Happy Valentine's Day! Bishop Valentine (now Saint Valentine) was martyred on this day because he married couples without Imperial Rome's consent. He is now considered the patron saint of love! Some events that have happened on February 14 in history are: YouTube was launched in 2005; James Knox Polk becomes the first serving President of the United States to have his picture taken in 1849; voting machines are approved by Congress for use in federal elections in 1899; in 1962 First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy takes viewers on a televised tour of the White House!
The Nightingale Girls by Donna Douglas is the first book in The Nightingale series. It is 1934 in London. A new group of nursing students are ready to start at the Nightingale Teaching Hospital (very prestigious). Matron Kathleen Fox is new to the position and she is what they call a “modern” nurse. Veronica Hanley is a little resentful. Hanley is the assistant matron and thought she would get the matron position when it became available. Dora Doyle is one of the new students. Dora is from the East End (a working class section of London) which is unusual for a student of the Nightingale (most of their students are from upper class families). Dora wishes to have a better life and to escape her step-father, Alf. Lady Amelia Charlotte Benedict or Millie is going to be redoing her initial twelve-week training period (just because she spilled a solution on a judge during the final test). Millie’s grandmother wants her to get married and provide an heir for the family estate. Millie wants to do something useful and her father supports her decision. Millie, though, also believes in living life to the fullest and loves to sneak out at night (which gets her in trouble). Helen Tremayne is also a student at the school. She is the daughter of Constance Tremayne who is on the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Tremayne expects her daughter to become a nurse (even though this is not what she wanted) and to behave in a certain way. Nursing is not an easy profession. It involves quite a bit of studying and a lot of hard, dirty work. Will these girls have what it takes to make it?
The Nightingale Girls by Donna Douglas is the first book in The Nightingale series. It is 1934 in London. A new group of nursing students are ready to start at the Nightingale Teaching Hospital (very prestigious). Matron Kathleen Fox is new to the position and she is what they call a “modern” nurse. Veronica Hanley is a little resentful. Hanley is the assistant matron and thought she would get the matron position when it became available. Dora Doyle is one of the new students. Dora is from the East End (a working class section of London) which is unusual for a student of the Nightingale (most of their students are from upper class families). Dora wishes to have a better life and to escape her step-father, Alf. Lady Amelia Charlotte Benedict or Millie is going to be redoing her initial twelve-week training period (just because she spilled a solution on a judge during the final test). Millie’s grandmother wants her to get married and provide an heir for the family estate. Millie wants to do something useful and her father supports her decision. Millie, though, also believes in living life to the fullest and loves to sneak out at night (which gets her in trouble). Helen Tremayne is also a student at the school. She is the daughter of Constance Tremayne who is on the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Tremayne expects her daughter to become a nurse (even though this is not what she wanted) and to behave in a certain way. Nursing is not an easy profession. It involves quite a bit of studying and a lot of hard, dirty work. Will these girls have what it takes to make it?
The Nightingale Girls takes us
back to a different time. My interest
was captured immediately and was held throughout the whole book. I did not want the book to end (and was glad
to find out that there are more books in the series). The Nightingale Girls has interesting characters
from different walks of life. I give The Nightingale Girls 5 out of 5 stars. It
is written in a nice, easy to read style.
I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series. This is a British novel so there is some
British words (slang) and phrases that you may not be used to, but they can
usually be understood within the context of the sentence (or paragraph). I did not feel it took away from the story in
any way (actually enhanced it). I look forward to reading the rest of the books in The Nightingale Series.
The other books in The Nightingale series are: The Nightingale Sisters, The Nightingale Nurses, Nightingales On Call, A Nightingale Christmas Wish, Nightingales At War, Nightingales Under the Mistletoe, and A Child is Born: A Nightingales Christmas Story. I received a complimentary copy
of The Nightingale Girls from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am currently enjoying Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard. I hope you have a special Valentine's Day. You do not have to have a boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, or significant other to enjoy this day. Do something special for a friend, niece, parent, pet, or cousin. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
I am currently enjoying Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard. I hope you have a special Valentine's Day. You do not have to have a boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, or significant other to enjoy this day. Do something special for a friend, niece, parent, pet, or cousin. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
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