The Midwives of Lark Lane

Lark Lane #4

by Pam Howes

An absolutely heartbreaking historical family saga

All’s fair in love and war… but what happens when the war is over?
After the heartbreak of World War Two, newlywed midwife Cathy hoped Liverpool life would offer some joy. But a terrible miscarriage and the escape of her abusive stepfather Jack from prison make happiness hard to find.

Meanwhile, Cathy’s beloved granny is ailing. Whilst at the hospital, Cathy sees her midwifery friends, who are planning to open a home for unmarried mothers. After losing a baby of her own Cathy would love to help, but for now, she must take care of her grandmother.

As her grandmother's health worsens, she writes Cathy a letter. The day her granny dies, Cathy goes home and opens the envelope: Thank you for giving me a reason to live. Everything I have in the world is yours now, my darling. Cathy is devastated but determined to honour her granny’s memory, hoping the maternity home can be her legacy.

Just as Cathy and her friends are about to open their doors to the first expectant mothers, Jack is spotted in Liverpool. It’s only a matter of time until her cruel stepfather catches up with her, determined to pay her back for getting him locked up in prison. Can Cathy keep herself and her grandmother’s legacy safe, and see Jack sent away for good at last?

The Midwives of Lark Lane is a heart-wrenching saga about how the best friendships can help you through the worst of times. If you’re a fan of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Kitty Neale, you’ll love Pam Howes!

Readers love the Lark Lane series!
‘Oh what a corker… Fantastic… I am flabbergasted… Moved me to tears, filled my arms with goosebumps… Truly spellbinding… Historical fiction at its finest.’ The Writing Garnet, 5 stars

‘An emotive and gripping read… I literally could not put it down… Highly recommended.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘Heart-warming and heartbreaking… It’s safe to say Pam has worked a blinder with this book, have some tissues at the ready and get yourself stuck in… This book is written beautifully and is really difficult to put down once you start it… A first-class read.’ I Love Reading, 5 stars

‘I absolutely loved it!... It grips you from the first page… Highly recommended, so clear your diaries and stock up on tissues, you are in for a real treat!’ Waggy Tales Dog Blog, 5 stars

‘I really love this… The author has a definite knack of writing stories which just get you absolutely 100% hooked and tug at your heartstrings… I found myself gripped… Took in the atmosphere and surroundings of war-ravaged Liverpool absolutely perfectly!… It does make you reach for the tissues, but it’s a wonderful heart-warming read of love, loss, family and friendships. Fabulous!!!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘Pam has a wonderful talent and makes these books

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2019

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cathy Lomax and her mother Alice are getting on with life now that Alice’s husband Jack Dawson's locked up in jail. Cathy has married Gianni Romano, they have a daughter Lucy and she’s studying to be a midwife. Due to Jack’s crimes Alice can file for divorce and she glad to be free from any ties to her abusive ex-husband.

Cathy and her midwifery friends, Jean, Ellie, and Karen have a dream of opening their own small hospital for women and unmarried mothers. When her Granny Lomax passes away Cathy’s devastated, and she’s determined to open the maternity hospital as a legacy to her grandmother and she can use part of her inheritance. They find a suitable house, thanks to Alice’s new husband Johnny Harrison and he’s a builder. The renovations are extensive, everyone from Lark Lane pitches in and helps, and Woodlands Maternity Home is due to open. They have no idea Jack's escaped from jail, the police are looking for him and when a fire starts in a small shed at Woodlands everyone's concerned that Jack started it.

The Midwives of Lark Lane is set in the 1960’s in Liverpool, it carries on with Cathy's, Alice’s and their friends stories. They all work hard to open the maternity hospital, it’s nice how they all support each other, it's exciting when the first baby is born and Jack gets what he deserves once again.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy, I look forward to reading other books by Pam Howes and three stars from me.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Liverpool in the 1960s. Cathy thinks everything will be fine now that her evil stepdad is in jail. Buthe manages to escape. He goes on the run with a fellow inmate. The authorities think they will flee to Scotland as that is where his cell mate is from. Cathy is living in a caravan with her husband, Giannini and their daughter, Lucy. But she's not happy. She's missing her family and her nursing career. They decide that Cathy and Lucy will return to Liverpool to stay with Granny Lomax whilst Giannini continues to follow the fair.

