Member Reviews
While I enjoy historical fiction a lot and this author, this offering was a bit more difficult for me to attach to. I don’t know exactly why. The writing was still great, it was just a connection thing with this reader.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.
A really good historical fiction novel. Loved the characters and the writing. Kept me reading to find out the fates of these characters during war.
Glynis Peters is one of my favorite historical fiction authors as her books never disappoint. The Orphan’s Letters was yet another wonderful read by this author. This was the second book in the Red Cross Orphans series and dare I say I loved it even more than the first?
In this book, we come alongside nurse Kitty as her life takes a nomadic turn and she is separated from all those she holds dear. We also get to meet up with Trixie and Jo, as well as some new characters along the course of the story. The characters really were a highlight for me here and I loved coming alongside them, just as was the case with the first book in the series.
This is a heartbreaking story of romance, mystery, and a strong historical element, yet it’s one that’s meaningful and heartwarming all at the same time. Kudos to the author for painting such a compelling story of war and the wartime experience on both the battlefront and home front. I was engaged in this one from beginning to end.
Highly recommend to my fellow historical fiction lovers!
Many thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy.
Interesting read, but it took me a few days to finish because I wasn't sucked into the plot like I had hoped I would be. It was a little slow, but it did get better in the end.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
Having read this author's books previously I looked forward to her newest one. Sadly, I was disappointed with this book. Not having read the previous book in this series may not have helped. I found the story a bit wandering in places and was hard for me to follow. Also a great deal of descriptive dialogue which I really don't enjoy reading!
Sadly, I can only give this book 2 stars, but this is my own personal view.
Second book in this series,a historical drama set during the war. We follow the loves and lives of Kitty and her friends.
Kitty, an orphaned young woman, works to gain her Red Cross qualification as she continues to work as a nurse during World War Two.
I picked up this ARC on NetGalley a while ago, and came to realize sometime after that that WW2 historical fiction is generally not for me. I enjoy learning about the time period and the experiences of ordinary people, but I find that the plots zigzag between melodramatic and dull too much for my liking. But my NetGalley shelf needs to be cleared, and so I took the plunge.
This is the second book in the Red Cross Orphans series. I read the first as this book was hard to get into otherwise, and gave it three stars. As such, I was really disappointed in this book. Part of the trouble might be that this doesn't seem to have been a planned sequel, and so the author might have been searching around for a plot.
Kitty works in Cornwall for the majority of this book, and continues to have a hectic schedule as a nurse in wartime Britain. The author is good at conveying the stress that she is under, and the painful uncertainty that she and her countrymen face on a day to day basis. The author also did a better job of adding nuance to the behavior of secondary characters, even if she remained very heavy-handed with their depiction.
However, I found the plot meandering, especially in the second half as Kitty begins dashing about the country in earnest. The pacing was odd, with months and months flashing by without much remark, and subplots being wrapped up in a few cursory paragraphs and then never mentioned again. What really ruined the book for me, though, was the way it ended. The romance with Michael has been a major component of the series, and so to end the book on such a final pessimistic note in that area was really frustrating. There's such a thing as being too true to life, I think!
Do not recommend.
A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.
I loved the plot and the characters. In this book I enjoyed learning more of the characters backgrounds.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved this book, it was very moving and you could feel the emotion on every page. There was a prequel too which I purchased and read before reading this ARC. Both are excellent and equally well researched and written!
Having enjoyed The Red Cross Orphans, I was looking forward to reading this. However, I found it very disappointing, and not one I would recommend. Continuity at times seemed off, and just found it hard going.
Sorry, not a book for me.
What a unique group of friends, formed by the bond of being orphans.
I enjoyed following Kitty around to different locations and also her correspondence with her friends Jo and Trixie.
Kitty’s desire and need to hear from Michael was palpable. Out of everything she was experiencing and seeing first hand, it was Michael most of all who kept her going and pushing to get through this horrible time in history.
While I didn’t read the first book in the series, I didn’t feel like I needed to. I didn’t have any questions that weren’t answered in this book.
Thank you to Harper Collins UK for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.
I loved this second book in the series as much as I did the first. The reader follows Kitty and her closest friends as they cope with daily life in wartime. This cleverly woven plot shows Kitty as she continues with her training and the hardships, heartache, and happiness that accompany her along the way. Glynis Peters' writing is beautiful and she clearly knows her subject well. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher HarperCollins One More Chapter for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
Oh goodness, what a book. Being an ARC, there were obvious issues with formatting and some details but the story of Kitty, Michael etc is never easy. Be prepared that this book does end on emotional cliffhanger!
Oh my, oh my. This book was even better than the first and I didn't think that was possible. There were so many emotions to be felt. Happiness, sadness, anger, hope, relief. I was made to feel like I had been friends with the characters for years. I felt like I was catching up on their lives. Characters from the first book and new characters we meet in this book.
"This book was provided to me by NetGalley and One More Chapter. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.”
Long awaited second in the series and worth the wait and a great return of some familiar characters. A brilliant balance of historical detail with romance and war effort. Loved it
Thanks as always to NetGalley and HarperCollins Uk One More Chapter for the early read.
The Orphan’s Letters is the 2nd book in a WWII trilogy that follows Red Cross Nurse Kitty Pattison through her different assignments as the war rages on.
Book number two is heavier than book one as the war begins to intensify. We continue to follow the friendships Kitty made in book one as well as the romance with her Canadian medic fiancé, Michael. Lots of new characters are also introduced as Kitty moves frequently from one assignment to the next. The author does a great job of developing these characters and Kitty makes a lot of friends along the way with her dependable, hard working, loyal and compassionate personality.
I think the Glynis Peters highlights how hard separation was for everyone serving during the war, always waiting for the next letter to arrive to give some small peace of mind for a even short while. Those letters could be infrequent and delivery unreliable and Kitty was always worried despite having to continue to serve and complete her own duties, helping the wounded soldiers.
Overall, I liked this book. It definitely has a more somber, serious tone and there are some really sad moments in the book. But the support system of friends kitty has around her is really what makes this book special. I’m looking forward to completing this series when the final book comes out.
Thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the advanced digital copy of this book. The Orphan’s Letters is out now (released 11-30-
The second in the series, with a welcome return of some familiar characters. A great balance of historical detail balanced alongside the toll on those working to help the war effort. A nice sprinkling of romance to lift the sombre mood.
Not realizing this was the 2nd installment, nonetheless I enjoyed this sensitive novel. Following Kitty, Jo and Belle in their WWII work as Red Cross nurses and the survival of their friendship through much tribulation.
Meeting new characters and finding Kitty in dangerous situations really does being home, yet again, what life was like during this time. I was constantly fearing the worst for Kitty and he beloved. Top-drawer romantic escapism!