If you like Call the Midwife then I am sure you will love The Midwives of Lark Lane. It is part of the Lark Lane series by Pam Howes but can easily be read as a standalone.
Set in the 1960s, this book follows Cathy, if you have read the previous books you will have come across her already. The book starts with Cathy getting married to Gianni, and follows her struggles of married life living apart with a young child, the joy but also the sadness that is being a midwife, setting up a maternity home and the fact her mother’s ex-husband has escaped prison and is out for revenge.
Through the chapters, we go between Cathy’s point of view and then Jack Dawson’s point of view. Ohh he is a nasty piece of work! I really didn’t like him at all. I don’t want to give the whole story away so all I will say is this is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster of a book but I really liked it.
This is not something I would see at a book store and pick up usually, however, not I have read this I am definitely going to pick up the rest of the Lark Lane books.

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.

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.

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.

Set in Liverpool in the 1960s. Cathy thinks everything will be fine now that her level stepdad is in jail. But he 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, Gianni and their daughter Lucy. But she's not happy. Shes missing her family and her nursing career. They decide that Cathy and Lucy will return to Liverpool and stay with Granny Lomax whilst Gianni co ti uses to follow the fair.

This is the first book that I have read by 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 the story. The characters are 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.

Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier books in this family saga- this is fine as a standalone because Howes gives you enough info to know who's who, who's related to who, and who to boo hiss (that would be Jack!) This is the story of Cathy, as she moves forward in her life. She's had to deal with Jack, her awful stepfather- she sent him to jail- and now he's out and looking for her. On a happier note, she becomes a midwife and, along with her friends begins to look out for unwed moms. There's a good sense of community in these novels, this latest of which is set in the early 1960s. I'm curious where this series is going next. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

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.

This is the third instalment in the Lark Lane series and it is set on Liverpool during the sixties. An interesting book if you are a fan of the series. The book draws the reader and keeps him invested in the plot. The downside is that I found the book too descriptive for my liking (this happened and then that happened etc.) with minimal character development and little emphasis on the thoughts and feelings of the protagonists. Overall, a light read that will grab your attention.

Another fantastic read in the Lark Lane Series. It was great catching up with Cathy and all her family and friends again. Cathy thinks everything is going to be okay now that her horrible stepdad is behind bars, but unfortunately for her he manages to escape custody. He goes on the run with his Scottish cell mate and everyone assumes that they are off to Scotland, but he maybe closer to home then anyone thinks. There is a lot going on in this book some happy events and some sad, but it keeps you hooked from page one. I highly recommend this and all the books in this series.

Absolutely, incredibly brilliant!! I adore each and every one of Pam Howes books. And this one is no different!! This could actually be read as a stand alone but is much better read as part of the series. Lots of tense moments. I would highly recommend it and recommend everyone read all of Pam Howes books.

Beautifully written, gripping and emotional. Started out a little confusing, but picked up after that.

This book is the the next book in the Lark Lane series and continues to follow Cathy and her Friends.
At the end of World War Two, newlywed midwife Cathy hoped Liverpool life would offer some joy.
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.

I have followed all these books in this series. There are no surprises in the story but it’s a nice series to follow

How lovely to read the continuation of this lovely family. After reading all of the other books in this wonderful series, we now focus on Cathy, Alice's daughter.
After marrying her sweetheart Gianni along with their little girl Lucy they move into a new caravan with the fair. Whilst Gianni is enjoying riding the wall of death, Cathy is becoming restless and bored. She misses her family, friends and nursing career and longs to be back in Liverpool. Gianni notices her sadness and they come to a decision that Cathy and Lucy live with Granny Lomax, whilst Gianni continues to follow the fair.

Cathy restarts her nursing career and the book opens up. The awful Jack Dawson has escaped jail and is looking for revenge, he goes in disguise to get close to Cathy as he means to have her for himself, he is deluded that he will show her what a real man can do.

I just loved this story and Pam really brings the warmth out of the characters and to life.
Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this lovely book xx

Great book in a great series. you will find yourselves once more on Lark Lane visiting with the lovely and sometimes not so lovely characters. Great read!!

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookoutore and Pam Howes for the opportunity to read The Midwives of Lark Lane for a fair and honest review.

In the early years of the 1960's Cathy is marrying Gianni, her sweetheart and the father of her daughter.
Cathy and Gianni set up house in a caravan traveling with the carnival Gianni's family owns and runs. Cathy finds caravan life harder than she thought especially with a small child to consider. When Cathy discovers she is pregnant, she and Gianni decide she will return home to Liverpool to receive medical care. After a heartbreaking miscarriage, Gianni and Cathy decide she will stay in Liverpool with their daughter and finish her midwife training.
With the support of her Mother, her Grandmother and her fellow students, as well as Gianni, Cathy finishes her training and begins working as a midwife. Cathy and her fellow midwives see too many young women without support of anyone due to being unwed. Most families have the babies taken from these young, unmarried women and adopted out no matter what the mothers want. Cathy and her friends decide the want to open a pregnancy care center to help these young women. Her family deals with the death of a beloved family member, an ex husband who escapes prison and comes after the family, and the decisions every couple must make regarding family life.
Throughout all the challenges, you see these characters grow , meet challenges leading us through a beautiful story of love, friendship and perseverance. A wonderful book, which I found out later is part of a series so, I will have to look the rest of them up!

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.

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

I loved this book. I am a big Pam Howe’s fan. I am a big fan of this genre and this book didn’t disappoint. I love continuing stories and I have been invested in this one from the first book. I encourage you to pick up a book by Pam Howe’s ..... you’ll be so glad you did. I can’t wait for her next book.

The Midwives of Lark Lane by Pam Howes

We meet the main character Cathy as she is getting married to her baby’s father in a double ceremony with her mother and new stepfather. Her mother who had suffered through an abusive marriage previously now seems to have found happiness.

After a horrible miscarriage, Cathy leaves traveling with the fair with her new husband to become a midwife. There she and some of her friends plan to make a home for unwed mothers as well as an operating maternity clinic. Things seem to be finally looking up for Cathy, her family, and her friends til news that her former stepfather has escaped from prison.

This seems to be a continuation of a series of books. While it’s story is interesting and readable on it’s own . I am drawn to other books in this series to get the back story. The author does a great job in creating the world the story appears in and many times I looked up from my Kindle in surprise that I wasn’t physically on Lark Lane.

I also admire the emotion and depth in the characters of this story. I truly felt for all the characters in this book. Overall, I’d highly recommend this author and this book.

#TheMidwivesofLarkLane #NetGalley

A wish comes true

I enjoyed reading The Midwives of Lark Lane. It appears this may be part of a series and I have not had the fortune to read the books which preceded it; however the author did a good job of filling in gaps on some of the characters.

The story follow Cathy, a midwife, Gianni her husband, and Lucy their daughter. The challenges of a newly married couple as they are separated at first while Gianni performs on the carnival circuit riding a motorbike and Cathy, a nurse, completes her midwifery education.
This brings in the colorful characters of Eloise and Maria. Eloise is the jealous ex girlfriend, and Maria Gianni's fortune telling stepmother.

Cathy works with her friends who are midwives at the hospital. They all dream of opening their own maternity hospital for unwed mothers and those that wish private accommodations for the birth of their child. With the help of the characters of Jimmy and Johnny this comes about.

In the midst of everything Cathy's grandmother passes away and Gianni is there to help her through her loss. It's only after Cathy's abusive stepfather escapes from prison and tries to harm Cathy that Gianni gives up the racing circuit and gets a job to stay home with Cathy and Lucy.

This book is filled with a lot of love, its share of drama and a bit of sadness. I would recommend the book.

Thanks to Pam Howes, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review and advanced copy of the book.