My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

Frequent commenter to this blog, Kate, suggested My Name is Mary Sutter and an excellent suggestion it was. The story is set in the 1860s. Mary Sutter is a midwife who wants to become a surgeon. When she can't get admitted to medical school because she's a woman, she decides to become a nurse during the Civil War to get hands-on medical experience. And she gets a lot more experience than she bargained for.

For those of you who aren't into "war" novels, there are plenty of subplots about love lost, betrayal, family estrangement, and love found.

This book really makes you see the futility of war. And makes you appreciate how much easier it is today for a woman to pursue a career in what was traditionally considered a man's field.