Nurse Kitty's Secret War by Maggie Campbell

From Amazon

A galloping read that conjures up life in a late 1940s hospital, complete with fierce matrons and handsome doctors. Nurse Kitty is a feisty heroine who sticks her neck out to protect her patients, while trying to resolve her own family problems and heal her broken heart. It's engaging and atmospheric.' Gill Paul

A sweeping saga inspired by the brave nurses and doctors from the first NHS hospital, Park Hospital, now the Trafford General, which opened after the end of World War II.

It's May 1945 and at 3pm, Nurse Kitty Longthorne listens to Winston Churchill's broadcast on the radio. Germany has signed a declaration of complete surrender. The mood in Park Hospital - still full of wounded American soldiers - is jubilant and hopeful, though the Longthorne family is anything but.

Kitty's twin brother Ned is still missing in action, her mother is gravely ill and her father is struggling to stay on the right side of the law. The man she hopes to marry, the respected Dr James Williams, has become distant. He's busy campaigning for the future of Park Hospital, and working closely with Nurse Violet whose privileged background matches his own - too close for Kitty's liking.

Caring for the patients brings untold challenges for Kitty. With a family that continually throws obstacles in her way, and a career that's a mountain she may never be able to climb, will she have the strength to find her own happy ending?

My thoughts

Firstly, many thanks to the TBConFB Reviewer Group via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this a 4 stars or 8/10. This is the first in a series of books apparently. This would make a greta reading group read in my opinion.

This was an enjoyable read set around the end of WWII and the ensuing years, telling the story of Kitty Longthorne a young nurse. This is a fictional story set in Park Hospital, which is now known as Trafford General. Park Hospital became the first NHS Hospital and how fitting that I finished reading the story on 5th July, which is the 72nd Birthday of the formation of the NHS.

Kitty Longthorne's family have a chequered history and one that she's keen to try to break away from. None of us are responsible for the actions of members of our family, but as a family unit most of us stick together and will help others in our family, when they find themselves in times of need.

Kitty is no different than the rest of us in that respect. However, her family have problems of their own making and are keen to embroil Kitty in them. Can she manage to help her family to the best of her abilities whilst staying true to herself and bettering herself career wise?

I enjoyed the story and will look forward to seeing what happens to Kitty and her family next. Maggie Campbell has woven a story around a real Hospital and filled it with fictional characters. She has brought to life the period of history set around the beginning of the NHS. As we celebrate 72 years of the NHS on the day that I finished the story, it seems a fitting tribute to what Nurses and Medical Staff went through in those transitional times following the end of WWII and the beginning of the NHS as we know it.