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Shared Secrets for the Home Front Nurses by Rachel Brimble #Review #HomeFrontNurses

  It is now 1943 and we follow the lives of the Home Front Nurses as they cope with the effects of the Second World War. Shared Secrets for the Home Front Nurses by Rachel Brimble is published on February 13th by Boldwood Books .     ‘Come on, Kathy… tell me a secret.’ 1943: Becoming a Home Front nurse, meant Kathy Scott was finally able to escape the violence of her childhood. At long last, her life has taken a turn for the better. Particularly because, for the very first time, she’s made some wonderful friends–fellow nurses Sylvia, Freda and Veronica. Kathy’s known for not being short of a word or two. So nobody’s more surprised than her when she finds herself tongue-tied around Freda’s handsome brother, James – who’s home from war with an unexplained injury.   My Thoughts   The story of the Home Front Nurses continues into 1943 and Freda's ambition to nurse abroad gets ever closer. Her brother ,James, returns from the war having had a traumatic experi...
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The Girl I Used To Be by Debbie Howells #Review

 

 Today I am delighted to be featuring Debbie Howell's novel. The Girl I Used To Be on the blog. It was published by Boldwood Books on19th October.

Marie Kondo for the soul.

Anna and Will have been passing in and out of each other’s lives since they were just kids.

Now 20 years later, Anna is married - she has a lovely house, a step daughter in university and a husband with a good job.

What she doesn’t have is joy. When she runs into Will it sparks something in her, a longing for the Anna she used to be.

Together they embark on a journey to find what brings them joy, to discard what doesn’t and to become the people they always wanted to be.

But in finding themselves, can they also find each other?


 

My Thoughts

 This is an emotional read in many ways which takes you along and makes you feel as though you really know the central character. You meet Anna at different times in her life and gradually become acquainted with her and the choices she makes. You also realise that Will is a thoroughly likeable character but that so often in their lives, the timing is not right for them and other things get in the way. The love he has for his daughter and the responsibility he feels for her causes him to put his own desires second.

    Anna’s husband is one of those people who frustrates you with his self centred attitudes and lack of empathy. However he proves to have a redeeming side. I loved Anna’s relationship with her stepdaughter. Friendship is also important in giving people the space to take a risk. Anna faces some challenges but takes confidence from the people she knows. There are so many times that Anna and Will seem to miss their opportunity to be together but you always feel that their stories are linked. This is one of those books which lures you in and I was totally invested in their story. It would make a great film! 

In short: emotional but inspiring 

About the Author

 


Debbie Howells’s first novel, a psychological thriller, The Bones of You, was a Sunday Times bestseller for Macmillan. Four more bestsellers followed, including most recently The Vow, published by Avon. Fulfilling her dream of writing women’s fiction, she has found a home with Boldwood and her first title with them, The Life You Left Behind was published in February 2022.

 

You can follow Debbie here: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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Book link: Amazon UK


Thanks to Debbie Howells, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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