REVIEW: Deborah Burrows’ ‘Ambulance Girls’

 

Ambulance Girls
Deborah Burrows

I do love Deborah Burrows’ strong female heroines, we all know that she writes them so brilliantly, but Lily Brennan stole a little more of my heart than usual. Lily is a sharp-witted, courageous, roll-your-sleeves-up-and-get-the-job-done Australian woman who is as kind as she is tough. When faced with standing on the front line of the horrific London Blitz, Lily confronts the challenge in a typically Australian fashion: with humility, strength, courage, and a mighty fine helping of smarts.

There is a romance inside Lily’s story however it isn’t an easy one (in that there is also much heartbreak) and in typical Lily fashion it is one that she works hard to achieve.

Burrows has presented a thoroughly researched novel which is balanced perfectly against the strong characterisation of Lily, the endearing story of courage in adversity, and the belief in good triumphing. A brilliant read.