The Orphan’s Letters

The Red Cross Orphans #2

by Glynis Peters

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but does nothing to heal the pain of spending every minute waiting to hear the worst…


As the Second World War wages on, nurse Kitty Pattison’s life takes a nomadic turn as her work with the Red Cross sees her traversing the country, moving from post to post.

With her best friends Jo and Trixie also scattered across the UK, and her soldier sweetheart Michael off on the continent undertaking medical missions he can’t discuss, the war takes its toll and long days are followed by sleepless nights interrupted only by nightmares of what she’s seen on the wards.

Now, Kitty’s hopes rise and fall with the arrival of the post – the only thing that keeps her connected to her aunt and uncle, her dear friends, and her Michael – and every moment spent with those she loves is held dear, because each one could be the last…

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Drama, World War II, Grief

366 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

I write historical novels set in WWII Britain, and live by the sea in Essex.


One More Chapter / HarperCollins

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Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Cross Orphans #2

As the Second World War rages on, nurse Kitty Pattison's life takes on a nomadic turn as her work with the Red Cross sees her traversing the country, moving from post to post. With her best friends Jo and Trixie also scattered across the UK, and hr soldier sweetheart Michael off on the continent undertaking medical missions he can't discuss, the war takes its toll and long nights interrupted only by nightmares of what she's seen on the wards.

We catch up with Kitty, Jo and Trixie. We also meet some new characters along the way. This is a heartbreaking read but it's also heartwarming. This is a story of love, friendship and how they survived during wartime. The stress and the emotional uncertainty they faced every day took its toll. The letters these women received gave them something positive to look forward to. The pace is steady throughout. The characters are well rounded and likeable. This book could be read as a standalone, but I recommend you read the first book, The Red Cross Orphans, if you haven't already.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK and the author #GlynisPeters for my ARC of #TheOrphansLetters in exchange for an honest review.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peters has packed this second installment of the Red Cross Orphans series with more history, mystery and romance. I enjoyed getting to know the background of a few of the characters and seeing what life was like on the battlefield and on the homefront. I was happy to see my Canadian doctor reappear in this one. The highlight for me was seeing that love surfaces in the midst of difficulty. It was a heartwarming read, despite it being heavier on romance than book one.

Peters explores wartime fatigue and those who selflessly reached out to comfort and offer a future to those left with nothing due to the war.

I appreciated the acknowledgement of the worry many faced while attempting to focus on their work while worrying about a loved one serving overseas. The author appealed to my emotions. I also connected with those who were suffering fatigue as a result of putting others' needs first. The recent pandemic has highlighted this for us. In attempting to relate it to my own life, I noted that, although I’m not in a wartime situation, I had difficulty maintaining fridge friendships during lockdown and re-establishing them in a social setting once restrictions were lifted. On the flip side, I appreciated modern technology’s ability to bring my close friends even closer and strengthen the bond during lockdown. They were a lifeline to me. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to maintain friendships under the stress of war without the technology we now possess.

While it wasn’t as compelling a read as book one mainly due to pacing and providing background information, I enjoyed the necessary character development and look forward to book three.

I was gifted this advance copy by Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Pooja Peravali · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kitty, an orphaned young woman, works to gain her Red Cross qualification as she continues to work as a nurse during World War Two.

I picked up this ARC on NetGalley a while ago, and came to realize sometime after that that WW2 historical fiction is generally not for me. I enjoy learning about the time period and the experiences of ordinary people, but I find that the plots zigzag between melodramatic and dull too much for my liking. But my NetGalley shelf needs to be cleared, and so I took the plunge.

This is the second book in the Red Cross Orphans series. I read the first as this book was hard to get into otherwise, and gave it three stars. As such, I was really disappointed in this book. Part of the trouble might be that this doesn't seem to have been a planned sequel, and so the author might have been searching around for a plot.

Kitty works in Cornwall for the majority of this book, and continues to have a hectic schedule as a nurse in wartime Britain. The author is good at conveying the stress that she is under, and the painful uncertainty that she and her countrymen face on a day to day basis. The author also did a better job of adding nuance to the behavior of secondary characters, even if she remained very heavy-handed with their depiction.

However, I found the plot meandering, especially in the second half as Kitty begins dashing about the country in earnest. The pacing was odd, with months and months flashing by without much remark, and subplots being wrapped up in a few cursory paragraphs and then never mentioned again. What really ruined the book for me, though, was the way it ended. The romance with Michael has been a major component of the series, and so to end the book on such a final pessimistic note in that area was really frustrating. There's such a thing as being too true to life, I think!

Do not recommend.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty's Wartime Romance

A wartime romance between the Red Cross nurse Kitty Pattison who is in love with the Canadian Medic Michael. Although they wish to be closer together war happens and their duties often take them to posts far away and all they have are letters. They treasure the few times they do meet and swear that someday they will have a home and family.

It is nice to again meet up with Kitty's friend Jo and even the prima donna Belle who falls from grace in this novel. Kitty still corresponds with the orphans and with her aunt and uncle. These are bright lights in her days when she can escape the nightmares of the images she has encountered during this long and horrible war. Images she cannot remove and relives every night.

This romance has a bitter sweet ending although it does show that through it all friends and family are what matter most, especially in dark times and those of heartache.

I enjoyed reading this book about the heroic red cross nurses and doctors serving during WWII and how their lives were put on hold that they might serve their countrymen. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Glynis Peters for writing yet another wonderful historical fiction book, to Harper Collins U.K. , One More Chapter for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me to read and review.

[Diana N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is historical fiction, buy at times it definitely felt like a romance or even a biography/memoir.

There is a lot of focus on the Kitty and Michael romance of being apart and back together a bunch during WWII. I almost wished there has been more focus on the nursing/Red Cross detail, orphans, and spy/treason portions. Instead of a solid plot line it feels more like just following Kitty through life.

I did like the ending since I started to feel more of the drama in the last quarter of the book, but it was tough overcoming the slower parts. I enjoyed the book, but wanted a more definitive focus Instead of the meandering feeling I was getting.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

[Natasha MacLean · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was utter tripe. Not only was the story thin, it was at times hard to keep up with the jumps in timeline. This may have been a little easier to absorb with better editing but I feel that this book is beyond saving. Not to the author, editor and publisher: when you are jumping from one scene to another, leave a space between paragraphs so that the reader understands this is a new time frame. It felt disjointed on top of being shallow rubbish. 1 star only because I can’t give it the zero it deserves

[Merrie Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book incredibly difficult to finish for several reasons. First, the publisher has made a number of mistakes in the printing. Besides the obvious editors notes included in the book (see photos), the most jarring part is there was no clear visual spaces within a chapter when the scene changed. In the most egregious example, we go from Kitty, the protagonist, eating chocolates with her friend to washing the blood off her hands in the same thought, leaving a very uneasy feeling as a reader. Once I figured out the publisher’s mistake it became a little more readable, but barely.

Secondly, the book struggled with too many sub-plots that built too quickly and ended too abruptly. At multiple times I was left with the feeling I was reading too quickly as a twist that was just introduced was suddenly resolved.

Finally, the romance between Kitty and Michael was predictable and unbelievable. I lost count of the descriptions of their deep love and passionate kissing. It was impossible to find the common bond between the two beyond yearning for one another (reasons unknown) and sneaking around.

The book leaves a number of plot points unresolved, which, frankly I didn’t mind because I was, by the end, uninterested as to what became of any of the characters. Definitely a great deal of worthwhile WWII historical fiction out there - this was not one of them.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Orphan’s Letters by Glynis Peters is the second book in the Red Cross Orphans series by Glynis Peters. This second book can be read as a stand-alone, but you may want to grab the first one before moving further.
The Orphan Letters features Kitty Pattinson, a Red Cross nurse, and her experiences as she is moved to various places during wartime. Kitty is sent to care for orphans during a time but will soon be moved back into the harsh realities of caring for the war injured. Kitty is always refreshed when she is able to unexpectedly see or hear from her boyfriend, Michael. He is a Canadian doctor serving with the British army. Join Kitty and her nurse friends as they face the devastating ravages of the war injured.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Publication Date: November 30, 2022

[Corrie Hawke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one I will recommend. I am extremely disappointed in the author's abrupt ending, once again. I felt that way with The Red Cross Orphans but gave it 4 stars since this book was continuing their story but this book was even more abrupt. It is the same as the first where they are separated and have 5 minutes of time together long enough to kiss and profess their love then off to different areas, repeat. Reading the synopsis for the author's other 3 books sound like the same basic storyline. Orphaned, raised by someone, British girl meets Canadian military man.

[Tate J · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I did not read the first book of this series and I think it would have been very beneficial for the best reading experience. The characters needed a backstory and I’m upset that I missed out on that in the first book! However the end of the book was great. Sad and heart wrenching but inevitably true for many people during the wars.

[Donna McEachran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Oh goodness, what a book. Being an ARC, there were obvious issues with formatting and some details but the story of Kitty, Michael etc is never easy. Be prepared that this book does end on emotional cliffhanger!

[Jean St.Amand · Rating 1 out of 5]

How on earth did this unedited mess ever get published? 95% of the dialogue was cringe worthy. I'm pretty sure the last part of the book was not meant to make me laugh...but it did. This was awful, just awful.

[ishmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 so good oh my god im still upset about the ending and i think thats why its not a 5 star but a really good war book oh my days.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the previous one. WW2 is raging and we follow Kitty as she finishes her nursing degree. She’s with the Red Cross and seems to be moved around a lot from one post to another. Through out everything she manages to keep up with her friends and makes new ones. She’s also able to be with her love Michael.
It’s a good story, it moves slowly. It kinda ends in a slight cliffhanger so I can’t wait for book three
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

[Maureen Holloway · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author did a good job of making Kitty likable. However, there were some strange transitions without adequate explanations. Historical facts are that Red Cross nurses arrived four days after the initial D Day beach landings, so Kitty's part is somewhat unclear to me. I thought it odd that she would be recruited as the only nurse with a large group of men. (There are some first hand accounts by nurses who did this online.)
There are a few typos in the Kindle edition, and overall, I think a good editor could have improved the good story.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty is an orphan raised by her aunt and uncle, they live in England during WWII. She decides to join the Red Cross as a nurse. This is the story of Kitty and 3 other young woman who work as nurses. the hardships of war are talked about. There are other books in the series that I will look for.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

WWII is in full swing. Kitty, orphaned at a young age, helps with a husband and wife team who have opened their home to orphaned children. With Hitler bombing the docks at every major UK port, many children lose at least one parent. Having gone through the loss herself, she has a way with recently bereaved children.
When the story opens, Kitty is on a rescue team in northern England, digging people out from under the rubble and doing what we would call triage. She is bone and soul weary and misses her fiance, to whom she would have turned for comfort. She is in nurses' training with the Red Cross, and cares for the rescued and dying at the hospital. Soon, she hits what we would call burnout. The wife of the husband and wife team who run the orphanage has been diagnosed with cancer, and can no longer supervise the staff fully as her health deteriorates. Kitty dearly wants the position of running the place. After some time with Matron, she gets a recommendation for the position and does well in it - until the RAF requisitions the place for recovering RAF pilots, kicking the kids out and putting Kitty out of a job. Soon, she is sent back to recovery and hospital work, and manages to toughen up, the hiatus having done her some good. She becomes a better nurse.
Her fiance is a Canadian doctor, friend & classmate to a man, also a doctor, who is unable to do army work due to a childhood injury. His fiance is a nurse studying to be a midwife, and they are bithe Kitty's friends.
Kitty has a tomboy friend, Jo, who quit nursing to become an ambulance driver, which led to other driving jobs.
Along the way, Kitty matures, and endures both joy and pain, loss and gain, making new friends along the way and having various adventures.
The story has print and/or proofreading errors, dropped parts of sentences, incomplete sentences, dropped subjects that move to other parts unrelated, periods in the middle of words, and editorial comments included in the ebook edition such as [start quoted text here] or [chapter ends] that should have been removed prior to the finalizing of an edition for sale. I am glad this was at a discounted price. The story line os a good one and deserves far better treatment than what it has been given by the editorial staff. Also, my mother, who was born in 1925, told me she had to be vaccinated against smallpox to enter school, and when we lived in Scotland, I heard the same from the locals. I also know all military were vaccinated against smallpox in basic training. So, I am not sure how Nurse Kitty could have discovered and contained a small outbreak of smallpox among recovering soldiers in a military facility. Had they been from 3rd world countries, they could have gotten smallpox had they somehow gone under the radar of the colonizing Europeans and missed being vaccinated, but while they might have been exposed and become ill, the vaccine should have stopped any vaccinated soldier from getting smallpox. The characters who supposedly had smallpox were supposedly British soldiers. That is a historical error or a truth not well explained, one or the other.

[Kevin D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Orphan’s Letters is the second volume of Glynis Peters’ Red Cross Orphans series. The book is easily read as a stand-alone novel; however, I highly recommend reading the first volume to understand the background.

