Today is by stop on the audio blog tour for The Solitary Sparrow by Lorraine Norwood, Narrated by Tracy Russell.
Here’s the blurb
SHE STRUGGLES AGAINST HER ENEMIES. BUT STILL, THEY STAND IN HER WAY. In 14th century England, Meg of St. Michael’s Mead endures a life of abuse and isolation due to her birth deformity. After witnessing a shocking birth, Meg discovers her true purpose: to become England’s first licensed female physician and provide compassionate care to women.
To achieve her goal, Meg seeks the tutelage of William of Oxford, a gruff surgeon who agrees to mentor her. But there’s a catch. She must keep a secret—William and his son Gerard are performing illegal human dissections—and she must assist them. As Gerard and Meg work together, their feelings for each other deepen.
Amidst a civil war, Meg makes an enemy of the Queen, who accuses her of treason. Forced to flee to Montpellier, France, Meg tries to enter medical school, only to be met with resistance. She is told to marry, stay at home, and please her husband. Meg refuses to conform. When a deadly epidemic breaks out in Montpellier, Meg has one last chance to prove herself, but at the risk of losing Gerard.
A story of one woman’s courage and persistence, this captivating tale follows Meg’s arduous journey of overcoming prejudice and adversity as she battles societal expectations amidst the specter of a lethal epidemic.
Above: Author Lorraine Norwood and Narrator Tracy Russell
Review.
What a harrowingly beautiful tale The Solitary Sparrow is..
Meg suffers again and again in life but her strength.. her courage is unparalleled!
Born with a defect was hard enough for Meg but given the time period the fact she’s female also goes against her… it’s a mans world but Meg very much knows her worth and she’s not afraid to show it when it matters.
During her young life she suffers both mental and physical abuse which at time was difficult to swallow as a reader.. the pain the poor girl went through.
Luck is on her side though when during a difficult birth Meg is noticed by surgeon, William of Oxford. William wants nothing more than a new assistant but he gets much more than he bargained for.. he wants her for nothing more than her womanly instincts and to put his clients at ease but Meg won’t just stand by and do what she’s told.. she wants to learn everything.. she knows she can do anything the surgeon can if given the time and training.
Meg will get what she wants but it won’t be easy as there’s resistance with every step she takes, and some obstacles are easier to navigate than others.
I didn’t know quite what to expect with this one..it’s impossible to impart how much pain this girl goes through but Meg shines bright while breaking down all barriers in her way.
To say it was an emotional journey is an understatement.. but I’m glad I went on it. Tracy Russell did a fantastic job bringing the story to life with her tone, which weaved perfectly within the story.. I could have listened to Tracy tell Meg’s tale a thousand times over.
It’s magnificently agonising in it’s plot, you will love it but at the same time it will leave a small part of Meg with you forever..I don’t think I’ve ever said it about a character before but I’m fully in awe of Meg.
To say it’s a 5* smash hit doesn’t really do it justice.. it’s a 5* masterpiece.
My thanks go to the author, Atmosphere Press and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour. I’ll definitely be recommending this to friends and family and can already see if few purchases on the horizon.
Purchase Links
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Solitary-Sparrow-Audiobook/B0D1Z92JNJ
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Solitary-Sparrow-Audiobook/B0D1ZH12H4
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-solitary-sparrow-lorraine-norwood/1144683970?ean=9798891321304
Why not follow the rest of the tour to find out more?
Author Bio –
Lorraine Norwood was a professional journalist for over 20 years, working in print and television journalism. Her lifelong interest in archaeology led her to change careers at midlife and earn a master’s degree in medieval archaeology from the University of York in York, England. When she returned to the U.S., she worked in archaeology and historic preservation for a number of years but is now happily writing full-time. She has participated in excavations in the UK including many in York, her favorite city. The Solitary Sparrow is her first novel, the first in a series titled The Margaret Chronicles. She is working on the sequel, A Pelican in the Wilderness. The series is set in 14th century England and France. Lorraine is a member of the Women”s Fiction Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society. She is a certified book coach and a developmental editor and loves mentoring new writers. She lives with an old Lab who follows her everywhere and a grumpy old cat who doesn’t care what the human does as long as he has food in his bowl. Lorraine lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
Social Media Links –
https://www.instagram.com/lorrainenorwoodwrites/
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/52925062?ref=nav_mybooks
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