This is the first book that I have read y the author. I did not realise that this book was part of a series. Although it reads well as a standalone, I did feel like I had missed out on some snippets of information. There is a touch of sadness to this story. The char5are well rounded and believable. It's well written and true to the era. I will need to read the other books in this series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Pam Howes for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is the fourth book in the Lark Lane series, it is my first. However, despite coming into the story so far in I didn't feel as if I had missed anything as Pam Howes gives the reader plenty of background on the characters who have featured throughout. But as I enjoyed this one so much I have added the first three to my ever growing TBR list in the hope I will find some time to revisit Lark Lane again soon.

The story follows Cathy now grown and marrying the love of her life and father to their 18 month old Lucy. Gianni, her husband, works with a travelling fair performing alongside his father in the Wall of Death motorbike show. The couple share their wedding day alongside Cathy's mother Alice and her new husband Johnny before a brief honeymoon and a return to the travelling fair.

Upon arrival they are given a brand new caravan by Gianni's father Luca and his wife Maria, who have painstakingly prepared it for the couple. Cathy is overwhelmed by their kindness and happy to be with Gianni but she is unsure about her place with the fair. She was training to be a nurse but those dreams had ended when she discovered she was pregnant with Lucy and then marrying Gianni. Although she wished to return to nursing, this was the 1960s and all nursing students must be unmarried. So with her training incomplete and now living with the fair, Cathy has no work to keep her occupied.

Then the fair begins and so with it brings new problems. It is noisy and smells and there is no way she can settle little Lucy down at night. She closes the windows, the caravan is stifling. She opens them for air and it is too noisy. Cathy becomes more tired as they days wear on and Lucy is tetchy and unsettled. Although it is early days, Cathy finds she is not enjoying fairground life but this is Gianni's life and she cannot and will not make him choose.

But circumstances bring new opportunities as Cathy returns to Liverpool to live with family while Gianni remains with the fair. Gianni urges Cathy to return to her nurses training and to follow her dream of becoming a midwife, alongside her friends. And it's not forever as they will be reunited when the fair arrives in town and when the fair breaks for the winter months. Cathy is not sorry to leave the fair, but she is with leaving Gianni. She will not miss Maria's daughter Eloisa with whom Gianni had a one night stand and she has carried a torch for him since. But she trusts Gianni...she just doesn't trust Eloisa.

Dividing her time between her mother's house and her Granny's, Cathy returns to nursing and eventually qualifies as a midwife alongside her friends Jean, Karen and Ellie. When a large exclusive house with sprawling grounds comes up for sale, Cathy and her friends' dream of opening their own maternity home for unwed mothers and those wishing for private accommodation during the birth of their child are realised. With the help of their families, the women set to making their dream a reality.

Meanwhile, alongside Cathy's story is that of her ex-stepfather Jack Dawson. He was serving a long prison sentence for raping her friend Ellie one night in the hospital grounds, but opportunity arose in the form of a new cellmate hailing from Glasgow, and the pair escaped whilst being transported to a new prison. They parted company and Jack joined up with the travelling fair after seeing one of their flyers requesting casual work labourers.

Taking up the persona of Scottish Dougie Taylor, Jack had mastered the accent after sharing a cell with the Glaswegian. He knew Gianni but with his long hair and beard, Jack doubted he'd be recognised. Still, he kept out of his way just in case. It wasn't long before Eloisa caught his eye, showing him her wares that she shamelessly had on offer. But Jack never lost sight of his main objective - to return to Liverpool and show Cathy "a real man".

When the fair arrives in Liverpool, things come to a head in more ways than one. There is tragedy, heartbreak, love and loss and the tension is palpable as Cathy and Jack's paths stories intertwine, all the while unbeknownst to her.

Beginning in 1960 and taking us through to 1964, THE MIDWIVES OF LARK LANE is a simple, fast and easy read. A feel-good book that you just want to lose yourself to right up to the end. Whether the series ends here, I don't know, though some have stated that it would be a good place to end it...but I must admit I would like to see what else happens with girls and their families.

There is a touch of the TV series "Heartbeat" as well as "Call the Midwife" to this book, given the 1960s era, so if you are a fan of these shows then I am sure you will love this installment of the Lark Lane series. It is also very similar to Nadine Dorries' Lovely Lane series so you like that then you will love this!

Despite being the fourth book, THE MIDWIVES OF LARK LANE can be read as a standalone because the reader is given enough background information to make the necessary connections of where the story has been as well as where it is going. But like all series, I'm guessing that they are still enjoyed best from the beginning.

I definitely recommend this book, as a standalone or as part of the series!

I would like to thank #PamHowes, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMidwivesOfLarkLane in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been patiently waiting for the next book from the author in the Lark Lane saga and have to say that now it’s finally here, it has been well worth the wait.

Over the course of these books, I feel like I’ve become one of the family with the characters. I’ve been with them through all the highs and lows and shared tears of joy and sadness. What a journey it’s been.

Whilst the focus has changed from Alice to her daughter Cathy in this book and the previous one, I like how we still get to catch up and keep up to date with Alice as I had grown very fond of her from the first book. Through the characters, we get to appreciate what life was like back in the early sixties in Liverpool.

Jack is one character I’ve never been fond of. Man, he made my blood boil. I was angry and both scared for Cathy and her family and don’t think I’ve ever wished someone to drop dead before. I did with Jack though. He is a horrible character though and I was willing that everything would come out all okay by the end.

The Midwives of Lark Lane was another emotional roller coaster of a read that captivated me, yet had me on the edge of my seat a number of times. Just as you think everything is going to be okay for Cathy and her family, life has other plans for them yet again. The story had me so engrossed that I couldn’t get on with my everyday life until I had finished it. If you enjoy a heartwarming saga that makes for a compulsive read, then look no further than this authors books. They are truly wonderful.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the other Books in the Lark Lane series and the Mersey series I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this beauty.
Once again set in Liverpool now set in the 1960’s the story is centred more on Cathy, Alice’s daughter. In the start of the story Cathy is getting married to Gianni and her mother Alice is getting married to her new man in her life. Jack Dawson Cathy’s father is incastrated in Prison.
At first Cathy is excited to move in with Gianni in a new caravan while he works at the fair. But with a young baby Cathy feels isolated and lonely when Gianni is out to work and when Cathy’s experiences a miscarriage, they both decide that Cathy goes home to her mother Alice to cooperate.
After a few weeks being back at home and meeting her old mates who are training to be Midwives. Cathy decides that she wants to carry on with her training with the approval of Gianni. When she finally passes and comes a fully-fledged Midwife. She experiences a tale of a young unwed girl that her family wants her children to be adopted and she doesn’t have anywhere to go. Cathy and her friends realise that they need to do something to help other girls like these. So, they all decide that they will open a maternity home for unwed mothers.
The Midwives of Lark Lane is another fabulous read from the author. This is an unputdownable story that once I started, I didn’t want to leave. This has like her other books have great characters and heartfelt story and a great plot. A big five stars from me.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first three books in this compelling story, The Factory Girls of Lark Lane, The Shop Girls of Lark Lane and The Nurses of Lark Lane were all set around the war. With the war now being over, our intrepid ladies have moved on and, as in the previous books in the Lark Lane series, are dealing with adjustment and some difficulties. Nonetheless, they are indeed troopers and rally on, with the strong bonds of friendship proving to be the driving force in this wonderful book by Pam Howes.

Cathy, a midwife, and a newlywed, has not found much happiness considering she has suffered a miscarriage and has received sad news about her ailing grandmother, as well as the awful news that her abusive stepfather Jack has escaped from prison. As this book is told in more than one perspective, readers get Jack's point of view, and he is just as awful (actually much worse) as he has always been in the books in this series. With her grandmother's health failing, Cathy is even more devastated.

A nice diversion proves to be an excellent idea when Cathy and a couple of her midwife friends decide to open a home for unwed mothers. As the time frame in this book is around the 1960's, the girls know the challenges will be many. Fortunately, albeit sadly, Cathy has received something very precious left to her in her grandmother's will that will make this possible.

Meanwhile, there is Jack Dawson, Cathy's stepfather, and he is determined to find her and it is not to bring her a bouquet of flowers. Instead, he means on doing her great harm. So Cathy has her hands full, doing good for young ladies who need a safe place for whatever length of time would suit them, and staying away from Jack.

I have been with this compelling series from the very first book and have devoured each and every one of them. Prior to this series, Pam Howes was a new name to me. I have come to love her prose. She has a gift of storytelling and her characters felt so very real to me. Their problems, their joys, their love, their tears ... it all resonated with me. I do not know what is next for Ms. Howes, but I will definitely be on the lookout.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is the latest book in the Lark Lane series, it is my first. Pam Howes gave plenty of background on the characters so I felt well and truly familiar with all of them in this story. The story centres around Cathy, who is newly married to Gianni. They have a little girl and have joined Gianni's family on the road as part of the travelling fairground, where he rides a motorbike as part of a duo with his dad on the Wall of Death. It may have sounded romantic but it is noisy, smelly and Cathy misses home.
As new circumstances develop it is thought best that she and her daughter return to Lark Lane for the winter. Cathy eventually returns to her training to become a nurse, then a midwife. I loved this side of the story and all the shockingly different attitudes that were around then if a young unmarried girl became pregnant. There was a terrible stigma not just to the girl but the reputation of the family too. Cathy and her fellow midwife friends are quite a force to be reckoned with as they are determined to change things.
There is also a secondary storyline which follows Jack, Cathy's ex-step-dad. A real nasty piece of work, brutal, vicious and determined to ruin the family in every way possible. There are some amazing characters and a real feel of how it used to be back in the 60s, with some neighbours being just as close as family. Women still had little say in anything then but things were gradually changing.
A super story that has the good guys, the villans and a new generation of determined and strong-willed women. Super!
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved reading about the family that live in and around lark lane Cathy and her mom alice have come a long way from the life they used to have.Cathy craves to continue training to become a midwife and join her friends but knows her life is with her husband at the fair.Life changes for cathy after she returns home to her family and friends she is happy in liverpool.When they find out jack is on the run they make sure they are all safe and are determined not to hide away.Pam Howes writes a lovely story that makes you feel as if you are among them all.If it was possible i would give more stars as this book is BRILLIANT.5*

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book

if you are a fan of call of the midwives then this is the book for you....

cathy is training to be a midwife...though for a couple of years her training was on hold as she went and had a child out of wedlock...well it is the 60s..

but whilst doing her training she made a few friends and they all kept in touch...

cathy mom had married jack, a horrid man who had raped one of cathy friends whilst out looking for cathy...he was behind bars but he had left a legacy of violence behind him, though he believed that he was owed....

life carried on as normal for cathys family and she married her man...who worked on the fair....and though they tried to make it work..cathy just didnt get on with fair life and neither did her daughter...so it was agreed that cathy would move back in with her mom and carry on with her training...

meanwhile jack escaped prison and was hell bent on making cathy pay for what had happened to him....

have to say i did enjoy this little reminder of call of the midwife and this book gave me that even if it didnt go indepth into anything, it cant have been that easy to set up the maternity home...but i took it as a story and went with it...some dark moments with jack and what he caused...he was pegged right sorry for the pun but on the whole a good read

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

HEARTBREAKING
Midwife Cathy Romano happily married with a daughter Lucy, the year is 1960 husband Gianni settles his family into their new caravan on the fairground and a surprise pregnancy sends Cathy back to Liverpool to her mam Alice and Grannie Lomax to get checked over by the doctor. Cathy's world is then turned upside down after her grandmother falls ill and Heartbreaking news all arrives at once. Her stepfather Jack Dawson is never far from her mind even though he's still in prison doing time. Cathy's dreams of becoming a midwife and been a registered nurse were what would full fill her life especially as lucy will be starting full time school shortly. She misses Gianni terribly while he's away travelling but it won't be long till they come back to Liverpool. The swinging 60's. Bring us music and brightly coloured clothes into the story that I found a delight to read from beginning to end. Some emotional chapters that I had to pause while reading, this is what the author brings to her reader's, you feel yourself there with them. The book takes us through to 1964 and The Woodlands Maternity Home is up and running for the Midwives Of Lark Lane for many more year's to come. Highly recommend this read for all fan's.

[Monica Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, the last one in this particular series.

Cathy is forging her own path in life, after falling pregnant at an early age and having to abandon her nursing training. She gets back on the horse and ends up being a midwife. When some friends suggest opening up a home for unmarried mums, she thinks it is a good idea but will they manage to get enough money to realise their dreams? And then there is the fact that her husband, Gianni, is enjoying life on the fair circuit a little bit too much. Eloisa is still around as a temptation as well.....

Jack, Cathy's cruel step-father is on the loose and what happens with him, makes me scared for all the women around him, for sure!

On a brighter note though, things are going well with Alice and her new husband, and everyone else in the family is settled. Poor Granny Lomax is the only one whose health is failing and of course Cathy is deeply impacted by this, as they have such a close bond.

All in all, this book ties all the threads together from previous books and I love how it ended.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the previous books in the series, it was nice to catch up with the characters I had grown fond of. Pam Howes has brought them through many changes & she captures the era she writes about very well. I enjoyed this book, but I think it is best to read it as part of the series as so much depends on the way the characters & the world have moved on.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this enjoyable book.

[dorothy cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book

I thought with having midwife in its title this book was be about midwifery? I was wrong mostly it is a family saga with midwife taking second or third place.
I found it boring

[Trish at Between My Lines · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Engaging, warm hearted, family centred book about a lovely community.

Full review to follow.

[Carol Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars means that to me It’s just an ok book..
well written, but hardly pulse racing. I enjoy books that challenge my mind!

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Midwives of Lark Lane is the fourth instalment in the Lark Lane series by Pam Howes. I have really enjoyed this series as it has shown such great development since book one in terms of both the story lines and characters. I feel as if I have gotten to know all the characters so well and I am deeply invested in everything that has happened to them. They have all been through so much but there is still plenty that occurs in this new book. For those that are new to this series the prologue gives a quick recap of all that has happened and it was also a great refresher for me as it had been several months since I last read about Cathy and her family. I really enjoy how several strands of the overall story have ran through each book and that things don't get abruptly or easily resolved or cut off. Instead it seems true to life in that issues and problems take time to find their resolution and that the fairytale happily ever after isn't always so easy to find. Admittedly a lot of the things that befall Cathy and her family wouldn't happen to the majority of us but still I think these books have been realistic and I have come to care a great deal about the characters.

It is now June 1960 and whereas the earlier books focused on Cathy's mam Alice, Cathy herself is now a mature young woman and married to Gianni and has her own daughter Lucy. Plenty of trauma and heartache have befallen the family but they now hope to put everything firmly in the past and move forward with nothing but positivity in their lives. But yet there are dark shadows still determined to linger and maybe there are a few more struggles to get through before happiness, peace and fulfilment can be found and maintained. Cathy's longed for nursing career had been put on hold when she discovered she was pregnant although she still keeps in contact with the many friends she has made on her course and who continue to specialise in midwifery which Cathy herself one day hopes to pursue.

Instead now Cathy has moved from Liverpool and the safety net of her family to be with Gianni on the fairground that his family runs. Life at the fairground is one of a nomadic existence where they pack up and move from place to place very regularly. To be honest I didn't think Cathy was really cut out for this as she liked her home comforts and was a very sociable person who liked to be near her friends and family and especially Granny Lomax who has done so much for her in the past. Yes there are plenty of people around at the fair but they are so busy with their daily jobs and keeping the fair running that being cooped up in a caravan with a young child really wasn't going to suit Cathy for very long. Yet on the other hand Cathy's love and devotion towards Gianni deserves much credit as she was putting her family before her own needs. But I could see from the outset that something would have to happen as things for Cathy couldn't go on the way they were.

A tragic event leads to that change and Cathy finds herself back home in Liverpool while Gianni continues his work on the fairground. You couldn't doubt the love that had for each other but it was clear that each had their own path to lead for a little while before some form of reunification could occur. I enjoyed reading of how Cathy settles back down to life at home and how she pushed events to the back of her mind and was able to get on with becoming a midwife. Anyone could see that this was her true calling and passion and the stories of the various women she meets through her job were heart-warming but also sad on certain occasions. The story progresses over several years and there are plenty of ebbs and flows. At certain points it felt as if nothing much was happening and that one or two chapters were just filling in before the story got going again. As for that dark shadow I previously mentioned there was definitely threatening and menacing undercurrents flowing through the book and they came in the form of Alice's ex husband Jack and stepfather to Cathy.

Jack has been in prison for several years following events from the previous book but chapters told from his viewpoint indicate that he is not content and his sinister and evil ways may just about to rear their ugly heads once again. I have never liked the character of Jack and even more so than in this book, there is not one good thing to be said about his character. He is mean to the core, never happy with his lot and always out for revenge. I felt worried for everyone as we come to know the inner thoughts and workings of Jack's mind and what he has in store. I was fearful that his plans may come true and all the happiness and goals that Cathy, her family and friends have worked towards would coming crashing down around them. The tension was well built up and I enjoyed how Jack's element of the story became intertwined with Cathy's very much unbeknownst to her. The unease, unrest and suspicion grew and grew until you just knew something had to give but you hoped that things could hopefully turn out in a positive way. Especially as Cathy and her close work colleagues were so close to seeing their personal long term dream come true. This long term goal aspect of the book was a lovely storyline and how it all came to fruition was just so heart-warming and inspiring. All working together for one common aim and inspiring and helping others as they do so.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Midwives of Lark Lane and I think it is the right time to end this series as everything has come full circle and to add any more would just be stretching things out unnecessarily. In the last quarter of the book the pace really picked up and there was a lot of tying up of loose ends and resolving of things that had been niggling away at me. The threads are pulled together and as Cathy herself is a firm believer of fate she has to remain strong and hope that what life has in store for her will entail things working out OK or maybe Jack will get his own way and enact the revenge he has so desperately wanted to do for long. Long time fans of Pam Howes will love this read and new fans will want to go back and discover the full story of Cathy and her family.

[Poppy Bentley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed in this book, had high hopes for the series, but it’s a bit of a dull read. It is an easy read which is what earned the second star.

I feel like the author has missed the mark on helping the reader connect, relate to and feel for the characters, it seems rushed. The miscarriage should of been raw, distressing, thought provoking and relatable but it was barely touched on. The emotions were skimmed, it didn’t feel real, each snippet of the story lines were just bland, just hopping from one scene to another without any details or going in depth.

I also felt it lacked descriptions, so many things I couldn’t picture in my mind properly, or consistently because the author would keep flittering about. I want to know if the gran has a worn in face with miles of wrinkles, or whether she was glamorous and wouldn’t leave the house without rouge for example. I want to be able to picture the characters how the author sees them.

[Christina J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good installment

I think I enjoyed this fourth book the most out of all of them. Jack Dawson made another appearance, which kept things exciting. He's a rotten thing! There were some sad times and frightening moments, but all turned out well. Here were a lot of typos and punctuation errors that I reported. That definitely takes away from a story because it's distracting; however, I can forgive that since it was a good, well thought-out plot line. There were parts that were predictable, but that's okay.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all four books in this series. I would finish one and go right into the next story. Unfortunately this was the last one. This author is excellent at putting you in the story with her character development skills. Following Cathy from birth to her becoming a Midwife and enjoy seeing she and her friends open their private maternity home was a real joy.
Excellent reading, definitely recommend.

[Jacqueline Tasik · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I purchase this book on my e-book I didn’t release it was the last in a trilogy. However the book stands alone and was lovely. This is also the first I have read of this author.
I love the characters who are trying to rebuild their lives after war and the brutality of the main character Cathy’s stepfather Jack.

[Laura Rookyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing series 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A must read for all historical fiction fans. With characters that are shown in a way that you feel every up down love, loss and hope. From book 1 and the start of the second world war to the swinging 60's in the last book, you will laugh and cry with them all.

[sabrina briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed

This was a great story and down to earth family story. Enjoyed how thru the series of books it came a complete story line with the possibility of more. Would recommend the series to friends.

[Margaret lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nurses

I started my book and come to quickly realise that I was on the 3rd book but never mind it was still very enjoyable and I wasn't aware too much of the earlier characters, so that in mind it was a great read and a good plot and characters a well deserved 5 stars

[Kate Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[mrs lynda hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline, loved it.

[Sandra Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend to friends. I have enjoyed reading Midwives of Lark Lane. These books couldn't have done to my notice at an better time because of the lockdown.

[Sherralynne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb story

I was hooked from page one after purchasing this book. A well written story that has many twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge. Thanks.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this. wasnt sure about Cathy and Gianni but it all ended up being ok. I liked that she was studying.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Very interesting, well-written story and well defigned characters. A good historical book surrounding the lives of the midwives and their families.

[J.J. JOHNSTONE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Would recommend this whole series to anyone. Loved every book and can’t wait to read my next Pam Howes book.