Miss Nightingale's Nurses

Nursing #1

by Kate Eastham

Discover the first heartwarming novel in Kate Eastham's nursing series in this gripping and compelling story of strength'Deftly written . . . a moving account of loss, as well as self-discovery and achievement' Woman's Own'A vivid, entertaining read which brought history alive' 5***** Reader Review_________ From the docks of Liverpool to a distant battlefield, can one girl find her brother and save herself? Ada Houston's life is shattered when her brother Frank goes missing following an accident at the docks. But a short time later she hears a rumour that he survived and left Liverpool to fight a foreign war. Determined not to lose him a second time she boards a ship to bring him home. But the battlefields of the Crimea are a hostile place for a penniless young woman. Then one day a lifeline is thrown her way as she is offered the chance to train as a nurse under the famous Florence Nightingale. Working in the most terrible of conditions, Ada shows an aptitude beyond anyone's expectations as she cares for her injured countrymen, makes new friends and enjoys the first flutter of romance. But Frank is still missing and she needs to find him before it's too late . . ._________'A wonderfully written book' 5***** Reader Review'Gripped me right from the start' 5***** Reader Review'You felt you were with them' 5***** Reader Review

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 9, 2018

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Nightingale's Nurses is book one in the Nursing series by Kate Eastham. Ada Houston thought she had a perfect life until things changed around her. Ada's grandfather die and her brother went missing during working on the Liverpool docks. Ada decided to hitchhike on one of the ships heading to the Crimea to look for her brother after one of the dock workers thought he might be heading in that direction. On arrival at Crimea with no money or work, Ada joined Florence Nightingale nursing team as a nurse in training. The readers of Miss Nightingale's will continue to follow Ada to find out what happens.

Miss Nightingale's Nurses is an enjoyable book to read. I love the portrayal of the characters and the way they intertwine with each other by Kate Eastham. Miss Nightingale's Nurses was well written and research by Kate Eastham. I like the way Kate Eastham describes the settings of Miss Nightingale's Nurses.

The readers of Miss Nightingale's Nurses will learn about living in the Crimea during the Crimea War. Also, the readers of Miss Nightingale's Nurses will learn about Florence Nightingale and the role of her nurses during the Crimea War.

I recommend this book.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sign me up for anything that has to do with Florence Nightingale, mother of my profession. Slightly disappointed that she only features on what amounts to one page in this book, but her teachings ripple through the nurses as they care for their patients. I can't imagine nursing through the Crimean war...although maybe doing it right now through the covid pandemic is a start. I bought the next in the series as a treat for myself during Nurse Week.

[Jannelies · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is set in 1855 and 1856, in both Liverpool and in Turkey during the Crimean war that lasted from 1853-1856. The horrors of that time, and not only those during the war, are seen through the eyes of young Ada Houston. Her father never played a role in her life, for he was already married to another woman, and her mother died while giving birth to Ada. She and her brother Frank are raised by their grandfather Padraic, one of the thousands of Irish immigrants in Liverpool. Padraic has a good job in the harbour and raises his grandchildren well. Then Padraic dies and Frank disappears during an accident in the harbour. Ada goes living with a friend but is adamant she wants to try and find Frank, who is supposed to have sailed to Crimea to fight in the war.
All alone, and with no training whatsoever, Ada boards a ship and ends up with the then already very famous Florence Nightingale.
Now Ada has to learn to be a nurse, and fast! And so she does. She hardly has a choice because she cannot just follow the army and look for her brother. She is bright, hardworking and intelligent and she learns how to be a good nurse very soon. The hardes part is learning to cope with all the horrors of the war, and not so much with sick people. Sick people die. What is left is heavily wounded people that need to be helped - often just for them to die or go back to the battlefield.
But, there is more. There is friendship too, because Ada is not the only young nurse. There are more and more women coming over to try and help the wounded soldiers. There is even romance, because on of the doctors and Ada are attracted to each other.
Will Ada find Frank and return to Liverpool? Read the book and find out! This book is a wonderful mix of fact and fiction, very well written with engaging characters. I'm happy this is the start of a series and hope to read the other books soon because I really liked this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for this book.

[Louise M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in horrible time of war. This is a story of a brave inexperienced nurse working in hard and terrible conditions.

[Vicki Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched novel with lots of historical nuggets about the time both in Liverpool and the Crimea. The book flows well and Kate brings the characters to life.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and again you just need a darn good heartwarming and dramatic romantic saga to lose yourself in and this ticks ALL the boxes. It is a lovely and very engaging read for women of all ages.

A Liverpool lass Ada, finds herself suddenly bereaved and alone in the world and believing her sole remaining relative, her missing brother Frank, may have ended up on a ship heading to the Crimea in World War One she inveigles her way on board a ship heading out there too and manages to find herself a place as a general nurse at Scutari, assisting on the wards of injured soldiers, helping in the laundry and she soon finds she has a natural aptitude for caring for others and digs deep into her own reserves to uncover strengths she never realised she had.

With real characters drawn from history, like Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole it has been very well researched and every chapter is prefaced by a real-life quote from Miss Nightingale

The sights she sees are harrowing and the book pulls no punches in the descriptions of horrific battle injuries sustained in the World war one trenches. It was brilliant watching Ada's character develop and grow. I fairly rattled through this saga which is gritty with great characters and a touch of romance and I enjoyed every word.

Reminiscent of the TV series the Crimson fields and Call the Midwife Boxed Set: Call the Midwife, Shadows of the Workhouse, Farewell to the East End it will appeal to anyone who likes books about nursing, history and strong feisty women.

[Jacqui Huntley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light story but more than made up for by the detailed descriptions of the horrors on the front and in the medical world of the Crimean War. The heroine is a strong willed, hard working young woman from Liverpool, now bereft of family although thinks that her missing brother might be in the Crimea. So off she goes. Awful journey by sea with a group of army wives helping her, arrival in Scutari but finds that Florence Nightingale is not interested in using her services (no surprise there as she has no nursing experience whatsoever!) but does send her nearer to the front where she does get to work in the hospital. She spends the next ?year at the hospital with occasional forays to the front trenches during rare and short cease-fires. She learns to deal with the injuries of the men, their maiming and deaths and the ever present vermin, lice, filth and ghastly medical practises. Interspersed with her story are bits and pieces from people who were there in reality, Nightingale herself and the amazing Mrs Seacole and the book benefits greatly from these. The author has done her homework and included aspects of problems of supply and equipment clearly demonstrated in Ms Nightingale's biographies. The end is rather abrupt I felt; the war ended when the Russians sued for peace in March 1854 and it seemed to take very little time before Ada, our heroine, had been greeted by Ms Nightingale as a good nurse, given a recommendation to serve as one of the Nightingale Nurses back home and returned to Liverpool to do just that. Well researched story overall. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for an advance copy in return for my honest review.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story with very strong charactors and the way that Ada had lost so much in such a short time and her determination to find her brother.When she sailed to the crimea she had only one thought and that was to find her brother above all else.I won't spoil the book for others well worth 5*

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Nightingales Nurses written by Kate Eastham was a wonderful read and one I am happy to recommend. The story begins at the birth of Ada Houston, and it is clear from the first page that Ada is a character us readers will not forget.
I loved how the author brought us readers from Ada's early life where she was loved and adored by everyone who knew her, and she was protected by her Grandfather and her brother Frank to the battlefields where she had to rely on her own strength of character as well as help from those she met during her time in the war-stricken lands of the Crimean. Also, the author not only brought the brutality of this war alive but also what it meant to want to serve your country as a nurse.
It was a vivid read as the author brought us readers from the streets of Liverpool to the war-stricken lands of the Crimean War where the British fought a horrible and tough war. The descriptive writing really opened my eyes to this time in history.
What brings Ada to be a nurse during this time in history is part of the main storyline, therefore I will not simply tell the storyline but what I would like to say, this is a wonderful read which not only told the story of Ada and those friends and the odd enemy or two she meets along the way with the added historical facts made this book for me an educational read as well as one which I was totally lost in from the first page until I reached the last page. If I could give it Miss Nightingales Nurses written by the very talented Kate Eastham 10 stars I would as in my honest opinion this is one of the best historical fiction books which I have read in a long time, with the added constant historical facts made this a book I know I will not forget. I would also like to recommend the audio version from audible narrated by Dorothy Lawrence who narrated it perfectly, giving each character their true accent and of course their own voice which brought each character alive through her excellent narration.
Happy to recommend.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ada Houston grew up in Liverpool. When her brother disappears after an accident at the docks and her grandfather dies shortly afterwards she finds herself completely alone. When someone suggests that is is possible her brother might have ended up on a ship bound for the Crimea and she hears about Florence Nightingale's nurses her mind is made up- she will go to the Crimea.

Ada is a really engaging character. I loved her determination. In a time when unmarried women had very little choice as to their futures, she carves out a role for herself. I didn't know very much about the Crimean war-apart from the names of places & the Charge of the Light Brigade so this was a good chance to see it from another side.

This book is very readable. It is fast paced and sweeps the reader along with Ada. All in all a very enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another historical novel that I loved from the very first pages! I loved it, and there’s really not much more to add. I read it eagerly and easily. I particularly appreciated the quotes at the beginning of every chapter (a feature I am always fond of) and the unusual ending (for a romance); definitely more uplifting than the usual ‘happily-ever-after’ that might have been expected. It is indeed, a happily-ever-after that for once doesn’t involve a wedding, and this is what makes this story so special. I think it would make a great script, too.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the audible version of Miss Nighti gale's Nurses by Kate Eastham! Beautifully written and performed. The story follows young Ada Houston, a young woman from Liverpool in 1855 and 1856. Her story is sometimes sad but also filled with adventure. Tragedy leads her to the Crimea during the war and her life is completely changed.

I'm so pleased to see that this is a series. Can't wait to get the next audible book.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brillant well researched story set during the Crimean war, telling the tale of Ada Houston who goes in search of her missing brother and ends up becoming a Nightingale nurse. I particularly liked the fact that Kate also included Ada's early story too so you felt like you really knew her. Book 2 of the series isn't out until Feb and I look forward to reading it.

[Ali Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely read, from start to finish, and a good way to learn this history of the horrors of the Crimea War and the good work done by Nurse Florence Nightingale and her team. It was, as expected, full of emotion from the beginning, and also a bit gory on the war front, but nevertheless it was a powerful moving tale.

[Kristina Medlinskiene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a well written novel for easy and enjoyable read. The author uses the real facts of Crimean war and Nightingale nurses to create the story of Ada becoming a nurse through unexpected turn of events. The book actors and developed relationships are relatable. The story highlights the selfishness and bravery of people devoting their lives for others' good.

[Mrs Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful story!!

I am a fully qualified full-time, self employed Carer from a long line of Carers, Nurses and Paramedics. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Thank you so much for writing these stories... I look forward now to reading the rest of your books Kate. If they're like this one I won't be able to put them down. Xx

[Janice Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

I enjoyed reading this , was very sad and harrowing in places. It took an awful lot of courage to board a ship bound for the crimea not really knowing what you were going to find when you arrived

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming book with good character development and stories. The history of the medical side of the Crimean War was very interesting and created a great story. I would recommend this to those who enjoy a good historical fiction book.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a nurse I found this an interesting read hearing how young women just chose to go & care from other women. Mary Seacole featured far more than Flo but it gave a good insight into life in medicine in the Crimean war.

[Layla · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up from the library thinking it was WW2, bUT ITS THE Crimean WAR,

For me that's the *wrong war* I only read WW1 ww2 FICTIONS.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a Donna Douglas nurse series, you’ll like this author. Good read and a bit different.

[Di Schlenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent booking about Ada a novice nurse thrown into the Crimean War.

[Sharron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another story with Mrs. Seacole in it!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a book. The first book of the series I couldn't put it down, I will definitely recommend you read it

[Shirley Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, depicting the era of the Crimea war and how Florence Nightingale fitted into the story. I wanted to read more and more.

[Mabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good captivating novel about a young girl nursing at the front line in the Crimean war. It dealt with all the horror of war casualties and how people supported each other.

[Brid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic, I havnt enjoyed a book as much in a long long time!!
Ada's mother giving birth to her so, along with her brother, Frank is raised by her doting grandfather.
Follow their lives for a whirlwind story that will bring laughs and tears.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this arc.