few occasions, usually around scenes between Catherine and William, that felt like sections of the book had been cut out. Like there were these jumps forward and I thought I had missed something.
Overall though, it was pretty good and I want to know what happens.
**3.5**
----------------------
24 hours earlier
I don't know what to rate this. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings.
I guess we can start with the ending. My hope that the cliffhanger (which I was thankfully aware of because I would be livid right now otherwise) wasn't a HUGE cliffhanger, was sadly unrealized. It's a big one. Nothing is resolved. A lot needs to be worked out. And now I have to wait months/years for the next one. I am not pleased by this.
Trigger warning: there is a lot of rape in this book. Relations between Indians and whites around this period were not good, to say the least, and this book does NOT pull any punches about that. I mean, be prepared. It's pretty upsetting to read even if rape isn't a trigger for you.
To jump back to the beginning now, I was really excited when I came across this book. The plot did sound very Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman which I love, so my expectations were high. I don't know about the Outlander comparison because I've never read it (and have zero interest in doing so). I'd say in some ways it is very Dr. Quinn-esque, but darker (in case you didn't guess that by my earlier trigger warning). Catherine is a strong, independent woman who's passion is medicine. She's determined to help people, sometimes despite their desires, to the point of stubbornness. I liked Catherine for many reasons.
Some issues I had though. For a professionally published book there were FAR too many typos and grammatical errors. No excuse there. Also there were a few occasions, usually around scenes between Catherine and William, that felt like sections of the book had been cut out. Like there were these jumps forward and I thought I had missed something.
Overall though, it was pretty good and I want to know what happens.
June 19, 2019
Re-read Review
I finished and wow, what a ride! Raw and gritty, no sugar coating things here and I loved that about this book. The female lead is tough but human and so many trials and bad things happen to her. I love that the story has a realistic feel to it with all the difficulties that happen, it was wild and hard out in the west back then and this story does not shy away from the hardships and tragedies. I'm not a huge romance fan so I could have done with a little less of that but I think in all the darkness I'll let some of that love pass. ;)
I am definitely looking forward to moving on to book 2.
First Read review
3.5
I've become more interested in Westerns and so this one caught my eye. I thought it started off really well and it grabbed my interest from the start. I thought the setting was done well as I had a good feel for the place and time. I enjoyed the strong female character in Laura/Catherine. I loved that she is a medical woman who was a rarity in that time but fights against the prejudice and she practices her craft well, gaining the respect of those around her...most of them. I'm not a big romance fan but the romance in this one was low keyed for the most part.
I didn't mind the graphic scenes because it's something that happened then and to gloss over it would have done a disservice to the story. Yes, it was graphic at times but it wasn't over the top graphic in my opinion. Enough to give us an idea of how rough those experiences were but not giving us the nitty gritty of every detail.
I think where it started to lose me a bit was towards the end and the last few big scenes. Ending**
The ending felt a good spot to stop and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series. I've got enough interest in Laura/Catherine to see what happens to her in the next phase of the story.
This was a netgalley read. Book exchanged for an honest review.
I finished and wow, what a ride! Raw and gritty, no sugar coating things here and I loved that about this book. The female lead is tough but human and so many trials and bad things happen to her. I love that the story has a realistic feel to it with all the difficulties that happen, it was wild and hard out in the west back then and this story does not shy away from the hardships and tragedies. I'm not a huge romance fan so I could have done with a little less of that but I think in all the darkness I'll let some of that love pass. ;)
I am definitely looking forward to moving on to book 2.
First Read review
3.5
I've become more interested in Westerns and so this one caught my eye. I thought it started off really well and it grabbed my interest from the start. I thought the setting was done well as I had a good feel for the place and time. I enjoyed the strong female character in Laura/Catherine. I loved that she is a medical woman who was a rarity in that time but fights against the prejudice and she practices her craft well, gaining the respect of those around her...most of them. I'm not a big romance fan but the romance in this one was low keyed for the most part.
I didn't mind the graphic scenes because it's something that happened then and to gloss over it would have done a disservice to the story. Yes, it was graphic at times but it wasn't over the top graphic in my opinion. Enough to give us an idea of how rough those experiences were but not giving us the nitty gritty of every detail.
I think where it started to lose me a bit was towards the end and the last few big scenes. Ending**
The ending felt a good spot to stop and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series. I've got enough interest in Laura/Catherine to see what happens to her in the next phase of the story.
This was a netgalley read. Book exchanged for an honest review.
February 19, 2018
This book was much darker than I was expecting. I knew it was the story of a female doctor and that it was a western but not much more than that. I've read other reviews since finishing and see that the book was promoted as being for lovers of Outlander. I'm glad I never heard this comparison before reading because I would not have enjoyed the book as much. Other than being historical fiction about a woman doctor they are completely different in tone.
I understand that things were very difficult in this part of the United States in the 19th century as white and native american people were killing each other in brutal ways. It would have been even harder to be a woman during this time, and particularly a doctor, when women were considered unsuitable for that kind of work.
The descriptions of the things that happened to the main character and the people she cared for were so difficult to read. Despite this, I was interested in the characters and story and look forward to continuing the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I understand that things were very difficult in this part of the United States in the 19th century as white and native american people were killing each other in brutal ways. It would have been even harder to be a woman during this time, and particularly a doctor, when women were considered unsuitable for that kind of work.
The descriptions of the things that happened to the main character and the people she cared for were so difficult to read. Despite this, I was interested in the characters and story and look forward to continuing the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
August 12, 2024
I have a lot to say, and not much is good!! More to come, I’m going to go watch Bob's burgers to cleanse my pallet. This book is an insult to Lonesome Dove, which the author claims she was inspired by. Girlfriend, it takes more than gratuitous violence and rape with some N-words thrown in to make a good Western, let alone an absolute classic like Lonesome Dove. That book, written by a white man decades ago, humanizes every character and group of people, from white settlers to native Americans to prostitutes, something this car wreck of a novel fails to do.
Also, McMurtry does not write out in graphic detail rape scenes, it’s alluded to but not drawn out. Every violent thing that happens in this book is too drawn out and feels like a cheap ploy to move the story forward. If you’re going to have a ton of violence, it needs to have fucking impact. I was SOBBING at the end of LD when some of the main characters died because I felt so connected to them. With this book, I was just grossed out or bored. This book is not feminist, or if it is, it's a glaring example of white feminism, because the only people who are portrayed in a sympathetic, understanding way, are white women.
This book was gross, unpleasant, and uncomfortable. It’s not a “badass unromanticized version of the West that snowflakes will get offended by” (as I've seen many reviews say, which to that I say, you can have raw historical stories that still humanize people) It goes way too far to be realistic and there are zero attempts made to humanize or empathize with any minority group in this, except for white women. I feel like this could’ve been good if it hadn’t just been a regular lady doctor who isn’t a wanted woman and makes a go of it in a CO town.
Okay, more to write, now that I've processed this mess and done some research on pioneer and Native relations, which this author didn't do. I cannot get over how Native Americans are portrayed here. As I said before, I've read westerns, like Lonesome Dove, that have Native Americans as adversaries, but even still, they are STILL HUMANIZED. They are not one-dimensional bogeymen who pop up to murder and rape white people. There were lines in this book that just blew my mind. And I'm not approaching this from an overly PC angle, I understand having "historical accuracy" for historical fiction, yes these characters would have been afraid of "Indian attacks," but this author seems to go out of her way to shit on and demonize Native Americans. There is ONE paragraph in this whole book that points out how these attacks are happening in response to white people further encroaching on Comanche territory. Of course there is no excuse for murdering and raping people, but at the same time, because two things can be true at once, these sporadic raids were often out of self-defense. Still, it's quickly dismissed and never brought up again. At no point is there a character that is Native that is portrayed in a way other than scary, monstrous, or cruel.
This author goes on and on about how unfair the MC is treated because she's a lady doctor, how the sexism she faces is shitty, and how the misogyny and sexism other WHITE women in this story face, but doesn't say shit about how POC and WOC are treated. Like, nothing. If she didn't comment on the sexism, I would be a bit more forgiving, but it's so wild to me that she spoonfeeds us (the reader) how bad sexism and misogyny are but like nothing on racism and colonialism. I am not a reader who requires spoonfeeding, I talk all the time about how I hate it when authors feel the need to lecture their readers on social justice, but with this, the tone and vibe are so weird and I think it's weird that she's lectured us one on social justice issue, but doesn't say anything about others? Weird!
Also, McMurtry does not write out in graphic detail rape scenes, it’s alluded to but not drawn out. Every violent thing that happens in this book is too drawn out and feels like a cheap ploy to move the story forward. If you’re going to have a ton of violence, it needs to have fucking impact. I was SOBBING at the end of LD when some of the main characters died because I felt so connected to them. With this book, I was just grossed out or bored. This book is not feminist, or if it is, it's a glaring example of white feminism, because the only people who are portrayed in a sympathetic, understanding way, are white women.
This book was gross, unpleasant, and uncomfortable. It’s not a “badass unromanticized version of the West that snowflakes will get offended by” (as I've seen many reviews say, which to that I say, you can have raw historical stories that still humanize people) It goes way too far to be realistic and there are zero attempts made to humanize or empathize with any minority group in this, except for white women. I feel like this could’ve been good if it hadn’t just been a regular lady doctor who isn’t a wanted woman and makes a go of it in a CO town.
