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Our Last Goodbye
From the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Orphan Sisters comes a poignant and heart-wrenching WWII story of family, secrets, and a love to survive the impossible -- f or readers of Natasha Lester and Pam Jenoff!
England, 1943 : When twenty-five-year-old May Robinson's mother is tragically killed one foggy night, May is heartbroken and terrified. She isn't sure she has the strength to harbor the secret they have kept for so many years-the secret her mother devoted her life to hiding. The secret that would tear their broken family even further apart.
Instead, May vows to make her mother proud by training to be a nurse at Edgemoor General Hospital in South Shields. Surrounded by wailing air-raid sirens and the eternal drone of enemy planes, May tends wounded, ashen-faced soldiers. Working tirelessly alongside her is kindhearted Richard Bentley. May is immediately drawn to his sparkling brown eyes and the way he makes her laugh.
Among the death and despair, May and Richard become beacons of hope for each other-but May wonders why he isn't fighting in the war like the thousands of other brave young men. Yet May, longing to escape her past, has kept her own secret hidden from Richard. As the peril and uncertainty around them grows, she finds herself How well do they really know each other? And with the war coming closer to home, May cannot keep her shocking truth from coming to light . . .
England, 1943 : When twenty-five-year-old May Robinson's mother is tragically killed one foggy night, May is heartbroken and terrified. She isn't sure she has the strength to harbor the secret they have kept for so many years-the secret her mother devoted her life to hiding. The secret that would tear their broken family even further apart.
Instead, May vows to make her mother proud by training to be a nurse at Edgemoor General Hospital in South Shields. Surrounded by wailing air-raid sirens and the eternal drone of enemy planes, May tends wounded, ashen-faced soldiers. Working tirelessly alongside her is kindhearted Richard Bentley. May is immediately drawn to his sparkling brown eyes and the way he makes her laugh.
Among the death and despair, May and Richard become beacons of hope for each other-but May wonders why he isn't fighting in the war like the thousands of other brave young men. Yet May, longing to escape her past, has kept her own secret hidden from Richard. As the peril and uncertainty around them grows, she finds herself How well do they really know each other? And with the war coming closer to home, May cannot keep her shocking truth from coming to light . . .
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2019
3635 people are currently reading
2279 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Dickson
6 books205 followersShirley Dickson is the author of The Orphan Sisters, her debut novel.
She lives under the big skies of Northumberland with her husband, family and lucky black cat.
She wrote her first short story at the age of ten for a childrens' magazine competition. She didn't win but was hooked on writing for a lifetime.
For many years she wrote poetry and short stories and got many rejection slips.
Shirley decided to get serious about writing novels when she retired.
She signed with Bookouture in 2018 for a two-book deal. She has written two stirring World war two historical novels.
Shirley says she is a prime example of 'never give up on your dream.'
Follow Shirley on her Facebook 'Shirley Dickson Author' page.
She lives under the big skies of Northumberland with her husband, family and lucky black cat.
She wrote her first short story at the age of ten for a childrens' magazine competition. She didn't win but was hooked on writing for a lifetime.
For many years she wrote poetry and short stories and got many rejection slips.
Shirley decided to get serious about writing novels when she retired.
She signed with Bookouture in 2018 for a two-book deal. She has written two stirring World war two historical novels.
Shirley says she is a prime example of 'never give up on your dream.'
Follow Shirley on her Facebook 'Shirley Dickson Author' page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
May 18, 2019
Although not marked as such, Our Last Goodbye is the sequel to The Orphan Sisters by author Shirley Dickson, which I loved. I recognized the characters straight away, and so continues the tale of Etty, her sister Dorothy and Etty’s best friend May.
The devastation May felt when her mother was killed during the blackout when they were on their way home after a night out for her Mam’s birthday was shocking. She didn’t know how she’d cope – and her father wanted nothing to do with her or her young brother Derek who’d been billeted on a farm during the war. It seemed the only person May could turn to was her friend Etty. Determined to make her mother proud, and doing what she’d dreamed of for a while, May began training at the local hospital to become a nurse.
Exhausted, yet filled with pride at her achievements, May was thrilled to pass the exams and become a fully qualified nurse. The work was hard, the soldiers shattered and terribly damaged, but the calm and caring demeanor of the nurses meant everything. May’s feelings for hospital porter, Richard Bentley were growing. But they both knew they would be fired if they were discovered. With more heartache to come, what would be the outcome for the brave men and women in these terrible times?
Set during the war years in England, Our Last Goodbye is all I love in historical fiction. With down to earth and easy to like characters, Ms Dickson has written a second poignant, unputdownable novel which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The devastation May felt when her mother was killed during the blackout when they were on their way home after a night out for her Mam’s birthday was shocking. She didn’t know how she’d cope – and her father wanted nothing to do with her or her young brother Derek who’d been billeted on a farm during the war. It seemed the only person May could turn to was her friend Etty. Determined to make her mother proud, and doing what she’d dreamed of for a while, May began training at the local hospital to become a nurse.
Exhausted, yet filled with pride at her achievements, May was thrilled to pass the exams and become a fully qualified nurse. The work was hard, the soldiers shattered and terribly damaged, but the calm and caring demeanor of the nurses meant everything. May’s feelings for hospital porter, Richard Bentley were growing. But they both knew they would be fired if they were discovered. With more heartache to come, what would be the outcome for the brave men and women in these terrible times?
Set during the war years in England, Our Last Goodbye is all I love in historical fiction. With down to earth and easy to like characters, Ms Dickson has written a second poignant, unputdownable novel which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2019
Our Last Goodbye is another unputdownable and emotional World War II story by Shirley Dickson. I didn't realize, at first, when I picked up this story to read that it is actually a sequel to The Orphan Sisters, which I absolutely loved. This time around we learn more about May and her life during the war that begins shortly after the ending of The Orphan Sisters.
