“Una, what’s the meaning behind all this? You can’t expect me to believe you’ve had a sudden change of heart and mean to go from a slum dweller and a grifter to a nurse.”

This was a SPECTACULAR read! I was thoroughly hooked from the first page and, thankfully, managed to ignore my to-do list long enough to finish this compelling five-star novel.

Una Kelly is a grifter who has managed to evade capture. While on the run and looking for someplace to hide, she spots a newspaper article recruiting nurses. A con her whole life, she figures that pretending to be a nurse can’t be too difficult a gig so she scams her way into America’s first nursing school at New York City’s famous Bellevue Hospital in 1883. The onsite training school is renowned for following Florence Nightingale’s nursing principles, the first school of its kind in the country. Eager to fit in, Nurse Kelly surprises everyone, even herself, with her ability to care and assist. Just as she’s about to graduate, she uncovers a sinister plot within the hospital. Can Una play her role long enough to evade capture? Long enough to uncover the identity of the villain hiding within the hospital?

I absolutely loved Una and her list of rules to survive life on the streets! She was such a rich, compelling character. She immediately drew me in and offered me a peek at her authentic self. She was flawed and years on the streets had hardened her, but as she dealt with the challenges in her path she unfurled her underlying personality. Because I was privy to her growth, her achievements were as exciting for me as they were for her. I cheered Una along throughout the book.

In addition to Skenandore’s splendid characterization, she dazzles readers with memorable dialogue! I found myself picking out Una’s expressions and word choices with a smile and before long, I was reading along in my head with an accent! Not only is Skenandore able to showcase her character’s unique personalities through memorable dialogue, but she is also able to advance the plot via dialogue. It clearly highlights the characters’ voices. I appreciate an author who can show not tell as much as I appreciate one who can insert meaningful dialogue; I got both in Amanda Skenandore!

Along the way, Skenandore will open your eyes to the vast separation between the classes in Gilded Age New York, the qualifications for nursing school in the 1880s, Lister’s germ theory, and the constraint by prejudices that early nurses experienced.

In addition to a great story paralleling the history of American nursing, readers are treated to a great romance and compelling mystery.

I hope the author isn’t finished with Una’s story as I really wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her yet!

I was gifted this advance copy by Amanda Skenandore, Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Thank you to Kensington Books and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I REALLY liked this story! Even though it is listed as historical fiction, it is so much more! Romance! Mystery! Kept my attention right from the beginning! Una Kelly is a female grifter trying to survive in 1880's New York. After she becomes involved in a murder, she decides to apply for admission to the nurse's training program at Bellevue Hospital. At first, she applies to hide from the police, but as she settles in, nursing becomes more important to her. I highly recommend this book! You will enjoy finding about Una's fascinating adventures!

This was an absolutely fantastic book! It had historical fiction, murder-mystery, secret identity, and romance, and I was unable to put it down!

Una is the main character, and she's a thief on the NYC streets. After losing her mom in a fire, and losing her dad to drugs, she ends up on her own on the streets. She an excellent thief. She has rules for herself, and she follows them to keep herself safe. Then, one night when she witnesses a murder, and is framed for it. On the run with a need to go into hiding, she gets admitted to a probationary class for a nursing school.

I loved this premise. I was really interested in the early days of nursing, and I loved that Una originally had no interest in nursing, she just needed a place to lay low. It was fun to watch her grow throughout the story as she makes a friend and finds a little romance in her life. But all the time, there's the murders that keep happening, and Una finds herself in the middle of it. It was such a good story, and while I figured out what was happening, it did not deter me from enjoying the reveal at all.

I would highly recommend this story for readers that enjoy fast-paced historical fiction with mystery!

Set in the 1880s, this story is about a woman accused of murder who hides as a student in Bellevue Nursing School. Una is a liar and a thief, but you'll be rooting for her success!

This book has it all! Good characterization, interesting historical details, a sprinkle of romance and a mystery. I especially enjoyed the attention to detail regarding the tenements and medical practices of the 1880s.

I was provided a free copy of the book from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

I loved this book. Plain and simple. I enjoyed reading every page, and I'm disappointed it's over.

The murder mystery was interesting and provided a great deal of suspense. I didn't figure out who the killer was until he/she was revealed.

One of Skenandore's strengths as a writer is how she creates her characters. She always creates characters you just can't help but root for, and her characters are always "people" I'd like to know in real life. I really enjoyed Una from the very beginning. She was handed a difficult set of circumstances in life, and she found a way to triumph in the end. I adored Dru. I was pulling for her and Una the entire story and so much wanted things to end well for both of them.

