Initially I was excited to receive this book as the blurb was interesting, however, the first few chapters was quite a difficult read as I simply could not engage with the story - perhaps too much period detail - I don't know what it was ( perhaps I was just not in the right frame of mind to take on a historical story of this nature as a female medic protagonist fighting the odds in a male orientated world). Nevertheless, I left it awhile and tried again to start again; this time however, when I again could not engage from the start of the book - I skipped ahead to chapter 4 and tried reading from there. Although the story plot got a little more interesting with our medic encouraging a bullied housewife to leave her marital home and return to her father's house and under circumstances when she meets the 'manservant' who appears to be not at all as he presents to be... That's as far as I got... unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to pick up the book again (it is a big one). I may try again later...