Okay, more to write, now that I've processed this mess and done some research on pioneer and Native relations, which this author didn't do. I cannot get over how Native Americans are portrayed here. As I said before, I've read westerns, like Lonesome Dove, that have Native Americans as adversaries, but even still, they are STILL HUMANIZED. They are not one-dimensional bogeymen who pop up to murder and rape white people. There were lines in this book that just blew my mind. And I'm not approaching this from an overly PC angle, I understand having "historical accuracy" for historical fiction, yes these characters would have been afraid of "Indian attacks," but this author seems to go out of her way to shit on and demonize Native Americans. There is ONE paragraph in this whole book that points out how these attacks are happening in response to white people further encroaching on Comanche territory. Of course there is no excuse for murdering and raping people, but at the same time, because two things can be true at once, these sporadic raids were often out of self-defense. Still, it's quickly dismissed and never brought up again. At no point is there a character that is Native that is portrayed in a way other than scary, monstrous, or cruel.
This author goes on and on about how unfair the MC is treated because she's a lady doctor, how the sexism she faces is shitty, and how the misogyny and sexism other WHITE women in this story face, but doesn't say shit about how POC and WOC are treated. Like, nothing. If she didn't comment on the sexism, I would be a bit more forgiving, but it's so wild to me that she spoonfeeds us (the reader) how bad sexism and misogyny are but like nothing on racism and colonialism. I am not a reader who requires spoonfeeding, I talk all the time about how I hate it when authors feel the need to lecture their readers on social justice, but with this, the tone and vibe are so weird and I think it's weird that she's lectured us one on social justice issue, but doesn't say anything about others? Weird!
March 27, 2016
This book.
Words cannot describe how much I loved Sawbones. It's like nothing I've ever read before.
Historical fiction is steadily becoming one of my go-to genre's..not to mention westerns have always been a weakness of mine. Be it movies or books, it makes no difference.
Time and place aside, I have to say the characters are the highlight of the story. They are incredibly well developed and Catherine Bennett makes the perfect heroine. She's strong-willed with a take no crap attitude. Being a female doctor in the 1800's was no easy feat but no matter what obstacles Catherine faces she refuses to let them stop her from doing what she loves. As for William Kindle well..he was the perfect love interest for her and I'm anxiously awaiting Blood Oath to find out what comes next for the two of them!
I don't want to say much more because Sawbones is a phenomenal book that you just have to read for yourself.
*ARC provided by Redhook Books/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Words cannot describe how much I loved Sawbones. It's like nothing I've ever read before.
Historical fiction is steadily becoming one of my go-to genre's..not to mention westerns have always been a weakness of mine. Be it movies or books, it makes no difference.
Time and place aside, I have to say the characters are the highlight of the story. They are incredibly well developed and Catherine Bennett makes the perfect heroine. She's strong-willed with a take no crap attitude. Being a female doctor in the 1800's was no easy feat but no matter what obstacles Catherine faces she refuses to let them stop her from doing what she loves. As for William Kindle well..he was the perfect love interest for her and I'm anxiously awaiting Blood Oath to find out what comes next for the two of them!
I don't want to say much more because Sawbones is a phenomenal book that you just have to read for yourself.
*ARC provided by Redhook Books/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2016
Recommended Read! A perfect example of a well-written, western historical thriller, SAWBONES by Melissa Lenhardt will renew your love of authentic historical fiction. Although its gritty realism may offend some readers, I was captivated by the genuine characterization.
Accused of murder, Dr. Catherine Benton joins a wagon train heading west. Her only alibi is the resurrection man who provided the corpses she practiced surgery on. Catherine doesn’t have much choice but to flee the corrupt legal system in New York. Having disguised herself as a man during the Civil War, so that she could practice medicine alongside her surgeon father, makes disappearing again seem the logical choice. Even if it rankles the years of struggling to become accepted as a female doctor.
Dr. Catherine Benton becomes Laura Elliston as part of her disguise and considers becoming a midwife. As part of her cover, a family friend arranges for her supposed demise by burying a Jane Doe using Catherine’s name in her family’s plot. When she lands in Texas, Laura and her Irish maid discover their next contact for their escape plan has been arrested. With no strategy for their next move, while assuming no one will look for a doctor who died, Laura becomes Dr. Laura Elliston, hoping to begin a practice in California.
Their journey is not easy, especially since Laura cannot seem to escape her past. Laura’s life is not her own for a large part of the book. She’s deluged with one conflict after another, during and after traveling by wagon train to a fort in the Colorado Territory to await the next leg of her journey. It’s her inner strength and will to survive that consistently champion this story.
Laura is an engaging heroine who captures the reader’s heart with her willingness to serve in the medical field that denies her. When Laura meets Captain William Kindle, I began to hope that she’d ignore her vow to stay away from any emotional relationship. They’re perfect together but their conflicts are above and beyond what most romantic leads endure. Their experience can be very uncomfortable as author Melissa Lenhardt doesn’t soften the blow. Laura and William suffer through violence and heartbreak in vivid details. It’s emotional and devastating. I laughed and cried with them, as well as feared for their annihilation by an exemplary evil villain.
