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Laura Elliston/Sawbones #2
Blood Oath
Outlander meets post-Civil War unrest in this nonstop sequel to Sawbones.
Laura Elliston and William Kindle are on the run -- from the Army and from every miscreant in the West eager to claim the $500 bounty for Laura's capture as their own. But the danger isn't just from those pursuing them. Laura and Kindle have demons of their own and a past that won't stay dead. Exhausted, scared, scarred and surrounded by enemies, neither realize the greatest danger is yet to come.
"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
"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
"Sawbones is a thoroughly original, smart and satisfying hybrid, perhaps a new the feminist Western."
-- Lone Star Literary Life
Laura Elliston novels
Sawbones
Blood Oath
Badlands
Laura Elliston and William Kindle are on the run -- from the Army and from every miscreant in the West eager to claim the $500 bounty for Laura's capture as their own. But the danger isn't just from those pursuing them. Laura and Kindle have demons of their own and a past that won't stay dead. Exhausted, scared, scarred and surrounded by enemies, neither realize the greatest danger is yet to come.
"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
"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
"Sawbones is a thoroughly original, smart and satisfying hybrid, perhaps a new the feminist Western."
-- Lone Star Literary Life
Laura Elliston novels
Sawbones
Blood Oath
Badlands
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2017
39 people are currently reading
375 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 75 reviews
June 19, 2017
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/06/18/...
Last year I fell head over heels in love with Melissa Lenhardt’s Sawbones, a post-Civil War western filled with equal parts gritty adventure and passionate romance. Needless to say, I was barely able to contain my excitement when I found out there would be not one but two follow-ups to the novel, rounding out a trilogy chronicling the extraordinary journey of a woman doctor on the run from the law.
While Blood Oath picks up not long after Sawbones, it is also a new beginning of a sort for our protagonist. The woman from New York known as Dr. Catherine Bennett is dead. Now she is Laura Elliston, a fugitive wanted for a crime she did not commit. Still, despite a new name and a new life on the frontier, she could not escape her past. And following the brutal events of the previous book, Laura now finds herself with even more personal demons to confront.
Fortunately, this time she has the help and companionship of her lover William Kindle, a former captain of the US Army. Traveling in disguise, the two of them persist in trying to find safe refuge, dodging every soldier, vigilante and two-bit bandit eager to collect the bounty on their heads. Already on edge from the dangers and stresses of the journey, the couple’s relationship is further strained from the uncertainties left after Laura’s horrific kidnapping and their showdown with Kindle’s vicious brother, Cotter Black. As a doctor, Laura understands better than most how even the worst physical pain can eventually fade and be forgotten over time, but when it comes to the emotional scars, she is not so sure, fearing that the damage on both their spirits may have broken them in ways they can never be healed.
Poor Laura and Kindle. The two of them can never catch a break, even after being put through the wringer in Sawbones. I wish I could tell you everything comes together for them, but apparently, they still have a little longer to wait for their happily-ever-after. Following her characters’ nightmare ordeal with Cotter Black, Melissa Lenhardt isn’t about to let up on her protagonists, throwing them into new situations full of hardships and horrors. Blood Oath might just be slightly less intense than its predecessor, but rest assured it still has its fair share of harsh injustices and gut-churning violence. Dark as it is though, this series reminds me of why I love Westerns, perfectly capturing a sense of danger and the atmosphere of constant threat in an untamed country. This tone of raw candidness keeps me coming back, not to mention the author’s storytelling skills and no-holds-barred style.
And yet, despite the brutal realities of the era, we also have the passion as a counterpoint. Laura and Kindle had excellent chemistry in Sawbones, and it pained me to read about what happened to them at the end of that book and to see the emotional aftermath of those events here. Neither of them are the same people anymore, which made me sad—but I’m also encouraged by their efforts to talk it out and make things work. First, the story had to address Laura’s trauma from her experiences in the first book, and the effects on her relationship with Kindle have not been easy, as one would expect. Second, misunderstandings and secrets are also awakened as the two learn more about each other and their pasts. Reading about Laura and Kindle’s struggles broke my heart, but at the same time, I had been prepared for a lot of these obstacles in a second novel. Historical romances are often fraught with drama and uncertainties, and this is especially true when you’re dealing with post-war turmoil and the ruthless conditions of the Wild West. Luckily though, there are moments of hope and lightness as Laura is determined to never abandon her humanity, and she will also never stop fighting for her and Kindle’s future.
Bottom line, I love a good Western. Sawbones was amazing and its sequel Blood Oath was no slouch either, so I would highly recommend picking up this series if you are a fan of historical fiction or historical romance with a bit of grit. Like I wrote in my review for the first book, it was this juxtaposition of loveliness and gruesomeness that made the story so compelling, and considering how shockingly things ended in this one, it’s looking like the trend will be continuing into book three, Badlands. I just can’t wait.
Audiobook Comments: I might have read the first book in print, but as soon as I found out this series was getting audiobooks, I just knew I had to give them a try. Having heard narrator Suehyla El-Attar perform on other books before, the moment I saw her name attached to this project, I had a good feeling she would make a perfect Laura Elliston and indeed I was not disappointed. Her accents, tones and inflections are all spot on, and she managed to bring both Laura and Kindle to life in a way I never imagined in this absolutely brilliant and immersive experience.
Last year I fell head over heels in love with Melissa Lenhardt’s Sawbones, a post-Civil War western filled with equal parts gritty adventure and passionate romance. Needless to say, I was barely able to contain my excitement when I found out there would be not one but two follow-ups to the novel, rounding out a trilogy chronicling the extraordinary journey of a woman doctor on the run from the law.
While Blood Oath picks up not long after Sawbones, it is also a new beginning of a sort for our protagonist. The woman from New York known as Dr. Catherine Bennett is dead. Now she is Laura Elliston, a fugitive wanted for a crime she did not commit. Still, despite a new name and a new life on the frontier, she could not escape her past. And following the brutal events of the previous book, Laura now finds herself with even more personal demons to confront.
Fortunately, this time she has the help and companionship of her lover William Kindle, a former captain of the US Army. Traveling in disguise, the two of them persist in trying to find safe refuge, dodging every soldier, vigilante and two-bit bandit eager to collect the bounty on their heads. Already on edge from the dangers and stresses of the journey, the couple’s relationship is further strained from the uncertainties left after Laura’s horrific kidnapping and their showdown with Kindle’s vicious brother, Cotter Black. As a doctor, Laura understands better than most how even the worst physical pain can eventually fade and be forgotten over time, but when it comes to the emotional scars, she is not so sure, fearing that the damage on both their spirits may have broken them in ways they can never be healed.
