Fetch Nurse Connie

Nurse Connie #1

by Jean Fullerton

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...

Genres: Historical Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2015

About the author

I was born into a large, East End family and grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. I still live in East London, just five miles from where I was born. I feel that it is that my background that gives my historical East London stories their distinctive authenticity.

I first fell in love with history at school when I read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then I have read everything I can about English history but I am particularly fascinated by the 18th and 19th century and my books are set in this period. I just love my native city and the East End in particular which is why I write stories to bring that vibrant area of London alive.

I am also passionate about historical accuracy and I enjoy researching the details almost as much as weaving the story. If one of my characters walks down a street you can be assured that that street actually existed. Take a look at Jean’s East End and see the actual location where my characters played out their stories.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book hard to get into but that was probably because I had no previous knowledge of the characters, I think it would have been much better if I'd read "Call nurse Millie" first. I ploughed on as I don't like giving up and I'm glad I did as the second half of the book was very enjoyable. I'm a fan of Call the midwife and this book is similar but it concentrates more on the nurses personal lives. You can tell that a lot of research has been done because the details are fantastic.

[Yvonne Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dieselblackcat

I read this out of order and could see what happened but it was nice to read about baby Joy and it was a good part of the story but better read in order

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a good historical fiction story about nurses and Jean Fullerton’s books are just the ticket when I need a comforting read. Reading about the highs and lows of the nurses of Munroe House is all-absorbing and Jean Fullerton’s detail is second to none.

For those of you who have read the Nurse Millie books (Call Nurse Millie and All Change for Nurse Millie), you will be familiar with Connie. She’s Millie’s best friend and a fellow nurse and midwife. This book is written parallel to the events in Call Nurse Millie, but from Connie’s perspective. You may think that this means that there are no surprises, but take my word that there are many! As Connie works a different part of the district to Millie, there are plenty of new patients with their joys and sorrows to meet. We also find out that Connie was hiding a few things when it came to ex-fiancé Charlie. His story is also told in this book and he’s not quite the former knight in shining armour that Connie led us to believe…

One of the highlights of Fetch Nurse Connie is the attention to detail. Settings, nursing procedures and period details all come to life through Jean Fullerton’s pen. There has obviously been a lot of research done into the streets of London’s East End and nursing procedures of the time. It’s fascinating to see how things have changed, from treatment of whooping cough to managing very premature babies. The balance is just right between hope, happiness and facing what life has to throw at you. I loved the characters of the East End as they all had their quirks. For instance, Connie’s mum Maud is determined to get her own back on Charlie’s mum as he jilted her. She has quite a few colourful turns of phrase! Charlie’s new wife Rosa is also bold and ready to defend her husband even if it means causing a scene. Connie is also no stranger to controversy, writing a letter to the governing body of the Queen’s Nurses, demanding a repeat assessment for one of her nurses behind her superintendent’s back. All of these women are strong in their own right, ready to take on what life throws at them.

Connie wasn’t a perfect angel herself, which I think made her more likeable. She defies her superiors to help an expectant mother (and also rallies other nurses to be the same) – it’s clinically appropriate to do so, but not financially viable. She’s also unable to sever ties with Charlie, which has her skating on thin ice many a time. It will be interesting to see if she’s finally cured her Charlie-itis in the sequel, Wedding Bells for Nurse Connie. I haven’t yet snuck a look to see who the lucky groom is, but it better not be Charlie! (Likewise if it’s Malcolm, son of a fussy patient, Connie has interesting times ahead!)

Fetch Nurse Connie is a lovely story, sure to treat Call the Midwife withdrawal and transport the reader back to the past.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com

[Rosie Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fetch Nurse Connie is historical fiction set in the East End of London 1945. If you love war dramas and are fascinated by how the ordinary people coped then this is for you.

Connie Byrne is a Queen's Nurse, midwife and District nurse for St George & St Dunstan Nursing Association. We join her as the end of WW2 is announced and London begins to celebrate and welcome home it's menfolk from the fighting.

Through-out the war Connie and the other nurses kept the people of London, patched up, delivered babies, held clinics and dispensed much need care and attention. They've worked through rationing, black-outs and bombing and they are set to keep London working as it begins the big clear up.

Connie can't wait for fiancé Charlie Ross to return home, she hasn't had a letter for several years, but she's counting down the days until she sees him again. She has the church booked, the dress all made and the wedding planned, all she needs is her man.

Post-war changes and shortages of nurses in the health service mean than nurses no longer have to leave their positions once married. This is a relief to Connie and her friend Millie who are warn out dealing with the demands of their patch, their Superintendent and their personal lives.

This book is set in the same time period as "Call Nurse Millie" also written by Jean Fullerton and I have enjoyed both of the books. The nursing side is fascinating and I do like looking through the window into the past lives of those thrown together by the war and by circumstances beyond their control.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get a signed copy of this book from Jean herself. I must say a big thank you as it is such a wonderful book. I only recently got into reading books about the war. This book is centered around the nurses in 1945, all the nurses have their own lives as well as their nursing lives so you get to find out more about them. I love the way Jean has gone into every tiny detail of the age in which the book is written. It gives you a pretty good idea of how times have changed and what must it of been like in those days. If you liked Call the Midwife, then you are sure to love this book. I would love to read the other books that Jean has written as I just couldn't put this one down.

[Eyelandgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy an insight into the hardworking lives of the community medical professionals in the mid 1900s. These stories of hardworking women without the protections and rights we now enjoy, going about their day helping others are so insightful and interesting when compared to today. I found this one a bit tiresome b/c the subplot was about her love life and it dragged on throughout the whole book. She was a level headed hardworking no nonsense woman; so having the side plot of being hung up on a loser ex was tiresome for me.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this much more than the Nurse Millie book I recently read which is interesting considering there is a crossover in characters and timeline. In my opinion Connie is much more rounded and easier to like.

[mr b j hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best book I have read for a very long time

This book kept me without sleep for a long while. There was so much to read about the nursing duties of the girls and their personal lives that I just couldn’t put it down. It is without doubt the best book I have read for years.

[Christine Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great book, I have enjoyed the book. Just downloaded next one, can't wait to read it.

If you enjoyed reading this book try nurse Millie books too

[Jan Friday · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read.. waiting to read book 2

[Patricia O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book am about to read the next one on the series,

[LindyLouMac · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

http://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspo...

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on the kindle

This book starts at the end of WW2 if you read the Nurse Millie books not only will you know who Connie is but you will find a lot of it repetitive that said there is more on Connie where the Nurse Millie books are more about her

This covers in more depth what Connie feels & some of the patients she has to deal with

I have read all the Nurse Millie books & still found this a good read so much so I have already got the next book to find out more about Connie especially as some I know from the Millie books

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book, it was great to see some of the same stories as Call Nurse Millie, but from a different side.

[Sue Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read but one I will not remember.

[Verity W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

review to follow xxx