I read this book almost a year ago, and I still remember this book vividly. I loved it so much I bought a copy of my own to add to my shelf. This book was poignant, and gut-wrenching in its story telling. I was throughly engrossed in the book, and enamored by the characters and their stories. Beautifully written and worth reading!

This book was so hard to get into because I just couldn't enjoy it. The book covers the Spanish Civil War which was something I wanted to learn about. I liked that this book went all the way to World War two brining in that aspect as well. The characters were all flat and had no depth. With every character falling flat, there was nothing to relate to. The writing was at times felt choppy which made the book harder to follow. The two-story lines didn't flow together which added to the choppiness.

an enjoyable story about the Spanish Civil War, I didn't know much about it before but this book made me feel intrigued to start digging and reading more about it.


Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for the advanced copy of The Swiss Nurse in exchange for my honest review

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperMuse for my copy of The Swiss Nurse by Mario Escobar Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld in exchange for an honest review. It published April 18, 2023.
First off, this was narrated very well! I would listen to anything by this narrator.
I am so glad I read this book! I had never heard of the Spanish Civil War, and I appreciate reading historical fiction to increase my education. This book is not for the feint of heart, very real hardships and heartache happen. However, I appreciate that it doesn't shy away from reality.

I love books around the WWII era. This book does not disappoint. This takes place around Spanish Civil War and WWII. It tells about refugees leaving Spain and is told from 3 person's perspective. This was a little known time in history and was very interesting to me. The 3 main characters form a strong friendship and remain close and solid in their beliefs for equality. A Swiss maternity home is opened up to help pregnant mothers and babies and help hide jews. This story was based on testimonies from Spanish refugees that crossed Pyrenees mountains to go to France.

I enjoy historical fiction, especially if it is based on real people and about events that I don't know a lot about. The Swiss Nurse fits the bill perfectly. This book is set as the Spanish Civil War is winding down. It's 1939 and Franco's troops have marched into Barcelona. The people who supported the Republican Government made up of socialists and communists fled and marched to France where they were told they could enter as refugees. As well, many of the men fighting for the Republic fled as well. Isabel Dueñas is married to an American, Peter Davis, who is fighting for the Republic, she is pregnant and forced to flee. Elisabeth Eidenbenz is a swiss nurse who is running a maternity hospital to help the refugees and those who live in the area. It is funded privately and through the Swiss Red Cross. Although France has allowed the refugees to enter their country, they are treated terribly. Living in cramped refugee camps with little food, contaminated water and many with no roofs over their heads. Although both Isabel and her husband are in the camp, they are separated because he is in the military area. She gives birth at the hospital and vows to help Elisabeth and her volunteers. Things do not go well, as Hitler invades France and makes things even more difficult. Will Isabel and her husband and child survive? Will they get to the U.S.? Will Elisabeth and her husband be able to help all the women who need them? What about the Jewish families?

This was a heartbreaking story. The terrible conditions in the camp resulted in many people dying as well as women being raped and turned to prostitution. The people that were supposed to be helping were stealing supplies and selling them on the black market. There were some honest and caring people, but they seemed to be outnumbered. They didn't want these "communists" in their country. That didn't stop them from sending the soldiers to the front. I loved learning about the strong women who worked at the maternity hospital. Elisabeth stood up to everyone in order to do what she needed for her mothers and their babies. I was afraid for her many times. The story is told from three POVs. Elisabeth, Isabel and Peter all share the events that they are dealing with, and they sometimes overlap. It is well researched and I learned a lot about Elisabeth. Between 1939 and 1944, she saved some 600 children who were mostly the children of Spanish Republicans, Jewish refugees and gypsies fleeing the Nazi invasion. This is a story of strong, courageous independent women, who learn that friendship, solidarity and the belief that all people are created equal, helped save many that otherwise would have perished. It is not an easy book to read, but it is a time in history that needs to be shared. Elisabeth Eidenbenz needs to become someone that we learn about, a true hero!

I listened to the audiobook, but also had the ebook. The story does jump around a lot and there were times that I went to the ebook because I missed things while listening to this one. Saskia Maarleveld does an amazing job with the voices of the various characters as well as the emotion that this story contains. If you enjoy audiobooks, I think a read/listen is the best way to go.

In my opinion, it is really important to capture family history. Especially when there is such an important and unique story to be told.

My biggest wish with this story is that the author would have started the story with how his parents met. He "dropped us into" the story is a rather weird place (in my opinion). I was a bit confused for the first part of the story, not understanding what was going on between these two different points of view. I would have preferred it had the story started with how they met, as opposed to their separation and attempts to be reunited.

Glad that I had the opportunity to review the advance copy of The Swiss Nurse, this revview is in exchange.

Rounding 3.5 stars up to 4 stars.

Thank you to the author/Mario Escobar and publisher/Harper Muse for approving my ARC request. Publication date is April 18, 2023.

Wow. There is a reason I don't often read Historical Fiction, it's because they affect me so much. This was such a moving and beautifully written novel. I couldn't tell you how many times I cried because I lost count, it was so often. It pains me to read about how terrible and vile humanity can be. It also warms with hope how some people are willing to put their lives in at risk to help others - even if it is just to provide a slice of bread. I finished this book over a day ago and still start crying when I want to talk about it. The narrator does an amazing job and bringing these characters to life from the book. The author really showed the humanity inside each character.

It also reflects on the fact that so many of our parents, grandparent's, great grandparent's, and ancestor's went through so much and never speak of it. Whether it be because it is too difficult, traumatizing, or sad - they do not share what they have survived. Sadly, because they don't talk about their past, history can be lost. It's novels like this that make me reflect on what my own family has endured, and what many others have endured. World War 2 only ended 78 years ago. Thats it, 78 years! That means there are so many alive today that underwent horrible tragedies. It sickens me how cruel and vile humanity can be. That all being said, this is one of the top five books I have read this year, absolutely beautiful.

Thank you NetGalley for an Advanced Listening Copy.

The Swiss Nurse is a beautiful story about what humans will do to lift each other out of the pits of tragedy and war. Mario Escobar does a great job at pulling you into the characters lives and giving you hope for us all. Based on true stories from world war 2, you won’t want to miss this one!

Beautiful and heart-wrenching, this was the based on the true story of a nurse who saved hundreds of women and children during the Spanish Civil War and WW2. The writing was smooth and evocative. Just wonderful.

The narration, as always, was perfect!

Very enjoyable read. Will be easy to recommend to many different kinds of readers. I’d like to read more from this author.

Elizabeth Eidenbenz is a true hero and has left an awe inspiring legacy. For that reason alone I wanted to love the book and the fact that I’m also Swiss, but I just really didn’t care for it. I switched between reading and listening to the audio version, and I think that’s the only reason I did not abandon it. Thanks for this arc, in exchange of an honest review.

I love a good historical fiction. And this one was no exception. The fact that it wasn't just about WW2 but also the Spanish Civil War was a nice change.

I also really loved that there were multiple points of view. I did get a little confused at times because I felt like the transitions from one person to another could have flowed a little better. But I do enjoy reading about different scenarios people went through during the same horrific events of war.

Although there was some romance sprinkled throughout, and it was love that drove a particular couple to survive, this story is most definitely about war and the tragic events that follow.

If you read this book, be prepared to get angry, get emotional, and possibly cry.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, you will enjoy this book.

Mario Escobar honors true life hero Elizabeth Eidenbenz in his latest well researched historical fiction novel, The Swiss Nurse.

Before reading this story, I knew little of The Spanish Civil War and the plight of the refugees, and had never even heard of Elisabeth Eidenbenz. Why an extraordinary woman. She was a teacher, a nurse and a humanitarian aid worker for refugees. A volunteer to help the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War, her work led her to the south of France after the fall of the Spanish Republic. The appalling conditions of the refugee internment camps and dire circumstances and treatment mothers and children amongst refugees faced, led her to organize a maternity home (The Maternity of Elne), that provided a safe haven for pregnant refugees and their children. Initially a means to help the Spanish refugees, the maternity home later hid Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi invasion. She is credited for saving the lives of more than 600 refugee children.

In his fiction account, Escobar tells his story through the point of view of three characters, Isabel Dueñas, a pregnant Spanish refugee, her American husband Peter Davis, separated from each other, they face horrors within their captivity, yet continue to hold hope for a future together in America, and Elisabeth Eidenbenz, the inspiring humanitarian who never quit in her efforts for making things better for others, despite the risk to her own safety.

This wasn’t an easy read. The authenticity of time and place was captured very well and the author doesn’t gloss over the brutality and hatred innocent people endured during this horrific period. But between the pages there was also beauty in the form of courage, hope, bravery, determination, friendship, love and compassion amidst the uncertainty of war. I am truly grateful to the author for sharing this story of this inspiring woman and humanitarian who did extraordinary things during the darkest of times.

I alternated between audio and reading. The story was well narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, but I did have difficulty at times following the POVs of the main and supporting characters and the different locations. I recommend reading this one.

Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for the chance to preview an advance listening copy of this inspiring story. This is my honest review and the opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoy reading historical fiction books. This one was a little different setting for me because it occurred during the Spanish Civil War. Told via three points of view, you experience life with Isabel, a refugee; her husband, Peter; and Elisabeth Eidenbenz, the woman who established a maternity hospital. The author has done a tremendous amount of research and attempted to write a story that will touch you deeply while providing background details and history. There are some difficult moments throughout the pages … rape, horrendous refugee camp conditions … and the swearing was unnecessary. However, as much as I did not enjoy reading this book, the facts and horrors of this time period deserve to be noted and the resilience and dedication of Elisabeth is admirable. It reminds me that there are glimmers of hope in the darkest moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I admire the women in the book who selflessly volunteered to aid pregnant women who were escaping from totalitarian regimes. It was based on true life accounts. However, it didn’t come together for me. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this ARC to me.

I did not finish this book. It felt like a lot of other books I’ve read from the same time period and did not hold my interest.

Based on the heroic endeavors of real life nurse Elisabeth Eidenbenz, this heartfelt tribute chronicles the victims of the Spanish Civil War and the Nazis. Escobar has a talent for highlighting brave, unsung heroes who put their own lives at risk to help others. The narrator of the audio version has a talent for capturing the drama and urgency of the characters and the narration had a nice flow to it. The descriptions of the impacts of the Spanish Civil War in particular were a unique account. This will appeal to fans of Kristin Harmel and Pam Jenoff.

Mario has done it again by writing a book about an event in history I did not know about. I had year similar stories but not one quite like this.

This book was a roller coaster of emotions! I cannot imagine what women endured while being pregnant and new mothers during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. I do not think I’m as brave or strong as they were.

The Swiss Nurse was read by one of my fav narrators!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Heartbreaking and emotional read showing the realities of war. This was well written, and the narrator was perfect.