This book follows on from the first book "Wartime on Sanctuary Lane" and we meet Ruby again doing her best to cope with everything in this challenging world during WW1. But it doesn't matter if you haven't read the first book, this one fills you in on all the characters and their lives as you read along. We meet Ruby and her best friend Leah, they are from very different classes, Ruby is working class and Leah is upper-class but that doesn't worry them at all, they are best of friends. Plus all the people who work and volunteer at the animal hospital, some interesting characters!
In the Prologue it's December 1916 and at the Sanctuary Lane Animal Hospital Ruby and her colleagues are trapped beneath falling masonry in the building. You just need to know what has happened.
Going back a couple of months to October 1916 and Ruby is doing her best to look after the animals that need help and care, and all for free. As well as her job in the munitions factory, she is certainly kept very busy. But she has to keep going when she and her family receive devastating news in a telegram, if it wasn't for her close knit group of friends she didn't know how she would cope with everyday life. When a returned soldier from the frontline returned to England with a smuggled in dog which he said had saved his life, Ruby is concerned with the dogs symptoms and behaviour that it may have rabies. So they immediately quarantine it, so that at least it is kept away from the local community and other dogs, what they don't want is for it to spread rabies, if in fact that is what it is? But this is just the start of the troubles at the hospital, what do the RCVS want, why are they writing to Ruby?

I really enjoyed the camaraderie between everyone, both at the animal hospital and at the munitions factory, especially the friendship between Ruby and Leah and also the relationship between Ruby and Jack.
A lovely book to read during the Christmas season.
Thanks to netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
#netgalley
#michaeljbooks

Now that the animal hospital is taking shape, Ruby has to get word out to the community that everyone is welcome, and yes it is free, not a word they are used and can’t quite believe. The hospital team are quite the mix of characters, classy Leah who is growing close to vet Robert, Nellie who taught Ruby everything she knows, and Jack who uses all the skills he learnt on the front line and is now fighting his own demons and kind Elspeth.
Ruby can’t quite make up her mind where she stands where Jack is concerned, one minute she thinks she loves him then doubts his bravery.
I found Ruby to be rather quick to judge where humans were concerned, then soft heart with animals. Especially with Chien, many would give up.

We continue with the second book and it does not disappoint we have romance, sadness and happiness..

Ruby continues with her campaign to keep the hospital going in which she has some obstacles in her path. She and Jack continue with their romance will they survive together. The War continues with people losing family members. We see how they cope with the hospital and when it seems to be more and more people come for help with their animals.

I enjoyed the characters and there was some twists in the book which were interesting. How the characters seemed to grow and become stronger with everything that happened. There was a funny episode in the book as well which I found amusing.

Well written hope there is another book in this series.

This is the second book in the series about Ruby who has started a animal hospital for the animals that belong too the poor and can't afford to pay for gets fees.She is supported by friends and her sweetheart but times are hard with the war going on and Ruby finds she might loose all she has worked for.Will the hospital continue ,will her life ever be the same. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House.

Second in this series featuring some wonderful characters,set during World War One.Heartwarming with dad moments,a good read.

Thanks to the Publishers and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Since reading the first book I was looking forward to the next one.

The animal hospital has now been started and some of the animals bring some fun times. This helps those looking after them to not think of the hardships they’re facing and the ongoing war, if only for a short time.

The wonderful characters, the historical research and the great world building took me straight back to the East End during the First World War.

There was some hard moments throughout the story, families that were informed of their loved ones dying and their grief. The author handled this well.

I loved the characters and the setting. The story had some drama and romance, which made you having to turn the pages to read what happens next.

I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this sweet book about life during WW1 and how people survived. This centres around an animal sanctuary which was interesting and sweet. Loved all the characters and I flew through this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I have been looking forward to the second Sanctuary Lane book ever since I finished reading the first, and I was not disappointed. The wonderful characters, the historical research and the great world building took me straight back to the East End during the First World War.

In the second book the animal hospital is up and running, which provides not only drama but some light relief from the poverty and daily grind, and the ever present knowledge that the battle of the Somme is being waged just across the channel. This historical backdrop gives the author the opportunity to explore some of the more complex emotions suffered by families thrown into grief, and this aspect of the book is especially well handled.

Tension, drama, romance – all perfectly balanced in a book I found it hard to put down. I only had one small quibble; the unnecessary prologue. The story itself is enough to pull the reader straight in.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

I had read the first book in the series and somehow found it slightly unbelievable but I decided I would follow it up with book 2

I am so glad that I have given the series a chance. It was great to meet old characters and new ones as well as the community in Silvertown.
It explored the relationships between Ruby and Jack and Leah and Robert. Ruby did annoy me with her attitude to Jack but I sort of understood her sadness at the tragedy in her life.
As the book is set at the end of 1916 there was bound to be a lot of tragedy.

It is well written and obviously well researched - and left lots of ends to allow for another instalment.

Of course the title gives away the fact that Christmas in the East End of London in 1916 needed some miracles and they certainly appeared.

All in all worthy of its 5 stars - a great read

I have been waiting to read this since the moment I finished the first Sanctuary Lane book and I wasn't disappointed! This was possibly even better than the first book. It had drama, romance, everything! I really hope this isn't the last in the series - I need to know what happens next!

Book two WW1 saga.
The Sanctuary Lane Animal hospital east London 1916 with Christmas on the horizon.
With the men at war can the women save Christmas at home?
Ruby and her family friends back with another fantastic time of the year.
Heartwarming,emotional, laughter and happiness.
I just loved this book in the series.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Another brilliant book in this series by a brilliant author

Family saga wartime what more could you want