This book centers on Wendy, a hospital housekeeper navigating life after a difficult divorce. Now in a stable relationship, she struggles with body image issues and the fact that her daughters prefer spending time with her ex-husband’s younger, pregnant girlfriend, Chloe. Despite her insecurities, Wendy steps in to support Chloe during a tough moment at the hospital, showing her compassion. Meanwhile, Danni, a senior doctor, is balancing her demanding job while preparing for motherhood, with rising stress due to her lack of a support network. The story is filled with well-written drama, heartbreaking moments, and lovely instances of lightness and laughter, making it a perfect balance of emotion. The depth of the research adds realism to the medical and personal challenges the characters face. With its strong emotional connection, warmth, and humor, the book is a true page-turner, keeping readers engaged until its uplifting conclusion.

I really enjoyed this story and the characters, Jo has done magic with her words and creativeness. I don't usually go for hospital reads but she has me convinced they are definitely worth reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a change to read "Lessons in Love at the Cornish Country Hospital" in exchange for my honest review.

There are many characters whose lives are interconnected in this story. A lot of people who go out of their way to care for others, even when it isn't easy. There are many trigger points in this story, which were very sensitively written about - infidelity, second families, friendships, loyalties, and of course, the ever helpful canine characters who add warmth to the story as well.

Lessons in Love at the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A broken bond…

Wendy Tyler’s marriage ended when she discovered her ex-husband, Mike, had got his much younger new partner, Chloe, pregnant. Wendy’s over Mike, but suddenly she fears her own daughters will find a new baby much more exciting that their old mum…

A chance encounter…

But when Wendy bumps into Chloe at St Piran’s, it’s clear something is troubling the fragile young woman. Wendy doesn’t want to be sucked into Chloe and Mike’s relationship, but she can’t help worrying that Chloe needs someone to turn to.

A lesson in love.

And when Wendy realizes that Chloe is more fragile than any of them realised, she knows she has to step up. She might not love Mike anymore, but Chloe is about to join their family and Wendy can’t just stand by. Sometimes life is hard, but the easiest lessons are built on a solid foundation of love.

My Opinion

This was such a sweet read and I finished it in one sitting. Whilst this is part of a series I have read it as a standalone and I was able to follow along without any issues. Jo Bartlett has written such an emotional book that it may be worth having some tissues near when you read this.

Having enjoyed this one I now feel like I need to go back and get to know the rest of the characters.

Rating 4/5

One of the many things I love about this series is the way individuals I already feel I know fairly well – this time it’s Wendy, who works in housekeeping at the hospital – are allowed to take their turn in the spotlight, while others simply step back a little, their own stories continuing. I really must stress though that every book in this series would be entirely readable as a standalone – quite a difficult thing to achieve, but the author does it so perfectly.

Wendy really went through the mill with her cheating ex-husband Mike, but she’s finally found a happier relationship – a partner she can trust, even consider marrying. But she does have her worries – a few real issues with her body image, and concerns that her teenage daughters are wanting to spend more time with her ex’s pregnant (and considerably younger) girlfriend Chloe than they are with her. Despite her insecurities, always easy to empathise with, she has concerns for Chloe too, particularly knowing Mike’s shortcomings – and when she runs into her at the hospital, there alone and having a particularly difficult time, she doesn’t hesitate to step forward and offer her support.

Life goes on in St Piran’s emergency department, the usual round of people needing help at a low point in their lives, and where Danni is now emergency medicine consultant and the most senior doctor on shift. Treating every patient as an individual and giving them her usual exceptional level of service – along with her equally caring team – she’s now approaching the point when she needs to think of herself for a change, her blood pressure rising as she nears her time to become a mother. And she has particular concerns about the absence of her own support network at the time when she needs it the most.

As you’d expect, there’s much more to the story – the author’s emotional touch is, as always, quite perfect as we become entangled with the complications in the lives of Wendy, Chloe, and Danni herself. There’s a considerable amount of drama – so very well written, and that had me on the edge of my seat – and a fair measure of particularly heartbreaking moments. But although the tears were often not very far away, there are also those lovely moments of lightness and laughter – and the amazing warmth that always features strongly in her lovely writing. The depth of her research is very evident, bringing every scenario and challenging issue to life in a wholly realistic way – and the whole story was a particular page-turner, unputdownable until its especially uplifting ending.

This series is something really special, and this book was full of individuals I really cared about, navigating their way through life’s challenges, and touching me to the heart. And I’d certainly wholeheartedly recommend this book – see if you can stop at just one, if the series is new to you – which had absolutely everything I love about the author’s writing.

Lessons in Love at the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett.
I loved the cover of this book. This is the first book I've read in this series. I got into it straight away. I read this in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. The setting sounded stunning. I did like Wendy, Chloe, and Danni. This was definitely an emotional read. I did end up reaching for the tissues. I did love the ending. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author.

This series is so brilliant and I am flying through it, I no longer finish the book and I am desperate for the next as I am with this one. It's a addition that has added even more love from me for the characters. This one focuses on Wendy and her feelings and relationship with her ex husbands girlfriend who is pregnant with her baby. Wendy understandably has quite strong feelings against Chloe especially because of the close relationship Chloe has with Wendy's daughter's. Danni and Charlie are excitedly awaiting the arrival of their baby and we see all of the much loved characters at some stage in the book. I felt so much drama and emotion was plotted in the story which kept me excited and eager to keep reading too learn the outcome. I find medical and hospital settings interesting and I enjoy reading about the ones in the Cornish Country Hospital A&E (St Piran's).

A lovely return to a series that feels like returning to old friends. Never afraid to tackle difficult issues,I thoroughly enjoyed this.

As with all the books in this series, the author creates a relatable medical environment and believable characters in which you invest. Several characters we met in previous stories are featured, but it mainly focuses on Wendy, her family, and Danni. Both stories involve pregnancy and difficult childhoods. Wendy's character develops in a heartwarming and positive way when she confronts her past and puts the feelings and needs of others before hers. Danni's story is equally compelling, and the strength of female relationships and supportive partners is explored well in this story. I like the storytelling, the medical environment, the supportive relationships, and the community, which is authentic and absorbing to read about.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Another fabulous book from Jo continuing the Cornish Country Hospital series. The book had me hooked from the first couple of chapters, as sure sign I would enjoy it.

Wow what an emotional ride from Jo Bartlett. This series is just getting better and better with each title written.
I loved the two stories in this one - Chloe and Danni have such differing experiences but the love and support around them is so touching. The impact Wendy has on the story is so important and I loved her relationships with the young women.
Jo’s characters are always so well written and their experiences brought tears to my eyes on many occasions in this one.
Love, loss and friendship such important themes and Jo covers them so sensitively and with such love and compassion.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book in the series

have to admit that i had tears in my eyes a couple of times reading this book ... its so emotional...

this seems to be around wendy and her family... her first marriage ended in divorce when she found out her husband mike had been having affairs during their marriage.... she was happily divorced from him now and had started a relationship with the true love of her life....

but her ex was with another girl and had gotten her pregnant. she was called chloe and was very friendly with wendys daughter much to wendys disgust.... could she really be jealous of chloe... it was what it was....

also danni and charlies pregnancy was ongoing and their time was being spent getting ready for the birth... but danni was having doubts not about her relationship with charlie but with her ability to love her own son when he was born after all her own upbringing hadnt been the best....

oh man this was a roller coaster of emotions all throughout ... but the love and support that shines through the friendships and family is lovely to read about... i cant get enough of this series

I love this series and this addition to it was no exception. In this one we go through Dani’s pregnancy with her and watch a surprising friendship come about between Wendy and Chloe (Mike’s ex and current partners respectively) As usual there’s loads of love, laughter and found family and some difficult situations that are handled with such care and gentleness that it’s hard not to get swept up in and not want to stop reading until the end. In fact, when I got to the end I was upset that it was over and I can’t wait til the next book in the series! I hope we get to catch up with Aiden and Jase and their surrogate in the next one but no matter who it focuses on, I’ll be sure to be reading it.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

“There was not such thing as loving too many people, or being loved by too many people in return.”

This story was the feel good book I didn’t know I needed. It is part of a series, and if it’s possible to read it alone, I would recommend reading the others first. The story has a lot of characters (and their POV), and most of them have a back-story from the previous books. I read this one as a stand alone, and –if it was completely possible– it took me a bit of time to get accustomed to all of them.
In this story, destinies cross and meet, but everything turns around one main theme: motherhood (no matter its form). Feelings are particularly well written, and I found the familiarity with some TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy very comforting to me.
Without truly realizing it, we go through a lot of feelings but also questions that are told with a lot of tact. The plot twist, if it seems a bit strange at first, brings rhythm and a wave of empathy.
As I said, it was my first read from this author, but definitely not the last. I’ll come back to this series, should I need comfort and a great feel good novel.


Thank you Jo Bartlett, Boldwood books and NetGalley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Such an awesome series and another fantastic chance to catch up with the drs at st Pirands. Wendy was back with her foster boyfriend and true love Gary and after decades of her ex Mike cheating on her and gaslighting her and her girls he has a new partner Chloe. He’s up to his old tricks and chance means that Wendy and Chloe meet and bond over circumstances. Wendy realises she is worthy of love. This was a great book in the series. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I think for most people it's human nature to want to help others when we can. Having read all the books in the series this is what I love about the book, not only it's originality with it's mainly hospital setting but I love seeing the helping and hopeful spirit the carers give others in and out of the hospital. This series provides a warm, fuzzy feeling of goodness and a coming together of characters that are there for each other. So many of the characters in this book have been in all of the books and it's great to see an update of their lives in each book. As in each book there is some drama, but you can't have real life without some glitches and things going on. The book deals with love and loss, heartache and happiness, sisterhood and strong family ties and knowing you don't have to be born into a family to have that strong family bond.
Recommended and looking forward to the next installment in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

As usual, it was a decided treat to return to St Piran’s and catch up with some of the gorgeous characters associated with this series. This time, we revisit Wendy, who, having divorced her serial cheating husband, is making a new life with her childhood sweetheart. She’s definitely over her ex but worries that her young adult daughters may be more drawn to her ex’s pregnant girlfriend than her.
Wendy’s story has been a joy to follow in the peripheries of previous books. Reconnecting with her childhood boyfriend has brought happiness to her life and helped encourage a new independence. Despite that, she still worries that she’s losing her daughters. I loved Wendy and empathised with her insecurities. The magic of this book comes from the fantastic handling of the writing and the genuine warmth that’s woven through the pages.
Of course, like all of Jo’s books, there is an ensemble cast, and many characters overlap from previous books, so we get to catch up with those we have already met.
As the synopsis suggests, there’s a bigger story hiding in the pages, creating a difficult situation with ripples spreading to affect the whole group. The story is quite challenging, but the title reminds us that there are Lessons in Love, even though I hadn’t expected to be studying for a degree!
Jo Bartlett has created a delightful community of flawed but somehow perfect characters. Their connections are built on love and the understanding that we are all human. The research is thorough, and the warmth of the writing is the glue that holds this special community together. You may need to keep some hankies within reach. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book and the entire series so far.

Another wonderful book in this series that I can not get enough of!

Dani and Charlie and awaiting the birth of their son, Wendy is dealing with the news that her ex Mike and his new partner Chloe and having a baby and is fearful of loosing her daughters to the much younger and more fun soon to be step mother.

Love and heartache, loyalty and family makes this new instalment one to make you laugh and cry and to realise that family are not always blood related!

I can not wait for the new instalment in this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Jo Bartlett ... keep them coming!!!

This is the latest instalment in the Cornish Country Hospital series. I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous titles and this one was once again a page turner with all my favourite characters from previous books and some new ones to get to know along the way - loved it

3.5 ⭐

This book has 4 things:

1. Pregnant Women
2. Headknocks
3. Engagements/Weddings
4. Sisterhood

Seriously, though. When the pregnant wife walked into the hospital around halfway, I think my brain died. 3 main characters are pregnant. Why not add some more!

Also, less than half the book happens in the hospital! It was so disappointing as that's the literal name of the book. I really would have loved some more day to day hospital scenes.

The good part is that Danni is lovely. She brings a real warmth to the book, which is definitely needed.

Don't be fooled by the cover, there are very dark topics dealt with in this book. Important topics. It's not as bright and cheery as I was expecting it to be.

What I did really love though, was the feeling of sisterhood. Women standing behind other women.

Girl power ♀️👊