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Nurse Millie #2
All Change for Nurse Millie
Nurse Millie Sullivan is now Nurse Millie Smith, having married aspiring MP Jim Smith. The war has ended and the NHS has just come into action, so the nurses are busier than ever as the community realise that they no longer have to pay for the services. Minor ailments need attention, babies need to be helped into the world and some of the larger-than-life characters need keeping in line so Millie has enough drama to deal with without having to deal with more from home...and Alex Nolan, her ex-fiance, is back in town.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2014
34 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Jean Fullerton
30 books198 followersI was born into a large, East End family and grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. I still live in East London, just five miles from where I was born. I feel that it is that my background that gives my historical East London stories their distinctive authenticity.
I first fell in love with history at school when I read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then I have read everything I can about English history but I am particularly fascinated by the 18th and 19th century and my books are set in this period. I just love my native city and the East End in particular which is why I write stories to bring that vibrant area of London alive.
I am also passionate about historical accuracy and I enjoy researching the details almost as much as weaving the story. If one of my characters walks down a street you can be assured that that street actually existed. Take a look at Jean’s East End and see the actual location where my characters played out their stories.
I first fell in love with history at school when I read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then I have read everything I can about English history but I am particularly fascinated by the 18th and 19th century and my books are set in this period. I just love my native city and the East End in particular which is why I write stories to bring that vibrant area of London alive.
I am also passionate about historical accuracy and I enjoy researching the details almost as much as weaving the story. If one of my characters walks down a street you can be assured that that street actually existed. Take a look at Jean’s East End and see the actual location where my characters played out their stories.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 23, 2019
Dieselblackcat
A couple of days ago I looked to see what her next book was and bought the next two. I hope that tells you how good these books are. This one ended on a happy note and I’m glad as I think Millie needs some happier times.
A couple of days ago I looked to see what her next book was and bought the next two. I hope that tells you how good these books are. This one ended on a happy note and I’m glad as I think Millie needs some happier times.
July 13, 2014
I was really happy to see that there was a second Nurse Millie book after finishing Call Nurse Millie earlier this year. Millie had more than her fair share of scrapes in the first book, but it was still a fascinating look at London and nursing post World War II. I was hoping for more of the same in All Change for Nurse Millie, but was crossing my fingers that things would be a bit happier for poor Millie this time around. Not all of my wishes came true – it is an exciting time again at Munroe House as the nurses meet the challenge of the new National Health Service but Millie gets put through the wringer again in ways I’d never considered. It does make for action packed reading though!
The book opens as Millie and new husband Jim are both preparing for major changes in their lives – Jim plans to campaign for to be a MP for the Labour Party and Millie is hard at work preparing for the start of the NHS. Both are very busy, especially as Millie’s patients realise free health care is actually…free and Jim’s got a lot of people to wine and dine. They don’t see all that much of each other and a lot of Jim’s dinners end up in the rubbish. On the weekends, Millie supports her husband on the campaign trail, but then she begins to learn things about Jim that she really doesn’t like – a hotel tells Millie they’ve found her lost earring, but Millie was never there… Then Millie finds out she’s pregnant. Will she turn a blind eye or try to work through her problems?
If you know Millie, you know that she’s not afraid to meet things head on, whether it be her nursing superintendent or her husband. But this book sees Millie making decisions that are incredibly strong for a woman of her time, despite all and sundry telling her she’s mad. It reflects some of the attitudes of the time – it’s ‘okay’ to put up with a husband that hits you, as long as it’s not ‘too often’ (the definition of often is contrasted in two different cases of abuse), sexuality and infidelity. There are also plenty of light moments, mainly relating to Millie’s nursing – there’s a patient who insists on borrowing all of Munroe House’s equipment, just because it’s free (and rubber sheets are so useful for putting over holes in the roof). There are also some heartbreaking moments Millie sees at work, again reflecting the attitudes towards disability at the time and class divides.
Even though Millie experiences a lot of hardship in this novel, she meets it with a stiff upper lip and a determination not to let gossip get to her. There’s a particularly astonishing phone call she makes that seals her fate but she’s also rewarded by the return of a familiar character. Jean Fullerton has the ability to make positives out of the negatives, so Millie does get her happily ever after – I just hope it lasts longer than the one at the end of the first book!
