Always On Call

In the long-awaited sequel to Always Pack a Candle,
intrepid public health nurse Marion Crook juggles marriage, children,
and a vast array of patients and cases in rural British Columbia in the
1970s.

It has been over a decade since Marion Crook
arrived in the Cariboo for her first job out of nursing school. The vast
rural territory that once left her awestruck now feels like home, as
she embraces life on the ranch with her husband, Carl, three young
children, and numerous farm animals. But things are far from idyllic.

Overseeing
a small staff of irrepressible nurses serving a public health district
the size of a small country brings new challenges every day. From
runaway patients and needle-phobic hockey players to cultural
misunderstandings and heartbreaking cases of abuse and neglect, Marion
never knows what is coming next. The 1970s bring signs of social
progress as women gain more autonomy and the region grows more
culturally diverse. Yet, old prejudices persist, and Marion must fight
for her patients, as well as for her adopted son.

Recounted with warmth, compassion, and riveting detail, Always On Call is a fascinating portrait of the hectic life of a rural nurse and highlights the importance of the helping professions.