I loved this book even though I cringed through some of the ghastly scenes. It’s dark and gritty, funny and sorrowful, adventurous and beautiful. Exactly what this reader has been craving.
SAWBONES smoothly becomes a favorite with its thrilling pace and authentic characterization. I’m anxious to continue this unique saga in BLOOD OATH in May 2017. An excellent depiction of the western frontier in all its gory details, SAWBONES will shock and fascinate with the characters’ ability to endure the worst fate mankind can deliver. Melissa Lenhardt is a master at selective dialogue, moving the story forward at a convincing, fast pace. I devoured this exhilarating western. The $3.99 digital price should convince you to take my word for it. It’s worth far more. Unpredictable and addicting – a recommended read!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies and The Zest Quest. Digital copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review.
Accused of murder, Dr. Catherine Benton joins a wagon train heading west. Her only alibi is the resurrection man who provided the corpses she practiced surgery on. Catherine doesn’t have much choice but to flee the corrupt legal system in New York. Having disguised herself as a man during the Civil War, so that she could practice medicine alongside her surgeon father, makes disappearing again seem the logical choice. Even if it rankles the years of struggling to become accepted as a female doctor.
Dr. Catherine Benton becomes Laura Elliston as part of her disguise and considers becoming a midwife. As part of her cover, a family friend arranges for her supposed demise by burying a Jane Doe using Catherine’s name in her family’s plot. When she lands in Texas, Laura and her Irish maid discover their next contact for their escape plan has been arrested. With no strategy for their next move, while assuming no one will look for a doctor who died, Laura becomes Dr. Laura Elliston, hoping to begin a practice in California.
Their journey is not easy, especially since Laura cannot seem to escape her past. Laura’s life is not her own for a large part of the book. She’s deluged with one conflict after another, during and after traveling by wagon train to a fort in the Colorado Territory to await the next leg of her journey. It’s her inner strength and will to survive that consistently champion this story.
Laura is an engaging heroine who captures the reader’s heart with her willingness to serve in the medical field that denies her. When Laura meets Captain William Kindle, I began to hope that she’d ignore her vow to stay away from any emotional relationship. They’re perfect together but their conflicts are above and beyond what most romantic leads endure. Their experience can be very uncomfortable as author Melissa Lenhardt doesn’t soften the blow. Laura and William suffer through violence and heartbreak in vivid details. It’s emotional and devastating. I laughed and cried with them, as well as feared for their annihilation by an exemplary evil villain.
I loved this book even though I cringed through some of the ghastly scenes. It’s dark and gritty, funny and sorrowful, adventurous and beautiful. Exactly what this reader has been craving.
SAWBONES smoothly becomes a favorite with its thrilling pace and authentic characterization. I’m anxious to continue this unique saga in BLOOD OATH in May 2017. An excellent depiction of the western frontier in all its gory details, SAWBONES will shock and fascinate with the characters’ ability to endure the worst fate mankind can deliver. Melissa Lenhardt is a master at selective dialogue, moving the story forward at a convincing, fast pace. I devoured this exhilarating western. The $3.99 digital price should convince you to take my word for it. It’s worth far more. Unpredictable and addicting – a recommended read!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies and The Zest Quest. Digital copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review.
January 21, 2020
RATING: 4 STARS
2016; Redhook Books
Take a look at the cover for this book. It is gorgeous, but it screams "I am a light read!". I was thinking it would be a historical mystery/western with lots of romance. Nope. Heed my warning, fellow reader, this book is gritty and violent. If you cannot read the Outlander or Into the Wilderness you will not get through this novel. In fact, I would say if you are looking for just romance, skip this one.
There is some romance in this book, and it balances out the "dark" aspects of the novel. The main character, Laura Elliston is a female doctor in a time where women could not get into medical school. Laura would apprentice with her father and treat sex workers to practice her skills. As she runs away, against her better judgement, from a crime she didn't commit she heads out west. As the White men sign and break treaties with the Indigenous tribes, violence and darkness rises. Greed and betrayal crash against one another. After an attack, she starts to use her medical skills on the Fort's soldiers. It is here she is tested to see what she is made of.
I am a huge fan of Outlander and Into the Wilderness (I have some of my issues with them, but on the whole I love them) so this book was right up my alley. I enjoyed the characterizations and the realism of most of the novel. I found that Lenhardt did a great job in researching as she really brought out the time and place. I could feel and see the descriptions. The author thanks her father in the Author's Notes for his love of Westerns giving her the motivation behind this book. Having a dad, that also loves westerns, I totally get it, lol.
What made me rate it a 4, instead of 5 stars, was .
I would recommend this novel if you can stand a grittier story.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2016; Redhook Books
Take a look at the cover for this book. It is gorgeous, but it screams "I am a light read!". I was thinking it would be a historical mystery/western with lots of romance. Nope. Heed my warning, fellow reader, this book is gritty and violent. If you cannot read the Outlander or Into the Wilderness you will not get through this novel. In fact, I would say if you are looking for just romance, skip this one.
There is some romance in this book, and it balances out the "dark" aspects of the novel. The main character, Laura Elliston is a female doctor in a time where women could not get into medical school. Laura would apprentice with her father and treat sex workers to practice her skills. As she runs away, against her better judgement, from a crime she didn't commit she heads out west. As the White men sign and break treaties with the Indigenous tribes, violence and darkness rises. Greed and betrayal crash against one another. After an attack, she starts to use her medical skills on the Fort's soldiers. It is here she is tested to see what she is made of.
I am a huge fan of Outlander and Into the Wilderness (I have some of my issues with them, but on the whole I love them) so this book was right up my alley. I enjoyed the characterizations and the realism of most of the novel. I found that Lenhardt did a great job in researching as she really brought out the time and place. I could feel and see the descriptions. The author thanks her father in the Author's Notes for his love of Westerns giving her the motivation behind this book. Having a dad, that also loves westerns, I totally get it, lol.
What made me rate it a 4, instead of 5 stars, was .
I would recommend this novel if you can stand a grittier story.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
March 24, 2016
It's 1871, and Catherine is one of the rare women physicians. Practicing in New York City, with a rather mixed clientele, she's already fighting prejudice and scientific ignorance, but when she's accused of murder she has no choice but to flee. She chooses to flee west, but she will lose - and gain - far more than she expected.
Maybe the initial loose end in the plot will be tied up later in the series, but I felt there were a few anachronisms, mainly in Catherine's attitudes and beliefs but occasionally in word choices. Unfortunately those little niggles, and the feeling that the other characters tended towards the two-dimensionals, detracted from an otherwise interesting historical setting.
Outlander this is not, despite the description, but it was an enjoyable read while it lasted. Chances of a reread are low.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe the initial loose end in the plot will be tied up later in the series, but I felt there were a few anachronisms, mainly in Catherine's attitudes and beliefs but occasionally in word choices. Unfortunately those little niggles, and the feeling that the other characters tended towards the two-dimensionals, detracted from an otherwise interesting historical setting.
Outlander this is not, despite the description, but it was an enjoyable read while it lasted. Chances of a reread are low.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2018
I just found another book and author to add to my favorites list. I'd give it 10 stars if I could- it was that good! I was expecting a light read but this 1871 western frontier story is so much more then that. Be prepared for one hell of a roller coaster ride with some very dark, intense moments. If you like the wild west or have an interest in medicine, then you need to move this book to the top of your TBR!
March 26, 2021
An Excellent Story
Job well done with this one. Loads of action, plot, humor, and interesting characters. I rather liked Catherine, Anna, and Kindle. I will definitely recommend reading this one, and I look forward to the next. Five stars!
Job well done with this one. Loads of action, plot, humor, and interesting characters. I rather liked Catherine, Anna, and Kindle. I will definitely recommend reading this one, and I look forward to the next. Five stars!
March 29, 2016
Sawbones is a combination of western, romance, adventure and historical fiction. With its engaging characters, great premise and some rather outstanding (albeit gruesome) action scenes, I was kept engaged throughout and quite enjoyed this book.
Going into this book I wasn't familiar with the term 'sawbones' (for those like me it's an old term for "a surgeon or physician"). What really drew me to this book was the description likening it to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. While I enjoyed this book I don't think that is a fair or accurate comparison. While Outlander is partially set in 18th century U.S and has a strong female physician as a lead character, there is no time travel or Scots to be seen. It felt a little disingenuous for that connection to be made but that is more due to publishers/PR than the author so that factor won't be influencing my rating.
Like I mentioned this book has it all - adventure, mystery, romance and a spunky heroine who has a price on her head. Nothing like a price on your head to give you a push to move into dangerous territory. Catherine is a strong main character and it was easy to get behind her. She's smart, sassy, stubborn and generally a force to be reckoned with. She overcame many obstacles to become a doctor and continues to try to get the same recognition for her accomplishments from her male peers and the general population.
As readers see Catherine struggle to be seen as a 'real' physician Lenhardt also taps into other roles and limitations set on women of the time. From a struggling doctor, to married women, to whores and laundresses and spinsters ... anyway you slice it, it was hard being a woman back then.
There is a strong romance aspect to the book and their connection was initially built with witty banter and not bed hopping which I was thankful for. I can't stand the insta-love connections. Was the romance aspect predictable? Ya, kind of but it was sweet and fit the situation. If I allow myself a petty moment, I have to admit that I wasn't fond of Captain Kindle's name. Namely because it constantly reminded me of my e-reader but also because it wasn't the strongest sounding name for a hearty military man. Petty moment over.
What this book has in spades is action and boy, oh boy were there some action scenes! There were several nail biting fight scenes and the author doesn't hold back on her descriptions of the atrocities that man commits against each other (or their very graphic and often misogynistic language). Several of the scenes were shocking and quite gruesome in nature with some leaving me thinking "I didn't think she (the author) would go there ... but she did. Wow!" Even though it was hard to read about killings, abuse, genocide, rape etc these shocking scenes gave an air of authenticity to the era.
Sadly, another issue that was popular at the time was the prejudice and outright hatred for native Americans which was frustrating and hard to read. I felt they were vilified in this book but sadly this was the view of the white population at the time. It would have been nice to have had point of view from the Native side of things as these people struggled to deal with the end of their lands, people and way of life.
Overall I quite enjoyed this book. It's a good ol' romp in the wild, wild west with some great action, a mystery and a sweet romance between two memorable characters. I think people who enjoy historical fictions set in the old west with strong female protagonists, an engaging story and some action will enjoy this book.
Recommended.
Note: the second book in this new series, Blood Oath, will be out in late 2016.
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Redhook Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Going into this book I wasn't familiar with the term 'sawbones' (for those like me it's an old term for "a surgeon or physician"). What really drew me to this book was the description likening it to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. While I enjoyed this book I don't think that is a fair or accurate comparison. While Outlander is partially set in 18th century U.S and has a strong female physician as a lead character, there is no time travel or Scots to be seen. It felt a little disingenuous for that connection to be made but that is more due to publishers/PR than the author so that factor won't be influencing my rating.
Like I mentioned this book has it all - adventure, mystery, romance and a spunky heroine who has a price on her head. Nothing like a price on your head to give you a push to move into dangerous territory. Catherine is a strong main character and it was easy to get behind her. She's smart, sassy, stubborn and generally a force to be reckoned with. She overcame many obstacles to become a doctor and continues to try to get the same recognition for her accomplishments from her male peers and the general population.
As readers see Catherine struggle to be seen as a 'real' physician Lenhardt also taps into other roles and limitations set on women of the time. From a struggling doctor, to married women, to whores and laundresses and spinsters ... anyway you slice it, it was hard being a woman back then.
There is a strong romance aspect to the book and their connection was initially built with witty banter and not bed hopping which I was thankful for. I can't stand the insta-love connections. Was the romance aspect predictable? Ya, kind of but it was sweet and fit the situation. If I allow myself a petty moment, I have to admit that I wasn't fond of Captain Kindle's name. Namely because it constantly reminded me of my e-reader but also because it wasn't the strongest sounding name for a hearty military man. Petty moment over.
What this book has in spades is action and boy, oh boy were there some action scenes! There were several nail biting fight scenes and the author doesn't hold back on her descriptions of the atrocities that man commits against each other (or their very graphic and often misogynistic language). Several of the scenes were shocking and quite gruesome in nature with some leaving me thinking "I didn't think she (the author) would go there ... but she did. Wow!" Even though it was hard to read about killings, abuse, genocide, rape etc these shocking scenes gave an air of authenticity to the era.
Sadly, another issue that was popular at the time was the prejudice and outright hatred for native Americans which was frustrating and hard to read. I felt they were vilified in this book but sadly this was the view of the white population at the time. It would have been nice to have had point of view from the Native side of things as these people struggled to deal with the end of their lands, people and way of life.
Overall I quite enjoyed this book. It's a good ol' romp in the wild, wild west with some great action, a mystery and a sweet romance between two memorable characters. I think people who enjoy historical fictions set in the old west with strong female protagonists, an engaging story and some action will enjoy this book.
Recommended.
Note: the second book in this new series, Blood Oath, will be out in late 2016.
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Redhook Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 7, 2017
I received this ebook from Netgalley and Redhook in exchange for an honest review.
The year is 1871, and Dr. Catherine Bennett overcame obstacles to earn her medical degree, but fighting the prejudice against female doctors will be a never-ending battle. Forced into an unsavory partnership with a ‘Resurrection Man’ in order to better her skills as a physician and a surgeon, something that would be particularly frowned upon simply because she is a woman, Catherine is returning from her latest visit there when she learns she has been accused of murdering the husband of one of her well-connected patients. Her alibi—the Resurrection Man—would end her career as quickly as the murder accusation and likely conviction. Catherine has no choice but to run.
With her protective maid, Maureen, at her side, Catherine sails to Galveston, Texas, hoping for a fresh start. Circumstances beyond her control and a chance meeting with a former patient lead her to join a wagon train bound for Colorado Territory. Things go from bad to worse, and Catherine, now calling herself Laura, finds herself alone at an army fort filling in temporarily as the post’s doctor until a replacement can be sent. But even at a remote fort in the vast Southern Plains, her true identity and the secret that must stay hidden is in danger of being revealed.
I really enjoyed reading this. Lenhardt’s words painted a vivid picture of Catherine’s plight, and I could easily put myself in Catherine’s shoes and feel what she felt at any given point of the story. The cast of characters were simply wonderful, and quite believable in their portrayal. They were anything but predictable, however… several characters surprised me more than once. Particularly during scenes when I just knew things were going to play out a certain way, only to find I was proven wrong once again.
Every detail in not tied into a neat little bow by the end of the book—this is the first book in a series, after all—but I have to say, I think the loose ends that were left were perfectly chosen. They are the very ones I want to know more about! I’m looking forward to reading more of Catherine’s story, as well as certain other characters.
I’m hesitant to add this last bit, but I did promise to give an honest review, so I suppose I should. I wanted to read this book the instant I read “Outlander meets post-Civil War unrest in this fast-paced historical debut.” Even more truthfully… as soon as I read the word “Outlander.” That’s not to say that the description of the book didn’t further reel me in… it did. I would have wanted to read the book based solely on that, minus the bit about Outlander. The thing is… other than the fact that Catherine is a doctor and Outlander’s Claire Randall is a known as a healer after time traveling to 18th century Scotland, and both have to deal with societal mores regarding a woman’s “proper place”… I’m not completely certain using it in the tagline is fitting. (To clarify, I’m not saying that because of the time travel aspect of Outlander.) Then again, I’m not completely certain it isn’t, given the similarities I noted between Catherine and Claire. It’s something I’ve puzzled over more than a few times as I was reading, and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. It feels not quite right, somehow, but not quite wrong, either. I’m interested to see what others who read Sawbones think about it, if they have any thoughts about it at all.
But enough about that. The tagline isn’t the important thing, it’s the story itself, which is absolutely fantastic and well written from start to finish. I’m looking forward to book two, and will definitely be reading it. I have a theory or two about what might happen next… can’t wait to find out!
The year is 1871, and Dr. Catherine Bennett overcame obstacles to earn her medical degree, but fighting the prejudice against female doctors will be a never-ending battle. Forced into an unsavory partnership with a ‘Resurrection Man’ in order to better her skills as a physician and a surgeon, something that would be particularly frowned upon simply because she is a woman, Catherine is returning from her latest visit there when she learns she has been accused of murdering the husband of one of her well-connected patients. Her alibi—the Resurrection Man—would end her career as quickly as the murder accusation and likely conviction. Catherine has no choice but to run.
With her protective maid, Maureen, at her side, Catherine sails to Galveston, Texas, hoping for a fresh start. Circumstances beyond her control and a chance meeting with a former patient lead her to join a wagon train bound for Colorado Territory. Things go from bad to worse, and Catherine, now calling herself Laura, finds herself alone at an army fort filling in temporarily as the post’s doctor until a replacement can be sent. But even at a remote fort in the vast Southern Plains, her true identity and the secret that must stay hidden is in danger of being revealed.
I really enjoyed reading this. Lenhardt’s words painted a vivid picture of Catherine’s plight, and I could easily put myself in Catherine’s shoes and feel what she felt at any given point of the story. The cast of characters were simply wonderful, and quite believable in their portrayal. They were anything but predictable, however… several characters surprised me more than once. Particularly during scenes when I just knew things were going to play out a certain way, only to find I was proven wrong once again.
Every detail in not tied into a neat little bow by the end of the book—this is the first book in a series, after all—but I have to say, I think the loose ends that were left were perfectly chosen. They are the very ones I want to know more about! I’m looking forward to reading more of Catherine’s story, as well as certain other characters.
I’m hesitant to add this last bit, but I did promise to give an honest review, so I suppose I should. I wanted to read this book the instant I read “Outlander meets post-Civil War unrest in this fast-paced historical debut.” Even more truthfully… as soon as I read the word “Outlander.” That’s not to say that the description of the book didn’t further reel me in… it did. I would have wanted to read the book based solely on that, minus the bit about Outlander. The thing is… other than the fact that Catherine is a doctor and Outlander’s Claire Randall is a known as a healer after time traveling to 18th century Scotland, and both have to deal with societal mores regarding a woman’s “proper place”… I’m not completely certain using it in the tagline is fitting. (To clarify, I’m not saying that because of the time travel aspect of Outlander.) Then again, I’m not completely certain it isn’t, given the similarities I noted between Catherine and Claire. It’s something I’ve puzzled over more than a few times as I was reading, and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. It feels not quite right, somehow, but not quite wrong, either. I’m interested to see what others who read Sawbones think about it, if they have any thoughts about it at all.
