ABOUT THE BOOK
The Wartime Nurse: Utterly heartbreaking and absolutely gripping World War Two fiction inspired by a true story (The Dutch Girls Book 3) by Imogen Matthews
An ear-splitting blast blows me sideways and debris starts to fall on top of me. In my shock it takes me a moment to realise the very worst has happened – the hospital has been bombed. The screams of panicked patients are deafening. But I can only think about one thing – my darling Will. Where is he?
1944, Nazi-occupied Holland. As Nurse Freddie cycles through the tulip fields, she looks like any other law-abiding citizen. But beneath her innocent smile lies an iron will to fight for freedom. The Nazis have no idea she is part of the resistance, and that she risks her life every day to deliver food and messages to hidden refugees.
After a failed attempt to take the life of a Nazi collaborator, Freddie is sent to an underground hospital to tend to a group of injured Allied airmen. And when unconscious English pilot Will wakes up and locks his dazzling blue eyes with hers, her heart jolts. As she tends to his wounds, she can’t help but fall deeply in love with this charming English officer.
Will and Freddie start to dream about a future after the war, but when the hospital is bombed by the Nazis, they lose each other in the chaos. With her heart shattered, Freddie vows to find Will and get him to safety – even if that means letting him go forever.
But Freddie’s world comes crashing down when she learns that Will has been captured. To save him, Freddie must infiltrate the hospital where he is held captive. But will saving him cost Freddie her life or her heart?
Inspired by the incredible true story of a brave young woman who would stop at nothing to fight for her country, The Wartime Nurse is an utterly heart-wrenching and emotional World War Two novel of one woman’s courage and the power of true love. Perfect for fans of Heather Morris, Kristin Hannah and Fiona Valpy.
VISIT OTHER BLOGS ON THE TOUR
https://geni.us/B0CYHLVQXPsocial
MY THOUGHTS
Having read the others in The Dutch Girls series I was excited to continue on with this series.
I love reading historical fiction and to realize this story is based on a true story made this read even more fascinating. As I read, I could picture the situations happening, both the good and the bad.
We see a carryover of characters from the past books in the series and I did enjoy seeing how their characters continue to develop.
This is about a resistance fighter, a woman in Nazi-occupied Holland. They have no idea who she is or what she stands for. She is also a nurse.
Sent to an underground hospital, her passion comes alive as she tends to her patients, this is she wants to do, and it gives her satisfaction. As the bombs rain down, the man she has come to secretly love, an injured airman goes missing. Just as they are ready to start planning a life together after this terrible war. Full of grief, she bravely continues on, but will he be found again?
A very brave woman shows she has what it takes to defy the odds, keeping her mission a secret as she gives her all to her country. I was very impressed with the characters and their fortitude. A most enjoyable story.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
About Imogen Matthews
Imogen Matthews writes novels based on true stories about the Netherlands during the German occupation in World War 2. Some stories she discovered by chance, others are based on her Dutch mother’s own experiences of hardship and survival during the Hunger Winter of 1944-45.
Her first novel, The Hidden Village, is set in the Veluwe woods, a beautiful part of Holland that Imogen has visited frequently over the past 30 years. It was in these woods that she discovered the story of the real hidden village which provided shelter in underground huts for Jews during WW2. Imogen retells the story of the hidden village with characters drawn from real life and from her imagination.
Within weeks of publication in 2017, The Hidden Village became an international bestseller, ranking at the top of a number Amazon’s most-read book lists.
Following on from The Hidden Village comes Hidden in the Shadows, which has the pace of a thriller yet is also a love story. It tells the story about two young people who are brutally torn apart and must find a way to be together against all odds.
Imogen’s third WW2 novel, The Girl Across the Wire Fence, is set in Amersfoort, Netherlands, and is based on the unforgettable tale of two young lovers who risked everything to keep hope alive in the very depths of hell – the little known Dutch concentration camp called Kamp Amersfoort.
Imogen’s WW2 novels are published by Bookouture, a digital imprint of Hachette.
Learn more about Imogen’s story in this video: https://youtu.be/2YO0IWJSjj0
Author social media
Facebook: @theHiddenVillagenovel
Twitter: @ImogenMatthews3
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5 replies on “Blog Tour for The Wartime Nurse by Imogen Matthews ”
i just finished reading The Women, a best seller – a fictionalized account but based on true stores of the Army nurses who worked in the MASH hospitals in Vietnam. Heart-wrenching. I cried reading parts of it. Maybe because I lived through that war.
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Historical fiction based on actual events are the most realistic and very heart wrenching. I’ll bet this was a hard read for you. Yes, my uncle was in Vietnam before I was born. Family members would talk about his time there, but he never did, as many who have served did not.
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Wonderful review, Deanne. I agree, historical fiction based on real characters and events can be very emotional, and I always learn something. I haven’t read this series, but it sounds really good.
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Yes Carla, it really is. I learn so much from these historical fiction books and it’s especially interesting to learn about other countries too. If you get the chance it’s worthwhile to start at the beginning and go through them all.
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They are all on KU, so I am going to add them to that extra list I have. Fingers crossed I will get to fit them in.
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