The period details were fascinating and well-researched. As someone who works in healthcare today (not a nurse, though), it was so interesting to see how things were done long ago, what has changed and what hasn't. And, truly, Skenandore's being a nurse adds to the story as it's clear it was written by someone who "gets it" - all the emotions of caring for patients, the successes, the failures, the drive to keep going in spite of what's going on around you. One of the characters said nursing requires "an iron constitution and a gentle soul," and I couldn't agree more.

And, though I was disappointed my time with Una and Dru (I was a fan of Edwin, too) was over, I love how the story ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 4
Plot development: 5
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

Una Kelly is a thief is 1880s New York, who over the years has perfected those skills to survive. By being in the wrong place at the wrong time and a betrayal, Una ends up being accused of a murder. After escaping police custody, she winds up hiding in plain sight, as a nurse trainee at Bellevue Hospital. Initially, she’s terrible at it and hates it, but over time she begins to realize there are Parts of it she’s good at and she finds herself starting to enjoy this life, even though she’s looking over her shoulder most of the time. When there’s more murders, she starts to put some pieces together and turns into an a sleuth as well.

I really enjoyed this book! Una was a great character, she was street smart, witty, and it was fun to watch her realize what true friendship was. I live my historical fiction with a good mystery thrown in, and this one was intriguing and kept me guessing through most of it. I really enjoyed the historical details of Bellevue and early nursing. I was completely underwhelmed by the romance, mostly because Una’s romantic lead wasn’t developed and I think the story would have been just as good without it. This was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

1887, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, NYC, hospital-system, education, nursing-care, medical-treatment, petty-theft*****

Una Kelly was dumped into the life of a grifter when first her father and then her "do gooder" mother died. She well remembered the lessons she was taught in that earlier life, but she needed to eat and survive. In order to escape a prison sentence, she asked a friend to help her with a false educational history so that she might apply for entrance into the new Belleview School of Nursing in NYC.
This was in the days of (1887) Nellie Bly (10 Days In A Madhouse), Jacob Riis (photographer/writer of How the Other Half Lives), and The Nursing Job Description (hope it shows in the review) which includes 76 hour work weeks and tasks including shoveling coal and lighting the kerosene lamps.
We are with her as she works hard, faces more misogynists in a day than she met on the street, and some days extracts petty revenge by picking and obnoxious person's pocket.
Then things take a murderous twist and she needs to solve and prove!
This is not an unbiased review. I was graduated from a School of Nursing in 1968 and wished at the time that this girl from Wisconsin could be accepted at Belleview.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

https://advancedmedicalcertification....1887

This amazing novel is a fascinating historical novel based on the little-known story of America’s first nursing school, as a young female grifter in 1880s New York evades the police by conning her way into Bellevue Hospital’s training school for nurses… Such a wonderful book. Utterly unique, exquisitely crafted and quietly powerful.

The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore was not what I expected. Una's mother was killed in a tenement fire, and her father was a drunk. Una found herself a child on the streets of New York. She was taught to steal and pick pockets by a woman who fenced stolen goods. When Una was arrested for murder, she escaped and applied to nursing school at Bellevue Hospital as a place to hide from the police. Her adventures were only beginning.

This is a story of second chances, the blessings of unexpected friendships. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical fiction novel set in the gilded age in NYC about a pickpocket who becomes a nurse. This novel was so so good. I devoured it in one day! I loved Una's character, her struggle, and her growth!! The authors language was so well done it felt I was right in the slums with Una, or the operating ward, or the prison. Well researched and loved every detail. I enjoyed Edwin's character and Drus character in supporting roles. I wish so much for an epilogue in this novel to tell me what happens to all the characters....like Dr. Allen--did he really get punished? Did Dru graduate? What about Marm Blein? I will definitely recommend this book to all my reader friends and look for more by this author!!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Skenandore is at it again! I absolutely loved The Second Life of Mirielle West when I had the privilege of listening to the ALC last year, so I had really high expectations for this one, and it didn't disappoint! Una was such a fun MC with witty dialogue and thoughts, and was similar to Mirielle in all of the best ways, but different enough to be a whole new lovable character. I am always a fan of a good murder mystery as well, so this book was all around just giving me everything I needed! I will say that I think the book could have done without a romance, but I won't complain too much because I loved Edwin as well! I can't wait for my preorder to get here, and add it to my collection of Skenandore books! I highly recommend to lovers of historical fiction, hospital/medical dramas, cozy murder mysteries, and generally anyone who wants to have fun with a thief-turned-nurse plotline!