But enough about that. The tagline isn’t the important thing, it’s the story itself, which is absolutely fantastic and well written from start to finish. I’m looking forward to book two, and will definitely be reading it. I have a theory or two about what might happen next… can’t wait to find out!
August 29, 2017
Sawbones by Melissa Lendhardt is set in the 1870's, mostly in the frontier. It is the story of a woman doctor - Catherine Bennett. Catherine has been falsely accused of murder and has had to escape with the help of a friend. She travels from New York out into eventually the wilderness of Colorado.
This is not a story for the faint hearted. Oh - that's right, I am a bit faint hearted, but it was still for me. I just skipped quickly through the grim and horrible realities of attack on the wagon train, the deaths that ensued. And that was the first of the atrocities, more were to come and were just so horrible.
What kept me reading? Well it was the grittiness of Catherine. She ministered to soldiers at Antietam, mostly before this story opened. She was a doctor and healer to her core. She understood the need for cleanliness and its relation to infection. She ministered to the person. She was a good person and good doctor and she was treated so badly. In spite of all that she faced she kept on, and when raw danger reared its ugly head she did what she had to do.
William Kindle is a officer at the army camp Catherine finds herself at. They've met before under different circumstances - at Antietam. Now some years later Catherine or Laura as she now is, heals Kindle again. They are attracted to one another, but ... this is not your normal pretty story with a rainbow at the end of the ride. Sigh! But... maybe something better, grit and determination and loyalty and trust. I wonder where they'll end up? I see Blood Oath and Badlands are #2 and #3 in this trilogy so there is more to follow.
This story has violence, brutality and rape. But it has people in it who stand for goodness and truth, people who are willing to help others and see them on their way. Yes, I'll read through to the end, although ... I might skip a bit here and there!
This is not a story for the faint hearted. Oh - that's right, I am a bit faint hearted, but it was still for me. I just skipped quickly through the grim and horrible realities of attack on the wagon train, the deaths that ensued. And that was the first of the atrocities, more were to come and were just so horrible.
What kept me reading? Well it was the grittiness of Catherine. She ministered to soldiers at Antietam, mostly before this story opened. She was a doctor and healer to her core. She understood the need for cleanliness and its relation to infection. She ministered to the person. She was a good person and good doctor and she was treated so badly. In spite of all that she faced she kept on, and when raw danger reared its ugly head she did what she had to do.
William Kindle is a officer at the army camp Catherine finds herself at. They've met before under different circumstances - at Antietam. Now some years later Catherine or Laura as she now is, heals Kindle again. They are attracted to one another, but ... this is not your normal pretty story with a rainbow at the end of the ride. Sigh! But... maybe something better, grit and determination and loyalty and trust. I wonder where they'll end up? I see Blood Oath and Badlands are #2 and #3 in this trilogy so there is more to follow.
This story has violence, brutality and rape. But it has people in it who stand for goodness and truth, people who are willing to help others and see them on their way. Yes, I'll read through to the end, although ... I might skip a bit here and there!
February 28, 2018
I could not get over the racism throughout this book. I cringed every time the white writer used the words 'savage' to describe Natives or used various forms of the N word to describe black people. I hated that all the Natives were violent, evil, and rapists. Yeah, people were racist and used these words and had this type of thinking, but this is a book--it doesn't HAVE to have this language. It's not in any way necessary. Call a black character black; there's no need to describe every black person in the story as a 'Negro.' This was written in modern times; there isn't an excuse (and being 'historically accurate' isn't one). It's all passive racism tucked within certain damning sentences and dialogue. Ugh.
I wasn't able to get past Catherine/Laura tending to patients at the Fort. The suddenness of the Native attack was jarring and honestly, after having the reader get used to her fellow travelers (who were all pretty boring and cardboard) and then slaughtering them all in one quick scene felt more like reader betrayal. Never mind the fact that the Natives are used to push the plot forward as continuous evil 'savages' who need to be killed for all their violence. I really, really hate seeing Native people only depicted as killers and rapists in a narrative, used to move the story along and prop the white people as 'good.' This book just perpetuates horrible stereotypes. I was hoping for more, what with the feminist undertones strewn through it, but no. The writer relies on historical racism to fill her story.
No thank you.
I wasn't able to get past Catherine/Laura tending to patients at the Fort. The suddenness of the Native attack was jarring and honestly, after having the reader get used to her fellow travelers (who were all pretty boring and cardboard) and then slaughtering them all in one quick scene felt more like reader betrayal. Never mind the fact that the Natives are used to push the plot forward as continuous evil 'savages' who need to be killed for all their violence. I really, really hate seeing Native people only depicted as killers and rapists in a narrative, used to move the story along and prop the white people as 'good.' This book just perpetuates horrible stereotypes. I was hoping for more, what with the feminist undertones strewn through it, but no. The writer relies on historical racism to fill her story.
No thank you.
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