Synopsis – Wartime Nurse
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.
Author Bio
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
My Review
Though I have read many books set during World War II this is the first one I’ve read that focused on the Dutch and their contribution to the resistance.
The story drew me in immediately and I became interested in the outcome for both Freddie, the nurse and Will, the pilot.
This is based on a true story of a teenager who wanted to fight again German occupation. Inspiring that she would put her life in danger to do what she thought was right. I’m grateful to this author for making me aware of a story I knew nothing about and I enjoyed doing additional research to learn more about the main character.
Overall, if you are a fan of historical fiction this is a good one to check out.