Poor Laura and Kindle. The two of them can never catch a break, even after being put through the wringer in Sawbones. I wish I could tell you everything comes together for them, but apparently, they still have a little longer to wait for their happily-ever-after. Following her characters’ nightmare ordeal with Cotter Black, Melissa Lenhardt isn’t about to let up on her protagonists, throwing them into new situations full of hardships and horrors. Blood Oath might just be slightly less intense than its predecessor, but rest assured it still has its fair share of harsh injustices and gut-churning violence. Dark as it is though, this series reminds me of why I love Westerns, perfectly capturing a sense of danger and the atmosphere of constant threat in an untamed country. This tone of raw candidness keeps me coming back, not to mention the author’s storytelling skills and no-holds-barred style.
And yet, despite the brutal realities of the era, we also have the passion as a counterpoint. Laura and Kindle had excellent chemistry in Sawbones, and it pained me to read about what happened to them at the end of that book and to see the emotional aftermath of those events here. Neither of them are the same people anymore, which made me sad—but I’m also encouraged by their efforts to talk it out and make things work. First, the story had to address Laura’s trauma from her experiences in the first book, and the effects on her relationship with Kindle have not been easy, as one would expect. Second, misunderstandings and secrets are also awakened as the two learn more about each other and their pasts. Reading about Laura and Kindle’s struggles broke my heart, but at the same time, I had been prepared for a lot of these obstacles in a second novel. Historical romances are often fraught with drama and uncertainties, and this is especially true when you’re dealing with post-war turmoil and the ruthless conditions of the Wild West. Luckily though, there are moments of hope and lightness as Laura is determined to never abandon her humanity, and she will also never stop fighting for her and Kindle’s future.
Bottom line, I love a good Western. Sawbones was amazing and its sequel Blood Oath was no slouch either, so I would highly recommend picking up this series if you are a fan of historical fiction or historical romance with a bit of grit. Like I wrote in my review for the first book, it was this juxtaposition of loveliness and gruesomeness that made the story so compelling, and considering how shockingly things ended in this one, it’s looking like the trend will be continuing into book three, Badlands. I just can’t wait.
Audiobook Comments: I might have read the first book in print, but as soon as I found out this series was getting audiobooks, I just knew I had to give them a try. Having heard narrator Suehyla El-Attar perform on other books before, the moment I saw her name attached to this project, I had a good feeling she would make a perfect Laura Elliston and indeed I was not disappointed. Her accents, tones and inflections are all spot on, and she managed to bring both Laura and Kindle to life in a way I never imagined in this absolutely brilliant and immersive experience.
February 22, 2021
At the opening of Blood Oath, and taking up a fair portion of the book, Laura and Kindle both suffer following the events of Sawbones. Laura experiences trauma and PTSD that continue well after her physical wounds have healed, and Kindle feels both guilt and responsibility, as well as having wounds of his own.
As they try to heal themselves and their relationship things mostly go as they have before for this unlucky pair, from bad to worse and back again. Throughout their difficulties, they remain committed and begin to know each other better, although it remains an open question whether Laura and Kindle will ever find lasting peace with each other.
It's gratifying, if painful, to watch them navigate everything, and one can't help but want things to finally go their way. This continues to be an excellent series, but as with the first book, it is quite graphic and violent in parts.
As they try to heal themselves and their relationship things mostly go as they have before for this unlucky pair, from bad to worse and back again. Throughout their difficulties, they remain committed and begin to know each other better, although it remains an open question whether Laura and Kindle will ever find lasting peace with each other.
It's gratifying, if painful, to watch them navigate everything, and one can't help but want things to finally go their way. This continues to be an excellent series, but as with the first book, it is quite graphic and violent in parts.
January 21, 2020
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2017; Orbit Books/Redhook
Blood Oath continues Laura's journey in the west. She and William are on the run trying to keep one step ahead of the law and other outlaws. This sequel continues the story and also sets up stories for the concluding book. I liked the realistic, very flawed, characters. Like every western there is the flawed "hero" with good intentions and the villain with the stomach for sadism. This novel is even more grittier than the first novel, and more action packed, so I recommend reading this one in bigger chunks. I am ready for the last book, but also don't want it to end.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss/NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2017; Orbit Books/Redhook
Blood Oath continues Laura's journey in the west. She and William are on the run trying to keep one step ahead of the law and other outlaws. This sequel continues the story and also sets up stories for the concluding book. I liked the realistic, very flawed, characters. Like every western there is the flawed "hero" with good intentions and the villain with the stomach for sadism. This novel is even more grittier than the first novel, and more action packed, so I recommend reading this one in bigger chunks. I am ready for the last book, but also don't want it to end.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss/NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
February 6, 2018
Not as good as the first book I thought but still a hell of a story!
November 28, 2017
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (live on the blog 2/5/18)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2AiLLOy
I'd heard good things about this series and was excited to dive into the gritty wild west adventure but in the end wasn't totally enamored by Blood Oath.
The Gist: Laura and Kindle are on the run. She's been accused of murder and he's abandoned his military post to help her escape and flee though the dangers of the frontier--battling harsh climates, nature, bounty hunters, outlaws and Indian attacks-- in search of a safe haven.
Whew boy! This one was action packed! From page one Kindle and Laura are in danger and fighting for their lives. And it's rather captivating. I kept coming back to read a little more and see how they'd squirm out of the next horror or dilemma that got in their way.
And it's gritty. Lenhardt didn't shy away from showing ugly things--actually think she went a bit heavy on it. The danger, the cruelty, betrayals, how hard life was back then. There were *tiny* bits of humor between the characters. More a laugh or you'll cry kind of thing in the midst of all the gore.
For the most part I liked the characters. Kindle was a solid hero--the strong silent type that did what needed to be done. And Laura a survivor. She went through hell but kept her head up and moving. Their romance is quiet and subdued but I liked that they kept coming back to one another for support and strength. Relied on each other through their trials.
I did have some issues, though.
>>>While a ton of stuff happened...nothing really happened. It starts with them on the run and in dire straights. It ends with them on the run and in dire straights. Things were still uncertain, no happily ever after, the relationship still struggling despite loving each other.
>>>I also struggled with Laura now and again. She's brilliant and accomplished but so damn stubborn and prideful it gets in her way. I found myself rolling my eyes at her multiple times.
And there's a cliffhanger. Ugh. I can deal with them sometimes but I need SOME type of closure with a book. Relationship or storyline and this really just left everything up in the air.
Overall...a middle of the road read for me. I didn't hate it but I also wasn't wowed by it. Nothing had me feeling giddy over a new author or like I desperately needed their next book. Which is too bad. Had things been done slightly different that may not have been the case.
August 15, 2017
"More Please! And Ahem . . ."
I loved Sawbones. And Blood Oath is no different, I still love Laura and Kindle's fun banter, and I'm still in complete AWE of the incredible narration, and the writing, where this world is absolutely believable and on point. So why is this only 4 for me? A couple of reasons. First, I Do honestly equate the books with Outlander, the characters and their stories are that strong(not the time travel part). As I said in the Sawbones review, the books aren't as long. So this book felt incomplete to me. I don't know where we are going. There is a big cliffhanger. I'm fairly certain Book 3, coming out soon thankfully, will solve that for me. So I feel like I just digested the middle third of Outlander, if that makes sense. I don't like being left like that.
Also, the narrator does make some glaring mispronounciations that I thought would be corrected here. I want the world to know this land, and how to say Kiowa (Ky-o-wa, like Kyle- definitely not KEEowa. And Palo Duro, like Pal-o not Paul-o, you know like Palo Alto. And Washita. -- wash-i-tah not washy-ta. And travois -- tra-voy. If you don't believe me check your Meriam-Webster app and both listen/look. The book and narration, and frankly the country itself, they are all just too brilliant to get these big little things wrong.
So that's why. Otherwise, bravo and I'm lining up for the next! Definitely makes my best #beachreads list!!!
I loved Sawbones. And Blood Oath is no different, I still love Laura and Kindle's fun banter, and I'm still in complete AWE of the incredible narration, and the writing, where this world is absolutely believable and on point. So why is this only 4 for me? A couple of reasons. First, I Do honestly equate the books with Outlander, the characters and their stories are that strong(not the time travel part). As I said in the Sawbones review, the books aren't as long. So this book felt incomplete to me. I don't know where we are going. There is a big cliffhanger. I'm fairly certain Book 3, coming out soon thankfully, will solve that for me. So I feel like I just digested the middle third of Outlander, if that makes sense. I don't like being left like that.
Also, the narrator does make some glaring mispronounciations that I thought would be corrected here. I want the world to know this land, and how to say Kiowa (Ky-o-wa, like Kyle- definitely not KEEowa. And Palo Duro, like Pal-o not Paul-o, you know like Palo Alto. And Washita. -- wash-i-tah not washy-ta. And travois -- tra-voy. If you don't believe me check your Meriam-Webster app and both listen/look. The book and narration, and frankly the country itself, they are all just too brilliant to get these big little things wrong.
So that's why. Otherwise, bravo and I'm lining up for the next! Definitely makes my best #beachreads list!!!
June 2, 2017
Book two in a trilogy, and no it does not stand alone well. It's literally a continuation of the first book, so you really need to start there.
If you loved Sawbones, you'll need to read this one. Fall out from everything that happened in book one, plus it sets the stage for the final book in the trilogy. Once again the violence level is high here - but it's in a similar vein as Sawbones, so if you got through that book, this one shouldn't be a problem.
I liked this, but it's very much a "bridge" book. A classic middle book in a trilogy. You need to read it because it further sets the stage for the final showdown - but my favorite book in the series is obviously either going to be Sawbones or Badlands because....that's how trilogies work. Nobody ever says book two is their favorite.
If you loved Sawbones, you'll need to read this one. Fall out from everything that happened in book one, plus it sets the stage for the final book in the trilogy. Once again the violence level is high here - but it's in a similar vein as Sawbones, so if you got through that book, this one shouldn't be a problem.
I liked this, but it's very much a "bridge" book. A classic middle book in a trilogy. You need to read it because it further sets the stage for the final showdown - but my favorite book in the series is obviously either going to be Sawbones or Badlands because....that's how trilogies work. Nobody ever says book two is their favorite.
July 7, 2019
3.5
A good followup to the first in the series. I did have some issue with but the adventure was there. It ends on a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to reading the 3rd (and final) book next month. Lots of adventure and I still appreciate all the rawness and grit, no sugar coating and that's what makes this a strong story. There is definitely a strong underlying feminist stance here which isn't bad but sometimes I feel like it might distract from the story a bit.
A good followup to the first in the series. I did have some issue with but the adventure was there. It ends on a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to reading the 3rd (and final) book next month. Lots of adventure and I still appreciate all the rawness and grit, no sugar coating and that's what makes this a strong story. There is definitely a strong underlying feminist stance here which isn't bad but sometimes I feel like it might distract from the story a bit.
May 13, 2017
Thanks Orbit Books and netgalley for this ARC.
The pain that Laura goes thru will sting your heart. This series feels so real, honest, and tough like jerky. I love it!
The pain that Laura goes thru will sting your heart. This series feels so real, honest, and tough like jerky. I love it!
September 3, 2021
This came as part of a mystery box from the Book Grocer, and is definitely not something I would have chosen myself - part of the fun for sure!
Now, the most obvious issue here is that this is #2 in a series [niether 1 nor 3 were included], but as a follower of fantasy I hoped Lenhardt would follow a similar pattern and disclose the main threads of the first book in the initial chapters; and in this I was correct. So, while I missed the gory adventures that Laura/Charlotte/Sarah was subjected to in Sawbones, I felt well enough informed to keep up.
Western Romance is not a genre I have ever encountered but I was pleasantly surprised by the similarities with Georgette Heyer and Catherine Gaskin - apart from the brutality of the American wild West.
The writing is fast and passionate, the action varied and characters fairly well rounded, considering their circumstances. I loved the complex love story at the heart of the novel and part of me wonders if I will pursue the last book through the library to find out what happens to these two. This story certainly ends on a cliffhanger with Kindle arrested and our heroine carted off.
Could be worthwhile finding out...
Now, the most obvious issue here is that this is #2 in a series [niether 1 nor 3 were included], but as a follower of fantasy I hoped Lenhardt would follow a similar pattern and disclose the main threads of the first book in the initial chapters; and in this I was correct. So, while I missed the gory adventures that Laura/Charlotte/Sarah was subjected to in Sawbones, I felt well enough informed to keep up.
Western Romance is not a genre I have ever encountered but I was pleasantly surprised by the similarities with Georgette Heyer and Catherine Gaskin - apart from the brutality of the American wild West.
The writing is fast and passionate, the action varied and characters fairly well rounded, considering their circumstances. I loved the complex love story at the heart of the novel and part of me wonders if I will pursue the last book through the library to find out what happens to these two. This story certainly ends on a cliffhanger with Kindle arrested and our heroine carted off.
Could be worthwhile finding out...
June 1, 2024
Yeeee haw. 🤠 What a ride this book took me on! The description of this being Outlander meets post civil war is so accurate. There were so many page turning moments and steam-filled scenes in this. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Something about a grizzly man with an eye patch… 👀 On to the next and final book soon! 👏🏻
July 4, 2017
This series makes me want to start a book club or fan club or SOMETHING where I can just sit around and talk about the stories -- and I haven't even read book three (yet!). I am thoroughly hooked.
Melissa Lenhardt is a master at manipulating her readers. We're high! We're low! We're yes, and we're oh-hell-no! (Thank you, Train/Save Me San Francisco, for that inspiration.) As with book one of the series, Sawbones, Blood Oath is brutal in its depiction of the mentality of life on the frontier. Lenhardt weaves-in actual people and events from the 1800s to bring an extra level of realism, and both the truths and the fiction ain't pretty. Sensitive reader: consider yourself warned.
At the very heart of the story is our main character, the woman who goes by Catherine or Laura or Charlotte or Sophia, depending on the situation. Though her name changes often, her strength and fortitude really stay consistent. No matter how mentally or physically beaten, bruised, and abused, she perseveres. Less consistent is her love interest, William Kindle. He is also beaten, bruised, and abused, and he shows great strength and perseverance, but in Blood Oath, for me, he came dangerously close to losing his luster a few times. There is a huge cast of characters, old and new, and they are richly crafted to leave lasting impressions. From Native Americans to Quakers, priests to Pinkertons, readers are given insight into a variety of mindsets and attitudes towards women, as women were beginning their fight for rights and equality.
The action is non-stop, and even as Laura and Kindle are waging battles at every turn, it is Laura’s battle with herself that is sometimes the most damaging. She can’t escape or move on from the horrible memories of abuse and she can’t reconcile what she’s become – a killer – to the Hippocratic Oath she took. The reader must never relax while reading Blood Oath. All I will say about that is this: when you least expect it, expect it.
The book is well-written and cleanly edited. Lenhardt has a way with words and is deliberate in her word choices to convey specific impressions of character and place. (Admittedly, there were a few words I had to look-up!) The book isn’t meant to stand alone, and I wouldn’t recommend trying it that way. The only way to truly make the journey with Laura is if you start it with her. Block out a few days, then read Sawbones and make sure you have Blood Oath and Badlands at the ready. Then block out another day or two to recover – this series will wear you out in the best possible way.
I actually won a BEAUTIFUL signed copy of this book in a giveaway, so thank you to the author for my copy! And thanks to Lone Star Book Blog Tours for allowing me to post my bonus review on the tour in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review an other features on Hall Ways Blog http://kristinehallways.blogspot.com
Melissa Lenhardt is a master at manipulating her readers. We're high! We're low! We're yes, and we're oh-hell-no! (Thank you, Train/Save Me San Francisco, for that inspiration.) As with book one of the series, Sawbones, Blood Oath is brutal in its depiction of the mentality of life on the frontier. Lenhardt weaves-in actual people and events from the 1800s to bring an extra level of realism, and both the truths and the fiction ain't pretty. Sensitive reader: consider yourself warned.
At the very heart of the story is our main character, the woman who goes by Catherine or Laura or Charlotte or Sophia, depending on the situation. Though her name changes often, her strength and fortitude really stay consistent. No matter how mentally or physically beaten, bruised, and abused, she perseveres. Less consistent is her love interest, William Kindle. He is also beaten, bruised, and abused, and he shows great strength and perseverance, but in Blood Oath, for me, he came dangerously close to losing his luster a few times. There is a huge cast of characters, old and new, and they are richly crafted to leave lasting impressions. From Native Americans to Quakers, priests to Pinkertons, readers are given insight into a variety of mindsets and attitudes towards women, as women were beginning their fight for rights and equality.
The action is non-stop, and even as Laura and Kindle are waging battles at every turn, it is Laura’s battle with herself that is sometimes the most damaging. She can’t escape or move on from the horrible memories of abuse and she can’t reconcile what she’s become – a killer – to the Hippocratic Oath she took. The reader must never relax while reading Blood Oath. All I will say about that is this: when you least expect it, expect it.
The book is well-written and cleanly edited. Lenhardt has a way with words and is deliberate in her word choices to convey specific impressions of character and place. (Admittedly, there were a few words I had to look-up!) The book isn’t meant to stand alone, and I wouldn’t recommend trying it that way. The only way to truly make the journey with Laura is if you start it with her. Block out a few days, then read Sawbones and make sure you have Blood Oath and Badlands at the ready. Then block out another day or two to recover – this series will wear you out in the best possible way.
I actually won a BEAUTIFUL signed copy of this book in a giveaway, so thank you to the author for my copy! And thanks to Lone Star Book Blog Tours for allowing me to post my bonus review on the tour in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review an other features on Hall Ways Blog http://kristinehallways.blogspot.com
July 8, 2017
I really had hoped that William and Laura would have their HEA after they went through in the last book. Instead these 2 went through more drama around every turn. Just when you thought they were going to make it friends turned against them and more bad things happened, again and again. With how this one ended I'm not sure that there will be a HEA, but I'll be checking out the next book and hope it does.
June 27, 2017
I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sawbones, the first book in this series, was one of my first forays into the Western genre. And I really liked it. The story was good, the theme was good, nothing felt overdone... it was just a great experience overall. It was with high hopes that I began to read this sequel... so here is my review:
After escaping danger, Laura Elliston and William Kindle are on the run -- from the Army and from every bounty hunter after Laura. But the danger isn't just from those pursuing them. Laura and Kindle can't escape their past and are haunted by their secrets and trauma. Exhausted, scared, scarred and surrounded by enemies, neither realize the greatest danger is yet to come.
As usual, the author maintained that awesome grittiness that I have started to associate with the Western genre. Laura and Kindle do not get it easy at all in this novel! Every time they turn, there is some struggle or the other - but that's what I like about this book series. The author does not shy away from difficult themes like the conflict between Natives and the "Westerners", and the trauma from rape. The story was powerful because of the topics it covered and I think the author did a good job of addressing them. There is a lot more romance in this novel but I think that the chemistry between Laura and Kindle worked very well, so it was a success for me! I will say that this novel is more of a filler between the first book and what is to come; while this novel was interesting, it wasn't really necessary. However, with all that being said, this is definitely a good Western book series and I cannot wait to see what happens to Laura and Kindle in the next installment!
For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
Sawbones, the first book in this series, was one of my first forays into the Western genre. And I really liked it. The story was good, the theme was good, nothing felt overdone... it was just a great experience overall. It was with high hopes that I began to read this sequel... so here is my review:
After escaping danger, Laura Elliston and William Kindle are on the run -- from the Army and from every bounty hunter after Laura. But the danger isn't just from those pursuing them. Laura and Kindle can't escape their past and are haunted by their secrets and trauma. Exhausted, scared, scarred and surrounded by enemies, neither realize the greatest danger is yet to come.
As usual, the author maintained that awesome grittiness that I have started to associate with the Western genre. Laura and Kindle do not get it easy at all in this novel! Every time they turn, there is some struggle or the other - but that's what I like about this book series. The author does not shy away from difficult themes like the conflict between Natives and the "Westerners", and the trauma from rape. The story was powerful because of the topics it covered and I think the author did a good job of addressing them. There is a lot more romance in this novel but I think that the chemistry between Laura and Kindle worked very well, so it was a success for me! I will say that this novel is more of a filler between the first book and what is to come; while this novel was interesting, it wasn't really necessary. However, with all that being said, this is definitely a good Western book series and I cannot wait to see what happens to Laura and Kindle in the next installment!
For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
September 13, 2017
Melissa Lenhardt's Blood Oath (Redhook May 2017), second in the Sawbones series, is a story of the post-Civil War West when both Indians and the white conquerors were fair game. The only law was a man's gun and his wits with a little help from Pinkerton. At this point in the series, Laura is running from the law after escaping from an Indian tribe who has gang-raped her and being accused of murdering one of the white men involved. To help her escape, John Kindle must desert his post in the Army which puts him on every lawman's radar. They're on the run, trying to find a desolate place in the lawless West to start their life over, constantly chased by those who want the bounty on their heads. Laura is not only miles from her successful medical practice in the East but even further from the cultured woman who spent years studying for and then practicing to be a doctor. Kindle had been a captain in the army and life long soldier before he fell in love with this strong independent but desperate woman.
"My [Laura] life back East was like a book read long ago, fondly but vaguely remembered."
"...to make different decisions so we wouldn’t end up in Indian Country, a degraded woman and a disgraced Army officer."
As they struggle to create a life that includes happiness and each other, the author delves into difficult moral topics such as righting injustice, forgiving your enemies, and the horror man commits against each other. One important point: The book stops on a cliffhanger so do plan to read book 3 in the series without a break.
"My [Laura] life back East was like a book read long ago, fondly but vaguely remembered."
"...to make different decisions so we wouldn’t end up in Indian Country, a degraded woman and a disgraced Army officer."
As they struggle to create a life that includes happiness and each other, the author delves into difficult moral topics such as righting injustice, forgiving your enemies, and the horror man commits against each other. One important point: The book stops on a cliffhanger so do plan to read book 3 in the series without a break.
June 16, 2017
In this second book in the Sawbones Series, Kindle and Laura are heading to Fort Worth disguised as brothers trying to stay one step ahead of the bounty hunters and Pinkerton detective looking for them. Laura's voice is still hoarse after her encounter with Cotter Black and she is recovering from her physical ailments after her brutal attack at the hands of her kidnappers. Kindle has grown a beard and sports an eye patch attempting to hide his scars and evade the military consequences of his desertion. No stranger to violence, Laura and Kindle are willing to kill in order to be safe and to stay together. As a doctor, Laura questions her ability to practice medicine in the future based on her acts in the present. Laura risks her life to save a Native American woman who is being savaged by bandits, only to once again find her reckless act curtails her freedom. However, Laura is an independent woman, not a trait valued on the frontier) and Kindle is madly in love with her. Seeking solace with Kindle's sister, who runs an orphanage, Laura and Kindle must face their own demons while learning to trust each other. Reviewed at http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogsp...
December 8, 2020
***Very raw and plenty of trigger warnings of rape, torture and abuse of women and men.*** It is going to take me awhile to recover from this one.
March 17, 2021
The second book of this series is just as good as the first, Sawbones. This explores more of Laura and William’s relationship and the struggles they endure. This definitely leaves at a cliffhanger so I am excited to read the next one! Just an FYI: There is strong language and intimate scenes throughout the book.
April 7, 2021
I was completely engrossed the entire novel. Just like Sawbones, the writing is amazing!! But I’m disappointed it ended with such a major cliffhanger.
Some major trigger warnings: rape, murder, maiming, etc.
Some major trigger warnings: rape, murder, maiming, etc.
May 22, 2017
*Source* Publisher via NetGalley
*Genre* Historical Fiction, Romance
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Blood Oath is the second installment in author Melissa Lenhardt's Laura Elliston series. As you may have learned from reading my review for Sawbones, Lenhardt doesn't go easy on her characters. She doesn't give them easy ways out. She knows that the late 19th century was filled with unhappy Confederate soldiers, uncouth and unsavory bounty hunters looking to make their fortunes, and renegade Indians that massacred Whites, and Whites who in turn, massacred Indians.
*Full Review Posting @ Talk Supe Blog - Link To Follow!
*Genre* Historical Fiction, Romance
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Blood Oath is the second installment in author Melissa Lenhardt's Laura Elliston series. As you may have learned from reading my review for Sawbones, Lenhardt doesn't go easy on her characters. She doesn't give them easy ways out. She knows that the late 19th century was filled with unhappy Confederate soldiers, uncouth and unsavory bounty hunters looking to make their fortunes, and renegade Indians that massacred Whites, and Whites who in turn, massacred Indians.
*Full Review Posting @ Talk Supe Blog - Link To Follow!
June 4, 2017
Rollicking is a gross understatement. There is no point at which this book can be put down since the reader is in a constant state of breathlessness. Can't wait for the next installment.
November 23, 2020
Even better than the first book!!! I’m sucked in and what a cliffhanger! Have to read the next one!
September 2, 2017
After the cliffhanger at the end of Sawbones, Blood Oath starts off nice and slow, easing you back into the story. But don’t be fooled. William Kindle and Laura are on the run, chased by the Army, bounty hunters, and a whole mess of bad memories.
Once again, Melissa Lenhardt doesn’t hold back when detailing death and destruction. Several scenes will raise your ire, curdle your blood, and make you run screaming from the room. Yes, Blood Oath is that awesome! And I for one can’t wait to read the next book, Badlands, for more of the same.
In Blood Oath, Kindle’s and Laura’s resolve and fortitude are tested as they become battered, bruised, and betrayed by both enemies and friends alike. One of my favorite unlikely friends is Henry Pope. While he knows the truth and enough secrets about Kindle and Laura to turn them in, he ends up proving his loyalty and honest friendship in such endearing ways that you can’t help but fall just a little bit in love with him. Pope is one of my favorite characters!
With a writing style that is crisp and engaging, Melissa Lenhardt has an uncanny knack of turning the story on a dime and leaving you breathless with shock, horror, and anticipation for the next chapter and the next book. With each turn of the page and each turn of events, the story of Kindle and Laura unfolds and then transforms in ways no reader can possibly expect or predict.
Blood Oath ends with a cliffhanger, of course, and will leave you with the expectation that the next in the series, Badlands, will deliver just as many thrilling, suspenseful, and electrifying moments as both Sawbones and Blood Oath.
Once again, Melissa Lenhardt doesn’t hold back when detailing death and destruction. Several scenes will raise your ire, curdle your blood, and make you run screaming from the room. Yes, Blood Oath is that awesome! And I for one can’t wait to read the next book, Badlands, for more of the same.
In Blood Oath, Kindle’s and Laura’s resolve and fortitude are tested as they become battered, bruised, and betrayed by both enemies and friends alike. One of my favorite unlikely friends is Henry Pope. While he knows the truth and enough secrets about Kindle and Laura to turn them in, he ends up proving his loyalty and honest friendship in such endearing ways that you can’t help but fall just a little bit in love with him. Pope is one of my favorite characters!
With a writing style that is crisp and engaging, Melissa Lenhardt has an uncanny knack of turning the story on a dime and leaving you breathless with shock, horror, and anticipation for the next chapter and the next book. With each turn of the page and each turn of events, the story of Kindle and Laura unfolds and then transforms in ways no reader can possibly expect or predict.
Blood Oath ends with a cliffhanger, of course, and will leave you with the expectation that the next in the series, Badlands, will deliver just as many thrilling, suspenseful, and electrifying moments as both Sawbones and Blood Oath.
July 22, 2020
I loved Sawbones. And Blood Oath is no different, I still love Laura and Kindle's fun banter, and I'm still loving the writing, where this world is absolutely believable and on point. So why is this only 4 for me? A couple of reasons. First, I Do honestly equate the books with Outlander, the characters and their stories are that strong(not the time travel part). As I said in the Sawbones review, the books aren't as long. So this book felt incomplete to me. I don't know where we are going. There is a big cliffhanger. I'm fairly certain Book 3, coming out soon thankfully, will solve that for me. So I feel like I just digested the middle third of Outlander, if that makes sense. I don't like being left like that.
I loved this series so much that I bought the paperbacks and also the audios. I do have some notes about the audios. The narrator make some glaring mispronunciations that I thought would be corrected in book two.. I want the world to know this land, and how to say Kiowa (Ky-o-wa, like the y in Kyle- definitely not KEEowa. And Palo Duro, like Pal-o not Paul-o, you know like Palo Alto. And Washita. -- wash-i-tah not washy-ta. And travois -- tra-voy. If you don't believe me check your Meriam-Webster app and both listen/look. The book and narration, and frankly the country itself, they are all just too brilliant to get these big little things wrong. So that's why. Otherwise, bravo and I'm lining up for the next! Definitely makes my best #beachreads list!!!
I loved this series so much that I bought the paperbacks and also the audios. I do have some notes about the audios. The narrator make some glaring mispronunciations that I thought would be corrected in book two.. I want the world to know this land, and how to say Kiowa (Ky-o-wa, like the y in Kyle- definitely not KEEowa. And Palo Duro, like Pal-o not Paul-o, you know like Palo Alto. And Washita. -- wash-i-tah not washy-ta. And travois -- tra-voy. If you don't believe me check your Meriam-Webster app and both listen/look. The book and narration, and frankly the country itself, they are all just too brilliant to get these big little things wrong. So that's why. Otherwise, bravo and I'm lining up for the next! Definitely makes my best #beachreads list!!!
May 23, 2017
the second book in the sawbones saga finds laura and kindle on the run. in blood oath they continue to attract problems and bad guys galore. friends and enemies turn on a dime as they continue their quest to safety. but safety in the wild west is a relative thing. and laura and kindle go by at least five different pseudonyms throughout the novel. they can barely keep their stories straight and incredibly keep running into people who would know the bounty out on their respective heads.
laura is still also recovering from the trauma of her brutal rape in sawbones. physically she's mostly healed but the emotional scars run deeper than the physical ones, and considering how her hand is permanently deformed, that says something. however, in spite of her ptsd, laura is open-minded and forgiving enough to not want an eye for an eye. when she encounters an indian woman being similarly abused, she saves her. and her connection with this woman allows her to gain some understanding of the other side of the story. there are no real heroes—between the abuses of white men and the brutal actions of some of the indian braves—neither side is truly innocent. the truth is that everyone loses when you're at war. it's not just loss of life that's the issue. it's the loss of humanity. and lenhardt highlights that particular issue beautifully.
colonialism is the kind of business that has no mercy. not on the native peoples. not on the land. and not on the settlers themselves. in order to survive you to what you must. and laura has to reconcile herself to the fact that she's had to betray her hippocratic oath of healing in order to keep breathing. she wonders at every turn whether or not this escape is really worth all the trouble. if in the end it wouldn't be easier for her to just turn herself in and hope for the best in new york. she is innocent after all. maybe it is time that she fought to clear her original name.
one of the overarching themes of the novel is this idea of identity. laura aka catherine aka charlotte aka sophia plays a role with each identity she tries on. her experiences out west have changed her. and it's likely that she'll never really ever feel comfortable as catherine again. but is she comfortable as laura? the fact that she will likely never be able to perform surgery again also affects her deeply. will she be able to find fulfillment as a midwife? is it better to leave her identity as a doctor behind? can she imagine a life for herself as a wife and mother? is that something that is even a possibility for her? given everything she's endured can she regain control of her sexuality? because that loss of her sensual self not only affects her identity as a woman, but it also affects her relationship with kindle.
kindle also struggles with his identity. in many ways, he's simply not as strong as laura is. he wants to protect her. he feels that he failed her. he loves her. he loves her intelligence and her ambition. but he also wants a proper wife. at some moments he gets so caught up playing seedy bastards that he starts to act like one. he is careful and respectful of laura after her rape. and the one thing he does right is wanting her even after her assault. when he tells her that what happened to her in palo duro changed nothing of his feelings for her, it's the truth. the problem is more that it changed her feelings for him. and that is something they need to work together on.
like sawbones, blood oath doesn't make for comfortable reading. it's not supposed to be. but in sawbones i struggled to understand and like catherine. in blood oath, i realized that it was okay to feel ambivalent about laura. she's struggling with ambivalence too. these characters get put through the ringer, and their story isn't over. as far as they come with healing and moving forward by the end of blood oath. laura and kindle can't catch a break, and badlands will continue with their journey. hopefully, given all the suffering they've endured, they'll find some version of peace by the end of it. just don't expect it to be easy. life out west certainly wasn't, and lenhardt never lets us forget it.
**blood oath will publish on may 23, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/orbit books (redhook) in exchange for my honest review.
laura is still also recovering from the trauma of her brutal rape in sawbones. physically she's mostly healed but the emotional scars run deeper than the physical ones, and considering how her hand is permanently deformed, that says something. however, in spite of her ptsd, laura is open-minded and forgiving enough to not want an eye for an eye. when she encounters an indian woman being similarly abused, she saves her. and her connection with this woman allows her to gain some understanding of the other side of the story. there are no real heroes—between the abuses of white men and the brutal actions of some of the indian braves—neither side is truly innocent. the truth is that everyone loses when you're at war. it's not just loss of life that's the issue. it's the loss of humanity. and lenhardt highlights that particular issue beautifully.
colonialism is the kind of business that has no mercy. not on the native peoples. not on the land. and not on the settlers themselves. in order to survive you to what you must. and laura has to reconcile herself to the fact that she's had to betray her hippocratic oath of healing in order to keep breathing. she wonders at every turn whether or not this escape is really worth all the trouble. if in the end it wouldn't be easier for her to just turn herself in and hope for the best in new york. she is innocent after all. maybe it is time that she fought to clear her original name.
one of the overarching themes of the novel is this idea of identity. laura aka catherine aka charlotte aka sophia plays a role with each identity she tries on. her experiences out west have changed her. and it's likely that she'll never really ever feel comfortable as catherine again. but is she comfortable as laura? the fact that she will likely never be able to perform surgery again also affects her deeply. will she be able to find fulfillment as a midwife? is it better to leave her identity as a doctor behind? can she imagine a life for herself as a wife and mother? is that something that is even a possibility for her? given everything she's endured can she regain control of her sexuality? because that loss of her sensual self not only affects her identity as a woman, but it also affects her relationship with kindle.
kindle also struggles with his identity. in many ways, he's simply not as strong as laura is. he wants to protect her. he feels that he failed her. he loves her. he loves her intelligence and her ambition. but he also wants a proper wife. at some moments he gets so caught up playing seedy bastards that he starts to act like one. he is careful and respectful of laura after her rape. and the one thing he does right is wanting her even after her assault. when he tells her that what happened to her in palo duro changed nothing of his feelings for her, it's the truth. the problem is more that it changed her feelings for him. and that is something they need to work together on.
like sawbones, blood oath doesn't make for comfortable reading. it's not supposed to be. but in sawbones i struggled to understand and like catherine. in blood oath, i realized that it was okay to feel ambivalent about laura. she's struggling with ambivalence too. these characters get put through the ringer, and their story isn't over. as far as they come with healing and moving forward by the end of blood oath. laura and kindle can't catch a break, and badlands will continue with their journey. hopefully, given all the suffering they've endured, they'll find some version of peace by the end of it. just don't expect it to be easy. life out west certainly wasn't, and lenhardt never lets us forget it.
**blood oath will publish on may 23, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/orbit books (redhook) in exchange for my honest review.
June 23, 2018
This is one of those series that I just have to devour all at once. I finished Sawbones the other day, and just tonight finished Blood Oath. Now I'm moving on to the third in the series, Badlands.
I don't expect to get any sleep this week, because so far the first two books have been up all night reads.
I bought the series on a whim. Yes, I know. Buying one book on a whim is one thing. Buying all three at once? A risky venture. And in this case, one I'm glad I took.
Something about the synopsis of Sawbones piqued my interest, and I took a chance.
I rarely read historical fiction, and never read stories about the Wild West era. They just don't interest me.
I stepped outside of my comfort zone and am so happy that I did. Because Melissa Lenhardt's story took me sooooo far out of my comfort zone, I was left reeling, like a visceral punch to the gut. And I craved more.
I don't know why this is compared to Outlander in any way. Maybe because of Catherine (aka Laura) and Kindle's romance is definitely an epic love story. But their's is so wholly unique that comparing it to any other epic love story isn't giving it credit for wowing the reader on its own merits.
This is one of those "it's not what I expected AT ALL" reads. And those are the best kind to chance upon.
It's not light. The author has done her research and the time period and setting of the novel illuminates the sometimes excruciatingly brutal realities of that period in America's history. Which I think is a very brave thing to do for any writer.
This series makes me FEEL. SO. MUCH. for the main characters. It may be an odd comparison, but at times I thought of other favourite books like Game of Thrones, where anything can happen to anyone in a number of unexpected twists. Just in a different genre, a different period in history, with different politics, and a vastly different cast of characters.
This book definitely packs a huge punch. It's an unforgettable, eye opening read. A++++++ tops to Melissa Lenhardt.
I don't expect to get any sleep this week, because so far the first two books have been up all night reads.
I bought the series on a whim. Yes, I know. Buying one book on a whim is one thing. Buying all three at once? A risky venture. And in this case, one I'm glad I took.
Something about the synopsis of Sawbones piqued my interest, and I took a chance.
I rarely read historical fiction, and never read stories about the Wild West era. They just don't interest me.
I stepped outside of my comfort zone and am so happy that I did. Because Melissa Lenhardt's story took me sooooo far out of my comfort zone, I was left reeling, like a visceral punch to the gut. And I craved more.
I don't know why this is compared to Outlander in any way. Maybe because of Catherine (aka Laura) and Kindle's romance is definitely an epic love story. But their's is so wholly unique that comparing it to any other epic love story isn't giving it credit for wowing the reader on its own merits.
This is one of those "it's not what I expected AT ALL" reads. And those are the best kind to chance upon.
It's not light. The author has done her research and the time period and setting of the novel illuminates the sometimes excruciatingly brutal realities of that period in America's history. Which I think is a very brave thing to do for any writer.
This series makes me FEEL. SO. MUCH. for the main characters. It may be an odd comparison, but at times I thought of other favourite books like Game of Thrones, where anything can happen to anyone in a number of unexpected twists. Just in a different genre, a different period in history, with different politics, and a vastly different cast of characters.
This book definitely packs a huge punch. It's an unforgettable, eye opening read. A++++++ tops to Melissa Lenhardt.
September 30, 2017
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Redhook Books for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
When I read Sawbones, the first book in this trilogy, I was smitten with the gritty writing of what life was like in the post-Civil War Wild West for a young, female doctor who was on the run from the law. In Blood Oath, Lenhardt continues the story quite literally where the first book left off. It had been a year and a half since I had read the first book but I remembered the gist of the plot and the characters ... or so I thought. Readers expecting a little reminder of what happened in the first book will be disappointed that barely any clues are given to past scenes or character connections making it a bit of a hard go for those of us who didn't just finish Sawbones. I would not recommend this book as a stand-alone read.
Life is hard in the West and Lenhardt continues to balance the love story between Laura and Kindle (and their funny banter) with the often dangerous, unforgiving life they've been forced to live. Laura continues to be haunted by the horrors that she lived through in the first book and I appreciated that the author didn't have Laura jump back into the fray with little or no repercussions from the horrific trauma she experienced. It felt much more authentic to see her struggle with her emotional scars and her reactions made her a compelling and sympathetic character.
The Sawbones trilogy is a gritty, sometimes gruesome, adventure romance set in the dangerous Wild West featuring two characters readers will root for as they try to catch a break in their seemingly unending, tumultuous lives. It has some good twists and Lenhardt doesn't shy away from big issues involving the effects of violent abuse and the complicated and volatile relationship between the white settlers and indigenous people. I look forward to jumping into Badlands, the final book in this series soon.
When I read Sawbones, the first book in this trilogy, I was smitten with the gritty writing of what life was like in the post-Civil War Wild West for a young, female doctor who was on the run from the law. In Blood Oath, Lenhardt continues the story quite literally where the first book left off. It had been a year and a half since I had read the first book but I remembered the gist of the plot and the characters ... or so I thought. Readers expecting a little reminder of what happened in the first book will be disappointed that barely any clues are given to past scenes or character connections making it a bit of a hard go for those of us who didn't just finish Sawbones. I would not recommend this book as a stand-alone read.
Life is hard in the West and Lenhardt continues to balance the love story between Laura and Kindle (and their funny banter) with the often dangerous, unforgiving life they've been forced to live. Laura continues to be haunted by the horrors that she lived through in the first book and I appreciated that the author didn't have Laura jump back into the fray with little or no repercussions from the horrific trauma she experienced. It felt much more authentic to see her struggle with her emotional scars and her reactions made her a compelling and sympathetic character.
The Sawbones trilogy is a gritty, sometimes gruesome, adventure romance set in the dangerous Wild West featuring two characters readers will root for as they try to catch a break in their seemingly unending, tumultuous lives. It has some good twists and Lenhardt doesn't shy away from big issues involving the effects of violent abuse and the complicated and volatile relationship between the white settlers and indigenous people. I look forward to jumping into Badlands, the final book in this series soon.
June 30, 2017
GIVEAWAY on bookfix.weebly.com
Melissa Lenhardt holds no bounds. This author is gruesome, real, and raw. She crosses the line so many times that it sure makes for an intriguing story. You truly will have no idea where the storyline will take you because she doesn’t care to keep the plot in any confines. I love the attitude and spunk she gives her characters and her writing style reads like a motion picture. I will give a warning to those who get queasy easily that at one point a woman mounts a man and cuts his eye out, but it’s oh so terrifyingly, terrific. That being said, this book contains graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter.
There is suspense and love on this journey you take with Laura and William to find freedom in their new life together. You get to watch a woman discover who she is now after a horrific past filled with rape and abuse. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. She’s had everything she loved stripped away from her from her job and identity to her virtue and purity. Everyone she has loved has been killed and she has been told that death follows her, so it becomes her mission to prove them wrong and to keep the last thing she holds dear in this life alive, William Kindle.
This is a sequel and I would highly recommend reading Sawbones, the first in the series before moving on to this one. Blood Oath references some of the gruesome events that unfolded in Sawbones which helped shape this story. Laura’s dreams and flashbacks give a brief and continually enlightenment to grasp the overall concept of what happened, but I will say you are missing out if you skip the first. This series is proving to be an epic one and I’ll now be reading the third in the series the Badlands to see how this triumph continues.
Melissa Lenhardt holds no bounds. This author is gruesome, real, and raw. She crosses the line so many times that it sure makes for an intriguing story. You truly will have no idea where the storyline will take you because she doesn’t care to keep the plot in any confines. I love the attitude and spunk she gives her characters and her writing style reads like a motion picture. I will give a warning to those who get queasy easily that at one point a woman mounts a man and cuts his eye out, but it’s oh so terrifyingly, terrific. That being said, this book contains graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter.
There is suspense and love on this journey you take with Laura and William to find freedom in their new life together. You get to watch a woman discover who she is now after a horrific past filled with rape and abuse. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. She’s had everything she loved stripped away from her from her job and identity to her virtue and purity. Everyone she has loved has been killed and she has been told that death follows her, so it becomes her mission to prove them wrong and to keep the last thing she holds dear in this life alive, William Kindle.
This is a sequel and I would highly recommend reading Sawbones, the first in the series before moving on to this one. Blood Oath references some of the gruesome events that unfolded in Sawbones which helped shape this story. Laura’s dreams and flashbacks give a brief and continually enlightenment to grasp the overall concept of what happened, but I will say you are missing out if you skip the first. This series is proving to be an epic one and I’ll now be reading the third in the series the Badlands to see how this triumph continues.
January 12, 2020
The first instalment of the Sawbones trilogy shook me to my core. In this one, Laura is suffering the post traumatic disorders of her brutal gang rape, beatings, the stand off with Cotter Black and general mistrust in everyone, including her lover William Kendle. Both are on the run and must rely on different aliases in order to survive and escape justice.
Despite having a few similarities with the Outlander series, both Laura and William are people of their time. And Laura being a female doctor in the Wild West is downright unusual and not at all appreciated, even if she saves lives.
In this one, her dream of being a doctor are thwarted by her broken fingers and broken hippocratic oath, the one where the doctor swears never to take a life.
The book has an amazing portrayal of the trauma rape survivors go though, as well as the unflinching horrors that happen to indigenous women as well as white women who are involved in dangerous areas. Although not nearly as horrifically intense as the first Sawbones, it nonetheless has its shocking moments.
The characters are so well written and the Wild West is so accurately depicted that I pretty much fell in love with series as whole. Westerns are so terribly male centric, that I've always stayed away from them. That time was a f-cking hard world for women as a whole - but that doesn't mean that they didn't exist or should have no stories told about them.
Despite having a few similarities with the Outlander series, both Laura and William are people of their time. And Laura being a female doctor in the Wild West is downright unusual and not at all appreciated, even if she saves lives.
In this one, her dream of being a doctor are thwarted by her broken fingers and broken hippocratic oath, the one where the doctor swears never to take a life.
The book has an amazing portrayal of the trauma rape survivors go though, as well as the unflinching horrors that happen to indigenous women as well as white women who are involved in dangerous areas. Although not nearly as horrifically intense as the first Sawbones, it nonetheless has its shocking moments.
The characters are so well written and the Wild West is so accurately depicted that I pretty much fell in love with series as whole. Westerns are so terribly male centric, that I've always stayed away from them. That time was a f-cking hard world for women as a whole - but that doesn't mean that they didn't exist or should have no stories told about them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2017
This is the second book in the series. I have not read the first, Sawbones. I mention this as it is very important. These books need to be read in order. That being said, this was an incredible book. There is plenty of action and adventure. This is not, however, a sweet romance. This book should not be read by anyone under the age of 18 or by anyone that has been sexually assaulted. There is graphic violence, the hero loses his eye. The story line is complicated. The hero and heroine have a history and it is important in this book. I was able to piece some of it together simply by reading this story but, had I read the first book, this story would have flowed much easier. This book does end on a cliffhanger. The situations that the hero and heroine find themselves in test their character and their relationship. I hope to be able to read the third book in this series, Badlands. This is a story that makes you think about how the white people treated the Indians and how the women of the time were treated. This story has stuck with me after I finished reading it. I would also like to go back and read the first book. I also plan to reread this series. This appears to be a series with a lot to say.
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