What do you think?
Rate this book
A Christmas Miracle on Sanctuary Lane
The second book in the brand new WWI saga series from Kirsty Dougal, available to pre-order now!
With the Great War raging and Christmas on the horizon, can one woman’s bravery save the day?
East London, 1916: The Sanctuary Lane Animal Hospital is proving a huge success. For its founder Ruby Archer, this is a dream come true – and her blossoming romance with a local boy is the icing on the cake.
But in wartime things change in the blink of an eye. When a heartbreaking tragedy shatters Ruby’s world, suddenly she is at odds with everyone - her family, her friends, and even her sweetheart. And when further disaster strikes, and the hospital is threatened with immediate closure, she’s not sure who to trust.
With the festivities fast approaching, Ruby desperately needs a miracle. Who can she turn to in such troubled times?
And will she find out what really matters in time for Christmas day?
Praise for the Sanctuary Lane
'I was hooked from the start. The meticulous period detail and true-to-life characters had me immersed in the action, and I didn’t want the story to end. A joy to read' VICKI BEEBY
‘A wonderful wartime family saga not to be put down’ ***** Reader Review
'Superbly plotted ... a heartwarming and engrossing read' MAISIE THOMAS
‘This book was BRILLIANT! I loved the characters - especially Ruby and Leah - both very interesting young women in very different ways’ ***** Reader Review
With the Great War raging and Christmas on the horizon, can one woman’s bravery save the day?
East London, 1916: The Sanctuary Lane Animal Hospital is proving a huge success. For its founder Ruby Archer, this is a dream come true – and her blossoming romance with a local boy is the icing on the cake.
But in wartime things change in the blink of an eye. When a heartbreaking tragedy shatters Ruby’s world, suddenly she is at odds with everyone - her family, her friends, and even her sweetheart. And when further disaster strikes, and the hospital is threatened with immediate closure, she’s not sure who to trust.
With the festivities fast approaching, Ruby desperately needs a miracle. Who can she turn to in such troubled times?
And will she find out what really matters in time for Christmas day?
Praise for the Sanctuary Lane
'I was hooked from the start. The meticulous period detail and true-to-life characters had me immersed in the action, and I didn’t want the story to end. A joy to read' VICKI BEEBY
‘A wonderful wartime family saga not to be put down’ ***** Reader Review
'Superbly plotted ... a heartwarming and engrossing read' MAISIE THOMAS
‘This book was BRILLIANT! I loved the characters - especially Ruby and Leah - both very interesting young women in very different ways’ ***** Reader Review
416 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2024
13 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 18, 2024
An enjoyable WW1 story which was mainly about an animal shelter in the heart of a city. Mixed in was romance and sadly a death of a family member killed in The Somme. Altogether an easy read. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
December 5, 2024
This book follows on from the first book, "Wartime on Sanctuary Lane," and we meet Ruby again doing her best to cope with everything in this challenging world during WW1. But it doesn't matter if you haven't read the first book, this one fills you in on all the characters and their lives as you read along. We meet Ruby and her best friend Leah, they are from very different classes, Ruby is working class and Leah is upper-class but that doesn't worry them at all, they are best of friends. Plus all the people who work and volunteer at the animal hospital, some interesting characters!
In the Prologue, it's December 1916 and at the Sanctuary Lane Animal Hospital Ruby, and her colleagues are trapped beneath falling masonry in the building. You just need to know what has happened.
Going back a couple of months to October 1916 and Ruby is doing her best to look after the animals that need help and care, and all for free. As well as her job in the munitions factory, she is certainly kept very busy. But she has to keep going when she and her family receive devastating news in a telegram, if it wasn't for her close knit group of friends she didn't know how she would cope with everyday life. When a returned soldier from the frontline returned to England with a smuggled dog, which he said had saved his life, Ruby is concerned with the dogs symptoms and behaviour that it may have rabies. So they immediately quarantine it, so that at least it is kept away from the local community and other dogs, what they don't want is for it to spread rabies, if in fact that is what it is? But this is just the start of the troubles at the hospital. What do the RCVS want, and why are they writing to Ruby?
I really enjoyed the camaraderie between everyone, both at the animal hospital and at the munitions factory, especially the friendship between Ruby and Leah and also the relationship between Ruby and Jack.
It was a lovely book to read during the Christmas season.
Thanks to netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
#netgalley
#michaeljbooks
In the Prologue, it's December 1916 and at the Sanctuary Lane Animal Hospital Ruby, and her colleagues are trapped beneath falling masonry in the building. You just need to know what has happened.
Going back a couple of months to October 1916 and Ruby is doing her best to look after the animals that need help and care, and all for free. As well as her job in the munitions factory, she is certainly kept very busy. But she has to keep going when she and her family receive devastating news in a telegram, if it wasn't for her close knit group of friends she didn't know how she would cope with everyday life. When a returned soldier from the frontline returned to England with a smuggled dog, which he said had saved his life, Ruby is concerned with the dogs symptoms and behaviour that it may have rabies. So they immediately quarantine it, so that at least it is kept away from the local community and other dogs, what they don't want is for it to spread rabies, if in fact that is what it is? But this is just the start of the troubles at the hospital. What do the RCVS want, and why are they writing to Ruby?
I really enjoyed the camaraderie between everyone, both at the animal hospital and at the munitions factory, especially the friendship between Ruby and Leah and also the relationship between Ruby and Jack.
It was a lovely book to read during the Christmas season.
Thanks to netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
#netgalley
#michaeljbooks
October 26, 2024
We continue with the second book and it does not disappoint we have romance, sadness and happiness..
Ruby continues with her campaign to keep the hospital going in which she has some obstacles in her path. She and Jack continue with their romance will they survive together. The War continues with people losing family members. We see how they cope with the hospital and when it seems to be more and more people come for help with their animals.
I enjoyed the characters and there was some twists in the book which were interesting. How the characters seemed to grow and become stronger with everything that happened. There was a funny episode in the book as well which I found amusing.
Well written hope there is another book in this series.
Ruby continues with her campaign to keep the hospital going in which she has some obstacles in her path. She and Jack continue with their romance will they survive together. The War continues with people losing family members. We see how they cope with the hospital and when it seems to be more and more people come for help with their animals.
I enjoyed the characters and there was some twists in the book which were interesting. How the characters seemed to grow and become stronger with everything that happened. There was a funny episode in the book as well which I found amusing.
Well written hope there is another book in this series.
December 13, 2024
Another gorgeous story from Kirsty Dougal. This one made me cry in places. We have a very special animal shelter, a war, a romance, and the devastating loss that war brings. Loved Ruby's determination, resilience, yet her total vulnerability. Wonderful character development in Ruby's Mum, and her brother Charlie. And that Leah and Robert. I loved how Kirsty Dougal brought these two together and how life conspired against them and others. And that Cook! Grrrrrr!
Excellent storytelling from Kirsty Dougal.
Excellent storytelling from Kirsty Dougal.
September 23, 2024
Book two WW1 saga.
The Sanctuary Lane Animal hospital east London 1916 with Christmas on the horizon.
With the men at war can the women save Christmas at home?
Ruby and her family friends back with another fantastic time of the year.
Heartwarming,emotional, laughter and happiness.
I just loved this book in the series.
The Sanctuary Lane Animal hospital east London 1916 with Christmas on the horizon.
With the men at war can the women save Christmas at home?
Ruby and her family friends back with another fantastic time of the year.
Heartwarming,emotional, laughter and happiness.
I just loved this book in the series.
January 1, 2025
An enthralling story
I enjoyed this story of the way that the East Enders faced the rigours of war. I liked the idea of the animal clinic being set up, and how it helped the people and their pets during that conflict. I liked the characters and how they interacted. The hatred and love were closely linked, as war raged and people lost their loved ones.
I enjoyed this story of the way that the East Enders faced the rigours of war. I liked the idea of the animal clinic being set up, and how it helped the people and their pets during that conflict. I liked the characters and how they interacted. The hatred and love were closely linked, as war raged and people lost their loved ones.
December 31, 2025
⭐️3.5⭐️
Serviceable wartime saga novel although blighted by the extreme over use of exclamation marks in the first 80 odd pages which was very off putting!
I also found Ruby's treatment of her sweetheart frustrating and unrealistic, driven more to create drama in their relationship.
Serviceable wartime saga novel although blighted by the extreme over use of exclamation marks in the first 80 odd pages which was very off putting!
I also found Ruby's treatment of her sweetheart frustrating and unrealistic, driven more to create drama in their relationship.
December 15, 2025
Rather disappointing as it wasn't as Christmassy as the title suggested. I'd have read it earlier in the year had I realised.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews