Review: The Woman at the Front by Lecia Cornwall

The Woman at the Front

by Lecia Cornwall

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 464

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  When Eleanor Atherton graduates from medical school near the top of her class in 1917, she dreams of going overseas to help the wounded, but her ambition is thwarted at every turn. Eleanor's parents insist she must give up medicine, marry a respectable man, and assume her proper place. While women might serve as ambulance drivers or nurses at the front, they cannot be physicians—that work is too dangerous and frightening.

Nevertheless, Eleanor is determined to make more of a contribution than sitting at home knitting for the troops. When an unexpected twist of fate sends Eleanor to the battlefields of France as the private doctor of a British peer, she seizes the opportunity for what it is—the chance to finally prove herself.

But there's a war on, and a casualty clearing station close to the front lines is an unforgiving place. Facing skeptical commanders who question her skills, scores of wounded men needing care, underhanded efforts by her family to bring her back home, and a blossoming romance, Eleanor must decide if she's brave enough to break the rules, face her darkest fears, and take the chance to win the career—and the love—she's always wanted.

Kritters Thoughts:  Dr. Eleanor Atherton is a single female doctor at a time where women weren't seen in any professional capacity.  A twin where her father had expectations for her brother and has shunned her due solely based on her gender.  Through all sorts of chance encounters she heads to the front line of the war to bring a soldier home to his mother and of course, nothing goes to plan as it rarely does!  

The characters in this book, specifically Dr. Eleanor Atherton kept me turning pages.  I loved how she was written.  She was a woman at a time where women had no authority over their own futures and there was low expectations for them to do much more than marry and raise a family.  The way the author wrote her determination to not be defined as a woman, but be defined as the thing she can do was inspiring - it made me want to be the first at something!

For me the thing that kept me from falling in love with this book was the pacing.  From beginning to end, I felt as though this book was just moving at such a slow pace.  I think because of this, I spiraled and kept getting distracted and it took me much longer to read this book then I typically read.  Like I said earlier, I liked the characters and was invested enough to continue to the end, but I just wish the story would have moved a little better.  

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2021 Challenge: 122 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.