The storyline was appealing: a WWII historical fiction novel set on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel. From the beginning, I had trouble engaging with the characters. I couldn’t ‘see’ them in my mind if that makes sense? The book is described as a romance, the blurb stating ‘A forbidden love’ but the relationship between Jack and Johanna felt flat. Jack is one of the policemen left on the island when all the soldiers and young children have been evacuated. Jack’s desire is to protect his family and the woman he loves, Johanna. Johanna, a German Jew, has already fled once from the Nazis. We feel Jack’s struggle with the choices he has to make – does he fall in line and do what he’s told, or does he bend the rules to protect those he loves. Jack’s struggle becomes the central theme of the book and we hear little from Johanna, for whom the book is titled. The author, M.J. Hollows has obviously done his research into this period on Guernsey. A lot has been written about WWII but little about the Nazi occupation on the Channel Islands, so reading a novel focused on Guernsey was interesting. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

I'm not going to lie I didn't finish this one. Not because the book was bad, it just because of the topic and the subject matter it was a hard and emotional read that had me crying almost from page one. Which has confirmed for me that I need to take a break from WWII fiction. Though I'm pretty sure I'll pick this book back up in ther future.

I've always been a big historical fiction romance book girl! World War 2 romances are my guilty pleasure so when I tell you I screamed when I got this book, I'm being dead serious. This romance was beautifully written and honestly, I really don't have any complaints!

I liked the description and decided to give this book a try. Was not disappointed. Very well done and would highly recommend.

So here is how this book goes. At the onset let me make it clear that i did enjoy the book. The characterization is well done, expressed in a realistic way. There is passion and enough creative expressions.

I loved the narrative and could feel the pain of Jack's heartbreak. Some true events described within the story during the Second World War years when Guernsey was occupied by the Nazis. The pain and hardships are felt of each character. That's how well the descriptions are. This book is worthy of a read, especially if you are a lover of historical fiction.

Jack, Johanna, and the Nazi’s

This is a story of the Nazi occupation of Geurnsey in the Channel Islands. The romance between Jack, a policeman, Johanna , a nurse, and the German’s occupying the island.

Jack , born in England , has lived on the island most of his life. Johanna escaped to the Island from Germany when the Nazi’s came into power after her parents were sent to work camps. Johanna is Jewish posing as a Christian. Through it all the only thing Jack wanted was to keep Johanna safe from the Germans.

It was sad and interesting to see Jack and the other policeman struggling under the German’s. They had to arrest fellow islanders and deport them to labor camps. They were unable to help anyone and when they did it led to severe consequences.

The interaction and friendship between Henrik and Jack was also a good story. Henrik was a German soldier That didn’t want to be and didn’t believe in Hitler, but had to carry out his orders regardless.

I liked the way the story was written to show that there was good and evil in all. It showed the pride the islanders had in their home and the depression they felt during the occupation. It also showed that some had compassion and were willing to help others at the threat of their own lives.

I loved the romance between Jack and Johanna. They were both so brave and they were always there for each other. I also liked that the names were easy for me to read. I loved the ending.

This was a very good book, it kept me reading. I would recommend it.

Thanks to M.J. Hollows, H Q Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy for an honest review

I received this novel as an advanced reader copy from net galley. Although I enjoyed this overall and loved the setting of the Channel Islands, this World War II historical romance was a bit slow in spots. Overall enjoyable.

There are so many books of historical fiction that are set during WWII. Here’s one that is a bit different. First, the story takes place on Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands between England and France. Second, the narrator is a young, local policeman, who still lives with his mother and grandparents. Third, he has a Jewish girlfriend and is friendly with one of the German soldiers occupying Guernsey.

If you enjoyed the tv series “Island at War,” as I did, you’re the target audience for this book.

The story was well-researched, but there are other authors whose writing I prefer.

The German Nurse is a story about Jack, a policeman on the Island of Guernsey in the English Channel, during WW2. Oddly titled, there is very little about the “German nurse” (Johanna, Jack’s girlfriend) as a focal point of the book. She was more of a background or minor character so I’m not really sure what motivated the title, but it seems a misnomer.

The book was just ok in my opinion. It’s the 3rd book I’ve read about the occupation of the Channel Islands but it did round the story overall of them about with what happened there. The writing style itself I struggled with. It was mostly a narrative form focusing on Jack and the events he experienced, but it seemed there was very little character development beyond him in the story. Characters would just show up with little to no context, and then disappear just as quickly. With Johanna, the German nurse, supposedly Jack was in love with her but there was so little interaction (outside of his thoughts) with her and even little emotion toward either of them when they did interact. It felt more like a middle school crush than a near-marriage relationship the way they were so distanced and detached. It was just odd. Add to that, there were almost no real relationships Jack had in general, which left the story feeling again detached and somewhat anti-social or isolated. Most, if not all, WW2 books I’ve read, and probably tragedy in life in general, the relationships we have are what make or break us. They give us the ability to weather the storms because we are not meant to live life solo. Maybe that’s what made this book feel so despairing often, and lacked hope as a central thread.

All in all I was not fond of the book. Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A lovely piece of historical fiction centering on the role of the Channel Islands during WWII. Yes, there is a poignant love story, but there is so much more. It’s the tale of people from different backgrounds searching to find their place in history, but also searching to find out just who they truly are. It’s a tale of liberation, and we all have some piece of us that needs liberating. This is an epic that makes the reader ask just what they stand for and what will they stand up for. I’d give this a 4.5 stars and a big thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. I enjoyed reading this book but at times was a tad slow. Even with that it was still pretty good.

I received a free e-arc through Netgalley.
This WWII story focuses on the island of Guernsey between England and France. It was invaded by the Germans and it was interesting to hear how the Germans used the local police force to help control the island. Jack is one of the local constables who just wants to go along with the Germans and keep everyone safe until he starts to realize that he can't keep everyone safe. He is especially worried about his girlfriend of 2 years who is a German Jew who is living on the island and working as a nurse. This was a compelling love story.

Note: I received this book from Harper 360 via Netgalley.

Her past could kill you. - Guernsey, 1940. As war storms through Europe, Churchill orders the evacuation of all military personnel from the island. Boats ferry soldiers and vulnerable young children to England, leaving their parents and loved ones behind to face the invading German army on their own.

Her love could save you. - One of the few remaining policemen on the island, Jack must protect not only his friends and family, but also the woman he loves: Johanna, a Jewish nurse from Germany, whose secret faith could prove fatal to them both.

Her fate is in your hands. - When the Nazis arrive, everything changes. Jack is forced to come to terms with the pain and loss of a world re-making itself around him. And then a list of Jews on the island is drawn up, and he must make an awful choice: write down Johanna’s name and condemn her, or resist and put his family in immediate danger…

To be honest this book was a little slow for me. I was way more interested in Johanna and wanted to learn more about her than I was with anything related to Jack. Jack's character was wishy-washy and made him slightly dis-likable in my opinion.

From the title of the book, I thought it would be a story bout a German nurse in WWII. I was a wrong. This book should be titled a British Policeman. Jack is in love with a German nurse, I think! The author told us he was, but I never was given to opportunity to feel that he was. The author left the characters underdeveloped. I wanted to feel emotions while reading this book, but sadly, I didn't.

It was interesting to learn about the German occupation of the British Islands, Guernsey, in particular. I wasn't aware of that bit of history, and I am glad learned something new.

Thank you to NerGalley and Harper 360 for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sorry it wasn't a better review.

The German Nurse by M.J. Hollows is a great WWII- era historical fiction novel that takes place on Guernsey. It definitely kept my interest throughout.

I love when a HF also contains mystery, suspense, action, and a dash of romance. It is always nice to add those concepts in to the traditional narrative.

This is only the third book I have read that takes place within the Channel Islands, and for some reason I always find it so fascinating. I don’t know if it is because some of the events and adversities that took place there are just now coming to light, or if it is almost like an example of an isolated entity all to itself and the events that occurred there were unique in only that situation that peaks my interest. Either way, this was the perfect location for this novel and it really added to the complexity of the story.

There are high stakes, sacrifices, ultimate choices that lead to dire consequences, and a lot of difficulties that these characters (and real life people) had to deal with every day that was explored within this story.

I really liked Johanna and Jack. The choices Jack constantly had to deal with were so challenging, however despite all of this hardship and despair, there is love and hope for a better future.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and HQ Digital for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.