Pam Howes

If you like Call the Midwife then I am sure you will love The Midwives of Lark Lane. It is part of the Lark Lane series by Pam Howes but can easily be read as a standalone.
Set in the 1960s, this book follows Cathy, if you have read the previous books you will have come across her already. The book starts with Cathy getting married to Gianni, and follows her struggles of married life living apart with a young child, the joy but also the sadness that is being a midwife, setting up a maternity home and the fact her mother’s ex-husband has escaped prison and is out for revenge.
Through the chapters, we go between Cathy’s point of view and then Jack Dawson’s point of view. Ohh he is a nasty piece of work! I really didn’t like him at all. I don’t want to give the whole story away so all I will say is this is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster of a book but I really liked it.
This is not something I would see at a book store and pick up usually, however, not I have read this I am definitely going to pick up the rest of the Lark Lane books.
… (lisätietoja)

A Royal Visit to Victory Street by Pam Howes is the fifth book in The Bryant Sisters series. I recommend reading this heartwarming series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters and their stories. I enjoyed returning to Victory Street. We get to catch up with the characters. We follow Bella, Edie, Fran, and their extended families as they go about their daily tasks and adjust to postwar Liverpool. It took time for things to return to normal in England after the war. Some items were still being rationed in the latter half of the 1950s. I like how the author included the latest music groups and/or performers. Elvis Presley was making a name for himself, and teens wanted to imitate his look. Victory Street is chosen to receive a royal visit from Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Phillip. The Wavetree WI goes into action to make sure everything is perfect for the visit. Well, everyone except their leader who prefers to delegate. I like Pam Howes writing style. It is casual and friendly which makes the story easy to read. The characters are realistic and relatable. They continue to grow as the series progresses. I like that the characters are not perfect. They have flaws just like real people. We get to see them overcome challenges that are put in their way. There is nothing they cannot do as long as they have each other. The ending had me smiling. I was sorry when my visit to Victory Street came to an end. A Royal Visit to Victory Street is a heartfelt tale with unforeseen news, party planning, cleaning crews, pots of tea, a singing sensation, regal royals, a startling surprise, and a new venture.… (lisätietoja)

The Daughters of Victory Street by Pam Howes is a charming post-World War II historical saga. It is the fourth novel in The Bryant Sisters series. I recommend reading this series in order. This will allow you to get to know the characters and their back stories. We return to Wavetree, Liverpool, England on Victory Street where it is February of 1952. It is a close community on Victory Street. The residents take care of each other. Bella and Edie have been focusing on their families. Fran has been absent from Liverpool following the scandal with her ex-husband, but she misses her friends. When another resident on Victory Street decides to move, their house is perfect for Fran and her child. With Fran’s return, The Bryant Sisters begin rehearsing. They have plenty of new songs thanks to Fran and Bobby. Dianna, Earl’s daughter, is a beautiful singer. Earl has her and Levi entering a singing competition. Singing, though, is not what Dianna wishes to do when she graduates. She wishes to become a nurse following in her Aunt Ruby’s footsteps. We follow Dianna as she passes her exams and enters the nursing program at the Royal Hospital. We get to see Dianna blossom into a lovely woman who makes big decisions regarding her future. It is great catching up with Bella, Edie, Fran as well as their families and friends. The Daughters of Victory Street is an emotional novel that lets readers see what life was like after World War II in England. Restrictions are still in place even in the 1950s. People are happy the war is over and are looking forward to moving on with their lives. I thought The Daughters of Victory Street was well-written with likeable, relatable, and realistic characters. It is enjoyable catching up with Fran, Bella, and Edie plus get them develop as time moves forward. Dianna experiences racism in her life at various times. I like how the author dealt with this issue. Bella and Bobby discover their daughter, Lizzie has a health issue. The couple takes the matter in stride, and I like how everyone rallies around to help them. We watch the families grow and adapt as the years pass by. The Daughters of Victory Street is a heartwarming saga with laughter, courage, grief, perseverance, disappointment, hope, and most of all- love.… (lisätietoja)

The Girls of Victory Street by Pam Howes is the beginning of The Bryant Sisters series. I enjoyed reading this engaging historical novel. I thought the characters were well-developed and the author captured the time-period. Historical events are mentioned along with rationing, Anderson shelters, items in short supply, movies, and popular books. The author definitely did her research for this book. The story focuses on Bella, but we also learn about her family and her two friends, Edith Potts, and Fran Jackson. Bella has a beautiful voice that happens to harmonize with that of the handsome Bobby Harrison. The three girls work at the Bryant and May match factory until they are recruited to perform. I enjoyed reading about the girls’ journey. The story also includes romance, grief, and heartbreak. The Girls of Victory Street is a story of love, hope, friendship, and family. I thought the author provided a realistic story as well as a relatable one. We get to see the struggles people faced before and during the war. I am eager to read the next book in The Bryant Sisters series. The Girls of Victory Street is a charming and touching story with snappy singers, a wronged romance, fine friends, silk stockings, and a wretched war.… (lisätietoja)