Coming Home to Liverpool

Nursing #4

by Kate Eastham

A stirring and inspiring story which is perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Call The Midwife

Heartbroken but determined, Maud Linklater returns to her hometown of Liverpool intent on healing the sick and building a new life for herself and her son, Alfie

Liverpool 1872

Arriving back in her hometown after spending some time training at the Infirmary for Women in New York, Maud can't wait to put her new-found skills to the test. But in a city built and run by men she must work hard to be accepted.

Whilst her nurse friends welcome her back with open arms there are others who do not wish her well, including the spiteful Nancy Sellers.

Nancy resented Maud's talents as a nurse and seeing her arrive back with such fanfare puts her nose firmly out of joint. She will stop at nothing to sabotage Maud's life and soon turns her attention to those Maud holds most dear.

But Maud Linklater is made of strong stuff and together with her friends, Alice and Eddie, can she overcome any obstacle Nancy, and Liverpool, might throw her way?

Praise for Kate Eastham

'Deftly written and moving' Woman's Own

'A heart-warming and tear-inducing tale with wonderfully realistic characters' Woman

Genres: Historical Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2020

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

19th Century Liverpool and poverty is rife. Maud Linklater has just returned from New York with her adopted son. Maud is a trained surgical nurse and wants to get back into the profession. She gets a job at the Liverpool Infirmary. She brings some of the more modern work experiences with her. But Maud has to hide that she is married as nurses weren't allowed to marry in 1872.

Indid ot know that this was the third ook in this series. It does read well as a standalone. The story revolves around Maud and Harry. Harry could not travel home at the same time as his wife. This is an intriguing insight into nursing in the 19th Century. The author has researched the practices used back then. An enjoyable read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author, Kate EastHam for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jannelies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful book describes how a young but experienced nurse, Maud, returns to Liverpool after having worked in New York. She arrives with her adopted son Alfred, and her husband Harry will follow soon. Maud has a history here in Liverpool and although she learned a lot in New York about modern medicine, she is happy to return.
Of course Maud will be staying with a couple of her oldest friends, while Alfred will stay in a good boarding school. As soon as Harry arrives, they will find a home for themselves. The slight complication is that Maud has to hide that she is married. In 1872, nurses were not allowed to marry - because a married woman is supposed to take care of her husband and not for sick strangers.

The whole story revolves around Maud and Harry, but there are lots of interesting bits of information to give the reader an insight in the daily life of a nurse. Maud and her friends always have to dress in their uniforms to walk from home to the hospital, for instance. The police will otherwise pick up any woman that is walking the streets without a companion on suspicion of being a prostitute.

However, the things we learn about the medical practices are the most interesting. Maud washes her hand profusely with carbol, and cleans all things needed for an operation with it too. For some, this is still unheard of. What brought a big grin to my face was the fact that the leading surgeon washed his hands, and then goes off to a corner of the operating room to have a smoke first...

The story flows easily and there are numerous interesting characters. I hope there will be a fourth book in this series soon.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin UK for this digital review copy.

[Carol Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely end to a very good series. I love historical nursing books.
I liked the second book best, The Liverpool Nightingales! Daughters of Liverpool, the third book was a close second. This one, Coming home to Liverpool, is mostly weaving together all those dangling threads.
The first book, Miss Nightingales Nurses was full of blood, gore & guts but I did enjoy & appreciate the quick lesson on the horrors of the Crimea War.
Ada Houston started out as a pathetic character, I almost gave up on this book but was glad I struggled through as she gained a little backbone further in.

[Booklover BEV]

Matron Maudie linklateris coming home from New York across the Atlantic on the Abyssinia. Eddy and Alice nurses at the Liverpool royal hospital cannot wait to see her and life can get back to normal. A moving story. This author always delivers her best to you in every possible way. I loved this book and well worth the stars.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Eastham writes such lovely stories that draw you into the book,the charactors are brilliant and i look forward to the next book from this fabulous author 5*

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Liverpool towards the end of the 19th Century, Coming Home to Liverpool tells the story of Maud, Alice and Eddie who all work as nurses at the Liverpool Infirmary. As the story opens, Maud is on her way back to Liverpool from New York where she has been learning more modern medical practices and her two best friends, Alice and Eddie, are eagerly awaiting her arrival. The book tells the story of what happened during the next few months.

This book was an enjoyable and easy read. The characters were well developed and each had their own individual personality which made them believable. In terms of the lives of the people working in the medical profession, the book was written with a conviction that made me think this area had been well researched by the author and it was fascinating to see how things have changed. Nurses, for example, were not allowed to be married, smoking in the operating theatre was a commonplace practice and medical procedures were certainly very different from what we are used to nowadays.

There were a couple of issues which I had with the book, the first being that the plot did occasionally overstep the mark when it came to plausibility. For me, the most glaring example of this was the stereotypical “baddy” whose motives and demeanour I found less than convincing. This could be partly due to the fact that, unbeknown to me, this was the third book of a series. I did feel on numerous occasions that there was some kind of backstory (between two characters for example) which was driving their behaviour, but which hadn’t been adequately explained. Now I know why. The final problem was that I did not really feel that there was enough depth to the book to warrant a very high star rating.

This book is basically an easy holiday read and if you are looking for something in that genre then I would have no problem recommending it. However, although it does work as a standalone book, I would recommend that you read the series in chronological order.

[Richard Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Eastham “Coming Home to Liverpool.”
“Coming Home to Liverpool,” stands alone, but I suspect it would be better for it to be read as part of the whole series. Heart-warming stories of hardship, disease and injury being overcome through the exemplary dedication of Maud Linklater make the book a comforting read. In her nursing she confronts her patient’s emotional as well as physical pain and her healing powers impact on all her relationships Characters are presented very sympathetically; even Violet Latimer, the icy sullen probationer, blossoms into a much more endearing and caring personality once her painful history is revealed and her demonic fears confronted. Only spiteful Nancy Sellers seems beyond redemption. She is destined to continue her villainous role in the next book in the series and provides the cliff hanger threat to the story’s otherwise happy ending.
Some aspects of the plot leave unanswered questions. Alfred, for example, pictured so poignantly with Maud on the front cover, seems to have been rather neglected by her once he has been taken to the Blue Coat School. The focus is very much on the life in the hospital and herein lies the book’s appeal. Descriptions of life on the wards, medical procedures, as well as the rigorous demands of nursing are both credible and interesting
Kate Eastham’s own nursing career of more than 30 years makes her very well equipped to write about the lives of other nurses. She has clearly researched with great enthusiasm, moreover, into hospital conditions in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and the writings of Florence Nightingale. I particularly liked the aptly chosen quotations by Miss Nightingale at the start of each chapter.
The publication date, the bicentenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, might attract the attention of TV production companies in the same way as “Call the Midwife,” and I would certainly welcome seeing the characters on television.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate's novel is a lovely tale of life back in the 1870's.... The characters are mainly nurses at the Liverpool infirmary; Maud trained there before heading to America with her husband and adopted son. She decided to return to Liverpool as one of her elderly friends had taken a turn for the worse. She stayed at a friends and pretend she wasn't married as nurses were supposed to be single back then. Harry couldn't travel at the same time so it was agreed he'd come 4 weeks later, which he did, but no spoilers, you'll have to read to find out what happens!!!! A delightful book giving a little insight to nurses life in Victorian times.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the previous books featuring Maud, Alice & Eddy so it was good to catch up with them as Maud & Albert return from America. The books are set when nursing is still almost in its infancy & it was interesting to read of some of the methods used. However, this is basically a story about the characters & it is very easy to become involved in their lives. It was an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book

[janice kordek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming home to Liverpool

Absolutely loved this story another great read by Kate Eastham about three nurses maud Alice and eddy maud moved to new York with her husband Harry and their adopted son Alfred but when her friend became ill maud travelled back to be with her and them the read gets very complicated a real page turner so start reading you won't be dissapointed

[Elsa West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished. The story of three friend Maud, Alice and Eddy and how they battle their way through illness, disease and the hardships of the 19th century. Not my usual type of read so found it a little hard to keep going at times. I kept with it and enjoyed. I didn’t expect it to end how it did. Thank you netgalley for this ARC

[Cathy Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of looking after the beautiful little lady who wrote this book, She told me all about the books she wrote and the stories behind the books. Such an inspiration and a true scouser, For a lady in her 90’s and in the final chapter of her life she was witty and charismatic and I am glad I could be with her.

[Janice Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

So our three friends ,Maud , Eddy and Alice all meet up again as Maud returns from New York and once again takes up the challenge of day to day nursing at the hospital in Liverpool.

[l bagnall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in a series from this author. I haven't read any of the others but found it easy enough to pick up the story line. It's a good, easy read and I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I could guess the story line.

[Kathryn L. Loewenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Book!!

Wonderfully written and plotted! This made tears come to my eyes. Had to finish this beautiful story! Am so glad that this had a great ending! I plan to read all these books again!

[Mabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm and touching story set around midwifery in the late 1800’s in Liverpool. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice trilogy of nursing stories during nursing school infancy

[Ann Round · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave up with this book at Chapter 7. Too slow for me.

[Mrs Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!!

I have read all of these lovely books about Maud, Alice, Eddy and all their exploits in and out of the hospital. I love them!!

[kathleen kirtley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive

The whole series hope there is more couldn't put it down good job I am a pensioner and don't have to worry about work

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an ending to this series you have to read this series its fantastic

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely worth waiting for! I loved all the twists and turns, but am sorry that this is the last book. A satisfying end to a fascinating series.

[Jacqui Huntley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third story in the series but easily readable without having read the others, which I had not. Maud, a surgical nurse, returns to her home town of Liverpool with her adopted son and the expectation that her husband will join her in a few weeks. She's met by her old nursing friends, Alice and Eddie, after a seasick ridden voyage and taken to their home. She manages to get a job at the Liverpool Infirmary, in spite of being married - that's kept quiet - and immerses herself in caring for the sick. She brings with her the experience of work under more modern medicine practice in New York and at least some of the Liverpool surgeons are supportive - the use of chloroform is becoming the norm, Pasteur has developed the smallpox vaccination and carbolic acid/cleanliness is becoming accepted. practice. Interspersed with this is Nancy and her pregnancy, the return of Harry, the husband, his trials and hers before they can become another couple again. The squalour and deprivation of industrial Liverpool at this time, 1872, the robust and supportive communities in spite of this are exceedingly well drawn. The characters likeable (or not in the case of the baddies), the sense of hope for medicine and improvements flourish throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms Eastham's "Miss Nightinglae's Nurses" set mostly against the backdrop of the Crimean War where, again, her descriptions of medicine under fire were very well written. "Coming Home to Liverpool" is in the same vein and well worth the read. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written story about nurses in Liverpool in the 19th century. Kate Eastham has researched the history of medicine and the role of women in hospitals at that time.
I adore the characters in the series and their personalities have been beautifully developed over the books.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story set in late 19th century Liverpool where poverty is everywhere and disease is prevalent. When Maud Linklater returns from New York with her adopted son she is determined to go back to work as a nurse and put into practice everything that she has learned whilst working there. I loved the depth of the characters and the story was well written. I didn't realise that it was part of a series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone as there's lots of background information.