A very enjoyable book to read. This is the first book l have read in the series but found it easy to read. It tells of life in a cottage hospital and the surrounding area. There is a good storyline. The characters are very interesting, from murderers to kind caring doctors . I am thankful that l was given the chance to read it and look forward to reading more .

Another entirely readable installment in the Frances Brakespeare saga. This one has a twist of mystery - with a murder! More dithering with Frances trying to map out a life, with Gregory? Without Gregory? How long will Vicar Greg wait and continue to be a solid presence? I enjoyed reconnecting with the characters and stepping back into their evolving lives. There's a bit of preaching, for lack of a better word, on women's health and choice issues but it is not extremely heavy-handed; noticeable but not to the point of detracting from the plot. The loss of her mother provided far too many opportunities for the author to point out that Frances hadn't known her mother very long - it was mentioned again and again. And again. We get it. The last few pages provided material for subsequent books, which I will read but hope to not be hammered over the head with lamentations on how Frances did not get to spend much time with her mother.

Although I hadn’t read the first two books in this series, this still works as a standalone book. Set in 1932, the themes revolve around backyard abortion, gender discrimination, impact of war, class, family and grief. I loved the main characters of Frances, Lucy, Gwen and Mrs. Skitting and Gregory, and the depiction of life at the time. If you like historical fiction, this will suit you well. There were also some despicable characters, some of whom met their just desserts. I hope there is more to come in this series, meanwhile, I will go back and savour the previous two books. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for introducing me to this author.

Another fantastic book in the Orchard Cottage Hospital series. A young woman is found on the steps of the hospital having had a miscarriage. Can Dr. Frances Braithwaite and her nurses discover what really happened. Lucy is looking forward to her wedding to Devlin and Frances has a big decision to make about her future at the hospital.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. Another amazing read from Lizzie Lane! The way she’s able to make you feel so much for her characters and pull you into the story is brilliant! I loved this one.

This is another one of the classic books that I had no idea that this was apart of the series. However I read it anyway and in the future I will most likely be reading the other books as well! I will say I was very impressed with this historical novel. It takes place in the 1930's and it goes above and beyond to prove that woman are just as capable of working in Healthcare wether it be midwife, nurse, or even Doctor.
The main plot is that one night a mysterious woman is dropped in front of the hospital bleeding. It is later discovered that she had a botched abortion and she passes away due to her injuries. They have no idea who she is and they are concerned because they know that someone is responsible for performing an illegal abortion. It will take a lot of effort to get this case solve.
Overall I was quite impressed with this novel. It was historical mystery which was pretty nice and it gave off the vibes of call the midwife.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

An interesting read.When a young woman is found dying outside Orchard cottage hospital Dr Brakespeare is desperate to find out what happened to her and who the man was who was seen running away, but she also has other worries looking after her ill mother and her relationship with the Reverend. Nurse Lucy Daniels is also struggling with a problem concerning her upcoming wedding to Devlin, It's acreally good series of books plenty of interesting characters and full of drama and secrets that make you want to keep reading I was sorry when I'd finished it as I wanted to learn more about what happened to all of them and think another book would be good

Bleak Times at Orchard Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane

In the dead of night, a young woman is abandoned on the steps of Orchard Cottage Hospital and a man is seen fleeing. Nobody knows their identities.

When the young woman dies, Doctor Frances Brakespeare is keen to solve the mystery of her identity and find those responsible for her fatal injuries.

With her mother’s failing health and a very patient admirer, the last thing Frances needs is a dream job offer from a top London hospital. Torn, Frances must decide what matters more to her; her career or remaining in a small town she’s become attached to surrounded by those who need and love her .

Another outing of the Orchard Cottage Hospital series , and as ever we are catching up with Dr . Francis Breakspear who is one of my favourite characters in a genre of this era . She is so relatable and I love every instalment of her work and personal life.
What I love about Lizzie Lane is she manages to bring her characters alive and you can almost imagine yourself within the story as a bystander as the story unfolds.
Excellent.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Another brilliant book in this series. I love following the characters

Can’t wait to read more by this author

I want to start this review by stating I went into this not realising there was 2 prior books so I will be going back and reading those too as I really enjoyed this one. I didn't find any issue reading this without prior knowledge of the story.
This was a really enjoyable story, it is so well written I actually finished it in 2 sittings. The characters profiles are fantastic, so many you'll love (and love to hate).
The story line flowed very well and kept you gripped from page 1. I really recommend this book. Its cosy and a delightful read.
5🌟
📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Lizzie Lane and Boldwood Books📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