Ah, we're back in Lark Lane but this time it's Cathy's story. Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier installments in this family saga- the issues will be well apparent from the start. Things are not going well in the post War period for Alice, Cathy's mom, as she's still being abused by her husband Jack. She's determined to help Cathy fulfill her dream of being a nurse. Cathy's a hard worker and she finds a way - and she's got a love in Gianni. There are ups and downs but mostly this is a story of optimism and love. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. This is old fashioned story telling and a good read.

What a lovely book, i so much enjoyed Pam's other books leading up to this one, the last one being the shop girls of Lark Lane.

Here we meet Alice a mum of 3 children 2 little ones from her current husband Jack and Cathy from her 1st husband who was killed in a motorbike accident. Jack hates Cathy and likewise, he's violent, cruel keeps money from Alice and doesn't work. He is also showing an interest in Cathy.

Cathy dreams of going to college to train to become a nurse when she leaves school but Jack puts a stop to that and demands she start work straight away, she is devastated. With her friend, she starts working at the local department store where her mum works.

Gianni lives across the road from the family with his mum Sadie, his father owns and runs a fairground, Sadie didn't want that life for her and her son so has protected him from it by taking him on holiday when the fair comes to town, meaning Gianni has never met his father.

Sadie and Alice so much would like Cathy and Gianni to fall in love, will this happen?

I loved this book it was a real page turner, with some wonderfully warm likable characters, it also had it's fair share of drama. I couldn't wait to pick it up again to see how Alice and Cathy were coping with their hard lives and what would be thrown at them next.
5 worthy stars.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. x

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Readers of the Lark Lane series, set in 1940s and 1950s Liverpool, have had the touching experience of following Alice through the years. Alice is now the mother of teen-aged Cathy and two younger girls. She is married to Jack now and has recently returned home due to being injured. Jack, was trouble through and through. Either it was womanizing or alcohol. What is worse was his abuse towards Alice, and that fact presented danger to Cathy. All of this played a role in his not living in the household.

Cathy wants to become a nurse. Doing so will not make things easy for Alice, as Alice is suffering horribly. But Cathy has a chance, and it is a chance she feels she must take. Meanwhile, she is drawn to Gianni, the son of Alice's friend Sadie. They grew up together, and now she is sensing something different about him. To be such a young man, Gianni has a lot to offer Cathy and I hoped from the very beginning that he would be good for her.

I love Cathy's story. Her love for Gianni - and nursing - allowed her to rise above some extreme difficulties. Because Jack was never far away, however, I sometimes worried that Cathy might not be okay. This book was so good, so engrossing, that I read it in two sittings, in just a few hours. The drama was all-encompassing as the story went from incredible sadness to such wonderful hope. There were some disturbing moments in this book when it came to Jack. He was a despicable man and reading of his actions caused much pain.

There is a lot of story here. I found it to be well-paced, and quite fluid. I read the first in the series, The Factory Girls of Lark Lane, about a year ago and I adored it. I had to go back and read the second in the series, The Shop Girls of Lark Lane. The way Pam Howes draws readers into the lives of all of these women is nothing short of exceptional. As this is primarily Cathy's story, it could do quite well as a standalone, but I felt that I needed that sense of continuity that I have become so accustomed to in order to get the full effect. No worries; these were hours very well spent. I definitely look forward to reading more by this wonderful author, and certainly hope that there will be at least one more Lark Lane story to come. I am sure the expectation will be well worth it.

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

It was good to catch up with the characters from previous books
Once again the author manages to bring this era to life. I loved the old and new friendships that Cathy struck up. It was great to hear a bit more about Cathy and her training as a nurse

This is an engaging page turner. I loved reading about Cathy’s journey and didn’t want it to end.

This is the third book in the Lark Lane series. It can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend read the other books to understand the story fully. This latest instalment focuses on Cathy, the daughter of Alice who was the main character in the previous two books. Cathy is now growing up into a young woman and wants to follow her heart and train to be a nurse. Forced with the choice of helping her mother with her young siblings or begin her training, Cathy has help from her new love and old friend, Gianni to secure her place at the nurse cadet hospital. Will Cathy fulfil her dream to become a nurse?

I’ve read the previous two books in this series, and have really enjoyed following the story of Alice. Alice has certainly had her share of bad luck over the past few years, and with her husband Jack still treating her badly and seeing other women, it doesn’t look like that luck is going to change. Her eldest daughter from her first marriage, Cathy is working on a make-up counter at a Liverpool Department Store just to stop her family from going hungry. Cathy loves her family, but hates her step-father, Jack, and to be honest who can blame her after everything he has done. I was keeping all fingers and toes crossed that Cathy managed to get a placement to train as a nurse, but you just know that things never go as planned.

I loved Cathy’s character and whilst she was quite strong willed and knew what she wanted, she did sometimes let her heart rule her mind. I did initially think that Gianni was going to be a bit of a womaniser, but he turned out to be quite good boyfriend material!! Some of the characters from the previous books return and it’s great to catch up on their stories again. It’s also great to welcome new characters, particularly some of the nurses whom Cathy trains with and Gianni’s infamous Romano family!

This instalment is based well into the 1950’s in Liverpool. The war is well and truly over and the country is just starting to recover from this. Rationing is over, and people begin to have a little bit more money to enjoy some of the nicer things in life. It was fun to read about Cathy’s evenings out, the fashions of the time and of course, some of the music which was just starting to emerge. The story gripped me from the first page and before I knew it I was caught up in the tale of Cathy’s life! It was a heart-warming story and there were some tearful moments thrown in. The book moved at a great pace and throughout you are kept wondering whether Cathy will manage to get the happy ever after that she deserves!

This was a lovely read. It was emotional, touching and filled with love, loss, family and friendships! The story is left with some unresolved issues, so I’m really hoping there is a fourth book in the series to continue the story! Would definitely recommend.

The first surprise I had was when I realized it was not a mystery as I first thought. The second surprise was that the book was very sexually explicit which I don’t enjoy.
For a book set in the early 1950s there is a total lack of morals among the teenagers aged between 15-18 with no regard for the possibility of pregnancy which occurs to just about everyone.
I cannot recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked this book, not read any of her others but will definitely be looking out for them now. Thank you for giving me the chance to read it and review. Cathy was the main character of the book and you are taken through life’s ups and downs and constantly hoping she finds true happiness and doesn’t give up on her dream, Thankfully a happy ending I was on the edge of my seat at times though!

This is the 3rd book in the Lark Lane series, and continues the story of Alice and her hard life, but also tells the story of her daughter Cathy. Although I enjoyed the story I was a bit let down by the ending as it is more like the end of the chapter, rather than the end of the book. (I have a feeling the other books also end this way) Of course this leaves it open for another book, which I shall look forward to reading

The Nurses of Lark Lane by Pam Howes is a delightful historical fiction novel set post-war and follows several characters: Alice (mom to Other main character Cathy), friend to Millie and Sadie, and wife to alcoholic and somewhat loser Jack. Cathy is Alice’s eldest from her first marriage and is trying to realize her dream to become a nurse.

Adversities abound as Cathy has to overcome a lot at home to follow through with her dreams.
There are moments of happiness, however still moments of frustration and sadness at all of the trials that happen in an imperfect life. A compliment to the author in being able to create characters that one can cheer for and also that one can dislike so much as well.

A nice end to a light and fast read.

4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review.

If you enjoy the writing style that tells more than shows, this is the book (and series) for you. You're invited into the story as a watcher rather than a feeler, so you get to watch a woman being abused, her eldest daughter's break for freedom, and relationships that develop and fail around that.

Quite a lot happens in the book, so you won't feel any lags anywhere. I did feel as if I could never stop and let my senses roll with smells, colors, noises, etc., but overall it was a decent read.

This works well as a standalone book.

I am so pleased to have been given the opportunity to read this book. I love Pam Howe’s she manages to hook you into the story and characters with ease. Cathy was the focus of the book and you are taken through life’s ups and downs and constantly hoping she finds true happiness and doesn’t give up on her dream, The story was not predictable and for me quite emotional - came to a conclusion and I felt happy that all the ends were “tied up”. would highly recommend this book

This author is one of my favourite authors and I just love when she has a new book out . This one like all her previous ones was brilliant . An easy reading book but with an excellent storyline . We catch up with characters we met before in the series . From the first page right up until the final page I was glued to this book . Whilst it can be read as a stand-alone I would recommend reading the other books in the series to get familiar with the characters and the background for this book . A massive massive 5 star read for me .

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a real feel good read of how things were done before the world turned completely politically mad.

Absolutely love this series and this book is no exception, a great insight into the post-war years where money was still scarce for Alice as her no good husband has managed to wheedle his way back into the family. Cathy, Alice's oldest daughter has no intention of falling into the same trap as her mother and she is determined to train as a nurse but her stepfather has different ideas. He wants her to leave school at fifteen and start earning a wage to give him a bit more beer money. She hates him with a vengeance especially when he starts to give her unwanted attention. Will, she ever realise her dream?.

I believe this is the first book of Pam Howes that I have read but this had me hooked from the first page,. I don't want to give the story line away but I will say that this is full of wishful thinking, one horrible person in the family, finding love while following chosen career, loosing love but love conquers all.
Pam Howes has put her life and soul into this and I recommend that everyone reads this, you wont want it to end,.

Absolutely lovely read the type of saga that draws me right in to the characters their lives their hometown.Will be grabbing all the books by this author. #netgalley#bookoutture.

Great book will be reading other books by this author.
Will also recommend this book to others.
Great read! 5***** amazing read

I have loved reading this book as i feel as though i am alongside the characters,Alice has had a hard life but her daughter Cathy has a dream to be a nurse.and has been working hard at school.The shadow of Jack is still lingering but life goes on.i don't want to spoil the book for readers but will say i loved it and didn't want it to end 5* well done to Pam Howes.

Fantastic book. Great instalment to the sag looking forward to what happens next. Highly recommended

I am so glad I got into reading this series. What an emotional rollercoaster these characters have been on, and I've been there with each and every up or down.
Pam has created an amazing set of characters, characters that you can really relate to, characters that I really feel like I actually know, and at times I've wanted to reach into the pages and give out cuddles, advice or a slap or two.
If a book can make you feel so many emotions, then it shows what an amazing job the author has done into engaging you with the story.
It was fantastic being back in the world of the Lark Lane Crew.
We focus more this time around on Cathy and her life. Cathy has grown into an amazing young lady. Training to become a nurse has been a dream for Cathy, but circumstances at home mean getting a job is the only thing really that Cathy can do to help support her mother and younger sisters. Her Step father Jack is nothing but a horrible drunk and Cathy hates that she is working to support his drinking.
The author does an amazing job taking you back in time. I can not recommend this book or this series highly enough. I have loved each and every one. If you are going to read this one may I just say that a pack of tissues would be advisable.

Loved it. a first class read, taken back in time with fantastic characters.
Written beautifully.