Forever Kind Of Woman by Susan Payne

 A woman ahead of her time

          Fresh off the death of her physician husband in Chicago, Tess McLeish accepts an offer from a doctor in a small western town, not only to join his practice as a practicing surgeon but to become his wife. She makes the rigorous journey to Forever, Texas only to be treated as a servant and hand-maiden by Dr. Waverly and his high society lady friend. Within days, the man who proves his rather lackluster skills in the medical area, packs up and leaves town with the love of his life.

          Alone and on her own with a medical practice in a town where in 1886 female physicians are viewed with jaundiced eyes, Tess has only local sheriff Noah Carter to lean on. Slowly but surely, with his support and respect, she wins the townspeople over—then sets out to win over Noah. And it's a real treat to watch.

          Author Susan Payne once again shows her talent for meticulous research. When Tess realigns a badly fractured femur, Payne puts the reader right there in the hot, stuffy bunkhouse—then treats us to the "popping" familiar to every Orthopedic Operating Room in the world. Her mastery at describing an emergency appendectomy is perfection. Though there are a few squeamish worthy scenes, Forever Kind of Woman is a pure delight to read. Very well done, Ms. Payne.

On a scale of 1-5, Forever Kind of Woman deserves a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews