Paperback: 376 pages
Genre: Romantic Historical Fiction
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group 2015
Source: From the Author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
First Sentence: Connie Byrne, the Queen's Nurse, midwife and district nurse sister responsible for the Highway and Ratcliffe area of the St George's and St Dunstan's Nursing Association, secured the bandage with a safety pin.
My Opinion: I first discovered this author in 2011 and have kept up with her writing since then. Her latest novels are an excellent well researched series about nursing in post WWII in London. As well as finding them interesting from a historical point of view, I have found them to contain characters that one is drawn to and a realistic picture of life in the years after the war. Changing times for the country generally and professionally for nurses and the women who worked in the profession. So much more than just a romance and I recommend this series to anyone that enjoys social history in general and nursing stories in particular. Fans of 'Call The Midwife' take note!
Précis: Courtesy of Goodreads:
London, 1945 and as the end of the war is declared and the troops start returning home, the nurses of the East End are joining in the celebrations.
For Nurse Connie Byrne the end of the war signals the beginning of a new chapter and as the revelries go on around the city, Connie's mind is on another celebration that she'll be able to arrange - the wedding to her sweetheart, Charlie, set to take place as soon as he arrives home. But when Connie meets Charlie off the train at London Bridge, she finds that his homecoming isn't quite going to go according to plan...
Connie's busy professional life, and the larger-than-life patients in the district, offer a welcome distraction, but for how long? If nursing in the East End has taught Connie anything, it's that life is full of surprises...
I have also read and reviewed three of Jean Fullerton's previous novels on this blog.
Perhaps Tomorrow Call Nurse Millie All Change For Nurse Millie
Author Profile
Jean Fullerton was born into a large, East End family early one August she grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. She still lives in East London, just five miles from where she was born. After working for the London Metropolitan Police, she retrained as a nurse and worked as a district nurse in the East End for sixteen years. She now teaches healthcare and nursing. Jean feels that it is her background that gives her stories their distinctive authenticity. Passionate about historical accuracy, she enjoys researching the details almost as much as writing the novels.
The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing.
Jean Fullerton - Books Official Author Website Facebook - Jean Fullerton Author Goodreads Author Profile
Paperback: 403 pages
Genre: Romantic Historical Fiction
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group 2014
Source: From the Author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
First Sentence: Millie Smith, senior sister and midwife at Munroe house, Stepney, picked up her leather nursing bag and set it on the floor under the kitchen table beside her lunchbox.
Review Quote:Plot strands are drawn together and resolved masterfully as she and Alex re-establish their friendship. Millie's admirable, turbulent story is packed with evocative post-war details and is fast-paced, plausible, and highly engaging, though the complexities of the issues covered lend the story a darker, serious tone. Highly recommended. (HISTORICAL NOVELIST SOCIETY)
My Opinion: I first discovered this author in 2011 and have kept up with her writing since then. Her latest novels are an excellent well researched series about nursing in post WWII in London. As well as finding them interesting from a historical point of view, I have found them to contain characters that one is drawn to and a realistic picture of life in the years after the war. Changing times for the country generally and professionally for nurses and the women who worked in the profession. So much more than just a romance and I recommend this series to anyone that enjoys social history in general and nursing stories in particular. Fans of 'Call The Midwife' take note!
Précis: Courtesy of Goodreads:
Nurse Millie Sullivan is now Nurse Millie Smith, having married aspiring MP Jim Smith. The war has ended and the NHS has just come into action, so the nurses are busier than ever as the community realise that they no longer have to pay for the services. Minor ailments need attention, babies need to be helped into the world and some of the larger-than-life characters need keeping in line so Millie has enough drama to deal with without having to deal with more from home...and Alex Nolan, her ex-fiancé, is back in town.
I have also read and reviewed two of Jean Fullerton's previous novels on this blog.
Perhaps Tomorrow Call Nurse Millie
Author Profile
Jean Fullerton was born into a large, East End family early one August she grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. She still lives in East London, just five miles from where she was born. After working for the London Metropolitan Police, she retrained as a nurse and worked as a district nurse in the East End for sixteen years. She now teaches healthcare and nursing. Jean feels that it is her background that gives her stories their distinctive authenticity. Passionate about historical accuracy, she enjoys researching the details almost as much as writing the novels.
The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing.
Jean Fullerton - Books Official Author Website Facebook - Jean Fullerton Author Goodreads Author Profile
Paperback: 558 pages
Genre: Romantic Historical Fiction
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group 2013
Source: From the Author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
First Paragraph: Millie Sullivan pushed an escaped curl of auburn hair from her eyes with the back of her hand. She wished she'd put on her cotton petticoat under her navy blue uniform instead of the rayon one. Although the milk float was only just rolling along the street, it was already sweltering hot.
Review Quote: ...the characters are well rounded, the period and political details evoke nostalgia, and the patient's stories are convincingly and vividly told... The writing shines off the page and begs for a sequel (Historical Novel Society)
My Opinion: Vivid description of life in the East End of London, during a time of great strife.
The author very kindly gave me the opportunity to read a pre-publication copy of this entertaining account of a Nurse's life in London immediately after the end of World War II. I hope the author will forgive me for having taken so long to read and review her novel but unfortunately life rather got in the way and I was unable to read it as soon as I had hoped. The follow up All Change for Nurse Millie is due for publication next February and I plan to read it as soon as it is released if I can. It is worth mentioning that the author of this book has a great deal of experience in healthcare, as well as being passionate about her native city both of which I believe shows in the attention to detail found in the novel. Being so well researched Call Nurse Millie is a vivid description of life in the East End of London, during a time of great strife.
Millie is the feisty protagonist of the story, it is through her eyes and the way she deals with everything life throws at her that you will learn more of the community spirit that existed during that period. Health Care was only available to those that paid for it, rationing was an every day occurrence. Life was harsh yet there was still time for happiness and romance. The characters and storylines develop well throughout the novel, by the end I really cared about them and wanted to know more about their lives. This is why it is good news that the sequel as mentioned above is coming soon. In conclusion I found this read like a true story it certainly feels authentic enough to be one.
I would not normally compare a novel to a television programme but this one reminded me of one I have enjoyed recently, the series from a true story, was 'Call The Midwife'. Fans of this series will definitely enjoy this novel as will those that are interested in the immediate post war social history of the UK.
I have also read and reviewed one of Jean Fullerton's previous novels on this blog.
Perhaps Tomorrow
Author Profile
Jean Fullerton was born into a large, East End family early one August she grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. She still lives in East London, just five miles from where she was born. After working for the London Metropolitan Police, she retrained as a nurse and worked as a district nurse in the East End for sixteen years. She now teaches healthcare and nursing. Jean feels that it is her background that gives her stories their distinctive authenticity. Passionate about historical accuracy, she enjoys researching the details almost as much as writing the novels.
The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing.
Jean Fullerton - Books Official Author Website Facebook - Jean Fullerton Author Goodreads Author Profile
