I picked this up as part of the Richard & Judy book bundle earlier this year. Not something I would have chosen normally by itself but I found this one interesting and well worth the read.

Sending on to plum-crazy as a RABCK.

It's here! Many thanks for this & all the lovely little extras - much appreciated :o)

This is a beautifully written tale which manages to be both heart-warming & heart-breaking.

At times it's a moving, tender love story & at others, the tension building had me on the edge of my seat wondering what cruelty would be inflicted next. The characters are
believable enough with John & Ella's tale staying sweet without straying into twee & retaining an air of innocence. However, other passions are running high, namely those of Dr Fuller who is fighting feelings he can't/won't accept, & of course there's the obligatory baddie in the guise of the nasty Brandt - luckily the writer manages to avoid turning him into a stereotypical villain.

The claustrophobic atmosphere of the wards & women's work is well conveyed, especially as by contrast some of the men are allowed the relative freedom of outdoor work. An awful place indeed for those who shouldn't have ever been placed there. Let's not forget, how shocking it is to think that people were treated in this way just 100 years ago & the idea that...& I quote..."..excessive reading has been shown to be dangerous to the female mind", is frankly incredible to me. Can you imagine not being allowed to read? *AAARGGH*...no, me neither...........


Overall a really good read, though with, I have to say, a rather obvious ending, yet one which is so fitting that it really couldn't have ended any other way & so it's predictability is forgiven :o)

Added to Flutterbies9's Random Bookbox - hope the next reader enjoys it :o)

Tax from the random bookbox. Thanks :-)