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Nightingales #7
Le Nightingale sous le givre
Christmas 1941 and the nurses at the Nightingale are facing their toughest winter yet.
With shortages everywhere, and every news bulletin announcing more defeats and losses, the British people are weary and demoralised and The Nightingale Hospital is suffering too.
Millie is recently widowed and dealing with the demands of her family’s estate. It’s not long before her old world of The Nightingale begins to beckon, along with a long-lost love…
Jess is struggling with her move from East London to the quiet of the countryside.
Effie finds herself exiled to a quiet village, but the quiet doesn’t last for long as she soon finds excitement in the shape of a smooth-talking GI.
As Christmas approaches, even the shelter of the countryside can’t protect the girls from heartache.
With shortages everywhere, and every news bulletin announcing more defeats and losses, the British people are weary and demoralised and The Nightingale Hospital is suffering too.
Millie is recently widowed and dealing with the demands of her family’s estate. It’s not long before her old world of The Nightingale begins to beckon, along with a long-lost love…
Jess is struggling with her move from East London to the quiet of the countryside.
Effie finds herself exiled to a quiet village, but the quiet doesn’t last for long as she soon finds excitement in the shape of a smooth-talking GI.
As Christmas approaches, even the shelter of the countryside can’t protect the girls from heartache.
Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2015
191 people are currently reading
439 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 75 reviews
August 17, 2021
4,5🌟...ich liebe diese Reihe einfach sehr. Wir befinden uns mitten im 2. Weltkrieg und begleiten neue Schwestern und alt Bekannte. Millie tritt in diesem Teil Mal wieder mehr in den Vordergrund,dafür habe ich Dora und Helen etwas vermisst.😉 Die Autorin schafft es aber immer wieder,das die neuen Figuren sich auch in mein Herz schleichen. Es gab ein paar vorhersehbare Dinge,aber das hat mich nicht so sehr gestört. Es war nur wieder zu schnell vorbei.😉😂
July 13, 2018
Wiedersehen mit Millie 😊
May 10, 2022
Wieder perfekt gesprochen von Tessa Mittelstädt habe ich auch Band 7 der Nightingale-Schwestern-Reihe sehr genossen. Auch wenn die Kriegsthematik - spielend im Jahr 1941 - natürlich einen gewichtigen Teil des Buches ausmacht und für mich aktuell manchmal schwer zu hören war. Ich hatte mir anhand des Titels noch mehr Weihnachtszeit gewünscht, aber die Geschichte beginnt nur zu dieser Zeit.
Spannend habe ich den Settingwechsel raus aus London und rauf auf’s Land empfunden. Auch, dass Millie wieder einen großen Part einnimmt hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Die neuen Figuren habe ich aber auch gerne verfolgt, auch wenn sich manche Muster nach eben auch sieben Bänden etwas wiederholen.
Trotzdem eine tolle Reihe! Leider sind Band 8-11 nicht vertont worden bisher, so dass ich erst einmal auf zwei Prequel Bände zurückgreifen muss, wenn ich Weiterhören möchte.
Spannend habe ich den Settingwechsel raus aus London und rauf auf’s Land empfunden. Auch, dass Millie wieder einen großen Part einnimmt hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Die neuen Figuren habe ich aber auch gerne verfolgt, auch wenn sich manche Muster nach eben auch sieben Bänden etwas wiederholen.
Trotzdem eine tolle Reihe! Leider sind Band 8-11 nicht vertont worden bisher, so dass ich erst einmal auf zwei Prequel Bände zurückgreifen muss, wenn ich Weiterhören möchte.
January 4, 2018
Wie immer einfach toll
November 8, 2022
I was disappointed the book wasn’t more nursing oriented or Christmas oriented. This is a great book if you enjoy romance. I did enjoy reading about the nurses during WW11, and some of the difficulties they faced.
December 30, 2018
I was unsure about this Nightingale instalment at first as it is set in the countryside, away from the Nightingale hospital in London. But with familiar characters Millie, Jess and Effie it soon gains a familiarity. There's a nice side story of Sarah Newell and her baby, along with extra characters in the shape of RAF pilots stationed near the hospital. As usual the reader is rooting for all the nurses in their work and romantic lives.
November 10, 2015
I must admit I requested this book from Netgalley as I wanted something completely different from the thrillers and Australian Rural Romances I'd been reading lately.
And this fitted the bill perfectly.
I realise that this was book 7 in the series but this didn't make any difference to the enjoyment of the story, as there were little bits of fill in of the characters without making too much of it.
The Nightingale Hospital in the East End has been torn apart by the Blitz, so nurses are sent from London to the temporary hospital in Kent. Nightingales Under The Mistletoe follows Jess, Effie, Grace, Daisy and Lady Amelia (Millie) as previous readers may know her. Millie also has to contend with her home 'Billinghurst Manor' having been taken over by the RAAF.
There are the usual plot lines that are found in war time romance books and old time nursing novels but I don't want to delve into them.
They all rolled into a delightful book, that was an easy to read escape for a few hours.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
And this fitted the bill perfectly.
I realise that this was book 7 in the series but this didn't make any difference to the enjoyment of the story, as there were little bits of fill in of the characters without making too much of it.
The Nightingale Hospital in the East End has been torn apart by the Blitz, so nurses are sent from London to the temporary hospital in Kent. Nightingales Under The Mistletoe follows Jess, Effie, Grace, Daisy and Lady Amelia (Millie) as previous readers may know her. Millie also has to contend with her home 'Billinghurst Manor' having been taken over by the RAAF.
There are the usual plot lines that are found in war time romance books and old time nursing novels but I don't want to delve into them.
They all rolled into a delightful book, that was an easy to read escape for a few hours.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
November 8, 2015
I highly recommend this book to anyone else who has been reading the Nightingale Nurses series. Beautifully written, honest stories of the lives of a group of nurses during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
This one is particularly lovely because Millie is back.
It's a reminder of how hard the work was and the dedication that these amazing women had for nursing.
I can't wait for the next book in the series. Like... There is going to be a next book right? Please!
I did not find this book formulaic. I think the previous reviewer did this book and series a major disservice because she read it for the review rather than because she chose to. Also this is not the best place to start a series ... It's book 7! Yes it could be read as a stand alone but the real joy is continuing to see the lives of the nurses move forward through the pre war and war period.
This one is particularly lovely because Millie is back.
It's a reminder of how hard the work was and the dedication that these amazing women had for nursing.
I can't wait for the next book in the series. Like... There is going to be a next book right? Please!
I did not find this book formulaic. I think the previous reviewer did this book and series a major disservice because she read it for the review rather than because she chose to. Also this is not the best place to start a series ... It's book 7! Yes it could be read as a stand alone but the real joy is continuing to see the lives of the nurses move forward through the pre war and war period.
January 4, 2018
Es ist nunmal so, dass ich eine Schwäche für Weihnachtsbücher habe. Und da ich schon seit längerem um Donna Doulas' Serie rund um die "Nightingale Schwestern" herum geschlichen war, habe ich die Gelegenheit beim Schopfe gepackt, gleich zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe zu schlagen. Und ich kann berichten, dass es mir bestens gelungen ist und ich tatsächlich "zwei auf einen Streich" erwischt habe.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir sofort sehr leicht und ich war ohne Umwege im Jahre 1941 in Grossbritannien gelandet. Nach einem furchtbaren Bombenangriff auf London müssen viele die Hauptstadt verlassen, darunter auch einige der Nightingale Schwestern. Aber auch auf dem Lande sind die Auswirkungen des Krieges und vor allem die Härte dese Winters zu spüren. Doch Donna Douglas gelingt es mit leicher Hand die Herzen ihrer Leser zu erwärmen, auch wenn man zusammen mit den Protagonisten viel durchmachen muss. Ihr flüssiger Erzählstil und Ihr Talent, die damalige Zeit lebendig werden zu lassen, haben mir wunderbare und unterhaltsame Stunden ermöglicht. Als Fan von historischen Erzählungen und Geschichten wie Tyringham Park fühlte ich mich hier perfekt aufgehoben. Daher werde ich mir auf jeden Fall die vorherigen Bände näher anschauen. Übrigens: auch als Quereinsteiger dieser Reihe konnte ich der Geschichte in diesem 7. Teil mühelos folgen.
"Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung" ist für mich ein schönes Leseerlebnis, das bestimmt nicht nur zur Weihnachtszeit Freude bereitet.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir sofort sehr leicht und ich war ohne Umwege im Jahre 1941 in Grossbritannien gelandet. Nach einem furchtbaren Bombenangriff auf London müssen viele die Hauptstadt verlassen, darunter auch einige der Nightingale Schwestern. Aber auch auf dem Lande sind die Auswirkungen des Krieges und vor allem die Härte dese Winters zu spüren. Doch Donna Douglas gelingt es mit leicher Hand die Herzen ihrer Leser zu erwärmen, auch wenn man zusammen mit den Protagonisten viel durchmachen muss. Ihr flüssiger Erzählstil und Ihr Talent, die damalige Zeit lebendig werden zu lassen, haben mir wunderbare und unterhaltsame Stunden ermöglicht. Als Fan von historischen Erzählungen und Geschichten wie Tyringham Park fühlte ich mich hier perfekt aufgehoben. Daher werde ich mir auf jeden Fall die vorherigen Bände näher anschauen. Übrigens: auch als Quereinsteiger dieser Reihe konnte ich der Geschichte in diesem 7. Teil mühelos folgen.
"Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung" ist für mich ein schönes Leseerlebnis, das bestimmt nicht nur zur Weihnachtszeit Freude bereitet.
December 30, 2020
Christmas 1941: the nurses at the Nightingale Hospital are facing their toughest winter yet. Every news bulletin announces more losses and the British people are weary and demoralised.
Millie is recently widowed and dealing with the demands of her family's estate. It's not long before her old world of The Nightingale begins to beckon, along with a long lost love.
Jess would prefer to be nursing on the front line but is instead sent to the countryside.
Effie finds herself exciled to a small village, she soon finds excitement in the shape of a smooth talking GI. But there is heartache in the countryside too.
Once in a while a book comes along that gets a 5/5 rating and this was one of them. The author weaves the story of each nurse beautifully, and gives us a glimpse of how hard nursing was in war torn WWii England coping with shortage of supplies, diseases and soldiers with war wounds. This was my first read by Donna Douglas but it won't be my last.
Millie is recently widowed and dealing with the demands of her family's estate. It's not long before her old world of The Nightingale begins to beckon, along with a long lost love.
Jess would prefer to be nursing on the front line but is instead sent to the countryside.
Effie finds herself exciled to a small village, she soon finds excitement in the shape of a smooth talking GI. But there is heartache in the countryside too.
Once in a while a book comes along that gets a 5/5 rating and this was one of them. The author weaves the story of each nurse beautifully, and gives us a glimpse of how hard nursing was in war torn WWii England coping with shortage of supplies, diseases and soldiers with war wounds. This was my first read by Donna Douglas but it won't be my last.
September 11, 2020
Another delightful book with some antics, some fun, some romance and some sadness. Based on some realities from World War II.
August 13, 2022
Another lovely but emotional book in the series.. Loved being with Millie and Jess again especially.
January 31, 2016
Sadly come to the end of the nightingale series and they were excellent each book just got better and this last one is no exception excellent story lines and characters and made you think you were living the times. Millie is recently widowed and she wonders if she should go back to nursing to help out over the Christmas time when nurses are in demand. The nightingale hospital is moved and nurses are moved with it to. Jess is moved to the country much to her dislike and she find it hard to start with. Effie finds herself back nursing in the country side and is pleased to be back with old friends a must read.
May 20, 2017
Not my favorite. I found Effie tiresome.
January 10, 2018
England im Jahr 1941: Seit zwei Jahren herrscht der Zweite Weltkrieg und die Schwestern des Nightingale-Krankenhauses müssen sich auf einen harten Winter gefasst machen. Nach einer schlimmen Bombennacht werden einige von ihnen von der Hauptstadt London in ein kleines Dorfkrankenhaus versetzt. So auch Jess Jago, der der Umzug aufs Land überhaupt nicht passt. Doch als ihre Freundin Effie O’Hara eintrifft, bessert sich ihre Stimmung. Plötzlich kommt auch noch ein attraktiver US-Soldat ins Dorf. Er lässt die Herzen der Krankenschwestern höher schlagen und auf einmal hat die ländliche Ruhe ein Ende…
„Die Nightingale Schwestern – Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung“ ist bereits der siebte Band aus der Reihe von Donna Douglas um die sympathischen Krankenschwestern.
Meine Meinung:
Nachdem ich schon so viel Gutes über die Reihe gehört habe, habe ich mich nun auch einmal an die Nightingale-Serie gewagt. Zwar kenne ich die Vorgängerbände nicht. Dennoch war es für mich kein Problem, gut in den Roman zu finden.
Erzählt wird die Geschichte in 54 Kapiteln, die jeweils eine angenehme Länge haben. Es gibt mehrere Erzählstränge, die miteinander verknüpft werden. Der Schreibstil ist locker und flüssig, sodass ich schnell durch die Seiten gekommen bin.
Mit den verschiedenen Krankenschwestern lernt der Leser eine Reihe von Charakteren kennen, die mir größtenteils schnell sympathisch waren. Sie werden liebevoll und mit etlichen Details dargestellt.
Die Handlung habe ich gerne verfolgt. Sie ist stimmig und sorgt für Kurzweil. Es ist so einiges los, doch die Lektüre ist nicht nur unterhaltsam, sondern konnte mich auch berühren. Dabei geht es nicht nur um die Liebe, sondern auch um Trauer, Hoffnung und die negativen Folgen, die der Krieg mit sich bringt. Bewegend sind beispielsweise die vielen Schicksale, mit denen es die Nightingale-Schwestern zu tun haben. Auch das historische Setting hat den Roman interessant gemacht.
Die Cover und Titel der Nightingale-Reihe sprechen mich persönlich leider nicht so an, weswegen ich die Bücher bisher gemieden habe. Auch beim siebten Band trifft die Gestaltung nicht meinen Geschmack. Allerdings ist der Inhalt erfreulicherweise tatsächlich weitaus weniger kitschig als die Optik des Buches.
Mein Fazit:
„Die Nightingale Schwestern – Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung“ von Donna Douglas ist ein unterhaltsamer Roman, der mir kurzweilige Lesestunden bereitet hat.
„Die Nightingale Schwestern – Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung“ ist bereits der siebte Band aus der Reihe von Donna Douglas um die sympathischen Krankenschwestern.
Meine Meinung:
Nachdem ich schon so viel Gutes über die Reihe gehört habe, habe ich mich nun auch einmal an die Nightingale-Serie gewagt. Zwar kenne ich die Vorgängerbände nicht. Dennoch war es für mich kein Problem, gut in den Roman zu finden.
Erzählt wird die Geschichte in 54 Kapiteln, die jeweils eine angenehme Länge haben. Es gibt mehrere Erzählstränge, die miteinander verknüpft werden. Der Schreibstil ist locker und flüssig, sodass ich schnell durch die Seiten gekommen bin.
Mit den verschiedenen Krankenschwestern lernt der Leser eine Reihe von Charakteren kennen, die mir größtenteils schnell sympathisch waren. Sie werden liebevoll und mit etlichen Details dargestellt.
Die Handlung habe ich gerne verfolgt. Sie ist stimmig und sorgt für Kurzweil. Es ist so einiges los, doch die Lektüre ist nicht nur unterhaltsam, sondern konnte mich auch berühren. Dabei geht es nicht nur um die Liebe, sondern auch um Trauer, Hoffnung und die negativen Folgen, die der Krieg mit sich bringt. Bewegend sind beispielsweise die vielen Schicksale, mit denen es die Nightingale-Schwestern zu tun haben. Auch das historische Setting hat den Roman interessant gemacht.
Die Cover und Titel der Nightingale-Reihe sprechen mich persönlich leider nicht so an, weswegen ich die Bücher bisher gemieden habe. Auch beim siebten Band trifft die Gestaltung nicht meinen Geschmack. Allerdings ist der Inhalt erfreulicherweise tatsächlich weitaus weniger kitschig als die Optik des Buches.
Mein Fazit:
„Die Nightingale Schwestern – Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung“ von Donna Douglas ist ein unterhaltsamer Roman, der mir kurzweilige Lesestunden bereitet hat.
February 11, 2018
Mit diesem Band ist schon der siebente aus der Reihe „Die Nightingale Schwestern“ beim Bastei Lübbe Verlag erschienen. Donna Douglas bringt ihre Figuren in „Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung“ nun aufs Land, doch auch dort hinterlässt der Krieg seine Spuren.
Jess wird von Londoner East End aufs Land versetzt, um dort die Schwestern im hiesigen Krankenhaus unterstützen zu können. Viele Überraschungen und Schicksale warten auf sie, aber auch neue und alte Freunde kreuzen ihren Weg …
Donna Douglas „Die Nightingale Schwestern“ ist eine Reihe, die mich seit dem ersten Band fesselt. Dieses Mal geht es nicht nach London, sondern aufgrund des 2. Weltkrieges aufs Land. Und ein Wiedersehen mit alten Bekannten ist vorprogrammiert. So trifft man nicht nur Millie und Effie wieder, sondern auch Jess. Aber auch neue Figuren kreuzen den Weg. Zum Beispiel in Form von Grace, das ehemalige Hausmädchen von Millie.
Dass der Krieg vieles veränderte merkte man schon im vergangenen Band, aber auch auf dem Land begannen die Uhren anders zu schlagen. Vor allem Millie bekommt das, mit ihrem riesigen Anwesen und Erbe, zu spüren.
Leider stehen in diesem Band die Figuren und ihre unterschiedlichen Schicksale so sehr im Fokus, dass der Krankenhausaspekt sehr ins Hintertreffen gerät.
Und auch angesprochene Schicksale gleichen sich hier sehr, denn es geht vor allem um Herzensdinge und das Hin und Her zwischen den beteiligten Parteien.
Leider waren diese Liebesgeschichten für mich zu vorhersehbar und gerade Effie hatte mich sehr gelangweilt.
Da freute man sich auf die umspringenden Sichtwechsel, denn Jess war es hier, die ich bei ihrer täglichen Arbeit gern begleitet hatte. Sie zeigt immer eine sehr unterwürfige Rolle und trägt sich nicht in den Vordergrund, obwohl sie sehr viel Herzenswärme und Stärke übrig hat.
Aber nun freue ich mich wieder umso mehr nach London zurückkehren zu können, denn der Krieg hatte dort verheerende Folgen am Nightingale Krankenhaus hinterlassen.
Donna Douglas Werke haben alles, was bei einer guten Reihe vorhanden sein muss – Freundschaft, Liebe und ganz viel Drama!
„Die Nightingale Schwestern – Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung“ spiegelt Gefühlschaos pur wider.
Rezension unter: www.dieSeitenfluesterer-unserBuchblog...
Copyright: dieSeitenfluesterer-unserBuchblog
Jess wird von Londoner East End aufs Land versetzt, um dort die Schwestern im hiesigen Krankenhaus unterstützen zu können. Viele Überraschungen und Schicksale warten auf sie, aber auch neue und alte Freunde kreuzen ihren Weg …
Donna Douglas „Die Nightingale Schwestern“ ist eine Reihe, die mich seit dem ersten Band fesselt. Dieses Mal geht es nicht nach London, sondern aufgrund des 2. Weltkrieges aufs Land. Und ein Wiedersehen mit alten Bekannten ist vorprogrammiert. So trifft man nicht nur Millie und Effie wieder, sondern auch Jess. Aber auch neue Figuren kreuzen den Weg. Zum Beispiel in Form von Grace, das ehemalige Hausmädchen von Millie.
Dass der Krieg vieles veränderte merkte man schon im vergangenen Band, aber auch auf dem Land begannen die Uhren anders zu schlagen. Vor allem Millie bekommt das, mit ihrem riesigen Anwesen und Erbe, zu spüren.
Leider stehen in diesem Band die Figuren und ihre unterschiedlichen Schicksale so sehr im Fokus, dass der Krankenhausaspekt sehr ins Hintertreffen gerät.
Und auch angesprochene Schicksale gleichen sich hier sehr, denn es geht vor allem um Herzensdinge und das Hin und Her zwischen den beteiligten Parteien.
Leider waren diese Liebesgeschichten für mich zu vorhersehbar und gerade Effie hatte mich sehr gelangweilt.
Da freute man sich auf die umspringenden Sichtwechsel, denn Jess war es hier, die ich bei ihrer täglichen Arbeit gern begleitet hatte. Sie zeigt immer eine sehr unterwürfige Rolle und trägt sich nicht in den Vordergrund, obwohl sie sehr viel Herzenswärme und Stärke übrig hat.
Aber nun freue ich mich wieder umso mehr nach London zurückkehren zu können, denn der Krieg hatte dort verheerende Folgen am Nightingale Krankenhaus hinterlassen.
Donna Douglas Werke haben alles, was bei einer guten Reihe vorhanden sein muss – Freundschaft, Liebe und ganz viel Drama!
„Die Nightingale Schwestern – Ein Weihnachtsfest der Hoffnung“ spiegelt Gefühlschaos pur wider.
Rezension unter: www.dieSeitenfluesterer-unserBuchblog...
Copyright: dieSeitenfluesterer-unserBuchblog
December 10, 2017
Time taken to read - dipped in and out over 3 days
Pages - 432
Publisher - Random House UK
Source - The Works
Blurb from Goodreads
Christmas 1941 and the nurses at the Nightingale are facing their toughest winter yet.
With shortages everywhere, and every news bulletin announcing more defeats and losses, the British people are weary and demoralised and The Nightingale Hospital is suffering too.
Millie is recently widowed and dealing with the demands of her family’s estate. It’s not long before her old world of The Nightingale begins to beckon, along with a long-lost love…
Jess is struggling with her move from East London to the quiet of the countryside.
Effie finds herself exiled to a quiet village, but the quiet doesn’t last for long as she soon finds excitement in the shape of a smooth-talking GI.
As Christmas approaches, even the shelter of the countryside can’t protect the girls from heartache.
My Review
I do love a book about nursing, set during the war or when it first started out. Nightingales is set in 1941 and we follow three main characters, Millie, Jess and Effie. Millie is a war widow with a little boy, lady of the manor and an overbearing grandmother who is set in her thoughts of how Mille should behave. Jess is in the country to help out, sent from London and finding her feet whilst dealing with her superiors dislike for Londoners and their "know everything" attitude. Effie has come from Ireland, she is on the run from something and just wants a bit of fun inbetween her nuring. There are other characters too and between them all we see the issues faced in the 40's during war, being a nurse, being an aid, soldier, a woman in that time period and all the trials and tribulations that follow.
I am partial to this kind of read, I just love it. You learn a wee something, you have some kind of scandal, questioning morals, friendship, bonding, a bad guy or two to dislike or hate and some acts of kindness to warm the cockles. I could read this time of book in one sitting if time and life permitted to be honest. The writing flows, the characters you invest in relatively quickly regardless of if you like or hate them, you engage.
Despite this being book seven I think it is my first read with these characters and I didn't feel at a loss coming in so late. I will absolutely be buying up more by this author. 4/5 for me this time, you will laugh, rage, be moved and annoyed at parts and who doesn't love when a book puts you through your paces.
Pages - 432
Publisher - Random House UK
Source - The Works
Blurb from Goodreads
Christmas 1941 and the nurses at the Nightingale are facing their toughest winter yet.
With shortages everywhere, and every news bulletin announcing more defeats and losses, the British people are weary and demoralised and The Nightingale Hospital is suffering too.
Millie is recently widowed and dealing with the demands of her family’s estate. It’s not long before her old world of The Nightingale begins to beckon, along with a long-lost love…
Jess is struggling with her move from East London to the quiet of the countryside.
Effie finds herself exiled to a quiet village, but the quiet doesn’t last for long as she soon finds excitement in the shape of a smooth-talking GI.
As Christmas approaches, even the shelter of the countryside can’t protect the girls from heartache.
My Review
I do love a book about nursing, set during the war or when it first started out. Nightingales is set in 1941 and we follow three main characters, Millie, Jess and Effie. Millie is a war widow with a little boy, lady of the manor and an overbearing grandmother who is set in her thoughts of how Mille should behave. Jess is in the country to help out, sent from London and finding her feet whilst dealing with her superiors dislike for Londoners and their "know everything" attitude. Effie has come from Ireland, she is on the run from something and just wants a bit of fun inbetween her nuring. There are other characters too and between them all we see the issues faced in the 40's during war, being a nurse, being an aid, soldier, a woman in that time period and all the trials and tribulations that follow.
I am partial to this kind of read, I just love it. You learn a wee something, you have some kind of scandal, questioning morals, friendship, bonding, a bad guy or two to dislike or hate and some acts of kindness to warm the cockles. I could read this time of book in one sitting if time and life permitted to be honest. The writing flows, the characters you invest in relatively quickly regardless of if you like or hate them, you engage.
Despite this being book seven I think it is my first read with these characters and I didn't feel at a loss coming in so late. I will absolutely be buying up more by this author. 4/5 for me this time, you will laugh, rage, be moved and annoyed at parts and who doesn't love when a book puts you through your paces.
September 23, 2021
Christmas 1941 and the nurses at the Nightingale are facing their toughest winter yet.With shortages everywhere, and every news bulletin announcing more defeats and losses, the British people are weary and demoralised and The Nightingale Hospital is suffering too.
Millie is recently widowed and dealing with the demands of her family’s estate. It’s not long before her old world of The Nightingale begins to beckon, along with a long-lost love…
Jess is struggling with her move from East London to the quiet of the countryside.
Effie finds herself exiled to a quiet village, but the quiet doesn’t last for long as she soon finds excitement in the shape of a smooth-talking GI.
As Christmas approaches, even the shelter of the countryside can’t protect the girls from heartache.
London was divided into ten sectors, each based on a central London hospital.Each hospital had a hinterland spreading into the adjoining countryside. The plan was for city centres to operate as casualty clearing stations when the bombing began.Victims would receive initial treatment in the city, but once their condition stabilised they would be evacuated to ‘base hospitals’ in rural parts of the sector.This was an age in which effective nursing could mean the difference between life and death.Any nurse off duty when the siren went had to get back to the hospital as soon as she could.Many of the country hospitals that were used had been mental institutions and had little equipment.Supplies eventually came through, but in the meantime nurses had to make do and mend.The RAF Airfield Construction Branch constructed and repaired runways, hard-standings, buildings and other facilities as required by the Royal Air Force in the UK and overseas.In WWII,it was known as the Works squadron.Stately homes were used as convalescent hospitals and accommodation for the armed forces.
Millie is recently widowed and dealing with the demands of her family’s estate. It’s not long before her old world of The Nightingale begins to beckon, along with a long-lost love…
Jess is struggling with her move from East London to the quiet of the countryside.
Effie finds herself exiled to a quiet village, but the quiet doesn’t last for long as she soon finds excitement in the shape of a smooth-talking GI.
As Christmas approaches, even the shelter of the countryside can’t protect the girls from heartache.
London was divided into ten sectors, each based on a central London hospital.Each hospital had a hinterland spreading into the adjoining countryside. The plan was for city centres to operate as casualty clearing stations when the bombing began.Victims would receive initial treatment in the city, but once their condition stabilised they would be evacuated to ‘base hospitals’ in rural parts of the sector.This was an age in which effective nursing could mean the difference between life and death.Any nurse off duty when the siren went had to get back to the hospital as soon as she could.Many of the country hospitals that were used had been mental institutions and had little equipment.Supplies eventually came through, but in the meantime nurses had to make do and mend.The RAF Airfield Construction Branch constructed and repaired runways, hard-standings, buildings and other facilities as required by the Royal Air Force in the UK and overseas.In WWII,it was known as the Works squadron.Stately homes were used as convalescent hospitals and accommodation for the armed forces.
July 10, 2019
Mille is back! Now my dream of a reunion of the original three characters might happen. Anyway back to the story. This book picks up after the Nightingale was evacuated in the previous book. While neither Helen nor Dora appears we do get Millie and a few other favourites like Jess and Effie. We also meet sisters Daisy and Grace. Daisy is spoiled and has been indulged her whole life, while Grace works as a housemaid for Millie and her grandmother and has devoted herself to her siblings after the death of her mother. Millie is dealing with the famiky estate being taken over by the RAF, her nagging and annoyed grandmother and her broken heart following the loss of her husband who was killed when his plane was shot down. With the requisition of the house, it brings William Tremayne Helen's brother back into her life and shakes things up. Meanwhile Daisy and Effie and Jess meet up with some RAF and RCAF pilots and crew and get swept away by their charms. I love these stories, the shorter chapters, the many different characters and stories, where one chapter ends it keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. While it has a Christmassy title, it actually has hardly any sort of Christmas storyline in it. It's a wonderful story of love and loss, the power of friendship and family. So many facets to this story made it difficult to put down and I loved it as I have loved all the Nightingale books so far and hope the trend will continue.
November 23, 2024
Dette er sådan en fin serie, om livet som sygeplejerske i London/England i årene op til 2. verdenskrig og imens 2. verdenskrig står på.
Det er ikke nemt at blive uddannet som sygeplejerske på Nightingale sygehuset. Det er kun velstillede unge piger, der umiddelbart får adgang til uddannelsen. Men indimellem dukker en fattig, men arbejdsom ung kvinde op, med de kvalifikationer der skal til, for at blive en strålende sygeplejerske. Så det er en blandet flok unge kvinder.
Krigen er i fuld gang. Sygehuset har valgt at flytte patienterne ud til et sted på landet, da forholdene i London er umulige. Og det betyder at de unge sygeplejersker også er flyttet med. Og det er altså ikke det samme, at være ude på landet, hvor der lugter af land og ikke af byens normale stank. Det er mørkt om natten og få mennesker om dagen. Og så er forholdene for sygeplejerskerne under al kritik. Værelserne er elendige, sengene dårlige og der er lang vej at trave mellem sygehuset og indkvarteringen. Og så er de samtidig under skarp beskydning, da de øvrige ansatte på sygehuset, absolut ikke er tilfredse med deres tilstedeværelse. Så alt er en daglig kamp.
Men hvor er det hyggeligt, at følge med i de unge kvinders op- og nedture. Glæder og sorger. For dem er der masser af.
Skøn serie.
Det er ikke nemt at blive uddannet som sygeplejerske på Nightingale sygehuset. Det er kun velstillede unge piger, der umiddelbart får adgang til uddannelsen. Men indimellem dukker en fattig, men arbejdsom ung kvinde op, med de kvalifikationer der skal til, for at blive en strålende sygeplejerske. Så det er en blandet flok unge kvinder.
Krigen er i fuld gang. Sygehuset har valgt at flytte patienterne ud til et sted på landet, da forholdene i London er umulige. Og det betyder at de unge sygeplejersker også er flyttet med. Og det er altså ikke det samme, at være ude på landet, hvor der lugter af land og ikke af byens normale stank. Det er mørkt om natten og få mennesker om dagen. Og så er forholdene for sygeplejerskerne under al kritik. Værelserne er elendige, sengene dårlige og der er lang vej at trave mellem sygehuset og indkvarteringen. Og så er de samtidig under skarp beskydning, da de øvrige ansatte på sygehuset, absolut ikke er tilfredse med deres tilstedeværelse. Så alt er en daglig kamp.
Men hvor er det hyggeligt, at følge med i de unge kvinders op- og nedture. Glæder og sorger. For dem er der masser af.
Skøn serie.
December 13, 2022
It's Christmas 1941 and the Nightingale is severely feeling the effects of war with its intake of patients.
But then we also have the girls to catch up with, Millie is widowed and struggling to run Billinghurst estate which has now been taken over by the airforce and she meets again a lost love from her past.
Jess is sent to the country so has to adapt to a whole new way of life and Effie falls for the smooth wiles of American GI Kit.
As always a great read and I love catching up with the characters, it's like old, familiar friends.
But then we also have the girls to catch up with, Millie is widowed and struggling to run Billinghurst estate which has now been taken over by the airforce and she meets again a lost love from her past.
Jess is sent to the country so has to adapt to a whole new way of life and Effie falls for the smooth wiles of American GI Kit.
As always a great read and I love catching up with the characters, it's like old, familiar friends.
February 6, 2019
I just love this series about the training of nurses at the Nightengale Hospital in the East End of London.
I love the characters, some of which come and go, and some which are more constant. It is a great glimpse into how much nursing and training nurses has changed over the years and how some things are still the same.
It is a great insight into the residents of the east end of London with the back drop of World War II on the story. I love the series and urge you to read it.
I love the characters, some of which come and go, and some which are more constant. It is a great glimpse into how much nursing and training nurses has changed over the years and how some things are still the same.
It is a great insight into the residents of the east end of London with the back drop of World War II on the story. I love the series and urge you to read it.
March 26, 2021
Christmas???? I loved this book, as I did all the previous ones in the series. There is only one thing that bothers me, and that is the title. For some reason 4 of the books in this series have Christmas in their titles, even though that hardly plays a role. Nightingales in the Countryside might have been a better option.
March 27, 2018
She does it again
Yet again another fantastic installment from Donna Douglas. She really brings the characters of the Nightingale alive. Every book keeps you interested and enthralled right to the last page.
Yet again another fantastic installment from Donna Douglas. She really brings the characters of the Nightingale alive. Every book keeps you interested and enthralled right to the last page.
August 29, 2019
Good book
As usual I loved another Donna Douglas book. He characters are great and the group's of people very different but very much alike. She blends the characters and their individual circumstances quite well.
As usual I loved another Donna Douglas book. He characters are great and the group's of people very different but very much alike. She blends the characters and their individual circumstances quite well.
June 13, 2020
Good read
Another good instalment of the Nightingale nurses. This time out in the country side and out of London. It was great to revisit Millie & William and catch up with them both
Another good instalment of the Nightingale nurses. This time out in the country side and out of London. It was great to revisit Millie & William and catch up with them both
February 12, 2023
Great book, love following the characters through the years and I’m so happy Millie finally ended up with William. Wasn’t focused around Christmas as much but was very interesting to learn more about what the soldiers went through in the war
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2018
Nice easy read
Once again the nurses from the nightingale didn't disappoint, you get very caught up in their work and private lives. Now ready to move on to the next book
Once again the nurses from the nightingale didn't disappoint, you get very caught up in their work and private lives. Now ready to move on to the next book
January 26, 2018
another great story about the nightingale nurses.
April 6, 2018
Another great book by Donna Douglas. I really enjoy these tales.
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