Sawbones

Sawbones by Melissa Lenhardt is the first book in the Laura Elliston series. Dr. Catherine Bennett is on her way home when her friend, James catches up to her in his carriage. Catherine is being accused of murder. Beatrice Langton told the police that Catherine killed her husband, George with a fireplace poker. Beatrice is very rich and has paid off the right people to make sure that Catherine goes to jail for the crime. Friends help Catherine and Maureen, her maid but more like a mother, flee New York via ship. A $500 reward is out for Catherine on a poster with her likeness on it. Bounty hunters and Pinkerton agents will soon be on her trail. They end up in Texas. Catherine changes her name to Laura Elliston. Maureen encourages her to say she is a midwife to avoid suspicion (women doctors are few). They join a wagon train heading for Timberline, Colorado. A few days out they are attacked by Indians. Catherine/Laura is the sole survivor. She is rescued by soldiers from the nearby fort. One of the soldiers is Captain William Kindle. Catherine/Laura recognizes him immediately because of the scar on his face. She had sewed up his wound at Antietam during the war. Will Captain Kindle remember her? Captain Kindle was injured by the Indians and Catherine/Laura jumps in to fix him up (so much for protecting her identity). Without her aid, though, the chances of Kindle surviving where low. Catherine/Laura is escorted to the fort where more adventure awaits. Dr. Laura Elliston’s new life is just beginning. Sawbones is a long-winded novel. I, personally, feel it goes on too long and could have done with a little editing. The book is easy to read, but I did not find it engaging. It was a satisfactory story, but my attention was not completely captured. One thing I really did not like was the novel ends with a cliffhanger instead of an ending. Catherine is a strong character (stubborn, independent, ornery) who dominates every scene. Sawbones does contain extreme violence and some sexual situations. I give Sawbones 3 out of 5 stars (which mean it was okay). I received a complimentary copy of Sawbones from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great read...can't wait to read the rest of the saga