In the latest book in the Cottage Hospital series, Lizzie Lane brings readers back to rural Somerset in the 1930s where Doctor Frances Brakespeare operates the Orchard Cottage Hospital and is prepared to drag it kicking and screaming into twentieth century modern medicine. Establishing a mother and baby clinic is only the first step, as Frances’ new plan is to add family planning for the women of Norton Dene, except the community is less willing to accept this particular change for its scandalous and revolutionary association. As her personal life and her relationship with Reverend Gregory Sampson continue to blossom, new challenges, particularly a legal battle with a bitter relative in London, bring past secrets involving her deceased benefactress Izzy Brakespeare to light. With a cast of brilliant and complex characters, Lizzie Lane balances the multiple perspectives and character secrets of the novel to life in this latest instalment, and readers will love discovering these new secrets and moments in the Cottage Hospital canon. Readers will particularly enjoy the addition of new perspectives in this novel and the further expansion of the characters’ backstory, and Lane has done a brilliant job in her expansion of Norton Dene, Frances Brakespeare, and the rest of the world in the latest novel starring Frances Brakespeare and her friends, colleagues, and patients.

The next one in the saga. Another gripping read discovering more about the main characters. Would recommend this book.

A great follow up book and it didn’t disappoint. Dr Frances continues to explore her adoption and who her adoptive Mother was. Alongside this the hospital looks to develop its work amongst women and children much to the disapproval of some men. Thanks to Lizzie Lane and hr publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

This is the second book in the series, and we find Francis enjoying her role as the doctor at the cottage hospital, she is gently trying to bring in modern methods to the community but still has the stumbling block of the attitudes towards women working as doctors to contend with, but this does not stop her! She has beside her strong nurses who also have their own stories and these are also expanded in this book.
The time after the First World War was filled with changes for all classes and this is written well.
We learn more about Francis personal life as she learns more about her adoptive mother and the reason her birth mother had to put her in an orphanage. This was a good side line to the main story.

I enjoyed the book

Lots of lovely babies in this story, chock full of interesting characters and gorgeous doctors. A refreshing read in this lovely series. I shall look forward to the next one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A fantastic follow up to the first book, with some unexpected twists. We catch up with the new doctor and see how things have developed at the hospital along with some more personal events. A warm and heartfelt book that one does not wish to put down.

This is the second book in the series and a beautiful and emotional read. We again follow Dr Frances Brakespeare as she battles with sexism, identity and modern thinking in a time ruled by fear and religious piety.
Wanting to start a change in the small village that would see the choice for women in how their bodies are used and an awareness of how too many babies can impact finances and health, Frances doesn't have an easy time of it. Supported by those who always supported her while facing criticism from largely the uneducated or power hungry, Frances tries to keep the health of her community paramount in her endeavours.
Alongside this she faces a myriad of hate from her mentor, Izzy's sister and the whole backstory alluded to in the first installment is brought to the surface.
Frances and Gregory's characters stay true to the ones we know and love and progression is made with Devlin and the lovely nurse Lucy.
A lovely community of older characters and new, definitely a book to get lost in. If you liked Call the Midwife, you will love this!

Thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for an opportunity to read the ARC. All expressed opinions are my own.

Loved this book one of my favourite can’t wait to see what comes next.

This is the 2nd book in the series

Set in the mining town of Norton Dene, Somerset in 1931 Dr Frances Breakspeare is contemplating her latest project, that of adding Family Planning advice to the Mother and Baby clinic.
She believes that women need to have a choice in planning a family, as too many women have little if any choice in regard to family planning. As the new Registrar she had been met with mix feeling for the townspeople and this new concept of Family planning was bound to upset many of the men.
Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital tells a time old story of tradition, poverty and the hardship faced by many women with little control over their lives as Frances, strives to make a change in the town.
A woman arrives at the clinic, Mary Devonshire, but leaves before Francis can examine her. Mary Devonshire is on a mission to find a child she gave up as a very young girl in service in London.
Frances has been bought up in a very suffragette based household, having been adopted from the Workhouse by Isabel Breakspeare as a baby, growing up with the firm belief that women can do anything they set out to do, regardless of societies dictates.
As the story unfolds Frances finds that her ‘Aunt’ is determined to have the name Breakspeare removed from Frances for her own reasons. As the days pass and more information comes to light about the Breakspeare family, Frances has to face some terrible and brutal truths about the family she was associated with through adoption.
Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital is part of a series written by Lizzie Lane that carefully portrays the life and times of the 1930’s, when women had little say over their everyday lives. A slow burn to commence, the narrative gathers momentum as the layers of a time old story unfold with devastating effect.

Doctor Frances Brakespeare is at last settling into the small cottage hospital, a change from the bustling London one she worked in before. Getting over the loss of Izzy, the lady who adopted her is proving to be very hard, because Izzy’s sister keeps hounding her viciously, claiming everything that Frances owns.

The hospital needs modernization and Frances is determined to do this. Opening a family planning unit adjacent to the mother and baby clinic, may not however go down well in rural Somerset in 1936 and soon Frances faces the opposition she expected from irate husbands and the Church as well.
The difficulties of dragging the hospital into the twentieth century is quite hard and you can see how diplomatic one has to be to achieve any kind of rapport. The support of the local lady of the manor helps to a great extent.

Though there are several small stories in this book like the blind son of the manor being helped in his rehabilitation, and the romance between Frances and the local vicar, it is Frances’s story mainly. A very readable story as well.

Such a lovely story. I was happy to be reunited with Dr. Frances Brakesphere it was like meeting up with a friend.
This is the second installment of Orchard cottage. Hospital.
Set in Somerset it opens up the charm and friendly villagers that pop up. There are truths to be uncovered. Dr Brakesphere is trying to set up a supporting mother and baby clinic which to men is unheard of. She wants women to have the right to contraception and stop the amount of babies and large families they have to feed clothe and care for.
I really enjoyed the story. and the characters.

I love Lizzie Lane novels and this is no exception! Although it is part of a series, you won’t mess anything by jumping straight in with this one as explanations are given. Having said that, you will get a much better experience if you do read the previous ones.

Grab your copy today!

Second book in this historical saga and it didn’t disappoint. Doctor Frances is appointed to head the Orchard Cottage hospital. She undertakes the setting up of a mother and baby clinic, as well as a family planning clinic which is strongly opposed by some. Undeterred she presses on despite the complications of her private life. Very hard to put down. Looking forward to the next book.

Family Affairs At Orchard Cottage Hospital is the second book in the series written by Lizzie Lane. I found this to be an entertaining read, the author is able to make her readers connect with the characters in her story line. I would recommend having read the first book in the series as you get a more in depth feeling for some of the people in the series. There was plenty going on in the book, so it kept me turning the pages. I would recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily

Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane is a fascinating historical saga set in the 1930s.
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.

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.

Full review is part of the blog tour for the book, with Rachel's Random Resources.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is the second book in the Orchard Cottage Hospital series, set in Somerset during the 1930s. I enjoyed the first instalment, so I was looking forward to this.

The protagonist is Dr Frances Brakespeare, and I was keen to see what might happen next for her. I was also pleased to see the return of some of the other characters that I fondly remembered from the previous book, such as Gregory and Lucy.

The author writes in such a way that allows the reader to get to know the characters very well, and connect with them emotionally. Frances is a great protagonist who speaks her mind and stands up for what she believes in.

In some ways, I found this an emotional read, as I invested in the characters and cared about the choices they made. I still found it a very comfortable, easy read, as the story flowed easily, and I found the tone to be lighthearted and pleasant.

I think readers may enjoy this second instalment, even if they didn't read the first book previously, but if you like historical sagas, I would recommend this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Sweet historical with serious overtones

This is a very sweet historical novel, set in the 1930's English countryside. As it is the second in a series, one should probably start with book one; I didn't and I found some of the backstory slow to reveal itself, but still very much enjoyed the book. Although I say this book is sweet, it is also quite an eye-opener for those of our times, discussing issues of the introduction of birth control, family violence, mistreatment of women, servants and children, but all from a sensitive point of view. I highly recommend this book and will be going back for the first book of the series.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

In Family Affairs at the Orchard Cottage Hospital, Dr. Frances Brakespeare continues her mission to improve healthcare at Norton Dene's Orchard Cottage Hospital, focusing on women's and children's well-being. She launches a mother and baby clinic, determined to offer family planning advice to local families, despite knowing it will stir controversy, especially with the men in town. Adopted by former suffragette Izzy Brakespeare from a workhouse as a child, Frances now faces legal threats from Izzy's sister, Beatrice, who is outraged that Frances has inherited the Brakespeare name. Amid these challenges, Frances finds solace in her friendship with Reverend Gregory Sampson.

As secrets from her past begin to resurface, a mysterious stranger arrives in Norton Dene, heightening the tension. Frances navigates the challenges of her professional and personal life while advocating for women's rights and battling the prejudices of the 1930s. The novel revisits beloved characters from the first book, and the backdrop of family drama and social issues makes for a compelling read. Family Affairs at the Orchard Cottage Hospital is a heartfelt continuation of the series, blending medical and personal struggles with historical themes. Highly recommended!

Dr Frances is settling in too her new job role at Orchard Cottage Hospital. She is providing quality care for the community and is setting up a new mother's and baby's clinic as she knows how tough childbirth is on the women. So she is trying to provide the use of contraception but not everyone is on board with this! Dr Frances also has some turmoil in her private life as her adoptive mother's sister Beatrice is out for blood. I feel like Beatrice is a horrible woman! Frances also has a lot going on in her love life with Reverend Gregory. It's hard to believe how women and children were treated in those days with abuse and no voice. There is certainly a lot happening in this book and it kept me highly engaged! I welcomed the characters from the previous book and it was nice to read them again particularly the nurses.

Engaging and subtly progressive story involving Dr. Frances and her cast of supporting characters. This was a nice continuation of the story started in A New Doctor at Orchard Cottage Hospital and it had a few interesting twists that fit in nicely without seeming absurd for the point of shock value. I enjoyed the introduction of new characters like Billy Noakes and Mary Devonshire. Looking forward to the next installment!