No Job for a Woman ⭐⭐⭐

No Job for a Woman by Alina Rubin

Goodreads

She sailed against the current.
Ella Parker’s male alias was a star pupil in medical school. But as a woman in 1810 England, Ella cannot find a job as a doctor’s assistant. In a life-or-death emergency with a mother in labor, she oversteps her boundaries and risks arrest. Determined to practice medicine, she decides to join her mentor on the Neptune, a warship heading for open waters.

Following an accident, she is quickly thrust into the role of ship surgeon, and her skills are put to the test. Hoping to fit in with the all-male crew and make friends, instead, Ella creates chaos and suspicion among the superstitious sailors. Lieutenant Jack Wyse, though charged by the captain with protecting Ella, is keen on making her leave.

After a fierce battle, Ella saves the handsome officer, Robert Weston. Her commitment to her profession is tested, however, when he asks for her hand in marriage. But are Weston’s intentions sincere, and would he allow her the freedom to pursue her calling?

Ella must decide where she belongs before her future sails away from her.

The second novel in the Hearts and Sails series, by award-winning author, Alina Rubin.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Medical

The How/Why: This is Book 2 in a four-book series. I listened to Book 1, A Gril with A Knife a few months ago and really enjoyed it. Five Star Fav review >>here. 
Ya'all know I don't like to be sucked into a series and yet here we are. Sucked into a series! 
UPDATE: Sucked into this series status removed for me.. I won't be continuing with Books 3 and 4 but I still adore Ella. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎉 Overall Enjoyment? 🎉 🎉 🎉  (Sadly, the first half was five, the second half was minimal enjoyment bringing it down to three)

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣^same^

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Maybe 🤷 It has a 4.38 star rating on GR so some people liked it. 

🕮 Would I want a sequel? No ➖

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author? No ➖ Not after this one 😒

💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? DɇaṪh, Abusɇ, Mɇdical Gorɇ. It wasn't bad IMO.

🌶 Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Started off good then went downhill from there

💻 Tidbits ~ Long story short: Not gonna lie, I’m disappointed in the second half of this book.

Short story longer: I loved Book 1, “A Girl with a Knife”. It’s one of my five star favs. I don’t like getting sucked into a series but enjoyed Book 1 so much that I decided it was time to dive (pun intended keeping with ocean theme) into Book 2.

The first half of Book 2 was just as engaging as Book 1. Ella continuing her journey as a surgeon. Her quest to learn as much as she could from her mentor Dr. Pesce. Her determination to convince men on the ship that she was more than capable. Her interest in educating the young boys on the ship and the bond she developed with the Bellyache Boy.
She had tenacity and gumption and I adore her. I was thinking it was going to be five stars all the way. 

But, and sadly there were two buts…each one equaling a one star deduction on my rating system. I start with five and then deduct if/when they lose me along the way.

But 1: The scene with the Witch Test! Some of the sailors thought she was a witch for her ability to heal. So instead of burning witches at the stake, we’ll drown them at sea? (*See In Real Life Note below.) It was frustrating and felt like it was there for shock drama.  

But 2: The entire Monastery story. She is upset about not being able to fit in and was easily convinced to join a Monastery but is imprisoned by the Evil Mother Superior (locked in a room with little food or water) because she wouldn't sign over her fortune. 
I have no words except Why Alina? Why? 

Is “Book 1 was better than Book 2” the bookish equivalent of “the book was better than the movie”?

And another thing… SorryNotSorry…the ending was quickly all tied up with a pretty little bow, or shall I say nautical knot?

*In Real Life – I know, it's Historical *Fiction* but I'm always interested in the *Historical* part. There are no documented “witch test” on a Royal Navy ship in 1801 however there were maritime superstitions. In the 1600’s it was believed that water would reject a witch, causing them to float. Innocence was proven by sinking.
Oh what a world! It was a bad time to be a witch!

🎧 Narrator: Ana Clements - very good

🎧8.57 hours 🕮 431 pages 

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