"So much was good about Norton Dene and her new life, but there were still prejudices that must be overcome, the clinging to the past replaced by the new ideas that would take them into the future".
Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane is a fascinating historical saga set in the 1930s.
This is the second book in the series, which could be read as standalone.
Blurb:
Times are changing as secrets unfold...
Somerset, 1931.
Doctor Frances Brakespeare continues to settle into her new life in rural Somerset at Orchard Cottage Hospital, striving to improve the medical treatments on offer to the community.
After successfully establishing a mother and baby clinic, Frances is determined to move with the times and add family planning advice to her roster - but are the residents of Norton Dene ready for such progress or will she face opposition?
In her personal life, her relationship with the Reverend Gregory Sampson becomes her safe haven whilst battling with an embittered family relative in London. As always, Frances strives to honour the values inherited from her benefactress Izzy Brakespeare.
As further dark family secrets and sins unfold, it seems the Brakespeare family name will have more resonance to Frances than she ever imagined and when a stranger enters her life, Frances may finally have the answers she has always sought.
Doctor Frances Brakespeare is on a mission. After her mother and baby clinic has become a success, she wants to expand the services by adding a family planning advice to its schedule.
"She'd thrown herself into being resident doctor at the Orchard Cottage Hospital. Some people baulked at the prospect of a female doctor. Others thought her a breath of fresh air. She'd made changes, she'd modernised, and she intended carrying on doing so..."
Frances is adamant that family planning will greatly improve the lives of the local women, who are burdened with big families, and health problems coming from frequent pregnancies. And then there is the financial aspect, of course, with too many mouths to feed.
"Now she had plans to take it a bit further, which were both modern and bound to shock in such a traditional small town. Family planning advice was likely to be contentious..."
It proves to be a very controversial subject, with the local community being divided in their opinions, and the opposition raising its head.
On top of the clinic issues, Frances has to deal with her adoptive mother's sister Beatrice. Izzy adopted baby Frances from the workhouse, and brought her up, offering all the opportunities she herself was denied and encouraging her education and commitment to the medical profession. Beatrice feels great resentment towards her late sister Izzy for giving their family name to a "nobody".
Beatrice is a snobbish, unpleasant character, she is incensed that her family name is bestowed on someone she considers to be from the lowly class. "She was like a dog with a bone, she couldn't let go of it, couldn't stop it ruling her days and her nights".
She instructs the solicitor to threaten Frances with possible repercussions if she doesn't relinquish her name.
Reverend Gregory Sampson provides a safe haven to Frances, and a shoulder to lean on. He is also a sounding board for the ideas that might scandalise the local society.
"...hellfire and Brimstone were not Gregory's style. He exuded infectious joy in his job and everyday interaction with people and the world at large. In short, he had the capacity to make religion part of everyday life, not just for Sundays".
When a stranger appears in Norton Dene, they have a dark story to share with Dr Frances. What tragic secrets will come to light?
The second book in this historical/medical saga is a captivating sequel to the previous book, which introduced us to the main protagonists and set the scene.
There are new characters brought in the book, as well as a love story unfolding that would please the most discerning romance readers.
Norton Dene is not a fluffy rose-tinted community of friendly locals with modern ideas. The setting of the book feels authentic and realistic, with all the struggles women faced at the time, revealing tiny steps forward towards acceptance of professional women, and medical progress.
It was lovely to catch up with the lives of the nurses we met in the previous book, sisters Lucy Daniels and Nancy Skittings.
This heartfelt series will thrill the fans of the historical saga.
Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital is a tale of courage and hope, love and friendship, loss and second chances. Absorbed me completely. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
If you missed my review of the first book, you might want to read it - see A New Doctor at Orchard Cottage Hospital.
Many thanks to Lizzie Lane, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!
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Link - https://mybook.to/familyaffairsatsocial
Author
Bio –
Lizzie Lane
is the author of over 50 books, a number of which have been bestsellers. She was born and bred in Bristol where many
of her family worked in the cigarette and cigar factories, this inspired her
saga series for Boldwood The Tobacco Girls.
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