My only quibble with this book was there were less nursing stories because of Millie’s pregnancy. But it’s a minor thing and opens up a whole new chapter of the expectations of women in the late 1940s/early 1950s. I hope there’s another adventure in Millie or three, this book is wonderfully nostalgic and perfect for those in Call the Midwife withdrawal.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The book opens as Millie and new husband Jim are both preparing for major changes in their lives – Jim plans to campaign for to be a MP for the Labour Party and Millie is hard at work preparing for the start of the NHS. Both are very busy, especially as Millie’s patients realise free health care is actually…free and Jim’s got a lot of people to wine and dine. They don’t see all that much of each other and a lot of Jim’s dinners end up in the rubbish. On the weekends, Millie supports her husband on the campaign trail, but then she begins to learn things about Jim that she really doesn’t like – a hotel tells Millie they’ve found her lost earring, but Millie was never there… Then Millie finds out she’s pregnant. Will she turn a blind eye or try to work through her problems?
If you know Millie, you know that she’s not afraid to meet things head on, whether it be her nursing superintendent or her husband. But this book sees Millie making decisions that are incredibly strong for a woman of her time, despite all and sundry telling her she’s mad. It reflects some of the attitudes of the time – it’s ‘okay’ to put up with a husband that hits you, as long as it’s not ‘too often’ (the definition of often is contrasted in two different cases of abuse), sexuality and infidelity. There are also plenty of light moments, mainly relating to Millie’s nursing – there’s a patient who insists on borrowing all of Munroe House’s equipment, just because it’s free (and rubber sheets are so useful for putting over holes in the roof). There are also some heartbreaking moments Millie sees at work, again reflecting the attitudes towards disability at the time and class divides.
Even though Millie experiences a lot of hardship in this novel, she meets it with a stiff upper lip and a determination not to let gossip get to her. There’s a particularly astonishing phone call she makes that seals her fate but she’s also rewarded by the return of a familiar character. Jean Fullerton has the ability to make positives out of the negatives, so Millie does get her happily ever after – I just hope it lasts longer than the one at the end of the first book!
My only quibble with this book was there were less nursing stories because of Millie’s pregnancy. But it’s a minor thing and opens up a whole new chapter of the expectations of women in the late 1940s/early 1950s. I hope there’s another adventure in Millie or three, this book is wonderfully nostalgic and perfect for those in Call the Midwife withdrawal.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
January 10, 2018
*Book 2 in a series, but can easily be read on its own*
First, totally not what I expected in a good way!
What I was expecting was the typical British post war story that would be about life as a nurse and struggling a little to get through difficult times. Ah, no! What we have is a story about Millie who leads a complicated life and how she copes. Millie is a strong, determined woman. I liked her. I like this authors writing style. I will most likely pick up the first book in the series now that I have read the second.
First, totally not what I expected in a good way!
What I was expecting was the typical British post war story that would be about life as a nurse and struggling a little to get through difficult times. Ah, no! What we have is a story about Millie who leads a complicated life and how she copes. Millie is a strong, determined woman. I liked her. I like this authors writing style. I will most likely pick up the first book in the series now that I have read the second.
May 22, 2021
Another good nurse Millie book
Following on from the first book this was another good read and I am looking forward to the next. The story lines are good and reflect the era accurately it is a shame that there are so many errors that no one has corrected which makes it annoying when reading.
Following on from the first book this was another good read and I am looking forward to the next. The story lines are good and reflect the era accurately it is a shame that there are so many errors that no one has corrected which makes it annoying when reading.
June 24, 2020
Very enjoyable book. It paints a good picture of life in the east end after the war years, and the way life was changing. I have also read the first book in the series and the next one is lined up. I can recommend this author to others who enjoy a good read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2020
Excellent read.
Another first class read. Have enjoyed reading all three in this series and can’t wait to read the next series.
Another first class read. Have enjoyed reading all three in this series and can’t wait to read the next series.
March 22, 2021
Nice easy read. Good bedtime story. A bit of a twist on the classic boy meets girl
October 21, 2016
Having just read ‘Wedding Bells for Nurse Connie’ I thought it was time to catch up with Nurse Millie’s story. I should, of course, have read this one first, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of it. Millie is settling down to married life with prospective MP, Jim Smith, and coping with the new National Health Service. On the face of it, everything seems wonderful but Millie soon finds out that Jim is not all that he seems. His unexplained absences, a fondness for drink, the ease with which he lies, all begin to take their toll, especially after their child, Patricia, is born. Added to which, her first love, Alex Nolan, is now back in England after a stint of working in Palestine. To resolve all her problems, Millie needs to be resolute in her determination to make a new life for herself and Patricia, despite widespread condemnation of her behaviour. There is no doubt that Jean Fullerton achieves this easily, her characterisation is spot-on (I hated Jim!). She captures the East End of London family life and the lives of her patients so well, I felt I came to know them. Occasionally, I found myself thinking I’ve read this before, then I realised that I’d read the same scenes but from Connie’s point of view. Very clever!
March 5, 2014
Nurse Millie is newly married to Jim who is running a campaign to become local MP in their London Constituancy. Starting a family is on hold, which does not worry Millie as she is dedicated to her nursing career.
As Jim's campaign gains momentum, he pushes Millie to give up her career as a nurse, but as Jim is not quite the doting husband, Millie has some big decisions to make.
The author, who has nursing experience, goes into some great detail about life as a district nurse in the East End of London just as big changes are happening with the introduction of the NHS. It was fascinating reading about the changes from the nursing point of view. A great insight into social history in England post WW2.
Oh my goodness, this is such a good read. Although the blurb says that this is a sequel, it can easily be read as a stand alone, or you could read this first and then Call Nurse Millie as the prequel. This will appeal to fans of Call the Midwife and historical romance fans.
5 star read!
review copy
As Jim's campaign gains momentum, he pushes Millie to give up her career as a nurse, but as Jim is not quite the doting husband, Millie has some big decisions to make.
The author, who has nursing experience, goes into some great detail about life as a district nurse in the East End of London just as big changes are happening with the introduction of the NHS. It was fascinating reading about the changes from the nursing point of view. A great insight into social history in England post WW2.
Oh my goodness, this is such a good read. Although the blurb says that this is a sequel, it can easily be read as a stand alone, or you could read this first and then Call Nurse Millie as the prequel. This will appeal to fans of Call the Midwife and historical romance fans.
5 star read!
review copy
January 19, 2016
I enjoyed this book, but it was hard going at times. I liked the stories of Millie' s district nurse patients and found it to be rather like call the midwife in that way. The main character, Millie, certainty goes through a lot of hard times and in the space of only a few years she has every problem possible thrown at her. The descriptions of the area are wonderful and make you feel as if you know it well, it is obviously well researched. What slightly spoils it for me is the fact that I spotted several errors that the editors missed and that the style of writing isn't really for me. After enjoying and getting into a portion of the story the next paragraph jumps to another time and place often a few days later, I found this very confusing and had to re-read sections to grasp what was happening.
January 21, 2016
I first discovered this author in 2011 and have kept up with her writing since then. Her latest novels are an excellent well researched series about nursing in post WWII in London. As well as finding them interesting from a historical point of view, I have found them to contain characters that one is drawn to and a realistic picture of life in the years after the war. Changing times for the country generally and professionally for nurses and the women who worked in the profession. So much more than just a romance and I recommend this series to anyone that enjoys social history in general and nursing stories in particular. Fans of 'Call The Midwife' take note!
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February 2, 2017
I read this on the kindle
This is a great book it has you gripped all the way through so much I had to finish this so was reading until nearly 2am
This continues with Millie's story she has Married the Honourable James Smith who without spoiling it as you read you can guess what he like
Alex Norton comes back to the area, then you have the other people & nurses with bits of their story going along as well as Millie's family
I highly recomend this book it part of a series starting with Call Nurse Millie so it is best to read from the beginning
If you like Call the Midwife then you will enjoy this it set before that era & from the end of WW2 in book 1
This is a great book it has you gripped all the way through so much I had to finish this so was reading until nearly 2am
This continues with Millie's story she has Married the Honourable James Smith who without spoiling it as you read you can guess what he like
Alex Norton comes back to the area, then you have the other people & nurses with bits of their story going along as well as Millie's family
I highly recomend this book it part of a series starting with Call Nurse Millie so it is best to read from the beginning
If you like Call the Midwife then you will enjoy this it set before that era & from the end of WW2 in book 1
April 6, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and was lovely reading more about Nurse Millie after reading and thoroughly enjoying Call Nurse Millie. A lovely story with some lovely characters and some heartwarming and sad moments. Was interesting learning about the start of the NHS and nursing/midwifery in the late 40's. Would definitely recommend this book to friends.
April 9, 2016
A book to remember..
I chose this book because I was a nurse before I retired and it brings back nice memories ,I enjoyed it very much ,I could not put it down I am looking forward to reading her next book.
I chose this book because I was a nurse before I retired and it brings back nice memories ,I enjoyed it very much ,I could not put it down I am looking forward to reading her next book.
July 15, 2016
A follow on from previous Nurse Millie boojs
This is a good gentle read especially good if you have an interest in early nursing and the setting up of the nhs.
The down side is that there a a number of grammatical errors where words have been mistyped.
This is a good gentle read especially good if you have an interest in early nursing and the setting up of the nhs.
The down side is that there a a number of grammatical errors where words have been mistyped.
October 24, 2015
I love this book, just as I loved call Nurse Millie.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews