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The Widow's Vow by Rachel Brimble #Review #PublicationDay

  Today's historical fiction takes us to Victorian England and Bath. Published by Boldwood  today on December 16th, A Widow's Vow is the first in the Ladies of Carson Street saga series by Rachel Brimble.   From grieving widow... 1851. After her merchant husband saved her from a life of prostitution, Louisa Hill was briefly happy as a housewife in Bristol. But then a constable arrives at her door. Her husband has been found hanged in a Bath hotel room, a note and a key to a property in Bath the only things she has left of him. And now the debt collectors will come calling. To a new life as a madam. Forced to leave everything she knows behind, Louisa finds more painful betrayals waiting for her in the house in Bath. Left with no means of income, Louisa knows she has nothing to turn to but her old way of life. But this time, she'll do it on her own terms – by turning her home into a brothel for upper class gentleman. And she's determined to spare the girls she sa...

A Found Family at the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett #Review #TheCornishCountryHospitalBook3

 


Jo Bartlett's
new series continues with A Found Family at the Cornish Country Hospital. It was published by Boldwood Books on July 22nd. You can read my reviews of the others in the series here: Welcome to the Cornish Country Hospital and Finding Friends at the Cornish Country Hospital 

  

A tragic loss…

Since the death of her beloved father, Isla Marlowe has felt the need to do something to honour his memory; something meaningful that will bring joy to others and repay the kindness of a stranger who changed their lives. She’s got the perfect solution, but she’s worried not everyone will understand.

A precious gift…

Aidan Kennedy and his husband, Jase, are desperate to start a family of their own, but finding the right woman to help them is difficult and some people don’t think they should even try. So when Isla offers them the chance to fulfil their dream, they can’t believe their wish is about to come true.

A family made of friends?

But when Isla is forced to face her greatest fear, Aidan and Jase’s dream has to be put on hold. Broken-hearted and questioning everything she once believed, Isla desperately needs someone to share her problems with but has no idea where to turn.

But then, in her darkest hour she discovers that friends can be the family you choose for yourself.


 My Thoughts

The cast of characters increases as we follow the desire of Aiden and his partner to become parents. Aidan is part of the team in A & E, so has deep friendships with the staff there. His colleague, Isla, surprises them with her offer of help but you soon find out that this is not a spur of the moment offer. Her reasons for helping go right back into her childhood. This is as much Isla's story as Aidan's and as their lives get more and more woven together, they come to realise that family is not just about blood ties.

    Although the characters are under extreme stress, no one more than Isla, and has some upsetting aspects, the tone of  the book is always looking to the future and about feeling hopeful. As ever, the team at the Hospital are supportive friends. Links to characters met in the Cornish Midwife series are still there and life goes on for all the characters. For some, it is positive but not for everyone.

In short: Forging family ties and offering support.

About the Author

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast.

You can read my reviews of The Cornish Midwife series here: The Cornish Midwife  |  A Summer wedding for the Cornish Midwife   |  A Winter's Wish for the Corrnish Midwife  |  A Spring Surprise for the Cornish Midwife  |  Mistletoe and Magic for the Cornish Midwife  |  A Change of Heart for the Cornish Midwife  |  Happy Ever After for the Cornish Midwife

 You can follow Jo here: Facebook  |  Twitter   |  Instagram   |  Newsletter sign up  |  Bookbub profile 

 Purchase links 

Thanks to Jo Bartlett, 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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