The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore

 

Title: The Nurse's Secret

Author: Amanda Skenandore

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: "Based on Florence Nightingale’s nursing principles, Bellevue is the first school of its kind in the country. Where once nurses were assumed to be ignorant and unskilled, Bellevue prizes discipline, intellect, and moral character, and only young women of good breeding need apply. At first, Una balks at her prim classmates and the doctors’ endless commands. Yet life on the streets has prepared her for the horrors of injury and disease found on the wards, and she slowly gains friendship and self-respect.
Just as she finds her footing, Una’s suspicions about a patient’s death put her at risk of exposure, and will force her to choose between her instinct for self-preservation, and exposing her identity in order to save others." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

My mom bought this for me last Christmas; it was not on my list, but she knows my taste in books perfectly. This book has a little bit of everything: from rags to riches, murder mystery, coming of age, strong female friendships, and a love story. Una is flawed and so likeable, her life tragic and transforming. She has to learn to allow others to help and care for her after always looking out for herself. Her journey from thief to nurse is endearing, and her detective work to uncover a murderer, heroic. I'd recommend adding this to your reading list in the new year!

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To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

Our Last Days in Barcelona by Chanel Cleeton

 Title: Our Last Days in Barcelona

Author: Chanel Cleeton

Genre: Historical Fiction

Other books I've read by this author: Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, The Cuban Heiress , The Last Train to Key West

Synopsis: "Barcelona, 1964. Exiled from Cuba after the revolution, Isabel Perez has learned to guard her heart and protect her family at all costs. After Isabel’s sister Beatriz disappears in Barcelona, Isabel goes to Spain in search of her. Joining forces with an unlikely ally thrusts Isabel into her sister’s dangerous world of espionage, but it’s an unearthed piece of family history that transforms Isabel’s life.

Barcelona, 1936. Alicia Perez arrives in Barcelona after a difficult voyage from Cuba, her marriage in jeopardy and her young daughter Isabel in tow. Violence brews in Spain, the country on the brink of civil war, the rise of fascism threatening the world. When Cubans journey to Spain to join the International Brigades, Alicia’s past comes back to haunt her as she is unexpectedly reunited with the man who once held her heart.

Alicia and Isabel’s lives intertwine, and the past and present collide, as a mother and daughter are forced to choose between their family’s expectations and following their hearts." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

As always, I loved the family dynamics that Chanel Cleeton has created for the Perez sisters. I was engaged and intrigued for the entire story. I'm sure by now you all know that I love a generational story with multiple timelines. This was no exception. I felt this story gave insight and context into Alicia's motives and behavior in the previous novels, allowing the reader to better relate to her. This novel also features a few twists that I have come to expect from Cleeton's work. Somehow, I am still surprised when they pop up. I look forward to reading more her books in 2026!

To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.

To see more from the author, visit the website linked above