A Gift for the District Nurses

The District Nurse #4

by Annie Groves

Heartwarming and nostalgic fiction from the best selling author of The District Nurses of Victory Walk.
It’s 1943 and the district nurses have two new recruits…

As the country ramps up for D-Day, the new nurses getting to know their patients on their patch in London’s East End.

Lily is quite sure of herself and doesn’t believe she has anything new to learn. She’ll find out the hard way that anyone can be made a fool of when she meets a man who promises her everything.

Ruby thinks that nursing might not be for her – is she as hopeless as she thinks, or will tough times bring out the best in her?

As the war takes on a new urgency, everything is at stake ─ can the nurses do what is right for the country and for themselves?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Medical, Historical

409 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2020

About the author

Penelope 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.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book in this series that I have read and I'm now keen to read the rest of the books. I have always enjoyed Annie Groves books and I love medical stories set around the war years.
Lily and Ruby arrive at the nursing home on the same day to start work as District Nurses. Ruby is very self conscious and needs to gain in confidence, whereas Lily appears to be overly confident in herself.
I loved the friendships between the nurses and their romances. Rationing and the black market goods feature and add to the general atmosphere.
Great family life in the East End, along with the camaraderie with the market stall holders and essential war duties. I was totally lost in the story and sad to come to the end- but I will now go back and read the rest in the series and look out for the next one.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seriously loved this entire series so far and they are balms for the soul. I’m so sad there’s only one left after this and I’ll feel so lost when it’s over! It’s been great following the nurses on Victory Walk and seeing their progress throughout the war.

So much has happened throughout the series, marriages, romances, deaths, hardships, babies born, personal demons faced. This one was a great addition to the series so far and I find I always look so forward to returning to the book whenever I put it down.

Here we are introduced to Lily and Ruby as new additions to the nursing team, as well as dropping in frequently to Alice, Edith and others of the original group. The sense of camaraderie, strength and friendship really bleeds through the pages and the strength in the face of adversity and trials of war makes it for compelling reading.

One more to go, I both can’t wait and will be sad to see this series concluded. It’s a definite reread in the future for me I think!

[Elaine Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this amazing book

for fans of call of the midwife, this is a book about district nurses in the war years and how they are sent out to look after patients on their bikes

here the story starts with two young just qualified nurses on their way to their first ever nursing job where they live in house

lily and ruby are as different as chalk and cheese but each make an impact as they start their new roles as nurses,

a lovely book that will keep you hooked right to the end...and will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1944 and the district nurses have two new recruits…As the country ramps up for D-Day, the new nurses getting to know their patients on their patch in London’s East End.Lily is quite sure of herself and doesn’t believe she has anything new to learn. She’ll find out the hard way that anyone can be made a fool of when she meets a man who promises her everything.Ruby thinks that nursing might not be for her – is she as hopeless as she thinks, or will tough times bring out the best in her?As the war takes on a new urgency, everything is at stake ─ can the nurses do what is right for the country and for themselves?District nurses suffered the same wartime deprivations as everyone else on the Home Front.In 1936 a new Midwives Act required provision of midwives for the whole country, with many new Nursing Associations formed to provide both midwifery and nursing services.Nurses in large towns were to reside in homes, under the charge of a trained superintendent; nursing of patients was to be carried out under direction of medical practitioners, and services were confined to the poor, ‘while not excluding cases of such patients as are able to make some small contribution.’The Liverpool Blitz was the heavy and sustained bombing of the English city of Liverpool and its surrounding area by the German Luftwaffe. Liverpool was the most heavily bombed area of the country, outside London,due to the city having, along with Birkenhead, the largest port on the west coast and being of significant importance to the British war effort.Liverpool was the eastern end of a Transatlantic chain of supplies from North America. Other industries were also heavily concentrated in Liverpool and across the Mersey in Birkenhead.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time for another visit to Victory Walk. Despite the festive cover, the book has nothing to do with Christmas. It begins Janyary 1944 (confusing as the back cover said it was 1943) and goes right up to around D-Day. While the raid itself doesn't happen yet it's strongly hinted at. Alongside our usual cast are two new recruits. Shy unconfident Ruby who has been bullied so much by her older sister she has already convinced herself she's a failure before she even begins, and overly confident Lily who thinks she's the greatest thing ever and has ideas well above her station. While Ruby is finding herself and slowly building confidence, Lily gets taken in by a con man only to be left humiliated. As for our older characters, Edith is pregnant and reluctant to give up work until the last minute which is very modern of her, and Alice comes face to face with her old flame while visiting her parents. A good installment to the series. Catching up with old characters and meeting new ones. It's fun to see how they grow not just over the course of one book but the entire series. Now with D-Day and the end of the war looming it'll be interesting to see where the story takes us next.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved catching up with District Nurses of Victory Walk as two new girls join the team.Ruby and Lily are nervous but soon settle in and get on with their job.The girls come from all walks of life but none of that matters when you are helping people when they need you even if you have problems your patients must come first.Edie is suffering with morning sickness but will not give up working untill she needs to but Al still worries about her friend and fellow nurse,all the girls rally round when a problem arises.I have really loved this book and cannot wait for the next.Brilliant Book 5*

[Becki Basley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started Dec 28 ended Jan 5

A Gift for the District Nurses (The District Nurse # 4) by Annie Groves. (Audiobook read on Everand app)

As the war ramps up towards D-Day, two new nurses join the fold. Lily will find her ambition might be misguided while Ruby will find she’s stronger than she gives herself credit for. Meanwhile, everyone is excited for Edith’s baby and Alice may yet see that the past should stay in memories rather than becoming part of her present.

[noreen stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just love those stories at Victory Walk

This is the fourth book of the nurses of Victory Walk. The characters are very well described and become people you are familiar with. You worry about wartime in London during this time and how it was so difficult just living day to day. Can't wait for the next volume!

[Julie Bartlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little disappointing

I read all 4 books to this series, and was very captured by the first 3 and couldn't wait to read the final one. I was a bit disappointed as I thought it would have gone to the end of the 2 world war and it would have been nice to see if the soldiers that we followed through the 4 books for home to their families. Little disappointed how it ended.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel like I', amongst old friends catching up when I dive into this series and seeing where they came from to where their lives take them to next, excited for the next to see the next journey although getting harder as we come up to D-day knowing how many lives were lost but hoping too that all of our characters pull through

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful read in this great series. I really love this series and having read them all I feel like I’m coming back to my friends who I’ve met inside these books, An easy but at the same time wonderful read,

[Marilyn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I always enjoy Annie groves books, so far I have read them all. They tell a lovely story, so warm and believable and none of the sex and violence that some others seem to feel the need to put in their books. I can't wait for the next one.

[Voirrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting, and enjoyable, continuation of the series; someone from Alice's past reappears, Edith is facing the end of her career, at least for some time, and two new DNs arrive at Victory Walk, one with a great deal of self-confidence, and one with hardly any...

[ANITA HICKS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed

I was disappointed with the conclusion of this book .it seemed leave the reader wanting more .I thought it would have finished with the end of the war we were left wondering if the men got home


.

[Cristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved this series and sad that this is the last book...

I liked the history lesson of those on England’s home front during WW II
The Nurses all have different personalities and come from different backgrounds which makes the stories fun.

[Patricia Moren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating story about a group of District Nurses in London during the Second world war. Very true to life with excellent characters and a compelling storyline.

[Lorraine Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last book in the series, another good read

[Lindsey Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic instalment to the district nurses saga. Great to catch up with the characters. Loved reading all the books in the series.

[Emily Spring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. I shall miss Reading about the nurses.

[mrs lynda hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book ,Great storyline loved it !

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Annie groves the district nurse series in ww2 I love these books it makes you realise how all the people coped with such hardships living through the war years

[maxine pickering · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Can't wait for the next one ,love the story line and the characters Annie groves really brings the characters to life

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good one in the series

[Lauren Pedrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I have read for a while, I really enjoyed it and will definitely be checking out the rest of the series!

[Carolyn Ogle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book introduced two new characters and focuses on them rather than some of them that have been in it from the beginning. A good read though!

[Joanna Warrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series but I would enjoy more time spent on the nursing storylines. The romance seems to be a larger part than previous books. I love the nurses and their lives and their patients.

[Nicola Crichton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this new addition to the district nurses series. It is great reading more about the characters I have come to love and how their lifes are progressing and of course the 2 new nurses who joined the staff in this book. I Can't wait for the next one!!

[Prcs Rambharose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost finished reading this. Very slow ending !

[Bernadette Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a recent NetGalley read of mine. My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It has sat on my TBR pile for some time and I actually listed it as a Reading Challenge for November 2021, but sadly never got round to reading it.

This is the fourth book in the District Nurses series, but it can be read as a standalone book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story set during the second world war. Whilst the story featured more on the lives of the people suffering the fallout of the war at home, rather than actual frontline drama.

Focusing on the District Nurses based at Victory Walk, this story tells us about the lives of Lily and Ruby two new editions to the local area. Both young women have their own issues to deal with, as well as the situations that they find themselves in as they aim to carry out their day to day work.

This is the first book that I have read by this Author and should I come across her again, I will have no hesitation in grabbing one and settling down to immerse myself in the lives and the world that the characters she creates live in.