You might want to read last month’s review of The Girl in his Shadow (Nora Beady #1) before this one!

I almost gave this book 3 stars for the slow beginning, but changed my mind in the second half when everything came together.

Googling around revealed that Audrey Blake (the co-authors) have an outline for book 3 & needed to run it past their editor. It makes me super happy to know we’re not done with the universe & characters they created.

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SYNOPSIS

Women’s work is a matter of life and death.

Nora Beady, the only female student at a prestigious medical school in Bologna, is a rarity. In the 19th century women are expected to remain at home and raise children, so her unconventional, indelicate ambitions to become a licensed surgeon offend the men around her. Under constant scrutiny, Nora’s successes are taken for granted; her mistakes used as proof that women aren’t suited to the field.

Everything changes when she allies herself with Magdalena Morenco, the sole female doctor on-staff. Together the two women develop new techniques to improve a groundbreaking surgery: the Cesarean section. It’s a highly dangerous procedure and the research is grueling, but even worse is the vitriolic response from men. Most don’t trust the findings of women, and many can choose to deny their wives medical care.

Already facing resistance on all sides, Nora is shaken when she meets a patient who will die without the surgery. If the procedure is successful, her work could change the world. But a failure could cost everything: precious lives, Nora’s career, and the role women will be allowed to play in medicine.

REVIEW

I had some issues with the first half of this book: there were many lengthy recaps of the previous books… too many. A large portion of the plot hinged on a character trait I despise (impatience) & I groaned at every development.

I was so interested in the new setting (Italy! so many possibilities!) but Nora was in a hurry to get out of there & it felt like there was no story. I was starting to give up, when I reached the second half and everything came together.

Horace Croft remains a great father. I absolutely love what he did in Nora’s absence.

Dr. Harry Trimble was my favourite character in the first book & I was SO happy for him to return. His wife might be my new favourite. I loved her spirit & wanted to see more of her.

I was on the edge of my seat during the last surgery (I just wish it didn’t take so long to reach that moment)

I really want another book in the Nora Beady series. I would love to see Nora having babies & being a mother. I want to see them grow up in the home/hospital around these characters I’ve grown to love. I want to see this warm & welcoming group become a true family.

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