What will the Great War have in store for our Mersey Ladies?

Synopsis

1916 LIVERPOOL

Following the death of her father, Ruby Swift, and husband Archie finally move back into Ashland Hall.

As the Great War rages, fathers and sons take the King’s Shilling and head off to fight the unknown enemy, not knowing what horrors lie ahead. 

With Ned Kincaid in the Navy, Archie signs up to the volunteer constabulary and nurses Anna Cassidy and Ellie Harrington enlist to do their bit for King and Country. 

Soon the true casualties of war are being brought home in droves, Ruby converts Ashland Hall into an auxiliary hospital for wounded servicemen.

It’s not long before the true cost of war is brought closer to home and Anna and Ellie enlist in the British Military Nursing Corp and soon find themselves in the battlefields of France in search of the truth.

But they soon discover more than they bargained for…

My review

Ruby Swift and Archie can finally call themselves married after the death of Ruby’s father. And on top of it, now they can move back into Ashland Hall.
With The Great War raging on, both Ruby and Archie want to help however they can. So quickly Ashland Hall changes into a place for the wounded to receive the required help, with the assistance of Anna Cassidy and Ellie Harrington, living already under the care of Ruby and Archie, and now being nurses.
But the War has its casualties, and it’s not that very long before the cost becomes very personals for each one of this strong unit.

I was very happy to read this next chapter of the saga, because the previous part left me with a few unanswered questions.

Of course, I can only imagine how terrible the War has been. Yet I admired the courage and determination not only Ruby, but also Archie, Anna and Ellie showed. Each one of them wanted to do their bit to help out for those in need.
We already knew what a kind heart Ruby has, but she also managed to pass that desire to help to those around her.

After what Anna has been through, I felt very proud of the young woman she has become. She loves being a nurse, and is absolutely in love with Ned, who is in the Navy. Even if she fears what will happen to him, she is proud of him. and she still has the hope to find her beloved brother again.

When reading a story taking place during the War, you know that there will be some sadder moments. and some events were really heart – breaking, seeing what was in store of some characters we started to love.
But not only the War is cause for the sad moments, also loving the wrong person can change the wonderful future someone has ahead into a future full of despair.

The author managed to write a captivating sequel, showing us that even the consequences of the War, there are people with kind hearts, full of hope, looking for a way to help those in need.
I loved reading how our characters instead of falling into despair, found a way to find even more strength after tragedies.
And that somehow these fictional characters can be seen as an inspiration, that good actions do have rewarding consequences.