At the start of the Second World War, Kitty Pattison, a young woman in her early twenties, begins training to become a nurse with the Red Cross. As the German bombs wreak havoc all over England, Kitty’s training expands to include seek and rescue through the rubble of the towns around her. Her training and hands-on experience have placed Kitty in high demand within the Red Cross. As the shifts grow longer, she finds little time to rest and take care of herself. In addition, her fiancé, Michael, a Canadian doctor serving in the British army, is called to serve on the frontlines. Therefore, what free time Kitty does find is spent with worry about Michael’s health and well-being.

On the verge of collapse from fatigue and mental stress, Kitty’s best friends Jo and Trixie intervene to persuade her to make much needed changes in her duties so that she may better care for herself. As a result of these changes, Kitty finds herself posted all over Great Britain and involved in a series of events that include managing an orphanage, taking charge of an entire hospital floor, and participating in a rescue mission in France.

The Orphan’s Letters may be summarized as the amazing story of a young woman and her friends as they give their all to perform their duties for King and Country during Britain’s darkest hour. The narrative is well-written and flows smoothly from one scenario to the next. While some portions may seem over emotional, one is forced to consider the stress and heartache these nurses endured while serving at the bedsides of Britain’s wounded and dying soldiers. Considering this, the author has done an amazing job of capturing those emotions.

A solid four-star read, I wish to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for allowing me the opportunity to review an advanced readers copy (ARC) of this novel. The Orphan’s Letters is expected to hit bookstores on November 30, 2022.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Orphan’s Letters by Glynis Peters takes place across the United Kingdom during WWII. Kitty Pattison is a Red Cross nurse, her fiancé Michael a Canadian doctor working with the British Army. Kitty, orphaned at an early age, was raised by her aunt and uncle. Her best friends, Jo and Trixie, are interesting characters - independent women and loyal friends. I was anxious to read this book as the description was enticing. Although I liked all the characters in this book it read more like a romance novel than historical fiction to me.

Kitty is a very interesting young woman who gets lost in nostalgia and feelings of self-pity quite often. I quickly tired of reading about how much she missed Michael as she recalled the moments they spent together. The chapters updating the reader about Kitty’s work, her friends lives, the beauty of the area through letters she wrote to others added a dimension of reality to the overall story.

Kitty worked in very challenging medical situations, as well as having a myriad of personal experiences and problems that required patience and humor. She never shied away from hard work, knuckling down in treating men injured in battles even when she was beyond exhaustion. The detailed descriptions of her work as a Red Cross nurse were the most interesting part of this story. I also enjoyed her joy and sense of accomplishment when she took the job of managing the orphans at Fell Hall Orphan Home, a farm for children orphaned by the war, donated by her friends Jenny and Stanley.

My rating reflects that the personal relationships and issues experienced by Kitty and her friends overrode the historical fiction aspect, rending The Orphan Letters more of a romance novel. I was disappointed not to find an Author's Notes with information on Peters research methods and indication of what, besides the battles and hospital scenes, was based on fact.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarpersCollings for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Orphan's Letters is a gorgeously-written historical fiction novel set during WWII and is the second in the Red Cross series. Not only does author Glynis Peters do a superb job of including historical information but also writes in quite a lot of romance. War changes everything and everyone and the horrors of war real and terrible. However, while the bombs explode and lives are lost, many try to seek joy in the tiny but important things. We see turmoil, devastation, sorrow, courage, perseverance and hope.

Kitty continues nursing training in the UK and though she does an excellent job with the Red Cross, her heart is elsewhere. She is traumatized by what she sees and has nightmares. Her friends Stanley and Jenny run a home for orphans which is where she yearns to be. But life often does not go as planned and Kitty is often transferred from one station to another. She misses her cherished Michael who as a Canadian doctor fighting for Britain is participating in top secret missions. Her closest friends Jo and Trixie are busily at work in the UK. Belle enters the scene, too. Hearts break and are slowly rebuilt. No one is exempt from sorrow.

My favourite aspects about this story are the historical bits, the focus on nursing and the letters back and forth. It is impossible to fathom what it must have been like to not have a clue where your loved ones without the means of finding out.

Historical Fiction readers ought to read this series. The first book in my opinion was outstanding in every way.
The second lacked a bit of oomph and was a bit more on the romance side. However, it is well worth reading. What fun anticipating the next in this series and others by this author...I wonder what is next? And could the cover be more perfect?

My sincere thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this lovely book!

[Michelle Petteys · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Orphan’s Letters is the 2nd book in a WWII trilogy that follows Red Cross Nurse Kitty Pattison through her different assignments as the war rages on.

Book number two is heavier than book one as the war begins to intensify. We continue to follow the friendships Kitty made in book one as well as the romance with her Canadian medic fiancé, Michael. Lots of new characters are also introduced as Kitty moves frequently from one assignment to the next. The author does a great job of developing these characters and Kitty makes a lot of friends along the way with her dependable, hard working, loyal and compassionate personality.

I think the Glynis Peters highlights how hard separation was for everyone serving during the war, always waiting for the next letter to arrive to give some small peace of mind for a even short while. Those letters could be infrequent and delivery unreliable and Kitty was always worried despite having to continue to serve and complete her own duties, helping the wounded soldiers.

Overall, I liked this book. It definitely has a more somber, serious tone and there are some really sad moments in the book. But the support system of friends kitty has around her is really what makes this book special. I’m looking forward to completing this series when the final book comes out.

Thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the advanced digital copy of this book. The Orphan’s Letters is out now (released 11-30-

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Orphan letters continues the story of Kitty Pattison who works for the Red Cross in WW11, which takes her all around the country to do her bit for the war. Her Canadian Medic fiancé Michael works for the British army but is always away on top secret missions that he can’t tell her where he is so as Kitty has not got much family of her own, so she confides her feelings to her friends Jo Trixie and Belle who are all loyal to each other. That she longs to see Michael again. Her work and her training keep her busy but also troublesome, when she sees the bad conditions that soldiers are in coming back from the war.
Thank you Harper One more chapter for an ARC The Orphan letters the second book in the The red cross orphans series. I read the first one and enjoyed it immensely, that I was looking forward to the continuation of this story of Kitty Pattison and her Canadian boyfriend Michael. This had the same likeable characters from the previous book, and it started well but, I found the middle of this book rammed with too much going on it, and it the story didn’t flow right like her previous books I have read from this author. To be honest it felt rushed and then by the end of the book the paced slowed down again. The story is worth the read but, for me not one of her best. 3 stars from me.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous book. Kitty, who was an orphan, understands the lives that these orphans are leading, and what they need. She jumps at the chance to take care of the orphans and is devastated when the program is shut down, due to space needed for wounded troops. She continues in her Red Cross duties and finds little snippets of time to spend with her fiance, as the war continues raging across Europe.

The story here is profound in so many ways. From the "back at home" care that troops were receiving, to the shores of Normandy, this book takes you on a journey. It was hard to put down once you started, as you are drawn deeper into the war-torn lives of the characters. The struggles, the triumphs, the heartbreaks - each lends itself to the inner feelings of what many were going through, yet are told in such a way as to be relatable.

It made me think back to when my husband was deployed, to my own time in the military, and the different ways that we found to stay in touch. While technology has advanced since World War II, we still wrote letters (snail-mail was a treat), and I still have them to this day.

This World War II novel is one that historical fiction lovers will enjoy, and find themselves wanting more when the book closes. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picking up after the events of 'The Red Cross Orphans', 'The Orphan's Letters' follows Kitty Pattison and her work with the Red Cross during World War II once again. Much like the first book, the plot largely centers around friendship and love during a turbulent time in the world.

Jumping from assignment to assignment, Kitty relies on letters to keep in touch with her friends and fiancé Michael. There are many familiar faces from the first book, but for the most part, the war has taken everyone away from one another. The most difficult person to be away from is Michael, not able to know exactly where he might be or if he's been hurt. The war shakes things up for them all in one way or another, but even if it's from a distance, they get through it together.

Though I felt there was a bit more conflict in this book, I didn't feel as invested in this one like I was with the first. It wasn't until the last several chapters that the story began picking up pace. It was intriguing and the ending left me hoping for a third installment, but it was a long time getting there. Still, this is a likable series with equally likable characters. While I would consider this to be a mood read for myself, I can see diehard historical fiction series fans loving every minute.

A huge thanks to HarperCollins/Harper360, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for providing a free ARC to read and review.

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Orphan’s Letters is the second volume of Glynis Peters Red Cross Orphans series. While this he book can be read as a stand-alone novel I highly recommend reading the first volume to have a good grasp the background.

The Orphan’s Letters is a story about a Red Cross nurse, Kitty, and her friends. The story takes place during World War II. Kitty and her friends give their all and then some to help ‘King and Country” . As always Ms. Peter’s writes an excellent narrative. Everything flows seamlessly from one chapter to the to other. While I think this is the most romantic of all Ms. Peter’s works, it isn’t over done. She has done an excellent job of expressing the emotions of these woman who were overworked, under loved and in some cases broken hearted.

I have to admit that I didn’t like the ending as it felt quite abrupt. It was not the type of ending I can usually expect from Ms. Peters. I was left with wanting to know more about the outcome. Perhaps this is what is in store for us in book three, at which time I will come back and adjust my review. I am anxious to see what Ms. Peters has in store for us next.

I would like to thank Glynis Peters, HarperCollins UK/ One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“The Orphan’s Letters” is the second in the “Red Cross Orphans” series by Glynis Peters. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, I’d strongly recommend reading the first book to understand the players and situation. This book suffers from “middle book syndrome” where it picks up from the first, things happen, and ends on a cliffhanger. While the writing was again fine, it didn’t hold my attention as well as the first book. In this book, Kitty (the main character) gets involved in a number of things, but it seems as though she fixes things opposed to being involved in them. All of this changes around the 90% mark where she is part of a crew doing something dangerous. As for historical content, I liked the inclusion of the “Donut Dollies” and also the bit about D-Day. I think that if you’ve read and enjoyed the first book in the series, this second one will give you more depth to the characters as they continue fighting for freedom in Britain during WWII.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Orphan Letters
The second book in the Red Cross Orphans series by Glynis Peters. I had read the first book which sets the scene for future books in the series but this second book can be read as a stand alone.
The Orphan Letters continues Kitty’s journey as a Red Cross nurse and her relationship with Michael, a Canadian born doctor serving in the British army.
The stress, hardship and emotional turmoil working as a nurse in war time is researched and portrayed really well. It is hard to imagine what life would be like as a young woman working 15-16 hour days dealing with the trauma of tending to not only wounded soldiers but also dealing with their death.
Kitty is a wonderful character and it is not hard to fall in love with her and her close network of friends. There is a continued theme of Kitty, as an orphan herself, being drawn to those that find themselves orphaned or needing guidance and help from a caring loving person.
This is a wonderful emotional story that pulls on the heart strings and I very much look forward to the next book in the series.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this a great addition to the authors Red Cross series and a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It is beautifully written and an absolute gem of a read which flowed really well. Kitty is a very likeable and believable character and I enjoyed being back in her world again and following her nursing career with the Red Cross and reading how her relationship with her fiancé strengthens and flourishes. It’s very easy to take the other likeable side characters to heart as well - particularly Jo, Meryn and Smithy and I enjoyed the lovely snippets into their lives and the friendships and support Kitty has from them through difficult times and the war time period. The story has a bitter sweet ending with unanswered questions which I hope will be resolved in the next book. This book can be read on it’s own although I would recommend you read the previous book first so you get to know the characters and their histories. If you like historical fiction give this series a go, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

[Codi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is now the second book in this series I’ve been given early access to thanks to NetGalley and I’ll admit I was a bit let down with this one.

Red Cross nurse Kitty Pattinson is in the thick of duty again. Burnout is a daily hazard but she gets a break when she applies to care for orphans stationed at a friend’s manor. It’s short lived however and she’s soon back on the front lines; caring for the injured, seeing her fiancé Michael when their paths cross, and figuring out what kind of trouble her old classmate Belle is up to. The true test will come when she least expects it and she’ll have to decide if her love can stretch across oceans to survive.

The story line itself was good but the transitions between scenes were very choppy, enough that I sometimes had to go re-read to find my place and not be confused by the sudden change in setting. This might be the format it was in so if that’s shored up it will still be an enjoyable read.

[Soozee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first in this series and was looking forward to the second, but it did not quite live up to the hope. Kitty and Michael are still in love, making their way through the war. Kitty seems to be healing every soldier sent her way with great ability and altruism, whilst also dropping everything every time a friend or fiance needs her. I can appreciate young women at this time were very torn, but she seems to be able to find postings and shifts with great ease to suit her life.

Belle, always a character, returns, but remains rather shadowy in this book. Jo is still her stalwart friend, as are Trix and Smithy.

The story wends along, until Kitty finally is part of the D-Day landings (which really did stretch the credulity) in order to be by her fiance Michael. Clearly there will be a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.