An amazing story that tells of the early nursing program at Bellevue Hospital by way of the main character Una Kelly. Una has spent most of her life as a thief and pickpocket and due to unfortunate circumstances ends up in the nursing program which ultimately changes her life. In addition, there is a murder mystery wrapped around this story. Great characters and great storytelling. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review posted via GoodReads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4643189477
Interesting.
Una is a thief. She can pickpocket anyone and rarely is caught. When she is framed for a crime she did not commit, Una must get away. Leaving everything she knows, Una takes a position in nursing school at Bellevue Hospital. The Hospital expects the nurses to be prim and proper. Skilled with no-nonsense behavior. Una is miserable, turning from everything she knows. Over time she began to settle in and excel in her work. The woman slowly comes to know and respect Una. Well into her scheme, the death of a patient could possibly expose Una and her true self. Will Una choose to stay silent or risk getting out for something that seems out of place?

I really enjoyed the plot and character of Una. She is a strong woman who can handle herself. This was a very exciting book. I would tell my friends about this story and will defiantly read another book from this author.

The way this story was so layered and complex while also being incredibly simple and straightforward blew my mind. Amanda Skenandore is a master at historical fiction focused on complex women who evolve over the course of the story. This was a prime example of that. The character of Una was not necessarily one to admire at the start of the book. By the end, she became my personal hero. This book was a roller coaster of emotions and once I thought I had the who done it figured out, I could not put the book down until Una resolved the mystery herself.

In 1880s New York City, Una Kelly is a grifter and a thief, picking pockets and turning over what she finds to her employer, receiving a small percentage for her risks. She is a sharp, resourceful young woman that will do whatever is needed to survive. When she is falsely accused of murder, she flees and finds refuge by conning her way into Bellevue Hospital as a student nurse. Bellevue’s program is following Florence Nightingale’s nursing principles and reforming the nursing profession, demanding exemplary skill, intellect, and moral character. At first Una rejects her circumstance and does the minimum needed to stay hidden, until she begins to see the reward that comes with caring for patients. But after a patients death, she becomes suspicious and finds herself acting on instinct rather than abiding by her strict rules for survival.

Skenandore’s medical experience and creativity have combined for a fantastic story about Bellevue and its nurses. In a traditional historical fiction novel, the plot would have likely followed a woman through the nation’s first nursing program which is interesting in itself. But the author has made this story multi-dimensional and intriguing with a woman entering the program for reasons other than selfless and saintly motives. The Nurse’s Secret is equal parts historical fiction, medical, suspense, and mystery. Add a dash of friendship and romance with great character development and growth.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Nurse’s Secret. I have no doubt it’ll remain one of my favorite reads of 2022. I love a strong female protagonist, especially when you see their growth.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this! A woman named Una is living by her wits as a street thief when she is framed for a murder and applies for a first-of-its-kind nursing school as a place to hide out and lay low. Surprisingly, she becomes interested in learning and the nursing profession. I was fascinated by the historical aspect of the evolution of modern nursing, and by the development of this character. As an added bonus, there are murders happening that arouse suspicion in Una, so there is an underlying mystery as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very enjoyable book that kept my attention. Una Kelly, the main character, lives quite the life as a grifter and her transformation to nursing kept the book exciting. The who-dun-it aspect wasn't as interesting to me as the rest of the story. The historical aspect of Bellevue and nursing practices is definitely cringe worthy but fascinating.

I am officially amazed.
I've always liked historical dramas but this one is simply amazing. The characterization of the main character, Una, is simply perfect. I don't even know which words to use to start praising this book.
The story occurs in New York in the 1880s, a woman lives as a thief, using her wits to get through the complications of life. Until she gets dragged into something bigger than she expected. Then as a last resource, she goes to the first nursing school for women in New York. Not for vocation, not because she wants to be a better person, but to hide in plain sight from the police. There she meets a whole new world of people that will change her life forever. An amazing story about finding yourself, the difficulties of the class breach, and the importance of being true to who you are.

I loved this story of a young girl, Una, who decides to apply to nursing school. She enters into Bellevue Hospital training school in NY.
Bellevue was the first school in the country and it was not easy to gain entrance. it was also very simple to be tossed out.
Una has secrets and this looks like a perfect place to conceal herself.
Nobody would find her in a nursing school!
Taking place in the 1880's, there is mystery, guts, determination, love and friendship as Una proceeds through the days of learning.
The descriptions, odors, feelings are so well described, I could feel myself there!

As an RN myself, I attended nursing school in the late 1970's, and it brought so many memories!
It was a challenge! Wow!

This is truly a wonderful book that anyone who loves historical fiction, mystery and nursing will adore!

Thank you to kensington Books for this ARC and to NetGalley for allowing me to provide my own review.