Although this is the second book in a series, it can be read as a standalone if you haven't read book 1 already.

It's a thought-provoking story that made me realise just how things have improved over the years when it comes to people's attitudes toward women in the workforce and family planning to name just a couple of things.

Along with the educational side of the story, of course, there are the characters and their relationships to get fully engrossed in and enjoy. There were romances or possible romances, bitter people who you aren't sure whether they need your pity or your anger, and some reconciliations that brought tears to my eyes.

I enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for an ARC of this novel.

‘Girls who fall into wicked ways have no rights.’ Presumably, neither do the infants who are born to such girls. So declares the smug ‘lady director’ of a certain Sussex workhouse, which, even in the 1930s was still so oppressive that most mothers and children, even the ones successfully adopted, preferred any other fate.

As director of the Orchard Park cottage hospital, Dr Frances Brakespeare is frequently involved with people who were once workhouse residents. Often the younger ones have run away from bad homes or the workhouse itself, preferring even the former. Mothers are dealing with the physical and emotional after-effects of marriages contracted to get out, and keep out, of the dreaded workhouse.

Some are actively seeking the contraception that Frances, like Marie Stokes before her, tries to persuade them to adopt as an effective counter-measure in her newly-established ‘mother and baby’ clinic. This is a controversial program, however, even in 1930s England as Stokes had discovered.

This is fundamentally a story about relationships. Frances discovers the truth about her past and how she came to be adopted out of the workhouse. The woman who delivers the news, Mrs Devonshore, was one of the ‘wicked girls’ whose baby was born in the workhouse. A little boy who refuses to tell his name flees the hospital to avoid both the workhouse and his abusive adoptive family. And in the case of nurse Lucy Daniels, hired to care for a blinded Great War veteran with whom she becomes increasingly involved, his titled family, especially his mother. sustains both the hospital and many of the poor who find treatment there.

Lizzie Lane has set up a number of such relationships, taking care always to demonstrate the courage and resilience of the women in particular. Frances loves and intends to marry the kind Anglican minister Gregory, but while she appreciates his support, especially as many townsfolk are offended by her recommendation of ‘unnatural’ practices, she does not truly need him. She can fight her own fight and take up the cause of all women, poor and rich. Lucy and the blinded Devlin are far apart in wealth and status. She may be attracted to him but never hesitated to assert herself and the rights of all women. And Mary Devonshire, the key to solving Frances’ family mystery, was herself abused but never stopped trying, over many years, to overcome her tragic youth. So this is also very much a tale of hope and resilience and of women taking care of themselves and other vulnerable people.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is the second book in the series. It’s set in 1931.

Doctor Frances is settling into her new life, but is facing challenges professionally as well personally.

Some people like her views that women have the right to make decisions when it’s about their bodies.

But Frances’ and Reverend Gregory who are in a relationship are happy and he’s there for her giving his support, especially when things start to stack up, including what happened in her past.

Trying to straighten out the past of her family, Frances comes face to face with the outcomes of hidden truths, and why it’s necessary to forgive.

I highly recommend this book.

Norton Dene in Somerset was where the Orchard Cottage Hospital was situated, and Doctor Frances Brakespeare continued to improve the hospital, with a mother and baby clinic about to open, plus family planning advice for those families who had many children already. Frances knew it would be a controversial topic, especially with the men in town, but she was determined. Originally adopted by Izzy Brakespeare when she was a young child, taken from the workhouse, Frances had adored her adopted mother. But when she died, Izzy's sister, Beatrice, was incensed that Frances had benefitted from the Brakespeare name. When Frances heard from Beatrice's solicitors, she passed it all on to a solicitor in Norton Dene, on the recommendation of the local vicar. She was prepared to see what would happen.

Reverend Gregory Sampson and Frances had become close, and was always Frances' safe haven. With the turmoil of the family's past, secrets hidden and horrors yet to be unfolded, the stranger who entered Norton Dene seemed to be searching for someone. Would Frances find the answers from her past any time soon?

Family Affairs at the Orchard Cottage Hospital is the 2nd in the Orchard Cottage Hospital series by Lizzie Lane and I enjoyed it very much. Following on well from #1 in the series - A New Doctor at Orchard Cottage Hospital - it was great to catch up with Frances again, as well as Lucy and Nancy; Ma Skittings was at her best once again - but the old fashioned prejudice from the 1930s era was horrendous! I'm looking forward to #3 already. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

I had read the first book in the series and looked forward to this one as I shall the next (fingers crossed) - this certainly did not disappoint.

It brought together the loose ends hinted at in the first book regarding Dr. Frances Brakespeare and her adoption. In some ways it was incredibly sad - and highlighted how entitled some men felt they should be.

It was well written as are all of Lizzie Lane's books - and had the right amount of light heartedness as well as heartache.

Set once more in the mining area - called Norton Dene by the author - of Somerset, it was a great read.

Hope there will be more

Brilliant read once again from Lizzie, great to catch up with all the characters and the storyline had me hooked, mystery and intrigue as to who Frances real mother and father are,couldn't out the book down, hope to see more from the series

The second book in the Orchard Cottage Hospital Series, set in Norton Dene, Somerset, featuring Doctor Frances Brakespeare. This is a saga and as such I really recommend reading book one first as it sets the scene for everything that follows in this book. The main storyline in this book is centred around the recently established mother and baby unit and Frances controversial decision to offer family planning advice.

Briefly, although Frances was expecting some opposition to her advocacy for family planning she certainly couldn’t have expected some of the violent reactions she received. At the same time her adoptive mother Izzy’s sister is still trying to cut all ties between them, going as far as to try to prevent Frances using the family name.

Alongside Frances’s storylines there are a number of other threads, a new one about an abused child and an ongoing thread about Captain Delvin Compton-Dixon - both compelling stories. With more dark revelations from the past and shocking experiences in the present this is another excellent addition to the series highlighting social and medical history of the times. A very enjoyable and entertaining read.

This is a beautiful book and it is so amazing, the story is so lovely and very enjoyable to read. i loved everything about this book and i would recommend to anyone who loves reading to give this book a go. it is a lovely book and i will read other books from this author.

What a brilliant start to the new saga by the brilliant Lizzie Lane.
It was a very enjoyable read and I am looking forward to more in this series

A great follow on story featuring strong-willed women, small-town secrets, and the complexities of family relationships, set against the backdrop of a bygone era.

Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane, is the second instalment in the Orchard Cottage Hospital historical saga series. It is set in rural Somerset, England, in 1931. I had not read the previous book, and despite some gaps in the back story it was a very enjoyable and captivating read.

Doctor Frances Brakespeare continues to settle into her new life, but continues to face both professional and personal challenges. Not everyone is happy with her "progressive" outlook on medicine and giving women a choice when it comes to their bodies.

Her relationship with Reverend Gregory Sampson is going from strength to strength with hime providing comfort and support when everything piles up, including her past.

As Frances unravels her family's past, she confronts the consequences of hidden truths and the importance of forgiveness.

Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital is an engaging story that explores themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection, spearheaded by Frances' amazing colleagues and Gregory.

this is the second book in a series, the first book introduces the characters, and the second book continues the story.

The second book in a new series and a very good read. While the first book was setting up the scene and the characters, there's a lot going on in this one.
Frances is settling into her new life and job. She gets a whopping surprise and another not so pleasant one when Beatrice, Izzy's sister, stirs up trouble with a demanding solicitor's letter. What an unpleasant, nasty, bitter woman Beatrice is.
The Reverend Gregory is here again, with the romance more muted this time but still in the background. Gregory is her buffer against the world.
A lot of the issues Frances is trying to address, concerns women's health. It's hard to believe how badly women were treated still in the 1930's. Also cruelty to children rears it's head. Men really were a different breed back then.
This book has it all, romances, sorrow, tragedies, surprises and secrets.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read. This author never fails to tell a good story. I'm looking forward to the next in the series and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartfelt stories with a touch of realism.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an early copy of this book.

Orchard Cottage Hospital #2

Somerset, 1931: Doctor Frances Brakekspeare continues to settle into her new life in rural Somerset at Orchard Cottage Hospital, striving to improve the medical treatments on offer to the community. After successfully establishing a mother and baby clinic, Frances is determined to move with the times and add family planning advice to her roster - but are the residents of Norton Dene ready for such progress, or will she face opposition? In her personal life, her relationship with Reverend Gregory Sampson becomes her safe haven whilst battling with an embittered family relative in London. As always, Frances strives to honour the values inherited from her late benefactress Izzy Breakspeare. As further dark family secrets and sins unfold, it seems the Brakespeare family name will have more resonance to Frances than she ever imagines.

With the changing of the times, Dr. Frances Brakespeare wants to develop the medical care provided at the Orchard Cottage Hospital by opening a mother and baby clinic. Frances also tries to find out more about her adoption.

This is a well -written story about how things in the medical profession and the introduction of a family planning service was just starting to take place in the 1930s. The characters are well-developed, the pace is steady, and I always like the authors writing style. I have not read the first book in this series, but it does read well as a standalone.

Published 3rd October 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LizzieLane for my ARC of #FamilyAffairsAtTheOrchardCottageHospital in exchange for an honest review.

An Amazing book , as good as the previous entry, it's excellent entry in the series but suffers from spoonfeeding and while attempts of creating tension are there they get dissipated within a chapter or two

Family Affairs at Orchard,Cottage Hospital by Lizzie Lane

Doctor Frances Brakespeare continues to settle into her new life in rural Somerset at Orchard Cottage Hospital, striving to improve the medical treatments on offer to the community.

After successfully establishing a mother and baby clinic, Frances is determined to move with the times and add family planning advice to her roster – but are the residents of Norton Dene ready for such progress or will she face opposition?

I love the author and she writes about the era in such a way you can almost feel she lived through it.
Fab , fab , fab character in Dr Frances Brakespeare , who is a women before her time , and she certainly wants to make a difference for the women of Norton Dene and the surrounding areas.
Brilliant.

A great folllow up to the first book. Dr Brakespear is still struggling to bring the cottage hospital up to date and help the women, her family planning clinic is causing problems but she she is determined to carry on. Her life takes a change when a stranger comes to the hospital looking for her, and she’s she’s still battling the sister of her adopted mother, this time fighting for her name. A great book and already looking forward to the next instalment ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dr. Frances Breakspeare was one of the first female doctors at Orchard Cottage Hospital in a small country town in England in 1931.
Dr. Breakspeare was adopted by an independent single woman from out of a Children's workshop when she was young.
Dr. Breakspeare introduced family planning to this small country town and this is told with truth and feelings for the best interest of the women, but not without resistance.
It shares the struggles and loves of the doctor, nurses as well as her patients. Plus, the mysteries of children put up for up adoption by poor young single mothers and the results of never forgetting those children.
#LizzieLane
#FamilyAffairsAtOrchardCottageHospital
#Boldwood
#NetGalley

Doctor Frances Brakespeare continues her work in Somerset at Orchard Cottage Hospital, she wants to improve medical care for the whole community, and especially women and children and she's started a mother and baby clinic. Frances has witnessed firsthand the toll of having multiple pregnancies takes on woman’s bodies, and some haven’t gotten over the previous pregnancy and find themselves expecting again, the financial impact of having so many mouths to feed and the same amount of food has to be stretched further.

Frances knows she will encounter resistance and opposition about her advice regarding female reproduction and family planning in Norton Dene, but she determined to advocate for women and use her medical skills and knowledge to help them. Frances personal life adds another interesting facet to the story, she was born in a workhouse and to a teenage mother, she was adopted by a former suffragette Lizzy Brakespeare and her younger sister is still making trouble via her lawyers in London and sending her threatening letters.

I enjoyed catching up with characters from the previous book and in this case, Reverend Gregory Sampson, Frances friend, confidant and suitor, sister’s Lucy Daniels and Nancy Skittings, Sister Harrison and Ma Skittings, Captain Delvin Compton-Dixon and his mother Lady Compton-Dixon.

I received a copy of Family Affairs at the Orchard Cottage Hospital from Boldwood Books and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Another well written and thought provoking story by Lizzie Lane and the perfect choice for fans of English historical fiction and saga's.

The narrative highlights topics such as the challenges and plight of women, pregnancy, childbirth and contraception and how new and controversial it was, family and unexpected connections, secrets and discovering the truth, how times were changing and advances in medicine and people’s health.

Four stars from me, I recommend both Family Affairs at the Cottage Hospital and the previous book A New Doctor at Cottage Hospital and I’m eagerly looking forward to novel number three in the series and what happens to the two new characters a young boy and an older woman called Mary.

A great follow up book and it didn’t disappoint. Dr Frances continues to explore her adoption and who her adoptive Mother was. Alongside this the hospital looks to develop its work amongst women and children much to the disapproval of some men. Thanks to Lizzie Lane and hr publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley