Kate Eastham

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About Kate Eastham
Kate Eastham trained as a nurse in the late 1970s and enjoyed a long career before a change in circumstance meant that she needed to be a full time carer for her partner. Determined to make the most of this new role ‘working from home’ she cleared a space at the kitchen table for a pile of books and a writing pad and started to make notes on the history of nursing. Inspired by the achievements of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole during the Crimean War she was also captured by the sheer grit and determination of other 'ordinary women' whose voices from the past are seldom heard. An idea for a novel was born and her first book, ‘Miss Nightingale’s Nurses’, was published by Penguin in 2018, closely followed by three more in the series.
Having thought that she would never find anything to replace the work in nursing that she loved, she is now equally immersed in her writing, drawing on years of experience and the stories told by so many patients. With her passion for history, Kate aims to continue making visible the lives of ordinary yet extraordinary women from the past.
Her current fiction is set during the World Wars and will be published by Bookouture.
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Books By Kate Eastham
The young nurse ran across the wooden deck, her feet skidding. She spotted an injured young man clinging to the ship’s rail, his eyes wide with terror. She could see the water rushing up to meet them. ‘We need to jump!’ she screamed. In that moment, a wave washed over them. She lunged forward to grab his hand, but she was a second too slow. Somewhere, deep inside the vessel, came a loud crack. The hospital ship was breaking apart…
1914. Evie Munro is a Scottish fisher girl, working the herring season from Wick to Great Yarmouth. For Evie, every day is the same – gutting fish at the docks, shoulder-to-shoulder with her friends, followed by fresh bread, a warm whiskey toddy and an early night. But when Germany declares war on Britain, everything changes.
As her village begins to empty of young men, Evie’s life is marked by a heartbreaking tragedy at home. Her happiness destroyed, she vows to join the war effort as an army nurse, caring for wounded soldiers on the imposing hospital ship Britannic.
But as the war rages on and the ship comes under direct fire, Evie’s courage is put to the ultimate test. Can Evie and the nurses of the HMHS Britannic save the day and heal the patients in their care? Or will her life become one more casualty in Britain’s heroic fight for freedom?
A heartbreaking wartime saga – guaranteed to have you grabbing for the tissues! Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.
What readers are saying about The Sea Nurses:
‘Heartbreaking… Guaranteed to have you grabbing for the tissues… I like a book to keep me gripped from the beginning and this book certainly does that… I had a really hard time putting my Kindle down to do my adult responsibilities. This book is perfection.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book has everything. It makes you laugh, has you holding your breath and makes you cry. You won’t be disappointed!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Get those tissues ready you're going to need them… So well written, and the characters feel so well that I found myself sobbing on many occasions.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Heartbreaking… ensure you have time to read this in one sitting.’ @karen_loves_reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘There are some heartbreaking scenes in The Sea Nurses (have your tissues nearby)… a story about war, friendships, love, loss, and coming together to work toward a common goal. It is an emotional, dramatic story that will linger with you long after you finish it.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wonderful storyline and lovely characters all written beautifully.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I enjoyed this book very very much!...I'm so glad I chose this amazing story… will make you laugh, cry… I was glued to the story until the end!’ Nicki’s Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Heartbreaking… The characters are realistic and sympathetic &nd
Jo forced herself to look into the cot, but at first all she could see was grey dust from the explosion. Then, a tiny hand poked out through a layer of grit... With tears pouring down her cheeks, she stood rocking and soothing the baby, knowing there was very little chance the child’s mother had survived.
England, 1941. After three nights of relentless bombing from German aircraft, trained nurse Jo Brooks is told to report to the basement theatre of Mill Road Hospital. She goes with a heavy heart, not wanting to leave behind her best friend Moira, who is desperately soothing new mothers on the maternity ward. As Jo arrives safely underground, the ward takes a direct hit.
Pulling herself from the rubble, Jo’s first priority must be her patients… but she can’t stop herself frantically searching for Moira. When Jo eventually finds her, buried beneath a foot of bricks and stone, Moira is barely clinging to life. Jo makes a solemn vow: she will do whatever it takes to help the allies win the war, even if it means sacrificing her own safety.
But when, in the line of duty, Jo makes the acquaintance of a young American soldier with bright blue eyes and a voice like warm caramel, she feels her heart skip a beat and all her promises are put to the test. Because sacrificing everything in war is so much more difficult when suddenly you have so very much to live for…
A powerfully emotional wartime novel about friendship and love in the most terrible of circumstances. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Jean Grainger and The Beantown Girls.
What readers are saying about An Angel’s Work:
‘I was completely glued to this book... I cried and I laughed… I would highly recommend this book – reminds me of Nadine Dorries’ Nightingale stories but I preferred this one… Brilliant, entertaining and insightful.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I felt a building of emotion and tears in my eyes. It still has the capacity to touch your heart and make you feel as if you are in the air with Jo and in the field hospital alongside Mac. The story is very real and will leave you with a sense of having lived through it as well.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘Loved these characters and was hooked from the first page… Beautifully written…The story is great and the characters are even better… A story of love, heartbreak, friendship, and duty… an emotional World War II story.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘If you love war books, family saga and nursing you will love Kate’s books. Love, love, love the storylines. Can’t wait to read some more.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘The plot twists are phenomenal, you will not be able to put this book down! I just kept reading and reading because the characters felt like they were in the room with me and I was feeling and experiencing their emotions… I definitely will read more books by this author and I recommend this book to everyone! I wou
The nurses were putting in twelve-hour shifts now, day and night. Emily felt broken inside, dried out, not even capable of tears. They were short-staffed after a softly spoken Irish nurse had died from the unstoppable disease and two more had fallen ill. And more patients were coming in every hour, though the hospital beds were already full…
Wartime London. Twenty-year-old Emily Burdon has been training as a nurse, learning on the job as she tends to patients from the crowded poorhouses that ring the hospital as well as wounded soldiers. She pours her heart into her nursing while she waits for happier times – peace in Europe and the return of her childhood sweetheart Lewis from battle.
But when the deadly Spanish Flu arrives in London on the heels of the war, Emily’s faith and courage are put to the test. All around her men and women in the prime of their lives are wasting away, and until a cure is found there is nothing for Emily and her colleagues to do.
But then Lewis admits to a devastating betrayal, just as a new doctor is transferred to head up Emily’s ward. From the distant land of Prince Edward Island in Canada, Dr James Cantor is the first of a generations-old farming family to have left the island, and wartime London feels a long way away from the rugged beauty of his homeland. But despite their differences, he and Emily find common ground in their passion for helping patients. But with life forever changed around her and Lewis’ future hanging by a thread, can Emily survive the most terrible epidemic in the history with her life – and heart – intact?
A heartbreaking historical novel based on true history – emotional and unforgettable. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, The Beantown Girls and Diney Costeloe.
What readers are saying about When the World Stood Still:
‘A wonderful historical fiction novel. I adored this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A moving and heartbreaking novel!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I absolutely loved this story… ended way too quickly.’ SassyBookworm, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Love Kate Eastham’s books… Can't wait for more. Excellent reading!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Be prepared with a large box of tissues, clear your schedule before you start reading this book. A heartbreaking yet uplifting emotional book that will definitely stay long with you after you finish it.’ Life Between the Lines, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What a timely book this is!... so inspiring.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A riveting story… Emily is a strong and relatable character… heartbreaking.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A heart-warming and moving tale of courage and friendship set in Victorian Liverpool, for fans of Call the Midwife, Daisy Styles and Nadine Dorries.
'Deftly written and moving' Woman's Own
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Liverpool, 1870
One act of kindness will change a young woman's life forever . . .
On the dirty backstreets of Liverpool, housemaid Maud Linklater witnesses an appalling accident. Rushing young chimney-sweep Alfie to hospital, she helps nurse the boy on the overcrowded ward - and finds herself with a new job.
Maud cannot believe her luck at joining trainees Alice and Eddy at the new Nurses' Training School and they form the closest of bonds.
Then one day Alfie is abducted. Maud and the girls know the alleyways and slums of Liverpool are no place for a lost little boy.
Can these determined women find Alfie before it's too late?
'A heartwarming and tear-inducing tale with wonderfully realistic characters' Woman
Discover the first heartwarming novel in Kate Eastham's nursing series in this gripping and compelling story of strength
'Deftly written . . . a moving account of loss, as well as self-discovery and achievement' Woman's Own
'A vivid, entertaining read which brought history alive' 5***** Reader Review
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From the docks of Liverpool to a distant battlefield, can one girl find her brother and save herself?
Ada Houston's life is shattered when her brother Frank goes missing following an accident at the docks. But a short time later she hears a rumour that he survived and left Liverpool to fight a foreign war.
Determined not to lose him a second time she boards a ship to bring him home. But the battlefields of the Crimea are a hostile place for a penniless young woman.
Then one day a lifeline is thrown her way as she is offered the chance to train as a nurse under the famous Florence Nightingale. Working in the most terrible of conditions, Ada shows an aptitude beyond anyone's expectations as she cares for her injured countrymen, makes new friends and enjoys the first flutter of romance.
But Frank is still missing and she needs to find him before it's too late . . .
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'A wonderfully written book' 5***** Reader Review
'Gripped me right from the start' 5***** Reader Review
'You felt you were with them' 5***** Reader Review
A stirring and inspiring story perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Call The Midwife
Heartbroken but determined, Maud Linklater returns to her hometown of Liverpool intent on healing the sick and building a new life for herself and her son, Alfie
Liverpool 1872
After spending time training at the Infirmary for Women in New York, Maud can't wait to put her new-found skills to the test. But in a city built and run by men she must work hard to be accepted.
Whilst her nurse friends welcome her back with open arms there are others who do not wish her well, including the spiteful Nancy Sellers.
Nancy resented Maud's talents as a nurse and seeing her arrive back with such fanfare puts her nose firmly out of joint. She will stop at nothing to sabotage Maud's life and soon turns her attention to those Maud holds most dear.
Maud Linklater is made of strong stuff. But as she resettles back into life in her hometown, can she overcome any obstacle Nancy, and Liverpool, might throw her way?
Praise for Kate Eastham
'Deftly written and moving' Woman's Own
'A heart-warming and tear-inducing tale with wonderfully realistic characters' Woman
Discover other books in The Nursing Series: Miss Nightingale's Nurses, The Liverpool Nightingale's and Daughters of Liverpool.
'A warm and satisfying story' My Weekly
From the author of The Liverpool Nightingales comes an uplifting and emotional tale, perfect for fans of Call the Midwife, Downton Abbey and Annie Groves.
Is a mother's love enough to protect her child?
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Liverpool 1868.
Shrouded in secrecy Alice Sampson gives birth to a beautiful baby girl.
But the former nurse's happiness is blighted by the knowledge that as a penniless, unwed mother, her future, and that of her child, can only be one of shame and disgrace.
Then a knock at the door brings a miracle: she is invited to return to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary and her beloved ward.
With the help of her friends and the welcome attentions of Reverend Seed, the hospital Chaplain, Alice slowly starts to rebuild her life.
Everything is looking up, until her baby's father unexpectedly shows up to claim the child he knew nothing about.
Suddenly Alice is in danger of losing her baby, her position and her whole future . . .
Praise for Kate Eastham
'Deftly written and moving' Woman's Own
'A heartwarming and tear-inducing tale with wonderfully realistic characters' Woman