Shirley Dickson has such a way of easily drawing you into a story with her beautifully written text that is both honest and heartfelt. I really felt as if I was transported back in time and it reminds me of certain phrasing my grandmother would say and the old black and white movies my grandmother would make me watch on the weekends when I was young. Dickson really captures the time period and her writing feels so genuine and flows so effortlessly and beautifully.
I really loved May’s story and found her to be such a sweet and innocent character that always sees the good in people even if she was a bit naive at times. Reeling from her mother’s death, May makes a journey of discovery when she decides to join the war effort and become a nurse. Here is where the story really takes off and May slowly starts to come into her own and how she learns what she is really capable of achieving. In the process, May meets a man, Richard, who she can’t seem to stay away from or stop thinking of. Will may ever find her place in this world and a love unlike one she has ever known or felt?
Our Last Goodbye will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Once again Shirley Dickson has captured my heart in her stories. Dickson is truly a gifted author who will pull every emotion out of you while reading her books. This one is definitely another 5 star read for me and another top book of the year. Even though this is a continuation of sorts, it can definitely be read as a standalone, but I would seriously pick up Dickson’s first book, The Orphan Sisters, and immerse yourself in these powerful moving stories.
Shirley Dickson has such a way of easily drawing you into a story with her beautifully written text that is both honest and heartfelt. I really felt as if I was transported back in time and it reminds me of certain phrasing my grandmother would say and the old black and white movies my grandmother would make me watch on the weekends when I was young. Dickson really captures the time period and her writing feels so genuine and flows so effortlessly and beautifully.
I really loved May’s story and found her to be such a sweet and innocent character that always sees the good in people even if she was a bit naive at times. Reeling from her mother’s death, May makes a journey of discovery when she decides to join the war effort and become a nurse. Here is where the story really takes off and May slowly starts to come into her own and how she learns what she is really capable of achieving. In the process, May meets a man, Richard, who she can’t seem to stay away from or stop thinking of. Will may ever find her place in this world and a love unlike one she has ever known or felt?
Our Last Goodbye will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Once again Shirley Dickson has captured my heart in her stories. Dickson is truly a gifted author who will pull every emotion out of you while reading her books. This one is definitely another 5 star read for me and another top book of the year. Even though this is a continuation of sorts, it can definitely be read as a standalone, but I would seriously pick up Dickson’s first book, The Orphan Sisters, and immerse yourself in these powerful moving stories.
July 29, 2019
This was such a lovely book to read and I enjoyed reading it. It was sad at times but on the whole made me smile.
The descriptions of how life was during the Second World War made me realise that life must have been scary and harrowing all the queuing for food which was so rationed and not having coal to keep you warm in the winter together with the air raids must have been extremely hard.
I recommend this book if you want a lovely book to read on a summer afternoon.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Bookoutre for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in return for an honest review.
The descriptions of how life was during the Second World War made me realise that life must have been scary and harrowing all the queuing for food which was so rationed and not having coal to keep you warm in the winter together with the air raids must have been extremely hard.
I recommend this book if you want a lovely book to read on a summer afternoon.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Bookoutre for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in return for an honest review.
May 12, 2019
Right from the opening chapter I could sense just what an emotional journey the author was going to take me on. May, my heart went out to as she has a lot on her plate for someone so young.
The author weaves a tale of which had me spell bound. From picking the book up, I didn’t want to go anywhere as I was so wrapped up in the era that I had been transported to. You could feel the emotions from the characters and their hopes and worries about the war.
There are some lovely characters in the story. It always amazes me how people would open up their homes and help others out in times of need. May’s friendship with some of the characters was so endearing and a good reminder of what is really important in life.
Our Last Goodbye is a wonderful saga of love and friendship. It is a truly emotional read that had me shed tears of happiness and sadness. The authors writing skills brings the world war era very much to life in what it was like to live in those times. May’s story is one that will certainly pull on the heart strings and I loved every minute of it. An emotional and compelling read.
My thanks to BookOuture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The author weaves a tale of which had me spell bound. From picking the book up, I didn’t want to go anywhere as I was so wrapped up in the era that I had been transported to. You could feel the emotions from the characters and their hopes and worries about the war.
There are some lovely characters in the story. It always amazes me how people would open up their homes and help others out in times of need. May’s friendship with some of the characters was so endearing and a good reminder of what is really important in life.
Our Last Goodbye is a wonderful saga of love and friendship. It is a truly emotional read that had me shed tears of happiness and sadness. The authors writing skills brings the world war era very much to life in what it was like to live in those times. May’s story is one that will certainly pull on the heart strings and I loved every minute of it. An emotional and compelling read.
My thanks to BookOuture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
May 10, 2019
What a fantastic book i have loved this beautiful story of May,Etty,Maureen and all the others who feature in this beautiful story of fighting to survive without the help of parents.May has dreamed of becoming a nurse and has now decided to follow it.Along the way life goes on May is thrilled to be training to be a nurse and makes friends Maureen becomes close to May.While training May meets a porter Richard they chat but there is something that draws them together.I don't want spoil this fabulous book for the readers.I will say have tissues handy.5*
May 15, 2019
This book is just rehashing plot points of other WWII books. The characters fell flat and often behaved opposite of how their character was described. Plot points were introduced and then forgotten.
May 27, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Shirley Dickson for my digital copy of her new book Our Last Goodbye.
England 1943, on a foggy night May Robinson and her mum are walking home in the WW II blackout after a night out at the pictures when her mum is tragically killed in an accident.
May's father is a hopeless drunk and her young brother Derek has been evacuated to Hillcrest farm in Allendale and is being looked after by Maud and Alf Talbot.
May is very close to her mother, she finds it very hard to deal with her mothers death and May also has a secret from her past that she struggles to deal with and she is always worried that her secret will be exposed. May has her best friend Etty who's the only person she can rely on for emotional support to help her cope with her grief but Etty has two young children and is very busy looking after them.
May works in a factory, she has always dreamed of being a nurse but due to her circumstances she never thought that she would ever have a chance of ever being one and after her mum passes away she decides to take a chance. May applies to be a nurse at Edgemoor general hospital and much to her surprise she passes the entry exam and she starts her nurses training.
May now lives in the nurses quarters, she is soon very busy helping to care for wounded soldiers, elderly people and working on the maternity ward. May has the qualities to make a wonderful nurse, she is kind, caring, compassionate and she enjoys studying and learning new skills.
While training at the hospital May meets Richard Bentley, he is working as an orderly at the hospital and has just been released from jail. He was jailed for 6 months due to being a conscientious objector he has his own beliefs and he refused to serve in the army.
Of course he is not very popular with patients and staff due to the choice he made and his path in life is not an easy one, Richard and May become friends but for them to have any relationship is going to be difficult due to Richard being outsider.
Life in England at the time is not easy, people live with the constant threat of the Germans invading, food shortages, homelessness, air raid sirens and people are worn down by the constant bombing every night.
Can May and Richard ever have any chance of being more than friends? May is keeping her past a secret, not telling Richard the truth about her brother Derek and her father has decided to marry his new lady friend Gertie. When the war is finally over May and Derek can't return to the family home, Gertie makes that very clear and what will they do? May misses her mother, struggles to cope with her death, she worries about Derek he's only 8 and how can her father walk away from his family?
Our Last Goodbye was an interesting book to read especially about Richard being a conscientious objector, I gave the book three stars, I shared my review on Goodreads, NetGalley, Twitter, Kobo, Australian Amazon and my blog.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
England 1943, on a foggy night May Robinson and her mum are walking home in the WW II blackout after a night out at the pictures when her mum is tragically killed in an accident.
May's father is a hopeless drunk and her young brother Derek has been evacuated to Hillcrest farm in Allendale and is being looked after by Maud and Alf Talbot.
May is very close to her mother, she finds it very hard to deal with her mothers death and May also has a secret from her past that she struggles to deal with and she is always worried that her secret will be exposed. May has her best friend Etty who's the only person she can rely on for emotional support to help her cope with her grief but Etty has two young children and is very busy looking after them.
May works in a factory, she has always dreamed of being a nurse but due to her circumstances she never thought that she would ever have a chance of ever being one and after her mum passes away she decides to take a chance. May applies to be a nurse at Edgemoor general hospital and much to her surprise she passes the entry exam and she starts her nurses training.
May now lives in the nurses quarters, she is soon very busy helping to care for wounded soldiers, elderly people and working on the maternity ward. May has the qualities to make a wonderful nurse, she is kind, caring, compassionate and she enjoys studying and learning new skills.
While training at the hospital May meets Richard Bentley, he is working as an orderly at the hospital and has just been released from jail. He was jailed for 6 months due to being a conscientious objector he has his own beliefs and he refused to serve in the army.
Of course he is not very popular with patients and staff due to the choice he made and his path in life is not an easy one, Richard and May become friends but for them to have any relationship is going to be difficult due to Richard being outsider.
Life in England at the time is not easy, people live with the constant threat of the Germans invading, food shortages, homelessness, air raid sirens and people are worn down by the constant bombing every night.
Can May and Richard ever have any chance of being more than friends? May is keeping her past a secret, not telling Richard the truth about her brother Derek and her father has decided to marry his new lady friend Gertie. When the war is finally over May and Derek can't return to the family home, Gertie makes that very clear and what will they do? May misses her mother, struggles to cope with her death, she worries about Derek he's only 8 and how can her father walk away from his family?
Our Last Goodbye was an interesting book to read especially about Richard being a conscientious objector, I gave the book three stars, I shared my review on Goodreads, NetGalley, Twitter, Kobo, Australian Amazon and my blog.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
June 1, 2019
Beautiful
May Robinson and her mam have just had a night out,then tragedy strikes as her mam is struck by the corporation trolley bus, and instantly killed. Its 1943 in south shields, living at home with her drinking dad who's never there, her brother's away fighting or evacuated. May works long hours at the factory making instruments for aeroplanes. The only person she has to rely on is her best friend Etty Milne. Sick of working at the factory she applies for training as a probation nurse at Cagemoor Hospital. Such a delightful beautiful book, and to read more about Etty as an added bonus from the orphan sister's . I loved every page, this is only the second book from this author. The trauma of the war going on, May suffers a lot in love and eventually some happiness. She is a inspiration to us all.
May Robinson and her mam have just had a night out,then tragedy strikes as her mam is struck by the corporation trolley bus, and instantly killed. Its 1943 in south shields, living at home with her drinking dad who's never there, her brother's away fighting or evacuated. May works long hours at the factory making instruments for aeroplanes. The only person she has to rely on is her best friend Etty Milne. Sick of working at the factory she applies for training as a probation nurse at Cagemoor Hospital. Such a delightful beautiful book, and to read more about Etty as an added bonus from the orphan sister's . I loved every page, this is only the second book from this author. The trauma of the war going on, May suffers a lot in love and eventually some happiness. She is a inspiration to us all.
May 18, 2019
I read Shirley Dickson's debut novel "The Orphan Sisters" earlier this year and I absolutely loved it! So I was thrilled when I began OUR LAST GOODBYE to discover it picked up with familiar characters such as May, Etty, Derek and the Newmans as well as the introduction of some new faces. But this time, rather than Etty's story, we follow May and her journey.
From the first pages, OUR LAST GOODBYE is an emotional, heart-wrenching story of love and loss amidst the horror of war during WW2, set in the northeast of England in 1943 and 1944.
At 24, May Robinson didn't have much to show for her life except her son Derek, being brought up as her younger brother by her Mam. She worked in a factory making munitions and went home to frosty reception from her father who had practically disowned her after "shaming the family" with her indiscretions. The only light she had was her loving Mam and Derek, who was now billeted to a farm in the country, out of harm's way from the attack of air raids, and her friendship with Etty. Without them, May doesn't know what she would do.
One foggy night, May and her Mam are walking home in the blackout after a night out at the pictures. Unable to find her torch in her bag, her Mam sees a trolley bus approaching and in an attempt to hail it in the fog, falls into its path...and is tragically killed. May is devastated. Worse still, she must break the news to Derek who adored their Mam.
One night after work, May opens the door to the place she has called home since she was a bairn, where she had given birth to Derek, to find a strange woman ordering her to find somewhere else to live as they have tenants moving in. THEY, being her father and his new woman. Suddenly, May finds herself homeless. Where now can she go? Etty.
Etty and May go way back when Etty and her sister Dorothy came to Shields from the orphanage in which they grew up. Dorothy had befriended May and soon after Etty joined her sister and became friends with May also, despite a little jealousy between the two as Etty was not used to sharing her sister with anyone. But when Dorothy was tragically killed in an air raid just 6 months ago, Etty and May were there for each other throughout their grief. Now Etty was there for May in her's.
Finding it had to difficult to deal with her mother's death, May made a decision. To train as a nurse with the thought that if only she'd known what to do when Mam had her accident she might have saved her. So at Etty's suggestion, May applied to become a probationary nurse at Edgemoor General Hospital and much to her surprise she passes the entry exam and begins her training.
Now living in the nurse's quarters, the arrangement suits May after being kicked out of her only home and falling out with Etty after discovering the truth about her daughter's parentage. She swore she would never forgive Etty and buried herself in her training and becoming a nurse without another thought. But soon she found herself missing Etty. Still after her transgression she couldn't forgive her...not yet.
Whilst in training, May meets Maureen another probationary nurse. She reminds May of Etty with her gentle ways and her wise words. She found in Maureen a confidant that she missed in Etty. When May met young Alec on the road one evening he began to pursue May and was persistent in his intentions, despite May's misgivings about getting involved with anyone. She was still mourning Billy to whom she was engaged (a term Billy used "loosely") and had become another casualty of the war. But Alec was persistent. May, being the gentle soul that she is and not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, always gave in and went out with him.
At Christmas Alec took her to his nan's, who appeared on edge and always fussing and making sure everything was perfect. When Alec spoke abruptly to his nan, May thought it strange that the woman was so compliant and apologetic toward him. Then Alec saw her talking to a young naval officer at a dance and he becoming angered he accused her of flirting with him. He later apologised and said it was because he cared for her so much that he got so jealous. May confided in Maureen who said that caring for someone means you love and respect them and you don't hurt them. She urged her to be careful.
Then Alec began surprising her on her days off by turning up at the nurse's quarters. May was uncomfortable with this and began to feel a little suffocated. When Alec displayed his jealousy in the form of violence when he saw her talking to the son of a patient at the hospital, he grabbed her and began accusing her of having all these men on the go and stringing him along. She knew then she must escape him, and ran for the approaching trolley bus yelling "I don't ever want to see you again!" Then just as May thought she was safe, he followed her back to her quarters and told her she was his now and he decided how things were to be. But as he drew his arm back to throw May a punch to the face, he was grabbed from behind and told in no uncertain terms not to return. May was ever grateful, and turned to her rescuer - Richard Bentley, a porter at the hospital and a known "conchie", a conscientious objector.
It was common knowledge around the hospital that Richard was a "conchie" and that put him in a bad light as far as most people were concerned. May, on the one hand, couldn't understand how he could just stand by while others put their lives on the line for their country, while on the other, admired him for standing up for his beliefs and convictions. Unfortunately, it didn't always come out of her mouth that way and she usually ended up insulting him. Richard, however, was used to such talk. But May found herself drawn to Richard, often thinking about him but telling herself there would be no future for them. Maureen advised her to be careful because feelings about "conchies" was rife.
Then Maureen decided to follow her heart and do what she set out to do before training as a nurse. After speaking to the chaplain at the hospital she entered the convent to become a nun. But she was put her nurse's training to good use and move to London to work in convent hospital there. May felt Maureen's absence bitterly when she left, particularly as she still missed Etty. Although May knew she had forgiven Etty she wasn't ready to speak to her yet.
May and Richard become friends but to have a relationship would be difficult due to Richard being a "conchie". Can they ever have a chance at a life together? As May holds the secret of her past close, would Richard still love her when he knows the truth? But then the unexpected happens and May's life is thrown into turmoil. How could she deal with everything? Find a home for her and Derek and give up her nursing career? Can May and Etty's survive? Will Richard and May ever have the chance at a future together?
Life in England is not easy in the midst of war with the constant threat of invasion, food shortages and rationing, air raids and bombing almost nightly. It would a terrifying time in which to live.
A heart-wrenching novel OUR LAST GOODBYE will have you reaching for the tissues throughout. With a twist to the story near its end, your heart will just ache for May and all she has endured in her short life. A wonderful saga about love and friendship, May's story will just tug at your heartstrings. From the time I picked up the book, I didn't want to leave as I was so wrapped up and invested in the the people and the era I had been transported to.
My only complaint was how it ended. I would have liked to have seen it go a little further than it did and see May get a little more of her happy ending. Having said that, I hope a third installment will pick up from here so we can see May and Etty in the next stages of their lives.
I would like to thank #ShirleyDickson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OurLastGoodbye,/b> in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
From the first pages, OUR LAST GOODBYE is an emotional, heart-wrenching story of love and loss amidst the horror of war during WW2, set in the northeast of England in 1943 and 1944.
At 24, May Robinson didn't have much to show for her life except her son Derek, being brought up as her younger brother by her Mam. She worked in a factory making munitions and went home to frosty reception from her father who had practically disowned her after "shaming the family" with her indiscretions. The only light she had was her loving Mam and Derek, who was now billeted to a farm in the country, out of harm's way from the attack of air raids, and her friendship with Etty. Without them, May doesn't know what she would do.
One foggy night, May and her Mam are walking home in the blackout after a night out at the pictures. Unable to find her torch in her bag, her Mam sees a trolley bus approaching and in an attempt to hail it in the fog, falls into its path...and is tragically killed. May is devastated. Worse still, she must break the news to Derek who adored their Mam.
One night after work, May opens the door to the place she has called home since she was a bairn, where she had given birth to Derek, to find a strange woman ordering her to find somewhere else to live as they have tenants moving in. THEY, being her father and his new woman. Suddenly, May finds herself homeless. Where now can she go? Etty.
Etty and May go way back when Etty and her sister Dorothy came to Shields from the orphanage in which they grew up. Dorothy had befriended May and soon after Etty joined her sister and became friends with May also, despite a little jealousy between the two as Etty was not used to sharing her sister with anyone. But when Dorothy was tragically killed in an air raid just 6 months ago, Etty and May were there for each other throughout their grief. Now Etty was there for May in her's.
Finding it had to difficult to deal with her mother's death, May made a decision. To train as a nurse with the thought that if only she'd known what to do when Mam had her accident she might have saved her. So at Etty's suggestion, May applied to become a probationary nurse at Edgemoor General Hospital and much to her surprise she passes the entry exam and begins her training.
Now living in the nurse's quarters, the arrangement suits May after being kicked out of her only home and falling out with Etty after discovering the truth about her daughter's parentage. She swore she would never forgive Etty and buried herself in her training and becoming a nurse without another thought. But soon she found herself missing Etty. Still after her transgression she couldn't forgive her...not yet.
Whilst in training, May meets Maureen another probationary nurse. She reminds May of Etty with her gentle ways and her wise words. She found in Maureen a confidant that she missed in Etty. When May met young Alec on the road one evening he began to pursue May and was persistent in his intentions, despite May's misgivings about getting involved with anyone. She was still mourning Billy to whom she was engaged (a term Billy used "loosely") and had become another casualty of the war. But Alec was persistent. May, being the gentle soul that she is and not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, always gave in and went out with him.
At Christmas Alec took her to his nan's, who appeared on edge and always fussing and making sure everything was perfect. When Alec spoke abruptly to his nan, May thought it strange that the woman was so compliant and apologetic toward him. Then Alec saw her talking to a young naval officer at a dance and he becoming angered he accused her of flirting with him. He later apologised and said it was because he cared for her so much that he got so jealous. May confided in Maureen who said that caring for someone means you love and respect them and you don't hurt them. She urged her to be careful.
Then Alec began surprising her on her days off by turning up at the nurse's quarters. May was uncomfortable with this and began to feel a little suffocated. When Alec displayed his jealousy in the form of violence when he saw her talking to the son of a patient at the hospital, he grabbed her and began accusing her of having all these men on the go and stringing him along. She knew then she must escape him, and ran for the approaching trolley bus yelling "I don't ever want to see you again!" Then just as May thought she was safe, he followed her back to her quarters and told her she was his now and he decided how things were to be. But as he drew his arm back to throw May a punch to the face, he was grabbed from behind and told in no uncertain terms not to return. May was ever grateful, and turned to her rescuer - Richard Bentley, a porter at the hospital and a known "conchie", a conscientious objector.
It was common knowledge around the hospital that Richard was a "conchie" and that put him in a bad light as far as most people were concerned. May, on the one hand, couldn't understand how he could just stand by while others put their lives on the line for their country, while on the other, admired him for standing up for his beliefs and convictions. Unfortunately, it didn't always come out of her mouth that way and she usually ended up insulting him. Richard, however, was used to such talk. But May found herself drawn to Richard, often thinking about him but telling herself there would be no future for them. Maureen advised her to be careful because feelings about "conchies" was rife.
Then Maureen decided to follow her heart and do what she set out to do before training as a nurse. After speaking to the chaplain at the hospital she entered the convent to become a nun. But she was put her nurse's training to good use and move to London to work in convent hospital there. May felt Maureen's absence bitterly when she left, particularly as she still missed Etty. Although May knew she had forgiven Etty she wasn't ready to speak to her yet.
May and Richard become friends but to have a relationship would be difficult due to Richard being a "conchie". Can they ever have a chance at a life together? As May holds the secret of her past close, would Richard still love her when he knows the truth? But then the unexpected happens and May's life is thrown into turmoil. How could she deal with everything? Find a home for her and Derek and give up her nursing career? Can May and Etty's survive? Will Richard and May ever have the chance at a future together?
Life in England is not easy in the midst of war with the constant threat of invasion, food shortages and rationing, air raids and bombing almost nightly. It would a terrifying time in which to live.
A heart-wrenching novel OUR LAST GOODBYE will have you reaching for the tissues throughout. With a twist to the story near its end, your heart will just ache for May and all she has endured in her short life. A wonderful saga about love and friendship, May's story will just tug at your heartstrings. From the time I picked up the book, I didn't want to leave as I was so wrapped up and invested in the the people and the era I had been transported to.
My only complaint was how it ended. I would have liked to have seen it go a little further than it did and see May get a little more of her happy ending. Having said that, I hope a third installment will pick up from here so we can see May and Etty in the next stages of their lives.
I would like to thank #ShirleyDickson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OurLastGoodbye,/b> in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 31, 2022
Rating up from 3.5 stars because the perspective of this book is quite unique.
After reading several WWII novels, this story still offers new perspectives. What was it like to be a conscientious objector at that time? We learn about the soul of a great bloke who refuses to fight for his fellow Brits as his country is attacked by Hitler's planes.
We learn what it was like, back in the day, to train to be a nurse. Even if one has the mettle for attending people who have bloody injuries, the commitment took much more than that. Student nurses had a higher calling and a strict moral code. Yet, they were human.
We celebrate decisions, and endure their consequences, as we slip into the skins of Dickson's characters. They seize the moment, knowing that tomorrow isn't promised. That's what makes this story stand apart from some of the other WWII stories.
Once again, I rated up from 3.5 stars. The back cover states that May has a shocking truth, but it is a believable reality. You won't be shocked or spellbound in this book, but you will thoroughly believe it.
After reading several WWII novels, this story still offers new perspectives. What was it like to be a conscientious objector at that time? We learn about the soul of a great bloke who refuses to fight for his fellow Brits as his country is attacked by Hitler's planes.
We learn what it was like, back in the day, to train to be a nurse. Even if one has the mettle for attending people who have bloody injuries, the commitment took much more than that. Student nurses had a higher calling and a strict moral code. Yet, they were human.
We celebrate decisions, and endure their consequences, as we slip into the skins of Dickson's characters. They seize the moment, knowing that tomorrow isn't promised. That's what makes this story stand apart from some of the other WWII stories.
Once again, I rated up from 3.5 stars. The back cover states that May has a shocking truth, but it is a believable reality. You won't be shocked or spellbound in this book, but you will thoroughly believe it.
May 29, 2019
Shirley's first book was the story of Etty and her sister who were abandoned in an orphanage (The Orphan Sisters) and this book tells the story of their friend May. From the outset, we know this will be an emotional journey as may's mother is killed in a tragic accident on the way home one night. From then on, May has to deal not only with losing her mother but also her home. The secret she's been keeping from everyone also threatens any future relationships, yet it is her best friend Etty who keeps her grounded and ironically has a secret of her own that will damage their friendship. As May starts her nursing training, she is attracted to Richard yet it would seem that he also has secrets. This book takes the reader on a roller-coaster of emotions, its attention to detail and setting pulling the reader in. If you love historical sagas set during WW2, this will be just up your street.
August 2, 2019
Ehhhh...I’m clearly in the minority but this book fell flat for me. May was two-dimensional and seemed rather dense. The book didn’t evoke emotion and the story was rather boring. Not for me!
September 21, 2022
Awful. I could not get into it from the very beginning. Seemed so wordy without saying anything for pages on end.
July 24, 2019
This book was even better than the author’s (Shirley Dickson) debut novel.
June 6, 2019
This is the second book written by this author, and the sequel to her first book, The Orphan Sisters. The story follows on from the first book, following, this time, the story of May Robinson. May featured in The Orphan Sisters as the main character, Etty’s best friend. The year is 1943 and, and war is still raging throughout Europe. 25 year old May’s mother has been killed in a tragic accident and vowing to make her mother proud, May enrols as a trainee nurse at the local hospital. While she’s there she meets Richard Bentley, a hospital porter. As they get to know each other better, the secrets they both have threaten to come out and jeopardise their chance of love.
This was an absolutely fabulous read! I do love a good wartime story, and this was a really good wartime story!! I remembered May’s character from the first book and quickly became engrossed in her story. The book begins with tragedy for May when her mother is killed in an accident in the blackout. With her father choosing his new ‘lady-friend’ over May and her brother Derek choosing to stay with The Talbots who took him in when he was evacuated, the only person left in May’s life is her best friend Etty. Again, I remembered Etty from the first book, and the secret which she held from then is revealed, leaving May no choice but to close the doors on her old life and begin training as a nurse. I just knew May would make the perfect nurse with her caring disposition and it was a sheer delight going through May’s training with her! With hugely obvious differences to nursing today, I had pictures in my mind of the old black and white films (namely Carry on Nurse!) where Matrons were a force to be reckoned with and uniforms always consisted of a beautiful black cape and seamed stockings!!
The writing was absolutely wonderful and had me hooked from the very first page. I loved the characters and really connected with them all. I felt like I needed to protect May as she seemed so vulnerable, but as the book moved on so did May’s confidence and it was great to watch this develop. Of course, it was wartime and there were sad times for a lot of the characters involved. There were still blackouts and air raids, rationing was still in place and a lot of the women’s loved ones were still fighting on the front line, some never returning. The book, as did the first one, showed the true spirit of the people at that time, comforting and supporting each other, with a strong sense of family and friendship.
The story took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, and had me in tears by the end of the book. I’d love there to be another book to follow up May and Etty’s stories (please say there’s going to be one!!). If you love your wartime sagas, then this is definitely the book for you! Highly recommended!
Thank you to the author and the Publishers for providing me with a review copy.
This was an absolutely fabulous read! I do love a good wartime story, and this was a really good wartime story!! I remembered May’s character from the first book and quickly became engrossed in her story. The book begins with tragedy for May when her mother is killed in an accident in the blackout. With her father choosing his new ‘lady-friend’ over May and her brother Derek choosing to stay with The Talbots who took him in when he was evacuated, the only person left in May’s life is her best friend Etty. Again, I remembered Etty from the first book, and the secret which she held from then is revealed, leaving May no choice but to close the doors on her old life and begin training as a nurse. I just knew May would make the perfect nurse with her caring disposition and it was a sheer delight going through May’s training with her! With hugely obvious differences to nursing today, I had pictures in my mind of the old black and white films (namely Carry on Nurse!) where Matrons were a force to be reckoned with and uniforms always consisted of a beautiful black cape and seamed stockings!!
The writing was absolutely wonderful and had me hooked from the very first page. I loved the characters and really connected with them all. I felt like I needed to protect May as she seemed so vulnerable, but as the book moved on so did May’s confidence and it was great to watch this develop. Of course, it was wartime and there were sad times for a lot of the characters involved. There were still blackouts and air raids, rationing was still in place and a lot of the women’s loved ones were still fighting on the front line, some never returning. The book, as did the first one, showed the true spirit of the people at that time, comforting and supporting each other, with a strong sense of family and friendship.
The story took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, and had me in tears by the end of the book. I’d love there to be another book to follow up May and Etty’s stories (please say there’s going to be one!!). If you love your wartime sagas, then this is definitely the book for you! Highly recommended!
Thank you to the author and the Publishers for providing me with a review copy.
May 30, 2019
It doesn’s say in the blurb but as soon as I started reading the book I knew that I recognised the characters from a previous book which I reviewed called The Orphan Sisters.
This novel works fine as a standalone, Shirley Dickson does a great job of bringing the reader up to speed. However, I do recommend that you read the first one because it is just too good to miss.
Devastated by the loss of her mother and abandoned by her father, May Robinson is then given some news by friend Etty, which totally rocks her to the core.
Refusing to give up she sets out to make her mother proud and enrolls to become a nurse. However, choosing a nursing career in 1940s Britain with World War Two in full swing is not an easy option. May witnesses some horrific injuries which break her heart, but under strict regulations, she is forbidden to show any emotion towards the injured soldiers.
I loved reading about the strict regimes the nurses had to adhere to. Starched uniforms and lights out at ten thirty, forbidden to be seen in public fraternising with the opposite sex and hardly any time off. It must have been a true vocation for these young girls to proceed in such a demanding career.
May’s love life isn’t any less complicated, she seems to attract the wrong sort of man. She always sees the best in people and refuses to be swayed by gossip and other people’s opinions. Perhaps May’s refusal to judge others came about because she herself hides a devastating secret, one that she promised her mother she would keep.
The book is so well researched you really get a feeling of war-torn Britain. The characters are diverse. some quite nasty, but May herself remains kind, compassionate and good-hearted. Her character grows with strength and confidence and I admired her resilience and refusal to be worn down. The story builds to an enthralling conclusion which had me reaching for the tissues and desperately wanting to know MORE!
If you love WWII sagas with a strong main female character, an entertaining plot and beautiful writing, this one is for you.
This novel works fine as a standalone, Shirley Dickson does a great job of bringing the reader up to speed. However, I do recommend that you read the first one because it is just too good to miss.
Devastated by the loss of her mother and abandoned by her father, May Robinson is then given some news by friend Etty, which totally rocks her to the core.
Refusing to give up she sets out to make her mother proud and enrolls to become a nurse. However, choosing a nursing career in 1940s Britain with World War Two in full swing is not an easy option. May witnesses some horrific injuries which break her heart, but under strict regulations, she is forbidden to show any emotion towards the injured soldiers.
I loved reading about the strict regimes the nurses had to adhere to. Starched uniforms and lights out at ten thirty, forbidden to be seen in public fraternising with the opposite sex and hardly any time off. It must have been a true vocation for these young girls to proceed in such a demanding career.
May’s love life isn’t any less complicated, she seems to attract the wrong sort of man. She always sees the best in people and refuses to be swayed by gossip and other people’s opinions. Perhaps May’s refusal to judge others came about because she herself hides a devastating secret, one that she promised her mother she would keep.
The book is so well researched you really get a feeling of war-torn Britain. The characters are diverse. some quite nasty, but May herself remains kind, compassionate and good-hearted. Her character grows with strength and confidence and I admired her resilience and refusal to be worn down. The story builds to an enthralling conclusion which had me reaching for the tissues and desperately wanting to know MORE!
If you love WWII sagas with a strong main female character, an entertaining plot and beautiful writing, this one is for you.
May 26, 2019
This book is an absolute treasure beyond words! From page one I couldn’t put it down! May’s story of true sadness and loss during World War Two brought me to tears! Her journey was a difficult one. she had to put all of herself into finding Hope even when there was none. She fought so hard to be the woman her mother would be proud of. And even in her darkest of times she found a way to have her most precious dream come true. The ending was pure joy for me as I felt when all Hope seemed lost, May finally found her light at the end of a never ending dark tunnel. I loved all the characters and the story was very well written. Anyone that loves a great historical read will fall in love with this book as immediately as I did! Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the Arc copy in exchange for my honest review!! I look forward to reading more from this author! Fantastic!
July 10, 2021
I honestly was excited reading this but this fell flat on so many areas. I simply did not care what direction the story was going:flat characters,weak storytelling and useless dialogue that just fills up the page. Honestly,this one was just an utter bore despite all the raving reviews or the fascinating cover.
I read too many books to waste my time on these duds!
May you rot in boredom hell
NEXT and I won’t see you later!
I read too many books to waste my time on these duds!
May you rot in boredom hell
NEXT and I won’t see you later!
May 23, 2019
I loved this book. It told about the life of May Robinson, who after the tragedy of her Mum’s death decides to train as a nurse. It is set during World War Two and it’s a rollercoaster of emotions. Shirley writes in such a way you are drawn into May’s life, and you go through the heart felt journey with her. I highly recommend this book
May 30, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy....
Oh how I love this beautiful cover! It was amazing storyline about May Robinson....I remember the characters from the ‘Orphan Sister’ book and never forget that too..
Can’t wait to read more book from this author soon...
Oh how I love this beautiful cover! It was amazing storyline about May Robinson....I remember the characters from the ‘Orphan Sister’ book and never forget that too..
Can’t wait to read more book from this author soon...
June 6, 2019
May
I really enjoyed this book loved how may has developed into a more confident young woman definitely worth 5 STARS .
I really enjoyed this book loved how may has developed into a more confident young woman definitely worth 5 STARS .
December 19, 2020
OUR LAST GOODBYE is a historical fiction read set around WWII. May is a young woman who loses her mother when she is abruptly killed in an accident after they went to the movies. May is really thrown by her death, but she is forging ahead when life throws her for some more loops, as her father is quick to remarry and leave behind Derek.
As May is trying to find her footing, she decides to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, and begins the process. After she is accepted into the training, her life is full steam ahead into training. It is there that she meets Richard, an orderly who had served in jail for being a conscientious objector. Although they become friends, anything more would be difficult as he is on the fringes.
I found this to be a slow historical fiction read, and I got a little lost in the dialogue, which uses a lot of slang and abbreviations. I also felt like May was not really growing as a character and somewhat floating through life. The writing felt a little disconnected from her, so I found it hard to connect. It was a style that did not work for me, but may work better for others.
Overall, I found this to have some interesting elements and secrets that are slowly revealed, but the writing and characters fell a little flat for me. Please note that I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
As May is trying to find her footing, she decides to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, and begins the process. After she is accepted into the training, her life is full steam ahead into training. It is there that she meets Richard, an orderly who had served in jail for being a conscientious objector. Although they become friends, anything more would be difficult as he is on the fringes.
I found this to be a slow historical fiction read, and I got a little lost in the dialogue, which uses a lot of slang and abbreviations. I also felt like May was not really growing as a character and somewhat floating through life. The writing felt a little disconnected from her, so I found it hard to connect. It was a style that did not work for me, but may work better for others.
Overall, I found this to have some interesting elements and secrets that are slowly revealed, but the writing and characters fell a little flat for me. Please note that I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2021
Our Last Goodbye
By: Shirley Dickerson
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A story of loss, hope and love. This was my first novel by this author and definitely not my last.
🏴
England 1943- In her twenties May Robinson sees her mom die in a tragic accident. May has held a secret with her mom and as the family is torn apart she finds it hard to keep the secret. Her dad remarried and her young brother is sent off to live with another family.
🏴
May is determined to get back her little brother and better her life. She trains as a nurse at a local hospital and tends to the incoming soldiers. She meets Richard Bentley who works at the hospital and she wonders why he is not in the war.
🏴
As they work side by side, living through air raids and enemy planes they become close. This novel was beautifully written and I cannot wait to read more of her books. #ourlastgoodbye, #shirleydickson, #foreverpub, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
By: Shirley Dickerson
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A story of loss, hope and love. This was my first novel by this author and definitely not my last.
🏴
England 1943- In her twenties May Robinson sees her mom die in a tragic accident. May has held a secret with her mom and as the family is torn apart she finds it hard to keep the secret. Her dad remarried and her young brother is sent off to live with another family.
🏴
May is determined to get back her little brother and better her life. She trains as a nurse at a local hospital and tends to the incoming soldiers. She meets Richard Bentley who works at the hospital and she wonders why he is not in the war.
🏴
As they work side by side, living through air raids and enemy planes they become close. This novel was beautifully written and I cannot wait to read more of her books. #ourlastgoodbye, #shirleydickson, #foreverpub, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
September 5, 2019
Very Nice Story
Very clever ending to this story. The author paints a picture of a woman who has seemingly everything that could go wrong in life go wrong and when, inadvertently things end up going right you are almost feeling relieved because you're used to reading how all May had in life was seemingly finding some way to cope,
Very clever ending to this story. The author paints a picture of a woman who has seemingly everything that could go wrong in life go wrong and when, inadvertently things end up going right you are almost feeling relieved because you're used to reading how all May had in life was seemingly finding some way to cope,
February 28, 2020
A well written World War II saga.
A heart breaking saga set in Northern England during World War II.
May, a factory worker, is faced with a sudden loss, and must decide where her future lies. She also is harbouring a secret, but it could hurt several people if it is revealed.
This well written saga tells of the hardships and uncertainties that people of that era had to endure.
A heart breaking saga set in Northern England during World War II.
May, a factory worker, is faced with a sudden loss, and must decide where her future lies. She also is harbouring a secret, but it could hurt several people if it is revealed.
This well written saga tells of the hardships and uncertainties that people of that era had to endure.
February 12, 2022
I didn’t realize this was a sequel but didn’t feel like I missed anything that didn’t make sense, so it could definitely be a standalone read.
I enjoyed the overall storyline, just hated that the main character was so hard on herself at first! There were lots of twists and turns that made me struggle putting the book down to adult at times. If you’re a fan of WWII fiction this is a great read!
I enjoyed the overall storyline, just hated that the main character was so hard on herself at first! There were lots of twists and turns that made me struggle putting the book down to adult at times. If you’re a fan of WWII fiction this is a great read!
March 23, 2022
Your typical historical fiction / WW2 / girl meets boy love story. A fun, easy read. Not bad for $3 at the Dollar Store 👌🏻
June 9, 2019
it started out slow, but overall a good book. I also enjoyed her first book
March 16, 2020
It ended too soon
By the time I had read ten pages, this book had grabbed me and pulled me into its pages. When I finally emerged over 300 pages later, I wasn't ready to leave South Shields. May, Etty, and Richard had become my friends and I wanted to stay with them to see how their lives mended after the war.
By the time I had read ten pages, this book had grabbed me and pulled me into its pages. When I finally emerged over 300 pages later, I wasn't ready to leave South Shields. May, Etty, and Richard had become my friends and I wanted to stay with them to see how their lives mended after the war.
February 16, 2024
3-3.5⭐️
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