A dual timeline novel. Night Train To Berlin ties together the history of an emerald green dress, a clock and a night train journey from London Paddington To Penzance.

In 1944, Lady Eliza Arbuthnot (nee Grey), is a wartime artist and meets former RAF pilot, Joseph Alexander (Alex) Levine on the night train to Cornwall. Both are alone with tough personal decisions to make. They share a table in the dining car and over the course of the evening, they get to know one another. On arriving in Cornwall, they part ways only to meet again and begin a heart-wrenching relationship set against the backdrop of WWII.

Armed with her suitcase and violin, Ellie Nightingale boards the night train to Penzance. She is travelling to a cottage she has spent many childhood holidays. On-board, she meets Joe Burton from Leeds. Over the course of the journey, they realise a mutual coincidence, sparking the beginning of a tentative romance.

The author skilfully weaves the past with the present as the links between the two couples are unravelled. The synchronisation of the train journeys makes it easy to follow important aspects of their stories. The strongest timeline is Eliza and Alex's in WWII which includes vivid descriptions depicting the horror of war particularly around the time of the D-Day landing and beyond.

All the characters are likeable and relatable, although Eliza's attitude is questionable sometimes. Alex is a proud war hero, who takes risks. Ellie is sweet, in a fragile way. Joe is the one we don't learn so much about.

The ending is satisfactory. Ellie and Joe are happy for now while Eliza and Alex's is ambiguous. It leaves the reader to contemplate what happens subsequently. Although it's difficult to fully grasp what the author intends for us to understand. Overall, a captivating novel with an encompassing, epic love story.

***arc generously received courtesy of 0ne More Chapter via NetGalley***

Paddington Station, present day
A young woman boards the sleeper train to Cornwall with only a beautiful emerald silk evening dress and an old, well-read diary full of sketches. Ellie Nightingale is a shy violinist who plays like her heart is broken. But when she meets fellow passenger Joe she feels like she has been given that rarest of gifts…a second chance.
Paddington Station, 1944
Beneath the shadow of the war, which rages across Europe, Alex and Eliza meet by chance. She is a gutsy painter desperate to get to the frontline as a war artist and he is a wounded RAF pilot now commissioned as a war correspondent. With time slipping away they make only one promise: to meet in Berlin when this is all over.
This is the first book I’ve read of the author & I was drawn to it as it’s a dual timeline. I found it to be well written but the pace at the start was very slow & it took me a few days to read it in dribs & dabs. However I’m glad I did stick with it as the pace increased & I found myself captivated by the two love stories. I liked how the broken clock features in both stories. The characters were well portrayed but I would have preferred more depth of character. I also was left feeling that not everything was resolved & I wanted to find out what happened next
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I thought it was well-written but I couldn't immediately get into the storyline and it wasn't until I was nearly half-way through that things picked up. I did find the scenes on the night train interesting, especially for the feelings of nostalgia that were evoked, and some of the war scenes were quite powerful However, there was a lot going on in the story and the threads of the story were not pulled together cohesively, leaving the reader dissatisfied and with many unanswered questions at the end. In addition, the title of the book seemed to be a bit misleading.

This one left me with mixed feelings but overall was still a good story. I will definitely check out other books by this author. Thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for an advance copy.

Alex and Eliza meet in 1944 on a night train to Paddington. There is an instant connection, but their timing is off. Joe and Ellie meet in 2019 on another night train to Paddington, this one a train celebrating the war with music, dance, food and costume. There is an instant connection between them, too, and their timing looks like it could be perfect. But Ellie has serious health issues and hesitates to commit to a future that might not be. There is an intriguing connection between Alex and Joe and between Eliza and Ellie. How has the past affected the present?

The Night Train to Berlin paints a vivid picture not only of beautiful Cornwall but of the horrors of WWII and the roles people played. The danger and uncertainty, the hope battling the hopelessness, the fatigue, the pain, the love, the loss – all seem real. We get little glimpses throughout, starting with the prologue, that both raise and dash our hopes. In the present, things are going so well for Joe and Ellie, she is literally having the best time of her life, that you want to jump on the train and tell her to be brave, to go for it!

The connections between all the characters seem almost magical. There’s the train to Paddington and Cornwall, of course, and a cottage and a journal and a clock. I wish the author had taken more advantage of these magical elements and connections and given us more details and glimpses into the lives of all four of these people, instead of more often providing vague and confusing hints that many times made this seem more like a mystery we are trying to solve with clues than an historical romance.

Thanks to the author and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for providing an advanced copy of The Night Train to Berlin via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and do not hesitate to recommend it.

Take a train ride on a journey to the past. A dual timeline, 1940's and present day. A story of love, loss, and war. First book by this author and I loved it. Well written historical fiction. Thanks to net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

I was drawn to the book by its partial wartime setting and the fact that much of the story takes place in Cornwall. Also I'm familiar with the route from London Paddington to Penzance from holiday trips although never, alas, on the sleeper service.

The story unfolds in chapters that alternate between Eliza in 1944 and Ellie in the present day. The plot relies on large helpings of coincidence, requiring a belief in fate or destiny, and bringing to mind the oft-quoted line, "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine" from the film Casablanca. As it happens, the film is referenced several times in the book.

The relationship between Eliza Grey and Alex Levine, that begins after a chance encounter on a wartime train journey, had a real fizz to it even if Eliza's initial reaction is less than promising. 'She had never, in all of her life, met such an arrogant, self-opinionated, curt and, quite frankly, rude individual.' As we learned from Pride and Prejudice, first impressions can be deceptive. On the other hand, Joe, whom Ellie meets in similar fashion, although pleasant enough didn't feel like a fully fleshed out character.

I found it easier to imagine the glamour of the 1940s sleeper train to Cornwall than its modern day equivalent which, I suspect, would be considerably more utilitarian even when dressed up as a 1940s themed party train. And with all due respect to car attendant, Rihanna, she's no match for her 1940s equivalent, the stately Jeffries.

For me, Eliza's wartime story was by far the most successful element of the book so much so that, at times, the sections with Ellie felt like mere interludes. I enjoyed the neat parallels between events in the two timelines, such as the eavesdropping couple across the aisle and Joe's choice of costume. However, the main purpose of the modern day storyline came to seem to be merely a framing device for Eliza's story and as such I felt it could have been shunted off to the sidings.

In contrast, the wartime sections of the book include some memorable scenes, such as when Eliza is deployed as a nursing auxiliary to a hospital ship on the South coast and witnesses the preparations on the night before D-Day. Or, later, when she experiences the days following the liberation of Paris. The book also shed a fascinating light on the role played by war artists and war correspondents in documenting a conflict, and the risks they took in doing so. Eliza has conflicted feelings about her role as a war artist. Is she right to depict the truth of the atrocities she sees or should she be mindful of their potential impact on morale back home?

For me, although compelling in parts, The Night Train to Berlin spent a little too much time travelling along branch lines and not enough time speeding to its destination.

Set in different periods of time, the present day and the Second World War. Both stories are entwined and are stories of love and hope.but also of the horrors of war and it's consequences. Two very strong and determined women set off on a train journey to Cornwall, both encounter male travelling companions who will change their lives. forever. I loved how the stories evolved and enjoyed the book from start to finish.

A wonderful sad and romantic portrait of two couples whose lives intertwine. The double time-line in this historical fiction gives the reader the feelings of loss and hope. Interesting characters and plot-lines. Highly recommended.

Paddington Station, present day: A young woman boards the sleeper train to Cornwall with only a beautiful emerald silk evening dress and an old well-read diary full of sketches. Ellie Nightingale is a shy violinist who plays like her heart is broken. But when she meets fellow passenger Joe, she feels she's been given a second chance.
Paddington Station, 1944: Beneath the shadow of the war, Alex and Eliza meet by chance. She's a gutsy painter desperate to get to the frontline as a war artist and he is a wounded RAF pilot now commissioned as a war correspondent. They make a promise to each other: to meet in Berlin when the war is over.

This story is told over a duel timeline - 1940's and the present day. This is a lovely historical romance story. A love story of two couples decades apart. The pace is slow to start with but it eventually picks up. The characters are likable. I really absolutely love Cornwall, a beautiful setting for any story. The story is descriptively written.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #MelanieHudson for my ARC of #TheNightTrainToBerlin in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the story line of this book, but I found it very difficult to get into. Towards the end it began to hold my attention but I admit this wasn’t one of my favourites.

It was OK, but not my favorite by the author (I loved "The Last Letter From Juliet.") The story moved very slow, especially the scenes on the train. The ones between Eliza and Alex and also Ellie and Joe. Wasn't a fan of any of the characters. Some parts of the book seemed very unrealistic and there was so much going on, primarily with Eliza. The spy aspect was definitely the one part that could have been left out. I didn't enjoy the epilogue at all. Ellie's reasons for rejecting Joe seemed silly. It was predictable what was going to happen with them. Not sure that's the right title for the book.

Give the book a try. It just wasn't for me. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This cracking little story follows the lives of two different women, the daring Eliza in 1940, and the shy Ellie in present day. Though these women's lives are years apart, they both embark on their journeys in the same place with a book and a silk dress.

Present Day:

Ellie Nightingale boards a 1940's themed sleeper train to Penzance on the way to visit a cottage she has been left in her grandmothers will. Armed only with a vintage Christian Dior silk dress, her violin and a journal also left to her, Ellie feels rather shy but has pledged to be 'Ellie Nightingale For One Night Only' and to take some risks that her life until now has prevented. On the train she meets the dashing Joe who is visiting Penzance for reasons of his own. They strike up a conversation on a trip that changes both of their lives.

1940's

Eliza Grey flees her life as Lady Arbuthnot for adventure during the Second World War. A dedicated artist she yearns to be amongst the action and, thwarted by the authorities who don't want to send a female artist to the front lines, joins the nurses and is sent to the front lines anyway. On a final weekend away before leaving she boards the train to sleeper train to Penzance to stay at her family cottage. Wearing her lovely silk dress and carrying her book she meets former RAF pilot Alex. Alex is soon to be off to America to be a journalist but meeting Eliza changes the course of his life and the couple pledge to meet in Berlin.

The main bulk of the story is set during WW2 and the sights and sounds are captured beautifully. The characters are wonderful and you feel sympathetic and despairing all at the same time. As the story focuses more closely on Eliza's story her character gets the most development and Ellie at times feels a little sidelined. However, this is a wonderful story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I initially struggled to get into the book. I didn't warm to the main characters Eliza and Alex and found the train journey opening chapters quite dull. I persevered and enjoyed the book once Eliza actually started nursing during the war. I had visited many of the places that were talked about. I did find the notion that the German guard let her off to reach Spa somewhat unbelievable though as I did when Eliza and Nora gained access to the fort in St Malo. I believe more could have been written about what was found in Buchenwald and disliked the fact we have no idea if Alex was found. I couldn't see how he could have kept the clock as it was known that all possessions and clothing was removed from POW's on entering a camp. Similarly I disliked the fact that we have no idea if Ellie found happiness? Would I recommend it, yes it was interesting in parts as long as you allow for some probable historic inaccuracies.

I thank Harper Collins USA and One More Chapter for allowing me this ARC via Netgalley.

This story is a mashup of multiple genres: historical fiction, split time lines, WWII wartime action and politics, feminist career women in arts and journalism, discreet romance, a nod to reincarnation, coincidences and courage and tragedy. Yet all were on the “light” side that didn’t drive me to be invested in the characters. The theme of “seize the day and love” was overcome by the pressures of war and a reluctance to break existing moral codes. The abrupt ending, leaving the reader to infer the fates of a number of leading characters, was not effective for me. I wish the author had committed to a clear focus, rather than trying to tick so many different genre boxes in search of story-telling success. Rounded up to 3 stars.

Ellie's great-grandmother Nancy left her not only a cottage in Cornwall, but also the money for a train ticket on a sleeper car and instructions that she take a trip as a solo adventure.

Eliza Grey, Lady Arbuthnot, took the same trip in 1944 during World War 2. She was an artist and an auxiliary nurse who had volunteered in London during the blitz. The dual timelines overlap in many ways. Both Ellie and Eliza have the same cabin on the train. And in both cases, a single gentleman is seated across from them for dinner.

I was delighted by this unique take on historical fiction. It raised questions about war-time propaganda, hope, and censorship. And it raises questions about destiny. I found it deeply emotional.

Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

I read the book to the end but it wasn’t really my kind of story. In all honesty I chose to read this because of the author. I have read all of Melanie Hudson’s books and enjoyed them which is why I wanted to read this one. Had it been written by any other author, it’s one that I probably would have overlooked as I just think everything there is to say about WW2 has been said now.

It’s a dual time novel, set both in the present and towards the end of WW2 in 1944. I did feel that the setting during the war was somewhat incidental to the story, as it is, in essence, a romance and a rather sentimental one at that. I’ve given 4 stars because it is purely down to personal taste as to why I didn’t enjoy it. As always the authors writing is excellent, really creating the atmosphere of the time and keeping up a reasonable pace but I won’t review it on my blog as I don’t think I can give a fair review of the book.

The Night train to Berlin is a mesmerising story of love and hope.
It has to be for me the best book that I have read this year. It is one of those books that when you have finished reading you will take it in your mind for a long time.

This book kept me on my toes from the first word until the last word. It is told in a dual timeline between 1944 and 2020. In 1944 we meet Eliza and Alex onboard the night train to Berlin she is an aristocrat and he is a war veteran. In 2020 we meet Eliza (Ellie) and Joe aboard the same night train for an reenactment of the 1944 trip. In 1944 Eliza is on her way to her cottage in Cornwall and goes to the dining car dressed in a silk green gown and meets Alex dressed in his RAF uniform and they eat dinner together. Eliza is a nurse and war artist and Joe is a bitter fighter pilot who was injured and is now a war correspondent and on his way home. Eliza knows who he is because he criticized her drawings in the local newspaper. She lets Alex rant and rave about the drawings only depicting kindness and not the harsh realities of the war. He is beyond embarrassed when he finds out who Eliza is and doubts her because she uses her maiden name for the drawings. In 2020 Ellie is a musician and Joe owns a curiosity shop. Ellie is aboard the train because her great grandmother left her the train trip, the same silk gown that Eliza is wearing and Eliza's cottage in Cornwall in her will. She also left Ellie Eliza's sketch book with all of her war drawings in it.

Such a wonderful book that had me wondering what happened to Eliza and especially Alex in 1944. I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and dual timelines.

The Night Train To Berlin was beautifully written. The vivid descriptions displayed the juxtaposition of the beautiful Cornish coastline and the horrors of the Normandy beaches. It must have been so harrowing, not only for the servicemen but for the nurses tending to the dead and wounded.

I loved the slow pace of the novel in the first half of the book where the author takes the time to introduce us to the main protagonists. I loved Alex and the way he challenges Eliza and encourages her to take chances. I also enjoyed how this swaggering war hero also wasn’t ashamed to show humility and kindness.

The ending felt a little too abrupt for me. I felt like it ended too soon with a few questions unanswered. However on the whole, I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and will definitely read more by her. I love a well written romance and the characters, especially Alex and Eliza, will stay with me.

You can find my full review at https://mmbbookblog.com/the-night-train-to-berlin-by-melanie-hudson-review/

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC.
3 Stars!
This is my first time reading a book by Melanie Hudson and definitely not my last.
Unexpected encounters, a dual timeline historical fiction romance fest that is set against the backdrop of WW2 and the rugged Cornish coast.