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The District Nurse #3
Christmas for the District Nurses
A dramatic and heart-warming new novel set in the Blitz, from the bestselling author Annie Groves.
The East End of London has been devastated by the Blitz and the people are struggling to come to terms with their ravaged city. Rationing bites ever deeper and and everything that makes life better is in short supply. For the district nurses, the challenges are tougher than ever.
Gladys loves her work in the Civil Nursing Reserve, but just when she needs to rely on her sister at home to help out with the chores, she turns into a handful of trouble. Edith is learning to cope with her boyfriend's injuries after Dunkirk but will she have to choose between her love for him and her career?
With no end in sight, the war reaches its darkest moment … Can the nurses – and the families and patients that rely on them – find the strength to carry on?
The East End of London has been devastated by the Blitz and the people are struggling to come to terms with their ravaged city. Rationing bites ever deeper and and everything that makes life better is in short supply. For the district nurses, the challenges are tougher than ever.
Gladys loves her work in the Civil Nursing Reserve, but just when she needs to rely on her sister at home to help out with the chores, she turns into a handful of trouble. Edith is learning to cope with her boyfriend's injuries after Dunkirk but will she have to choose between her love for him and her career?
With no end in sight, the war reaches its darkest moment … Can the nurses – and the families and patients that rely on them – find the strength to carry on?
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2019
222 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Annie Groves
40 books171 followersPenelope Jones Halsall aka: Caroline Courtney, Penny Jordan, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.
She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.
Penny died on 31 December 2011.
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.
She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.
Penny died on 31 December 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 20, 2019
Enjoyed this book . Another nice book it the series
December 23, 2019
The latest Victory Walk book begins in December 1941 and follows the lives of Alice, Edith, Kathleen, Gladys and Peggy for the next two years. The Americans have just entered the war and people are bracing for the onslaught. Edith is relieved that he fiance Harry is still alive and happily planning their wedding for after he has finished his surgeries to his face and arms after being injured in Dunkirk. Harry however faces a rude awakening once out of the hospital. People stare at his injuries and he begins to feel less of a man. Edith worries that when she marries she will have to give up her career as a nurse. Peggy has shown so much growth throughout the books from acting out wild drunken widow to mature hardworking young woman. She has started to get along with her mother in law after scorning her in earlier books. She misses her husband Pete but secretly wonders if she'll ever find love again. Then a handsome American GI named James appears and she is instantly swept off her feet. But it is not without its problems. Not only is James American he is also black and people aren't too pleased with the combination. Kathleen is settling into marriage with Billy, at last! After watching their romance grow in the first two books it's nice to see them together and starting a family at last. Gladys also has come a long way from illiterate shy girl to a strong confident albeit shy woman. She is training to be a nurse and working with the Red Cross and coming into her own, but sadly her younger sister Evelyn appears headed for disaster hanging out in seedy pubs with unsavory characters dreaming of being a singing or acting star and ignoring her sister's warnings. Alice plays a smaller role this time. Her and Joe are my favourite fictional couple. I love their connection to each other and the slow burn of romance hinted at but never acknowledged especially by the two of them. It gives you something to continue to look forward to in future books. I enjoyed the story and catching up with the happenings. From seeing Mary and Charles together and their growing romance, to Belinda in all her tall awkward clumsiness and the usual antics of the Banham clan and their friends and neighbours. I'm curious to see what will happen next. These aren't overly dramatic books but you do get pulled in and root for all the characters as they live out their lives during extraordinary times.
January 16, 2020
Awful, absolutely awful. If the facility was there to give 1/2 stars, this would have been a 1 1/2 instead of a 2.
In my review of book two ‘Wartime for the District Nurses,’ I said that the district nursing aspect played second fiddle, especially to the Banham family, well, here in book three, I’m not even sure on which rung it has now slid too. In the few instances where any aspect of what is nursing, it is over in a few sentences. When you think something major health-wise is about to happen it fizzles out like a damp squib. What could be a serious outbreak of an illness amongst the tightly packed residents never goes beyond one family.
This particular genre - WWII fiction - especially set in London’s East End is an absolute favourite of mine, and I’ve read a LOT of them. This series is supposedly set in the East End, but to be honest it could have been absolutely anywhere; as I said in my review of ‘District Nurses 2,’ the authentic London East End just doesn’t shine through. Having read immediately prior to this book, Jean Fullerton‘s ‘A Ration Book Childhood,’ with its rich tapestry description of the East End, making the reader feel as if they were actually walking those war-torn streets, this felt like walking across a very sticky moth eaten carpet.
It gallops along too quickly. It starts in December 1941 and ends at the end of December 1943. There’s no climatic building towards a final ending. I found the ending of basically what the whole story is about - Gladys, and her wayward sister Evelyn - so unbelievable. The 360 degree turnaround!!!
There is obviously going to be a further book covering 1944-45, but I don’t think I will be reading it to find out how the war ends for the Nurses of Victory Walk and the Banham family.
I can never understand why an author is allowed to assume a dead author’s name. The author - Jenny Shaw - who is now Annie Groves in no way lives up to the standard of the original author.
November 22, 2019
Another Fabulous Book in the District Nurse Series following the lives of Edith,Alice,Kathleen,Mary and Gladys.Edith is learning to cope with Harry's injuries but it's not easy because he suffers not only pain but painful stares and he finds it hard.Gladys still works all hours but she loves her work even when her sister makes he life worse.I love the Annie Groves books as they draw you in and you walk alongside them all.5*
January 16, 2021
Well considering this was book 3 in a 4 book series this was quite an easy read. Obviously I didn't know the characters back stories but that didn't affect the enjoyment of the story.
April 9, 2020
A strong storyline and likeable characters. The Christmas element doesn't feel to forced and makes for an enjoyable read!
June 3, 2024
Honestly, this was very boring. There were no strong plot points carrying through the story other than the incomplete this and that of the main characters.
For a book presumedly about district nursing in WW2, the topic was almost obsolete other than to provide a meeting ground for the nurses to chat. I found this had the consequence of reducing all its considerable female characters to women whose lives revolve solely around romantic interests. I stopped even bothering noting the names of the characters because this was the degree of indistinct story lines.
Picked up for $2.50 at the op shop and in retrospect, should not have read it. Particularly after previously reading Call the Midwife, which had arguably a much more thorough representation of the East End and nursing content.
For a book presumedly about district nursing in WW2, the topic was almost obsolete other than to provide a meeting ground for the nurses to chat. I found this had the consequence of reducing all its considerable female characters to women whose lives revolve solely around romantic interests. I stopped even bothering noting the names of the characters because this was the degree of indistinct story lines.
Picked up for $2.50 at the op shop and in retrospect, should not have read it. Particularly after previously reading Call the Midwife, which had arguably a much more thorough representation of the East End and nursing content.
December 8, 2019
Oplæser: Alex Tregear. Super god oplæsning på det smukkeste engelsk.
Jeg er simpelthen faldet pladask for denne type bøger. Om livet hjemme i England under 2. Verdenskrig. Kvindernes kamp, fristes man til at kalde det. En kamp for overlevelse under bomberegnen, kampen for at finde mad til det næste måltid, kampen for at smile selvom man ikke vidste om ens kære nogensinde kom hjem igen. Fin fortælling om kvinders mod og råstyrke.
Jeg er simpelthen faldet pladask for denne type bøger. Om livet hjemme i England under 2. Verdenskrig. Kvindernes kamp, fristes man til at kalde det. En kamp for overlevelse under bomberegnen, kampen for at finde mad til det næste måltid, kampen for at smile selvom man ikke vidste om ens kære nogensinde kom hjem igen. Fin fortælling om kvinders mod og råstyrke.
December 29, 2025
Started Dec 23 ended dec 28
Christmas for The District Nurses (The District Nurse # 3) by Annie Groves. (Audiobook read on Everand app)
As the war continues, the rationing gets more strict and creativity becomes more a necessity. Meanwhile we learn more about Gladys and what her life is like at home and how one of her siblings faces a terrible ordeal. Edith learns that family is who loves you not necessarily who is biologically related to you. And everyone endures.
Christmas for The District Nurses (The District Nurse # 3) by Annie Groves. (Audiobook read on Everand app)
As the war continues, the rationing gets more strict and creativity becomes more a necessity. Meanwhile we learn more about Gladys and what her life is like at home and how one of her siblings faces a terrible ordeal. Edith learns that family is who loves you not necessarily who is biologically related to you. And everyone endures.
October 22, 2020
Exhalent book didnt want to put it down sorry when id finished it cant wait for November new book defiantly buying that nice little Christmas gift thanks for all your effort you put into your books x
I loved this book really good read thank you anny one will love this book Annie groves is so easy to read you won't wat to put it down
I loved this book really good read thank you anny one will love this book Annie groves is so easy to read you won't wat to put it down
December 20, 2020
Christmas for the District Nurses is the 3rd book in the series. The series features the same characters, primarily district nurses in World War II London. This is a continuation of their stories. I actually liked this book the most out of the series. I feel the characters and plot lines were more developed. Overall, this is a well-written series and I look forward to moving on the book 4!
November 16, 2019
Love this series, always read in a day or two
Love the ongoing stories of all the characters! The author captures for interest and you always want to know more about all these folks who had to survive and carry on during a very difficult time in WW2 Britain.
Love the ongoing stories of all the characters! The author captures for interest and you always want to know more about all these folks who had to survive and carry on during a very difficult time in WW2 Britain.
November 27, 2019
Love Annie Goves
Love the characters and can't wait for the next book! The characters are believable, the history detailed and always accurate when I look it up to learn more, and the stories well developed.
Love the characters and can't wait for the next book! The characters are believable, the history detailed and always accurate when I look it up to learn more, and the stories well developed.
September 22, 2023
Sweet Continuation
Another great installment in the series. The challenges of war continue to shape the lives and community of those in East London, but live and hope persevere as well.
Another great installment in the series. The challenges of war continue to shape the lives and community of those in East London, but live and hope persevere as well.
November 28, 2019
Nurses
Loved the district nurses like all Annie's books it's a winner reading about Alice Edith and Gladys like having old friends back 5 stars
Loved the district nurses like all Annie's books it's a winner reading about Alice Edith and Gladys like having old friends back 5 stars
December 15, 2019
Christmas nurses
Very easy read. Nothing eventful just every day life in wartime.
Peggy,James,Edith,Harry,jo,alice, Ron and Gladys. Not forgetting Evelyn in th
Very easy read. Nothing eventful just every day life in wartime.
Peggy,James,Edith,Harry,jo,alice, Ron and Gladys. Not forgetting Evelyn in th
December 25, 2019
The Christmas for the District Nurses was really good, but I was not blown away the same way as I was with the two previous books in the series
January 6, 2020
Fantastic read
Couldn't put this down can't wait for next saga
Definitely recommend this book but would definitely suggest reading in order
Couldn't put this down can't wait for next saga
Definitely recommend this book but would definitely suggest reading in order
February 2, 2020
Wonderful edition
Great follow up to the previous books, wish there was a further book, thoroughly enjoyed this story. Will be reading more by this author
Great follow up to the previous books, wish there was a further book, thoroughly enjoyed this story. Will be reading more by this author
February 27, 2020
Very good read
Second book as good as the first can't wait for the next one.
Hope don't have to wait to long
Second book as good as the first can't wait for the next one.
Hope don't have to wait to long
July 16, 2020
Another great ww2 series written by a brilliant author only downfall I’ve got to wait till November for the next book
October 26, 2020
War
Easy read and again couldn,t put a good read it down so very believable story about lives and families in war time
Easy read and again couldn,t put a good read it down so very believable story about lives and families in war time
December 17, 2020
A touching read.
The story of the District Nurses and the problems they faced during the war and their close friendships. A good series.
The story of the District Nurses and the problems they faced during the war and their close friendships. A good series.
Read
December 20, 2020DNF
I got halfway through the book and there has been no snow and no actual nursing. Can’t be bothered to carry on, not what I expected.
I got halfway through the book and there has been no snow and no actual nursing. Can’t be bothered to carry on, not what I expected.
December 27, 2020
Another brilliant read in the series
April 12, 2021
Afraid I gave up on this book not due to the book but personal circumstances- will go back to this book and begin again
May 9, 2021
It is lovely to continue the story of the district nurses and their friends. It is set in the midst of the second world war in London. It seems wherever the nurses are up to it is an adventure.
May 13, 2021
Lovely read and series
August 28, 2022
I enjoyed the entire series. Hoping a fourth book will be published soon.
January 27, 2023
Can't get enough of this series loving following everyone's journeys and seeing how they grow, can't wait to start the next in the series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews