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Steeple Street #2
District Nurse on Call
THE BRAND NEW BOOK BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA DOUGLASHer second book in The Nurses of Steeple Street series The Nightingale Christmas Show is available to PRE-ORDER NOW!*****West Yorkshire, 1926. After completing her training in Steeple Street, Agnes Sheridan is looking forward to making her mark as Bowden's first district nurse, confident she can make a difference in the locals’ lives.But when Agnes arrives, she’s treated with suspicion, labelled just another servant of the wealthy mine owners. The locals would much rather place their trust in the resident healer – Hannah Arkwright.And when the General Strike throws the village into turmoil, the miners and their families face hunger and hardship, and Agnes finds her loyalties tested.Now it’s time to prove whose side she is really on and to fight for her place in the village . . .'Full of well drawn characters and intriguing relationships. Donna Douglas skilfully charts her heroine's attempts to be accepted . . . uncovering secrets, heartbreak and lost loves along the way!'Mary Gibson, author of Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2017
113 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Donna Douglas
35 books255 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 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 1, 2017
A really good read!! I enjoyed the first book in this series last year and this one is even better. It's mainly about Agnes Sheridan who comes to the mill town of Bowden to be it's district nurse but it's also about the families, their problems and ills and the mill. It doesn't focus on just one aspect but includes everything equally which makes for an interesting read.
Agnes has a very hard time being excepted and goes through a lot to prove her worth. Even at the end of the book though she's still not quite there.
Can't wait for the next in the series. Would recommend it.
Agnes has a very hard time being excepted and goes through a lot to prove her worth. Even at the end of the book though she's still not quite there.
Can't wait for the next in the series. Would recommend it.
September 14, 2020
Ein wirklich gelungene Fortsetzung über das Leben und die Arbeit der Gemeindeschwester Agnes Sheridan!
Ich bin vollkommen in die Geschichte eingetaucht. Die Schilderungen über die Bergbau-Gemeinde Bowden waren sehr glaubhaft und haben mich absolut in den Bann gezogen.
Ich freue mich schon jetzt auf einen Nachfolgeband!!!
Ich bin vollkommen in die Geschichte eingetaucht. Die Schilderungen über die Bergbau-Gemeinde Bowden waren sehr glaubhaft und haben mich absolut in den Bann gezogen.
Ich freue mich schon jetzt auf einen Nachfolgeband!!!
August 3, 2017
This is the second book in this series and I was really looking forward to reading it and it certainly never let me down it was excellent to hear more about one of the characters. Agnes has finished her training and is now looking forward to moving to a small mining village to make a difference. She turns up in the village and really doesn't have a good start and the village really don't want her there can she work round them and settle in or is it just to much for her. This was a really easy and good read.
June 27, 2020
Ich kann die Fortsetzung kaum erwarten 💕😱
January 20, 2024
Fand ich toll
September 30, 2017
Despite my initial disappointment that this book moves away from Steeple Street and all those wonderful characters introduced in that book I enjoyed book two even more than the first. This time nurse Agnes is assigned as the district nurse in a mining town called Bowden. Much like her arrival in Leeds Agnes is not well received. They think that like the village doctor Agnes is in the pocket of the Haverstocks who own the mine and basically the entire town. She also has to deal with superstition as most of the residents put their faith in a healer/witch Hannah although it's Hannah's mother who has the real powers while Hannah simply bullies everyone and instills fear in them. The townspeople are quite charming and an interesting mix. There's Carrie a miners daughter who married the mine manager and is towing the line between two worlds, and us also mending a broken heart when her long lost love reappears in town to complicate her life. There is Seth Stanhope Hannah's brother in law who is also grieving his wife's death by working hard and virtually ignoring his three children. To add to the hardship of their lives the general strike hits England and turns into a long lockout for the men. Filled with many complex and fascinating characters some you love others you hate sometimes all at once this was yet another great installment to a series that is starting to surpass the Nightingale. With cameos by the Steeple Street gals (poor Polly finally gets a motor car which she can't drive very well) and a surprise ending that left me longing anxiously awaiting book three this series keeps getting better and better.
May 2, 2018
When I was in London, I bought this book at a grocery store, to have a simple read during my spare time. I was pleasantly suprised by this book! It was an easy, comfortable and enjoyable read! It's written during a very interesting period in the history of England and it made me think of the series 'call the midwife', even though that series takes place later in time.
Donna Douglas knows how to sketch situations and personalities in a very interesting way. One point of critique: she sometimes seems to lose focus of the main character and focuses too much on the people around the main character. However, it was a very nice read and I wouldn't mind reading more of this writer!
Donna Douglas knows how to sketch situations and personalities in a very interesting way. One point of critique: she sometimes seems to lose focus of the main character and focuses too much on the people around the main character. However, it was a very nice read and I wouldn't mind reading more of this writer!
April 22, 2019
I love this series of books. And if you can listen to it via Audible ---even better!
These books are about nurses that were trained and tended to the patients of London and other rural areas of England in the early 20th century. It deals with living conditions and social issues and lives or ordinary people. This book deals with citizens of the district, in particular, a small mining town.
I love the characters and the stories.
Great reads! Can't wait for the next books!
These books are about nurses that were trained and tended to the patients of London and other rural areas of England in the early 20th century. It deals with living conditions and social issues and lives or ordinary people. This book deals with citizens of the district, in particular, a small mining town.
I love the characters and the stories.
Great reads! Can't wait for the next books!
October 14, 2017
A good follow up
The story continues following Agnes as she moves on from her training, and introduced some new characters in a new setting. There's a couple of secondary stories that intertwine with main one, its well written and keeps your interest throughout. There's got to be a follow up book, you can't leave the story as it is, where will Agnes go from here.
The story continues following Agnes as she moves on from her training, and introduced some new characters in a new setting. There's a couple of secondary stories that intertwine with main one, its well written and keeps your interest throughout. There's got to be a follow up book, you can't leave the story as it is, where will Agnes go from here.
April 15, 2018
I can’t say that I was a huge fan of the first book in the Steeple Street series, but as I really enjoy Donna Douglas’s Nightingales series I thought I should give Steeple Street another go. It’s historical fiction following nurses too, but a little earlier than the Nightingales (1920s). This story focuses on Agnes, who we met as she started her training at Steeple Street. Now she has a new challenge – become the first district nurse for the coal mining village of Bowden. The locals aren’t keen on having a nurse, and the doctor is old and set in his ways so Agnes has a big challenge ahead of her.
I found Agnes to be a bit of a cold fish in the first book (despite her secret) and for the first half of the book, my opinion didn’t change. Agnes toes the line, always doing what is best for her patient and speaking her mind. Yet I still couldn’t warm to her, despite the townspeople obviously preferring the local healer or no treatment. I was much more invested in the story of Carrie, a coal miner’s daughter who married the pit manager. While James wasn’t Carrie’s first love, she loves him even though she doesn’t really fit in with her old friends. Then her first love reappears on the scene, wanting her back…it was much more juicy than Agnes’ stoic working on and on.
But then the General Strike occurs and the story became much more interesting for me. The coal miners’ strike makes everything that more difficult and the plot really sped along at that point. As Agnes becomes more accepted into the village and a number of crises occur, I began to warm to her much more. Perhaps it was also because she showed more warmth in her personal life and the ending had her more than a little conflicted…
The ending made me think that I’ll give the Steeple Street series another go for the third book, if only to see if Agnes’ heart melts further and she makes several difficult decisions. I found the setting of Bowden much more interesting than Steeple Street – perhaps it was fewer characters, and more time to get to know them. It was an easy read, and as the book went on, an enjoyable one.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
I found Agnes to be a bit of a cold fish in the first book (despite her secret) and for the first half of the book, my opinion didn’t change. Agnes toes the line, always doing what is best for her patient and speaking her mind. Yet I still couldn’t warm to her, despite the townspeople obviously preferring the local healer or no treatment. I was much more invested in the story of Carrie, a coal miner’s daughter who married the pit manager. While James wasn’t Carrie’s first love, she loves him even though she doesn’t really fit in with her old friends. Then her first love reappears on the scene, wanting her back…it was much more juicy than Agnes’ stoic working on and on.
But then the General Strike occurs and the story became much more interesting for me. The coal miners’ strike makes everything that more difficult and the plot really sped along at that point. As Agnes becomes more accepted into the village and a number of crises occur, I began to warm to her much more. Perhaps it was also because she showed more warmth in her personal life and the ending had her more than a little conflicted…
The ending made me think that I’ll give the Steeple Street series another go for the third book, if only to see if Agnes’ heart melts further and she makes several difficult decisions. I found the setting of Bowden much more interesting than Steeple Street – perhaps it was fewer characters, and more time to get to know them. It was an easy read, and as the book went on, an enjoyable one.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
September 28, 2021
West Yorkshire, 1926. After completing her training in Steeple Street, Agnes Sheridan is looking forward to making her mark as Bowden's first district nurse, confident she can make a difference in the locals’ lives.But when Agnes arrives, she’s treated with suspicion, labelled just another servant of the wealthy mine owners. The locals would much rather place their trust in the resident healer – Hannah Arkwright.And when the General Strike throws the village into turmoil, the miners and their families face hunger and hardship, and Agnes finds her loyalties tested.Now it’s time to prove whose side she is really on and to fight for her place in the village . . .In 1920s,England,with two million unemployed and the workforce becoming increasingly unionised, the country was in a deepening economic crisis.Reform of the Poor Law and expansion of welfare provision had to be set aside for more prosperous times. Economic pressures led to political unrest and short-term governments.The 1920s saw five general elections – and the first Labour prime minister when Ramsay MacDonald briefly led a coalition government between 1923 and 1924.The crisis culminated in the general strike of 1926.
A royal commission had recommended lower wages and longer hours in the nation’s coalmines, and two million workers from key industries and services came out in support of the miners.However, the strike collapsed nine days later following what was seen as the capitulation of the Trade Union Congress.In 1926,Nursing Times becomes the official journal of the Royal College of Nursing, a relationship that continued until 1968.
Hospitals were increasingly recognising the value of nurse education, and growing numbers were employing sister-tutors, who were responsible for the education of ‘probationers’.The profession’s educational ambitions were demonstrated by the fact that in 1925 discussions began at London University to develop a nursing diploma.
A royal commission had recommended lower wages and longer hours in the nation’s coalmines, and two million workers from key industries and services came out in support of the miners.However, the strike collapsed nine days later following what was seen as the capitulation of the Trade Union Congress.In 1926,Nursing Times becomes the official journal of the Royal College of Nursing, a relationship that continued until 1968.
Hospitals were increasingly recognising the value of nurse education, and growing numbers were employing sister-tutors, who were responsible for the education of ‘probationers’.The profession’s educational ambitions were demonstrated by the fact that in 1925 discussions began at London University to develop a nursing diploma.
July 28, 2017
District Nurse on Call is the second book in the Nurses of Steeple Street series. Thankfully it reads well as a standalone novel and I was able to enjoy it without having read the first, there were a few references to Agnes' past but nothing that interfered with me reading it. However, I will now read the previous title, The Nurses of Steeple Street as despite this not being my more usual fare I really liked it.
It reminded me of television series I used to watch with my family on Sunday evenings. The characters all have their secrets but as the story progresses we may need to reassess our initial responses to them. Agnes herself is the ideal lead character, still young enough for her character to grow through the book but with enough experience to be able to change a few minds and begin to assert her place in the village. The other characters are varied and complex, even the less sympathetic amongst them have redeeming features meaning that the reader becomes invested in the lives of all the villagers.
There's plenty of gritty drama here too of course, not least because Bowden is a mining village and therefore deeply affected both by the General Strike and by the horrific accidents that were part and parcel of that often harsh life. Although I guessed much of what would happen it never detracted from my enjoyment of District Nurse on Call, this sort of book gets its strength from taking its readers on a journey where they may know the destination but want an interesting and involving journey to get there. Donna Douglas has certainly provided that here, and there are still one or two surprises along the way.
There will be obvious comparisons with Call the Midwife but those of us who are a little older may also recall The District Nurse starring Nerys Hughes, fans of both will find much to admire here. As I said before this isn't the sort of genre I'm usually drawn to but Donna Douglas' assured, sensitive writing really drew me in and I will definitely be reading both the previous book and those that follow this one.
It reminded me of television series I used to watch with my family on Sunday evenings. The characters all have their secrets but as the story progresses we may need to reassess our initial responses to them. Agnes herself is the ideal lead character, still young enough for her character to grow through the book but with enough experience to be able to change a few minds and begin to assert her place in the village. The other characters are varied and complex, even the less sympathetic amongst them have redeeming features meaning that the reader becomes invested in the lives of all the villagers.
There's plenty of gritty drama here too of course, not least because Bowden is a mining village and therefore deeply affected both by the General Strike and by the horrific accidents that were part and parcel of that often harsh life. Although I guessed much of what would happen it never detracted from my enjoyment of District Nurse on Call, this sort of book gets its strength from taking its readers on a journey where they may know the destination but want an interesting and involving journey to get there. Donna Douglas has certainly provided that here, and there are still one or two surprises along the way.
There will be obvious comparisons with Call the Midwife but those of us who are a little older may also recall The District Nurse starring Nerys Hughes, fans of both will find much to admire here. As I said before this isn't the sort of genre I'm usually drawn to but Donna Douglas' assured, sensitive writing really drew me in and I will definitely be reading both the previous book and those that follow this one.
April 16, 2023
District Nurse On Call
04/11/23-04/16/23
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of my favorite books! I read that this is after The Nurses of Steeple Street). Even if I haven’t read it, this book is easy to understand. All chapters were interesting. All characters have their own stories. This book brought my heart closer to nurses and miners!!! My eyes were opened about how hard and risky their jobs are.!I learned about the importance of speaking out, fighting for other’s rights, the beauty of disagreements and differences. It reminded me to be brave. To defend others. To stand up for others. To know your stand and not let anyone dictate what you should do. It taught me about humility. Accepting that we also need help from other people. I learned about selflessness. About the importance of doing the right thing even if it will affect me negatively. It taught me about forgetting the past, even if they were unresolved. I learned that I should not let anyone disrespect me & my Gabby. I also saw the hardships of losing a spouse. How those who are greedy for power act selfishly. How heartless they are.
I loved James, then hated James because he changed. But I started to love him again at the end! He’s like my Gabby. I also experienced most of Carrie’s stories!!! I know how she felt. I hate Rob. I liked him first but I eventually hated him.
But the main character is Agnes. She taught me to be brave, to be persistent, dedicated.
But my favorites are Carrie and James.
04/11/23-04/16/23
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of my favorite books! I read that this is after The Nurses of Steeple Street). Even if I haven’t read it, this book is easy to understand. All chapters were interesting. All characters have their own stories. This book brought my heart closer to nurses and miners!!! My eyes were opened about how hard and risky their jobs are.!I learned about the importance of speaking out, fighting for other’s rights, the beauty of disagreements and differences. It reminded me to be brave. To defend others. To stand up for others. To know your stand and not let anyone dictate what you should do. It taught me about humility. Accepting that we also need help from other people. I learned about selflessness. About the importance of doing the right thing even if it will affect me negatively. It taught me about forgetting the past, even if they were unresolved. I learned that I should not let anyone disrespect me & my Gabby. I also saw the hardships of losing a spouse. How those who are greedy for power act selfishly. How heartless they are.
I loved James, then hated James because he changed. But I started to love him again at the end! He’s like my Gabby. I also experienced most of Carrie’s stories!!! I know how she felt. I hate Rob. I liked him first but I eventually hated him.
But the main character is Agnes. She taught me to be brave, to be persistent, dedicated.
But my favorites are Carrie and James.
August 13, 2024
Donna Douglas once again has written a very readable novel, where the lived experience of the characters very much comes to life. 1926 Britain is experiencing many post-war and pre-Great Depression rifts, where the ordinary working class person is torn between supporting the economy, often to the benefit of the elite, and fighting for more individual and collective rights, and social justice. Queen's Nurse Agnes Sheridan is again thrust into a poverty-stricken but proud local community. This time, it is the miners and families of West Yorkshire, with the agonizing General Strike as the back drop.
The novel ends on a wonderful cliff-hanger as well!
The novel ends on a wonderful cliff-hanger as well!
July 28, 2017
I read this on the kindle
This is the 2nd book in the Steeple Street Nurses series
Agnes is now a district nurse in Bowden a mining community it's 1926 the year of the General Strike
You read about the community & how Agnes tries to be accepted a great story which leaves you wanting more
Donna Douglas is a great storyteller not only in this series but also the Nightingale series
This is the 2nd book in the Steeple Street Nurses series
Agnes is now a district nurse in Bowden a mining community it's 1926 the year of the General Strike
You read about the community & how Agnes tries to be accepted a great story which leaves you wanting more
Donna Douglas is a great storyteller not only in this series but also the Nightingale series
March 1, 2019
I absolutely love this book, there were so many different things going on for different people in Bowden. My Heart goes out to Agnes throughout the whole story because she just wants to to the right thing by people, but she is treated with such suspicion. The Miners storyline is very very gripping I think readers will enjoy it.
May 6, 2019
Although this book was not as intriguing as Steeple Street #1 and Donna Douglas's Nightingales series, I enjoyed reading more about Agnes and her adventures being a full time District Nurse in a new community. Plus what appears to be a cliff hanger ending leaves me hopeful and excited for another book in the series.
August 30, 2017
As always Donna never fails to write an excellent book, Agnes is one tough cookie and gives her all to the pit community whether they like it or not! Thoroughly enjoyed this and I hope to be reading the 3rd book soon (please!)
December 11, 2017
Brilliant, as usual.
The only thing I don’t like about Donna Douglas’ books is coming to the end of it and having to wait for the next one. A brilliant story line and always an unexpected twist at the end ❤️
The only thing I don’t like about Donna Douglas’ books is coming to the end of it and having to wait for the next one. A brilliant story line and always an unexpected twist at the end ❤️
September 22, 2018
Agnes
A really lovely book it was easy to get into and catch up on the characters from book 1 reading about a district nurse definitely a riveting read I'm looking forward to book 3 coming out it's definitely worth 5 stars .
A really lovely book it was easy to get into and catch up on the characters from book 1 reading about a district nurse definitely a riveting read I'm looking forward to book 3 coming out it's definitely worth 5 stars .
September 28, 2021
Although this is well written and engaging, it didn't meet my expectations because I was hoping to read about a District Nurse - instead, I ended reading small snippets about a DN and loads about miners wives and coal mining politics. I would have enjoyed it more under another title/description
October 2, 2022
Dejlig bog hvor vi følger den nye distriktssygeplejerske Angels nye liv i en lille minelandsby. Hun bliver absolut ikke modtaget med åbne arme - tværtimod. Hun må virkelig kæmpe for sin berettigelse i byen og tager kampen op mod lægen, minearbejderne, konerne og byens selvudnævnte heks.
December 18, 2017
Second in the series and I hope that there will be many more. Absolutely brilliant
January 14, 2018
Very much enjoyed this book. I haven’t read any others in the series but will go back and find the others now. There was a good story to it with entertaining characters
January 23, 2018
Dieselblackcat
It was a bit long and drawn out but the end was good. Just looking to see if there is another which should be more interesting now that Daniel is back in her life.
It was a bit long and drawn out but the end was good. Just looking to see if there is another which should be more interesting now that Daniel is back in her life.
June 19, 2020
Great author
Read lots of her books in order as the stories are gripping & can’t put down once started reading .
Read lots of her books in order as the stories are gripping & can’t put down once started reading .
September 27, 2020
Would have liked Daniel to have appeared sooner.....any plans for a 3rd book??????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2021
A good saga set around the world of district nurses in wartime
March 18, 2024
A good way to spend a wet winter's evening
May 12, 2022
A great tale following Agnes Sheridan on her first district nurse assignment away from Steeple Street. She doesn't exactly get a warm welcome having to deal with a mining community not used to having a nurse to turn to, but Agnes is nothing if not determined to make a difference.
With a twist to end this book, the only disappointment is that, as far as I can tell, there isn't a third book in this series.
With a twist to end this book, the only disappointment is that, as far as I can tell, there isn't a third book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews