2.5 stars

Dr. Tucia Hatherley was trained in medicine, but left the field after a fatal accident during her internship. It became difficult for her to find and hold a job with debilitating flashbacks from the event. Tucia eventually found employment working in a medicine show. The owner, Huey Horn, agreed to pay off her debt to loan sharks and in turn she would work for him. It took her a long time to become comfortable helping to sell “miracle cures,” but with the help of the others working alongside her, Tucia eventually made peace with her job. The troupe traveled to Galveston for an opportunity to work in an oddity museum. Unfortunately, their arrival was closely followed by the devastating 1900 hurricane that ended up wiping out most of the city and its inhabitants.

My thoughts about this book will contain spoilers.

What worked for me: Once Tucia was able to handle her emotions and fears, the story was more interesting. The show’s time in Galveston was the best part of the book. The details of their experience weathering the storm and its aftermath were well written. I loved the members of the show outside of Huey. They were essential to moving the plot along and had interesting back stories. Each one had a brief chapter where they were able to tell their story.

What did not work: The book spent a huge amount of time on Tucia’s flashbacks and nervous tic. The first 60% of the book was the doom and gloom of Tucia's life. I felt the title of the book was misleading as Tucia didn’t set foot in Galveston ever until the last 25% of the book. Overall, while I enjoyed reading the last one third of the story, too much of it dragged for me to rate it any higher.

I received an e-ARC for The Medicine Woman of Galveston and want to thank Amanda Skenandore, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to voluntarily read and give an honest review of this book. The Medicine Woman of Galveston will be published on May 21, 2024.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore

Summary:
A downtrodden female doctor takes up with a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son, joining a German giantess, a bowlegged musician, an indentured Creek poet, and a handsome tinker under the thumb of a charismatic but menacing swindler on a collision course with the deadliest natural disaster in American history – the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.

Readers of Christina Baker Kline, Sandra Dallas, and Sara Donati will be captivated by this story of medical historical fiction by Amanda Skenandore, registered nurse and acclaimed author of The Nurse’s Secret and The Second Life of Mirielle West.

Once a trailblazer in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. Instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. When even that livelihood is threatened, Tucia is left with one option—to join a wily, charismatic showman named Huey and become part of his traveling medicine show.

Her medical license lends the show a pretense of credibility, but the cures and tonics Tucia is forced to peddle are little more than purgatives and bathwater. Loathing the duplicity, even as she finds uneasy kinship with the other misfit performers, Tucia vows to leave as soon as her debts are paid and start a new life with her son—if Huey will ever let her go.

When the show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia tries to break free from Huey, only to be pulled even deeper into his schemes. But there is a far greater reckoning ahead, as a September storm becomes a devastating hurricane that will decimate the Gulf Coast—and challenge Tucia to recover her belief in medicine, in the goodness of others—and in herself.
Review 4-star
While this story is very well written it’s not a page-turner, I could put the book down and do other stuff and not even think about the story at one point it didn’t pick it back up for three days., and this makes it a 4-star and not a 5-star in my eyes.
The story flow is spot-on, as is the editing. The characters are where the story fails and makes it where it’s not a page-turner. I don’t know what anyone looks like and I couldn’t picture the story at all in my mind. These two things are important to me to make a great story.
Conclusion:
Would I recommend this book to others? YES
Would I read other books by this Author? Maybe
I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Though the description of the book did not accurately describe what the book was about , I found it to be a great book. A strong story that has a strong female main character

In Amanda Skenandore's historical fiction novel, The Medicine Woman of Galveston, readers are transported to the year 1900, where Dr. Tucia Hatherley, a pioneering female doctor, grapples with societal challenges and a tragic mistake that led her to work in a corset factory to support her disabled son. When a charismatic showman named Huey offers her a chance to escape, she joins his traveling medicine show, peddling questionable cures to survive. The narrative weaves together the lives of the eccentric troupe members, providing glimpses into their backgrounds and fostering an understanding of the misfits that make up the medicine show. As the group faces a devastating hurricane in Galveston, the story reaches its climax, challenging Tucia's beliefs in medicine, human goodness, and her own capabilities. While some may find the exploration of the medicine show's daily routines less engaging, the novel delivers a satisfying blend of emotional depth, historical detail, and a gripping narrative that explores the resilience and complexities of its characters.

Thanks Netgalley and for the arc of this book in exchange for my opinions. I loved The Medicine Woman of Galveston. By Amanda Skenandore. It's a different sort of historical fiction, but it works on every level. I am also a lover of everything circus. I really liked most of the characters. The settings were descriptive and interesting. If you give this book a read, I don't think you will be disappointed. I recommend this book.

The Medicine Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore tells the tale of Tucia, who is trained as a doctor but due to a traumatic incident in surgery that resulted in a patient’s death is now a down on her luck single mother in 1900. Finding work in a factory, she is barely making ends meet and is ultimately fired for showing up late too many times. She is also the mother of a young son who has Downs Syndrome, so she tries to protect him from the harshness of others and being sent to an asylum. Soon after being fired, she comes upon Huey, who runs a traveling medicine show. Huey knows a lot about her somehow and is willing to pay off her debtors if she will sign on as a physician for his show. Against what her head tells her because the temptation to escape the woes of owing more money than she earns, Tucia signs the contract and is added to the show with other misfits.

As the story progresses, you learn how Huey manipulated each of the other people who are a part of the show into being in his debt. Pieced together through the novel with impeccable timing, Skenandore fits their story and influence on Tucia and what she is struggling with into giving the reader the whole picture of what life in a traveling medicine show might’ve been like. Tucia is a flawed character who finds healing for herself as a part of the act that goes against everything she values. But like anyone who deals with a manipulator, Tucia finds a way to outwit Huey. This is a story of a time and topic you don’t often see, so if you are needing something different in historical fiction, The Medicing Woman of Galveston (which doesn’t come into play until the last quarter of the story) is the choice for you. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book is set for publication on May 21, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #AmandaSkenandore #TheMedicineWomanofGalveston #KensingtonBooks

I had a great time reading this book, it had everything that I was looking for from a historical fiction novel. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and how they worked in this setting. Amanda Skenandore has a great writing style and it worked with everything that I was hoping for.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received an ARC copy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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