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Nightingales #14
A Nurse’s Secret
A heartbreaking story of love and forgiveness from Sunday Times bestselling author Donna Douglas. Perfect for fans of Call the Midwife!
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London's East End, 1940: a frightened young woman gives birth to a tiny baby. Clearly alone, she refuses to hold the she can’t let herself bond with the baby she must give up. But sometime in the night, a terrifying air raid forces the maternity unit to evacuate, and in the chaos, mother and baby are separated…
Eighteen years later, student nurse Amy begins her career at the Nightingale Hospital. Finally away from the unhappy confines of home, she finds a friend and mentor in Sister Elizabeth Clyde. But Elizabeth is hiding a secret – one that could change both of their lives, forever…
Will past mistakes destroy two families, or can love finally put an end to heartbreak?
_______________
London's East End, 1940: a frightened young woman gives birth to a tiny baby. Clearly alone, she refuses to hold the she can’t let herself bond with the baby she must give up. But sometime in the night, a terrifying air raid forces the maternity unit to evacuate, and in the chaos, mother and baby are separated…
Eighteen years later, student nurse Amy begins her career at the Nightingale Hospital. Finally away from the unhappy confines of home, she finds a friend and mentor in Sister Elizabeth Clyde. But Elizabeth is hiding a secret – one that could change both of their lives, forever…
Will past mistakes destroy two families, or can love finally put an end to heartbreak?
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2025
About the author
Donna Douglas
35 books259 followersWelcome to my Goodreads page.
I'm the author of the Nightingale novels, a series of stories set in an East End hospital in the 1930s, published by Arrow.
The first in the series, The Nightingale Girls, follows the lives of three girls from very different backgrounds as they join the Nightingale Hospital as students. The second, The Nightingale Sisters, will be published next spring.
I'm originally from London, but I now live in the beautiful city of York.
I'm the author of the Nightingale novels, a series of stories set in an East End hospital in the 1930s, published by Arrow.
The first in the series, The Nightingale Girls, follows the lives of three girls from very different backgrounds as they join the Nightingale Hospital as students. The second, The Nightingale Sisters, will be published next spring.
I'm originally from London, but I now live in the beautiful city of York.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 2, 2025
Explosive
This book like all the other books in this series was magnificent the twists and turns when you thought you knew what was going to happen it went in a completely different direction the brilliant end couldn't have been better I would give this book more than five stars if I could it's one once you've started it you can't put it down if you haven't already read this series from Donna Douglas then I highly recommend that you do
This book like all the other books in this series was magnificent the twists and turns when you thought you knew what was going to happen it went in a completely different direction the brilliant end couldn't have been better I would give this book more than five stars if I could it's one once you've started it you can't put it down if you haven't already read this series from Donna Douglas then I highly recommend that you do
October 7, 2025
Wow this was unexpected. Firstly the back cover was wrong again. There was no one in this book called Elizabeth Clyde. There was a Liz (Elizabeth) Spencer however. But otherwise it was actually a clever thing to do. The description led you to believe the story was going one way and then near the end it completely switched and went in a way that was completely unexpected.
It begins in 1940 at the Nightingale. The blitz is raging and two women are giving birth in the basement makeshift delivery rooms. One woman loses her baby the other an unwed mother is unable to care for her's. Hearing the sobs of the mother next door the woman offers her child to the devastated mother. Later that night a bomb hits the hospital, the mother of the stillborn is found outside with the baby, the other mother is believed to be dead as fire engulfs the basement before rescue can arrive.
We jump forward 18 years. Amy has graduated and is about to start training at the Nightingale in the children's ward. The ward sister Liz Spencer is a kind hearted soul with the tendency to get too involved in her patients' lives.
Amy has a very sick mother and an abusive cold father.
As with every book in this series we follow the lives of several people. Liz's flatmate and friend is about to marry leaving Liz alone, there's a hint of romance with an Australian doctor who always looks disheveled.
There's Tom the porter who lives with his aunt and uncle after losing his parents to a V2 bomb. He is the heir to the family shop but his uncle is determined to keep him from his rightful inheritance.
We get short glimpses of Dora and one of her new baby girl. Dora is the district nurse and Amy's sick mother is on her rounds. Winnie appears twice in a blink and you'll miss it moment. Viv isn't mentioned at all or if she was I don't remember her. That's the only part of this series I didn't like. The original series follow Millie, Dora and Helen from the start of their training til graduation with a few new characters thrown in. This one introduced us to Winnie and Viv set up a few interesting stories for them and we never heard about it again.
But still I enjoyed this one. Just as soon as you think things are winding down something else happens to pick things up again. From page one to the last it was non stop. Though the book has a mostly happy ending apparently this is for real the last book in this wonderful engaging series which is kind of sad.
It begins in 1940 at the Nightingale. The blitz is raging and two women are giving birth in the basement makeshift delivery rooms. One woman loses her baby the other an unwed mother is unable to care for her's. Hearing the sobs of the mother next door the woman offers her child to the devastated mother. Later that night a bomb hits the hospital, the mother of the stillborn is found outside with the baby, the other mother is believed to be dead as fire engulfs the basement before rescue can arrive.
We jump forward 18 years. Amy has graduated and is about to start training at the Nightingale in the children's ward. The ward sister Liz Spencer is a kind hearted soul with the tendency to get too involved in her patients' lives.
Amy has a very sick mother and an abusive cold father.
As with every book in this series we follow the lives of several people. Liz's flatmate and friend is about to marry leaving Liz alone, there's a hint of romance with an Australian doctor who always looks disheveled.
There's Tom the porter who lives with his aunt and uncle after losing his parents to a V2 bomb. He is the heir to the family shop but his uncle is determined to keep him from his rightful inheritance.
We get short glimpses of Dora and one of her new baby girl. Dora is the district nurse and Amy's sick mother is on her rounds. Winnie appears twice in a blink and you'll miss it moment. Viv isn't mentioned at all or if she was I don't remember her. That's the only part of this series I didn't like. The original series follow Millie, Dora and Helen from the start of their training til graduation with a few new characters thrown in. This one introduced us to Winnie and Viv set up a few interesting stories for them and we never heard about it again.
But still I enjoyed this one. Just as soon as you think things are winding down something else happens to pick things up again. From page one to the last it was non stop. Though the book has a mostly happy ending apparently this is for real the last book in this wonderful engaging series which is kind of sad.
September 6, 2026
Donna Douglas’ Nightingales series is a collection of comforting, light reads set around the Nightingales Hospital in London’s East End. The series does jump around a little in time periods from the second World War to the first and now to the 1950s. They usually follow at least one student nurse, and in the later books, a senior staff member too.
The story is centred around Amy, a student nurse with a difficult home life and her ward sister on the paediatric ward, Liz Spencer. Liz has a secret that comes to the fore during the course of the book. Supporting characters include a new Australian consultant Rob and porter Tom, who also has a complex home life. Set around Christmas, the plot weaves between dramas on the ward (abused children, illnesses and injury) and personal dramas (secrets revealed, family drama and a touch of romance). It’s all very easy to read and enjoy. What I did like is that the twist was something I didn’t see coming (and nor did one of the main characters) but it was actually quite believable. There is also a lot packed into this book in terms of themes but it didn’t feel too dense or preachy.
I’m not sure what happened with the back cover blurb of this book, as it has Liz Spencer’s surname as Clyde. I’m thinking there might have been an edit from the previous Nightingale books, where the sister was known by the ward’s name (e.g. Sister Clyde) rather than her own. My guess is that practice was eliminated in the most recent book, as the wards no longer have names but are referred to by their specialty (e.g. Children’s, Male Medical). Still, it’s not a good look!
According to the author, Donna Douglas, this is the last book in the Nightingales series. That’s disappointing, as it’s a lovely comfort read that brings together good stories that evoke an era of nursing and community that is long gone. Fortunately, I’ve missed a couple of books in the middle of the series so I’ve got some more reading time with the Nightingales left.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story is centred around Amy, a student nurse with a difficult home life and her ward sister on the paediatric ward, Liz Spencer. Liz has a secret that comes to the fore during the course of the book. Supporting characters include a new Australian consultant Rob and porter Tom, who also has a complex home life. Set around Christmas, the plot weaves between dramas on the ward (abused children, illnesses and injury) and personal dramas (secrets revealed, family drama and a touch of romance). It’s all very easy to read and enjoy. What I did like is that the twist was something I didn’t see coming (and nor did one of the main characters) but it was actually quite believable. There is also a lot packed into this book in terms of themes but it didn’t feel too dense or preachy.
I’m not sure what happened with the back cover blurb of this book, as it has Liz Spencer’s surname as Clyde. I’m thinking there might have been an edit from the previous Nightingale books, where the sister was known by the ward’s name (e.g. Sister Clyde) rather than her own. My guess is that practice was eliminated in the most recent book, as the wards no longer have names but are referred to by their specialty (e.g. Children’s, Male Medical). Still, it’s not a good look!
According to the author, Donna Douglas, this is the last book in the Nightingales series. That’s disappointing, as it’s a lovely comfort read that brings together good stories that evoke an era of nursing and community that is long gone. Fortunately, I’ve missed a couple of books in the middle of the series so I’ve got some more reading time with the Nightingales left.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
September 4, 2025
an excellent read
Wow, had this book as soon as it was published and started read ok it that same day. I was not disappointed, the same high standard as all Donna Douglas’ books are and the story as gripping and intriguing as the previous ones in this series.
The only thing I am sorry about is this was the final of the Nightingale series. Loved each and everyone and have reread the others already..
Thank you for a brilliant series.
Wow, had this book as soon as it was published and started read ok it that same day. I was not disappointed, the same high standard as all Donna Douglas’ books are and the story as gripping and intriguing as the previous ones in this series.
The only thing I am sorry about is this was the final of the Nightingale series. Loved each and everyone and have reread the others already..
Thank you for a brilliant series.
November 17, 2025
Wonderful Nursing Fiction
A great storyline from Donna Douglas based on various staff and their families from the local hospital. Love, romance,hatred and family disputes can all be found within these pages. Easy to read chapters and loveable characters plus the odd rogue. Thanks to Donna and her publisher.
A great storyline from Donna Douglas based on various staff and their families from the local hospital. Love, romance,hatred and family disputes can all be found within these pages. Easy to read chapters and loveable characters plus the odd rogue. Thanks to Donna and her publisher.
September 28, 2026
An easy read. A baby is born, and dies during the bombing of London. Next door a young girl gives birth to a baby. She doesn’t know what to do and as the building is collapsing around her she gives it to the women in the next room, whose baby has died. The story revolves around this baby and its life after it has grown up.
January 29, 2026
Another enjoyable read in The Nightingale series. I've read all of Donna Douglas’ books and enjoyed every one of them. I enjoyed the twist in this one, I didn’t see it coming. I’m sad to learn that this is the last in this series.
October 28, 2026
Read this book earlier this year and I really enjoyed it, great plot line, lovely characters , couldn’t put it down. Would definitely recommend. I loved call the midwife so this reminded me a little bit of that in the theme.
October 20, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Shame it’s the final one in the series.
January 7, 2026
Book #14 in the "Nightingales" series by Donna Douglas. I have adored every single book in this series!!
February 13, 2026
This book was so good, plot twists and really easy to get into
February 18, 2026
very good
I really enjoyed this book. A good old fashioned type of story. Lots of twists and turns but a great story
I really enjoyed this book. A good old fashioned type of story. Lots of twists and turns but a great story
February 20, 2026
Brilliant as,always
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's just as good as all the others in the series. I hope there are more to come
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's just as good as all the others in the series. I hope there are more to come
October 5, 2026
A well written story. Just wasn't my cup of tea. Definite Call The Midwife Vibes if you're a fan.
October 12, 2026
This book was pretty average. I was looking for something light so it fitted the bill.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews