Christmas with the Cornish Girls (The Cornish Girls #2) by Betty Walker
Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW2
Read: 27th March 2023
Published: 25th November 2021
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
1941. The bombs still fall, but in St. Ives Christmas is finally approaching for the Cornish Girls…
With the war ongoing, Lily is feeling anything but festive. That is, until Eva asks if she’ll join her in working at an officers’ convalescent home, lifting her spirits no end.
Eva came to St. Ives to be near the man who almost gave his life to protect hers. But will the wounded pilot ever help to heal himself by opening his heart to love?
Rose suspects the local orphanage is mistreating its charges – and it’s her job to uncover the truth before it’s too late…
Can the Cornish Girls help one another through the darkest days in order to give everyone in St. Ives the sparkling Christmas they so deserve?
The second in the uplifting wartime Cornish Girls series, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas.
MY THOUGHTS:
Another Christmas with whoever I'm reading about! This time I'm back with Cornish Girls and naturally I've enjoyed my time with them once again. Whilst the previous one focused on Violet and her two young nieces escaping the East End for the sleepy confines of Cornwall and thensome, this one follows her eldest niece Lily and their friend Eva who have transferred to St Ives where they are nursing convalescing soldiers at Symmonds Hall.
As soon as Eva had heard that Max Carmichael, the Flight Lieutenant who was injured pushing her to safety during the raid in London that saw her leave the capital for Cornwall was alive, she took herself off to St Ives to become a nurse so that she could be nearer to him. Unfortunately, Max didn't want her sympathies or her care. His injuries meant that he could no longer offer her all that she deserved and no amount of cajoling or caring from her ministrations would change his mind. Well we'll see about that, Eva thought. But first she must ensure she escaped Sister's notice or she will be in danger of being put on a disciplinary charge.
After receiving news that Eastern House must let go one of their domestic staff, Lily decides to take Eva up on her invitation to join her in St Ives as a nursing assistant. Despite having never nursed before, Lily finds she enjoys it and develops a soft spot for a young soldier with horrific burns. The young soldier, Danny, takes an obvious shine to her but she's still haunted by the dark event of her past. And then Eva volunteers her for organising the Christmas party for the home which is held every year to help keep spirits up. But she hasn't the first clue as to how to go about it! But at least it might help keep her mind off things. But it's not until one day during a raid that something happens to give Lily new direction, making her rethink her options.
And then there is Rose, known on the wards as Sister Gray. She is a formidable presence to all those under her but beneath her tough exterior is an insecure woman just trying to do her best amidst a war. It's no secret she carries a torch for Dr Lewis but he is spoken for...by none other than her younger sister who upped and left to work in a munitions factory but will no doubt be back to stake her claim on the dashing young doctor. Then one day Rose sees a sad little face from the window of the orphanage next door and over the ensuing days and weeks, comes to learn that all is not as it seems behind those closed doors. Children just skin and bone being made to march in a circle in the cold without so much as a coat or a scarf to warm them which was explained away as exercising. When she looks for the young boy she has befriended she is told he is isolating as he has measles. But the more things she sees and the less she does of young Jimmy, Rose becomes suspicious. But no one will take her concerns seriously. Until an air raid brings secrets crashing down.
This book was quite different to the first one and took a little getting into as I was expecting to remain in Porthcurno with Violet, Hazel and co. They still feature here but it's Lily, Eva and Rose that shine this time round. We share in all the joys and sorrows, lifes and loves all under the bombing of the Germans.
I thoroughly enjoyed this installment and wonder where the next one will take us. It will be interesting to find out. But I'll leave that for another day.
A perfect heartwarming read for fans of Pam Howes, Rosie Hendry and Fenella Miller.
I would like to thank #BettyWalker, #Netgalley and #AvonBooks for an ARC of #ChristmasWithTheCornishGirls in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Betty also writes under other names! She writes atmospheric contemporary thrillers as Jane Holland, light-hearted romances as Beth Good, and YA fantasy and Tudor historicals as Victoria Lamb.
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